Potentially Toxic Elements in Environment

Timetable

Timetable:... (room 311). Place: Collegium Geographicum.

Module aim (aims)

• Know the basic definition of heavy metals, can explain reasons and sources of soil contamination with Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs)• Know the main places of ore mining in Poland and in the World• Know and can determine forms of PTEs in soils using different methods• Can specify the main methods of PTEs analysis and give main difference between them.• Can explain the influence of high concentration of PTEs on microorganism and plants and uptake pathways• Know different methods of soil remediation and their advantages and disadvantages• Can find data in different sources: library, internet• Be able to prepare a research project as well as to present it in public audience

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

Basic knowledge about chemical and physical phenomenon. Knowledge of fundamental frameworks of environmental protection and ecology. Basic skills in Office programs like Excel, Word, Power Point.

Syllabus

Week 1: PTEs: definition, toxicity, examples of environmental disasters. Emerging pollutants.
Week 2: Mines in Poland and in the World.
Week 3: PTEs speciation in soil and water environment.
Week 4: Methods of PTEs determination in soil samples.
Week 5: Toxicity of selected trace elements on plants and microorganisms.
Week 6: Soil remediation possibilities.
Week 7: Exam

Reading list

1. Alloway B.J. 2013. Heavy metals in soils. Springer.
2. Kabata-Pendias A. 2011. Trace elements in soils and plants. CRC Press.
3. Kabata-Pendias A., Mukherjee A.B. 2007. Trace elements from soil to human. Springer.