The subject 'Practical Cases in Environmental Pollution' is one of the optional subjects of the second semester of the 3rd year of the Degree in Environmental Sciences and is part of the module 'Environmental Technology' (M04). This subject aims to integrate knowledge from the areas of Zoology and Animal Cell Biology, Plant Biology and Analytical Chemistry and apply it to the resolution of different practical cases in order to complete the knowledge previously acquired in the subjects 'Animal Biology and Zoology', 'Plant Biology' , 'Contaminant Analysis' and 'Biodiversity'. Due to its practical nature, students will have to deal with solving certain practical cases in the classroom and in the laboratory.

Subject-specific competences:

A1. To understand the role of macroinvertebrates as bioindicator organisms of the ecological quality of waters.

A2. To evaluate the quality of water based on the aquatic fauna.

A3. To identify the influence of pollution on plant species.

A4. To assess the response of plant species as indicators of environmental stress.

TO 5. To know, propose and develop the different stages of the general analysis process based on a specific analytical problem and its application to the resolution of practical cases.

A6. To know the principles and procedures necessary for taking and preparing the sample and evaluate the application of instrumental techniques in the analytical measurement process depending on the analyte/s to be determined and the characteristics of the matrix in which it is located.

A7. To carry out the analysis of environmental samples using instrumental techniques and interpret the data obtained.



Specific and transversal competences of the degree worked on in the subject:

G003. To join work teams that carry out professional tasks, including teaching or research, in the environmental field.

G004. To analyze, manage and conserve the environment and associated resources in natural, rural or urban environments, as well as design and develop territorial planning plans and projects.

G006. To develop, implement and maintain environmental management systems in the company, and know, analyze and prevent environmental risks to health.

G008. To know the techniques for evaluation, analysis, control and treatment of environmental pollution.

G009. To use information from various sources on an applied topic, interpret it appropriately, draw meaningful conclusions and present them publicly.

G010. To work as a team: exchange information, ideas and proposals in a work team to achieve scientific and/or professional objectives.



Competences of the module (M04 Environmental Technology):

M04CM02. To handle instrumental techniques for identification, analysis and quantification of chemical contaminants in air, water, plants and soils.

M04CM05. To understand the contaminant treatment methods and control strategies applicable in each case.

M04CM06. To know and understand preventive or corrective technologies for water and soil pollution.

Learning outcomes:

R1. To identify the species of aquatic macroinvertebrates at the family level and know their tolerance values to contaminants

R2. To calculate biotic indices of water quality based on the fauna families present

R3. To manage dichotomous identification keys for invertebrates

R4. To calculate biotic indices of water quality based on the diversity of aquatic plant macrophytes and the study of riverside vegetation.

R5. To manage plant biomarkers and perform biotests with plants to detect contamination in water and soil.

R6. To know the effects of atmospheric, aquatic and soil pollutants on plants.

R7. To write in an orderly manner and using correct scientific language the stages of the general analysis process, selecting the most appropriate procedures based on the case of environmental contamination posed

R8. To perform chemical analysis of environmental samples in the laboratory and interpret the results obtained.

R9. To solve correctly numerical problems related to the calculation of analyte concentration in matrix according to the different quantification methods.

BLOCK I: Analytical Chemistry:

TOPIC 1. INTRODUCTION TO THE GLOBAL ANALYSIS PROCESS. Concepts of Analytical Chemistry and Chemical Analysis. Terms in Analytical Chemistry. The analytical problem. The global analysis process. Quality of analytical results.

TOPIC 2. ANALYSIS OF HEAVY METALS. Sampling, sample pretreatment and treatment, analytical measurement. Speciation analysis.

TOPIC 3. ANALYSIS OF PERSISTENT ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (POPS). Sampling, sample pretreatment and treatment, analytical measurement.

TOPIC 4. ANALYSIS OF VOLATILE AND SEMIVOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOCs). Sampling, sample pretreatment and treatment, analytical measurement.



BLOCK II. Plant biology:

TOPIC 5. PLANTS AND POLLUTION (EFFECTS AND RESPONSES): ATMOSPHERIC, SOIL AND AQUATIC POLLUTION

TOPIC 6. PLANTS AS BIOINDICATORS AND ENVIRONMENTAL REGENERATORS. Indicator and monitoring organizations. Use of plants in environmental recovery.

TOPIC 7- EVALUATION AND DIAGNOSIS OF CONTAMINATION THROUGH THE USE OF BIOMARKERS IN BIOASSAYS WITH PLANTS (toxicity in Lemna minor and elongation of the lettuce root). Water quality indices based on riparian vegetation and aquatic vegetation.



BLOCK III. Zoology and Animal Cell Biology:

TOPIC 8. BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS OF WATER QUALITY. Water Framework Directive and biotic indices. Classification of the ecological status of fresh waters. Biological indicators of water quality. IBMWP Index. Identification of faunal families and groups included in the IBMWP index. Preparation of a technical report in the form of an article with the development of the practice and the results obtained.

The main objective of this subject is the theoretical and practical resolution of problems related to environmental contamination that will be tackled using new active teaching methodologies and, to a lesser extent, traditional methodology. In this way, students must be able to solve a series of practical problems for which various face-to-face and non-face-to-face activities will be carried out individually or in groups. The lecturer will provide the corresponding feedback. To facilitate these tasks, master classes will be given on the most relevant content, and questions and debates will be raised in the classroom to encourage student participation.

Field and laboratory practices will have an important weight in the achievement of this subject. Students must carry out experimental work in order to integrate the knowledge acquired and develop the skills necessary for work in the laboratory.

• Continuous Assessment System
• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Written test to be taken (%): 40
  • Realization of Practical Work (exercises, cases or problems) (%): 30
  • Team projects (problem solving, project design)) (%): 15
  • Exhibition of works, readings ... (%): 15

Continuous evaluation system:

1. Continuous evaluation activities: 60% of the overall rade.

These activities will consist of various group works that will be detailed in the Students´ Notebook, and the grade will be obtained from the weighted average (according to the number of credits corresponding to each field of knowledge) of the tasks performed.

2. Individual final test: 40% of the overall grade. It will consist of a written test on the entire contents of the subject. The evaluation criteria will be attached in detail through rubrics in the Students´ Notebook.

Final evaluation system:

In accordance with the Regulations governing the Evaluation of students in official Degree Degrees (Agreement of the Governing Council of the UPV/EHU of December 15, 2016, published in the BOPV on March 13, 2017), students will have right to be evaluated through the final evaluation system, for which you must submit in writing to the teaching staff responsible for the subject the waiver of continuous evaluation within a period of 9 weeks from the beginning of the semester, in accordance with the academic calendar from the center. These students must prove the acquisition of the skills through a final evaluation on the entire subject matter, both practical and theoretical. It will be divided into three parts corresponding to each of the knowledge areas of the subject: Zoology and Animal Cell Biology, Plant Biology and Analytical Chemistry. The final grade for this final test will be obtained from the average of the grades obtained in the three parts, but it is necessary to obtain a minimum grade of 5 in each of them to pass the subject.



Waiver:

In the case of continuous evaluation, as established in the agreement of May 30, 2019, of the Governing Council of the University of the Basque Country / Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, which approves the modification of article 12.2 of the Regulatory Regulations of Student Evaluation in official Bachelor's degrees (https://www.euskadi.eus/y22-bopv/es/bopv2/datos/2019/06/1903193a.pdf), and given that the weight of the final test is equal to 40% of the grade for the subject, students may withdraw from the call within a period that, at least, will be up to one month before the end date of the teaching period for the corresponding subject. This resignation must be submitted to the teaching staff responsible for the subject.

In the final evaluation, failure to take the final test will result in automatic waiver of the call.

In the extraordinary call, a final test will be carried out including all the theoretical and practical contents of the subject, which will allow the evaluation of all the competences detailed above. Failure to take the final test will result in automatic waiver of the call.

Lab coat, scientific calculator.

Basic bibliography

Alba-Tercedor, J., Pardo, I., Prat, N., y Pujante, A. Metodología para el establecimiento del Estado Ecológico según la Directiva Marco del Agua. Protocolo de muestreo y análisis para invertebrados bentónicos. (Eds. Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Confederación Hidrográfica del Ebro y URS). Madrid: Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, 2005.

Basra A.S, Basra R.K. (ed). Mechanisms of Environmental stress resistance in plants. Amsterdam: Harwood Academic Publishers, 1997.

Cámara, C. Toma y tratamiento de muestras. Madrid: Síntesis, 2002.

Durán C., Pardos M. Guía visual de campo. Macrófitos de la cuenca del Ebro. Confederación hidrográfica del Ebro. 2009.

Jones, H.G., Flowers, T.J. y Jones, M.B. (ed). Plants under stress. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992.

Oscoz, J. Clave dicotómica para la identificación de macroinvertebrados de la cuenca del Ebro. Zaragoza: Confederación Hidrográfica del Ebro, 2011.

Reeve, R.N.,. Introduction to Environmental Analysis. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, 2002.

Reigosa, M. Pedrol N y Sánchez-Moreiras A. La Ecofisiología Vegetal. Madrid: Thomson, 2004.

Sogorb Sánchez, M.A. y Vilanova Gisbert, E. Técnicas analíticas de contaminantes químicos. Madrid: Díaz de Santos, 2004.

In-depth bibliography

Aery, N C. 2010. Manual of Environmental Analysis. Boca Ratón, Florida: CRC Press, 2010
Agrawal S.B. y Agrawal M, Environmental pollution and plant responses. CRC Press 2000 .
Alba-Tercedor, J. y Sánchez Ortega, A. Un método rápido y simple para evaluar la calidad biológica de las aguas corrientes basado en el de Hellaweel (1978). Limnetica, 1988, 4:51-56.
Baird, C. Química Ambiental. Barcelona: Reverté, 2001.
Iribarne, J.V. y Cho, H.R. Atmospheric Physics. D.Londres: Reidel Publishing Company, 1980.
Larcher W. (ed). Physiological plant ecology. Nueva York: Springer, 1995.McKersie, B.D. y Leshem, Y. Stress and stress coping in cultivated plants. Amsterdam: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1994.
Orozco, C., Perez, A., y Serrano, M.N. Contaminación Ambiental. Madrid: Thomson, 2005.
Orive, E. y Rallo, A. Bizkaiko Ibaiak-Ríos de Bizkaia. Bilbao: Diputación Foral de Bizkaia, 1997.
Rallo, A. Caracterización hidrobiológica de la red fluvial de Álava y Gipuzkoa. Vitoria-Gasteiz: Gobierno Vasco, 1992.
Sierra Rodriguez, M.A. y Gómez Gallego, M. Principios de química medioambiental. Madrid: Síntesis, 2007.
Skoog, D.A., West, D.M., Holler, F.J., Crouch, S.R. Fundamentos de Química Analítica. Madrid: Thomson, 2005.
Tachet H., Bournaud M. y Richoux P. Introduction à l’étude des macroinvertébrés des eaux douces (Systématique élémentaire et aperçu écologique). Lyon: Université Lyon I, Association Française de Limnologie. Ministère de l’Environment, 2ª Ed., 1984.
Wang, W., Schnoor, J.L. y Doi, J. Volatile Organic Compounds in the Environment. West Conshohocken: ASTM international, 1996.

Journals

Frontiers in Plant Science. Frontiers Media. USA. (Accessed: may 2024). Available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science#
Plant Cell and Environment. Wiley Blacwell. UK. (Accessed: may 2024). Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13653040
Science Direct. Ed. Elsevier (Accessed: may 2024). Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/
Web of Knowledge. Ed. Thomson Reuters (Accessed: may 2024). Available at: https://apps.webofknowledge.com/

Web addresses

IUPAC. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (Accessed: may 2024). Available at: http://old.iupac.org/general/index.html. Website of interest for consulting information related to nomenclature, presentation of results, validation of methods.
Chromacademy. (Accessed: may 2024). Available at: http://www.chromacademy.com/. Website developed by the LC-GC scientific journal and Crawford Scientific for online learning of separation processes in Analytical Chemistry. It includes the latest news about marketed instrumentation, as well as the latest applications provided by manufacturers.
SHSU. Sam Houston State University (Accessed: may 2024). Available at: http://www.shsu.edu/~chm_tgc/sounds/sound.html. At this website, you can access animations and audios that show different spectroscopic, electrophoretic and chromatographic analytical techniques.