Chemical Compounds in the Human Environment WF-OB-SUHC

Course content:
Chemical composition of organisms divided into organic and inorganic compounds.
Absorption of toxic substances and bioaccumulation.
Toxin uptake, biotransformation and elimination.
The chemistry of cosmetics: synthetic and natural products for cosmetic uses. Cosmetics regulations.
Commonly used addictive substances.
The toxic threat in everyday products, from toys to furniture.
Chemical composition and properties of waste. Methane recovery by anaerobic digestion of municipal solid waste.
Health Products from Natural Sources.
Antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activity of selected chemical substances present in the human environment.
Applications of isotope analyses.
Trace elements in human tissues.
Importance of environmental chemistry for human health and environmental safety.
Elements of statistics in environmental sciences.

Term 2024/25_Z:

Chemical composition of organisms divided into organic and inorganic compounds.
Absorption of toxic substances and bioaccumulation.
Toxin uptake, biotransformation and elimination.
The chemistry of cosmetics: synthetic and natural products for cosmetic uses. Cosmetics regulations.
Commonly used addictive substances.
The toxic threat in everyday products, from toys to furniture.
Chemical composition and properties of waste. Methane recovery by anaerobic digestion of municipal solid waste.
Health Products from Natural Sources.
Antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activity of selected chemical substances present in the human environment.
Applications of isotope analyses.
Trace elements in human tissues.
Importance of environmental chemistry for human health and environmental safety.
Elements of statistics in environmental sciences.

Term 2025/26_Z:

Chemical composition of organisms divided into organic and inorganic compounds.
Absorption of toxic substances and bioaccumulation.
Toxin uptake, biotransformation and elimination.
The chemistry of cosmetics: synthetic and natural products for cosmetic uses. Cosmetics regulations.
Commonly used addictive substances.
The toxic threat in everyday products, from toys to furniture.
Chemical composition and properties of waste. Methane recovery by anaerobic digestion of municipal solid waste.
Health Products from Natural Sources.
Antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activity of selected chemical substances present in the human environment.
Applications of isotope analyses.
Trace elements in human tissues.
Toxic substances in food: sources, pathways, and health implications
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs): environmental fate, bioaccumulation, and impact on ecosystems
Importance of environmental chemistry for human health and environmental safety.
Elements of statistics in environmental sciences.

(in Polish) E-Learning

(in Polish) E-Learning (pełny kurs) z podziałem na grupy

(in Polish) Grupa przedmiotów ogólnouczenianych

(in Polish) PO/S2 - obszar nauk społecznych - II stopień

(in Polish) Opis nakładu pracy studenta w ECTS

1ECTS odpowiada nakładowi 25—30h pracy studenta, 1 ECTS corresponds to 25–30 hours of student workload.

Subject level

intermediate

Learning outcome code/codes

OB2_W09 OB2_W12 OB2_U01 OB2_U02 OB2_U05 Applicable from the academic year 2025/2026: the graduate: OB2_W01 - knows the components of the environment and the multiple relationships between them OB2_W02 - knows advanced research methods in the field of natural sciences OB2_W04 - knows statistical methods and tools for formulating hypotheses, analyzing data, and drawing conclusions OB2_W05 - knows and understands the effects, including ethical aspects, of human interference in the natural environment, as well as the causes and consequences of environmental degradation OB2_W06 - knows and understands the mechanisms, principles, and values related to sustainable development OB2_W09 - knows and understands specialized terminology in a foreign language in the field of environmental protection OB2_W16 - knows and understands the environmental effects resulting from anthropogenic pressure OB2_W17 - knows and understands the problems and dilemmas of contemporary civilization

Type of subject

obligatory

Course coordinators

Aleksandra Lisowska-Gaczorek

Learning outcomes

The student:
• knows the effects of environmental pollution with chemicals and their impact on human health,
• knows the research methods using the analysis of elements and isotopes in human ecology.
• is able to identify/characterize the main groups of xenobiotics.
• knows naturally occurring chemicals with a positive effect on the human body.
• has basic statistical knowledge on formulating and verifying hypotheses through data analysis
• recognizes correctly the English terms in the lecture area.

Applicable from the academic year 2025/2026:
OB2_W01 - The student lists and describes the main chemical components of organisms and explains the differences between organic and inorganic compounds occurring in the human environment. (course topics: 1)
OB2_W02 - The student characterizes advanced chemical analysis methods, including isotope analyses and techniques for detecting trace elements in human tissues and the environment. (course topics: 10, 11)
OB2_W04 - The student applies basic statistical tools in environmental science to process data related to chemical pollution and health impacts (course topics: 15)
OB2_W05 - The student explains the effects of toxic substances in the environment and their impact on living organisms, including humans, considering ethical aspects. (course topics: 2, 3, 12, 13, 14)
OB2_W06 - identifies, analyzes, and characterizes threats resulting from the presence of toxic substances in the environment and in everyday products, including food, water, air, and waste, taking into account aspects of bioaccumulation, chemical transformation, and legal regulations, in the context of civilizational challenges and sustainable development (course topics: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13)
OB2_W09 - The student uses specialized chemical and toxicological terminology in English related to the human environment. (course topics: 1-15)
OB2_W16 - The student identifies environmental effects resulting from chemical anthropopressure, including persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and toxins in everyday products. (course topics: 6, 13)
OB2_W17 - The student explains contemporary civilizational issues related to addictive substances, cosmetics, and chemical products in the human environment, and their impact on health and safety. (course topics: 4, 5, 8, 9, 14)

Assessment criteria

Written exam
:
(5): 100–90%
(4+): 89–80%
(4): 80–70%
(3+): 69–61%
(3): 60–51%

Bibliography

Required literature
Manahan, S. E. (Year). Toxicological Chemistry and Biochemistry.
Lippmann, M., & Schlesinger, R. B. (2018). Environmental Health Science: Recognition, Evaluation, and Control of Chemical Health Hazards.

Supplementary literature
Botana, L. M. (Ed.). (2018). Environmental Toxicology.
Karykowska, A., Konczewski, P., Kwiatkowska, B., Witan, J., Lisowska-Gaczorek, A., & Szostek, K. (2023). The diet of the human groups buried in a late- and post-Medieval rural parish cemetery in Libkovice (Czech Republic).

Term 2024/25_Z:

Manahan S.E. „Fundamentals of Environmental and Toxicological Chemistry: Sustainable Science” (2013)
Manahan S.E. „Environmental Chemistry” (2000)
Klaassen C.D., Watkins III J.B. „Casarett & Doull’s Essentials of Toxicology” (2015)
Khameneh B., Iranshahy M., Soheili V., Bazzaz B.S.F. „Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control” Review on plant antimicrobials: a mechanistic viewpoint (2019)
Literature will be given during the course.

Term 2025/26_Z:

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of WF-OB-SUHC in USOSweb