Analytical Methods in Environmental Forensics I, Second Cycle, 15 credits

Aims and objectives

General aims for second cycle education

Second-cycle courses and study programmes shall involve the acquisition of specialist knowledge, competence and skills in relation to first-cycle courses and study programmes, and in addition to the requirements for first-cycle courses and study programmes shall

• further develop the ability of students to integrate and make autonomous use of their knowledge
• develop the students' ability to deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, and
• develop the students' potential for professional activities that demand considerable autonomy, or for research and development work.

(Higher Education Act, Chapter 1, Section 9)

Course objectives

Knowledge and understanding
After completing the course the student should be able to

• describe and explain theoretical concepts in chemical and bioanalytical methodologies in environmental forensics,
• discuss how properties of chemical substances affect their analysis with respect to sampling, sample handling, sample preparation and analysis,
• describe why and how the method validation is used for quality assurance and quality control,
• compare the analysis results to the context of environmental toxicology and international environmental treaties, and
• describe various methods used for descriptive statistics and graphical visualizations for exploratory data analysis.

Skills and abilities
After completing the course the student should be able to

• motivate the choice of methods, plan and implement environmental forensic investigations,
• plan and carry out validation and quality assurance of the methods
• apply relevant methods to generate data that link chemical contamination with toxicity and its origin,
• interpret the analysis results in complex chemical mixtures,
• use various statistical treatments to describe and explore different environmental forensics datasets, and
• present and discuss results (written and oral) in environmental forensic investigations.

Evaluation ability and approach
After completing the course the student will have the ability to

• identify and define a scientific problem,
• seek and critically examine scientific information,
• evaluate the analysis results with their respective method validation and quality assurance data,
• compare different statistical treatments and tests for different environmental forensics datasets, and
• plan and implement environmental forensic investigations and present the results both orally and in writing in accordance with the instructions, in a linguistically correct, well-structured and understandable way.

Main content of the course

The course deals with analytical methods for bioanalytical and chemical analyses and interpretation of complex chemical mixtures. The course describes complementary methodologies and techniques to obtain results that link to identification, source elucidation, toxicity and transformation of environmental contaminants. Emphasis will be placed on sampling techniques and analysis of environmental samples as these are essential in environmental forensic investigations. Students learn quantitative analysis using mass spectrometry (MS) for both organic and inorganic substances. They also study standardized bioanalytical methods, mainly cell-based methods for measuring mechanism-specific effects of organic substances and fish embryo tests to study developmental toxicological effects. Students learn and apply relevant quality assurance and quality control measures in an environmental forensic investigation as well as project management. The course also links probability and descriptive statistics with chemical and biological data including various graphical visualization techniques to convey scientific information in a clear and concise manner.

Module 1: Advanced Analytical Chemistry I, 7,5 Credits

This module includes both theoretical and practical elements on environmental sampling and targeted chemical analysis, mainly using mass spectrometry (MS) for both organic and inorganic substances. Students are also taught quality assurance and quality control as well as project management.

Module 2: Descriptive Statistics, 3,5 Credits

This module deals with probability, introductory statistics and descriptive statistics. Self-produced results from the other modules and assigned datasets will be used. Theoretical knowledge is interspersed with practical elements to investigate and statistically describe the results from analytical science experiments. Furthermore, various graphic visualization techniques will be introduced to the students to convey scientific information in a clear and concise way.

Module 3: Bioanalytical Method I, 4 Credits

This module includes both theoretical and practical elements on standardized bioanalytical methods, mainly cell-based methods for measuring mechanism-specific effects of organic substances and fish embryo testing to study developmental toxicological effects. Students are also taught data interpretation, quality assurance and quality control. The use of bioanalytical methodology for the identification of environmental toxicants will be discussed.

Teaching methods

Teaching consists of lectures, practical laboratory work, case studies, computer-based exercises and practical field work. The course uses problem based learning (PBL).

Students who have been admitted to and registered on a course have the right to receive tuition and/or supervision for the duration of the time period specified for the particular course to which they were accepted (see, the university's admission regulations (in Swedish)). After that, the right to receive tuition and/or supervision expires.

Examination methods

Module 1: Advanced Analytical Chemistry I

Advanced Analytical Chemistry I, Theory, 2 credits (Code: A001)
Written examination.

Advanced Analytical Chemistry I, Practicals, 5.5 credits (Code: A002)
Oral and written reporting individually or in groups (decided by the course coordinator) and active participation at case-based group work meetings, practical laboratory work and seminars.

Module 2: Descriptive Statistics

Descriptive Statistics, Theory, 2.5 credits (Code: B001)
Written assignment and oral examination.

Descriptive Statistics, Practicals, 1 credits (Code: B002)
Oral and written reporting individually or in groups (decided by the course coordinator) and active participation at case-based group work meetings, practical laboratory work and seminars.

Module 3: Bioanalytical Method I

Bioanalytical Method I, Theory, 2 credits (Code: C001)
Written assignment.

Bioanalytical Method I, Practicals, 2 credits (Code: C002)
Oral and written reporting individually or in groups (decided by the course coordinator) and active participation at case-based group work meetings, practical laboratory work and seminars.

For students with a documented disability, the university may approve applications for adapted or other forms of examinations.

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations (in Swedish).

Grades

According to the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 6, Section 18, a grade is to be awarded on the completion of a course, unless otherwise prescribed by the university. The university may prescribe which grading system shall apply. The grade is to be determined by a teacher specifically appointed by the university (an examiner).

In accordance with university regulations regarding grading systems for first and second-cycle courses (Vice-Chancellor’s decision ORU 2018/00929), one of the following grades shall be used: Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG). For courses that are included in an international Master’s programme (60 or 120 credits) or offered to the university’s incoming exchange students, the grading scale of A-F shall be used. The vice-chancellor, or a person appointed by the vice-chancellor, may decide on exceptions from this provision for a specific course, if there are special grounds.

Grades used on course are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

Advanced Analytical Chemistry I, Theory
Grades used are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

Advanced Analytical Chemistry I, Practicals
Grades used are Fail (U) or Pass (G).

Descriptive Statistics, Theory
Grades used are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

Descriptive Statistics, Practicals
Grades used are Fail (U) or Pass (G).

Bioanalytical Method I, Theory
Grades used are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

Bioanalytical Method I, Practicals
Grades used are Fail (U) or Pass (G).

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations (in Swedish).

Comments on grades

To obtain a passing grade for the whole course, a minimum of grade E is required for all theoretical modules as well as Pass (G) on the practical module. To arrive at a course grade, the grades awarded for each theoretical examination assignment, grades A-E, are first converted to the numerical values 5-1. An average value is then calculated, also taking into account the number of credits for each module in relation to the total number of credits for the course. The course grade is thus awarded by means of a weighted average of the theoretical modules included on the course.

Specific entry requirements

A first-cycle qualification comprising 90 credits in natural science with 60 credits in chemistry including toxicology. The applicant must also have qualifications corresponding to the course "English 6" or "English B" from the Swedish Upper Secondary School.

For further information, see the university's admission regulations (in Swedish).

Transfer of credits for previous studies

Students who have previously completed higher education or other activities are, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, entitled to have these credited towards the current programme, providing that the previous studies or activities meet certain criteria.

For further information, see the university's local credit transfer regulations (in Swedish).

Reading list and other teaching materials

Module 1: Advanced Analytical Chemistry I, 7,5 Credits

Reference literatures

Lebedev, Albert T (Latest edition)
Comprehensive Environmental Mass Spectrometry
Hertfordshire: ILM Publications

O'Sullivan, Gwen & Sandau, Court (Latest edition)
Environmental Forensics for Persistent Organic Pollutants
Amsterdam: Elsevier

Petrisor, Ioana Gloria (Latest edition)
Environmental Forensics Fundamentals - A Practical Guide
New York: CRC Press

Module 2: Descriptive Statistics, 3,5 Credits

Reference literatures

Venables, W.N., Smith, D.M., R Development Core Team (electronic edition)
An Introduction to R: Notes on R, A Programming Environment for Data Analysis and Graphics

Module 3: Bioanalytical Method I, 4 Credits

Suggested reading and relevant journals will be provided.

Additions and Comments on the Reading List
Students are required to select additional reading for the course. A list of suggested reading, relevant journals, and databases will be added. Laboratory instructions will also be available.