Health Impacts of Environmental Exposure, Second Cycle, 5 credits

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and comprehension
After completing the course, students

• understand and explain the concept of exposome,
• are able to give examples of different types of exposure including exposure pathway and their related health impacts,
• understand and describe the methodologies applied in exposome research such as metabolomics, environmental analysis and effect directed analysis, and
• understand and use basic data integration tools in exposome research.

Proficiency and ability
After completing the course, students will be able to

• describe different types of exposure and identify their related health impacts,
• employ methodologies in exposome research such as metabolomics, environmental analysis and effect directed analysis,
• show skills in data processing and interpretation of results, and quality assurance and quality control in exposome research, and
• identify the challenges in the field of exposome research.

Values and attitude
After completion of the course, the student will be able to

• plan and report exposome research,
• reflect over group work, their own role within the group, and their own learning process, and
• assess health impacts of exposures.

Content

This course gives an overview of the health effects of environmental exposure, exposure pathways and the methodologies to characterise both the environmental exposures as well as the health impacts, such as environmental screening, metabolomics as well as basic data integration tools. Advantages and limitations of different approaches are covered. In addition, the pathways leading to adverse health outcomes are presented.

Examinations and grades

Theory, 3 credits (Code: A001)
Grades used are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

Practical Part, 2 credits (Code: A002)
Grades used are Fail (U) or Pass (G).

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 determine which grading system is to be used. The grade must be determined by a teacher specifically nominated by the university (the examiner).

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

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

Comments on grades

To obtain a passing grade for the course as a whole, a minimum of grade E is required for the theoretical part on the course as well as Pass (G) on the practical part, which includes participation in laboratory work, oral presentations and problem-based learning seminars. The final course grade is based on the result of the theoretical part.

Modes of assessment

• Theoretical part (code A001): Written exam
• Practical part (code A002): Oral examinations, practical examinations and written assignments

Absence from Mandatory Course Component If a student is absent from a mandatory course component, the examiner determines if the student will be able to make up for the component during another scheduled class of the same kind. Otherwise, the student is referred to the next time the course is offered. As an exception the examiner may decide on substitute assignments. These shall then be carried out before or shortly after the end of the course.

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

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations.

Specific entry requirements

A first-cycle qualification comprising 90 credits with successive specialization in natural science, alternatively the medical field, with 60 credits in the main area of chemistry, biology, environmental science, medicine or biomedicine. 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.

Other provisions

The course is given in English.

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.

Reading list and other learning resources

Additional Reading

Escher, Beate I. et al.
From the exposome to mechanistic understanding of chemical-induced adverse effects.
Environment International 99 (2017) 97–106
(doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2016.11.029)

Giulivo, Monica et al.
Human exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds: Their role in reproductive systems, metabolic syndrome and breast cancer. A review.
Environmental Research151(2016)251–264
(doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2016.07.011)

Athersuch, Toby
Metabolome analyses in exposome studies: Profiling methods for a vast chemical space.
Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 589 (2016) 177e186
(doi: 10.1016/j.abb.2015.10.007)

Bonvallot, Nathalie et al.
Metabolomics as a powerful tool to decipher the biological effects of environmental contaminants in humans.
Current Opinion in Toxicology 2018, 8:48–56
(doi.org/10.1016/j.cotox.2017.12.007)