Post on 18-Jan-2016
description
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS
The management and protection The management and protection
of the environment through of the environment through
teaching and research at the teaching and research at the
University of AthensUniversity of Athens
byby
Maria Economou-Eliopoulos, Maria Economou-Eliopoulos, Prof.Prof.
Teaching at the Athens University
Since the decate of 80’s a few teaching subjects related to the management and protection of the enviroment are included in the Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes of the:
• Law School• Medical School,• Pharmacology, • Depatment of Chemistry,• Department of Biology,• Department of Physics ,• Department of Geology and others
Since the beginning of the new century 21 several Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes in the Athens University were
re-formulated, in the frame of the EPEAEK II Project (Co-funded by
EU
(75%) and National Resource):
Law School
New courses are offered to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes:
• The Environmental Law,
• European Environmental Law
• International Environmental Law
Medical School
Medical science is the final recipient of the influence of environmental effects on human and asked to explain and to answer the basic
question:
What is the relationship between environment and health?
In which way our cells and DNA are affected by the environment?
There is a MSc course entitled: Environment and Health,
that is supported by European Programs ASPIS AREHNA (www.arehna.di.uoa.gr).
Pharmacology, Medical School
The Department of Pharmacology has established an undergraduate
course entitled Environmental Pharmacology
combining the environmental pollution with its impact on human
health, since 70’s.
Department of Chemistry
An Environmental Chemistry
Laboratory
has been established.
It is used for the practice of students on
environmental topics, and research work
in the frame of joint projects in Greece
and other countries (Mediterranean
Information Office for Environment, the
European Environmental Bureau,
UNESCO-UNECE etc.)
Department of Biology
The courses of Botany, Zoology, Marine Biology with education and research activities have focused on
the plant biodiversity in the protected areas (NATURA 2000 in the European Union network) in
Greece and Cyprus.
The Department of Geology has been re-named to
Department of Geology & Geoenvironment
The undergraduate program, includes the courses:
•Environmental Geology, •Applied Geochemistry• Global Changes, •Marine Geology, •Atmospheric Environment Pollution, etc
Department of Geology & Geoenvironment Postgraduate courses (MSc level)
related to the environment
• Oceanography
• Prevention and management of natural disaster
• Applied Environmental Geology
• Oceanography
Oceanography is a joint cource
between
Departments of Biology,
Geology &
Geoenvironment,
Physics and Chemistry
(Faculty of Sciences,
University of Athens), aiming
the management and protection
of the Marine Environment.
• Prevention and management of natural
disasterThis is a joint cource between the
Department of Geology & Geoevironment and the Technological
Education Institute of Serres (Greece).
The subject of the course refers to natural catastrophic events, their environmental impact, evolution,
protection and management.
• Applied Environmental Geology
Major topics include potential pollutants, either by natural
processes or human activities, management of primary raw
material, global changes and the application of geochemical and geophysical techniques to the protection and remediation of contaminated soil and water. (
http://www.geol.uoa.gr/engindex.htm)
Research at the Athens University
Young researchers are involved into hundreds of
National and International projects related to
environmental subjects,
funded by EU/R & D, EU/BRITE EURAM,
EU/EPEAEK II- Postgraduate, EU/EPEAEK II–
Pythagoras, EU/EPEAEK II–Hrakleitos,
Kapodistrias-Athens University, Greek Secretariat
of Research and Technology etc,
in order to gain new knowledge and be able to
offer to the environment protection.
An example of heavy metal An example of heavy metal contaminationcontamination at theat the Assopos-Thiva basin and Evia in Assopos-Thiva basin and Evia in
Greece:Greece:Industrial activity Industrial activity ––ophiolites ophiolites & Ni& Ni--lateriteslaterites
More than 700 industrial units,
are source of Cr(VI).
Are characterized by high Cr and Mg
contents are major source of
Cr(VI), by natural
processes.
Cr(III) Cr(III) is essential in human is essential in human physiologyphysiology,, but but Cr(VI) is Cr(VI) is mobile mobile andand
extremely toxicextremely toxic..
Cr(VI) Cr(III)
Field practice of postgraduate students
Laboratory practice of Laboratory practice of postgraduate students includes
•Determination of Cr(VI) and other toxic metal in the collected soil, water and plant samples.
• Determination of metal bio-availability and bio-accumulation.
• The % Cr in soil transferred into plants (carrots, potatoes and onions).
Cr total Cr(VI)
Concentrations of Cr in groundwater exceed the limit for total chromium (50 ppb or g/l).
Laboratory practice on the bLaboratory practice on the bio-remediation of water using
bacteria: Cr(VI) Cr(III)reduction
Transfer factor or %Transfer factor or % of soil of soil chromiumchromium in intoto plants.plants.
Description Crtotal Cr(VI)
soil 230carrots 2.2 0.16%m p /m s 0.96 0.07
soil 240potatoes unp. 2.2 0.22%m p /m s 0.88 0.10
soil 340potatoes unp. 2.1 0.23
% 0.6 0.07soil 320
onions 3.8 0.19%m p /m s 1.2 0.06
Since the environmental impact by human activities and natural processes is
widespread, including European countries, the case of the
contamination at the Assopos-Thiva basin by Cr(VI) is not a
local environmental problem.
The Universities could plan projects to study and provide ways
to restrict the transfer of heavy metals from soil to plants/crops and grounwater without the reduction of
the agricultural and industrial production.
Thank Thank youyou