Environmental protection

Educational subject description sheet

Basic information

Field of study: Veterinary Medicine
Speciality: -
Organizational unit: The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Study level: Long-cycle programme
Study form: Full-time
Education profile: General academic

Education cycle: 2025/26
Subject code: MD000000MWW-AJS.J1BO.0631.25
Lecture languages: english
Mandatory: mandatory
Block: major subjects (conducted) in foreign languages
Disciplines: Veterinary medicine
Subject related to scientific research: No
Subject shaping practical skills: No

Teacher responsible for the subject

Błażej Poźniak

Other teachers conducting classes

Błażej Poźniak, Angelika Sysak

Period

Semester 1

Examination

graded credit

Activities and hours

lecture: 10
laboratory classes: 20

Standard groups

A. Basic sciences, B1. Clinical sciences, C. Supplementary classes

Number of ECTS points

2.0

Goals

C1	The aim of the course is to introduce students with the links of cause-and-effect of problems related to consumer and professional burdening the environment and adverse global and local ecological phenomena.
C2	Teachers make students aware of basic problems of environmental protection, the source of the pollution and emission reduction methods and neutralization of hazardous substances, as well as ecotoxicological risks associated with industrial production, agriculture and animal breeding.
C3	Lecturers provide students with knowledge in the field of regulations on environmental protection in Poland, EU and in the world and the structure of the systems of environmental protection in Poland.

Subject's learning outcomes

Code	Outcomes in terms of	Effects	Examination methods
Knowledge – Student knows and understands:
W1	the relationship of cause-and-effect problems associated with consumer and professional burdering the environment and the adverse global and local environmental phenomena	O.W5, O.W9	written credit, presentation
W2	the outline of legislation on environmental protection in Poland and in the world	O.W14	written credit
Skills – Student can:
U1	critically analyze the scientific literature and media reports in the field of environmental protection and draw correct conclusions, especially with regard to consumer behavior	C.U2	written credit, presentation, participation in discussion
U2	discuss current problems of environmental protection with the use of modern multimedia tools	C.U3	presentation, participation in discussion
U3	interpret the responsibility of veterinarian towards the natural environment	A.U16	written credit, participation in discussion
Social competences – Student is ready to:
K1	exhibit responsibility for his/her decisions made in regard to the people, animals and the natural environment	O.K1	presentation, participation in discussion
K2	use the objective sources of information in the field of environmental protection	O.K4	presentation, participation in discussion
K3	get involved in the activities of professional and local government organisations in the interest of environmental protection	O.K12	presentation, participation in discussion

Balance of ECTS points

Activity form	Activity hours*
lecture	10
laboratory classes	20
presentation/report preparation	15
exam / credit preparation	15

Student workload	Hours 60	ECTS 2.0
Workload involving teacher	Hours 30	ECTS 1.0
Practical workload	Hours 20	ECTS 0.8

* hour means 45 minutes

Study content

No.	Course content	Activities
1.	1. History and program of environmental protection activities in the world and in Poland. International conventions on environmental protection. 2. Organic compounds of high ecotoxicological importance (dioxins, dibenzofurans, biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, plastics). 3. Environmental pollution with heavy metals and their impact on human and animal health. Environmental hazards related to mercury and cadmium. 4. Environmental pollution with pesticides and their impact on human and animal health. The impact of the use of veterinary drugs on the environment. 5. Legal framework for environmental protection in the EU and Poland. The role of non-governmental organizations in environmental protection.	lecture
2.	1. Basic definitions associated with environment: ecology, biocenosis, biotope, biosphere, habitat, ecosystem, population, ecological niche, biome and ecotone, eutrophisation. Basic ecosystems of the world. 2. Sources and types of atmosphere pollution. Emission of sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitric oxides. Methods for reducing their emissions. 3. Photochemical and "classical" smog as a result of atmosphere pollution. Acid rains – mechanism of development, influence on plants and animals. 4. Freons and the decrease of ozone layer as a global phenomenon associated with air pollution. The greenhouse effect – mechanisms and results of development. 5. Sources and types of water pollution (oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, aquacultures). Polish water resources in comparison to other European countries and the world. 6. Sewage – types, content, threat to the environment, methods of treating and water conditioning. 7. Causes of soil degradation (desertification, terrain malformation, chemical contamination, erosion). Ways of soil protection – reclamation, treatment against erosion. 8. Types of wastes, recycling, storage and neutralization. 9. Global environmental problems associated with overpopulation, taking into account the difficulties in obtaining food from natural sources as an example of overexploitation of the seas and oceans – overfishing. 10. Repetition of material and final test.	laboratory classes

No.

Course content

Activities

1. History and program of environmental protection activities in the world and in Poland. International conventions on environmental protection.

2. Organic compounds of high ecotoxicological importance (dioxins, dibenzofurans, biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, plastics).

3. Environmental pollution with heavy metals and their impact on human and animal health. Environmental hazards related to mercury and cadmium.

4. Environmental pollution with pesticides and their impact on human and animal health. The impact of the use of veterinary drugs on the environment.

5. Legal framework for environmental protection in the EU and Poland. The role of non-governmental organizations in environmental protection.

lecture

1. Basic definitions associated with environment: ecology, biocenosis, biotope, biosphere, habitat, ecosystem, population, ecological niche, biome and ecotone, eutrophisation. Basic ecosystems of the world.

2. Sources and types of atmosphere pollution. Emission of sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitric oxides. Methods for reducing their emissions.

3. Photochemical and "classical" smog as a result of atmosphere pollution. Acid rains – mechanism of development, influence on plants and animals.

4. Freons and the decrease of ozone layer as a global phenomenon associated with air pollution. The greenhouse effect – mechanisms and results of development.

5. Sources and types of water pollution (oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, aquacultures). Polish water resources in comparison to other European countries and the world.

6. Sewage – types, content, threat to the environment, methods of treating and water conditioning.

7. Causes of soil degradation (desertification, terrain malformation, chemical contamination, erosion). Ways of soil protection – reclamation, treatment against erosion.

8. Types of wastes, recycling, storage and neutralization.

9. Global environmental problems associated with overpopulation, taking into account the difficulties in obtaining food from natural sources as an example of overexploitation of the seas and oceans – overfishing.

10. Repetition of material and final test.

laboratory classes

Course advanced

Teaching methods:

educational film, presentation / demonstration, discussion, lecture, classes, Delivery of students' own presentations

Activities	Examination methods	Percentage in subject assessment
lecture	written credit	40%
laboratory classes	written credit, presentation, participation in discussion	60%

Additional info

In the case of transition to remote teaching, credit on the basis of an online test/tests on an educational platform approved by the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences.

Literature

Obligatory

Cunningham W.P., Cunningham M.A.: Principles of Environmental Science. Inquiry and Applications, 9th edition, 2020.

Optional

http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/environment/index_en.htm
www.iucnredlist.org
www.cites.org/eng
www.codexalimentarius.org
www.who.org
www.epa.gov