BNU Short Course 2014: Soil Chemistry and Toxicology
Instructor
Dr Laura Wendling (The University of Queensland)
Email: l.wendling@uq.edu.au; laura.wendling@gmail.com
Phone: +61 7 3365 1676 (office); +61 447 568 181 (mobile)
Dr. Laura Wendling is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Agriculture and Food Sciences at The University
of Queensland (Brisbane, Australia). She has previously worked as a senior research scientist at CSIRO in
Australia, a senior researcher at VVT technical research Centre (Finland), a soil scientist at the United States
Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), guest lecturer at Washington State
University and the University of Adelaide. She has published more than 50 monographs, chapters in
scientific anthologies, and other scientific reports, and 30 manuscripts in peer-reviewed publications
including highly-ranked journals such as Environmental Science & Technology, Water Research, and
Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology. Her research topics include soil chemistry,
water treatment, minimization and re-use of waste, environmental and agricultural sustainability and green
mining.
Course Aims
In this course a student has the unique opportunity to examine a range of soil science and toxicology
concepts relevant to studies in environmental science, and to apply those concepts to environmental
problems in examples drawn from several well-documented cases. The aim of this course is to: (i) present
essential information and stimulate collaborative discussion regarding the mechanistic assessment of
contaminant toxicity in soils and sediments; and, (ii) facilitate students’ development of skills for the critical
evaluation of terrestrial toxicity data and resultant regulatory guidelines.
Learning Objectives
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
1. Determine the scientific basis on which regulatory decisions concerning soil and/or sediment
contamination are made.
2. Recognise key concepts in environmental toxicology and soil chemistry.
3. Demonstrate competence in the interpretation and critical analysis of scientific studies related to
soil/sediment toxicology.
4. Critically analyse current environmental issues in soil science.
5. Communicate ideas effectively in small group discussion with other environmental professionals.
Learning Resources
Course lecture notes and all reading materials will be provided to each course participant in hard copy
(paper) form and/or as electronic files on a USB drive. There is no required textbook.
Policies and Guidelines
Course policies and guidelines regarding academic integrity, plagiarism, and feedback on assessment will be
consistent with the standard policies and guidelines of Beijing Normal University.
Course Schedule and Learning Activities
Date
28/4
Duration
08:00-10:00
14:30-16:30
29/4
08:00-10:00
14:30-16:30
30/4
10:00-12:00
14:30-16:30
1/5
2/5
3/5
4/5
Content
Activity
Introduction to environmental
toxicology
Toxicological concepts and
dose-response relationships
Adsorption, distribution and
storage of toxicants
DISCUSSION
In-class problem
solving: dose-response
curves, estimation of
LDs, TDs, & ECs
Environmental toxicants
Linking toxicological
concepts with soil chemistry
Soil mineralogy
DISCUSSION
In class discussion:
how do soil minerals
alter toxicity?
Development of surface
charge
Surface charge effects
DISCUSSION
In-class problem
solving (short answer
questions)
No lectures 1-3 May
10:00-11:00
14:30-16:30
Organic matter in soils
DISCUSSION
5/5
08:00-10:00
5/5
14:30-16:30
Sources of inorganic
contaminants
Fate and behaviour of
inorganic contaminants
Trace element toxicity in
agriculture: soil-to-plant
transfer of contaminants
Discussion
6/5
08:00-10:00
14:00-15:00
7/5
Assignment
Assignment 1: 10
short answer &
multiple choice
questions. Hand in
on Monday 5 May
10:00-12:00
Remediation of metal
contaminated soils
Sources of organic
contaminants
Fate and behaviour of
organic contaminants
Remediation of organic
contaminants in soils
In-class problem
solving (short answer
questions)
Assignment 2: 4
short answer & 6
multiple choice
questions. Hand in
on Wednesday 7
May
Cadmium in rice: inclass discussion
Short reading related
to Love Canal
Case study & in-class
discussion: Love Canal
8/5
8/5
9/5
14:30-16:30
08:00-10:00
14:30-16:30
10:00-12:00
Introduction to risk
assessment
Group discussion
Summary and review session
Group discussion
Assessment
Exam: Short answer
and multiple choice
(~40 questions)
Assessment
Course assessment will be comprised of: demonstration of critical analysis during in-class discussions
(20%); assignment 1 (20%); assignment 2 (20%); and a final exam (40%).