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