Pharmacontamination of the Ocean

The Course is in line with the Ocean Decade Campaign and, in particular, with the SDG14 since it will inform citizens and professionals about the hidden danger of medicines spread in the ocean, pollutants capable of exerting a detrimental effect on the marine ecosystem.

Key contents will include topics about the magnitude of pharmacocontamination in the ocean; and ecopharmacovigilance and marine-pharmacovigilance as new emerging concepts.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, the participants are expected to be able to understand,analise and evaluate the importance of pharma-contamination, to categorize and detect the importance of the ocean on human health, and to create the future leaders in different ocean regions that are capable of sustaining crtiical thinking and to fight ocean pollution derived from pharmaceuticals to all society levels.

Target audience

The training is focused on undergraduate and postgraduate students (in Biology, Pharmacy, Medicine, Tourism, Engineering, Chemistry, Agronomy, and Veterinary), researchers, policy makers, and lecturers. Applications are open to everyone.

Pre-requisites

Participants must:

• Have prior knowledge about marine life and environment.
• A working knowledge of English.

Course content

• Módule 1 Introduction to marine eco-pharmacovigilance (4 h)
• Pharmacovigilance principles (30 min)
• Pharmacovigilance in rivers (1.5 h)
• Pharmacovigilance in seas/oceans (2 h)
• Módule 2 The impact of medicines pollution on marine biodiversity
• Evidence in terms of interferences on corals and algae metabolism due to medicines (2 h)
• Evidence in terms of interferences on fishes and mollusks metabolism due to medicines (2 h)
• Módule 3 The impact of medicines pollution on coastal environment and human health (6 h)
• Medicines-related pollution effect in fishing and aquaculture (2 h)
• Medicines microdoses and effect for human health (2 h)
• Sunscreens as pollutants (2 h)
• Módule 4 The Ocean contribution to Pharmacology and One Health (4 h)
• Traditional medicine derived from the Ocean (1 h)
• Veterinary medicines derived from the Ocean (1.5 h)
• Human health and ocean-related drug-discovery (1.5 h)
• Módule 5 Communication Strategies to Advocate Ocean Protection (2 h)

Language of instruction: English

Course Duration, Synchronous Sessions, and Format

This course is expected to be mainly self-paced, with an estimated total of 20 hours to complete all activities. No live sessions are planned.