Environmental Pollution (U01809)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 9 ? Acronym : GEO-3-GEO-3-EP

This course deals with major problems of pollution of the atmosphere, water, the land surface and the food chain. It covers processes responsible for the occurrence and release of pollutants in the environment, dispersion mechanisms, the hazards associated with different types of pollutant, problems of accumulation of toxic substances, and procedures for the reduction of emissions and remediation of contaminated environments.
The course includes lectures, tutorials, field trips and visits to research institutes, modelling work, essay writing, and an exercise in handling research data and writing a report.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Soil, Water and Atmospheric Processes recommended

? Costs : None

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Ecological Science, (School of GeoSciences, Schedule N)

Other subject areas

Environmental Courses, (School of GeoSciences, Schedule N)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 5 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
07/01/2008	14:00	16:00	Room 302, Crew Building	KB

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	14:00	17:00	KB
Laboratory	Thursday	14:00	17:00	KB

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be expected to be familiar with and have an understanding of:
the causes of global warming, ozone depletion, enhanced N and S emissions and urban air pollution;
how pollution is caused by radionuclides, incineration processes and waste dumps;
problems of pollution of the food chain by potentially toxic elements and persistent organic pollutants;
point and diffuse sources of water pollution, and the causes of water acidification and eutrophication;
the differences between persistent and biodegradable pesticides and how pesticide residues may be quantified;
procedures and prospects for reducing unwanted emissions to the environment and remediation of already polluted systems.