Pollution Dynamics

Since the Second World War, and especially since the publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring in 1962, there has been growing concern about contamination of the environment with human-made chemicals from pesticides such as DDT to the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) known as the “forever chemicals”.
Water droplet

Fluorochemicals (PFAS) are extensively used for their water- and stain repellency. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

In this course, you will learn about “pollutant dynamics”, which is the way pollutants (such as DDT, PFAS and many more) move from emission sources to the tissues of organisms where they can cause toxic effects. You will learn where pollutants come from (their sources and emissions), where pollutants go (their partitioning, transport and reaction processes), and who gets exposed and how (wildlife and human exposure pathways).

Topics covered include:

  • Chemical properties of pollutants
  • Equilibrium environmental partitioning of pollutants
  • Pollutant transport processes
  • Environmental reaction processes of pollutants
  • Simple modelling tools, including the fugacity concept
  • Bioaccumulation in aquatic and terrestrial organisms of pollutants
  • Human exposure pathways of pollutants

 


    Teaching Format

    Instruction consists of lectures, seminars, exercises. The course is offered in English.


    Assessment

    A passing final grade requires participation in seminars and execises. Assessment takes place through assignments and a written exam.

     

    Your rights and responsibilities

    Your rights and responsibilities as a student


    The schedule will be available no later than one month before the start of the course. We do not recommend print-outs as changes can occur. At the start of the course, your department will advise where you can find your schedule during the course.


    Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course.

    Multimedia Environmental Models
    The Fugacity Approach, Second Edition
    Author: Donald Mackay

    Environmental Organic Chemistry, Second Edition
    Authors: Rene P. Schwarzenbach, Philip M. Gschwend, Dieter M. Imboden

    The books are available as e-books/PDF-files.

     

    Course reports are displayed for the three most recent course instances.



    PFAS contamination in Europe far more widespread than previously reported – Q&A with Professor Ian Cousins on the findings of the Forever Pollution Project

    Read the article on our website





    Study counsellors

    studeranu@aces.su.se

    Course coordinator

    Ian Cousins, ian.cousins@aces.su.se

    Department of Environmental Science, Unit of Contaminant Chemistry

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