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”.
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
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Course structure
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
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Course reports
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Meet us
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: https://www.aces.su.se/news/pfas-contamination-in-europe-far-more-widespread-than-previously-reported-qa-with-professor-ian-cousins-on-the-findings-of-the-forever-pollution-project/ -
Contact
Study counsellors
Course coordinator
Ian Cousins, ian.cousins@aces.su.se
Department of Environmental Science, Unit of Contaminant Chemistry
