AESP 281 Water and Air Pollution examines the applied chemistry of pollution in the environment. Students are introduced to current concepts in pollution transport, fate, control, mitigation and monitoring. Major topics include an overview of environmental media, characteristics of common pollutants, movement in soil, groundwater, surface water, air, exposure and containment. Emphasis is on monitoring and control of pollutants through the entire pollutant pathway. Applied concepts cover water, soil and air sampling, water and wastewater treatment, analytical methods for assaying and laboratory analysis, strategies for addressing pollution sources, as well as mitigation and adaptation approaches in response to climate change.
Prerequisites: MATH 291 and AESP 280 both with a minimum grade of 60%
Accessibility Services Notice
Students who would like an academic accommodation and who have a documented disability should contact Accessibility Services, if they have not already done so.Course Details| Total number of weeks | 15 |
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| Total Credits | |
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| Total Hours | 90 |
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Typical hours per week breakdown| Lecture | 3 |
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| Lab (lab, field, computer) | 3 |
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Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the learner will be able to:
- Break down pollutant behaviour and pollutant source characteristics with a focus on control
- Evaluate contaminant transport and transformation mechanisms and fate in environmental media
- Identify human and environmental pollution exposure pathways and controls
- Describe the application of human and environmental toxicology in regulating contaminants
- Explain the legal and social context of pollution, including environmental and socioeconomic inequities and Indigenous stewardship
- Conduct environmental media quality assessments including water, soil, and air quality monitoring
- Apply multiple assay techniques including, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry, to various environmental media
- Convey critical and emerging pollution issues through a variety of communication methods, including written, oral, numerical, and visual formats
Teaching and Learning Approach
This course consists of three hours of weekly lecture and three hours of weekly labs. Lectures are supported
with provided slides and in-depth external reference material and links to multimedia content where possible.
Assignments are based on classroom work, and are designed to provide practice and feedback to prepare
students for major exams.
Lab exercises are designed to support classroom work and provide hands-on skills. Post-lab exercises are
designed to help students relate lab work to current environmental issues.
Students are encouraged to work together and seek help from peers and instructors as questions arise.
The course includes field work and site visits. These will be conducted during lab sections and may require
some re-scheduling with IEP266 lab sections. Site safety provisions apply.
Every effort will be made to deliver the lecture and labs in-person. This course may be delivered
synchronously with online or in-person lectures and labs when circumstances dictate.
Students are most likely to succeed by attending all sessions, taking handwritten or digital notes in lecture
and labs and completing assignments and labs immediately following classroom sessions.
Course schedule is subject to change based on learners needs.
Learning Resources
Required Supplies
· a clean buttoned lab coat
· laboratory glasses (will be
supplied in the lab)
· Sharpie® brand marker (medium point), pen, pencil, and ruler
· a scientific calculator
· a laboratory notebook (although a lab notebook with graph paper on left hand pages is preferred, for this course such a notebook is not essential, a standard notebook is acceptable, however do not use loose leaf paper)
· Tablet, laptop or other personal a computer with full version of MS . Excel
Detailed Course Content, Topics, and Sequence Covered
1. 1. Intro, Case Study No Lab
2. 2. Source/Pathway/Receptor Pollution Model Lab 1 - Use of AAS - Minor Report
3. 3. Solid Waste, Sediment and Contaminated Sites Lab 2 - Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure and analysis
4. 4. Groundwater Demonstration Lab - Atkins Realis
5. 5. Water Pollution, Water Treatment Lab 3 - Water Treatment Alum dosing
6. 6. Water, Wastewater Treatment
7. 7. Air, Atmosphere Lab 4 - Air sampling intro, Gas laws - Minor Report
8. 8. Air Pollution, control, transport Lab 5 - CO2 Sampling by impinger
9. 9. Climate Change and Forecasting Air Monitoring Station visit
10. 10. Emerging Contaminants Verbal Exam
11. 11. Environmntal Law in Canada Lab 6 - Lichens as an indicator of air quality
Assessment
| Title | Learning Outcomes | Value |
|---|
| Assignments | 2, 3 | 15% |
| Lab Reports | 3, 4, 5, 7 | 20% |
| Midterm | 3 | 20% |
| Verbal Exam | 1, 2, 3 | 15% |
| Final Exam (non-cumulative) | 1, 2, 3 | 20% |
| Participation and Professionalism | 1, 2 | 10% |
| Total | 100% |
Grading Table
Standard Academic and Career Programs Grading Table
| Percentage |
Letter Grade |
GPA |
| 90-100 |
A+ |
4.33 |
| 85-89 |
A |
4.00 |
| 80-84 |
A- |
3.67 |
| 76-79 |
B+ |
3.33 |
| 72-75 |
B |
3.00 |
| 68-71 |
B- |
2.67 |
| 64-67 |
C+ |
2.33 |
| 60-63 |
C |
2.00 |
| 55-59 |
C- |
1.67 |
| 50-54 |
P |
1.00 |
| 0-49 |
F |
0.00 |
| |
DNW |
0.00 |
See the Academic Calendar for General Information including how to withdraw from course(s) and other regulations.
Disclaimer
Information contained in this course outline is correct at the time of publication. Content of the course is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational, employment and market needs. The instructor will endeavor to provide notice of changes to students as soon as possible. The instructor reserves the right to add or delete material from courses.