ES 241 Air and Water Pollution
Programme: B.A. Environmental Studies
Credit points: 12
Level: Year 2, Semester 4
General
objectives
This course
introduces students to the major causes, effects, and control measures in the
area of air and water pollution relative to its impact on the environment and
on the health and well being of humans. Each unit on air and water pollution is
followed by practical sessions which will provide hands-on experience in
understanding behaviour of various pollutants. Students will also have
opportunity to familiarize themselves with local and regional pollution
standards and regulations
This module will
also provide students with an in-depth insight and understanding of issues
related to the anthropogenic greenhouse effect, climate change and global
warming.
Learning
outcomes
On successful
completion, students will be able to:
- list important air and water pollutants;
·
identify and describe major sources of air and
water pollution;
·
devise control measures for important air and
water pollutants;
- describe
environmental and health issues of various air and water pollutants and
the role humans play in generation of these pollutants;
- describe the
causes and consequences of climate change and global warming;
- find factual
support, formulate, express and defend their own opinion on issues related
to climate change and global warming;
- identify
possible solutions for prevention, mitigation and adaptation to climate
change;
- familiarize
with local, regional and international air and water quality standards;
- gain practical
experience in assessment and monitoring of air and water quality;
- develop
independent learning skills and critical thinking of issues in relation to
atmospheric and water pollution.
Approach to
teaching and learning
This module will
use variety of teaching and learning approaches like lectures, syndicate work,
practical sessions and web based learning. The course will consist of 15 teaching
weeks, one self-study week and two examination weeks. Each week will consist
of:
- three lecture
hours per week. Each lecture will allow ample time for questions and
discussion
- two hours
practical class/tutorials
- three hours of
self study
Assessment
This module has
the following five different modes of assessment:
· Individual presentation 10%
· Poster session 10%
· Practical reports 20%
· End of semester examination 50%
Course content
Air Pollution
- atmosphere and
its functions;
- gas laws
governing the behaviour of pollutants in atmosphere;
- natural and
anthropogenic sources of atmospheric pollutants;
- significance,
transport and dispersion of pollutants;
- local,
regional & global air pollutants;
- historical
development of temperature and climate on earth;
- sources and
sinks of greenhouse gases;
- factors
contributing to increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere;
- recent
scientific data favouring the theory that anthropogenic activities are key
responsible for the enhanced greenhouse effect;
- impact of
global warming/the enhanced greenhouse effect;
- strategies for
prevention and mitigation of and adaptation to global climate change
(including carbon budgeting and the Kyoto Protocol;
- stratospheric
ozone depletion;
- acid
deposition, photochemical smog & ozone depletion;
- atmospheric
pollutants control measures;
- air quality
standards & regulations (local, regional & international)
Water Pollution
- major sources
of water;
- types,
sources and consequences of water pollution;
- types and
characteristics of domestic, industrial and agricultural wastes and
their effects on water bodies;
- water
pollution control measures;
- water quality
standards and regulations (local, regional & international);
- water quality
control case studies.
Reading List
Texts
- Abel, P. D.,
1996, Water Pollution Biology. Prentice Hall
- Boubel, R.W.,
Fox, D. L & Turner, B., 1994, Fundamentals of Air Pollution.
Elsevier Science & Technology. USA.
- Harrision, R.
M (Edn)., 2001: Pollution: Causes, Effects and Control. Royal
Society of Chemistry
- National
Environment Commission, n.d, Bhutan Natioanl Adaptation Porgramme of
Action. Royal Government of Bhutan.
- Pepper. L. I,
Gerba, C.P & Brusseau, M. L., 2006, Environmental and Pollution
Science. Elsevier
- Purohit, S. S
& Agrawal, A. K., 2005, Environmental Pollution Causes, Effects and
Control
- Viessman, W.
Jr. & Hammer M.J., 2005, Water Supply and Pollution Control.
Pearson Education
References
- Cunningham, W.
P and Cunningham, M. A, 2004, Principles of environmental science:
inquiry and application. Tata McGrawHill
- Hill,
Marquitak, 2004, Understanding Environmental Pollution. Cambridge
University Press
- Masters, G.
M., 1998, Introduction to Environmental Engineering and Science.
Pearson Eduction. Delhi
- Nathanson, J.
A., 2006, Basic Environmental Technology. Prentice-Hall of India.
New Delhi
- Shyam, Shilpa
et al., 2006, Air Pollution and its Impacts on Plant Growth.
Eastern Book Corporation
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