Module Code and Title:        ENM307 Environmental Pollution Management

Programme:                          BSc in Environmental Management

Credit Value:                          12

Module Tutor(s):                   Jamyang Pelmo (Coordinator), Bikram Sharma

General objective: This module concentrates on the major causes, effects, and control measures of pollution. It focuses on air, water and soil pollution. It will enable students to understand environmental problems, looking at causal linkages between pollution sources, exposure pathways and impacts to environmental quality and human health.  

Learning outcomes – On completion of the module, students will be able to:

1. Define pollution, different pollutants and their characteristics.

2. Explain current forms of environmental pollution.
3. Discuss their causes and consequences to natural, economic and social systems.

1. Assess the role humans play in generation of these environmental pollutants.
2. Review and compare local, regional and international air and water quality standards.
3. Analyse different protocols and conventions of pollution.
4. Discuss the different pollution control measures.
5. Conduct simple test for water quality.

Learning and teaching approach:

Assessment Approach:

1. Class tests: 10%

Students will undertake a class test twice during the semester (5% each); once before mid-term (after completion of unit 2) and once after mid-term (after completion of unit 4). The written test will be conducted within the class for a duration of 40-50 min. The tests are intended to help students better prepare for the exams as well as serve as an early indicator for tutors to gauge student’s level of understanding. Students will have to explain sources and effects of pollution and characterise pollutants.

1. Water Quality Test (Group): 10%

Students will be divided into five different groups and assigned a specific study site. They will collect multiple water samples from their site over a specified period of time, conduct water quality testing, and present their findings in their final report.

2%       Description of the site/ summary of the visit (accuracy and completeness)

5%       Quality of analysis (includes different para)

3%       Mechanics (Language and referencing)

1. Individual report: 20%

This report (800 - 1000 words) is intended to make students apply all the concepts covered during the module and develop their critical analysis on pollution management. Students will choose one case study and produce a comprehensive analysis report on pollution problems in this particular chosen area. The report will include pollution issues, analysis of the legal framework, proposed solutions and alternatives to control pollution.

5%       Plan and draft content of the report

5%       (Final version) Case study analysis (pollution effects, legal aspects, context analysis)

10%     (Final version) Proposed alternatives and solutions (relevance, justification, applicability)

1. Midterm Examination: 20%

Students will take a written exam of 1.5-hr duration covering topics up to the mid-point of the semester. The exam will comprise structured questions like MCQ, fill-in-the-blanks, matching, definition, as well as open-ended essay questions.

1. Semester-End Examination: 40%

Students will take a written exam of 2.5-hr duration encompassing all the subject matter covered in the semester. This assessment is comprehensive and summative in nature, and will comprise structured questions like MCQ, fill-in-the-blanks, matching, definition, as well as open-ended essay questions.

Overview of assessment approaches and weighting

Pre-requisites: None

Subject matter:

1. Unit I: Key concepts of pollution
   • Definition of pollution
   • Forms of pollution
   • Implication of each sector in generation of pollution
     • Agriculture
     • Industrial
     • Commercial
     • Domestic
   • Pollutants and their characteristics
   • Classification of pollutants
2. Unit II: Water pollution
   • Sources of water pollution (point and non-point sources)
   • Surface and groundwater pollution
   • Forms of water pollution: oil pollution, eutrophication, thermal pollution, development of invasive species in water and health effects
   • Bioaccumulation, ecological effects of water contamination and impacts for human health
3. Unit III: Water pollution control
   • Water quality standards at the local (BDWQS,2016) and international level (EPA and WHO)
   • Water properties and self-purification
   • Strategies to control agricultural run-off
   • Strategies to control industrial sewage
   • Strategies to control domestic sewage
4. Unit IV: Air pollution
   • Atmospheric layers and composition
   • Major air pollutants: primary and secondary pollutants; Examples of different forms of air pollution: photochemical and sulphurous smog, Atmospheric Brown Cloud
   • Greenhouse gases and their sources
   • Impacts on ecosystems and human health
5. Unit V: Air pollution control
   • Air quality standards and regulation
   • Transport pollution strategies
   • Industrial air pollution abatement strategies: cyclone, scrubber, bag filter and electrostatic precipitator
   • Evolution of the legislation:
     • National Environment Commission (NEC)’s Air Quality Management Strategy, 2010
     • Global protocols and conventions (introductory references): Kyoto Protocol, Montreal Protocol, Paris agreement

6. Unit VI: Soil Pollution
   • Sources of soil pollution
   • Natural and anthropogenic soil pollution
   • Hazardous soil pollutants: Organic Pollutants and Inorganic Pollutants
   • Impacts of soil pollution: Human, plant and animal, and ecosystem
   • Effect of soil pollution on agriculture production
   • Mobility and accessibility of pollutants to soil organisms.
   • Land pollution and its effects on water bodies
7. Unit VII: Control of soil pollution
   • Extraction and separation techniques: Acid extraction; Solvent extraction
   • Thermal methods: Incineration; Pyrolysis; Specialized Thermal Systems; Direct heat transfer method (Open Flame); Indirect heat transfer method
   • Chemical methods: Ion exchange, Precipitation, Oxidation and Reduction, and Neutralization
   • Microbial treatment methods: Bioremediation; Use of fungal laccase in decolourization of synthetic dyes; Aerobic granulation in wastewater treatment;
8. Unit VIII: Noise Pollution and Control
   • Noise pollution
     • Concepts and definition
     • Sources of Noise pollution
   • Effects of Noise
   • Measurement of noise
   • Equivalent sound pressure level
   • Control measures
     • NEC Standards on noise pollution

Reading List:

Essential Reading

Dwivedi, P. (2004). Environmental pollution and environmental management. Jodhpur, India: Scientific Publisher.

El-Nemr, A. (2010). Impact, monitoring and management of environmental pollution. Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers.

Marquita K. Hill (2010). Understanding environmental pollution. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Mirsal, I. (2008). Soil pollution: Origin, monitoring & remediation (2nd ed). Berlin, Germany: Springer

Sharma, N., Agarwal, A. K., Eastwood, P., Gupta, T. and Singh, A. P. (Eds). (2018). Air pollution and control. Singapore, Singapore: Springer.

Twardowska, I., Allen, H.E., Häggblom, M.M. and Stefaniak, S. (Eds.). (2006). Soil and water pollution monitoring, Protection and Remediation. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Springer.

Additional Reading

Gupta, A. (2002). Environment pollution: Developed countries vs. less developed countries. Dehradun, India: International Book distributors.

Harrision, R. M (Ed.). (2001). Pollution: Causes, effects and control. London, UK: Royal Society of Chemistry

Murphy, E. and King, E. (2014). Environmental noise pollution: Noise mapping, public health, and policy (1st ed). Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier.

National Environment Commission (2020).  Environmental standards. Thimphu, Bhutan: NEC.

National Environment Commission (2010).  Strategy for air quality assessment and management in Bhutan. Thimphu,Bhutan: NEC.

Shyam, S. (2006). Air pollution and its impacts on plant growth. Delhi, India: Eastern Book Corporation.

Date: June 2021