SOQ-21306 Soil Pollution and Soil Protection

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

Introductory level course on soil science

Continuation courses:

Soil Quality (SOQ-21806), Nutrient management (SOQ-31806), Soil Chemical Applications (SOQ-34306), Thesis Soil Quality

Contents:

Lectures and tutorials: Treatment of several aspects of soil pollution and soil protection: soil quality evaluation procedures; soil protection and soil remediation policy; effects on soil biota, plants and human beings; risk assessment of polluted soil for humans and ecosystems. Also sources, effects and behavior of various pollutants in soils (heavy metals, organic compounds, pesticides, cyanide, phosphate and nitrogen). Basic concepts of reactivity of soil particles (clay, metal-(hydr)oxides, organic matter), bio-accumulation, bio-availability, speciation (complexation, adsorption) and mass transport (leaching).
Practical: Experimental work related to soil pollution research. Subjects: soil sampling including statistical data handling; effects of heavy metal pollution on plants including estimation of bio-availability and determination of dose-response relationships (jar experiment with treatments: soil type, pH and heavy metal); chemical analysis of soil and plant.

Learning outcomes:

After this course the student is expected to be able to:
- recognize and describe the impact of soil pollution on the environment;
- describe compound behavior in soils;
- execute a risk assessment for polluted soil;
- carry out soil sampling and simple dose-response experiments, including simple statistical data handling and report writing.

Activities:

Attend lectures and tutorials; study textbook and make assignments; attend practical.

Examination:

Lectures: written exam.
Practical: written reports of the experiments.

Literature:

Textbook Soil Pollution and Soil Protection; Practical manual Soil Pollution and Soil Protection.