| CODE | EMP3004 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Atmospheric Pollution | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | Not Applicable | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Environmental Management and Planning | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This unit addresses the four types of processes that affect air pollution levels: emissions, chemistry, transport, and deposition. Amongst other aspects, the unit will discuss the planetary boundary layer, the physics and chemistry of air pollution, the characterization of air pollution, sources of air pollution and rationales and methods for air pollution control. Other aspects addressed will include urban air pollution, the effects of meteorology on air pollution, acid deposition, indoor air pollution, tropospheric/stratospheric ozone issues, and the greenhouse effect/global warming. Health risks associated with atmospheric pollution will also be addressed by means of European case studies. The unit will also consider impacts of atmospheric pollution on vegetation and animals, on materials and structures, and on soil and water bodies. The unit will furthermore address the regulatory aspects relating to pollution sources at the regional level and ongoing commitments towards global mitigation of atmospheric pollution. It will thus synergise with EMP3006 which addresses the topic of climate change. The unit's labwork session will involve an exercise to study air pollution dispersion and trajectories using approved software, during which the students will have the opportunity to appreciate and understand air pollution modelling and prediction. Study-unit Aims: This study seeks to address the following objectives: - Developing students' understanding of the science and impacts of atmospheric pollution on Earth Systems, from the industrial revolution to the present day; - Demonstrating how today’s increased population and industrial activity are impacting the atmosphere and in what way; - Reviewing the current abatement technologies and policies (local, regional and global) as well as future opportunities towards prevention of atmospheric pollution. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: a. Describe causes of atmospheric pollution, chemistry involved, short-long range transport and deposition, at a global and local level; b. List categories of atmospheric pollutants; c. Describe the impacts of atmospheric pollution on the health and well-being of people, plants, animals and abiotic components; d. Discuss basic misconceptions related to atmospheric pollution; e. Discuss ongoing research on mitigation of atmospheric pollution, at the local, regional and global levels. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: a. Discuss the necessity of an interdisciplinary approach to managing atmospheric pollution issues; b. Apply a spatial approach when studying atmospheric pollution, taking into account Earth system dynamics; c. Apply numerical modelling for the understanding of air pollution dispersion. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main texts: Jacobson, M. Z., 2002. Atmospheric Pollution: History, Science, and Regulation. Cambridge University Press. 1st Edition. ISBN: 978-052-101-044-3. Harrison, R. M., 1999. Understanding Our Environment: An Introduction to Environmental Chemistry and Pollution. 3rd Revised edition. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Royal Society of Chemistry. ISBN: 978-085-404-584-6. Harrison, R. M., 2001. Pollution: Causes, Effects and Control. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Royal Society of Chemistry. 4th edition. ISBN: 978-184-973-648-0. Manahan, S. E., 2009. Environmental Chemistry. 9th Revised edition. Bosa Roca, United States: Taylor & Francis Inc. ISBN: 978-142-005-920-5. Vallero, D., 2007. Fundamentals of Air Pollution. San Diego, United States: Academic Press. 4th Edition. ISBN: 978-012-373-615-4. Colls, J. & Tiwary, A., 2009. Air Pollution. London, United Kingdom: Routledge. 3rd Edition. ISBN: 978-041-547-932-5. Baird, C. & Cann, M., 2012. Environmental Chemistry. New York, United States: W.H.Freeman & Co Ltd. International Edition. ISBN: 978-146-411-349-9. Moller, D. W., 2011. Environmental Health. 4th Edition. Cambridge, United States: Harvard University Press. ISBN: 9780674047402 European Environment Agency. Air Quality in Europe-2013 report. EEA technical Report 9/2013. EEA Copenhagen 2013. Supplementary reading: World Health Organization. Air Quality and Health. WHO Fact sheet N°313, Geneva, 2011. Kelly, F.J. & Fussell, J.C. Air Pollution and Airway Disease. Clin Exp Allergy. 2011; 41(8): 1059-1071. Gamble, J.F., Nicolich, M.J., Boffetta P. Lung Cancer and Diesel Exhaust: An Updated Critical Review of the Occupational Epidemiology Literature. Crit Rev Toxicol 2012; 42(7): 549-598. |
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| RULES/CONDITIONS | Before TAKING THIS UNIT YOU MUST TAKE EMP1003 AND TAKE EMP2001 | |||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Practicum | |||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Everaldo Attard Joseph M. Cacciottolo Massimo Fanara Charles Galdies (Co-ord.) Colette Pace Mark Scerri |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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