Assessment of Chemical and Natural Hazards

6 EC

Semester 2, period 4

5264ACNH6Y

Owner Master Earth Sciences
Coordinator J.R. Parsons
Part of Master Earth Sciences, year 1Master Earth Sciences, track Geo-Ecological Dynamics, year 1

Course manual 2016/2017

Course content

Humankind has an enormous impact on the world by trying to adapt nature for his own benefit as well as unintentionally affecting environmental quality by for example chemical pollution. However, natural disasters, such as earthquakes and flooding, as well as poor environmental quality threaten human society. It is therefore important to assess the risks of these threats. This course focuses on GIS or model based applications to assess natural and chemical hazards in the soil-water-landscape system. Special attention is paid to:

  • Slope failure
  • River and flooding
  • Soil degradation and dessication
  • Tree and forest uprooting
  • Chemical pollution of soil and water
  • Ecotoxicology and risk assessment of chemicals

Study materials

Literature

  • C.J. van Leeuwen & T.G. Vermeire, 2007, Risk Assessment of Chemicals: An Introduction (2nd ed.), Springer, ISBN 978-1-4020-6101-1;
  • K. Smith 2013, Environmental Hazards. Assessing Risk and Reducing Disaster (6th ed.), Routledge, ISBN 9780415681063 (paperback) Handouts

Objectives

The student:

  • has a broad overview of the essentials of techniques to assess natural hazards, related to soil, water and landscape;
  • is able to apply these techniques in hazard assessments for selected case studies;
  • knows the basic concepts and methods used in the environmental risk assessment of chemicals;
  • is able to apply these concepts and techniques to perform an environmental risk assessment for a selected substance;
  • is able to report the results and conclusions of the case studies in written and oral forms.


Teaching methods

  • Lecture
  • Seminar
  • Computer lab session/practical training
  • Presentation/symposium
  • Self-study
  • Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis
  • Supervision/feedback meeting

The first part of the course starts with the theoretical backgrounds of hazard and risk assessment and aspects of recurrency statistics. Sustainable management as well as a set of major environmental hazards are discussed. The principles of environmental risk assessment (ERA) of chemicals (the PEC/NEC approach) are introduced in the second part of the course, together with exposure modelling and the derivation of environmental protection guidelines. The course includes guided self-study modules on techniques that are relevant for hazard assessment. The course is completed with case studies concerning both natural and chemical hazards. Results of these studies will be discussed in the group.



Learning activities

Activity

Number of hours

Computer practical

8

Test

2

lectures

24

Presentations

8

Self study

126

 

Attendance

The programme does not have requirements concerning attendance (OER-B).


Additional requirements for this course:

Assessment

Item and weight Details

Final grade

0%

Discussions and test

Discussion lectures and test:               20%

Essay hazards (Case Study 1):            7.5%

Report van Boxel (Case Study 2):       7.5%

Case Study 3:                                     15%

Case Study 4 (report)                         25%

Case study 4 (presentation):              25%

The minimum grade required for each component to pass is 5

Inspection of assessed work

The date, time and location of the inspection moment are in the DataNose timetable.

Assignments

Case study 1

  • Essay on a natural disaster

Case study 2

  • Climatological hazards

Case study 3

  • Modelling of a natural hazard

Case study 4

  • Environmental risk assessment for a chemical

Onderstaande opdrachten komen aan bod in deze cursus:

  •    Naam opdracht 1 : beschrijving 2
  •    Naam opdracht 2 : beschrijving 1
  •    ....

Fraud and plagiarism

Dit vak hanteert de algemene ‘Fraude- en plagiaatregeling’ van de UvA. Onder plagiaat of fraude wordt verstaan het overschrijven van het werk van een medestudent dan wel het kopiëren van wetenschappelijke bronnen (uit bijvoorbeeld boeken en tijdschriften en van het Internet) zonder daarbij de bron te vermelden. Uiteraard is plagiaat verboden. Hier wordt nauwkeurig op gecontroleerd en streng tegen opgetreden. Bij verdenking van plagiaat wordt de examencommissie van de opleiding ingeschakeld. Wanneer de examencommissie overtuigd is dat er plagiaat gepleegd is dan kan dit maximaal leiden tot een uitsluiting van al het onderwijs van de opleiding voor een heel kalenderjaar. Zie voor meer informatie over het fraude- en plagiaatreglement van de Universiteit van Amsterdam.www.uva.nl/plagiaat

Course structure

6 Feb

9:00-11:00 (D1.114)  

General Introduction (Cammeraat and Parsons)

Introduction Environmental Hazards (Dr. E. Cammeraat)

Study Smith, Environmental Hazards: Chapters 1, 2 and 3 will be discussed.  Prepare Chapter 1-3 before the lecture!  Start on Case study 1 (self study)

7 Feb

9:00-11:00 (D1.114)

Introduction Case Studies 1 and 3 (Dr. E. Cammeraat)

Discussion on  Environmental Hazards: Chapters 4-8 (to be studied before the lecture)

Start on Case Studies 3 (self study)

13 Feb

9:00-11:00 (G2.02)

Discussion on Chapters 10-12 (Dr. E. Cammeraat)

Questions on Case Study 1

Read Environmental Hazards: Chapters 10-12 before the lecture.

14 Feb

9:00-11:00 (G0.05)

Progress and questions on Case Study 3 (Dr. E. Cammeraat), Continue with Case Study 3 and prepare presentation (self-study)

Read Chapter 9 (self-study)

Finish and hand in essay on recent disaster (Case Study 1)

20 Feb

9:00-13:00 (D1.115)

Climatological hazards, climate change, extreme precipitation (Dr. ir.  J. van Boxel)

Introduction and distribution of Case Study 2 (Dr. ir. J. van Boxel)

Self-study on Case Study 2 (deadline 24 Feb 9:00)

24 Feb

Before 9:00

Finish and hand in report on Case Study 2 by email

27 Feb

9:00-11:00 (D1.115)

Feedback class assignments and Case Study 2 (Dr. ir. J. van Boxel)

Continue Case Study 3 (self-study)

27 Feb

11:00-15:00 (D1.115)

Presentations Case Study 3

1 March

9:00-11:00 (C0.05)

Before 17:00

 

Test

Finish and hand in report on Case Study 3 by email

6 March

9:00-11:00 (D1.114)

Introduction to assessment of the environmental and human health risks of chemicals and Case Study 4 Prof. dr. W.P. de Voogt)

Read Van Leeuwen & Vermeire Chapters 1-4 (self study)

Start Case Study 4 (self-study)

7 March

9:00-11:00 (D1.114)

Environmental exposure assessment of chemicals (Dr. J.R. Parsons)

Read Chapters 5-8 (self-study)

Case Study 4 (self-study)

8 March

9:00-11:00 (D1.116)

Ecotoxicology and toxicity testing (Dr. J.R. Parsons)

Case Study 4 (self-study)

13 March

11:00-13:00 (D1.115)

Exposure Assessment: Introduction to emission estimation and modeling transport pathways (Dr. Bert van Hattum)

13 March

13:00-17:00 (B1.24ABC)

Exposure Assessment: Emission estimation and transport pathways; demonstration of models (Dr. Bert van Hattum)

14 March

13:00-17:00 (B1.24ABC)

Exposure Assessment: Emission estimation and transport pathways; demonstration of models (Dr. Bert van Hattum)

20 March

9:00-11:00 (D1.115)

Feedback case Study 4 (Dr. J.R. Parsons)

Case Study 4 (self-study)

28 March

9:00-13:00 (G0.10-G0.12)

Presentations Case Study 4 (Dr. J.R. Parsons)

31 March

Before 17:00

Finish and hand in report on Case Study 4 by email

 

Timetable

The course schedule can be found at https://datanose.nl/

Additional information

Bachelor in Earth Sciences, Chemistry or Biology

 

Contact information

Coordinator

  • J.R. Parsons