Assessment of Chemical and Natural Hazards

Course manual 2017/2018

Course content

Humankind has an enormous impact on the natural environment as a result of, for example, changes in land use and the intentional or intentional release of synthetic chemicals. These impacts can result in undesirable effects on ecosystem and human health. On the other hand, the natural environment imposes potential dangers on the livelihoods of people and intensively used parts of the landscape. This course is an introduction into the approaches and techniques that are used to assess and manage the risks to human society and the natural environment from natural and chemical hazards. The course addresses the application of GIS, remote sensing, geo-statistics and modelling-based techniques to assess the risks of 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

Attendance

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

Additional requirements for this course:

Practicals and presentations are mandatory. Always contact the lecturer in case of absence. Missing more than a 4 hour block will lead to a failure for that component. Discussion lectures are highly recommended as the study material will be explained through discussions.

Assessment

To pass the course, the final mark should be 6.0 or higher. This mark is calculated from the listed components above, and each of these components should have a grade equal or higher than the minimum grade as indicated. Retakes for the Case Studies 1-3 are improved reports if they had originally a mark less than 5.5.

Inspection of assessed work

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

Assignments

Case Study 1

• Modelling of a natural hazards selected from four topics, including a case on flooding in the Netherlands as derived from the work by Alkema, a slope failure case based on the model of Greenwood, a desertification case study based on a water balance and crop yield model, and a wind throw model based on the work of the Scottish Forest Commission.

   

Case Study 2

• Climatological hazard that can be induced by climate change, such as temperature rise and changes of the precipitation regime.

   

Case Study 3

• Environmental risk assessment for a chemical, e.g., PBDE 47 (a brominated flame retardant of the diphenyl ether type), PFOA (perfluorooctanoate, used as in production of waterproofing chemicals and firefighting foams), or a pesticide (e.g atrazine). This assessment consists of a comparison of exposure concentrations to concentrations considered to be safe. Exposure concentrations can be estimated with one of the simple environmental distribution models (Simplebox or similar) introduced in the computer practical and may validated by comparison field data reported in the literature. Toxicological data are collected from internet databases and the literature and are used to derive (P)NEC (predicted no effect concentration) values. These are then compared to either estimated or measured exposure concentrations to make a risk evaluation for the chemicals.

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Timetable

The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

Additional information

Bachelor in Earth Sciences, Chemistry or Biology

Contact information

Coordinator

• J.R. Parsons

Staff

• dr. ir. J.H. van Boxel
• dr. L.H. Cammeraat
• dr. Steven Droge
• prof. dr. W.P. de Voogt