EARTH SCI 749 / Advanced Environmental Organic Geochemistry

3 unit(s)

G. Slater

The course will focus on an advanced treatment of the underlying fundamental concepts in environmental organic geochemistry. Primary focus will be on the basic chemical parameters and kinetic and thermodynamic principles that control the distribution and persistence of organic chemicals in the environment and therefore the risk that they pose to human and ecosystem health. The same principles control the transport, fate and biological processing of both organic contaminants and natural organic matter. Therefore this course will provide students with fundamental understanding applicable to both contaminated and natural systems. The primary basis for this discussion will be the seminal text Environmental Organic Chemistry by Schwarzenbach et al, with discussion of the application of these principles as reflected in the recent literature. This course is an inquiry-based course.