Air Pollution and Health
Course content
| After an introduction to atmospheric chemistry then indoor (industrial and non-industrial) and outdoor air pollution will be treated followed by toxicological approaches. Modeling and pollution concepts will be presented and discussed. The student will obtain the underlying knowledge to understand and discuss topics in the field of air pollution and associated health effects, and air pollution epidemiology. |
MSc Programme in Chemistry with a minor subject
MSc Programme in Environmental Science
The student is expected to obtain a general knowledge and
overview of the field of air pollution chemistry
(outdoor industrial and non-industrial indoor),
associated human health effects, toxicological approaches for risk
identification, epidemiology, and methods and strategies for air
sampling (exposure assessment). The student must have the following
knowledge, skills and competences:
Knowledge:
General knowledge of pollutant types, sources and dynamics in
indoor environments. Detailed knowledge of selected pollutants,
source, fate, reactions.
General overview of types of measurements (direct reading, sampling
methods, etc), advantages and disadvantages, sampling strategies,
quality control/quality assurance strategies of measurements.
General knowledge of health effects and how they are evaluated by
epidemiological and experimental methods. Be able to evaluate
measurement data (exposure assessment).
General knowledge of health effects relevant for indoor and
(industrial)occupational environments. General knowledge of methods
how to study and evaluate pollutant exposure by experimental
methods.
Have a general knowledge of measurement methods in in-door
chemistry, material testing and source control.
Be able to describe a) toxicological approaches for the evaluation
of air pollutants in different experimental models, b) exposure
assessment of air pollution, c) epidemiological assessment of all
health effects of (outdoor) air pollution with inclusion of
exposure-response functions, susceptibility and importance of
sources, composition and international dimensions.
Skills:
Be able to perform exposure assessment and analyze
dose-response-relationships related to air pollution
Be able to explain the principles of formation of particles and
their fate in the atmosphere.
Be able to explain major indoor sources of pollution and their
dynamics and transformation.
Be able to account for (using graphs) different sizes of particles
in the atmosphere, their lifetimes and their most important
chemical components
Be able to propose relevant sampling methods and monitoring
strategies for given scenarios and pollutants.
Be able to propose methods to identify causality (dose-response
relationships).
Be able to carry out exposure assessment.
Competence:
Discuss indoor pollutants including most important occupational and
non-occupational (indoor) pollutants.
Discuss emission and concentration characteristics, source control
and labeling strategies.
Be able to identify important pollutants and how they are measured.
How to evaluate the quality of measurement data.
Discuss air pollution and health associated effects - mechanisms
and causes. Be able to discuss potential health risks of indoor
pollution.
Be able to critically evaluate concentration or emission data
(exposure assessment).
Be able to discuss health effects and impact assessment of air
pollution based on toxicological and epidemiological evaluation and
including address of exposure-response functions, susceptibility
and importance of sources, composition and international
dimensions
Lectures, problem solving, practicals, report writing.
Scientific papers and material produced by the teachers
Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Oral examination, 25 min (no preparation)
- Type of assessment details
- ---
- Exam registration requirements
-
The report from the practical exercise in week 2 must be approved ahead of the oral exam
- Aid
- Without aids
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Several internal examiners
- Re-exam
-
Same as the ordinary exam. The report must be approved 3 weeks before the re-exam
Criteria for exam assessment
To obtain the grade 12 the student must fulfill the description of the course goals in the topics touched upon at the exam with no or only insignificants exceptions. The student must demonstrate understanding of physical as well as chemical thinking with respect to air pollution and human health. The student must be able to explain the path from source and emission of natural or anthropogenic compounds to chemistry and physics in the troposphere and stratosphere and evaluate the consequences for human health. The student must possess all the knowledge, skills and competences described above.
Single subject courses (day)
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 21
- Preparation
- 134
- Theory exercises
- 21
- Practical exercises
- 9
- Project work
- 21
- English
- 206
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- NKEA09012U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
-
1 block
- Placement
- Block 2
- Schedulegroup
-
B
- Capacity
- 36
The number of places might be reduced if you register in the late-registration period (BSc and MSc) or as a credit or single subject student. - Studyboard
- Study Board of Natural Resources, Environment and Animal Science
Contracting department
- Department of Chemistry
- Department of Public Health
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Science
Course Coordinator
- Olga Garmash (12-73706b65326b65767165776c44676c6971326f7932686f)
Teacher
Olga Garmash, Ole John Nielsen og Peter Møller (Health)
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