Environmental Engineering

MARIA ROSARIA BONI

The course provides students with the basic elements of biology, ecology and ecotoxicology indispensable for the study of pollution phenomena in natural environments, for their protection and remediation. The course analyzes the basic principles of biology, ecology and ecotoxicology. The various environmental compartments and the specific pollution phenomena for each compartment are also examined.
During the course the student will be able to acquire the information necessary to orient himself independently in the study of the environmental sectors and the relationships between them; will be able to recognize and interpret the knowledge acquired and adequately combine theoretical knowledge with the practical application of what has been learned, thus developing independent judgment within the specific field of action.
Particular attention is paid to innovative methods for the analysis of the harmful effects of pollutants and to the response capacity of the environmental sector considered.
At the end of the course the student will have acquired the basic notions and means to deal with the study of the pollution phenomena of the environmental compartments - which are the cause of environmental alterations - and of the chemical-physical and biological processes that are used in remediation technologies environmental. Furthermore, the student will be able to effectively communicate the knowledge acquired.

The course provides the students with the basic elements of biology, ecology and ecotoxicology, essential to the study of pollution phenomena in natural environments, for their safeguarding and restoration.
The course examines the basic principles of chemical and ecological reactions and introduces eco-toxicology notions. The different environmental compartments and specific issues of each are also examined with the aim of providing useful information for the study and analysis of the various environmental issues.
The basic principles of ecology are also introduced through application examples that allow to assess the phenomena related to pollution and analyze the quality of the environment.
Special attention is given to innovative methods to analyze the pollutants harmful effects and the response capacity of the specific environmental compartment.
At the end of the course, the student will know the different pollution phenomena that are the base of natural environments alterations and he will know the chemical-physical and biological processes that are used in environmental remediation technologies.

During the course the student will get the information to orient themselves in the study of environmental compartments and the relationships between them. He will be able to recognize and interpret data and combine appropriately theoretical knowledge with practical application developing then autonomous judgment within the specific field of action.

At the end of the course, the student will be able to effectively communicate the acquired knowledge and to deepen, also from the regulatory point of view, the different aspects of environmental issues.

During the course, great importance will be given to the complexity of the topics dealt with and the need for continuous innovation of knowledge. In this way it will be trying to stimulate the students to autonomous study of the issues related to the environment also with respect to international standard.

For a good learning of the subject, the elementary knowledge of the following disciplines is useful: chemistry, physics, biology and mathematical analysis.

Elements of biology and biochemistry. Morphological and structural living beings. Protists and their organization level. The composition of living matter. Enzymes as biological catalysts. Environmental microorganisms and their role in the degradation of organic matter. Bacterial metabolism: anabolism and catabolism.
Fundamentals of Ecology. The natural environment: air, land, water. The man-made environment. Ecosystems. Ecological homeostasis. Energy in ecosystems. Food chains. Ecological pyramids. Biogeochemical cycles. Nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus and biogenic elements-cycles. Growth laws: tolerance and minimum law. Population. Population dynamics. Communities examples of natural and artificial ecosystems.
Ecotoxicology and Toxicology. Definition. Effects on humans of the most common chemicals. Identification of the pollutant based on physic-chemical properties. Main biotic and abiotic transformation processes and transport of pollutants. Biodegradability, bioaccumulation, bioconcentration, biomagnification. Definition of toxic compounds. Exposure and dose. Concentration-effect curves. Acute and chronic toxicity. Interaction between toxic. Sublethal effects: acute and chronic. The estimates of toxicity.
2 CFU equal to 50 hours of student commitment of which:
• 20 hours between lectures, exercises and seminars;
• 30 hours of individual study.

The terrestrial environment. Pedogenesis. Physical, chemical, mechanical and biological properties of soil. Sources of soil pollution and definition of the levels of contamination. Direct and indirect effects on biotic communities of plants and animals. Main processes of soil self-remediation. Approach to remediation of contaminated soils.
The aquatic environment. Surface water and groundwater. Uses of water. Sources and effects of lentic water. Main self-purification processes in water. Biological, chemical, and physical of the main pollution. Monitoring of water pollution. Measures to control water pollution. Groundwater and their use. Lake pollution: eutrophication. Recovery of eutrophic lakes. Marine pollution. River pollution. Study of river pollution with sack curve.
The ambient air. Vertical temperature gradient. Main sources of anthropogenic and natural pollution. Primary and secondary pollutants. Monitoring of atmospheric air. Air pollution effects. Effects on climate: greenhouse effect refrigerator, UV effect, acid deposition, smog. The direct and indirect effects on biotic communities of plants and animals. Measures to control air quality. Electromagnetic pollution. Normative references. Review of electromagnetism. Main sources of electromagnetism. Low and High-frequency electromagnetic fields.
4 CFU equal to 100 hours of student commitment of which:
• 40 hours between lectures, exercises and seminars;
• 60 hours of individual study.

Fenomeni di inquinamento degli ambienti naturali. Principi e metodi di studio.
Author: Boni Maria Rosaria. Publishing house: Carocci. March 2007

Lesson plans and handouts

The course is divided into lectures, during which the fundamental knowledge is imparted relating to the activities necessary for the study of the phenomena of pollution of natural environments, for their protection and remediation. Specific seminars are organized on topics of particular interest. The basic principles of ecology are also introduced through application examples that allow to evaluate the phenomena related to pollution and analyze the qualitative characteristics of the environment.

The lessons will take place in the classroom and the student is invited to follow the lessons in order to simplify the study of the matter

The learning objectives achieved by the students will be analyzed organically within the profit exam at the end of the course.
The exam, in which the candidate will be judged based on the knowledge of the course topics, consists of an oral test.
During the oral exam questions will be extracted from the program, the student will have to demonstrate his ability to orient himself independently between the different topics covered during the course.

Biology and biochemistry elements
Ecology elements
Ecotoxicology elements
Characteristics of the waters
Water pollution
Sack curve
Eutrophication
soil characteristics
Soil pollution
Atmosphere characteristics
Atmospheric pollution
Big five
Thermal inversion of the atmosphere