SOIL POLLUTION AND HUMAN HEALTH
Environmental pollution on global, regional, and local scales is one of humanity's most pressing issues, and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Examine the sources and properties of anthropogenic soil pollution including emerging contaminants such as PFAS, nanomaterials, and microplastics. Understand the contaminant mobility in the environment and in turn, how these contaminants affect human and ecosystem health. Apply epidemiological, toxicological, and risk assessment methods to assess soil contamination impacts on local populations. Through case studies from around the world explore issues of soil contamination and interventions to mitigate health impacts.
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: CHEM 103 , 108 , 109 , 115 , or graduate/professional student standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Natural Science & Wellness + Lab Breadth - Physical Science Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Spring 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify the nature and sources of common and emerging environmental soil pollutants. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Recognize how contaminant mobility and bioavailability impact human and ecosystem health. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Analyze case studies to understand environmental and human health impacts and applicable contamination mitigation techniques. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Apply epidemiology, toxicology, and risk assessment methods to assess soil contamination impacts on local populations. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Evaluate scientific published literature and synthesize results for oral presentations. Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify the nature and sources of common and emerging environmental soil pollutants. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Recognize how contaminant mobility and bioavailability impact human and ecosystem health. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Analyze case studies to understand environmental and human health impacts and applicable contamination mitigation techniques. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Apply epidemiology, toxicology, and risk assessment methods to assess soil contamination impacts on local populations. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Evaluate scientific published literature and synthesize results for oral presentations. Audience: Graduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027