Pollution Science

Pollution Science is an interdisciplinary field dedicated to understanding the sources, transport, fate, and effects of contaminants within the Earth's systems. It investigates how chemical, physical, and biological pollutants are introduced into the atmosphere, water, and soil, how they are transformed and distributed, and what impacts they have on human health, ecosystem stability, and global climate. This scientific discipline provides the foundational knowledge for developing strategies to monitor, control, and remediate pollution, aiming to mitigate its adverse effects and protect environmental quality.

  1. Introduction to Pollution Science
    1. Defining Pollution and Contaminants
      1. Definitions of Pollution
        1. Definitions of Contaminants
          1. Distinction Between Pollution and Contamination
            1. Natural vs. Anthropogenic Pollution
            2. Scope and Interdisciplinary Nature
              1. Role of Chemistry in Pollution Science
                1. Role of Biology in Pollution Science
                  1. Role of Physics in Pollution Science
                    1. Role of Geology in Pollution Science
                      1. Role of Toxicology in Pollution Science
                        1. Role of Epidemiology in Pollution Science
                          1. Role of Engineering in Pollution Science
                            1. Integration of Disciplines in Pollution Studies
                            2. Historical Perspective on Pollution
                              1. Early Human Impacts on the Environment
                                1. Industrial Revolution and Pollution
                                  1. Major Pollution Events in History
                                    1. London Smog of 1952
                                      1. Minamata Disease
                                        1. Love Canal
                                          1. Chernobyl Disaster
                                          2. Evolution of Environmental Awareness
                                            1. Development of Environmental Science
                                            2. Key Concepts and Terminology
                                              1. Source-Pathway-Receptor Framework
                                                1. Definition of Source
                                                  1. Definition of Pathway
                                                    1. Definition of Receptor
                                                      1. Conceptual Site Models
                                                      2. Point Source vs. Non-point Source Pollution
                                                        1. Acute vs. Chronic Exposure
                                                          1. Persistence of Pollutants
                                                            1. Bioaccumulation
                                                              1. Biomagnification
                                                                1. Environmental Fate and Transport
                                                                  1. Threshold Effects vs. No-Threshold Effects

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                                                                2. Sources and Classification of Pollutants