44960 - Environmental Geochemistry

Learning outcomes

knowlegde of the factors controlling of metal in the surface environment focusing on contaminated and naturally altered situations

Course contents

Recall of some geochemical principles, with attention to low temperature geochemistry (weathering processe, redox state of the environment, properties of solid particles). Sampling strategy. suitable matrices in enviromentally-oriented geochemical studies. Atmosphere, Hydrosphere (rain, surface water, groundwater). Solid matrices (soils, stream sediments, alluvial sediments, lacustrine sediments). Biological matrices (vegetation, animals). availability and bioavailability: selective and sequential chemical extraction. Data handling: geochemical anomaly definition and identification. Natural background: definition and estimation. Geochemical barrier: definition, types and examples. Systematic geochemistry: description of the properties and geochemical charatcters of some environmentally important chemical elements (As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, PGE, Se, Sb, Sb, Tl, U, Zn). Interaction with the biosphere: dose-response relation in toxicological studies.

Readings/Bibliography

• Dongarrà G., Varrica D. Geochimica e ambiente. Edises ed.
  
• Eby N.G. Principles of environmental geochemistry. Thomson ed.
  
• Lima A., De Vivo B., Siegel F.R. Geochimica ambientale. Liguori ed.
  
• De Vivo B. Elementi e metodi di geochimica ambientale. Liguori ed.
  
• Dall'Aglio M. Geochimica ambientale e salute. principi e applicazioni. Aracne editrice

Teaching methods

power point presentation, worked examples, field excursion. laboratory work. Part of the lessons will be given by Prof. Bruno Capaccioni

Assessment methods

oral exam

Teaching tools

power point presentation, worked examples, field excursion. laboratory work

Office hours

See the website of Enrico Dinelli

See the website of Bruno Capaccioni