84513 - SITI CONTAMINATI

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student learns the principles and the application of: migration and pollution, in soil and groundwater, of metals, metalloids (natural or anthropic origin) and man-made organic contaminants (hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents, pesticides, emerging contaminants); processes of transport of contaminants from the source toward potential receptors through air and water; geological, hydrogeological and geochemical characterization of a contaminated site; sampling of contaminated media and monitoring; risk assessment; remediation of contaminated sites.

Course contents

The course is divided in 2 Modules

Module I – Geochemistry of contaminated sites.

Sampling procedures on water, soil, sediment, air. Sampling strategy. Sample conditioning in relation to the sampled medium. Main instrumentations for geochemical characterization, with particular emphasis on inorganic components. Geochimical maps, threshold values and natural background levels. Migration and partition of inorganic contaminants in the hydrosphere: origin, toxicity and mobility.

Module II – Contaminant hydrogeology and risk assessment.

Physico-chemical properties and mobility of organic contaminants in air, soil and groundwater. Non Aqueous Phase Liquids. Transport of contaminants in the unsaturated zone and in groundwater (advection, diffusion, dispersion, retardation, degradation). Legislation on contaminated sites. Well-head and spring-head protection zones. Characterization, risk assessment and remediation of contaminated sites. Forensic hydrogeology and identification of the polluter. 

Readings/Bibliography

Module 1 – Geochemistry of contaminated sites

Calace N., Fratini M., Guerra M., Pascarella F., Zampetti F., 2006. Manuale per le indagini ambientali nei siti contaminati. APAT, Manuali e linee guida 43/2006

Manuale per la movimentazione di sedimenti marini, 2009. APAT-ICRAM

Linee guida per la determinazione dei valori di fondo per i suoli e per le acque sotterranee. ISPRA

Manuali e linee guida 174/2018

Modulo 2 – Contaminant Hydrogeology and Risk Assessment

Lessons of the teacher downloadable from the university web site https://iol.unibo.it/ .

The material will be available the day preceding the lesson.

The materials provided by the teacher, along with the notes of the lessons taken by the students, are considered adequate for the preparation of the exame

Teaching methods

Oral presentations, generally organized as a general overview and case studies as examples. Field trips are planned at sites of interest to complement classroom teaching

For module 2 exercitations in classroom by PC will be performed for risk assessment through freeware codes.

Assessment methods

The exam is based upon a multiple-choice/open answer written test.

The student can refuse the votation only once

The votation is expressed in 30/30 quote.

Teaching tools

Videoprojector, PC, blackboard, demonstration of the use of instruments (in the lab and on the field). PC exercise to perform risk assessment

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Gargini

See the website of Enrico Dinelli