Environmental Risk Assessment

Code

CHEE4017

School

Chemical and Environmental Engineering

Level

4

Credits

10

Semesters

Autumn UK

Summary

• Risk assessment principles (source, pathway, receptor) including conceptual frameworks, Greenleaves III, risk based regulation and environmental protection.



 
• Risk characterisation, hazard identification, consequences, significance, handling uncertainty.



 
• Tools and techniques:
  
  Qualitative risk assessment.
  
  Quantitative risk assessment, ie hands-on risk assessment modelling.
   
• Risk management .
   
• Fate and transport of contaminants, speciation of contaminants, environmental partitioning (fugacity).
   
• Health impact assessment: Public health, occupational health studies, toxicology, perception, exposure, causality, odds ratios, epidemiological studies, scientific evidence for landfill versus energy from waste (comparative assessment), odour.

   

   

Target Students

For students registered in the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering only.

Classes

• One 1-hour lecture each week for 11 weeks
• One 2-hour computing each week for 11 weeks

Activities may take place every teaching week of the Semester or only in specified weeks. It is usually specified above if an activity only takes place in some weeks of a Semester

Assessment

• 70% Report: Group Risk Assessment Report, c3000 words
• 30% Presentation 1: 15 minute Individual Presentation

Assessed by end of autumn semester

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

A2 Chemical Engineering Principles:

A2.3.4 Recognise the limitations of standard commercial software for solving chemical engineering problems and identify requirements for more advanced techniques or specialist expertise.

Application of numerical and computer methods to complete an environmental risk assessment

Assessed via use of ConSIM in all submitted coursework

A2.6.6 Be able to apply the same principles with systems thinking to more complex problems

Generate an environmental risk assessment taking into account legislation and environmental practices (Assess via both pieces of Coursework)

A2.7.6 Be able to apply principles of sustainability, economics and ethics to novel and complex situations with conflicting requirements

Evaluate implications when proposing mitigation strategies for an environmental risk assessment (Assessed via Coursework 2)

Assessed via the inherently uncertain and complex nature and handling of uncertainty in both courseworks. In particular uncertainty of environmental variables used to model risk. 

A4 Chemical Engineering Design:

A4.2.11.4 Evaluation of financial and other risks.

Conveners

• Dr Helena Gomes