Soil and Water Pollution

Background to pollution. Definition and concepts related to soil and water pollution. Types of pollutants and their sources; sediments, acids, heavy metals, nuclear wastes, organic, petroleum products, agro-chemicals, poly aromatic hydrocarbons. Cycles of pollutants and their effects on the environment, human health (blue baby syndrome, abortion), soil and water quality. Assessment of pollution. Rehabilitation of polluted soil and water, and associated costs. Ground water contamination. Management of soil and water pollution (chemical degradation, biodegradation, phytoremediation etc). Mitigation of pollution, Legal aspects of toxicants in the environment e.g WHO recommendations)