Local, national and global concern about the environment has been increasing rapidly over recent decades, and as a result, there has been a booming demand for environmental assessments.

Skilled Environmental Assessors are in high demand.

Unfortunately though, many graduates from enviromental courses lack the ability to conduct a proper environmental assessment.

Having graduated from a diploma or degree (eg. in Environmental Science, Biology, Horticulture, Veterinary Science or Agriculture) may provide a sound basis for working as an environmental assessor;  but it is likely to also lack a key component in your education.

Our Environmental Assessment Course is designed to fill this gap.

click here for details

Extract from Course Notes:

Types of Pollution

Pollutants can be grouped according to the main ecosystem which they affect, although one pollutant often affects more than one ecosystem. The pollutant groupings are:

Pollutants affecting water

• Sewerage and inadequate sanitation. The pathogens in the sewerage cause diseases such as typhoid, cholera and gastroenteritis. The nutrients cause eutrophication (animal death by deprivation of oxygen)
• Fertilisers come from agricultural usage. They cause eutrophication.
• Silt comes from agriculture and erosion of the soil. It can be toxic and interferes with the breeding of mammals and birds. It also causes the silting up of estuaries.
• Toxic metals are the products of industry. They offer threats to both health and life.

Pollutants affecting marine life

• Sewerage and inadequate sanitation have the same effect as in fresh water.
• Fertilisers washed down by rivers into the sea causes eutrophication
• Oil spills smother marine plants and animals.
• Plastics cause the death of marine animals
• Pesticides from agriculture interfere with the breeding of birds and mammals.

Pollutants affecting the land

• Solid waste is classified as:
• Hazardous - radioactive, pesticides and medical poisons. These wastes are health and life threatening.
• Non-hazardous - domestic, urban, mining, industrial and scrap metal. These wastes are unsightly and their disposal takes up much space.

Pollutants affecting the air

• Sulphur dioxide from burning coal. Causes acid rain and respiratory problems.
• Nitrogen oxides caused by vehicle emissions
• Volatile hydrocarbons caused by vehicle emissions. These combine with nitrogen oxides to form photo chemical smog which causes respiratory problems.
• Carbon monoxide caused by un-burnt fuel in vehicle emissions. It restrict oxygen intake causing drowsiness, headaches and ultimately death.
• Carbon dioxide caused by the burning of fuel. It is conducive to global warming.
• CFCs (Chlorofluro-carbons) result from the use of some aerosol sprays, refrigeration and air conditioning coolants and foam bowing industries. The CFCs destroy the ozone layer in the atmosphere.
• Methane, produced on rubbish dumps and feedlots. It is conducive to global warming.
• Noise caused by traffic and industry. It can be very stressful and affect hearing.

_____________________________________________________________

ENVIRONMENT BOOKS
See our bookshop click here