Chemical interactions on the interface of sea, land and air will be explained as well as transport of pollutants.The state of the coastal zones in the world will be discussed, as well as regional, national and international monitoring practices and programs. An introduction to designing monitoring program will be presented. Further, an insight into our own life style and the effects we have on the environment will be discussed. At the end of the course, students should have a broad overview over the main environmental hazards towards coastal zones, both natural and man made. They should be able to recognize major pollutants and have a understanding of their source, transport and effects on the ecosystem. Students should be familiar with main methods for detecting environmental hazards and means of monitoring them.

Special focus will be put on:

• Effects of persistant organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals on living organisms, with special emphasis on sea-birds
• Environmental chemistry, where students gain insights into chemical analyses and ecotoxicology
• Hands-on demonstration of the effects of contamination on living organisms

Please click here for further information or send an e-mail to Dr. Hrönn Jörundsdóttir, hronn.o.jorundsdóttir@matis.is.