Environmental Monitoring

The main objective of the course is to provide students with theoretical and practical knowledge in various chapters of environmental monitoring. Students get a better understanding of the importance and usefulness of environmental monitoring in environmental studies.
Students develop analytical skills including defining a problem, selecting appropriate variables, evaluating the data, as well as they are able to use the appropriate procedures for monitoring various environmental compartments.

Prior knowledge of some chapters in chemistry, physics, biology and instrumental methods is needed.

• Basics about monitoring (definition, tasks, scheme, types and errors of monitoring)
• Monitoring of chemical and physical parameters
• Monitoring of biological parameters
• Monitoring of air (ambient air and precipitation)
• Monitoring of water (river, lake, sea, underground water)
• Monitoring of soil
• Land treatment monitoring
• Emission factors (definition, application, source of errors)
• Importance of sampling (sampling plan, types of sampling, statistical analysis)
• Importance of quality assurance of data (limit of detection, limit of quantification, linear range, precision, trueness, recovery, selectivity)
• Equipment for monitoring
• Legislation in the field of monitoring

Students learn procedures to establish environmental monitoring. They are able to choose the appropriate type of environmental monitoring, both in terms of choice of sampling locations and measured parameters, as well as in terms of choice of medium. Based on practical examples, they realize the importance of proper sampling, data quality assurance and learn about the basic equipment for monitoring. Also, students are able to explain differences in the planning and implementation of environmental monitoring at local, national and international level.

• Artiola, J. F., Pepper, I. L., Brusseau, M. L. Environmental monitoring and characterization. London: Elsevier Academic Press, 2004. Poglavja/Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Catalogue
• Wiersma, G. B. Environmental Monitoring. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2004. Poglavja/ Chapters: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8
• Chapman, D. Water Quality Assessments – A Guide to Use of Biota, Sediments and Water in Environmental Monitoring. London: E&FN Spon, 1996. Poglavja/Chapters: 4, 6, 7 ,8 E-version
• Bartram, J. and Ballance, R.: Water Quality Monitoring – A Practical Guide to the Design and Implementation of Freshwater Quality Studies and Monitoring Programmes. London: UNEP/WHO, 1996. Poglavja/Chapters: 3, 4, 5, 12, 13
• Gilbert, R. O. Statistical methods for environmental pollution monitoring. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1987. Poglavja/Chapters: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 E-version

• Written exam (55 %) • Seminar project (25 %) • Written report of laboratory exercises (20 %)

Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Nova Gorica

• OORT, Pouline M. van, WHITE, Iain R., AHMED, Waqar, JOHNSON, Craig, BANNARD-SMITH, Jonathan, FELTON, Timothy, BOS, Lieuwe D., GOODACRE, Royston, DARK, Paul, FOWLER, Stephen J. Detection and quantification of exhaled volatile organic compounds in mechanically ventilated patients : comparison of two sampling methods. Analyst, ISSN 1364-5528. [Online ed.], 2021, vol. 146, no. 1, str. 222-231, ilustr. https://doi.org/10.1039/C9AN01134J, doi: 10.1039/C9AN01134J.

• BEALE, David J., JONES, Oliver A. H., KARPE, Avinash V., OH, Ding Y., WHITE, Iain R., KOUREMENOS, Konstantinos A., PALOMBO, Enzo A. Breathomics and its application for disease diagnosis : a review of analytical techniques and approaches. V: CUMERAS, Raquel (ur.). Volatile organic compound analysis in biomedical diagnosis applications. Oakville; Waretown: Apple Academic Press. cop. 2018, str. 159-194, ilustr.

• SONDERFELD, Hannah, WHITE, Iain R., GOODAL, Iain C. A., HOPKINS, James R., LEWIS, Alastair C., KOPPMANN, Ralf, MONKS, P. S. What effect does VOC sampling time have on derived OH reactivity?. Atmospheric chemistry and physics, ISSN 1680-7316, May 2016, vol. 16, iss. 10, str. 6303-6318, ilustr., doi: 10.5194/acp-16-6303-2016.

CORDELL, Rebecca L., WHITE, Iain R., MONKS, Paul S. Validation of an assay for the determination of levoglucosan and associated monosaccharide anhydrides for the quantification of wood smoke in atmospheric aerosol. Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry, ISSN 1618-2642, 2014, vol. 406, no. 22, str. 5283-5292, ilustr., doi: 10.1007/s00216-014-7962-x.

• BARBER, Shane, BLAKE, Robert S., WHITE, Iain R., MONKS, P. S., REICH, Fraser, MULLOCK, Steve, ELLIS, Andrew Michael. Increased sensitivity in proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry by incorporation of a radio frequency ion funnel. Analytical chemistry, ISSN 0003-2700. [Print ed.], 2012, vol. 84, no. 12, str. 5387-5391, ilustr., doi: 10.1021/ac300894t. [COBISS.SI-ID 5420283],

• PRADHAN, M., LINDLEY, R. E., GRILLI, R., WHITE, Iain R., MARTIN, Damien, ORR-EWING, A. J. Trace detection of C2H2C2H2 in ambient air using continuous wave cavity ring-down spectroscopy combined with sample pre-concentration. Applied physics. B, Lasers and optics, ISSN 0946-2171. Tiskana izd., 2008, vol. 90, iss. 1, str. 1-9, ilustr., doi: 10.1007/s00340-007-2833-1.