KE6031 - Environmental Pollution and Health

What will I learn on this module?

In this module, you will develop a holistic viewpoint on issues surrounding environmental pollution, pollution impacts on human health, and approaches to pollution management and mitigation. You will engage with a range of contemporary issues across air quality management, contaminated land and water pollution; appreciate the wider context of historical pollution; analyse and interpret environmental data using a range of modelling techniques (for example, contaminated land software, atmospheric dispersion modelling software) and evaluate different types of interventions that can be used to alleviate/control the effects/impacts of pollutants;; and develop a good working knowledge of the regulatory systems that exist for air, water and soil pollution control at global, European, national and/or local levels. On completion of the module, your ability to link theory and application will serve to enhance your future employment prospects.

How will I learn on this module?

In this module, you will learn through lectures, seminars, fieldwork and IT workshops. In addition to timetabled sessions, your independent study will be guided and supported through your engagement with a range of interactive learning resources accessible on-line via the module eLP site, including electronic reading lists.

Lectures will be used to overview key issues and concepts across the range of topics covered on the module, and participation in seminars, IT workshops and local fieldwork will enable you to consolidate the links between theory, practice and application.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

Throughout the module you will engage in small group activities during which you will benefit from peer interaction and support from the teaching staff. In the workshops, for example, you will interact closely with teaching staff who will provide formative support and feedback on activities leading up to the assessment tasks.

Each topic will be further supported by on-line resources available via the module eLP site. These resources include an interactive reading list with on-line access to a number of key cutting-edge journal articles and aligned with your lecture programme.
Teaching staff operate an ‘open door’ policy for students meaning you can approach them anytime during normal office hours, or via email, to answer questions, receive feedback and support your learning on the module.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:
• MLO 1: From a holistic perspective, critically analyse issues surrounding air, soil and water quality and appreciate both the temporal and spatial nature of such pollution and the health impacts of selected air, soil and/or water pollutants.
• MLO 2: Review and evaluate the regulatory systems that exist for air, water and/or soil pollution control at global, European, national and/or local levels and how different types of interventions can be used to alleviate the effects/impact of these pollutants.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• MLO 3: Select and evaluate appropriate interventions in relation to pollution management.
• MLO 4: Demonstrate effective report writing skills oral communication skills, critical thinking and an ability to synthesise a range of literature sources.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• MLO 5: Develop and demonstrate an informed concern about human health, wellbeing and environmental justice.

How will I be assessed?

The summative assessment for this module comprises two tasks:
1. An individual oral report (50% weighting);
2. An individual written report (50% weighting; 1500 words).

The project/enquiry-based nature of these assessments will enable you to integrate theoretical and applied aspects of air/water/soil pollution.

Both assessments will test MLOs 1 – 5.

Formative assessments form part of the workshop activities as well as the opportunity to undertake a formative group oral report

Written feedback, together with the mark awarded, will enable you to feed forward key aspects into assessments in other modules at both levels 6 and 7.

Pre-requisite(s)

None

Co-requisite(s)

None

Module abstract

On this module, you will engage with a range of contemporary issues across air quality management, water pollution and contaminated land, informed by/grounded in staff research; analyse and interpret environmental data using a range of modelling techniques; evaluate different types of interventions; and develop a good working knowledge of the regulatory systems that exist for air, water and soil pollution. Practical-based IT workshop elements of the module focus learning on how to evaluate data by actively modelling. Assessment on the module will be through project/enquiry-based tasks, which will enable you to integrate theoretical and applied aspects of air/water/soil pollution. On completion of the module, your ability to link theory and application, with an informed concern about human health, wellbeing and environmental justice will serve to enhance your future employment prospects.

Course info

UCAS Code F840

Credits 20

Level of Study Undergraduate

Mode of Study 3 years Full Time or 4 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad

Department Geography and Environmental Sciences

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2025

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

Useful Links

Find out about our distinctive approach at 
www.northumbria.ac.uk/exp

Admissions Terms and Conditions
northumbria.ac.uk/terms

Fees and Funding
northumbria.ac.uk/fees

Admissions Policy
northumbria.ac.uk/adpolicy

Admissions Complaints Policy
northumbria.ac.uk/complaints