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ACS Releases New Environmental Chemistry Course

Announcement posted by ACS Distance Education 06 Mar 2017

Protect ecosystems from damage by chemicals.

We have just completed and released a new 100 hour course called Environmental Chemistry.

 Gain an understanding of how chemicals can contaminate the environment, the chemicals are involved, and the ways in which they can change the environment and understand how chemicals can change the ecosystem impacting how all living things in that environment could be affected.

 

This course is a great addition to your toolkit if you are working or studying in the following areas:

·         Environmental management

·         Resource Management

·         Agriculture

·         Science

·         Analytical Laboratories

·         Industrial production facilities

·         Anyone involved in managing built environments

·         Politicians who are involved in implementing environmental policy.


Environmental chemistry affects the world in diverse ways (both beneficial and detrimental) at scales ranging from global to microscopic.  Global examples include climate change and global warming occurring mostly due to changes in the chemical composition of atmospheric gases (greenhouse gases) largely caused by humans. Global warming is the long-term trend of a rising average global  temperatures, whereas climate change is a broader term referring to changes mostly brought about by global warming such as extreme rainfall events, increased prevalence of drought, heat waves and so on. 

 

At a microscopic scale, chemicals are used to control or prevent outbreaks of diseases caused by microorganisms in crops. This includes fungal diseases such as mildews, rots and wilts which may be treated using chemicals called fungicides. These fungicides may contain inorganic copper or sulphur compounds; synthetic organic compounds (such as dithiocarbamates) as well as ‘natural’ compounds such as clay. The fungicides have a beneficial effect in that they increase food production for an ever expanding population. However, some of these fungicides also have effects on the environment at a much larger scale than the intended microscopic one, due to their persistence in the environment (i.e. they do not break down with time and can accumulate). They can be toxic to soil organisms such as earthworms and to aquatic organisms such as fish or even to humans. Thus, chemicals have many interacting influences on the environment at many different scales. 

The Environmental Chemistry course can be started at anytime and students can work through the course at their own pace with the support of our tutors. Students successfully completing this 100 hour course will receive a Statement of Attainment. More information on this course is located here: www.acs.edu.au/courses/environmental-chemistry-714.aspx

If you would like any information on this course, please contact admin@acs.edu.au .