Pesticides in the Environment: Agricultural and Residential
Instructor: Peter Green, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering
Description: We will look at chemicals of current interest to society, their sources, their uses, their fate (such as degradation or transformation), their transport, and their impact on humans or other organisms. The leading aim is to produce an awareness of the complexity of what are often portrayed as simple issues. Many ‘chemicals’ can be ‘detected’ readily with modern instruments – but sometimes at concentrations which are not of concern. Other compounds which do indeed cause harm are difficult to measure, not well-regulated, or not even sufficiently characterized to do so. In between are many examples worthy of understanding by an educated member of the public.
Format: There will be instructor presentations, with discussion, of legacy pesticides: such as DDT, etc... Outside requirements: ~10 pages of moderately technical reading for each topic to be discussed the following week. Again, the goal is to gain an appreciation for the rich complexity of factors involved in the environmental issues which are too often portrayed as simple, localized or of limited duration or concern. Grading: Decision will come from two reports (counting 50% each) on chemicals of the student’s selection: one for a ~15 minute oral presentation/discussion, the other in a ~5 page written report. The two choices need to be about different pesticides and different places. Each should be specific to a different California county (or another region of interest) written about a current use pesticide, considering both positive and negative aspects. Either can be a primarily agricultural or residential pesticide.
About the Instructor: Dr. Green is a Research Engineer and member of the faculty in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He has degrees in Chemistry, and works on a variety of Water Quality and Air Quality research projects. Current projects include causes of summertime ozone in the San Joaquin Valley, sources of pollutants in stormwater from highway runoff, persistent toxics in the marshes around San Francisco Bay, and heavy metals affecting young children – with possible connections to Autism.