Contaminated Sites - Course 1: Fundamentals

About this course

Understanding contaminated sites starts with a fundamental question: what actually happens to a chemical once it enters the ground? Does it remain in place, move with groundwater, volatilize into buildings, or bind to soil? In reality, it can do all of these, and understanding this behaviour is essential for environmental engineers.This course is Course 1 of a 7-course series designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of contaminated site assessment and remediation. In this first course, we focus on the core principles that form the foundation for all subsequent topics.You will learn how contamination occurs, the major sources of pollution such as underground storage tanks, landfills, and agricultural activities, and how contaminants enter and move through the subsurface. The course also introduces key chemicals of concern, including petroleum hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents, PFAS, and heavy metals.In addition, you will explore the physical and chemical properties that control contaminant behaviour, such as density, solubility, vapour pressure, and partitioning. Soil characteristics, including porosity, saturation, and adsorption, are covered to help you understand how contaminants are transported and retained in the environment.This course is designed for environmental engineers, students, and professionals who want to build a strong conceptual understanding of contaminated site processes. The knowledge developed here will support your progression through the rest of the series, where site investigation, remediation technologies, and long-term management are explored in detail.