Polluted sites and soils

The aim of this module is to provide training in the management and auditing of polluted sites and soils. The aim is to be able to work in design offices carrying out risk studies or remediation, as well as in companies managing waste storage facilities. The module offers complementary approaches. Site characterization methods enable pollution to be identified and the parameters required to understand the movement of pollutants to be determined. To study the behavior of pollutants in underground environments, we need to understand the properties of the media and model transport and reactions. This information, together with knowledge of the toxicological and ecotoxicological components of pollutants, will enable us to develop an approach to the risk represented by soil, in line with current legislation.

Depending on the site and the type of pollution, remediation professionals will present various methods for dealing with the main types of site. Case studies are carried out by students in small groups, enabling them to better grasp the complexity of real-life situations.

Skills to be acquired:

• Classify sites by type of contamination (diffuse, point, soil, groundwater, volatile, etc.);
• Carry out an on-site investigation (drilling, sampling, analysis)- Calculate potential concentrations of various pollutants in target environments;
• Determine the risks inherent in a given site, including risks to people and ecosystems;
• Apply a rehabilitation technique adapted to the problem at hand.

Basic knowledge of chemistry; Basic knowledge of hydrogeology; Notions of pedology

• Pollution typology and pollutant properties
• Pollutant transport, reactions and biodegradation
• Toxicology ecotoxicology
• Methods for characterizing polluted sites
• Detailed risk analysis and modeling
• Rehabilitation and storage techniques
• Case studies