Chemistry

**If this course has Remote Live Attendance -- USA as the location, it is a live stream remote course. You will need a computer and an internet connection.

**If this course has a city and state as the location, we will be attempting to hold the course in-person at the listed location with course times listed in the host city's time zone; however, due to gathering restrictions and health concerns, NWETC reserves the right to convert this course to a live remote streaming course. If you would like more information or have any questions, please contact us via email or phone 425 270 3274. 

In this 2-day PFAS in Groundwater & Emerging Contaminants course you will learn how to apply scientific and legal considerations to sites contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals that includes PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and many other chemicals, which are very persistent in the environment and in the human body. There is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse human health effects. PFAS have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries around the globe, including in the United States since the 1940s and their chemistry creates unique challenges in water treatment and remediation. The fate, transport, and chemical transformations of most PFAS in the environment are still unknown and are areas of active scientific research.

We will explore the topics of PFOS, PFAS, PFOA, and emerging contaminants related to soil and groundwater remediation.  Over the past few years, several agencies and organizations have released strategies and recommendations related to emerging contaminants.  In general, emerging contaminants are ones for which incomplete toxicity data exists or for which new data has been released.  Emerging contaminants could also be from a new source or have a newly recognized exposure pathway or lower detection limit. 

This workshop will keep you up-to-date on the topic of emerging contaminants and will give you an understanding of how U.S. agencies such as EPA and DOE are working to develop approaches for dealing with emerging contaminants.  We will also discuss the chemical and physical properties of emerging contaminants, how these compare to more traditional contaminants, and how these impact the ultimate fate and transport of these chemicals.

This two-day course is designed for individuals and/or organizations performing field sampling of environmental media including soil and other solids; surface and groundwater; sediment; indoor and ambient air; solid and hazardous waste; and chemicals of commerce for the analysis of a broad range of analytical methods as established by a variety of regulatory and standards organizations.

Day one will include a full-day in a classroom with lectures discussing sampling methodology and theory; techniques and procedures; health and safety concerns; documentation and deviations; handling and preservation; equipment and supplies; and field quality assurance procedures.

The second day will consist of a half-day of lecture in the classroom discussing issues associated with laboratory techniques and processes, analytical measurement, and data reporting of sample results. The classroom portion will incorporate demonstrations and examples on certain points. The topics discussed are intended to provide an overview of sampling techniques and practices, and details of specific issues will be explored as time permits.

The field portion of the course will take place in the afternoon at a nearby location, and is designed to provide hands-on, practical experience executing some of the concepts reviewed in the classroom lessons. Attendees will apply learned methodology in the field. Equipment and supplies will be provided.

Please dress weather/outdoor appropriate for the field portion of the course. 

"I learned so much in this class. Good information and good pace." Sarah C., June 2017

**Note - For every course we have implemented live stream remote attendance.  You will need a computer and an internet connection.  

If you would like more information or have any questions, please contact us via email or phone 425 270 3274.  

This 2 day course will provide attendees with a wide array of analytical techniques available to fingerprint a variety of contaminants and to address the basic questions involved in any environmental forensics study:

1. What is the contaminant(s)?

2. What is the source(s)?

3. When did the release occur?

4. Is the contaminant degrading?

In addition, there will be a discussion of why certain techniques are more appropriate than others, the problems that may be encountered when interpreting results, and what to do if there are no unique answers to some of the above questions. Examples will be provided from a variety of environmental forensic investigations involving a range of contaminants and different issues that have been encountered.

Attendees will learn the range of supporting methods used into order to prepare the strongest case possible when presenting findings.

The final topic will center around site remediation and how some of the techniques used in topics discussed above can also be used to monitor site cleanup, particularly those sites being remediated by natural attenuation.

This course is certified by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for 14 hours of continuing education credit.

**If this course has Remote Live Attendance -- USA as the location, it is a live stream remote course. You will need a computer and an internet connection. 

**If this course has a city and state as the location, we will be attempting to hold the course in-person at the listed location with course times listed in the host city's time zone; however, due to gathering restrictions and health concerns, NWETC reserves the right to convert this course to a live remote streaming course. If you would like more information or have any questions, please contact us via email or phone 425 270 3274. 

Note: Course image above is of the Berkeley Pitt in Butte Montana where the groundwater is exposed due to past mining operations from what is one of the largest superfund sites in the country. Photo Credit: Pamela Schultz

* Also, see our companion course "PFOS, PFAS, PFOA, and Emerging Contaminants". 

This two-day course includes an overview of key chemistry concepts associated with environmental contamination and provides a foundation for understanding contaminant fate and transport. The concepts discussed are essential for understanding soil and groundwater contamination along with the selection of appropriate remediation approaches.

The course begins with a review of basic chemistry concepts that are built upon as more complex topics are introduced. The first day includes a fundamental chemistry overview, covering chemical structure, properties, and reactions for metals and organic chemicals.  On the second day, characteristics of subsurface systems are discussed along with detailed descriptions of contaminant transport and degradation mechanisms.

A key goal of the class is for participants to become comfortable with the terminology and parameters used in environment chemistry and contaminant transport literature and studies. Concepts are illustrated using examples and historical context. For some examples, participants will use calculators. Spreadsheet models are provided to those interested in using simplified contaminant transport models. Major uncertainties and limitations of modeling approaches will also be discussed.

This course is designed for anyone collecting ambient water samples for the analysis of low-level total and dissolved mercury and other trace metals, as well as various metals species (including methylmercury and inorganic arsenic species). This one-day course will include a half-day in a classroom with lectures covering the circumstances in which low-level detection limits would be desired or required, EPA analytical methods that must be used, proper handling and preservation of samples, necessary sampling supplies, considerations that should be made prior to and during sampling activities in order to collect samples correctly and avoid contamination, various sampling and field-filtration techniques, and field quality assurance sample collection requirements.*

The second half of the day, students will engage in hands-on field exercises, where they will be given the opportunity to practice several surface water sampling protocols using various sample collection methods and following the “Clean Hands/Dirty Hands sampling techniques. Time permitting, sample collection techniques and recommendations for additional sample matrices may be discussed that are specific to the student’s needs and area of interest. See the “Course Topics” area below for topic list.                          

Please wait to receive a course confirmation email, roughly one month prior to the class, before making any travel arrangements.