Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2026 - REM 445 D100

Environmental Risk Assessment (4)

Class Number: 4020

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: Wed, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: Fri, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    MATH 151 or 154 or 157; STAT 201 or 203 or 205 or GEOG 251 or equivalent; and 60 units. Recommended: REM 225.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Students receive theory and practical experience in the control and management of hazardous substances in the environment. This includes the application of techniques used to assess toxicological, ecological and human health risks of contaminants within the current regulatory framework.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

The aim of the course is to provide students with the knowledge and experience to conduct professional risk assessments, normally carried out by regulators, consultants and scientists.

Students receive theoretical and practical experience in conducting environmental risk assessments for pollutants and hazardous substances.

This course is designed for students in environmental science, resource and environmental management, health sciences, biological sciences, chemistry and other disciplines. The course is designed to prepare students for professional positions in the environmental field and further study in graduate programs.

The course aims to create a collaborative environment where students are encouraged to support each other in their learning and the completion of the environmental risk assessment project.

Grading

  • Assignments (3) 30%
  • Excercises (9) 36%
  • Final Course Project 34%

NOTES:

All students hand in their own work and are evaluated on their own work. All students are evaluated based on their own performance in the course.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

All course related materials, including readings, exercises and assignments, are made available on Canvas.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Canadian Environmental Protection Act: Preamble & Section 5: Controlling Toxic Substances

The Canadian Toxic Substances Management Policy
https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/canadian-environmental-protection-act-registry/related-documents.html

Gobas, F.A.P.C. and H.A. Morrison. 1999. Bioconcentration & Bioaccumulation in the Aquatic Environment.
In “Handbook of Property Estimation methods for chemicals: Environmental and Health Sciences” (Boethling R. and Mackay, D. eds.), CRC Press. ISBN 1-56670-456-1, p. 139-232.

Gobas F.A.P.C., P. Mayer, T.F. Parkerton, R.M. Burgess, D. van de Meent, T. Gouin. 2018.
A Chemical Activity Approach to Exposure and Risk Assessment of Chemicals. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 37(5):1235-1251.

Mackay D. 2001. Multimedia Environmental Models: The Fugacity Approach. CRC Press. Second Edition

Mackay et al. 2011. Chemical activity as an integrating concept in environmental assessment and management of contaminants. Integ. Environ. Assess. Manag. 7:248-255.

Richards Ira. S. and Marie Bourgeois. 2013. Principles and Practice of Toxicology in Public Health, Edition, 2ndedition. Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2013

UN Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. https://www.un.org/ldcportal/stockholm-convention-on-persistent-organic-pollutants-pops/

USEPA. Integrated Risk Information System. https://www.epa.gov/iris

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.