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A
Job to Love
Imagine canoeing down a calm stream.
You first came to this area a year ago
when a local told you about an illegal
garbage dump that was leaking ooze.
At that time, you collected soil and
water samples to test them for pollution.
The ooze is a mixture of toxic chemicals.
So you tested the water and soil in
a five-kilometre radius. The tests showed
that the toxic pollutants in the garbage
affected this stream. Fortunately, you
like solving puzzles and you came up
with a plan to control and reduce the
pollution. A group of volunteers cleaned
up the garbage and you cleaned up the
contaminants. Today, you’ll be
collecting new samples to take back
to the lab. The clean up was successful
and you look forward to recording lower
levels of pollution the next time you
test.
Pollution
control technologists find ways
to prevent and control pollution and
contamination. They work mostly indoors
in offices, but also outdoors in the
field. They work on their own and
as part of environmental specialist
teams. Many pollution control technologists
live where they grew up. Aboriginal
pollution control technologists inspect
water supply systems to make sure
their families and Elders have safe
water to drink.
No
job is perfect. As a pollution control
technologist, you’ll be responsible
for taking a lot of tests and samples.
In doing so, you’ll take a lot
of notes and perform the same tests
repetitively. Also, when you conduct
a test, there could be serious trouble
if you mix the wrong chemicals. Out
in the field, where you collect your
samples, you’ll work in unpleasant
conditions like bad weather and you
may be exposed to pollutants and hazardous
wastes. Then again, you might enjoy
getting out of the office and making
sure that the environment is free
of pollution.
Job
Description
Pollution control technologists test
the environment for pollution and advise
scientists on how to prevent or control
it. They study things like soil samples,
gas samples from smokestacks, and water
samples from streams. For example, a
pollution control technologist might
randomly test the soil near a pulp and
paper mill to make sure the mill isn’t
polluting the environment. Pollution
control technologists work for environmental
consulting firms, waste management companies,
construction companies, private research
organizations, and the government.
Job
Duties
- Collect
soil, air, and water samples
- Test
samples for contaminants
- Set
up, operate, and clean the equipment
used to test the environment for
pollution
- Investigate
industrial and waste management
facilities to make sure they follow
proper operating procedures and
environmental legislation
- Write
reports and keep records of your
findings
- Give
advice to scientists on the equipment
and procedures that should be used
to remove or reduce pollution
- Help
engineers design buildings and facilities
that control pollution
Fact
Non-biodegradable toxic wastes, such
as paint, paint thinners, varsol,
oil, and gasoline should never be
poured down a sink or toilet. Normally,
microscopic organisms treat our sewage.
Toxic pollutants kill those organisms,
preventing our sewage from being cleaned
properly. This problem is so severe
that in many communities, it’s
illegal to dispose of toxics into
a sink or toilet.
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High
school courses that will prepare you
for this job include biology, chemistry,
computers, math, and English. Aboriginal
studies, history, and languages will
prepare you for working in a multi-cultural
setting. Talk to your career or academic
counsellor about options such as statistics
and physics.
The minimum education requirement for
a pollution control technologist is
a college diploma in biological or environmental
sciences. Advanced degrees will make
you more competitive in the job market.
You’ll find it easier to get a
job and negotiate your salary.
Before entering the workforce, pollution
control technologists might require
training in:
- Environmental
emergencies
- Environmental
health
- Mould
awareness
- Standard
First Aid
- Workplace
Hazardous Materials Information
System (WHMIS)
Look
into specific high school pre-requisites
set by the college or university you
would like to attend.
Most employers prefer to hire water
treatment plant operators who've been
certified. Contact your provincial
or territorial environmental protection
branch for information on licences
and levels of certification.
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Pollution
control technologists with a college
diploma make an average of $42,000.00
per year.
Pollution control technologists with
a university degree make an average
of $48,000.00 per year.
Pollution control technologists with
several years experience and education
make an average of $59,000.00 per
year.
Financial Assistance
In addition to the general scholarship
tips listed in the BUILD MY CAREER
section, the following award is specific
to pollution control technologists:
Nexen Inc. Awards for Aboriginal
students
$5,000.00 for students registered
in Environmental Studies
and Environmental Earth Science.
Contact: Office of the Dean
Room 235 Arts Building, 9 Campus Drive
College of Arts and Science, University
of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK
S7N 5A5
Telephone: (306) 966-4754
Fax: (306) 966-8839
email: charlotte.ross@usask.ca
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Some
of the best knowledge you’ll
gain for this job will come from listening
to the stories and wisdom of your
relations. Ask your Elders to explain
the signs of contaminated water, fish,
and animals. See if you can spot signs
of contamination where you live. What
are the signs of a healthy environment?
Join your family on canoeing and camping
trips. The time you spend outdoors
will make your studies easier. Your
experience with the natural world
will appeal to employers, too.
Relate to people in similar jobs:
- Environmental
health officer
- Recycled
materials handler
- Waste
management director
Relate
and interact with environmental health
officers. Ask them what they like
about their jobs, and how you should
get started.
Pollution Probe
625 Church Street, Suite 402
Toronto, ON
M4Y 2G1
Telephone: (416) 926-1907
Fax: (416) 926-1601
email: pprobe@pollutionprobe.org
website: www.pollutionprobe.org
Canadian Centre for Pollution Prevention
100 Charlotte Street
Sarnia, ON
N7T 4R2
Telephone: 1-800-667-9790
Fax: (519) 337-3486
email: info@c2p2online.com
website: www.c2p2online.com
Canadian Council of Technicians
and Technologists
285 McLeod Street, 2nd Floor
Ottawa, ON
K2P 1A1
Telephone: (613) 238-8123
Fax: (613) 238-8822
email: ccttadm@magma.ca
website: www.cctt.ca
Relate with other students. There
are Aboriginal student associations
and resource centers at most colleges
and universities. Visit these centres
to find out what they have to offer.
Also, look into community, friendship,
and multi-cultural centres.
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