Concrete And Its Health And Environmental Impact

Social responsiveness has been an emerging trend in the business industry today. This pertains to the perspective of individuals and businesses regarding the effect of their business strategies to the society as a whole. In this context, construction firms that use concrete which possesses properties that have significant environmental impact should be cautiously gauged. Consumers should not only consider the durability and affordability of the material but they should also take note of its substantial effect to other stakeholders. The opportunity to evaluate and assess this impact will help consumers decide if using concrete is the best alternative present. Portland cement, which is one of the most important components of concrete, has numerous adverse impacts to the environment. The production of cement is highly energy intensive that requires heavy reliance on coal that results to emission of high levels of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, sulphur and other pollutants. Although this is high-risk, there is one advantage in this process: the prospect of burning hazardous wastes as fuel energy. Production cement comprises up to 5% of the worldwide man-made release of carbon dioxide that is considered as a significantly large portion. The high emission level of carbon dioxide through the thermal decomposition of calcium carbonate and use of energy greatly contributes greenhouse gases that have a severe impact to global warming. Aside from carbon dioxide, the high level of Concrete Stains dust, which is a by-product of the concrete production process, has been considered as a threat to the environment and health of mankind. Concrete solid waste resulting from construction and demolition projects is also one of the most evident largest and most evident solid wastes. Fortunately, concrete recycling is now being employed in order to mitigate the impact of concrete solid waste. Water pollution is also an adverse effect of the concrete production process. The high pH level of the washout water for ready-mix concrete production reveals a high level of alkalinity that is poisonous for fishes and other aquatic living beings. This can be a cause for alarm for people who live in the vicinity of concrete production plants. The presence of these plants might put their lives in danger because of the high toxicity of water surfaces. The surface run-offs that occur because of the water spills that are brought upon by the imperviousness of non-porous concrete are also one of the reasons behind heavy soil erosions and flooding. Since the impervious concrete restricts groundwater percolation, this increases the urban water run-off that also adversely affects water quality. Workers who are processing wet concrete should primarily protect their skin through wearing rubber gloves and boots because of the high alkalinity of the material. If workers are constantly exposed to wet concrete without any protection, the probability of contracting cement dermatitis is relatively high. Lastly, concrete also contributes to the so-called urban heat island effect, which means that the urban area is substantially warmer compared to the surrounding rural areas. The high albedo effect of concrete proved that it is a more viable option than asphalt for road works and structures because of its ability to reflect light and heat efficiently. Because of this, beneficial effects like energy saving and lower average urban temperature have been achieved.