Introduction to environmental

engineering

By : yordanos hailu
 Agenda
01
What is environmental engineering?

02 Constituent of an environment

03 Environmental issues

04 Air, water and land pollution

04
05 Global warming and climate change
What is environmental engineering?
An environment

“ • An Environment can be defined as one’s surroundings. “

• for an environmental engineer the environment may refer to a
much localized area in which a specific problem must be
addressed.

Where is it derived
from
Cont.

The term environment has been derived from a French word

“Environia” means to surround.

• It refers to both abiotic (physical or non-living) and biotic

(living) environment.

• Environment and the organisms are two dynamic and complex

component of nature.

• Environment regulates the life of the organisms including

human beings.
Organisms environment
• Environment is the sum total of conditions that surrounds us
at a given point of time and space.

• It is comprised of the interacting systems of physical,

biological and cultural elements which are interlinked both in
dividually and collectively.

• Its chief components are soil, water, air, organisms and solar e
nergy. It has provided us all the resources for leading a comfor
table life.
 Components of Environment
Micro environment
Biotic environment Micro environment refers to the
Biotic environment include micro immediate local surrounding of the
all biotic factors or living organism.
forms like plants, animals, .
Micro-organisms.
.

Biotic macro

Physical environment
Physical environment refers to all Macro environment
abiotic factors or conditions like Macro environment refers to
temperature, light, rainfall, soil, all the physical and biotic
minerals etc. It comprises of atmos
physical conditions that surround the
phere, lithosphere and hydrospher organism externally.
e.
.
Environmental
engineering
What is it??
 Environmental engineering

“ Environmental engineering is the branch of engineering

“
concerned with the application of scientific and engineering principles
for protection of human populations from the effects of adverse
environmental factors

So what does environmental

engineers do ?
• Environmental engineers study the effect of technological
advances on the environment.

• To do so, they conduct studies on hazardous-waste

management to evaluate the significance of such hazards,
advice on treatment and containment, and develop regulations
to prevent mishaps.

• They address local and worldwide environmental issues such

as the effects of acid rain, global warming, ozone depletion,
water pollution and air pollution from automobile exhausts and
industrial sources.
Constituents of an
environment
Constituents of an environment

Physical
01 • Atmosphere (gas)
• Hydrosphere (liquid)
• Lithosphere (solid)

Biological
02 • Producers
• Consumers
• Decomposers.
Social
03 • Laws
• Policies
Physical • The Physical Constituent of environment includes soil, water,
air, climate, temperature, light etc.

• These are also called abiotic constituents of the environment.

• This part of the environment mainly determines the type of the

habitat or living conditions of the human population.

• This physical constituent of the environment is again divided

into three parts.
These are:
• Atmosphere (gas)
• Hydrosphere (liquid)
• Lithosphere (solid)

These three parts represent the three important states of matter

constituting the environment.

This physical component of environment only consists of

non-living things like air, water and soil.
• Water and temperature are the most important abiotic compone
nts affecting living beings.

• Larger proportion of body’s weight is due to water.

• All living organisms require water for their survival.

• Besides water is the main vital fluid to keep optimum

temperature of the body.

• All life activates work in a particular range of temperature.

• Air is main physical component which provides oxygen for
respiration.

• All living beings including plants & animals require oxygen for
their existence.

• Oxygen is taken into the body by respiration process and co

mes out in from of carbon dioxide.

• Plants, on the other hand takes in carbon dioxide for food

preparation during photosynthesis and gives out oxygen to
the surrounding.
• Soil is the most important for all living beings to create
their habitat.

• It is the soil in which plant grows and man constructs

houses to live in.

• It is the ground water present in the soil which provides

for drinking and other farming activities.
Biological • This component consists of all living things like plants, animals a
nd small micro-organisms like bacteria. This component interact
s with the abiotic component of the environment.

• This interaction of two components forms various ecosystems

like pond ecosystem, marine ecosystem, desert ecosystem etc.

• The self-sufficient large ecosystem of the earth is called

Biosphere.

• All ecosystems consist of three different types of living organisms.

These three types are named as:
• Producers
• Consumers
• Decomposers

 Producers : are generally green plants and other photosynthetic

bacteria which produces various organic substances such as
carbohydrates, proteins etc.
 Consumers : depend for their nutrition on the organic food
produced by the green plants.
 Decomposers : bring about the decomposition of dead plants a
nd animals and return various important minerals for the running
of the biogeochemical cycles.
 Environmental law - or "environmental and natural resources
law" - is a collective term describing the network of treaties
statutes, regulations, and common and customary laws addressin
g the effects of human activity on the natural environment.
Social

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The governing body for

major statues or laws

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)-1969: establishes policies, s

et goals and facilitate the implementation of such policies

NEPA requires federal agencies to assess environmental impact of imple

menting their major program (Work with NASA & Army)
Four important zones of environment

01 02 03 04
Atmosphere

Hydrosphere

Lithosphere

Biosphere
Biosphere
 Atmosphere
• The earth’s atmosphere, a complex
fluid system of gases and suspended
particle
01
01
• derived from Earth itself by chemical
and biochemical reactions.

Atmosphere
• The gases like Nitrogen. Oxygen,
Argon, Carbon dioxide and water
vapor etc. together make up the total
volume of atmosphere.

• Together with suspended particulates,

dust and carbon particles/soot
constitute the gaseous turbidity
particularly in troposphere.
 Hydrosphere
• It includes the surface water and its
surrounding interface.

• It is vital for life molecule to survive.

• Water possesses a number of physical

and chemical properties that help the
molecule to act as best suited medium
for life activities.

• Water is the most abundant substance

on the Earth’s surface.
 Lithosphere
• It is the outer boundary layer of
solid earth and the discontinuity
within the mantle.

• The outer boundary forms a

complex interface with the atmos
phere and hydrosphere.

• Consists of Core, mantle and

outer crust.

• Various elements constitute such

crustal layer in mixture of different
proportions.
 Biosphere
• The biosphere encompasses all
the zones on the Earth in which
life is present, i.e. entire bio-resou
rces of the earth.

• At the top of the lithosphere,

throughout the hydrosphere and
into the lower atmosphere, life of
diverse type exists.

• mankind acts as the most evolved

creature in the biosphere
Environmental issues
A burning issue
 Environmental issues defined

“
• Environmental issues are harmful effects of human activity on the
biophysical environment.
• Environmental protection is a practice of protecting the natural
environment on individual, organizational or governmental levels, for
the benefit of both the environment and humans.
• Environmentalism, a social and environmental movement, addresses
environmental issues through advocacy, education and activism.
“
• Our planet is plagued by environmental problems that deplete
natural resources and strain livelihoods, many of which are
exacerbated by poor industrial practices.

• If left unchecked, environmental problems negatively impact

businesses both directly, as in supply chain disruptions, and
indirectly, as in health hazards that lead to loss of man-hours
and efficiency.
Environmental
pollution
A burning issue
 Definition of Pollution

“
• When Harmful Substances Contaminate the environment it is Called
Pollution.
“
• It can be defined as any undesirable change in the physical, chemical,
biological characteristics of any component of the environment which
can cause harm to life and property.
Types of Pollution

Air Water

Soil/ land Marine

Thermal Noise
 •

Air pollution
Air supplies us with oxygen which is essential for our bodies to
live.

• Air is a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor, carbon dioxide

and inert gases.

• Human activities can release substances into the air, some of w

hich can cause problems to humans, plants, and animals.

• Natural Composition of Gases

 Air pollution
• An atmospheric condition in which
certain substances (including normal
constituents in excess) are present in
concentrations which can cause undesir
able effects on man and his environment

• They are in the form of gases (NOx,

Sox, CO,VOC); Particulate matter(dust,
smoke, fumes, etc.) & Radioactive
(randon-222, Iodine-131, etc.)
 Sources of Air Pollution

Sources

Natural Anthropogenic
• Volcanic Eruptions
• Forest Fires • Thermal Power Plants,
• Sea Salt • Vehicular Emissions
• Sprays, • Industrial Units
• Biological Decay
• Pollen Grains,
• Marshes
• Photochemical
• Oxidation of Terpenes
Classification of Air Pollutants
• Air pollutants may be particulate or gaseous.

On basis of origin

Primary Secondary
pollutants pollutants

• Are emitted directly • formed by interaction of

from the point source. primary pollutants
e.g. : CO, NO2, SO2 e.g. :Peroxyacyl nitrates ,
Smog, Ozone etc.
Criteria of Pollutants
 Indoor air pollution
 Many people spend large portion of time indoors

 We work, study, eat, drink and sleep in enclosed environment

s where air circulation may be restricted

 Children, women more exposed to risk

 Burning of dung cakes for fuel, wood, kerosene

 Incomplete combustion produces CO

 Cigarette smoke.
 Effects of Air Pollution

Air Pollution affects???

• Human health
• Animals
• Plants
• Materials
• Environment
 Effect on Human health
• Respiratory Track - Asthma, hay fever, and other allergic diseases.

• Irritation of the eye, nose and throat. In severe cases there may be
headaches, nausea, and loss of coordination.

• Prolonged exposure can cause damage to the nervous system,

digestive problems, and in some cases cause Lung cancer.

• SO2 in the air leads to diseases of the lung and other lung disorders
such as wheezing and shortness of breath.

• Chronic respiratory disease, lung cancer, heart disease, and even

damage to the brain, nerves, liver, or kidneys.
 Effect on Plants
 Pollutants enter through stomata
 Cuticle( Wax Layer on Leaves) is lost
 Necrosis – Damage to Leaf Structure
 Chlorosis - Loss/ reduction of Chlorophyll
 Abscission - Dropping of leaf
 Epinasty – Downward curling of Leaf
 Effect on Animals and materials
• Corrosion of metal surfaces, fading
• SO2 & water form H2S – corrosion as well as disfigurement of
statues made up of limestone or Marble
• Air pollutants mix with rain water and increase acidity (Acid Rain)
of water body and kill fish.
• Ozone causes crackling of rubber
• Pollutants in the presence of sunlight produce photochemical S
mog
• Emission of Green House Gases tend to Global Warming

• CFC’s cause Ozone Depletion

 Control Of Air Pollution
• Proper air pollution control devices in industries

• Using low sulphur coal

• Regular engine tune up, replacement of old more polluting

vehicles

• Using mass transport system, bicycles etc.

• Shifting to less polluting fuels

• Planting more trees

pollution
• Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies, usually
Water
as a result of human activities.

• The Contamination of water with undesirable substances which

make it unfit for usage is termed water Pollution

• Water bodies include for example lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifer

s and groundwater. Water pollution results when contaminants
are introduced into the natural environment

• For example, releasing inadequately treated wastewater into

natural water bodies can lead to degradation of aquatic eco
systems. In turn, this can lead to public health problems for
people living downstream.
 Pollution Sources
Point sources
• Are direct discharges to a single point;

• examples include discharges from sewage treatment plants,

injection wells and some industrial sources.

Non-point sources
• are diffused across a broad area and their contamination
cannot be traced to a single discharge point.

• Examples include runoff of excess fertilizers, and insecticides

from agricultural lands and residential areas; oil, grease etc.
 Surface Water Pollution
• Sewage
• Industrial effluents
• Synthetic detergents
• Agrochemicals
• Oil
 Domestic Sewage
• Refers to waste water that is discarded from households.

• Also referred to as sanitary sewage, such water contains a wide

variety of dissolved and suspended impurities.

• It is large by volume and contains impurities such as organic

materials and plant nutrients that tend to rot.

• The main organic materials are food and vegetable waste, plant
nutrient come from chemical soaps, washing powders, etc.
 Industrial Effluents
• Waste water from manufacturing or chemical processes in
industries

• Industrial waste water usually contains specific and readily

identifiable chemical compounds.

• Chromium, mercury, lead, copper, cadmium etc.

 Synthetic Detergents And Oils
• Added because of washing clothes, cleaning utensils.

• In industries for washing

• Add surfactants and soaps to water

• Toxic to fish, aquatic life.

• Oceans are polluted by oil on a daily basis from oil spills, routine
shipping, run-offs and dumping.

• Oil spills make up about 12% of the oil that enters the ocean.
 Agricultural Run Off
• Routine applications of fertilizers and pesticides for agriculture
and uncontrolled run off in water bodies.

• Adds Nitrogen and Phosphorus to water

• Causes Eutrophication and algal blooms.

 Ground Water Pollution
• Is less comparatively as soil acts as a filter Still...
• Septic tanks
• Mining
• Deep well injection
• Arsenic , Nitrate, Fluoride
Effects of water pollution
• Fluoride Poisoning

• Arsenic Poisoning

• Pathogen Spread

• Blue Baby Syndrome

• Minamata Disease

• ITAI-ITAI
 Control of Water Pollution
• Treatment of water before leaving in water bodies.

• Restoration of polluted water bodies.

• River Water Monitoring

Soil / land •

pollution
Soil is upper layer of earth crust, contains organic matter

• Dumping of wastes causes soil pollution

• Garbage

• Rubbish like glass, plastics, metallic cans, papers, cloth rags, c

ontainers

• Discharge of Industrial wastes.

• Fertilizers and pesticides: DDT

• Sewage sludge and radioactive wastes

 Two types of Waste:

Biodegradable Non
biodegradable
• Vegetable waste • Polythene bags
• Food waste • Glass bottles
• Tea leaves • Scrap metal
• Egg shells • Tins, cans etc.
• Electronic waste
 Effects of solid waste
• Waste heap up on roads
• Litter surroundings
• Foul smells
• Vector breeding
• BURNING produces toxic gases
• Reduce soil productivity
• Sludge contains worms, bacteria and pathogens.
• Radioactive wastes enter food chain
Solid waste and its management
• Higher standards of living generate more waste

• Quantities are enormous

• Management is very important

• Sources of solid waste include: Waste from homes, hospitals, indus

tries, parks, gardens, shops, construction and demolition waste

• In each and every action of humans, Solid waste is generated

 Management
Following methods in use:

• Composting
• Sanitary landfill
• Incineration
Thank you
Questions ??