CPD 20202

Chapter 1

Topic 1
INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL
POLLUTION

Objectives:
After this lesson, you will be able to:
1. Determine the element of the environment.
2. Understand the important terminology in environmental technology
3. Identify the relationship of human activities on environment.

1.1

Some basics on Earth as a living system and Pollution

Earth as a planet has been profoundly altered by the life that inhabits it. Earths air,
oceans, soils, and sedimentary rocks are very different from what they would be n a
lifeless planet. In many ways, life helps control the make up of the air, oceans and
sediments.
The global environment consists of the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere in which
life sustaining resources-of the earth are contained. The atmosphere, a mixture of gases
extending outward from the surface of the earth. The hydrosphere consists of oceans,
lakes and stream and the shallow groundwater bodies that interflow with the surface
water. The lithosphere is the soil mantle that wraps the core of the earth.
Life interacts with the environment on many levels. A single bacterium in the soil
interacts with the air, water and particles of soil around within the space of a fraction of a
cubic centimeter. A forest extending hundreds of square kilometers interacts with large

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volumes of air, water and soil. All the oceans, all of the lower atmosphere, and all of the
near-surface part of solid earth are affected by life.

As we have seen, the environment is changed in various ways by natural events. Natural
change may rearrange the landscape almost overnight by earthquake, flood, volcanic
eruption or hurricane. Such changes from natural earth processes are becoming more
damaging to human systems and human activities may be in part responsible. Human
alone have the ability to gather resources from their surroundings and process those
resources into different, more versatile forms. But the natural and manufactured wastes
generated and released into the biosphere by these increased numbers of human beings
have upset the natural equilibrium.
Though rivers become stagnant, skies smoke and dumping grounds odoriferous and
unsightly, populations generally manage to ignore their impact on the environment until
they begin to become aware of the ill effects that a polluted environment can have upon
their own health and well being.
2

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Disease is often due to an imbalance resulting from a poor adjustment between the
individual and the environment. However, disease seldom has a one-cause, one effect
relationship with the environment. Rather the incidence of a disease depends on several
factors including physical environment, biological environment and lifestyle.
Linkages between these factors are often related to other factors such as local customs
and the level of industrialization. More primitive societies that live directly off the local
environment are usually plagued by different environmental health problem than is our
urban society. Industrial societies have nearly eliminated such diseases as cholera,
dysentery and typhoid. However, we are more likely to suffer from chronic and acute
diseases such as respiratory problem and cancer.
Population Pattern

1.2

Terminology

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Environment
All external factors, living and non-living (chemical and energy), that affect you
or any other organism.
The human environment encompasses all physical, chemical, biological and
social processes and influences, which individually or in combination exert
directly or indirectly a significant influence on the health and well-being of
human race.
The environment consists of the atmosphere, the hydrosphere and the lithosphere
in which the life sustaining resources of the earth are contained.
Pollutant
Any undesirable change in the characteristics of the air, water, soil, or food that
can adversely affect the health, survival, or activities of humans or other living
organisms.
Something that pollutes, especially a waste material that contaminates air, soil, or
water
Pollute
To make impure, dirty, unclean or otherwise to contaminate.
Pollution
This may be the release of substances which are toxic to either animals or plants,
or it may be the release of energy (heat, light, radiation, or sound) which interferes
with the development of animals or plants.
Pollution is usually harmful to one or more species of animal or plant. However,
releasing nutrients into rivers may be beneficial to some organisms while it is
harmful to others.
some general examples:

automobile exhaust emissions

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oil spills

the dumping of industrial wastes in the water supply

the overuse of pesticides

the overuse of chemical fertilizers

improper disposal of solid wastes

Releasing raw sewage into a river causes pollution. Sewage contains lots of
organic substances which are a source of food for bacteria and fungi. The result is
that the bacteria and fungi thrive. Since they use up all the oxygen in the water,
most of the animals will die.
Contamination
Contamination is the absorption of potentially dangerous substances such as
biological or chemical agents, possibly as a result of biochemical warfare, or
radioactive material, by personnel or objects
the presence of particles, chemicals, and other undesirable substances, such as on
or in a process tool, in a process liquid, or in a clean room environment.
Toxic
Refers to materials (pollutants) that are poisonous to people and other living
things and having to do with poison or something harmful to the body. Toxic
substances usually cause unwanted side effects (problems that occur when
treatment affects healthy cells, tissues, organs or the Quality of Life of the person)
Carcinogen
A Carcinogen is a chemical known or believed to cause cancer in humans. The
number of proven carcinogens is comparatively small, but many more chemicals
are suspected to be carcinogenic

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Cigarettes contain many carcinogens, thus making it the most common cause of
cancer.

Point sources
The way of pollutants is introduced into the environment. Point source pollution
is discharged into the environment through pipes, sewers, smokestacks, or ditches
from specific sites such as factories or sewage. Point source is relatively easy to
control legislatively but accident can still occur.
Point sources include major industrial facilities like chemical plants, steel mills,
oil refineries, power plants, and hazardous waste incinerators. Point sources are
defined as those that emit 10 tons per year of any of the criteria pollutants or
hazardous air pollutants or 25 tons per year of a mixture of air toxics.

Nationwide, point sources like power plants, petroleum refineries,

fertilizer manufacturers, industrial paper mills, copper smelters and iron
and steel mills contribute the majority of sulfur dioxide emissions,
accounting for nearly 90% of this criteria air pollutant. Point sources
(predominantly electrical utilities and industrial boilers) are also major
emitters of nitrogen oxides (NOx) - accounting for about 40% of total
releases. Point sources are less important sources of VOCs - releasing less
than 15% of total volatile organic compounds.

Non-point sources
Non-point source (NPS) pollution, unlike pollution from industrial and sewage
treatment plants, comes from many diffuse sources (more diffused over the
land).Also called pollutant runoff, is caused by land pollutants that enter bodies of
water over large area rather than at a single point. NPS pollution is caused by
rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it
picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, finally depositing

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them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and even our underground
sources of drinking water. These pollutants include:

Excess fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides from agricultural lands and

residential areas;

Oil, grease, and toxic chemicals from urban runoff and energy production;

Sediment from improperly managed construction sites, crop and forest

lands, and eroding streambanks;

Salt from irrigation practices and acid drainage from abandoned mines;

Bacteria

and nutrients

from livestock,

pet wastes, and faulty

septicsystems;
What you can do to prevent non-point sources?

Keep litter, pet wastes, leaves, and debris out of street gutters and storm
drains--these outlets drain directly to lake, streams, rivers, and wetlands.

Apply lawn and garden chemicals sparingly and according to directions.

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Dispose of used oil, antifreeze, paints, and other household chemicals

properly, not in storm sewers or drains.

Clean up spilled brake fluid, oil, grease, and antifreeze. Do not hose them
into the street where they can eventually reach local streams and lakes.

Control soil erosion on your property by planting ground cover and

stabilizing erosion-prone areas.

Encourage

local

government

officials

to

develop

construction

erosion/sediment control ordinances in your community.

Have your septic system inspected and pumped, at a minimum, every 3-5
years so that it operates properly.

Purchase household detergents and cleaners that are low in phosphorous to

reduce the amount of nutrients discharged into our lakes, streams and
coastal waters.

Mobile source
Mobile source of air pollutants move from place to place while emitting
pollutants. Mobile sources includes both on-road sources (e.g., cars and
motorcycles) and off-road sources (e.g., aircraft and its support equipment,
locomotives, commercial marine and pleasure craft, and equipment used for
construction, logging, mining, agriculture, and lawn and garden care)
These mobile sources also include light trucks, large trucks and buses, nonroad
recreational vehicles (such as dirt bikes and snowmobiles), farm and construction
equipment, lawn and garden equipment, marine engines, aircraft, and
locomotives.
Assignment:
1. Distinguish between acute and chronic effects of pollutants.
2. Define Carcinogen
3. Give one example of Carcinogen