UNIT II – ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

Pollution may or will harmfully affect human life, plants and animals, industrial, agricultural and
commercial processes, recreational or cultural assets. Majority of the causes of pollution are man-
made such as industrial sources, which include motor vehicles, power plants, mining firms and
factories. The other sources of pollution are the general public which includes household waste
thrown by people into rivers or streams and careless disposal of refuse from slaughterhouses and
public market destroys the environment.

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the learner is expected to:
• Identify the different Environmental Hazards and Risks in the air, water and soil/solid (non-
toxic and toxic) environment.
• Explain how pollutants of the different environments are produced.
• Explain the effects of pollutants on the different environments.
• Explain how to apply pollution prevention hierarchy in engineering practice.
• Discuss the four components of Risk assessment in relation to environmental pollution.
• Discuss the different sources and effects of noise pollution and its corresponding control
systems.
• Apply Life Cycle Analysis and Cleaner Production in their everyday life.
• Summarize the benefits of cleaner production

Course Materials:

Environmental Pollution - can be defined as any undesirable change in physical, chemical, or

biological characteristics of any component of the environment i.e. air, water, soil which can cause
harmful effects on various forms of life or property.

Pollution - as influence of any substance causing nuisance, harmful effects, and uneasiness to
the organisms
Pollutant - any substance causing nuisance or harmful effects or uneasiness to the organisms,
then that particular substance may be called as the pollutant

TYPES OF POLLUTION
- WATER
- AIR POLLUTION
- LAND POLLUTION
- NOISE POLLUTION

WATER POLLUTION
Water Pollution can be defined as alteration in physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of
water through natural or human activities and making it unsuitable for its designated use.
Fresh Water present on the earth surface is put to many uses. It is used for drinking, domestic
and municipal uses, agricultural, irrigation, industries, navigation, recreation.
The used water becomes contaminated and is called waste water.

SOURCES OF WATER POLLUTION

Most of Water Pollution is man made It may also occur naturally by addition of soil particles
through erosion animal wastes and leaching of minerals from rocks
The General Sources of Water Pollution are:
1.Point Sources - any single identifiable source of pollution from which pollutants are discharged
such as pipes
2.Nonpoint sources – pollution coming from the dispersion of pollutants in the environment, i.e.
runoffs

TYPES OF WATER POLLUTION

1. Domestic Waste Water - carries used water from houses. It is also called sanitary sewage.
2. Industrial Waste Water - The major source of water pollution is the waste water discharged
from industries and commercial bodies, these industries are chemical, metallurgical, food
processing industries, textile, paper industries. They discharge several organic and inorganic
pollutants. That prove highly toxic to living beings.
3. Inorganic Pollutants - Wastewater produced mainly from Coal and steel industries
4. Commercial enterprises, Industries of surface processing of metals
5. Organic Pollutants - They include oils, fats, phenols, organic acids grease and several other
organic compounds
6. Agricultural Waste - Chemical fertilizers, pesticides. Fertilizers contain major plants nutrients
mainly nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Excess fertilizers may reach the ground water by
leaching or may be mixed with surface water of rivers, lakes and ponds by runoff and drainage.
7. Marine Pollution - Ocean are the final sink of all natural and manmade pollutants.
Rivers discharge their pollutants into the sea. The sewage and garbage of coastal cities are also
dumped into the sea. The other sources include, discharge of oils, grease, detergents, and
radioactive wastes from ships.
8. Thermal Pollution - is caused by the rise in temperature of water. The main source of thermal
pollution are the thermal and nuclear power plants. The power generating plants use water as
coolants and release hot water into the original source. Sudden rise in temperature kills fish and
other aquatic animals.

AIR POLLUTION
Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause
harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural
environment or built environment, into the atmosphere. A substance in the air that can cause
harm to humans and the environment is known as an air pollutant.

Causes of Air Pollution

Carbon dioxide- happens because of Deforestation and fossil fuel burning.
Sulfur dioxide –Due to the burning of sulfur containing compounds of fossil fuels.
Sulfur oxides- very dangerous to humans at a high concentration. Sulfur in the atmosphere is
responsible for acid rain.

Effects of Air Pollution

CO2 is a good transmitter of sunlight, but it also partially restricts infrared radiation going back
from the earth into space, which produces the so-called greenhouse effect that prevents a drastic
cooling of the Earth during the night. GLOBAL WARMING

Land Pollution
Land pollution is the demolition of Earth's land surfaces often caused by human activities and
their misuse of land resources. It occurs when waste is not disposed properly. Urbanization and
industrialization are major causes of land pollution.
Four Main causes of land pollution:
1. Construction - Buildings take up resources and land, the trees are chopped down and used to
make buildings. It takes away the places for animals and other organisms to live.
2. Agriculture - As there are more and more people inhabiting the earth, food is in higher demand
and so forests are chopped down and turned into farmland. In addition, herbicides, pesticides,
artificial fertilizers, animal manure are washed into the soil and pollute it.
3. Domestic waste - Tons of domestic waste is dumped every day. Some waste from homes,
offices and industries can be recycled or burnt in incinerators. There is still a lot of garbage, such
as refrigerators and washing machines that are dumped in landfills simply because they cannot
be reused in anyway, nor recycled.
4. Industrial Waste - Plastics factories, chemical plants, oil refineries, nuclear waste disposal
activity, large animal farms, coal-fired power plants, metals production factories and other heavy
industry all contribute to land pollution.

NOISE POLLUTION
Noise pollution is excessive, displeasing human, animal, or machine-created environmental noise
that disrupts the activity or balance of human or animal life. Sound becomes undesirable when it
disturbs the normal activities such as working, sleeping, and during conversations.

Sources of Noise Pollution

1. Transportation systems are the main source of noise pollution in urban areas.
2. Construction of buildings, highways, and streets cause a lot of noise, due to the usage of air
compressors, bulldozers, loaders, dump trucks, and pavement breakers.
3. Industrial noise also adds to the already unfavorable state of noise pollution.
4. Loud speakers, plumbing, boilers, generators, air conditioners, fans, and vacuum cleaners add
to the existing noise pollution.

Effects of Noise Pollution

1. According to the USEPA, there are direct links between noise and health.
2. Noise pollution can damage physiological and psychological health.
3. High blood pressure, stress related illness, sleep disruption, hearing loss, and productivity loss
are the problems related to noise pollution.
4. It can also cause memory loss, severe depression, and panic attacks.

Solutions for Noise Pollution

1. Similar to automobiles, lubrication of the machinery and servicing should be done to minimize
noise generation.
2. Sound proof doors and windows can be installed to block unwanted noise from outside.
3. Regulations should be imposed to restrict the usage of play loudspeakers in crowded areas
and public places.
4. Factories and industries should be located far from the residential areas.

MULTIMEDIA TRANSFER OF POLLUTION

US EPA - Pollution is defined as any undesirable change in the chemical or biological

characteristics of air, water or land that may or will harmfully affect human life or that of other
undesirable species, our processes, living conditions or cultural assets or that may or will waste
or deteriorate material resources.

PD 984- Pollution is any alteration of the physical, chemical and biological properties of any water,
air and or land resources of the Philippines or any discharge thereto of any liquid, gaseous or
solid wastes will or is likely to create or to render such water, air and land resources harmful,
detrimental or injurious to public health, safety or welfare or which will adversely affect their
utilization for domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural, recreational or other legitimate
purposes.

APPLICATION OF POLLUTION CONTROL TECHNIQUES (END-OF-PIPE TREATMENT)

After employing end-of pipe treatment technologies, the pollutant may still contaminate
environment and pose health hazards since technologies like air pollution control devices (APCD)
and wastewater treatment plants (WWTP or WTP) often times have high capital investments and
are expensive to operate.

Increase of wastes is associated with the depletion of most of the non-renewable resources. The
energy required to transform and upgrade these wastes is proportional to the quantities being
treated and rises exponentially with increasing dilution of the waste. Total cost of collections for
collection, segregation, intermediate storage, transport, treatment and final storage make
pollution prevention economically attractive.

Pollution prevention
-is the use of materials, processes, or processes that reduce or eliminate the creation of pollutants
or wastes as the sources. It includes practices that reduce the use of hazardous and non-
hazardous material, energy, water or other resources as well as those that protect natural
resources through conservation or more.

Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)

LCA studies are conducted for the

purpose of answering certain questions,
and those questions drive the design of
the LCA study. Ex: How does the potential
environmental impact of a new product
compare to that of products that are
already on the market?

Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is also known as eco-balance, cradle to grave analysis, resource
analysis, environmental impact analysis.

LCA is an analysis of a product or service system throughout all stages of the life cycle raw
materials acquisition, manufacturing, transportation, use/reuse/maintenance recycling waste
management, and the relevant energy supply systems

Materials Cycle
TREND:
1. Comply with regulations through the construction or installation of wastewater treatment
plants of air pollution control devices.
2. Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) were performed by staff designated for these
responsibilities. Company personnel act as eHS officer or coordinators because the law simply
requires then to.

Today, more and more companies have realized the advantages of preventing pollution before
they occur. Products are being viewed from the customer side, design, manufacture, transport,
use and final disposal. EHS are now facets of a company’s operation.

Cleaner Production – refers to a mentality of how goods and services are produces with the
minimum environmental impact under present technological and economic limits.
CP is a “win-win” strategy. It protects the environment, the consumer and the worker while
improving industrial efficiency, profitability and competitiveness.

Other related terms to CP are:

Pollution prevention Waste minimization
Eco-profitability Green productivity
Low and non-waste technologies. Zero waste emission
The key difference between pollution control (PC) and CP is one of timing. PC is an after-
the-event, ‘react and treat’ approach. CP is a forward-looking, anticipate and prevent philosophy.

CP can be applied to processes used in any industry, to products themselves and to various
services provided in society.

For production processes, CP results from one or combination of conserving raw materials,
water, energy; eliminating toxic raw materials; and reducing the quantity and toxicity of all
emissions and wastes at source during the production process.

For products, CP aims to reduce the environmental health and safety impacts of products over
their life cycles, from raw material extraction, through manufacturing and use, to its “ultimate
disposal of products.

For services, CP implies incorporating environmental concerns into design.

Benefits of CP
1. Increased plant productivity thru more efficient use of raw materials due to improve processes
and operations
2. Reduced operating costs – by adapting production and packaging procedures that consume
fewer resources, thereby creating less wastes. As wastes are reduced, the percentage of raw
materials converted to finished products increases, with a proportional decrease in material costs.
Other operating costs involved like waste management may also be reduced.
3. Public health and Environmental benefits – CP reduces the generation of wastes at the source,
or results in less hazardous waste, and thus assures improved public health and environmental
protection. Likewise, the consumption of less raw materials rebounds to the conservation of
natural and mineral resources.
4. Work Health and Safety – By reducing or eliminating toxic substance use, the safety of the
work environment can be improved and personal protective equipment requirement decreased,
Also, reducing the likelihood of leaks, spills and releases can decrease worker, visitor, and
contractor exposure.
5. Reduced Risk of Liability – CP can reduce regulatory exposure , and in some cases, may
eliminate the need for permits, manifesting, monitoring and reporting. CP can help reduce long-
term liability by reducing the amount and the hazard of waste generated.
6. Improve Corporate Image and Improved Global Competitiveness. Practicing CP can enhance
the company’s public image and may also increase the acceptance of its product globally,

Business definition of waste – anything other than the minimum amount of equipment,
materials, parts and worker’s time which is absolutely essential to add value to product. – 3M

Waste Management Hierarchy

• Source reduction
• Recycling
• Treatment
• Disposal

Source reduction:

Source reduction involves product or process changes that reduce pollution at source.

Product changes in the composition or use of the intermediate or end products are performed
by the manufacturer with the purpose of reducing waste from the manufacture, use or ultimate
disposal of the products.

Product changes include:

• Changes in quality standards
• Changes in product composition
• Increase in product durability
• Product substitution

Product changes can lead to changes in design and composition. The new product can thus have
less environmental impacts throughout its life cycle; from raw material extraction to final disposal.

Process Change
Input material changes in raw materials accomplish CP by reducing or eliminating the hazardous
materials that enter the production process. Also, changes in input materials can be made to avoid
the generation of hazardous wastes within the production process. Input material changes include
material substitution.

Technology changes are oriented towards process and equipment modifications to reduce
waste and emissions, preliminary in a production setting. Technology changes can range from
minor changes that can be implemented in a matter of days at low cost to the replacement of
processes involving large capital cost.

Technology changes include the following:

1. Changes in the production process
2. Modification of equipment, layout or piping
3. Use of automation
4. Changes in process conditions, such as flow rates, temperatures, pressures and residence
time
5. Operating/Maintenance Procedures
6. Management Practices
7. Materials handling Improvements
8. Inventory Control
9. Production Scheduling
10. Stream segregation
11. Waste Segregation
12. Training

Many of these measures are used in industry largely as efficiency improvements and good
management practices. Good operating practices can often be implemented with little cost. These
practices can be implemented in all areas of the plant, including production, maintenance
operations and in raw material and product storage.

Management and personnel practices: Includes employee training, incentives and bonuses, and
other programs that encourage employees to conscientiously strive to reduce waste and
emission.

Materials handling and inventory practices: Includes programs to reduce loss of input materials
due to mishandling, expired shelf life of time-sensitive materials and proper storage conditions.

Production scheduling: By analyzing these factors, the departments or groups that generate
wastes and emissions become more aware of the effects of their treatment and disposal practices,
and have a financial incentive to minimize their wastes and emissions. By judicious scheduling of
batch production runs, the frequency of equipment cleaning and the resulting wastes and
emissions can be reduced.

Waste segregation and stream segregation: these practices reduce the volume of hazardous
materials/wastes by hazardous materials/wastes.
Reuse - A material is being reused if it serves the same purpose and objective as its previous
usage.

Reuse means reutilization of a material in an environmentally sound manner that will not result in
a hazard to human health or the environment. A material is reuse if it is either:
1. Employed as an ingredient, including use as an intermediate industrial process to make a
product
2. Used in particular function or application as an effective substitute for a commercial
product.

Reclaim: A material is reclaimed if it is processes to recover a usable product or if it is

regenerated.

Recycling can either be accomplished within the same manufacturing process by methods such
as distilling a spent solvent for reuse. Or it may involve sending waste materials off-site for
recycling if the company is unable to reuse the material on-site, as in the case of spent lead-acid
batteries. Part of recycling is the need to close the recycling loop by emphasizing the use of
recycled material wherever feasible.

General steps in establishing the CP Program

CP PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
1. Top management commitment- Getting top management support is necessary to have an
effective CP program.
2. Planning and Organizing – Organizing a CP begins by naming the CP task force, formulating
the CP goals and identifying driving and restraining forces in implementing CP.
3. Assessment- Conducting a detailed CP assessment on the facility and generating options.
4. Feasibility analysis – Evaluating CP options to determine which are technically, economically
and environmentally feasible.
5. Implementation – Selecting projects. Obtaining funds and installing of the selected projects for
implementation
6. Monitoring and evaluation- Monitoring of the implemented projects and evaluating economic
and environmental performance.
7. Maintaining and sustaining CP program for continued growth and continued benefits to the
company.

Assessment:
Answer the following:
1.What can you do to help reduce the following types of pollution:
a. Air pollution
b. noise pollution
c. land pollution
d. water pollution
2. How will you minimize indoor air pollution?
3. What do you think is the best method of solid waste management?
4. Discuss the air pollutants and its harmful effects.
5. How can you practice cleaner production?
6. Discuss the difference between cleaner production and production control.

References:
• American Geological Institute. (2012). Environmental Science. Andover Cengage
Learning.
• Marine Health, Safety Quality, Environmental and Energy Management. (2012)
• Vesilind, Morgan and Heine (2010). Introduction to Environmental Engineering 3rd Edition
• Davim, P. (2010). Sustainable Manufacturing. USA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
• Lee & Añes (2008). Environmental Science: The Economy of Nature and Ecology of Man
• Rao. P. (2006). Environmental Science Engineering