ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE ECOSYSTEM

the field of science that studies the interactions of Every ecosystem includes both living (biotic) and
the physical, chemical, and biological components non-living (abiotic) factors.
of the environment and also the relationships and Bio means life. Examples of biotic factors are
effects of these components with the organisms in plants, animals, fungi and bacteria.
the environment. Abiotic factors are non-living like moisture,
brings together the fields of ecology, biology, temperature, wind, sunlight, soil and rocks. The
zoology, oceanography, atmospheric science, soil balance of these factors determines what can live
science, geology, chemistry and more in an in a particular environment.
interdisciplinary study of how natural and man-
made processes interact with one another and Changing one factor in an ecosystem can affect many
ultimately affect the various biomes of Earth. other factors.

KEYSTONE SPECIES - a specie that has an unusually

3 MAIN GOALS In the field of environmental large effect on its ecosystem.
science
1. To learn how the natural world works
2. To understand how we as humans interact with the
environment
3. To determine how we affect the environment and
finding ways to deal with these effects on the
environment.

Environmental Scientists and Engineers - study

subjects like the
understanding of earth processes,
evaluating alternative energy systems, pollution
control and mitigation, natural resource
management, and the effects of global climate
change.
bring a system approach to the analysis of
environmental problems.

ECOLOGY - the study of the relationships among

organisms and their environment.

Biome - major regional or global community of

organisms characterized by the climate conditions
and plant communities that thrive there.

Ecosystem - all of the organisms.

Community - group of different species that live

together in one area.

Population - group of the same species that live in

one area.

Organism/individual - living thing

WATER ENVIRONMENT

Hydrology Surface runoff

the study of water Overland Flow
the science that encompasses the occurrence, Direct runoff
distribution, movement and properties of the waters Interflow – move laterally just below the ground
of the earth and their relationship with the surface
environment within each phase of the hydrologic Infiltration/Percolation – move vertically through
cycle. the soils to form groundwater.
It deals with the question of how much water can be
expected at any particular time and location.

Surface Water Hydrology

focuses on the distribution of water on or above the
earth’s surface.
It encompasses all water in lakes, rivers and streams,
on land and in air.
It describes the movement and conservation of
water on earth.

Surface Water Hydrology PROCESSES

Evaporation – conversion of liquid water from lakes,
streams and other bodies of water to water vapor. GROUNDWATER HYDROLOGY
Transpiration – water is emitted from plants • deals with the distribution of water in the earth’s
Precipitation – water is released from the subsurface geological materials, such as sand, rock
atmosphere. E.g. rain, hail, snow, sleet, freezing and gravel.
rain.
Evapotranspiration – combined losses of water
due to transpiration and evaporation.
AQUIFER

a body of porous rock or sediment saturated with

groundwater. WATER POLLUTANTS and its SOURCES
Groundwater enters an aquifer as precipitation
seeps through the soil.
It can move through the aquifer and resurface
through springs and wells.

TYPES OF AQUIFER

1. POINT SOURCES
Generally collected by a network of pipes or
channels and conveyed to a single point of
discharge into the receiving water.
They can be reduced or eliminated through
waste minimization and proper wastewater
treatment.
 7. SALTS
All water contains some salt. These salts are often
measured by evaporation on a filtered water sample.
• Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) are salts and other
matter that don’t evaporate.

8. PESTICIDES
These are chemicals used by farmers, households or
industry to regulate and control various types of pests
and weeds.
2. NON POINT SOURCES Major types of pesticides:
They are characterized by - Herbicides
multiple discharge points. - Insecticides
Polluted water flows over the - Fungicides
surface of the land or along
natural drainage channels to 9. PHARMACEUTICALS AND PERSONAL CARE
the nearest water body. PRODUCTS (PPCPS)
They occur during rainstorms These are a class of compounds that are applied
or spring snowmelt, resulting externally or ingested by humans, pets and other
in large flow rates that make domesticated animals.
treatment even more difficult. It is released to the environment through the disposal
Example: Urban and of expired, unwanted or excess medications to the
agricultural runoff sewage system.

3. OXYGEN-DEMANDING MATERIAL
When organic substances are broken down in water,
oxygen is consumed.
Anything that can be oxidized in the receiving water
resulting in the consumption of dissolved molecular
oxygen.
Usually biodegradable organic matter but also
includes certain inorganic compounds.

4. NUTRIENTS
10. ENDOCRINE – DISRUPTING CHEMICALS (EDC)
Nitrogen and phosphorus are considered pollutants
Endocrine disrupters, are a class of chemicals
when they become too much of a good thing.
that has received significant interest from the
Major sources:
scientific community, regulatory agencies and the
-Phosphorus-based detergents
general public.
- Fertilizers
This includes polychlorinated biphenyls and
- Food-processing wastes
phthalates.
- Animal and human excrement
Other examples of endocrine disruptors include
bisphenol A (BPA) from plastics,
5. PATHOGENIC ORGANISMS
dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) from
Found in wastewater which includes bacteria, viruses
pesticides, vinclozolin from fungizides, and
and protozoa excreted by diseased persons or
diethylstilbestrol (DES) from pharmaceutical
animals.
agents.
6. SUSPENDED SOLIDS
11. OTHER ORGANIC CHEMICALS
Organic and inorganic particles that are carried by
These are hydrocarbons from combustion
wastewater into a receiving water. Particles that
processes and oil and gasoline spills. Examples
settle at the bottom as sediment which includes
are solvents used in dry cleaning and metal
eroded soil particles.
washing
12. ARSENIC 15. NANOPARTICLES NANOPARTICLES (NPS)
A naturally occurring element in the environment. Are particles in a nanorange structure with unique
Its occurrence in groundwater is largely the result of optical, magnetic, electrical, and thermal properties.
minerals dissolving naturally from weathered rocks It has a dimension less than 100 nm.
and soils, mainly from iron oxides or sulfide minerals. Examples:
Humic material (plant and animal matter)
Titania particles (painkilling creams)
Fullerene nanotube composites (manufacture of tires,
tennis rackets and video screens)
Fullerene cages (cosmetics)
Protein-based nanomaterials (soaps, shampoos and
detergents

WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT

Science of knowing how much waste is too much for
a particular water body.
To know how much waste can be tolerated (technical
term is assimilated) by a water body, water quality
managers must know the type of pollutants
13. TOXIC METALS discharged and the manner in which they affect
Heavy metals which enter through discharge of water quality. What is its intent?
industrial waste and wastewater treatment plants, To protect the intended uses of a water body while
storm-water runoff, mining operations, smokestack using water as an economic means of waste disposal
emissions and other diffuse sources such as from within the constraints of its assimilative capacity.
vehicles.
Examples: arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, DRINKING WATER QUALITY
nickel, lead, and mercury. Water that does not impart a taste or odor and is
therefore pleasant to drink is called palatable.
Water that is free of chemicals, microorganisms and
other contaminants and is safe to drink is called
potable.

4 Categories to describe drinking-water quality:

1.Physical
2.Chemical
3.Microbiological
4.Radiological

DRINKING WATER TREATMENT PROCESS

14. HEAT
Although heat is not often recognized as a pollutant,
those in the electric power industry are well aware
of problems of disposing of waste heat.
Waters released by many industrial processes are
much warmer than the receiving waters.
Water Treatment Terms
Coagulation
used to remove turbidity, color and bacteria from
drinking waters.
the goal is to change the surface charge on the
particles so they can stick together to form larger
particles that will settle by gravity.
larger particles and dissolved ions are removed by
gravity settling or precipitation.
removal of particulate matter Sedimentation
Required process prior to subsequent treatment
Coagulant when surface water contains high turbidity.
a chemical that is added to the water to cause the
particles to coagulate- Sedimentation basins
Three key properties of coagulant: also called clarifiers or settling tanks.-usually
1. Trivalent cation – e.g. sodium and calcium rectangular or circular with either a radial or upward
2. Nontoxic water flow pattern.-sludge that is withdrawn from
3. Insoluble in the neutral pH range – to neutralize the bottom of sedimentation basins may in some
acid, use lime or sodium carbonate cases be discharged back to the river.
Most commonly used coagulants are aluminum and
ferric ion.
Two important factors in coagulant addition is pH &
dose.

Filtration
As the water flows over the weirs and exits the
sedimentation tank, it still contains particles that
were too small to settle or somehow escaped
escape removal due to fluid patterns.-process by
Mixing or Rapid Mixing which water flows slowly through a bed of granular
the process whereby the chemicals are quickly and media, usually sand, anthracite coal or garnet.
uniformly dispersed in the water.

Flocculation
contacting process in which precipitates must be
brought into contact with one another so they can
form flocs.

Hardness
used to characterize a water that does not lather
well, causes a scum in the bath tub and leaves hard,
white, crusty deposits (scale) on coffee pots, tea
kettles and hot water heaters.
The failure to lather well and the formation of scum
on bath tubs is the result of the reactions of calcium
and magnesium with the soap.
Disinfection
used in water treatment to kill pathogens present I
water that would cause mild to fatal illness if
ingested.-not the same as sterilization as this implies
to destruction of all living organisms.
Four categories of human enteric pathogens:
1. Bacteria
2. Viruses
3. Protozoa
4. Amebic cysts

Sludge
semi-solid slurry and can be produced as sewage
sludge from wastewater treatment processes or as a
settled suspension obtained from conventional
drinking water treatment and other industrial
processes.
Generic term for solids separated from suspension in
a liquid.

There are also certain factors air pollutants affect

human health.
These are:
1. nature of pollutants
2. concentration of pollutants
3. duration of exposure
4. stage of health of receptor
5. age group of the receptor
AIR POLLUTION
a contamination of the indoor or outdoor AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
environment by any chemical, physical or biological Air pollution cannot be fully prevented but can be
agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the controlled using equipment.
atmosphere. Control measure examples are:
1. collecting pollutants using equipment
2. destroying the pollutants by thermal or catalytic
combustion
3. changing the pollutants to less toxic form
4. releasing pollutants through tall chimneys/stack for
greater dispersion .
 DOTC, DTI and DENR - shall establish the
procedures for the inspection of motor vehicles and
the testing of their emissions for the purpose of
determining the concentration and/or rate of
emission of pollutants discharged by the said
sources.
Department of Energy (DOE) co-chaired with the
DENR, in consultation with the Bureau of Product
Standards of DTI, DOST with the fuel and automotive
industries, academe and the consumers – shall set
specifications for all types of fuel and fuel related
products, to improve fuel composition for increased
efficiency and reduced emissions.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA) –
shall regularly monitor meteorological factors
affecting environmental conditions including ozone
depletion and greenhouse gases
Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) – with
the DENR shall regulate all projects which will involve
the use of atomic and/or nuclear energy, and will
It mandates the various government agencies to do the entail release of radioactive substances into the
following in support of the Act: environment, incident to the establishment or
possession of nuclear energy facilities and
Department of Environment and Natural Resources radioactive materials, handling, transport ,
(DENR) – act as overall of the lead agency; prepare production , storage and use of radioactive
a National Air Quality Status Report which shall be materials.
used as a basis in formulating the Integrated Air Department of Education (DepEd), Commission
Quality Improvement Framework; issue rules and on Higher Education (CHED) , Department of
regulations in the implementation of the Act. Interior and Local Governments (DILG) and the
Department of Transportation and Philippine Information Agency ( PIA) – shall
Communication (DOTC) – in coordination with the encourage participation of government agencies
DENR in case of industrial dischargers and the and the private sector including NGOs, POs,
DOTC, in case of motor vehicles, shall, based on academe, environmental groups and other private
environmental techniques, design, impose on and entities in a multi-sectoral campaign
collect regular emission fees from all said
dischargers as part of the emission permitting system
or vehicle registration renewal system, as the case
may be; implement the emission standards for motor
vehicles
Department of Science and Technology ( DOST) –
with the DENR, other agencies, private sector , the Pollution Environment_Solid
academe, non-government organizations and
people’s organization, shall establish a National
Research Development Program for the prevention
and control of air pollution.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) , DOST
Local Government Units (LGUs) - together with the
DENR shall develop an action plan for the control
and management of air pollution from motor vehicles
with the Integrated Air Quality Management
Framework.
Land pollution refers to the destruction or a decline
in quality of the earth's surface as a result of human
actions.

EFFECTS OF LAND POLLUTION

SOIL POLLUTION
CHANGE ON CLIMATE PATTERN
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
EFFECT ON HUMAN HEALTH
CAUSES AIR POLLUTION
DISTRACTION OF TOURISTS
EFFECT ON WILDLIFE

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

“the collection, transport, processing, recycling or
disposal and monitoring of solid waste materials”.

OBJECTIVES OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

minimize waste generation
maximize the collection efficiency of waste
reduce the volume of waste requiring disposal
and maximize the economic value of waste
develop and adopt environmentally sound
treatment and disposal methods.
 However, this act also has its weaknesses:
1. Administrative/management issues
2. Economic and Financial Issues
3. Technical Issues

Prohibited acts under this RA 9003:

1. Littering, throwing, dumping of waste matters in public
places or causing or permitting the same.
What are its salient features? 2. Undertaking activities or operating, collecting or
a. Creation of the National Solid Waste Management transporting equipment in violation of sanitation
Commission, National Ecological Center and LGU Solid operation and other requirements or permits set forth in
Waste Management Boards established pursuant
b. Creation of multi-purpose Environmental 3. Open burning of solid waste
Cooperatives or Associations in every LGU 4. Causing or permitting the collection of non-
c. Waste segregation, waste reduction and recycling segregated or unsorted waste
program 5. Squatting in open dumps and landfills
d. Construction of Material Recovery Facility 6. Open dumping, burying of biodegradable or non-
(MRF)/Systems biodegradable materials in flood prone areas 7.
e. Conversion of open dumpsites into landfill Unauthorized removal of recyclable material intended
f. Integration of Ecological Waste management for collection by authorized persons
concepts in academic curricula for formal and non- 8. The mixing of source-separated recyclable material
formal education with other solid waste in any vehicle, box, container or
g. Administrative and enforcement procedures receptacle used in solid waste collection or disposal
Prohibited acts under this RA 9003:
9. Establishment or operation of open dumps
10. The manufacture, distribution or use of non-
environmentally acceptable packaging materials
11. Importation of consumer products packaged in non
environmentally acceptable packaging materials
12. Importation of toxic wastes misrepresented as
recyclable or with recyclable content
13. Transport and dumping in bulk of collected domestic,
industrial, commercial and institutional wastes in areas
other than centers or facilities prescribed in this act
14. Site preparation, construction, expansion or
operation of waste management facilities without an
Environmental Compliance Certificate
15. The construction of any established within 200 meters
from open dumps or controlled dumps or sanitary landfill
16. The construction or operation of landfills or any waste
disposal facility on any aquifer, groundwater reservoir or
watershed area and or any other portions thereof.

HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT

HAZARDOUS WASTE
substances that are without any safe commercial,
industrial, agricultural or economic usage and are
shipped, transported or brought to the country of
origin for dumping and disposal into or in transit
through any part of the territory.
WASTE MINIMIZATION
They are by-products, side-products, process
residues, spent reaction media, contaminated plant
or equipment or other substances from
manufacturing operations and as consumer discards
of manufactured products which present
unreasonable risk and/or injury to health and safety
and to the environment.
2. TREATMENT METHODS

3. INCINERATION
This is able to achieve 99.99% destruction and
removal efficiency of hazardous components in
wastes.
Primary products of incineration are carbon dioxide,
ash and vapor. Sometimes, by-products of
incomplete combustion are more harmful. 5. Disposal Methods
2 types of incinerators: This includes land disposal, underground disposal
liquid injection system and deep-well injection.
rotary kilns. The choice should be based on the evaluation of
economics and pollution potential risks.

RA 6969 TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND HAZARDOUS AND

NUCLEAR WASTE CONTROL ACT OF 1990
“An act to control toxic substances and hazardous and
nuclear wastes, providing penalties for violations thereof,
and for other purposes”.

The Objectives of this Act are:

1. To keep an inventory of chemicals that are presently
being imported, manufactured, or used; indicating,
among others, their existing and possible uses, test data,
names of firms manufacturing or using them, and such
other information as may be considered relevant to the
protection of health and the environment;
4. Solidification or Stabilization 2. To monitor and regulate the importation, manufacture,
This converts the waste into an insoluble, hard rock processing, handling, storage, transportation, sale,
material. distribution, use and disposal of chemical substances
Additive materials are used to reduce the mobility of and mixtures that present unreasonable risk or injury to
pollutants in the waste. health or to the environment in accordance with national
the residues that are left out are solidified to reduce policies and international commitments;
the leachability.
3. To inform and educate the populace regarding the
hazards and risks attendant to the manufacture,
handling, storage, transportation, processing,
distribution, use and disposal of toxic chemicals and
other substances and mixtures; and
4. To prevent the entry, even in transit, as well as the
keeping or storage and disposal of hazardous and
nuclear wastes into the country for whatever purpose.

The following acts and omissions shall be

considered UNLAWFUL
1. Knowingly use in chemical substance or mixture which
is imported, manufactured, processed or distributed in
violation of this Act or implementing rules and
regulations or orders;
2. Failure or refusal to submit reports, notices or on the
information, access to records as required by this Act, or
permit inspection of establishment where chemicals are
manufactured, processed, stored or otherwise held;
3. Failure or refusal to comply with the pre-manufacture
and pre-importation requirements; and
4. Cause, aid or facilitate, directly or indirectly, in the
storage, importation or bringing into Philippine territory,
including its maritime economic zones, even in transit,
either by means of land, air or sea transportation or
otherwise keeping in storage any amount of hazardous
and nuclear wastes in any part of the Philippines.

HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE CORROSIVE VERY TOXIC OXIDISING HARMFUL DANGER TO

FLAMMABLE IRRITANT ENVIRONMENT