Lecture 1 Introductory Concepts

Introductory concepts and principles Environment Environmental Quality Environmental Quality Standards Environmental Quality Monitoring

What is Environment?
c.1600, "state of being environed"; sense of "nature, conditions in which a person or thing lives.

Ref. Etymology Dictionary

What is Environ?
environs (n.)
"outskirts," 1660s, from Fr. environs, pl. of O. Fr. environ "compass, circuit," from environ (adv.) "around, round about"

environ (v.)
late 14c. (implied in environing), "to surround," from O. Fr. environer "to surround, enclose, encircle," from environ "round about" Ref. Etymology Dictionary

Environment
The sum total of all surroundings of a living organism - including natural forces and other living things - which provide conditions for development and growth as well as of danger and damage.

Environmental Science
Branch of knowledge that - involves the study of different components of the environment - that interact and result in such phenomena - which can be either beneficial or harmful for the environment and the beings dependent on it for their survival and sustenance.

Environmental Science
Deals with air, water, soil and living beings, their characteristics, and interrelationships. It also includes social and cultural factors as they impact on the environment

Environmental Engineering
Branch of engineering that is concerned with - protecting the environment from the potentially deleterious effects of human activity - protecting human populations from the effects of adverse environmental factors -improving environmental quality for human health and well being. Source: Peavy, 1985

Environmental Engineering
Deals with the technological measures to use and protect the components of the environment Focuses on design and technology for improving environmental quality.

Key Environmental Components

Air Soil Water Organisms Energy sources

Environmental Quality
The degree to which the naturally occurring resources of Earth (land, air, and water) are affected by artificial impurities or waste products, including noise, generated by human activity Quality of the environment that is conducive for healthy living

Environmental Quality Standards

Allowable levels of pollution: air, water, soil and noise. - International Standards (e.g. WHO, UNEP) - US Standards - European Standards (e.g. EC) - Asian Standards (e.g. ASEAN) - Philippine Standards

Water Quality Standards

Potable water Raw water Water for fish habitats Water for industry Water for recreation - Boating - Swimming Wastewater

Environmental Quality Monitoring

Why monitor? - To determine if critical parameters are still within the standards for healthy living. - To come up with solutions in case acceptable levels of environmental quality are exceeded.

Group Assignment
Air Quality Standards - Indoor Air - Outdoor Air (Ambient Air) Soil Quality Standards Noise Quality Standards Water Quality Standards -Water and Wastewater

Group Assignment
1. Compile environmental quality standards for air, water, soil, and noise in US, Europe, Asia (or other Asian country), Philippines, and global levels and tabulate such in an excel matrix. Compare and comment on the differences in limits of parameters of environmental quality among the 5 geographic areas. Determine how these parameters are monitored and identify solutions if parameters are exceeded.

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Submission date: 10 May 2012 via email

Assignment Format
Cover page (1 page) - Group Leader and Members - ______ Quality Standards - Date Submitted Table of contents (1 page) Discussion (3 pages max) - Number and limits of parameters - Monitoring systems - Solutions for Exceedance References (1 page) Font (Times Roman, 12)

Grading Criteria
Adherence to format (10%) Quality of contents (40%) Level of analysis (40%) Reliability of references (10%)