LECTURE NOTES

Course: Environmental Protection and Pollution Control (ECP 415)

Introduction
Definitions
WHAT IS ENVIRONMENT?
Environment is the aggregate/ensemble of physical, chemical, biological and social
components capable of causing direct or indirect effects, in the short or long term, on
living beings and human activities.
(from United Nations Conference on Environment, 1972)
WHAT IS POLLUTION?
The discharge or release of matter or energy into the environment in a direct or
indirect way in quantities or concentrations that will result in negatively impacting the
current and later use of the environment.
Pollution can be classified following different criteria.
As an overview:
a) According the medium in which it occurs: air (or atmospheric) pollution, water
and soil/land pollution.
b) Depending on who/what produced pollution (the source). Antropic pollution
refers to pollution caused by man, while natural pollution refers to pollution
that has occurred naturally, i.e. originated by nature. Note that the term
natural pollution indicates a non antropic source, not a natural substance.
c) Depending on the location of the source: emissions can be due to mobile or
stationary sources (point source).
d) Depending on the chemical transformations of the pollutants. If pollutants are
emitted directly by a source, they are called primary pollutants, if they arise
from the transformation of primary pollutants into other substances, they are
usually called secondary pollutants.
ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS AND EIA
Traditionally, industries and its basic components were designed based upon
technical and economic considerations only. It is know essential to consider
environment, health and safety as factors during design.
Environmental ethics is related to attitude of people towards other living
beings and environment.
During any project, though it is essential that economic sustainability is
attained; however, it is also essential that ecological sustainability and social
sustainability are also attained.

 Impact assessment is a handy tool to assess the environmental compatibility

of the projects in terms of their location, suitability of technology, efficiency in
resources utilization and recycling, etc.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has now been made a prerequisite
for the settling up of new projects and renewal of licenses of old and existing
plants.
EIA is a major instrument in decision making and for measurement of
sustainability in the context of the regional carrying capacity. It provides the
conceptual framework for extending the cumulative assessment of
development policies, plans and projects on a regional basis.
Sustainable development of chemical process industries is a process in which
the exploitation of resources and the direction of the investments are all made
consistent with future as well as present consideration.
The primary causes of industrial pollution are:
Use of outdated and inefficient technologies for product manufacturing,
pollution abatement and various other operation in industries which generate
a large amount of wastes
Development of unplanned industrial conglomerations without foreseeing the
effect on environment
The existence of large number of small scale industries without defining land
use patterns and environmental regulations for them
Poor enforcement of pollution control laws for big and small industries
Major polluting industrial sectors
1) Cement
2) Thermal power plants
4) Fertilizer
5) Copper Smelters
7) Pulp & Paper
8) Dyes and Dye Intermediates
10) Petro Chemicals
11) Sugar
`

3) Iron & Steel

6) Distilleries
9) Pesticides
12) Tanneries

ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS DUE TO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

Large scale contamination of water and air.

Deforestation
Increase in urban slums
Generation of huge solid waste consisting of hazardous material.
Water scarcity and ground water depletion.
Global warming
Greenhouse effect
Ozone layer depletion

Environmental Acts and Rules

The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) is a statutory body established
under the Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27] and operationalised on
the 17th of March 2003 through SI 103 of 2003.
The act was created to provide for the sustainable management of natural resources
and protection of the environment; the prevention of pollution and environmental

degradation; the preparation of a National Environmental Plan and other plans for
the management and protection of the environment; the establishment of an
Environmental Management Agency and an Environment Fund; to amend references
to intensive conservation areas and committees and associated matters in various
Acts;
To repeal
the Natural Resources Act [Chapter 20:13];
the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act [Chapter 20:03],
the Hazardous Substances and Articles Act [Chapter 15:05]
the Noxious Weeds Act [Chapter 19:07],
and to provide for matters connected with or incidental to the foregoing.
Environmental rights and principles of environmental management are
Every person shall have a right to
a) a clean environment that is not harmful to health; and
b) access to environmental information, and protect the environment for the
benefit of present and future generations and to participate in the
implementation of the promulgation of reasonable legislative, policy and other
measures that
(i) Prevent pollution and environmental degradation; and
(ii) Secure ecologically sustainable management and use
of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic
and social development.
Major environmental laws dealing with protection of environment are
Effluent and Solid Waste Disposal Regulations SI 6, 2007
Regulates the disposal of waste (solid waste and effluent). Uses polluter pays
principle through licensing which is according to the following Four classes:
Blue in respect of a disposal which is considered to be environmentally
safe.
Green - in respect of disposal that is considered to present a low
environmental hazard
Yellow - in respect of a disposal which is considered to present a medium
environmental hazard and
Red - in respect of a disposal that is considered to present a high
environmental hazard.
Provides the water quality standards in which the effluent should be discharged into
the environment
EIA and Ecosystems Protection Regulations SI 7, 2007
Prohibits extraction, possession, transportation of sand and clay deposits for
commercial purposes without a licence issued by the Agency. The Statutory
Instrument further provides for the procedure for conducting environmental impact
assessment, registration of environmental impact assessment consultants and
issuance of a environmental impact assessment licence. The Statutory Instrument
also provides for prevention of veld fires, protection of wetlands and public streams

Hazardous Waste Management Regulations SI 10, 2007

The statutory Instrument provides for the licensing for generation, storage, use,
recycling, treatment, transportation or disposal of hazardous waste. Generators of
hazardous waste are also required to prepare waste management plans and targets.
The Statutory Instrument also regulates waste collection and management by local
authorities. The importation and exportation of hazardous waste and waste oils is
also regulated by this Statutory Instrument.
Hazardous Substances, Pesticides and Toxic Substances Regulations SI 12,
2007
Statutory Instrument 5 of 2011
Environmental and Natural resources management (Hazardous Substance,
Pesticides and Others Toxic Substances) (Amendment) Regulations, 2011(No.2)
{CAP.20:27}
It is hereby notified that the Minister of Environment and natural resources
Management has, in terms of section 140 of the Environmental Management
Act{chapter 20:27}, made the following regulations:1.) These regulations may be cited as the Environmental and Natural Resources
Management (hazardous Substances, Pesticides and other toxic Substances)
(Amendment) Regulation, 2011(No2).
2.) Section 13 (10) of the Environmental Management (Hazardous Substance,
pesticides and Other Toxic Substances) Regulations, 2007, published in Statutory
Instrument 12 of 2007(hereinafter called the principal regulation) as amended by
Environmental and Natural Resources Management (Hazardous Substance,
pesticides and Other Toxic Substances)Regulation ,2008 ,published in Statutory
Instrument 99 of 2008n , is amended by the deletion after the phrase between of
2200 hours to 0400 hours and the substitution of 1800 hours and 0600 hours
3.) Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the First schedule to the Environmental and
Natural Resources Management (Hazardous Substance, pesticides and Other Toxic
Substances) Regulations
2007, published in Statutory Instrument 12 of 2007 , is
hereby repealed and substituted by the following
First schedule
Fees (all fees in US$)
Registration fees for manufacturers, importers, storage and users of hazardous
substances per facility: manufacturer, importer, seller of hazardous substances
Type of registration

Manufacturer, user, importer, seller, storage,

of hazardous substances/ products per
plant, per person, per premise respectively
per year

Annual
license

Class

USD

Red

640.00

Amber

500.00

green

340.00

Issue
a
duplicate
license
Local
transporter
of
hazardous
substances/products per vessel per year

Fees for appealing against the decision of

the Agency

20.00

Red

1030.0
0

amber

650.00

green

430.00
10.00

Air Pollution Control Regulations SI 72, 2009

The objective is to provide for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution to
ensure clean and healthy ambient air. It provides for the establishment of emission
standards for various sources such as mobile sources (e.g. motor vehicles) and
stationary sources (e.g. industries) as outlined in the Air Pollution Control
Regulations SI 72, 2009. It also covers any other air pollution source as may be
determined by the Minister in consultation with the Environmental Management
Agency. Emission limits for various facilities and vehicular transport have been set.
Exemptions
The following operations (provided they are not used for disposal of refuse), are
exempt from these regulations:
(a)Back-burning to control or suppress wildfires;
(b)Fire fighting rehearsals or drills conducted by the Fire Service Agencies;
(c)Traditional and cultural burning of savannah grasslands;
(d)Burning for purposes of public health protection;
Importation and Transit of Hazardous Substances and Waste Regulations SI
77, 2009
Highlights of the Importation and Transit of Hazardous Substances and Waste
Management Regulations SI 77, 2009
Waste Management Regulations are meant to streamline the handling,
transportation and disposal of various types of waste. The aim of the Waste
Management Regulations is to protect human health and the environment. Currently,
different types of waste are dumped haphazardly posing serious environmental and
health concerns. The regulations place emphasis on waste minimization, cleaner
production and segregation of waste at source.
The regulations have classified various types of waste and recommended
appropriate disposal methods for each waste type. Under the Waste
Management Regulations, EMA licenses transporters, incinerators, landfills,

composers, recyclers and transfer stations. Facilities to be licensed include

local authorities, transporters and handlers of various types of waste. The
licensing employs a risk-based approach by concentrating on facilities
considered to pose a high risk to the environment.
The Waste Management Regulations also provide an opportunity for
investment in various aspects of waste management. A copy of the
regulations is available at www.ema.co.zw. Hard copies can also be
purchased from the government printers

Plastic Packaging and Plastic Bottles Regulation SI 98, 2010

Statutory Instrument 98 0f 2010[CAP.20:27 Environmental Management (Plastic
Packaging and Plastic Bottles) Regulations, 2010]
The purpose of compulsory specification is to assist the implementation of the
Plastic Packaging and Plastic Bottles Regulations in order to protect the
environment. These specifications cover requirements for packaging that is made
from thermo-plastic materials and covers plastic, and carrier packaging both
domestically produced and imported for use within Zimbabwe. It also covers the
thickness and printing requirements for these packaging.
The specifications do not cover bread packaging, which may have a thickness of
twenty-five micrometers.
EFFECTS OF POLLUTANTS TO ECO-SYSTEM AND HUMAN HEALTH
Gaseous and particulate pollutants

Greenhouse effect
Ozone depletion
acidification
smog formation
eutrophication
human health

Nitrogen Dioxide: NO2

brownish gas irritates the respiratory system originates from
combustion (N2 in air is oxidized); NOx sum of NO, NO2, other oxides of
N)

Ozone: ground level O3

primary constituent of urban smog
reaction of VOC + NOx in presence of heat +sun light

Carbon monoxide: CO
reduces bloods ability to carry O2
product of incomplete combustion

Particulate Matter: PM10 (PM 2.5)

respiratory disorders

Sulfur Dioxide: SO2

formed when fuel (coal, oil) containing S is burned and metal smelting
precursor to acid rain along with NOx

Heavy metals are metallic elements that are present in both natural and
contaminated environments. In natural environments, they occur at low
concentrations. However at high concentrations as is the case in contaminated
Environments, they result in public health impacts. The elements that are of concern
include lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, zinc, nickel and copper. Heavy
metals may be released into the environment from metal smelting and refining
industries, scrap metal, plastic and rubber industries, various consumer products and
from burning of waste containing these elements. On release to the air, the elements
travel for large distances and are deposited onto the soil, vegetation and water
depending on their density. Once deposited, these metals are not degraded and
persist in the environment for many years poisoning humans through inhalation,
ingestion and skin absorption. Acute exposure leads to nausea, anorexia, vomiting,
gastrointestinal abnormalities and dermatitis.
Toxic heavy metals with established health effects

g/dl*: micrograms per decilitre of blood

mg/kg**: milligrams per kilogram
On the other hand, persistent organic pollutants are long-lasting non-biodegradable
organic compounds that accumulate in the food chain, especially fish and livestock,
and pose serious health risks to humans. They dissolve poorly in water and are
readily stored in fatty tissue hence may be passed to infants through breast milk.
These chemicals include: aldrin, dieldrin, dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT),
endrin, heptachlor, toxaphene, chlordane, hexachlorobenzene, mirex, pesticides and

polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) all of which are to be phased out and/or eliminated
under the international environmental agreements.
Liquid effluent

Some of the risks include

pollutant runoff from agricultural lands
storm-water flows from cities
sanitary sewers overflow and release raw sewage to streets and
waterbodies.

seepage into ground water from nonpoint sources

the loss of habitats such as wetlands.

we cannot always eat what we catch because fish flesh is

contaminated by the remaining discharges and sources of toxic
substances.

Microbial contamination of drinking water still presents problems in

many communities.

Solid waste
The relationship between solid waste and human disease is difficult to prove. The
improper handling of solid waste is a health hazard and causes damage to the
environment
The main risks to human health arise due to the breeding of disease vectorsprimarily flies and rates. At has been estimated that in warm climates, exposed
garbage produces as many as 70000 flies per 0.03m 3 in a week.
Refuse dumps also save as a source of food for rates and small rodents which
quickly proliferate and spread to the neighbouring areas. The handling and transfer
of biological waste pose a threat to the worker and those he contacts.
The hazardous wastes care injurious to human health some have acute effects while
others pose a health hazard after prolonged period of exposure. In proper disposal of
such waste has resulted in the death of humans and animals through contamination
of crops or water supplies.
The environmental damage caused by solid wastes is mostly aesthetic in nature.
Uncontrolled dumping of urban wastes destroys the beauty of the country side, also
there is the danger of water pollution when the leachate from refuyse dump enters
surface water or ground water sources. Uncontrolled burning of open dumps can
cause air pollution.