Environment Management

Objective of the course

   

To understand the effects of modern human society on environment To understand the effects of industrialization on environment To understand the various government legislations for environment protection To study the means for sustainable development

Why do we need to study this course?



Currently we have just one planet that can sustain life EARTH

Earth twin planet called Kepler too hot for life ( - NASA December 2011)

Why do we need to study this course?

Resources are limited - Space on earth - Non Renewable Energy - Natural Resources  To understand our responsibilities towards the environment & adopt an environment friendly system of working


What is Environment Management?

   

EM is the optimum utilization of finite resources. Management means protecting the available resources from degradation It is the process of taking steps to have a positive effect on the environment. It involves the wise use of activity and resources to have an impact on the world & the environment

Environment Management System?



 

It is a process used by organizations to manage, review, correct & improve the organizations approach towards business A structured way to incorporate environment friendly initiatives into day to day operations. A way of life.

Environment Management System

What is Environment?
 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

It may be defined as the surroundings of man which includes: Air Water Land Natural resources Flora (plant kingdom) & Fauna (animal kingdom)

Contd..
  

Environment consists of biotic & abiotic factors Biotic factors include all living beings Abiotic includes non living beings Living organisms use abiotic elements around them for food & shelter in order to grow, survive & reproduce.

Biotic & Abiotic factors

Contd..


Thus, the nature of abiotic factors in a place decides the nature of living organisms that will live in that place.

E.g : Polar Bears in Artic Region

Ecosystem!


The interaction between the biotic & abiotic factors together forms an ECOSYSTEM or Ecological System Earth has different ecosystems in different parts like equator, desserts, evergreen forests, coral reefs, polar regions etc. Different ecosystems living in harmony results in BIODIVERSITY of our universe!

E.g: Marine Ecosystem

Common concepts:
 

 

Fossil fuels are decomposed remains of ancient plants & animals. Over time, due to heat & pressure, these remains are turned into fuels which release energy when burned They take millions of years to form. E.g: Coal, petroleum, gas Industrialization has resulted in large scale burning of fossil fuels in industries & vehicles resulting into global warming! Fossil fuels are non renewable energy sources. They are likely to deplete with time.

Contd..


 1. 2. 3.

Renewable energy: It is the energy obtained from resources that are inexhaustible & can be regenerated Example: Wind energy Solar energy Tidal energy

Environmental Pollution


 

Pollution is the effect of undesirable change in our surroundings that have harmful effects on plants, animals & human beings. Pollution is mainly man made. Pollution due to earth becoming hot & crowded.

Crowded!

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World population in :
Year 1800 1 billion Year 1922 2 billion Year 2000 6 billion Year 2050 9 billion (estimated)


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Population increase is due to :

Health care increase in life span Disease eradication better facilities available Economic development resulting into crowding in developing nations

Maximum growth is observed in lesser developed countries due to economic growth rise in population from 5.4 billion to 7.9 billion Mumbai has a population of over 19 million

World population growth

Effects of Crowding?
    

Loss of arable land Over fishing Water shortage Air & water pollution Stress on cities infrastructure

Issues relevant to India

 

Air pollution: Origin can be traced back to the time when man started using firewood for cooking Air pollution began to increase in the beginning of 20th century with industrial revolution, development of transportation system which led to large scale consumption of diesel, petrol, coal & natural gas. The greatest industrial disaster leading to serious air pollution took place in Bhopal where extremely poisonous Methyl Iso Cyanate (MIC) gas was accidently released from Union Carbide pesticide manufacturing plant on the night of Dec,2,1984.

Bhopal gas tragedy



On 2nd December, 1984 at about 12:30 AM at Union Carbide pesticide plant at Bhopal, a deadly poisonous gas MIC was released into the atmosphere, due to a faulty valve which resulted in the explosion of the tank holding the gas. 40,000 kg of the lethal gas was released.

Reasons behind the tragedy:



 

MIC needs to be kept below 5 degree centigrade under pressure. But the refrigeration system was not functioning for more than 1 yr prior to the accident. Safety valve was poorly maintained & was defective It is estimated that temperatures rose upto 350 degrees in the tank resulting into decomposition of the gas creating a cocktail of poisonous gases.

Impact on people?
   

About 20,000 people died due to gas poisoning 5.7 lakh people suffered major health problems MIC mainly affects the lungs causing breathing problems. It made people vulnerable to TB & other lung related problems.

After a prolonged legal battle, Union Carbide agreed to pay Rs. 713 crores as compensation for affected victims Govt. arbitarily fixed 1,05,000 as affected people & 3000 as dead But in reality, nearly 20,000 people died & 5.7 lakh people suffered major health problems Compensation amount of 713 crores was meant for 1 lakh people but was distributed among 6 lakh

Causes of Airpollution
 1. 2.

Natural causes Volcanoes dust, sulphur other gases Forest fires

These pollutants tend to remain in the atmosphere for a short time and do not lead to permanent atmospheric change

 1. 2. 3.

Man made causes Emissions from vehicles Emissions from industries Emissions from man made gases CFC from refrigerators, deodrants, air conditioners etc..

Control Measures for Air Pollution

1.

2.

3.

Electrostatic precipitators: highly efficient filters that can remove fine particulate matter like dust & smoke from air stream Particulate scrubbers: Polluted gas stream is brought into contact with a scrubbing liquid to remove pollutants Dust cyclones that use rotational effect & gravity to remove pollutants

Water pollution
 

  

71% of earth covered with water 97% of this water is found in oceans too salty to drink or for irrigation 3% is fresh water 2.997% locked in polar ice caps Thus only 0.003% of earths total volume of water is available in the form of ground water, lakes & rivers stc..

Causes of water pollution

1. 2. 3.

4.

Domestic wastage Industrial sewage Excess use of fertilizers in agricultural field, which seeps through the ground Accidental oil spills

State of Indian rivers

  

 

Every single river in India is polluted Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari Sewage & muncipal effluents account for 75% pollution & remaining 25% comes from industrial effluents 1985 Govt of India launched Ganga Action Plan (GAP), the largest ever river clean up operation in the country 1991 GAP Phase II was introduced to clean up tributaries of Ganga namely Yamuna,Gomti etc.. 1995 National River Conservation Plan was launched for all Indian rivers clean up operation.

Drawback


 

In most plans, the sewage was diverted to a sewage treatment plant before letting into the main river. Biggest drawback was lack of responsibility in terms of the staff that was involved with GAP Erratic power supply was required for the treatment plants as they were heavily dependant on power Hence most facilities were underutilized

Soil Pollution


   

Soil thin covering over land consisting of minerals, organic material, living organisms, air, & water that together supports growth of plant life Soil is formed by mechanical weathering of rocks due to temperature changes, flowing water etc. Soil cannot be manufactured Fertility of soil can be enhanced There is no substitute for soil

Causes of soil pollution

1.

  

Erosion It is the movement of top soil from one place to another due to wind, flowing water and this is accelerated further by deforestation, construction etc.. Loss of top soil makes soil less fertile & reduces its water holding capacity For 1 inch top soil to form, it takes 200 1000 yrs. Thus if top soil erodes faster that it is formed, soil becomes a non renewable resource

Contd..
2. Excess use of fertilizers/pesticides 25% of crop yield is through use of fertilizers.  Pesticides are used to ensure good yield  Excess use not only affects soil but also pollutes the ground water through soil seepage

Questions??