CH1400
ENVIRONMENT AND SAFETY ENGINEERING
Lecture 1, 2, 3
Dr. Shipra Verma
Department of Chemical Engineering
National Institute of Technology Rourkela
What is Environment ?
The surroundings (living things and non-living
things) or conditions in which a person, animal, or
plant lives or operates and interact.
The natural world, as a whole or in a particular
geographical area, especially as affected by human
activity.
It consists of air, water and land.
Environment is a sum of social, economical,
biological, physical & chemical factors which
constitutes surrounding of the man, who is both
creator & modular of his environment.
Environment Functions
Provides the supply of resources
o The environment offers resources for production.
o It includes both renewable and non-renewable resources.
Sustains life
o The environment includes the sun, soil, water, and air,
which are essential for human life.
o It sustains life by providing genetic and biodiversity.
Assimilates waste
o Production and consumption activities generate waste.
o Mostly in the form of garbage.
o The environment helps in getting rid of the garbage.
Modulate the quality of life
Difference between Environmental Engineering &
Environmental Science
Environmental Engineering can be defined as“ The application
of Engineering Principles under limits to the protection &
enhancement of the quality of the Environment so as to
protect and enhance the public health & welfare” .
Environmental Science can be defined as “ Study of various
Environmental issues (such as issues of water pollution, Air
pollution & Land pollution).
It does not include applications of Engineering principles to
protect quality of the Environment.
Environmental engineering focuses on designing practical
solutions to environmental problems using engineering
principles, while environmental science focuses on
understanding the natural world and the interactions between
living organisms and their environment.
Duties of an Environmental Engineer
Environmental Engineer deals with
the structures, equipment, systems
that are designed to protect & enhance
the quality of the Environment and to
protect & enhance the public health &
welfare.
For example Environmental Engineer
Plan, Design, Construct, Operate and
Maintain the Water Treatment Plants
to supply pure water to the Public.
Environmental Engineer also conduct
an EIA (Environmental Impact
Assessments) of various Engineering
Projects & give mitigation options.
Environmental terminologies
Ecology: Ecology is the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and
their environments (Biotic and Abiotic factors)
Biotic factors refer to living components of an ecosystem, such as plants, animals, and
microorganisms. Abiotic factors are non-living components, including temperature,
water availability, soil type, sunlight, and more.
Ecosystem: A group of organisms interacting among themselves & surrounding
Environment forms an eco-system which includes both living & non-living components
of the Environment.
Species: A group of organisms having common attributes/quality are called Species.
Organisms: Any living entity Animal or Plant which is capable of growth and
reproduction are called organisms.
Micro Organism: Very small living entity that can be seen only with the help of
microscope is called micro-organisms.
Microbes: Micro organisms are simply called microbes, all microbes are not
harmful for human health.
Pathogens: Harmful microbes which causes disease.
Biodiversity : The verity of life forms on earth & its process
Environmental engineering
Environmental engineering deals with
Water pollution
o Treatment and disinfection
o Storage and distribution
o Quality check
Air pollution
o Control strategies
o Control devices
Noise pollution
o Control strategies
Solid wastes
o Collection
o Management
Pollution prevention
What are Environmental
issues?
• Three areas:
– Air quality
– Land quality
– Water quality
Air Pollution
• Air pollution: Air pollution refers to the release of pollutants into the
air that are detrimental to human health and the planet as a whole.
• The constituents in the air that can cause harm to humans and the
environment.
– nitrogen oxides (NOx)----from vehicle exhaust
– sulfur oxides (SOx)------ Volcanoes and industrial processes.
– carbon monoxide (CO)---incomplete combustion of fuels
– carbon dioxide (CO2)---- Combustion of fuels
Above emissions not restricted to these sources only
Source of air pollutants
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/air/sources.html
Source
Natural
of
and
air pollutants
human
activities release a variety of
pollutants into the
atmosphere.
Once released, pollutants
disperse into the atmosphere
due to wind patterns and
atmospheric turbulence.
Pollutants can undergo
chemical reactions in the
atmosphere, leading to the
formation of secondary
pollutants
Pollutants are eventually
Transport of air pollutants
removed from the
atmosphere through two
main processes: dry
deposition and wet
deposition. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/air/sources.htm
Source of air pollutants
Primary pollutants are
directly emitted into the
atmosphere from various
sources.
These pollutants are the
initial result of human
activities or natural
processes and can have
direct and immediate effects
on air quality and human
health.
Secondary pollutants are
not emitted directly but form
in the atmosphere through
chemical reactions involving These reactions are often initiated by sunlight
primary pollutants and (photochemical reactions) or other
atmospheric processes
other atmospheric
compounds.
https://www.gov.scot/publications/cleaner-air-scotland-road-healthier-future/pages/6/
Source of air pollutants
Dry deposition occurs when particles settle directly onto surfaces due to gravitational
forces. Wet deposition involves pollutants being washed out of the atmosphere by
precipitation (rain or snow) and deposited onto land or water bodies.
Effects of Air pollution
Public health concerns related
to high air pollution exposures
include cancer, cardiovascular
disease, respiratory diseases,
diabetes mellitus, obesity, and
reproductive, neurological,
and immune system disorders
Children: Exposure to
pollutants can lead to
respiratory infections,
exacerbation of asthma, and
long-term lung function
deficits
During pregnancy has been
associated with adverse Adults and elderly people: Long-term exposure to
effects on fetal development air pollution has been linked to a higher risk of
It can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases (such as heart attacks and
preterm birth, low birth strokes), respiratory diseases, and certain types of
weight, and developmental cancers.
issues
https://greennetworkenergy.co.uk/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-air-pollution/
Health outcomes toward the bottom of the pyramid like asthma attacks and cardiac
effects are less severe, and affect a larger proportion of the population. Impacts
toward the tip of the pyramid like hospital admissions and heart attacks are more
severe and affect a smaller proportion of the population.
https://www.epa.gov/benmap/how-benmap-ce-estimates-health-and-economic-effects-air-pollution
Greenhouse Gases & Global Warming
Rising Temperatures:
leading to more frequent and
severe heatwaves.
Melting Ice and Rising
Sea Levels: contributing to
rising sea levels that threaten
coastal communities.
Extreme Weather Events:
intensifies weather events like
hurricanes, droughts, and
heavy rainfall, increasing the
likelihood of disasters.
Ecosystem Disruption: Changing temperatures affect ecosystems, leading to shifts
in plant and animal distributions and potential extinctions.
Ocean Acidification: Excess CO2 is absorbed by oceans, leading to increased
acidity, which harms marine life and coral reefs.
Health Impacts: Heat-related illnesses, respiratory problems, and the spread of
diseases are some health consequences of global warming.
https://www.joboneforhumanity.org/what_is_climate_change_and_global_warming_and
Water Pollution
Water pollution occurs when harmful substances like
chemicals, microorganisms, contaminate a body of
water, degrading water quality and rendering it toxic to
humans or the environment.
Main causes of water pollution
Marine dumping
Industrial waste
Household waste
Sewage
Oil leakage
Source of water pollution
Point Sources of Water
Pollution:
• Are specific locations from
which pollutants are directly
discharged into water bodies.
• They are relatively easier to
identify and regulate.
Non-Point Sources of Water
Pollution:
• Are diffuse and widespread,
making them harder to
pinpoint and control.
• They result from runoff
carrying pollutants from
various sources.
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Sources-of-Water-Pollution_fig1_335207701
Source of water pollution
https://www.kent.co.in/blog/water-pollution-and-
its-smart-purification-process/
https://www.onlinebiologynotes.com/water-pollution-and-types-of-water-pollutants/
https://www.publichealthnotes.com/pollution-air-water-and-land-effects-on-health-mitigation-measures-and-challenges/
Land Pollution
• Land pollution: Destruction of the Earth’s surface
caused by human activities and the misuse of natural
resources.
• Causes of land pollution
Garbage
Factories
Farming
Mining
Urbanization
Construction
Sources of Land pollution
Landfills
Deforestation
https://www.toppr.com/guides/chemistry/environmental
-chemistry/land-pollution/
https://inhabitat.com/top-6-environmental-issues-for-
earth-day-and-what-you-can-do-to-solve-them/
Sources of Land pollution
1,037 tonnes of pesticides consumed by Kerala in 1 year in 2020 to increase crops yield
Over time, repeated applications can lead to the buildup of pesticide residues in the soil.
The presence of these residues can alter soil properties, nutrient cycles, and the overall
health of the soil ecosystem
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2020/jan/04/1037-tonnes-of-pesticides-consumed-by-kerala-in-1-year-
2084715.html
https://environmental-conscience.com/causes-effects-solutions-for-land-pollution/
Noise Pollution
The unwanted or excessive sound that can have deleterious effects on
human health, wildlife, and environmental quality.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines noise above 65
decibels (dB) as noise pollution.
To be precise, noise becomes harmful when it exceeds 75 decibels
(dB) and is painful above 120 dB.
Causes of noise pollution
Loud music
Transportation (traffic, rail, airplanes, etc.)
Maintenance services (lawn care) construction
Electrical generators
Wind turbines
Explosions
Human activities
Noise Pollution
irritation
Nervousness
Increased
Effects
stress
Sleep
disturbance
Increased
blood pressure
https://www.encida.dk/2020/02/16/noise-pollution-and-humans/
Thank you
