Sustainable Engineering and Pollution

INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING Sustainable Development Development is a process that creates growth, progress, positive change. SUSTAINABILITY Able to be maintain at a certain rate or level The definition of “sustainability” is the study of how natural systems function, remain dive...

INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING Sustainable Development Development is a process that creates growth, progress, positive change. SUSTAINABILITY Able to be maintain at a certain rate or level The definition of “sustainability” is the study of how natural systems function, remain diverse and produce everything it needs for the ecology to remain in balance. Sustainability takes into account how we might live in harmony with the natural world around us, protecting it from damage and destruction. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Development that is conducted without depletion of natural resources. “Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” CHALLENGES FOR SUSTAINABILITY: Growth in the scale of human population size A mismatch between short-term needs and long-term societal well-being. Pollution of land, water, and air resources affects biological productive land etc. Overfishing - will wipe out certain species. Erosion of soils Deforestation – will affect the existence of certain species. Climate Change - due to Greenhouse gases. Ozone Depletion Exhaustion of Natural Non-renewable Resources Sea level rise THE THREE PILLARS OF SOCIAL- ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY CONCEPTS The three pillars of sustainability are a powerful tool for defining the complete sustainability problem. This consists of economic, social, and environmental pillars. If any pillar is weak then the system as a whole is unsustainable. Sustainability is important for many reasons including: 1. Environmental Quality – In order to have healthy communities, we need clean air, natural resources, and a nontoxic environment. 2. Growth – Population is growing, so we require more resources such as energy, water, and space. 3. Healthcare – Sustainability and healthcare are intricately related since the quality of environment affects public health. For example, many health issues are directly related to air, water and soil quality. 4. Fear of exhausting the available resources 5. Mother nature’s resources are limited and should be used wisely. 6. Rapid economic growth and industrialization have led to reckless exploitation of natural resources. 7. In the process of economic growth, damage is being caused to environment and ecology which ultimately will create insecurity for human beings. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS) The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 global goals designed to be a "blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all". The SDGs, set in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and intended to be achieved by the year 2030, are part of the UN Resolution 70/1, the 2030 Agenda. The 17 SDGs are: 1. Poverty - End poverty (being extremely poor) in all its forms everywhere 2. Food - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture 3. Health -Ensure healthy lives and promote well- being for all at all ages 4. Education - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 5. Women - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 6. Water - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 7. Energy - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all 8. Economy - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all 9. Infrastructure - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation 10. Inequality - Reduce inequality within and among countries 11. Habitation - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 12. Consumption - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 13. Climate-Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, ensuring that both mitigation and adaptation strategies are in place 14. Marine-ecosystems - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development 15. Ecosystems -Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat d e s e r t i f i c a t i o n , and halt and re ve r se land degradation and halt biodiversity loss 16. Institutions - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 1 7. Sus t ai nab i li t y - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development. CLEAN DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM (CDM) The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is a United Nations-run carbon offset scheme allowing countries to fund greenhouse gas emissions- reducing projects in other countries and claim the saved emissions as part of their own efforts to meet international emissions targets. LINKING TECHNOLGY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT The areas where technologies can play a major role in sustainable development are: 1. To improve productivity and soil and water conservation, and maintain reasonable costs of food and fibre. 2. To increase soil fertility. 3. To improving water availability and efficiency of use. 4. To reducing food losses. 5. To enable farmers to modernize their farming practices and this becomes feasible to them. 6. Technologies to provide and improve energy services for developing world populations. 7. More efficient biomass stoves to reduce fuel use and reduce the hazardous smoke emissions. LINKING TECHNOLGY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 8. Simple motor-driven systems for pumping water or grinding grain to reduce the burden of these physically demanding tasks on women. 9. Energy-efficient pumps, fertilizers, and mechanical traction to improve agricultural productivity. 10. For many developing countries, provision of basic water, sewer, and refuse disposal services are major environmental priorities. 11. Developing countries need more sanitary services systems serving rural and urban areas. AIR POLLUTION  Pollution Any substance present in the environment in harmful concentration, which adversely alters the environment by damaging the growth rate of a species and interfering with the food chains, is toxic and affects the health, comfort and property etc. is considered as a pollutant. Classification of Pollution Depending upon the area or the part of environment affected, pollution may be of the following types: 1.Air pollution 2.Water pollution 3.Land pollution 4.Noise pollution 5.Pollutants  Air pollution Air pollution is the introduction of particulates, biological molecules, or other harmful gases into Earth's atmosphere, causing: Disease, Death to humans, Damage to other living organisms such as food crops etc. Air pollution may come from anthropogenic (Human activity) or natural sources. Group Work: 1. Discuss 2 examples for anthropogenic pollution and 2 examples for natural sources. 2. Are there any available methods to reduce/manage these air pollution processes? MAJOR AIR POLLUTANTS (a) Carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide is one of the major gases which contribute towards air pollution. It is mainly produced during the combustion of fuel in factories, power stations, household etc. (b) Sulphur dioxide It is produced by the burning of coal in power houses and automobiles (car, trucks etc.). It causes chlorosis and necrosis of plants, irritation in eyes and injury to the respiratory tract (asthma, bronchitis) in humans. (c) Carbon monoxide Carbon monoxide is produced as a result of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels like coal, petroleum and wood charcoal. Automobiles using diesel and petroleum are the major sources of carbon monoxide which gets added to the atmosphere. (d) Fluorides Upon heating, rocks, soils and minerals that contain fluorides, give out hydrogen fluoride gas. It is a very poisonous, colorless gas that dissolves in water to yield an aqueous solution termed hydrofluoric acid. (e) Oxides of nitrogen A few oxides of nitrogen, such as nitric oxide (NO), nitrous oxide (N 2O) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) are produced by natural processes as well as from thermal power stations, factories, automobiles and aircrafts due to burning of coal and petroleum. A principal use of nitrous oxide is in surgical operations; prolonged inhalation causes death.  Effects of Air pollution In general effects of the polluted atmosphere can be classified as: 1. Effect on certain materials 2. Effect on plants 3. Effect on animals 4. Effect on human health 5. Effect on physical features on the atmosphere i. Effect on certain materials It causes deterioration of building material. It causes corrosion of metals. It causes discolouration of paints, etc. It causes reduction of strength of materials. ii. Effect of air pollutants on plants Air pollution has long been known to have adverse effect on plants. Air pollutants affecting plants are: 1. Sulphur dioxide 2. Hydrogen fluoride 3. Hydrogen chloride 4. Chlorine 5. Ozone 6. Oxides of nitrogen 7. Ammonia 8. Mercury 9. Ethylene 10. Hydrogen sulphide 11. Hydrogen cyanide 12. PAN (Peroxyacetyl nitrate) 13. Herbicides 14. Smog ii. Effect of air pollutants on plants The most obvious damage caused by air pollutants to plants and vegetation occur is the leaf structure. The stomata (tiny opening or void) of leaf gets clogged thereby reducing intake of CO 2 and thus affecting photosynthesis. The adverse effect ranges from reduction in growth rate to death of the plant. Some of the typical effect on vegetation is as follows. i. Plants may be dried up, the yield of crop may decrease, the quality of crops may decline. ii. The quality of vegetables and fruits may become lower or the quantity may decrease. iii. The forest area may get destroy gradually.  iii. Effect on animals The effect of pollutants on farm animals takes place in two steps (i) accumulation of air pollutants in the vegetation, plants and forage, and (ii) subsequent poisoning of the animals when they eat the contaminated vegetation. Important contaminants that affect the livestock are (a) fluorine, (b) arsenic and (c) lead.  iii. Effect on animals These pollutants mainly originate from nearby industries. O u t o f t h e s e contaminants, fluorine contamination is most prominent since cattle and sheep are found to be more susceptible to it. Symptoms of advanced fluorosis include lack of appetite, general ill health due to malnutrition, reduced milk production and growth retardation. Arsenic in dusts or sprays on plants can cause poisoning of cattle. iv. Effect on human health 1. Ear, nose and throat irritation. 2. Irritation of respiratory tract 3. Chronic pulmonary diseases (such as bronchitis, asthma) etc. 4. Pollens etc. initiate asthmatic attacks. 5. Carcinogenic agents cause cancer. 6. Respiratory disease is caused by dust particles. Silicosis is caused by silica dust of cement factories. 7. Lead poisoning is caused due to entry of lead through the lungs. 8. Bone fluorosis and mottling of teeth is caused by hydrogen fluoride. 9. Carbon monoxide may cause death by suffocation. 10. Air pollution in general is cause increase in death rate and morbidity rate. v. Effect of air pollutants on physical features on the atmosphere The physical effects of pollutants on the atmosphere can be classified under three heads: 1. Effects on visibility. 2. Effects on weather conditions. 3. Effects on atmosphere constituents.  Water pollution Water pollution may be defined as “any change in the physical, chemical and biological properties of water as well as contamination with any foreign substance, which would constitute a health hazard”. It may also be defined as addition of excess of undesirable substance to water that make it harmful to man, animal, and aquatic life or otherwise causes significant departures from the normal activities of various living communities in or around water.  The indications of water pollution are: a)Bad taste of drinking water. b)Offensive odours from lakes, rivers and ocean beaches. c) Unchecked growth of aquatic weeds in waterbodies. d)Decrease in number of fish in fresh water, river water and seawater. e) Oil and grease floating on water surfaces. The above conditions disturb the normal use of water for: Drinking purposes. Fish, other aquatic life and wildlife Agriculture. Industry. Causes water pollution Sewage Agricultural Pollution Oil Pollution Radioactive Substances River dumping Marine Dumping  SOURCES OF WATER POLLUTION P o i n t s o u r c e w a t e r p o l l u t i o n refers to contaminants that enter a waterway from a single, identifiable source, such as a pipe or ditch. Examples of sources in this category include discharges from a sewage treatment plant, a factory, or a city storm drain. This type of discharges can be controlled easily. Water po l lu tio n caused by these sources can be minimised if the waste from these sources is controlled, treated up to acceptable levels and disposed off.  Nonpoint source pollution refers to diffuse contamination that does not originate from a single discrete source. This type of pollution is o f t e n t h e c u m u l a t i v e e f f e c t o f s m a l l amounts of contaminants gathered from a l a r g e a r e a. A c o m m o n e x a mp l e is the leakage of nitrogen c ompounds from fertilized agricultural lands. TYPES OF WATER POLLUTANTS (1) Organic pollutants, (2) Pathogens, (3) Nutrients and agriculture excess, (4) Suspended solids and sediments (organic and inorganic), (5) Inorganic pollutants (salts and metals), (6) Thermal Pollution, and (7) Radioactive pollutants. Group Work: (10 minutes exercise) 1. Differentiate between these types of water pollutants by providing a real example of each one. 2. For every point, discuss if this is an issue that is also found in Lebanon  Levels of Wastewater Treatment Wastewater treatment is closely related to the standards and/or expectations set for the effluent quality. Wastewater treatment processes are designed to achieve improvements in the quality of the wastewater. The various treatment processes: Primary (mechanical) Secondary (biological) Tertiary (or advanced). Conventional Remediation Techniques  Levels of Wastewater Treatment Group Work: (15 minutes exercise) 1. Research some wastewater treatment methods that are classified as primary, secondary, and tertiary. 2. Your discussion should cover the conventional methods that are used to deal with this issue. 3. You as a group should try to propose some innovative approach/improvement to the current methods used. SOLID WASTE  SOLID WASTE Solid waste means any garbage, junk, sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, water supply treatment plant, or air pollution control facility and other discarded materials from industrial, commercial, mining and agricultural operations, and from community activities.  SOLID WASTE Examples of solid wastes include the following materials when discarded: Waste tires Scrap metal Furniture and toys Garbage Appliances and vehicles Empty cans, paint cans and compressed gas cylinders Construction and demolition debris  Sources of Solid Waste Source Typical waste generators Types of solid wastes Residential Single and multifamily residences Food wastes, paper, cardboard, plastics, textiles, leather, yard wastes, wood, glass, metals, ashes, special wastes (e.g., bulky items, consumer electronics, batteries, tires), and household hazardous wastes.). Industrial Light and heavy manufacturing, Housekeepi ng w astes, packaging, food w astes, fabrication, construction sites, power and construction and demolition materials, hazardous chemical plants. wastes, ashes, special wastes. Commercial Stores, hotels, restaurants, markets, office Paper, cardboard, plastics, wood, food wastes, buildings, etc. glass, metals, special wastes, hazardous wastes. Institutional Schools, hospitals, prisons, Same as commercial. government centers. Construction and N e w c o n s t r u c t i o n s i t e s , r o a d r e p a i r, Wood, steel, concrete, dirt, etc. demolition renovation sites, demolition of buildings Municipal services Street cleaning, landscaping, parks, Street sweepings; landscape and tree trimmings; beaches, other recreational areas, water and ge ne ra l w astes from parks, be a c hes , and o the r wastewater treatment plants. recreational areas; sludge. Process Heavy and light manufacturing, refineries, Industrial process wastes, scrap materials, tailings. (m a nufa c t u r i n g, c he m i c a l pl a nts , p o w e r pl a nts , mi ne ra l etc.) extraction and processing. Agriculture Crops, orchards, vineyards, dairies, farms. Spoiled food wastes, agricultural wastes, hazardous wastes (e.g., pesticides).  Impacts of Solid Waste 1. Hazardous gas emissions 2. Water Quality/Contamination 3. Energy Consumption 4. Natural Habitat Degradation 5. Disposal Costs  Zero Waste Zer o Waste is a goal t h a t is e t h i c a l , e c o n o m i c a l , efficient and visionary, to guide people in changing their lifestyles and practices to emulate sustainable n at ur a l cycles, w h e r e all d i s c a r d e d m a t e r i a l s are designed to become resources for others to use. And it means designing and managing products and processes to systematically avoid and eliminate the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, conserve and recover all resources, and not burn or bury them. Implementing Zero Waste will eliminate all discharges to land, wat er or air that are a threat to planetary, human, animal or plant health.  3R The p o p u l a r an d w e l l - k n o w n c o n c e p t of " 3 R " refers to reduce, reuse and recycle, particularly in the context of production and consumption.  Reduce "Reduce" means using fewer resources in the first place. This is the most effective of the three R's and the place to begin.  Reuse To reuse is to use an item again a fter it has been used. This includes conventional reuse where the item is used again for the same function, and creative reuse where it is used for a different function. In contrast, recycling is the breaking d o w n of the used item into raw materials which are used to make new items. A jam jar can store leftovers. An old shirt can become a pajama top. An opened envelope can become a shopping list. A magazine can be shared. DVDs can be traded. A dishwasher can be repaired. A computer can be upgraded. A car can be resold. A cell phone can be donated. Returnable bottles can be, well... Returned.  Recycle Recycling is a pr ocess to c h an g e w ast e ma t er i al s i nt o ne w products to prevent waste of potentially useful mater ials, r educe the c o n s u m p t i o n of f r e s h r a w m a t e r i a l s , r ed uc e ener g y usa g e , r ed uc e air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution and lower greenhouse gas emissions. 1. Environmental degradation: Is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil; the destr uction of ecosystems and the extinction of wildlife. 2. Greenhouse effect: The combustion of large quantities of fossil fuels like coal and oil in thermal power plants, industries, and automobiles emits excessive quantities of c a r b o n dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the at m o s p h er e. The g r e e n h o u s e e ff e c t is the he at i ng effect caused by gases such as carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), m et h an e (CH 4 ) an d oxi d es o f n i t r o g en (NO x ) i n t h e atmosphere. Global Environmental Issues  Global Environmental Issues 3. Global Warming: Global Warming is the incr ease of Earth's average surface temperature due to effect of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels or from deforestation, which trap heat that would otherwise escape from Earth. This is a type of greenhouse gas effect. 4. Ozone deplet ion, is simp ly t he wearing out (reduction) of the amount of ozone in the stratosphere. CFC: chlorofluorocarbons Main Consequences of Global Warming 1. Rise in sea level 2. Climate change  Consequences of Global warming Change in climate can also cause several other problems, such as: Drying of surface water bodies Fall in ground water table Serious water shortage Desertification of vast areas, which were fertile and productive lands Crop pattern change and reduced agricultural yields Change in vegetation pattern give rise to uncontrollable weeds and insects Melting of polar ice and oceanic expansion which results in flooding of coastal areas. Increase in number and severity of tropical storms and cyclones. Saltwater intrudes in groundwater zones  Control of Global warming Reduction in CO2 emissions by developing alternative sources of energy. Energy conservation through introduction of mass transportation in cities. Development of energy efficient devices. Cutting transmission losses in electric lines and economic use of energy. Upgrading industrial process to minimize the release of greenhouse gases as possible.  Solid wastes treatment Group Work: (15 minutes exercise) 1. Research some solid waste examples in Lebanon. 2. List some possible solutions for one of the solid wastes problems in Lebanon.