ASU x47: Professional Ethics and Legislations - Environmental Concerns PDF

ASU x47: Professional Ethics and Legislations Environmental Concerns Presented by Dr. Ahmed Zakaria  Outline 1. Pollution a. Air (Outdoor, Indoor) b. Water 2. Global Warming 3. Environmental Impact Statement...

ASU x47: Professional Ethics and Legislations Environmental Concerns Presented by Dr. Ahmed Zakaria  Outline 1. Pollution a. Air (Outdoor, Indoor) b. Water 2. Global Warming 3. Environmental Impact Statement 2  1. Air Pollution ▪ No element of the natural world is more essential to life than air, and no environmental task more critical than keeping it clean. ▪ Air supplies us with oxygen which is essential for our bodies to live. ▪ Air is 99.9% nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor and inert gases. ▪ Human activities can release substances into the air, some of which can cause problems for humans, plants, and animals.  1. Air Pollution Cairo-Black clouds are caused by emissions of: - annual burning of rice stubble in rural areas, - car exhaust fumes. http://www.middle-east-online.com/english Air Pollution Outside (outdoor) air pollution Inside (indoor) air pollution  1. Air Pollution Outside (outdoor) air pollution Causes: ▪ “Smog” burning fuel for energy such as vehicles and power plants ▪ Acid rain ▪ Green house effect/Global warming ▪ Ozone Depletion, i.e. “holes” in the ozone layer  1. Air Pollution (outdoor) “Smog” in Cairo: Wikipedia Smog: ▪ It is caused by chemical reactions between pollutants derived from different sources, mainly automobile exhaust and industrial emissions. “Smog” in china: Wikipedia ▪ Cities (ex. Cairo) are often centers of these types of activities especially during the warm months of the year.  1. Air Pollution (outdoor) Smog (Cont.):  1. Air Pollution (outdoor) Acid Rain: ▪ When a pollutant (ex. Sulfuric Acid) combines with droplets of water in the air, the water (or snow) can become acidified. ▪ “Acid rain refers to rainwater that, having been contaminated with chemicals introduced into the atmosphere through industrial and automobile emissions, has had its acidity increased beyond that of clean rainwater.  1. Air Pollution (outdoor) Acid Rain (Cont.): ▪ The effects of acid rain on the environment can be very serious; it: o damages plants by destroying their leaves, o poisons the soil, o changes the chemistry of lakes and streams, and o negatively affects the wildlife.  1. Air Pollution (outdoor) Greenhouse Effect / Global warming: ▪ It is believed to come from the build up of carbon dioxide gas (CO2) in the atmosphere when fuels are burned ▪ Plants convert CO2 back to Oxygen (O2), but the release of CO2 from human activities is higher than the world's plants can process ▪ The situation is made worse since many of the earth's forests are being removed, and plant life is being damaged by acid rain  1. Air Pollution (outdoor) Greenhouse Effect / Global warming (Cont.): http://www.gnb.ca/0009/0369/0018/0002-e.asp  1. Air Pollution (outdoor) Greenhouse Effect / Global warming (Cont.): ▪ Thus, the amount of CO2 in the air is continuing to increase ▪ This buildup acts like a blanket and traps heat close to the surface of our earth. ▪ Changes of even a few degrees will affect us all through changes in the climate and even the possibility that the polar ice caps may melt  1. Air Pollution (outdoor) Ozone Depletion: ▪ Ozone is a naturally occurring molecule containing three molecules of oxygen. ▪ Chemicals released by our activities affect the one of the atmospheric layers surrounding earth (stratosphere). ▪ The ozone layer in the stratosphere protects the earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun.  1. Air Pollution (outdoor) Ozone Depletion (Cont.): ▪ Release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's) from aerosol cans, cooling systems and refrigerator equipment removes some of the ozone, causing "holes"; to open up in this layer and allowing the radiation to reach the earth ▪ Ultraviolet radiation is known to cause skin cancer and has damaging effects on plants and wildlife. Air Pollution (Indoor)  1. Air Pollution (Indoor) ▪ People spend almost 80-90% of our lives indoors (enclosed environments where air circulation may be restricted). ▪ There are many sources of indoor air pollution, such as: o tobacco smoke, o cooking and heating appliances, and o vapors from building materials, paints, furniture, etc.  1. Air Pollution Minimizing the Damage of Air Pollution: ▪ In many countries, steps are being taken to stop the damage to our environment from air pollution: o Scientific groups study the damaging effects on plant, animal and human life. o Legislative bodies write laws to control emissions o Educators teach students, beginning at very young ages, about the effects of air pollution.  1. Air Pollution Minimizing the Damage of Air Pollution: o Regulatory agencies can play an essential role in reducing and preventing air pollution in the environment. o Adequate ventilation controls exposure to indoor air pollution. o Home and work environments should be monitored for adequate air flow and proper exhaust systems installed. Water Pollution  1. Water Pollution http://www.givemetalk.com/ health/water-pollution/ http://waterpollutionsolutions.info/water-pollution- solutions.html  1. Water Pollution ▪ Water pollution caused by: 1. Sewage and wastewater contain nutrients (ex. nitrates and phosphates) - In excess levels, nutrients over stimulate the growth of aquatic plants and algae http://www.buzzle.com/articles/sewage-water-pollution.html  1. Water Pollution - Excessive growth of these types of organisms consequently clogs our waterways, use up dissolved oxygen as they decompose, and block light to deeper waters. http://gobiidae.com/PN/dumpingsewage.html  1. Water Pollution ▪ Water pollution caused by: 2. Silt and other suspended solids (ex. soil) wash off plowed fields, construction and logging sites, urban areas, and eroded river banks when it rains. 1. Water Pollution (Ground Water) ▪ 95% of all fresh water on earth is ground water. ▪ Ground water is found in natural rock formations. ▪ A large percentage of population rely on ground water as a source of drinking water particularly in rural areas. ▪ Significant ground water contamination may take place due to sewage leakage and waste disposal. 1. Water Pollution (Ground Water) http://www.ec.gc.ca/eau-water/default.asp?lang=En&n=6A7FB7B2-1  1. Other Waste (Material Recycling) ▪ Recycles materials such as: o Plastic, Paper, Rubber, and Food residue can have harmful effect on our environment if they are not properly treated or recycled.  2. Environmental Impact Statement ▪ Whenever engineering projects or programs are planned, there are potential impacts upon the environment. ▪ When these proposed projects are federally funded, such impacts become more important to the public. ▪ What these impacts may be and the magnitude of their effect are reported in Environmental Impact Statements. ▪ These statements are often important in environmental regulation and litigation  2. Environmental Impact Statement (Pollution) ▪ There is a significant relationship between excessive production or (overconsumption) and pollution “Any use of natural resources at a rate higher than nature's capacity to restore itself can result in pollution of air, water, and land.” Thus; ▪ The production, consumption and throwaway a high volume of material resources at a very high rate (excessive production and overconsumption) http://www.tropical-rainforest-animals.com/causes-of-pollution.html  2. Environmental Impact Statement (Pollution) It is not only excessive production and consumption but; - Inefficient methods of production. - careless & thoughtless disposal of post-consumption waste resources (bottles,….and others that could be recycled). Thus to solve the pollution problem, we should focus on: http://www.tropical-rainforest-animals.com/causes-of-pollution.html  2. Environmental Impact Statement (Pollution) Fundamental Pollution Drivers 1. Industrialization is the 1st fundamental cause of pollution. Fossil fuels (oil, gas & coal) usage is the main sources of pollution. 2. Population growth is the 2nd fundamental pollution cause as the demand for food and other goods goes up with population increase. http://www.tropical- This demand is met by expanded rainforest- production and use of natural animals.com/causes- of-pollution.html resources, which increases pollution.  2. Environmental Impact Statement (Pollution) Fundamental Pollution Drivers (Cont.) 3. Globalization. Developing countries usually have much looser laws on environmental protection. With this “benefit” as well as the population growth and easy availability of cheap labor, big industry prefers to move its facilities to such “pollution havens” rather than work in more regulated markets. http://www.tropical-rainforest-animals.com/causes-of-pollution.html  2. Environmental Impact Statement (Pollution) Causes of pollution: PRODUCTION is the primary cause because the whole cycle of extracting and processing natural resources and then selling processed in major sectors. CONSUMPTION is the secondary cause of pollution because this stage comes after, and depends on, production. http://www.tropical-rainforest-animals.com/causes-of-pollution.html 2. Environmental Impact Statement (Pollution) European Economic Community (EEC) Thanks for your Attention Any Questions Dr. Mohamed Mokhtar ([email protected]) Dr. Ahmed Zakaria ([email protected])