UNIT I.

INTRODUCTION TO
ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERING
Yessica A. Castro, PhD
 Identify the impact caused by the human-environment
OBJECTIVE relationship and the role of the environmental engineer to
mitigate the negative effects resulting from this interaction

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UNIT I. CONTENT

1. The environment

2. The impact of human beings on the environment

3. The impact of the environment on the human beings

4. The role of the environmental engineer

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I. THE ENVIRONMENT

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 All the conditions and influences that affect the
ENVIRONMENT
development and life of all organisms on Earth.

Fig 1.1 Elements of the environment

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 Environment´s Non-living Components
1. ATMOSPHERE: AIR / VAPOR
Altitud Temperature Chemical
Region
(km) (℃) Species
N2, O2, H2O
Troposphere 0 - 11 15 to -56
vapor, CO2
Stratosphere 11 - 50 -56 to -2 Ozone
Oxygen, Nitric
Mesosphere 50 - 85 -2 to -92
Oxide
Oxygen, Nitric
Thermosphere 85 - 500 -92 to 1200
Oxide

The ozone layer serves as a protective shield for life forms on

earth from the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraViolet radiation. Credit: Randy Russell, UCAR
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Environment´s Non-living Components
2. HYDROSPHERE: WATER
World´s Water Volume =
1.4 Billion Km3
• 96.5 % is in Oceans (High Salt
Content)
• 2.5 % Fresh Water
• 1.2 % Surface water
• 69 % Polar Ice
• 30 % ground water
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Environment´s Non-living Components
3. LITHOSPHERE: STONE
Layer made of the mantle of rocks.
Weathering forces (rain, wind, chemical,
biological) desintegrate the rocks to form
primitive soil, which is suitable for plant
growth (95% inorganics, 5% organics).
- Soil minerals come from parent rocks
- Organic matter comes from plant decay,
insects, fungi, bacteria, etc.
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Environment´s Living Component
4. BIOSPHERE: LIFE
Region where living species (plants,

animals, and microorganism) exist and

includes the earth´s crust or lithosphere´s

top and sub soil , the atmosphere (600 m),

and the hydrosphere (10,000 m below sea

level).
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II. THE IMPACT OF HUMAN BEINGS ON
THE ENVIRONMENT

III. THE IMPACT OF THE ENVIRONMENT

ON HUMAN BEINGS
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ECOLOGY AND ECOSYSTEM
Ecology is the study of the The ecosystem is the functional unit in
relationships of living ecology and is the interaction between
organisms with each other biotic community (living organisms) and
and with their environment. abiotic environment.

The interaction of the abiotic environment with the biotic community is

conducted by energy flow (solar energy) in the system and cycling of
materials (natural cycles).
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ECOLOGY AND ECOSYSTEM
From the biological point of view, the ecosystem has the following
constituents:

i. Inorganic substances (C, N, CO2, H2O, etc) involved in natural cycles:

ii. Organic compounds (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, etc)

iii. Air, water and substrate environment needed for growth including
climatic regimes and other physical factors;

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ECOLOGY AND ECOSYSTEM
By their function, the ecosystem has the following constituents:

iv. Producers, autotrophic green plants that can manufacture food from
simple inorganic substances;

v. Heterotrophic organisms, mainly animals which live on other

organisms or particulate matter;

vi. Micro-consumers, decomposers, mainly bacteria, fungi, archaea,

which consume organic matter and release inorganic nutrients.
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 OXYGEN CYCLE

Combustion Reactions
(O2 consumption, CO2 production)

Photosynthesis
(CO2 consumption, O2 production)

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NITROGEN CYCLE The major load of organic
nitrogen in soil originates
from death and decay plants,
and animals´ excreta.

Soil microorganisms up take

the organic nitrogenous
residues and produce
ammonia, nitrates, and
nitrites.

Plants absorbs nitrate from

soil, reentering the nitrogen
cycle.
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CARBON CYCLE Carbon dioxide balance sheet in
billion tone per year:

a) Emissions by fossil fuel = 20

b) Emissions by deforestation and

changes in land use = 5.5

c) Uptake in the oceans = 5.5

d) Uptake by photosynthesis = 7.3

HOW TO DECREASE THE NET CO2 IN THE

ENVIRONMENT?
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 PHOSPHATE CYCLE
Phosphate pollution of freshwater causes eutrophication, which leads to algal bloom, reduces dissolved
oxygen in water and disrupts the food chain. Agricultural run-off containing superphosphate, and
domestic sewage are the main anthropogenic sources of phosphate.

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 SULPHUR CYCLE
In polluted waters under anaerobic

conditions hydrogen sulfide is produced

by bacteria giving deposits of iron sulfide.

In unpolluted waters under aerobic

conditions the sulfur bacteria transform

sulfides into sulphates for further

production of proteins.
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FUNCTIONS OF THE ENVIRONMENT
(HUMANS PERSPECTIVE)

A) RECREATION AND B) SOURCE OF NATURAL C) SINK FOR WASTES

AESTHETICS RESOURCES PRODUCED BY HUMAN
ACTIVITIES

Environment loses its ability to perform these functions properly due

to stress from man-made activities.
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 POLLUTION
Introduction of external materials (i.e.
pollutants) into the environment. For instance,
air is polluted due to the presence of carbon
monoxide, nitrogen oxide, etc. from vehicular
or industrial emissions. Similarly, water gets
polluted by waste from domestic sewage,
industrial sewage, etc. Soil is polluted by
burying or disposing non-degradable material
on the earth´s crust.

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POLLUTION
With the development of science and
technology, humanity continues to
spoil natural resources and pollute the
environment. Humans destroy forests,
degrade lands, throw toxic wastes into
rivers and seas, and release harmful
gases into the atmosphere.
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HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION
Humans' daily life depends on the The development of societies leads to a
natural environment. Food is obtained degraded and polluted environment.
from soil, fruits and wood from trees,
As a result of man-made activities
medicines from plants, meat from birds
(deforestation urbanization,
and animals, fish from ponds, rivers and
industrialization, etc.) the quality of
seas, water for daily use from springs,
environment suffered, threatening the
rivers and ground water.
survival of man himself on earth.
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POPULATION AND ENVIRONMENT
• The density of population within a country is defined as the number of
persons per sq. km and gives an idea of the impact of the population
on natural resources.

• Lightly populated countries retain more natural resources, including

endemic vegetation and wildlife than those with high population
density. For instance, Australia (4 people /sq. km) is less likely to face
wood or water shortage than Bangladesh (1800 people/sq. km).

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 POPULATION AND ENVIRONMENT
• Some countries with high population density can produce enough food to
cover their needs and export, e.g. UK (600 people/sq. km), while less
populated countries might have acute food shortage leading to import, which
is the case of Brazil (44 people/sq. km).

• Countries with stable population (e.g. UK) enjoy sustainable economy and
prosperity. But countries with fast population growth suffer from non-
sustainable economy and consequent problems of poverty, diseases, etc.

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SUSTAINABLE ECOSYSTEM

• For economic growth, developing countries like the Dominican Republic give
priority to agricultural and industrial activities at the cost of the environment.

• Once the resources are depleted, environmental degradation takes place and
leads to economy weakness.

• The development policy of underdeveloped nations must contain the element

of renewability to ensure the continuation of socio-economic development in
the long run.
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SUSTAINABLE ECOSYSTEM
The important components of sustainable development/ecosystem are:

• Population stabilization • Renewable energy resources

• Integrated land use planning • Recycling of wastes and residues

• Conservation of biodiversity • Environmental education and

• Air and water pollution control awareness at all levels

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ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERS´ ROLE

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ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERS´ ROLE

Environmental engineers use the principles of engineering, soil

science, biology, and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental
problems.

The mission of an environmental engineer is to protect public health,

safety, welfare (well-being), and to safeguard the natural
environment on which life depends.

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NATURAL AND MAN-MADE DISASTERS

• Natural disasters (cyclone, hurricane, tornado, earthquake,

volcanic eruption, tsunami, flash flooding, etc)
• Anthropogenic (man-made) disasters are the result of
continuous load of pollutants into the environment produces
changes that ultimately backfire into series of disasters from
time to time.
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PREVENTION OF POLLUTION

Pollution prevention is simply a way of eliminating

wasteful practices. Pollution prevention measures
reduce waste disposal needs; minimize impacts
across all environmental media; reduce the volume
and toxicity of waste; and ease some of the
burdens, risks, and liabilities of waste
management.

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PREVENTION OF POLLUTION
Techniques
Measures
• Design / process • Inventory control
• Pollution source
improvement • Good housekeeping
reduction
• Material substitution • Preventive maintenance
• Recycling and reuse
• Energy/ water • Employee training
• Treatment
conservation
• Waste exchange

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POLLUTION AND DISASTERS - CASE
London Smog 1. Description of the
environment
Heavy smog (smoke + fog) conditions due to high sulphur
2. Impact of human beings on
dioxide (1.3 parts per million) content prevailed in London the environment

(December 5-9, 1952) and killed about 4,000 people in one 3. Impact of the environment
on the human being
week. The causes of death, particularly among the aged
4. How environmental
people, were bronchitis, pneumonia, etc. Similar but less
engineers could have
severe smog recurred in 1962 when 700 people died.
prevented this disaster?

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POLLUTION AND DISASTERS - CASE
London Smog 1. Description of the
environment
Heavy smog (smoke + fog) conditions due to high sulphur
(components of the environment
dioxide (1.3 parts per million) content prevailed in London
that were polluted)
(December 5-9, 1952) and killed about 4,000 people in one

week. The causes of death, particularly among the aged • The troposphere layer of the

people, were bronchitis, pneumonia, etc. Similar but less atmosphere in London.

severe smog recurred in 1962 when 700 people died.

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POLLUTION AND DISASTERS - CASE
London Smog 2. Impact of human beings on
the environment
Heavy smog (smoke + fog) conditions due to high sulphur
(Pollution, pollutant, and source
dioxide (1.3 parts per million) content prevailed in London or activity that originated it)

(December 5-9, 1952) and killed about 4,000 people in one

Heavy smog produced by
week. The causes of death, particularly among the aged sulfur dioxide emissions
people, were bronchitis, pneumonia, etc. Similar but less from coal burning.

severe smog recurred in 1962 when 700 people died.

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POLLUTION AND DISASTERS - CASE
London Smog 3. Impact of the environment
on the human being.
Heavy smog (smoke + fog) conditions due to high sulphur
(Diseases and deaths caused by
dioxide (1.3 parts per million) content prevailed in London the pollution)

(December 5-9, 1952) and killed about 4,000 people in one

4700 deaths among aged
week. The causes of death, particularly among the aged people due to bronchitis,
people, were bronchitis, pneumonia, etc. Similar but less pneumonia, etc.

severe smog recurred in 1962 when 700 people died.

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POLLUTION AND DISASTERS - CASE
London Smog 4. How environmental
engineers could have
Heavy smog (smoke + fog) conditions due to high sulphur prevented this disaster?

dioxide (1.3 parts per million) content prevailed in London

• Treating fumes of burning plants
(December 5-9, 1952) and killed about 4,000 people in one
• Selecting a higher quality coal to
week. The causes of death, particularly among the aged be burned, with less sulfur
people, were bronchitis, pneumonia, etc. Similar but less • Using renewable and cleaner
energy sources.
severe smog recurred in 1962 when 700 people died.

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CONCLUSION
• The environment consist in all the conditions that affect the life and
development of living organisms on Earth.

• The development of societies with fast population growth drives the

exploitation of natural resources leading to a degraded and polluted
environment and threatening the survival of man on earth.

• Environmental engineers use the principles of engineering, soil science,

biology, and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems.
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REFERENCES
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook,
Environmental Engineers, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-
engineering/environmental- engineers.htm (visited May 11, 2021).

DE, A. K.; DE, A. K. Environmental Engineering. New Delhi: New Age International, 2009. ISBN
9788122424621. at:
https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=2720
90&lang=es&site=ehost-live. Accessed on May 21, 2021.
Ram Tewari, CHAPTER 5 - Environmental Engineering Solutions, Editor(s): Franklin J. Agardy,
Nelson Leonard Nemerow, Environmental Solutions, Academic Press, 2005, Pages
115-125, ISBN 9780120884414, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-012088441-4/50006-X.
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