Technology, Environment and Society

Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.)

Year/Part: IV/II
Program: Computer and Electronics
Prepared by: Dr. K.N. Dulal
Definitions
Technology
According to Websters dictionary, technology is defined as a description of arts.
General definition of technology
Technology is technical means, which involves the systematic application of organized
knowledge, and tools and materials for the extension of human faculties.
Technology is the source of change in society.
Technological innovation
Creative. feasible ideas
Practical application
Diffusion through society
Environment
Environment is defined as the immediate surroundings which supports life and sustains various
human activities. The surroundings comprises of
Biotic or living things: plants, animals, microorganisms
Abiotic or non-living things: land, water, air etc.
Society
Society is people living together in communities.
Chapter 1. Brief History of Technology
Beginnings (from beginning to 3000BC)
Universe: Evolution theory: Big bang theory, 10 to 20 billion years ago
Solar system: Sun at the centre and eight planets, age of sun: about 5 billion years

Earth and life: some facts

Third planet that orbit the sun
Formed from cloud of dust and gas drifting through space about 4.6 billion years ago.
First primitive life: algae and bacteria appeared around 3.4 billion years ago.
Human being
o Separation of human lineage from primates: about 2 million years ago.
o Modern human (homosapiens) appeared in Africa around 100,000 years ago.
o Beginning of human civilization: about 5000 years ago
Stone Age
Age prior to the beginning of civilized society (up to 3000BC)
Tools: stone, wood, animal bone, horn
No use of metal tools
Potters wheel (around 6500BC)
Nomadic culture: Humans moved from one place to another place searching for the foods
At the end, more settled
1.1 Civilizations between 3000BC to 1660 AD
a. First civilizations (3000 BC to 1100 BC)
Bronze Age
Cupper: First discovered metal
Bronze (Mixture of Cu and Tin): Second discovered metal
Sequences
By 4000BC, quasi-civilized society in Egypt and Mesopotamia
Around 3000 BC: human civilization began.
Civilizations
a. Egyptian civilization: in the valley of Nile
b. Sumerian civilization: in plain of Tigris and Euphrates in Southern Mesopotamia
c. Assyrian civilization: in upper Tigris
d. Maya civilization: in Peru
e. Civilizations in China
f. Civilizations in India: Flourishing of Hindu religion in India, Vedas and Upanishad
g. First Babylonian empire
Semitic (dark white or brownish people from Syria and Arabia) people conquered Sumeria
by 2750BC, made Babylon the capital

 Hammurabi: 6th king of Babylonia, made code of laws, which is first written code of laws
h. Jews (Hebrews)
Semitic people settled in Judea long before 1000 B.C.
Hebrew Bible (Old testament) around 1000 BC
Prophets of Jews: Abraham, Mosses
Solomon: king of Hebrew Monarchy, builder of the first temple in Jerusalem
i. Spreading of Aryans
Tribes of fair and blue eyed Nordic race
Spread from central Europe to Asia
Inventions/ Developments during Bronze age
Discovery of bronze, Metal working, Glass working
Invention of Potato in Peru
Animal domestication: cattle, sheep, goats and asses
Cultivation
Navigation technology
Techniques of Yoga and meditation
Invention of first writing system (wage-shaped) by Sumerians
Invention of picture writing system by Egyptians
Invention of Semitics writing system by Hebrews by mixing Sumerian and Egyptian
writing
o All other major languages, e.g. Sanskrit, Latin, Greek, French, Arabic etc. derived
from Semitics
Construction of cities, temples, tombs, systematic irrigation, war chariots
b. Iron Age (1100 BC to 500 AD)
First use of iron for implements and weapons.
Historical sequences in Iron Age
a. Gautam Buddha (nearly 550 BC)
b. Confucius and Lao Tse in China (around 6th century BC)
c. Emperor Ashoka in India: spread Buddhism to Kashmir, Persia, Ceylon, China and Alexandria
(capital of Roman empire)
d. Jesus Christ
e. Victory of Aryan: from 900 to 600 BC over the whole ancient world: Semitic, Egyptian,
Greek, India except China
f. Greek civilization
Greek people: trades, travelers, enthusiastic
Greek Philosophers
Thales, Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Ptolemy, Euclid, Archimedes

 Plato, Aristotle: most prominent

Plato (400 BC): Mathematics and Astronomy
o Plato published a book named Utopia which deals with the plan to form a different and
better than the existing one. Utopian society defines the process of development in three steps:
plan, public, and law.
Aristotle (300BC)
o Gathering information, analyzing and solving the problem in a systematic way (beginner
of science).
o Father of history and founder of political science
g. Roman civilization
Autocratic Roman empire in Europe (from 200 BC)
No scientific development
Focus of Romans on health and well being
h. Spreading of Mongolians all over the world by two century BC.
Inventions/technological development during iron age
Prosperous China: Construction of great wall, invention of paper, tea, wood block printing
Development of Iron technology
Literature: around 200 BC
c. The middle ages (500 to 1450)
Sequences of middle age
a. prophet Muhammad (600AD)
Dictated a book, Koran, which he declared was communicated to him from God
Beginning of Islam religion
b. Arabs supremacy
Powerful Arabian empire: Arabians were Masters, Europeans pupils
Stretched from Spain to China
Learnt paper and printing from China
Came in touch with Indian Mathematics
Translated Greek literature
c. Mongolians conquest
Jengis Khan (1200 AD): conquered China, Turkmenistan, Persia, Armenia, part of India
down to Lahore, South Russia and Hungary
Ogdai Khan: completed the conquest of whole China and all Russia (former Soviet Union)
Other emperors: Mangu Khan, Kublai Khan, Hulagu Khan
d. Mogul dynasty in India (Mongolian: Mogul in Urdu)
Baber: Descendent of Mongolian, conquest India
Akbar: completed the conquest of whole India
f. Renaissance of Europe: Intellectual revival

 From 1200 AD: revival of European intelligence

Commercial and industrial activities boomed in northern and central Italian cities (1250)
Development of cities
Growth in trading
Arabian literature and scientific experiments translated into common language
Roger Bacon: father of modern experimental science, deserves prominence in our history
second to that of Aristotle
University at Paris, Oxford, Bologna and other cities
Exploration: Marco Polo, Columbus, Vasco De Gama
By 1500 AD, Europeans became intellectual and material leader
Inventions/Developments in middle age
a. From Arab world
Great advances in Math, Physics, Chemistry and Medical science
Spreading of Arabic figure invented by Hindus, sign zero invented by Arabs
Metallurgical and technical devices made by Arabs
b. From Mongolian
Opening of silk road by Mongolians to link Asia and Europe for trade
c. From renaissance of European
Good quality paper and printing
Advance in education and science
Mariners compass
d. Towards the modern world (1450 to 1660)
Sequences
a. Period of growth for scientific knowledge
Birth of many scientists: Leonardo Da Vinci, Galileo, Kepler, Blaise Pascal, Robert
Hooke, Newton: Influenced the world of science
b. Age of mechanical revolution
Process of mechanical invention and discovery
Technological development due to organized science
Mechanical power and the machine doing the labour work of human and animals
c. Advance in popular education throughout the Westernized world
Inventions/Developments
Invention of saw mill, microscope, telescope, clocks
1.2 The Industrial revolution, early days (1660 to 1815)

The mechanical revolution was followed by the industrial revolution.

Sequences
Age of social and financial development
Scientific discoveries, application of science and technology
Began from England around sixties of seventeenth century after the invention of steam
engine by James Watt
Mass production, factory system and improved machinery and machine tool
Further advancement due to the invention of electric power
By the early 19th century, industrial revolution spread to other parts of Europe
Inventions/Developments
Friedrich Staedtler founded a pencil factory in Nuremberg, Germany.
o Staedtler Mars GmbH & Co. the oldest manufacturing companies in the world.
Many books on industrial development
water-powered mill
Processing of iron from ore using blast furnace technique in 18th century
o Rolled iron sheet in 1728 and rolled rods and bars in 1783.
First modern steam engine by James Watt (1765)
Use of steam power: cotton factory, boat, ship
First locomotive by Trevithick in 1804
Electricity: Investigation of Franklin, Volta, Faraday and Galvani
Chemistry advanced
American System of Manufacturing (1813)
Steam powered train
1.3 The Industrial revolution in maturity (1815 to 1918)
Sequences
a. By early 19th century, science has come to be revolutionized.
Prominent scientists e.g. Alfred Nobel, Faraday, Graham Bell, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein
b. Age of engineering: Technological development
Inventions/Developments
Electric motor by Faraday (1821)
First railway between Stockton and Darlington in 1825
Discovery of electric telegraph in 1835, first under seas cable laid in 1851 between France
and England
Analytical engine by Charles Babbage (1834), father of computer
Steam hammer (1838)

 Bessemer process (1856) and open hearth process (1864) for processing of iron and steel
Telephone by Alexander Graham Bell (1876)
Steam turbine (1884)
Petrol car by Carl Benz (1888)
Internal combustion diesel engine by Rudolph Diesel (1893)
Wireless telegraphy by Marconi (1896)
Medical science and agricultural science advanced
In 1903 testing of the first air craft by Wright brothers in the USA, availability of
aeroplane for humans from 1909
Book on scientific management by Taylor in 1911
Moving-assembly-line techniques for car manufacturing by Ford (1913)
Project management techniques (Gantt Chart -1917)
Impact of industrial revolution
Mechanization: Change of power source from muscle power and animal power to steam
engine which was more economical, easier to handle and efficient than previous sources.
Social, cultural and economical change
Revolution in transport and communication
Easier and more comfortable life, better health condition
Advance in education, science, medicine, textile and agriculture
Relocation of large portions of the population from the countryside to the towns and cities
Growth in trade and business
Availability of great variety of materials
Rise of wealthy people
o Especially businessman became richer, while workers also got good wages.
Start of automation replacing human operations
Negative points: break up of joint family, women and child labor, gap between poor and
rich
Material growth and subsequent colonization
o Demand of raw materials and nationalist pride led colonization to produce and trade
goods
Dutch, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (North and South America), French, England
Negative impact of colonization
Conflict and internal strife in colonized countries
Extraction of vast amounts of natural resources from the colonies by British Empire
1.4 Influence of First and Second World wars on technology
World War I (WWI) (1914-1918)
Main Causes
o Beginning: Beginning of war after the assassination of Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-

Hungarian throne, by, a Bosnian Serb citizen of Austria-Hungary . The retaliation by AustriaHungary against Serbia activated a series of alliances that set off a chain reaction of war
declarations. Within a month, much of Europe was in a state of open warfare.
Alliance of France, UK, Russia, Italy, US
Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary
o Continuing French resentment over the loss of territory to Germany in the 19th century
o The growing economic and military competition between Britain and Germany
o German desire to become more established countries of Europe.
End of war: The war was ended by several treaties, most notably the Treaty of Versailles, signed
on 28 June 1919.
Technical inventions during WWI
Chemical advancement: high explosive, poison gases, fixing of atmospheric N2
Telephone, wireless communication, armoured cars, tanks
Development of ship and aircraft, military weapons
Automatic rifle
Impact of world war I on technology
Development of the mechanical equipment and scientific development of weapons
accelerated
Between two wars (1918 to 1939)
The construction and developments were done throughout the world.
Inventions of radar (1922), talking film (1922), helicopter (1924), Electronic TV (1927),
Jet Engine (1937)
The Second World War (1939 to 1945)
Causes
a. Hitlers Aims to dominate Europe and the World
b. The aggression of Hitlers Allies: Italy and Japan
c. Democratic (USA, Britain and France) powers were passive
d. The League of Nations failed to keep peace
Sequences
Involved a majority of the world's nations, including all of the great powers organized into
two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis
Axis: Germany, Japan, Italy
Allies: UK, France, Poland, Russia, China, USA etc.

 Starting with the German invasion of Poland in 1939 and subsequent declarations of war
on Germany by the United Kingdom, France and the British Dominions
Ended with Allies victory in 1945
Inventions/ Technical developments
Development of military weapons
Jet plane, Crewless plane, Modern rockets, Helicopters
Advance in tank design
Advance in communication
Airplanes used to carry bombs.
Development of nuclear weapons
Development of artificial harbors
Oil pipelines under the English Channel.
Acquaintance of atomic energy
The modern era of automatic digital computer began during world war II
o 1939 to 1944: first automatic digital computer
Impact
New technological developments in speed and arms advanced.
Emergence of the Soviet Union and the United States as the superpowers.
Creation of the United Nations
Decolonization movement
Integration of western Europe
Beginning of computer age
Negative impacts of world wars
Loss of life: Great human disaster
Destruction of property
Air, water and soil pollution
Spreading of disease
1.5 Information age (1945 to present)
Sequences
Post industrial era: information age
Liberation of colonized countries aftermath of war
Development of computer technology (modern computer in 1950)
Introduction of era of global satellite communication
1957: start of globalization of information revolution after Sputnik launched by Russians
Human beings in space (1961)

 Communication satellite (1962)

Human being on moon (1969)
Space shuttle (1981)
Optical fiber
Laser
Exploration of space using manned/unmanned satellite
Supercomputer (1976) and Laptop computer (1989)
Robot: most vivid example in technological history
Internet: vast sources of information
Chapter 2. The technological society
2.1 The machine age
Era of invention and machine-based change in society that began with the Industrial
Revolution
Most important development of machine age
o Fossil fuels such as coal as sources of energy
o Improvement of metallurgical processes (especially of steel and aluminum)
o Development of electricity and electronics
o Invention of the internal-combustion engine
o Use of metal and cement in construction work
2.2 The steam locomotive and its impact on transportation
Easier and more comfortable life
Cultural diffusion and social transfusion
Growth of trade and business
2.3 The telephone and telegram and their impact on telecommunication
Ease in conversations, conducting business, getting help in an emergency
Upgrading of the social value, bridge for the social transformation
Acceleration of economic growth
Impact on cultural, religion and education
Saving time and money for the flow of information
Increased efficiency and effectiveness of the works
2.4 The automobile and its impact on mobility

 Creation of job for millions and increase in the mobility of people

Increment of economic activities
Fast, luxurious and efficient life
Noise and air pollution, causalities
2.5 Development of electronics and silicon chips
Development of computer
First fully electronic computer (using vacuum tubes) in 1946
Storing program in 1946
Development of Germanium transistor in 1947
Development of modern computer with the invention of Integrated Circuit (IC) in 1950 by
Jack Kilby at Texas Instruments
After the invention of silicon chips, drastic change on other electronic equipments
The fast development of silicon chips predicts the maturity of information era
2.6 The computer and its impact
Revolution in analysis, computation and communication, and start of information age
Environmental quality control
Medical diagnosis
Program planning: urban planning, population studies, land use change, highway planning
Increased access to the jobs
Creation of new job opportunities
Automation decreasing the labor intensiveness
Rise of information industries
Creation of high standard of living
Increased production
Negative impact on individuality, privacy
Crime (money/information/service theft, virus, program copying, hardware/software
damage etc.): threat to society
2.7 Information society
Post industrial society in which most of the people are involved in the business of
information
Transformation from industrial society to information society
After discovery of modern computer: main tool for information society
Computer technology is to information age what mechanization was to the industrial

revolution.
In computer age, we are dealing with the conceptual space connected by electronics
rather than physical space connected by motor car
Combined technology of telephone, computer and television have merged into an
information and communication system
Information economy: Real, renewable and self generating economy
Revolution in communication technology due to sophisticated information technology
Application of technology to old industrial tasks and then gradually to new tasks
Focus on better education
Continuation of manufacturing industries, only change from physical to more intellectual
functions
Marx theory of labor value has replaced by knowledge theory of value.
Majority of professional workers involved in information sector: e.g. teachers, lawyers,
engineers, computer programmers, system analysts, architects, accountants, doctors, nurses,
social workers, librarians, newspaper reporters, managers, insurance people, bankers
Information is wealth like capital in industrial society
The new source of power is not money in the hands of a few, but information in the
hands of many
Scientific research expanded many folds due to information age: many journal papers,
technical literatures
Robot doing skilled and unskilled job
Easy access to vast amount of information due to internet
Challenges of information society
Information age not absolute
Erosion in employment opportunities due to computer and robot
Challenge to make people computer literate
Challenge to control computer related theft, fraud
Challenge to implement rules and regulations for information sharing
2.8 Information as source of knowledge and power
Publication of millions of pages of scientific journals and technical literature per year
Billions of websites in the internet to provide information
Increase in scientific works
Increased use of computer even in undeveloped countries like Nepal
In an information economy, value is increased not by labor, but by knowledge
Emerging communication network fueling the information society
Information always worked to enhance the knowledge
From the information we acquire knowledge power and therefore the source of

knowledge, information, is power.

2.9 Importance of technology in the modern house
Easier and comfortable life
Saving time of information society
Utilizing their time for their growth and development
Chapter 3. Environmental issues
3.1 Introduction
Introduction to Ecology and Ecosystem
Ecology
Oikos: home or surrounding, logos: study
Ecology: Science of interrelationship between organisms and their relationship with the
environment
Ecosystem
Natural unit which consists of biotic communities and their abiotic environment
Basic functional unit in ecology, Types: Freshwater, grassland, marine, desert
Characteristics of ecosystem
1. Biotic component: producer (green plants), consumers (animals), decomposers
(microorganisms)
2. Abiotic component: air, water, soil
3. Energy flow: sun main source of energy
4. Matter
5. Interrelationship
6. Biological integration
7. Flexibility
8. Ecological regulation
Human impact on environment/ecosystem
Destruction or modification of habitat
Overexploitation for commercial, scientific and education purpose
Overgrazing for domestic animals
Change in arable land
Forestry
Traditional rural practice
Industrialization, Urbanization
Mining and quarrying

 Pressure from introduced plants

Population pressure
Use of drugs and chemicals
Destruction of ecological balance
Environmental sanitation
Cleaning of environment
Environmental sanitation includes the following:
1. Collection and disposal of refuse and sewage from houses, buildings and other public
places
2. Proper ventilation for the control of indoor air pollution: fresh air circulation
3. Sufficient light in the buildings for healthy conditions of human body
4. Heating
Local environmental issues: water pollution, air pollution, noise pollution, solid waste pollution,
deforestation, land degradation
Global environmental issues: Global warming, Acid rain deposition, Ozone layer depletion
3.2 Water pollution
Water pollution: presence of various types of impurities that tends to degrade its quality and
either constitutes a health hazard or otherwise decrease the utility of water
Sources of water pollution
Natural: Soil erosion, solutions of mineral in water, rain water, storms, earthquake,
seawater intrusion, dust/dirt falling from atmosphere, deposition of animal wastes and fallen
leaves etc.
Man made: Due to agriculture, sewage, wastes, industry
Sewage: Liquid waste from community, contains 99.9% water, 0.1% solids (organic/inorganic
matter, disease producing organisms)
Types of pollutants
Pathogenic organisms
Oxygen demanding substances
Plant nutrients: Nitrogen and Phosphorus
Toxic organic chemicals: pesticides
Poisonous inorganic chemicals
Oil
Thermal pollution (Heat): from power plants
Sediment

 Radioactive substances
Others: color, odor, taste
Impact of water pollution
Health hazard due to the presence of pathogenic bacteria from domestic sewage, toxic
materials and industrial waste
Water borne diseases: typhoid, cholera, dysentery, infectious hepatitis
Economic loss: disturbance recreation, aesthetics, agriculture, industry, property
Impact on aquatic and plant life
Prevention of pollution
Treatment of sewage
Treatment of industrial waste
Providing training and technical facilities in industry to treat waste water
Not using water source for discharging sewage
Rules and regulations for controlling pollution
Proper planning of towns
Sewage disposal method
1. Natural methods
Dilution: discharging into water course e.g. sea, river or lake, self purification in due
course of time
Land treatment: spreading sewage on land, two ways: filtration, sewage farming
2. Artificial method: Sewage treatment method for removal of suspended solids, pathogens
Cause, Effect and remedial measures of various water pollutants
Physical
|Impurity/pollutants
|Cause
|Effect
|Remedial
measures
|
|1. Suspended solids
|Clay, silt, organic matters,
|Turbidity, color, odor
|Treatment:
Settling,
|
|(turbidity)
|inorganic matter, minerals, algae,|
|coagulation,
filtration
|
|
|fungi
|
|
|
|2. Color
|Dissolved organic matters,
|Objectionable from aesthetic |Treatment
method, such as |
|
|inorganic matter and minerals, |and psychological point of |aeration,
treatment with
|
|
|industrial waste
|view, no health effect
|activated

carbon, oxidation |
|
|
|
|of organic matters
|
|3. Taste and odor
|Dead or living microorganisms, |Bad smell, not suitable
for |
|
|
|dissolved gases e.g. H2S,
|drinking
|
|
|minerals, e.g. Nacl, industrial |
|
|
|
|waste
|
|
|

Biological
|Impurity/pollutants
|Cause
|Effect
|Remedial
measures
|
|1. Pathogenic organisms
|Human and animal fecal|Water-borne diseases, e.g.
cholera, |Disinfection, e.g. by boiling, by
|
|
|waste
|typhoid, paratyphoid, dysentery, |ultraviolet rays, by
using ozone,
|
|
|
|diarrhea, vomiting
|potassium per magnate,
chlorination
|
Chemical pollutants
a. Some chemicals
|Impurity/pollutants
|Cause
|Effect
|Remedial
measures
|
|Acidity/alkalinity
|Presence of acid or alkali |Acidic water: tuberculosis,
corrosion|Neutralizing
|
|(PH)
|
|Alkaline water: incrustation,
|
|PH = log10[1/H+]
|
|sediment
deposits
|
|
|Calcium and Magnesium
|Natural
|Hardness
|Water
softening
|
|Chloride
|Natural, pollution from sea |Not significant in small
amount, |Treatment method, such as
|
|(In the form of NaCl)
|water, brine or industrial and |salty taste,
corrosion
|dilution, reverse osmosis,
|
|
|domestic waste
|
|distillation
|
|Sulfate
|Natural
|Not significant in small amount, |Treatment
method, such as reverse|
|
|
|Laxative effect, hardness, taste |osmosis,
distillation
|
|Fluoride
|Water additive for promoting |1.5ppm, de-fluoridation (e.g. |

|
process)
|Phosphate
precipitation
|

|and aluminum factories

|of teeth

|lime-soda

|
|Natural, agriculture, boiler |Algal growth
|
|water, laundries

|Chemical
|

b. Dissolved gas
|Impurity/pollutants
|Cause
|Effect
|Remedial
measures
|
|Dissolved oxygen
|Absorption from atmosphere
|Positive effect:
taste
|Chemical method for treatment e.g. |
|
|
|Negative: corrosion
|using Sodium sulfite,
boiling
|
|Dissolved CO2
|Absorption from atmosphere
|Bad taste, odor,
corrosion
|Treatment method, such as aeration |
|Dissolved H2S
|Natural: due to Sulfur reducing |Bad taste, odor,
corrosion
|Treatment method, such as aeration,|
|
|bacteria, hot water heater
|
|activated carbon,
oxidation
|
|
|fitted with Magnesium
|
|
|
c. Forms of Nitrogen
|Impurity/pollutants
|Cause
|Effect
|Remedial
measures
|
|Nitrite, Nitrate
|Runoff from fertilizer use,
|Effect to infants, blue-baby |Treatment
method, such as
|
|
|leaching from septic tanks, sewage,|syndrome, algal growth
|biological
treatment, distillation,|
|
|erosion of natural deposits
|
|reverse
osmosis
|
|Ammonia
|Metabolic, agriculture
|Not of immediate health
|Treatment
method, such as
|
|
|
|relevance, Pollution, growth |biological treatment,
aeration |
|
|
|of algae
|
|
d. Agrochemicals
|Impurity/pollutants
measures
|Pesticide

|Cause

|Effect

|Remedial

|
|Agriculture use |Positive: Increase in crop production

|Pest

management by eco-friendly
|
|
|
|Negative: water pollution, effect to other |manner, e.g. crop
rotation, multi-crop|
|
|
|animals, birds, including human health |agriculture, natural
predator,
|
|
|
|
|parasites, pathogens for controlling |
|
|
|
|pest, sterilization
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Chemical fertilizer
|Agriculture use |Positive: Increase in crop production
|Use of
organic fertilizers (manure, |
|
|
|Negative: water pollution, algal growth |compost), use of
minimum level of |
|
|
|
|inorganic fertilizer
|
e. Metals
|Impurity/pollutants
|Cause
|Effect
|Remedial
measures
|
|Iron and Manganese
|Natural deposits, iron pipes
|Taste, color and
turbidity, |Treatment method, such as |
|
|
|staining of clothes,
|aeration, oxidation
|
|
|
|incrustation in water mains |
|
|Copper
|Corrosion of household plumbing |Liver or kidney damage, effect
|Corrosion control
|
|
|systems; erosion of natural
|on lungs, restriction in
the |
|
|
|deposits
|growth of aquatic plants
|
|
|Zinc
|Natural deposits
|Not water hazard
|Treatment method,
such as |
|
|
|overdose: vomiting, dizziness |coagulation,
filtration
|
|Aluminum
|Natural deposits, treatment using |Neurological
disorders
|Treatment method, such as |
|
|Aluminium sulphate as coagulant |
|reverse osmosis,
softening |
f. Some toxic metals
|Impurity/
|Cause
|Effect
|Remedial
measures
|
|pollutants
|
|
|
|Arsenic
|Natural, Industrial effluents (glass |Toxic, respiratory and skin

|
|Use of low

arsenic water, e.g. |

|
|& electronics), medicinal use
|cancer, nervous disorders
|rain water
Treatment method, such|
|
|
|
|as reverse osmosis, filtration |
|Lead
|Corrosion of plumbing systems,
|Kidney problems, high blood
|Not using
water containing lead, |
|
|erosion of natural deposits,
|pressure, nervous disorder
|Treatment
method, such as
|
|
|industrial waste, dust, paint
|
|filtration
|
|Mercury
|Erosion of natural deposits,
|Highly toxic, Kidney damage,
|Treatment
method, such as
|
|
|industrial discharge
|nervous disorder, blurred vision |filtration, granular
activated |
|
|
|
|Carbon, reverse osmosis
|
|Cadmium
|Erosion of natural deposits,
|Cadmium: kidney, lung
|Treatment
method, such as reverse|
|Chromium
|industrial discharge
|Chromium:
respiratory
|osmosis
|
|Cyanide
|
|Cyanide: nerve damage
|
|
|Barium
|
|Barium: High blood pressure
|
|
3.3 Air pollution
Composition of atmosphere
N2: 78%, O2: 21%, Other gases: 1% e.g. Argon, CO2, H2, He, CH4, O3, Neon, CO, NO2, NH3
etc.
Air pollution: presence of certain substances in the air in high enough concentrations and for
long enough duration to cause undesirable effects
Sources of air pollution
1. Natural sources
Forest fires, dust storms, volcanic eruption, salt sea spray, pollen grains
2. Man made sources
Fuel combustion: coal, gas
Automobile emissions
Industrial emissions: iron and steel manufacturing, oil refining, brick factory, cement
factory, chemical and petrochemical operations, pulp and paper industry, fertilizer plants,
thermal power plants, textile industry etc.
Decomposition of organic waste and municipal garbage

Classification of air pollutants based on origin

1. Primary: pollutants that are directly emitted to the atmosphere
Main primary pollutants
SO2: due to coal burning
NO2: due to combustion of fossil fuels, e.g. coal or gasoline
CO: due to incomplete combustion of fossil fuels
Particulate matter (solid or liquid droplets, 10 m, Smog: Smoke and fog
Hazardous or toxic air pollutants
Asbestos: due to demolition of old buildings containing Asbestos fire proofing, cancer,
lung disease
Benzene: due to gasoline powered vehicles, cancer
Beryllium: from foundries, ceramic factories, incinerations
Mercury: coal burning, incineration of garbage
Vinyl Chloride
Radioactive air pollutants
Effects of air pollution
1. Health effects
Chronic disease, Respiratory illness: bronchitis, asthma, lung cancer
Temporary effect: nose or eye or throat irritation, coughing, chest pain, general discomfort
2. Damage to material objects
Soiling and deterioration of building surface, corrosion of metals, weakening of rubber,
textile, synthetic
3. Effect on vegetation
damage to tree, flowers, fruits, vegetables
4. Effects on physical properties of atmosphere
Effects on visibility
Effects on urban atmosphere and weather conditions: fog, cloud, precipitation
Effects on atmospheric constituents: increase in atmospheric CO2
Air pollution control
1. Natural self-cleansing of the environment: dispersion by wind, settling by gravity, washout by
rain, adsorption by soils, rocks, leaves, buildings
2. Control of particulate pollutants in industries using mechanical device
3. Control of gaseous pollutants in industries using mechanical device
4. Controlling air pollution from automobiles
5. Air quality legislation and standards

Controlling air pollution from automobiles

(CO, HC, NOx, particulates, SO2)
Catalytic convertor: for complete oxidation of combustible fuel
Reducing lead and sulfur content in gasoline
Correct operation and maintenance of engine
Fuel substitutions: use of reformulated gasoline (oxygenated fuel containing at least 2% of
O2) or alternate fuels such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG),
methanol, ethanol, propane, Hydrogen, electric powered vehicle
Indoor air pollution
Pollution of air inside buildings
Air exchange methods: infiltration (through cracks, joints, holes), natural ventilation, forced
ventilation (e.g. fans)
Sources of indoor air pollution
Combustion products: tobacco smoke, combustion from stove, heater, fireplace, chimney
Asbestos: fire resistant and insulation in buildings
Radon: Radioactive decay of Radium found in soil and rock
Organic chemicals from household products: paints, waxes, varnishes, cleaning agents,
pesticides, cosmetics, hobby materials
Formaldehyde: used in paints, coatings, glues, adhesives
Lead: paint, dust
Biological substances: bacteria, fungi, viruses, house dust, pollen
Effects of indoor air pollution
Health problems: eye, nose and throat irritation, respiratory problem, headache, dizziness,
visual problem, memory impairment, asthma, cancer, transmission of infectious disease e.g.
influenza, measles etc.
Remedial measures of indoor air pollution
Proper ventilation, use of fans, exhaust fans, inspection of chimneys, furnaces annually,
restricted use of asbestos, proper disposal of organic materials
3.4 Noise pollution
Sound: produced by mechanical vibration of sound source, transmitted in the form of wave
Wavelength: distance between peaks or valleys
Amplitude: height of peak of wave
Frequency: no. of wavelengths in 1S (cycle/s or HZ)
Single wavelength: cycle
Decible scale for sound

Noise pollution: unwanted sound which produce undesirable physiological and psychological
effect.
Source
Traffic: air traffic, road traffic and seashore and inland water traffic
Industries
Others: loudspeaker, siren, shouting, ringing bell, general daily activities
Effect
General discomfort
Reduction in efficiency of persons
Psychological effect
Effect on sleep, recreation and personal communication
Reduction in gastric activity, dizziness, rise in breathing
Irritation, anxiety and stress
Lack of concentration
Mental fatigue
Effect of prolonged exposure: Physical damage to ear, temporary/permanent hearing loss,
or nervous breakdown, increase in blood pressure
Countermeasures
Protection of the recipient: use of air plugs or air muffs
Increasing path distance
Noise barriers: absorptive materials, e.g. heavy drapes, carpets, special ceiling, wall
acoustic material
Reduction of noise at the source
Rules and regulations
3.5 Global warming (Greenhouse effect)
Global warming
Rise in global mean temperature of the earth
Solar energy: short wave radiation
Energy radiated from the earths surface: long wave radiation
Greenhouse effect
Concept of conventional greenhouse with glass: transmit short wave radiation, opaque to
long wave radiation
Greenhouse effect: effect caused by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere in which short

wave radiation is transmitted to the earths surface, but the long wave radiation from the earth is
absorbed thereby increasing the temperature
Greenhouse gases
Group of about 20 gases responsible for the greenhouse effect through their ability to
absorb long wave terrestrial radiation
occupy less than 1% of total volume of atmosphere
Major greenhouse gases
CO2: major, responsible 60% of total GHG
CH4
NOx, mainly N2O: responsible 7% of total GHG
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC): responsible 25% of total GHG
O3
Water vapor
Cause of global warming: Enhancement of green house effect due to anthropogenic activities
Sources of GHG
CO2: Burning of fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal), large scale deforestation
CH4: large scale decomposition of organic matter in swamps, rice paddy, livestock yards,
cattle rising, biomass burning
N2O: soil and fertilizer, groundwater and oceans, combustion
CFC: using refrigerant, air-conditioning, fire extinguisher, cleaning solvent, blowing
agent, aerosol spray
O3: upper natural environment
Prediction of global warming
Using global circulation models (GCM): computer analysis of mathematical equations that
model earths atmosphere
Impact of global warming
Rise in temperature: 0.3 to 0.6 deg c in the last century
Sea level rise: due to thermal expansion of water on oceans and melting of ice caps and
glaciers, 1-2 mm/year over the last century, flooding of coastal areas, beach erosion, saltwater
intrusion into coastal areas
Effect on water resources: change in the pattern of evaporation and precipitation, increase
in evaporation and precipitation, more precipitation on the form of rain, increase in runoff
Effect on storms and desertification: more storms, expansion of deserts and sub-arid areas
with higher evaporation
Socio-economic effect: chances of disease due to high temperature, increase in poverty
due to flood and drought

 Ecological effect: effect on agriculture and forest ecosystem

Countermeasures
Environmental taxes on GHG emissions
Using the revenue of tax to develop permanent and stable funding for improved efficiency
and developing renewable energy sources
International efforts to control global warming
1. Atmospheric scientists meeting in Geneva in 1990
Steps to reduce emission of GHGs: industrialized nations could reduce CO2 emission by
20% by 2005
2. Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992
Signing of treaty to stabilize emissions of GHGs at year 1990 level by year 2000
3. Global warming conference in Berlin in 1995
Binding time table for reduction in GHGs emission after year 2000
4. International conference in Kyoto, Japan in 1997
Kyoto protocol: set of binding emission targets and timelines for developed nations
3.6 Acid rain
PH: measure of H ion concentration, range: 0-14, 7: neutral,