Environmental

science, its
scope and
importance
Week 1
Definition of Environmental
Science
▪ The word environment is derived
from French word “environ” which
means surrounding or enveloping.
▪ Environmental science is a
multidisciplinary science which
combines physics, chemistry, biology, ▪ The main objective of
medical, health science, life science, environmental science is
agricultural science, forestry, public to protect the
health engineering and so on. environment.

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Definition of Environment
▪ All the factors such as physical,
geographical, chemical,
biological, and ecological which
affects human life and its
existence on this planet are
called environment.
▪ The environment includes
earth, lakes, forests, farms, ▪ All the components of the
vegetation and other biological environment are basically
life such as animals, plants, divided into two categories.
bacteria and microorganisms 1. Biotic environment
etc. 2. Abiotic environment

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Biotic and Abiotic
environment

▪ Biotic environment
includes all living
organisms and biological
life such as animals, birds,
▪ Abiotic environment includes
forests, reptiles, insects,
all non-living components
bacteria and
such as land, mountains,
microorganisms like algae,
rivers, air, water, temperature,
fungus etc.
humidity, water vapor, sand,
dust, clouds etc.
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Scope of Environmental Science
1. The study creates awareness among the people
to know about various renewable and
nonrenewable resources of the region. The
endowment or potential, patterns of utilization
and the balance of various resources available
for future use in the state of a country are
analyzed in the study.
2. It provides the knowledge about ecological
systems and cause and effect relationships.
3. It provides necessary information about
biodiversity richness and the potential dangers
to the species of plants, animals and
microorganisms in the environment.
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Scope of Environmental Science

4. The study enables one to understand

the causes and consequences due to
natural and main induced disasters
(flood, earthquake, landslide, cyclones
etc.,) and pollutions and measures to
minimize the effects.
5. It enables one to evaluate alternative
responses to environmental issues
before deciding an alternative course of
action.
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Scope of Environmental Science

6. The study enables environmentally literate

citizens (by knowing the environmental
acts, rights, rules, legislations, etc.) to make
appropriate judgments and decisions for the
protection and improvement of the earth.
7. The study exposes the problems of over
population, health, hygiene, etc. and the role
of arts, science and technology in
eliminating/ minimizing the evils from the
society.

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Scope of Environmental Science
8. The study tries to identify and develop
appropriate and indigenous eco-friendly
skills and technologies to various
environmental issues.
9. It teaches the citizens the need for
sustainable utilization of resources as these
resources are inherited from our ancestors
to the younger generating without
deteriorating their quality.
10. The study enables theoretical knowledge
into practice and the multiple uses of
environment.

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Importance of environmental study
▪ World population is increasing at an
alarming rate especially in developing
countries.
▪ The natural resources endowment in the
earth is limited.
▪ The methods and techniques of exploiting
natural resources are advanced.
▪ The resources are over-exploited and there
is no foresight of leaving the resources to
the future generations.
▪ The unplanned exploitation of natural
resources lead to pollution of all types and
at all levels.
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 Importance of environmental study
▪ The pollution and degraded environment
seriously affect the health of all living things on
earth , including man.
▪ The people should take a combined responsibility
for the deteriorating environment and begin to
take appropriate actions to space the earth.
▪ Education and training are needed to save the
biodiversity and species extinction.
▪ The urban area, coupled with industries, is major
sources of pollution.
▪ The number and area extinct under protected area
should be increased so that the wild life is
protected at least in these sites.
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 Importance of environmental study
▪ The study enables the people to
understand the complexities of the
environment and need for the people to
adapt appropriate activities and pursue
sustainable development, which are
harmonious with the environment.
▪ The study motivates students to get
involved in community action, and to
participate in various environmental and
management projects.
▪ It is a high time to reorient educational
systems and curricula towards these
needs.
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 Importance of environmental study
▪ Environmental studies take a multidisciplinary
approach to the study of human interactions with
the natural environment. It integrates different
approaches of the humanities , social sciences,
biological sciences and physical sciences and
applies these approaches to investigate
environmental concerns.
▪ Environmental study is a key instrument for
bringing about the changes in the knowledge,
values, behaviors and lifestyles required to
achieve sustainability and stability within and
among countries.

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Life Cycle
Analysis/
Assesssment
Week 1
 Definition
▪ Life cycle assessment is a tool for
systematic evaluation of the
environmental impact of a product
throughout each stage of its life cycle
▪ It is also called as life cycle analysis
,eco balance or cradle to grave
analysis
▪ It considers all the environmental
impact right from the extraction of
raw material to its final disposal
▪ It considers both qualitative and
quantitative aspects

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 NEED
▪ To study the impact of our goods,
services and technology on our
environment
▪ To identify and implement ways of
improving environment foot print
▪ To identify the environmental
consequence of a decision or a
proposed change in the system
under study
▪ It can help us during design stage
of new product
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 Phases of LCA

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 Phases of LCA
▪ Goal and scope definition articulates the objectives, functional unit
under consideration, and regional and temporal boundaries of the
assessment.
▪ Inventory analysis entails the quantification of energy, water, and
material resource requirements, and emissions to air, land, and water
for all unit processes within the life cycle.
▪ Impact assessment evaluates the human and ecological effects of the
resource consumption and emissions to the environment associated
with the life cycle.
▪ Interpretation of results includes an evaluation of the impact
assessment results within the context of the limitations, uncertainty,
and assumptions in the inventory data and scope.

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 LCI IMPACT ASSESSMENT
▪ It is classification stage, where the inventory parameters are
sorted and assigned to specific impact categories .These may
be
▪ Global warming potential (GWP),kg co2 emitted
▪ Solid waste generated
▪ Energy requirement
▪ It involves selection of impact categories, category indicators,
and characterization models;
▪ Impact measurement, where the categorized LCI flows are
characterized, using one of many possible LCIA methodologies,
into common equivalence units
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 Interpretation
▪ Identification of significant issues
based on the results of the LCI and
LCIA phases of an LCA;
▪ Evaluation of the study considering
completeness, sensitivity and
consistency checks; and
▪ Conclusions, limitations and
recommendations
▪ To determine the level of confidence in
the final results and communicate
them in a fair, complete, and accurate
manner.

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 Uses
▪ In business strategy decision
making.
▪ In research and development
sector.
▪ In waste management.
▪ It building project guidelines for
construction sector.
▪ It provides a reliable base for
comparing the relative
environmental merit of different
products.
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Week 1
Environmental
Science