Man has continually sought to improve the quality of life: transforming nature to provide food,better

living conditions and a longer life.

Technology has helped to accomplish this transformation and to achieve many of man’s goals.

It has, however, left a profusion of environmental problems in its wake.

The challenge today is to make technology solve the environmental problems which technology has
helped to cause.

Applications of technology to improve our lives

production of more and better quality of food

fast and reliable means of transportation

various system of communication

supply of safe water and disposal of wastes

housing and urbanization

elimination of Infectious disease

elimination of most waterborne disease

availability of leisure time through greater productivity

Environmental Engineering is the application of science and engineering principles to minimize the
adverse effects of human activity (pollution) to the environment.

Pollution can be defined as an undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics
of air, water, or land that can harmfully affect the health, survival, or activities of humans or other living
organisms.
Historical Perspective

Civil Engineers

One of the first applications of “environmental engineering” was the removal of sewage from cities.

Prior to 1900s, human wastes were simply conveyed to the nearest stream or other water body. Due to
rampant spread of diseases and damage to natural waters, civil engineers in the early 1900s began to
develop methods of treating wastes prior to discharge.

Other allied professions

The industrial revolution brought in a more complicated environmental problem. The rising standard of
living in many places around the world generated greater consumption of natural resources,
manufacture of synthetic products and generation of recalcitrant and persistent by-products. Other
allied professions then focused on the solution to mitigate the environmental problems brought-in by
rapid development

Chemical Industry

Threat to Human & its Environment

During the past four decades, environmental awareness increased as the threats associated with the
continuous production and consumption of chemicals were realized.

Human health as well as the bio-diversity of wildlife was affected as manifested by the increase of
cancer incidents and decrease in numbers of certain vulnerable species of flora and fauna.

Preventive Technology

Sustainable development – to meet the needs of present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs

Cleaner production, waste minimization, source reduction, environmental management systems,

etc.
Ecology

Ecological Concepts

What is ecology?

The term ecology was coined by German biologist Ernst Haeckel, but the discipline of ecology was
created about 100 years ago

The Greek word “oikos” means “house” or “place to live” and “logos” meaning “is study of”

Therefore, ecology is the study of how organisms interact with one another and with their nonliving
environment including such factors as sunlight, temperature, moisture and vital nutrients

Ecologist focus on trying to understand the interactions among organisms, populations, communities,
ecosystem and ecosphere

What is organism?

It can be classified into species – groups of organisms that resemble one another in appearance,
behavior, chemistry and genetic endowment.

What is population?

Population consists of all members of the same species occupying a specific area at the same time

Examples are sunfish in the pond and white oak trees in the forest

Populations are dynamic groups that change in size, age, distribution, density and genetic composition
as a result of changes in environmental conditions

What is community?

Community is a population of all different species occupying and interacting in a particular place

What is ecosystem?

Ecosystem is a community of different species interacting with one another and with their nonliving
environment of matter and energy.

Ecosystem can be natural of artificial (human created) .

Examples of human created ecosystems are cropfield, farm ponds and reservoirs and artificial lakes
created behind dams.

To be sustainable for some specified period of time, an ecosystem must contain the energy and
nutrients resources needed to support its resident organisms and to dispose of and recycle their wastes.

What is ecosphere ?

All of the earth’s ecosystems together make up what we call the biosphere or ecosphere.

Nutrient cycle or biogeochemical cycle?

Any atom, ions or molecule an organism needs to live, grow or reproduce is called nutrient.

These nutrient atoms, ions and molecules are continuously cycled from the nonliving organisms (air
water soil rock) to living organisms (biota) and then back again in what are called nutrient cycles or
biogeochemical cycles (literally life earth chemical cycles)

There are three general types of biogeochemical cycles:

atmospheric

sedimentary and

hydrologic

Atmospheric cycle

In atmospheric cycle, a large portion of a given element exists in gaseous form in the atmosphere.

Examples are nitrogen gas (N2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) gas, which cycle fairly rapidly from the
atmosphere, through soil and organisms, and back into the atmosphere.

Sedimentary cycle

In sedimentary cycle, an element either does not have a gaseous phase or its gaseous compounds don’t
make up a significant portion of its supply. In this case, the earth’s crust is the main storehouse.

Such element cycle quite slowly , moving mostly from the land to sediments in the seas and then back to
land through long term geological uplifting of the earth’s crust over millions to hundreds of millions of
years. Phosphorus and most nonrenewable solid minerals are circulated in such cycles.

Hydrologic cycle

In the hydrologic cycle or water cycle, water in the form of ice, liquid water and water vapor cycles
through the ecosphere.

In this case the hydrosphere is the main storehouse. This cycle operates at the local regional and global
levels.
Hydrological Cycle

1. Evaporation - The process where water molecules evaporates to form clouds

2. Transpiration – The process of water movement through a plant and its evaporation from aerial parts,
such as leaves, stems and flowers.

3. Sublimation – Evaporation of ice and snow.

4. Condensation- It is the process by which water vapor in the air is change into liquid water.

5. Transportation of clouds by the wind.

6. Precipitation – A process where condensed moisture falls to the earth. Precipitation can be in the
form of rain, sleet, snow, hail ice or fog

7. Deposition – When water vapor forms ice, skipping the liquid phase

8. Snowmelt runoff flows downward to form streams and rivers.

9. Streams and rivers flow into the ocean in a process called surface runoff

10. Ground flow – It is when groundwater flows to the ocean

11. Plant Uptake – Plants absorb water from the soil

Carbon Cycle

All living things are made of carbon. Most of the fuels used for energy is made of carbon including the
food we eat. Gases made of carbon such as CO2 play important role in regulating climate. Biological
activity causes carbon to be converted among different forms and location. This movement of carbon
are referred to carbon cycle.

Carbon cycle describes the exchanges of carbon between the atmosphere, terrestrial vegetation, soils
and inorganic matter, ocean and fossil fuels. These exchanges are continually changing and not
perfectly balance. Human activities are converting oil coal natural gas, plant and soil organic carbon into
carbon dioxide which accumulating to our atmosphere that contributes to greenhouse effect. The
atmosphere is a relatively small reservoir of carbon containing less than 1% of earth’s total carbon pool.

Because it is so small, even a slight increase or input to the carbon atmosphere can have a big impact to
the total concentration over time. The amount of carbon in terrestrial vegetation is conformable to the
amount of carbon in the atmosphere. Vegetation takes carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere through
photosynthesis.

However, the amount that humans continue to add thru fossil fuel emission is more than plants can able
to use so it accumulates in the atmosphere. The CO2 that plants are able to use become new plant
tissue. Most of the plant tissue once natural dying and fallen into the ground become plant litter and
eventually decompose and transform to soil organic matter. In many parts of the world, organic matter
accumulates faster than it decomposes adding to soil carbon pools.

Within the soil there is more than twice as much carbon lacked up in organic material than there is
carbon in the atmosphere. Human activities such as land use changes and greenhouse gas emission
accelerates the conversion of soil carbon to carbon dioxide. CO2 is a major greenhouse gas which
causes heat retain between the earths in the atmosphere some radiation leaving the earth’s surface is
trapped by greenhouse gases causing heat to be retained.

This happens because CO2 absorbs outgoing infrared radiation and re emits it in all direction including
back down to the earth’s surface. This leads to increase temperature in the lower atmosphere which in
turn can increase the rate of decomposition which further increases the amount of atmospheric carbon.
This create a magnifying cycle of increase warming and increase atmospheric carbon.
Nitrogen Cycle

Our atmosphere is made of 78% nitrogen. We need the nitrogen for DNA and for protein but we just can
breathe in the nitrogen like oxygen. We must absorb nitrogen in our food.

The nitrogen follows a cycle where it travels from atmosphere, to the soil to the animals and back in a
cycle. Nitrogen in the atmosphere falls to the earth by precipitation such as rain or snow. Once in the
soil it finds its way to bacteria on the root of plants. At the root nitrogen is combined with hydrogen to
make ammonia in a process called nitrogen fixation. Lightning in the atmosphere can also do this. Now
ammonia is toxic, so the additional bacteria combine this ammonia with oxygen in a process called
nitrification. At this point, the nitrogen is in the form of nitrite. Additional nitrifying bacteria convert this
nitrite to nitrate. At this point, plants can absorb this nitrogen in the process called assimilation.
However, not all the nitrates is absorb but some of it go to bacteria that release the nitrogen to the
atmosphere in the process called denitrifying. The nitrogen returns into the atmosphere. Also, once in
the animal after it eats the plants the animal either dies or need to get rid of waste. Another type of
bacteria, then takes this along with the decomposers and breaks this nitrogen either in the waste or the
dead animals. And by the process called ammonification the nitrogen can enter the cycle once again at
nitrification. And the cycle continues.
Environment Ethics

Environmental ethics is also known as Environmental Stewardship. Ethos, the Greek word from which
ethics derived, means the character of a person as described by his or her actions. Environmental ethics
is the attitude toward the environment had evolved to the point where many people believed we should
adopt a custodial or stewardship role.

The Five Environmental Code of Ethics

1. Use knowledge and skill for the enhancement and protection of the environment.

2. Hold paramount the health, safety and welfare of the environment.

3. Perform services only in areas of personal expertise.

4. be honest and impartial in serving the public, your employees, your clients, and the environment

5. Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.

Environmental law

These are the basis of Philippine Environmental Law

Sovereignty of States over their Natural Resources

Sustainable Development

Precautionary Principle

Polluter-pays Principle

Common but Differentiated Responsibility

A. Sovereignty of States over their Natural Resources

The State shall protect and promote the right to health of people and instill health consciousness among
them.” (Art.II, Sec.15)

“The State shall protect and advance the health of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in
accord with and harmony of nature.” (Art. II, Sec. 16)

“All lands of public domain, waters, minerals, coal, petroleum, and other mineral oils, all forces of
potential energies, fisheries, forests or timber, wildlife, flora and fauna, and other natural resources are
owned by the state.” (Art. XII, Sec. 2)

B. Sustainable Development

Sustainable development is a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

C. Precautionary Principle

The precautionary principle, proposed a new guideline in environmental decision making, has four
central components: taking preventive action in the face of uncertainty; shifting the burden of proof to
the proponents of an activity exploring a wide range of alternatives to possibly harmful actions; and
increasing public participation in decision making.

D. Polluter-pays Principle

The polluter pays principle is enacted to make the party responsible for producing pollution that will also
be responsible for paying the damage done to the natural environment.

E. Common but Differentiated Responsibility

States have common responsibilities to protect the environment and promote sustainable development,
but due to different social, economic, and ecological situations, countries must shoulder different
responsibilities. The principle also reflects the core elements of equity, placing more responsibility on
wealthier countries and those more responsible for causing specific global problems.
Regulatory Framework Water

1. DENR Administrative Order No. 34 (Series of 1990): Revised water usage and classification Water
Quality Criteria

2. DENR Administrative Order No. 35 (Series of 1990): Revised Effluent Regulations of 1990

3. RA 9275: Philippine Clean Water Act

4. DENR Administrative Order No. 10 Series of 2005 : Implementing Rules and Regulations of the
Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004

The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 (Republic Act No. 9275) aims to protect the country’s water
bodies from pollution from land-based sources (industries and commercial establishments, agriculture
and community/household activities). It provides for a comprehensive and integrated strategy to
prevent and minimize pollution through a multi-sectoral and participatory approach involving all the
stakeholders.

Source: RA 9275

Regulatory Framework : Air

1. RA 8749: The Philippine Clean Air Act

2. DENR Administrative Order No. 81 Series of 2000: Implementing Rules and Regulation of RA 8749

Republic Act No. 8749, otherwise known as the Philippine Clean Air Act, is a comprehensive air quality
management policy and program which aims to achieve and maintain healthy air for all Filipinos.

Source: RA 8749

Regulatory Framework : Solid waste

1. RA 9003 Ecological Solid Wastes Management Act

2. DENR Administrative Order No. 34 Series of 2001: Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 9003

RA 9003 declares the policy of the state in adopting a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid
waste management program that ensures the protection of public health and the environment and the
proper segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment, and disposal of solid waste through the
formulation and adoption of best environmental practices. Moreover, it illustrates the potentials and
benefits of recycling not only in addressing waste management problems but also alleviating poverty.

Source: RA 9003
Regulatory Framework: Hazardous Waste Management

1. RA 6969: Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990

2. DENR Administrative Order No. 29: Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 6969

3. DENR Administrative Order No. 36 Series of 2004: Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA
6969

RA 6969 regulates the handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials, and also provides for the
registration of hazardous e-waste generators, as well as importers, recyclers, and facilities. Although this
law has neither a clear provision for the management of e-waste nor a definition, it recognizes that e-
waste has toxic components. Other related policy instruments that may have a bearing on e-waste exist
as well.

Source: RA 6969

Toxic Chemicals

DENR Administrative Order No. 39 Series of 1997: Chemical Control Order for Cyanide and Cyanide
Compounds

DENR Administrative Order No. 38 Series of 1997: Chemical Control Order for Mercury and Mercury
Compounds

DENR Administrative Order No. 1 Series of 2004: Chemical Control Order of Polychlorinated Biphenyls

DENR Administrative Order No. 8 Series of 2004: Chemical Control Order for Ozone Depleting
Substances

DENR Administrative Order No. 2 Series of 2000: Chemical Control Order for Asbestos

A. Cyanide and Cyanide Compounds:

Cyanide is a rapidly acting, potentially deadly chemical that can exist in various forms. It is released from
natural substances in some foods and in certain plants such as cassava. It is contained in cigarette
smoke and the combustion products of synthetic materials such as plastics. Cyanide salts are used in
metallurgy for electroplating, metal cleaning, and removing gold from its ore.

Immediate signs and symptoms of exposure to cyanide: rapid breathing, restlessness, dizziness,
weakness, headache, nausea and vomiting and rapid heart rate. The long-term health effects of
exposure to cyanide may develop heart and brain damage.

B. Mercury and Mercury Compound

Mercury is the only metal liquid at standard conditions for temperature and pressure, with a melting
point of −38.83°C. Its boiling point of 356.73°C gives it one of the widest liquid ranges of any metal. It
remains in use in a number of other ways in scientific and scientific research applications, and in
amalgam material for dental restoration. It is used in lighting; electricity passed through mercury vapor
in a phosphor tube produces short-wave ultraviolet light which then causes the phosphor to fluoresce,
making visible light.
Symptoms of mercury poisoning in humans

1. Psychological disturbances

2. Oral Cavity problems

3. Digestive tract problems

4. Cardiovascular problems

5. Respiratory problems

6 Neurological Problems

C. Polychlorinated Biphenyls

In 1929, PCB's were quickly acclaimed as an industrial breakthrough. These chlorinated oils have a low
degree of reactivity. They are not flammable, have high electrical resistance, good insulating properties
and are very stable even when exposed to heat and pressure.

Symptoms of PCB poisoning in humans

The most commonly observed health effects in people exposed to large amounts of PCBs are skin
conditions such as acne and rashes. Studies in exposed workers have shown changes in blood and urine
that may indicate liver damage

D. Ozone depleting substances

Ozone depleting substances (ODS) are those substances which deplete the ozone layer and are widely
used in refrigerators, air-conditioners, fire extinguishers, dry cleaning, solvents for cleaning, electronic
equipment and agricultural fumigants.

E. Asbestos

Friable asbestos is a type of asbestos which is dry and can be easily crumbled with the hand. Inhaled
asbestos fibers remain in the body and cannot be expelled. Because of this, the fibers can easily
penetrate body tissues and may deposit themselves in airways and in the lung tissue (asbestosis).
Inter-Agency Government

To support these regulations, other government agencies formulate their own policies to promote
environmental protection.

Department of Health - sanitation/ drinking water standards

Department of Tourism - ecological tourism projects

Department of Trade and Industry - incentives to environmental technologies

Department of Science and Technology - technology testing

Department of Labor and Employment - occupational safety and health

Department of Interior and Local Government- solid waste collection and disposal

International Agreements

Environmental problems transcend political and geographical boundaries. As in the case of pollution
problems in European countries, the wastes emitted in Germany may end up in France and Belgium. The
forest fires in Kalimantan in the islands of Indonesia caused the smog problems in Malaysia and
Singapore few years ago. Thus, Philippines is a signatory of different international agreements relative to
environmental protection.

A. Montreal Protocol (Montreal, Canada)

The treaty was opened for signature on September 16, 1987 and entered into force on January 1, 1989

This is an agreement called for the elimination of CFCs and other ozone depleting substances.

B. Basel Convention (Basel, Switzerland)

This agreement is about the control on transboundary movement of hazardous wastes

C. Kyoto Protocol (Kyoto, Japan)

This Protocol is about the limit or reduction of greenhouse gases by using renewable energy efficient
technologies.

D. Stockholm Convention (Stockholm Sweden)

This convention is about the banned on importation and use of persistent organic pollutants