Introduction to Environmental

Engineering
We are concerned with the
quality and availability of
environmental resources
and with the waste streams
that impact them
 Top 10 Environmental Issues
1. Population
2. Climate Change
3. Loss of Biodiversity
4. The Phosphorus and Nitrogen Cycles
5. Water
6. Ocean Acidification
7. Pollution
8. Ozone Depletion
9. Over Fishing
10.Deforestation
http://planetearthherald.com/top-10-environmental-issues/
• Science…improves our understanding of
natural processes
• Engineering…uses this understanding to
develop and apply technologies that will
maintain or improve environmental quality
 Environmental Engineering
• It is the application of science and engineering
principles to minimize the adverse effects of
human activity on the environment
 What is an engineer?
• Problem solver.
– Specifically, one who uses science to solve
real world problems.
• SO, what about an environmental
engineer?
– Solves environmental problems using
scientific tools
 Although it is impossible to
eliminate negative impacts, human
effects can be diminished and
brought under control through…..
• Public education
• Conservation
• Regulation
• The application of good engineering practice
 Factors Affecting the Environment
1. Increasing number of humans on earth
(population growth)
2. The rising standard of living (advances in
agriculture, urbanization, industrialization)
 Man exerts a tremendous impact
on the environment through…..

• Extraction of resources
• Modification and manipulation of the
environment
• Pollution resulting from deposition of wastes
 Ecological Impact on
Environment
• On the productivity of the ecosystem (green
plants, atmospheric oxygen)
• On other organism (microorganism, insects,
animals)
• On climate (global warming, ozone hole, acid
rain)
 Health Impact

• Due to microbiological
pollution
• Due to microchemical
pollution