Basics of Environmental
Protection
Contents
• Definitions: Ecology, environment,
pollution
• Forms of pollution
• Law 4 of 1995
• EIA
Basics of Environmental Protection
Some Definitions
• Ecology = Study of organisms &
surroundings
• Environment surroundings of the
organism.
Environment is made up of
• Other living organisms
• Physical features: climate, nutrients, …
1
Basics of Environmental Protection
Ecology answers question such as
• How organisms obtain food?
• Does the nutrient limit growth or
number?
• Does it reproduce and how?
• Is it absent because of some factors?
• What causes the death of the
organisms?
Life is affected by complex interactions of
elements of the environmental system.
Pollution
• Activities generate waste.
• The pollution occurs when wastes
become Excessive = harmful
• Natural pollution is rare.
Classification of Pollution
Pollutants have three classes:
• Natural Substances: CO2.
• Toxic substances: pesticides
• Non Toxic Substances: CFC, may
have unfortunate consequences
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Forms of pollution
1. Eutrophication: shortage of O2
substances lower O2 level in water:
•Sewage
•Leached fertilizers
•Concentrated products: sugar
2. Heavy-Metal Toxicity
3. Acid Rain
4. Pesticides: May not be bio-degradable
5. Pollution due to CFC
CFC affects ozone (O3)
One CFCL3 removes many ozone molecules.
CF Cl3 + Light
⇒ CF Cl2 +
Cl
Cl + O3 ⇒ ClO + O2
ClO + 2O ⇒ Cl + O2
6. Oil Spills due to mistakes
Behavior of oil spills depends on:
•Specific Gravity
•Volatility of Oil
•Viscosity
•Pour Point
3
Oil Weathering Processes
Spreading: (influenced by) viscosity, pour
point, wax content, sea state, and weather
conditions
•Evaporation: volatility and temperature
•Dispersion: mechanical action of the sea
•Emulsification of oil with water
•Dissolution is not significant
•Oxidation takes time
•Biodegradation takes time
•Sedimentation takes time
Prevention (Training) is better than curing.
7. Air Pollution
Is mainly from effluent gases and dust.
Air pollution sources are three:
• Point Sources: stacks, vents from
storage tanks, and flares.
• Fugitive Sources: leaks
• Area sources: large arial extent.
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Toxic pollutants from hydrocarbons
• Sulfur Dioxide
• Carbon Monoxide
• Oxides of Nitrogen
• Total Hydrocarbons
• Hydrogen Sulfide
• Sulfuric Acid Mist
• Particulate Matter
SO2
CO
NOx
HC
H2S
H2SO4
PM & PM10
Sources of Air Pollutant
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• Combustion &
Unburned HC
Processing
• Evaporation
Production of
H2S
• Reactivity in
Atmosphere
Fugitive HC