Course- ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Course Code – 22447

CO-a: Develop Public Awareness

about Environment. Topic – 1
Unit Outcome- UO 1a,1b,1c,1d,1e Environmen
t

Written by
 Understand about environment and its segments.

Content
1.1 Definitions. need of environmental studies.
1.2 Segments of environment-Atmosphere, Hydrosphere
Lithosphere, Biosphere.
1.3 Environmental issues - Ozone layer ,depletion and
Nuclear accidents.
1.4 Concept of 4Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and
Recover.
1.5 Public awareness about environment.

Page 2 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024

 Learning Objective/ Key learning
 1a. Discuss the scope of environment.
 1b. Describe various types of environment.
 1c. Describe the importance of environmental
studies.
► 1d. Discuss the need of public awareness about
environment.
► 1e. Describe various environmental issues.

Page 3 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024

 Concept Map of
Environment

Page 4 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024

 UNIT 1: ENVIRONMENT Environment
 The word environment is derived
from the French verb ‘enviro’ which
means ‘surrounding’. Thus, our Biotic Abiotic
environment can be defined as the Components Components
Living Non-
physical, chemical and biological
Things Living
world that surround us.
 In Simple way the Environment is A place Things
e.g. People, e.g. Play ground,
around us includes people, children, benches, Children, Trees, Benches, Swings,
ground, grass, trees, insects, birds, sunlight, air, Grass, Plants, Slide, Air, Water,
land, water, mountain etc [2]. insects, Birds etc. Mountain etc.
 Biotic components constantly interact and

exchange things with each other as well as with

an A biotic components for their survival and
existence [2; 4; 5].
Footnotes

Page 5 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024

Types of Environment
Natural Man-made Social Psychological
Environment Environment Environment Environment
The environment Social Environment Every individual has his own
The environment changed or modified includes an psychological environment, in
in its original form individual’s social, which he lives.
by the interference of
without the economic and
interference of human beings is called The Psychological environment
man made political condition enables us to understand the
human beings is wherein he lives. personality of an individual. Both
known as natural environment.
e.g., Customs, the person and his goal from
environment. e.g., Infrastructure, Traditions, ethics, psychological environment
All living and Utilities, Institutions, Language, Culture,
nonliving things housing, industries , Professions, Living
occurring parks, buildings, conditions etc
naturally on earth energy networks,
transportations, etc

Page 6 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024

STRUCTURE OF ENVIRONMENT :

Physical Biological
Environment Environment

(i) Solid - The lithosphere (solid i) Plants (flora): trees, grass, shrubs etc.
earth) : Soil / land and Mountain (ii) Animals (fauna) : domestic and wild
Environment animals, humans, birds, insects etc [2;
(ii) Liquid - The hydrosphere (water 4].
component) : River, Reservoir,
Oceans and Glacier Environment
(iii) Gas - Various gases (oxygen,
carbondioxide, nitrogen,
méthane etc. present in
atmosphere.

Page 7 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024

 SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
 This subject educates the students, citizens and experts to understand the
complexity of environmental issues.
 Experts having knowledge in the environmental fields that enables them to
facilitate the solution of environmental problems.
 The current trend of environmental degradation can be reversed if people of
educated communities are organized and empowered.
 By knowing this subject we can develop eco-friendly new technologies for various
developments which can save the natural resources as well as reduces
environmental pollutions and public health impacts.
 As, the new earth is not discovered till now we have no other option except to
maintain the ecological balance on the planet Earth so that the liveable
environment should be kept for our future generations.
 The major areas in which the role of environmental scientists are of vital
importance are natural resources, ecosystems, biodiversity and its conservation,
environmental pollution, social issues , human population and environment [2; 4;
5].

Page 8 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024

 NEED AND IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES:

• Public awareness.
• Environment issues being of international
importance.
• Problems cropped in the wake of development.
• Conserve energy.
• For an alternative solution.
• Save species from extinction.
• Save the natural resources.
• Reduce the pollution.
• Wise planning of development.
• Sustainable development [2; 4; 5]

Page 9 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024

 SEGMENTS OF
ENVIRONMENT
The atmosphere is composed of nitrogen and oxygen.
Besides, argon, carbon dioxide, and other trace gases.

Biosphere: Biosphere Hydrosphere: The

indicates the realm of living Hydrosphere comprises all
organisms and their types of water resources
interactions with oceans, seas, lakes, rivers,
environment, viz streams, reservoir, polar
atmosphere, hydrosphere icecaps, glaciers, and
and lithosphere. ground water.
Lithosphere: Lithosphere is the outer
mantle of the solid earth. It consists of
minerals occurring in the earth’s crusts
and the soil e.g. minerals, organic
matter, air and water.

Page 10 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024

 SEGMENTS OF
ENVIRONMENT
Atmosphere: The atmosphere implies the
protective blanket of gases, surrounding the earth:
(a) It sustains life on the earth.
(b) It saves it from the hostile environment of outer
space.
(c) It absorbs most of the cosmic rays from outer
space and a major portion of the
electromagnetic radiation from the sun.
(d) It transmits only here ultraviolet, visible, near
infrared radiation (300 to 2500 nm) and radio
waves. (0.14 to 40 m) while filtering out
tissue-damaging ultra violate waves below
about 300 nm [2; 4]
Source: vectorstock.com

Page 11 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024

 SEGMENTS OF
ENVIRONMENT
Hydrosphere: The Hydrosphere comprises all types of water resources
oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, streams, reservoir, polar icecaps, glaciers, and
ground water. 71 % of earth area is covered by water.
(i) Nature 97% of the earth’s water supply is in the oceans,
(ii) About 2% of the water resources is locked in the polar icecaps and glaciers.
(iii) Only about 1% is available as fresh surface water-rivers, lakes streams,
and ground water fit to be used for human consumption and other uses.
Lithosphere: Lithosphere is the outer mantle of the solid earth. It consists of
minerals occurring in the earth’s crusts and the soil e.g. minerals, organic
matter, air and water.
Biosphere: Biosphere indicates the realm of living organisms and their
interactions with environment, viz atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere
[2; 5].

Page 12 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024

 Concept Map

Green Global
House Warmin
Effect g

Nuclear Environment Climate

Acciden al Change
ts Issues

Ozone Acid
Layer Rain
Depletion

Page 13 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024

 Global Warming Potential (GWP):
► Global warming potential (GWP) for the 6 primary GHGs are summarized below:

Source: https://iasmania.com/greenhouse-effect-greenhouse-gases/
 GWP is the global warming impact that a GHG would have
over a 10-year timeframe.
 By definition, CO2 is used as the reference benchmark [2].

Page 14 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024

 Environmental Issues: 3. Climate
Change
 Climate is the average weather at a given point and time
of year, over a long period (typically 30 years).
 We expect the weather to change a lot from day to day,
but we expect the climate to remain relatively constant.
 If the climate doesn’t remain constant, we call it climate
change [2; 4].
Changes in:
– Sun’s output (Solar radiation)
– Earth’s orbit
– Drifting continents
– Volcanic eruptions

– Greenhouse gases

Page 15 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024

 Environmental Issues: 4. Acid

Rain
Acid rain is basically rain that has a low
pH.
 When fossil fuels such as coal, oil and
natural gas are burned, chemicals like sulfur
dioxide and nitrogen oxides are produced.
These chemicals react with water and other
chemicals in the air to form sulfuric acid,
nitric acid and other harmful pollutants like
sulfates and nitrates.
These acid pollutants spread upwards into
the atmosphere, and finally return to the
ground in the form of acid rain [2; 4].
 EFFECTS OF ACID RAIN

Acid rain is an extremely destructive form of pollution,

and the environment suffers from its effects. Land,
Buildings, Forests, trees, lakes, aquatic life, animals,
and plants suffer from acid rain.
Page 16 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024
 Environmental Issues: 5. Ozone
 Layer Depletion
Ozone layer in the atmosphere protects life on
earth from the dangerous UV radiation from the
sun.
 Destruction of ozone Layer
Chlorine atoms from CFCs attack the ozone, taking
away ozone and forming chlorine monoxide (ClO).
O3 + Cl  O2 + ClO
Source: https://www.studyadda.com/
Chlorine monoxide then combines with another
oxygen atom to form a new oxygen molecule and a
chlorine atom.
ClO + O  Cl + O2
The chlorine atom is free to destroy up to 100,000
Footnotes
ozone molecules
Page 17 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024
 Environmental Issues: 5. Ozone Layer
 Depletion
Troposphere:
 The lowest layer (about 15 km from the ground)
 Contains normal air composition of N2, O2, water vapour, CO2, etc.
 Temperature decreases with altitude.
 Stratosphere:
 Above the troposphere
 Temperature increases with altitude
 Contains a lot of ozone (ozone layer):
Found in the stratosphere between 10 - 50km above the ground
Protects us from the harmful effects of UV of certain wavelengths.
Decrease in ozone concentration  Increase in UV-B radiation

reaching the earth surface.

 Formation of ozone layer O2 + sunlight  O + O
O + O2  O3

Page 18 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024

 Environmental Issues: 5. Ozone
 Layer Depletion
IMPACTS OF OZONE LAYER DEPLETION
 Sunburn.
 Reduce our immune system.
 Skin Cancer.
 Cataracts and Other Eye Damages.
 Reduce photosynthesis and crops yield affected.
 Damage the plants.
 Reduces plankton population.
 Reduces penguin population.
 Reduces the percentage of hatching of frog eggs.
 Forming photochemical smog.
 Degrades building materials.

Page 19 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024

 Environmental Issues: 6. Nuclear
 Accidents
When safety measures and principles are ignored by nuclear plant operators, a
nuclear accident can occurred with serious consequences for the environment, and
human health. Now, efforts are made to prevent the radiation during accidents.
 Since 1957, ten major nuclear accidents have been reported by five countries:
► Fukushima, Japan - March 2011;
► Kashiwazaki, Japan - July 2007;
► Mihama, Japan - August 2004;
► Blayais, France - December 1999;
► Tokaimura, Japan - September 1999;
► Tokaimura, Japan - March 1997;
► Chernobyl, Ukraine - April 1986;
► Three Mile Island, USA - March 1979;
► The Urals, USSR - October 1958;
► Windscale, UK – October 1957.

Page 20 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024

 Environmental Issues: 5. Ozone
 Layer Depletion
IMPACTS OF OZONE LAYER DEPLETION
 Sunburn.
 Reduce our immune system.
 Skin Cancer.
 Cataracts and Other Eye Damages.
 Reduce photosynthesis and crops yield affected.
 Damage the plants.
 Reduces plankton population.
 Reduces penguin population.
 Reduces the percentage of hatching of frog eggs.
 Forming photochemical smog.
 Degrades building materials.

Page 21 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024

 Environmental Issues: 6. Nuclear
 Accidents
When safety measures and principles are ignored by nuclear plant operators, a
nuclear accident can occurred with serious consequences for the environment, and
human health. Now, efforts are made to prevent the radiation during accidents.
 Since 1957, ten major nuclear accidents have been reported by five countries:
► Fukushima, Japan - March 2011;
► Kashiwazaki, Japan - July 2007;
► Mihama, Japan - August 2004;
► Blayais, France - December 1999;
► Tokaimura, Japan - September 1999;
► Tokaimura, Japan - March 1997;
► Chernobyl, Ukraine - April 1986;
► Three Mile Island, USA - March 1979;
► The Urals, USSR - October 1958;
► Windscale, UK – October 1957.

Page 22 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024

 Environmental Issues: 6. Nuclear
Accidents
 Impacts of Nuclear
Accidents
► develop cancer ,
► deaths ,
► Species extinction,
► Alteration of DNA,
► Residual radioactivity in
environment (environmental Source: Pedraza , 2013

pollution),
► High fever, diarrhoea, fatigue,
mortality, infection bleeding
etc.,
► Skin diseases,
► Disturb aquatic life,
Page 23
► Long term effects on
Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024
 HOW TO AVOID THIS ?

What are
the
solutions to
all these
problems?

Page 24 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024

 Environmental Management:
Sustainable
Hazards Development Solid waste
mitigation Management

Energy World
conservation Conservation
strategy
HEALTHY
ENVIRONMENT
Pollution Environmental
control Laws

Water Rain water

Resources Biodiversity
Harvesting
conservation

Page 25 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024

 Environmental
Issues:

HOW IT CAN BE ACHIEVED ?

Page 26 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024

 Concept of 4R’s
►Reduce: Prevent generation of waste in the first place; by
eliminating waste at source through better planning and
design. Don’t use a resource if there is an alternative.
(Donate old things; Take good care of your things; choose
walking / cycling than driving; Use glassware than paper
wares).
►Reuse: Use a resource again and again without changing
it or reprocessing it for different functions than what they are
intended. (Old news papers used for packing; Plastic and
steel containers used for plantation etc).
►Recycle: Reproduce / remanufacture the new material by
using recyclable waste as raw material in its parent industry.
(Paper, Glass, Plastic, Metal, Rubber etc).
►Recover: Producing usable products or energy by
processing / treating the waste. (biogas, fertilizer, Waste to
energy etc).
Page 27 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024
 1.5 Public awareness about
environment
► Educate the people about environmental studies.
► Participation of people in environmental issues.
► Implementation of principle of 4Rs.
► Adoption of eco-friendly technology.
► Conserve the resources.
► Follow various acts on environment.
► Practice and promote good civic sense and hygiene.
► Practice and promote to Reduce pollution.
► Join local movements that support activities like
saving trees in your area, go on nature treks, recycle
waste, buy environmentally friendly products.
► Join a group to study nature, such as WWF-1 or
another environmental group.
Page 28 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024
Public awareness about
environment
Let‘s Together Build a
World In Which Every
Person Has…….
…… And Lives in

Safe Adequate water Sanitation

Hygienic Environment

Page 29 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024

 Public awareness about
environment
WHEN WILL WE START
FOR OUR FUTURE ?
NOW ?
OR
LATER ON ?
Page 30 Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education October 8, 2024