ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERING
AEN 3209 / MEC 4202
POLLUTION
What is
Pollution?
What is Pollution?
Introduction of matter or energy forms or inducing conditions to
the receiving medium (e.g. water, air, land…)
Directly or indirectly forms a detrimental alteration of quality for
the medium with respect to later uses or its ecological function
E.g. of pollutants: Water, Air and Land
Pollution Control & Pollution Prevention
Pollution control (PC):
Measures taken to manage pollution after it has occurred…e.g
Pollution Prevention (PP):
Measures taken at the source to eliminate and/or reduce
pollution (service operations, industrial complex
production/manufacturing)…e.g
Five areas of PP focus: Water, Air, Solids, Time & Energy
Goals of PP :
Eliminate and/or reduce waste generation
Conserve natural resources and materials
Prevent spills and accidental releases
Prevent product losses
Policy as an approach for PP :
Define environmental management policy (goals, accountable,
how to achieve, by whom )
Achieve a greater decentralization of policies (known by all)
Aim at improving performance management styles rather than
practices that emphasize strictly emissions control
Cleaner Production (CP):
Continual effort: prevent pollution, reduce consumption of raw
materials and energy, and minimize waste generation at the
source, without decrease in production capacity
CP refers to PP within the production processes (manufacturing)
CP reduces waste and energy (reduces air, water and land
pollution thus benefit the environment and society)
CP reduce costs and can generate profit; practical & feasible and
contribute to a sustainable future
CP is process based and evolves with improvement in technology
and innovations
Cleaner Production (CP):
Waste reduction: Achieve zero waste discharge
Non-polluting production: Closed loop production processes with zero
contaminant release
Environmentally sound products & By-products: Health and environmental
factors must be considered at the earliest point of product and process design
and over the product life-cycle (Production-use-disposal)
Safe and healthy work environment: Minimize risks of workers by making the
workplace a cleaner, safer and healthier environment
Production energy efficiency: Requires highest levels of energy efficiency
(Energy consumption per product output) & conservation (Reduction of
energy usage)
Environmentally sound Packaging: Minimized product packaging and ensure
environmental friendly
Factors which affect PP programs
The effectiveness of the PP program is dependent on:
(i) Availability of resources (Technical, financial, Scientific,
and Engineering)
(ii) Cultural acceptance (Change of practices and envisioning
new goals of PP)
(iii) Development stages (Existence of different degrees/
levels of pollution due to the socio-economic development)
Key benefits of PP & CP
Programs
PP and CP have significant environmental (Reduction/eliminate CO2 & SO2
emissions; issues of climate change, acid precipitation, urban smog),
economic (Averted further environmental damage in a cost-effective manner)
and social benefits (Restoration of natural environment creates a safer and
more enjoyable habitat, and improves health & living standards)
Reduction in operating costs (Reduced waste treatment, storage & disposal
costs; fewer resources for production & packaging; efficiency measures;
energy costs & facility cleanup)
Reduction in ecological damage (Air quality improvement, no pollution of
water & land from waste generating, transporting, storage & disposal)
Improved company/organization image (Positive employee attitude because
of safe & health working environment; Healthy, Safety & Sustainability of
neighborhoods)
Reduction of civil and criminal liability (Reduced waste generated)…..
Other benefits of PP
Minimizes or avoids the creation of pollutants;
Avoids the transfer of pollutants from one medium to another;
Accelerates the reduction and/or elimination of pollutants;
Minimizes health risks;
Promotes the development of pollution prevention technologies
eg. recycling technologies can help recover valuable materials
from waste
Uses energy, materials and resources, more efficiently;
Minimizes the need for costly enforcement;
Avoids costly clean-up in the future; and
Promotes a more competitive economy
Constraints to PP & CP Programs
Resistance to change
Fear of high costs
Uncertainty of customer response to change
Lack of priority for PP and CP programs
Summary
Pollution, control and prevention-definition, goals, benefits,
factors, constraints…
