...Environmental Fundamentals ENV 100 September 9, 2013 Environmental Fundamentals For a number of years, the planet and its environment have strived to meet the demands of the increasing growth in populations, global warming, and altered habitats, which has produced a global impact on the sense of balance between nature and man. The struggles amongst the environment do not affect one group of individuals or living entity; the whole planets population is concerned by environmental troubles. Each living entity on the planet may affect the environment. In order for individuals to preserve the planet, assistant in resolving environmental problems, and attain sustainability of the planet as it grows, a person should know the fundamental principles of environmental science. Environmental science may be described as the study of human connections with the environment. It is the interdisciplinary subject that blends knowledge from several disciplines such as geography, biology, chemistry, physics, geology, economics, cultural anthropology, sociology (particularly demography, the study of populations), natural resource management, engineering, agriculture, law, ethics, and politics (Berg & Hager, 2009, p1.4). Science and Technology effect the Environment Science and technology affect environmental challenges and resolutions in today’s culture. Science and technology both support humanity by assisting in the advancement of new innovations for surviving, but likewise...
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...Environmental Studies For Undergraduate Courses Erach Bharucha Textbook for Environmental Studies For Undergraduate Courses of all Branches of Higher Education Erach Bharucha for University Grants Commission Natural Resources i Preliminary Pages.p65 1 4/9/2004, 5:06 PM Credits Principal author and editor – Erach Bharucha Unit 1 – Erach Bharucha Unit 2 – Erach Bharucha, Behafrid Patel Unit 3 – Erach Bharucha Unit 4 – Erach Bharucha Unit 5 – Shamita Kumar Unit 6 – Erach Bharucha, Shalini Nair, Behafrid Patel Unit 7 – Erach Bharucha, Shalini Nair, Behafrid Patel Unit 8 – Erach Bharucha, Shambhvi Joshi Case Studies – Prasanna Kolte Co-ordination and compilation – Behafrid Patel Textbook Design – Narendra Kulkarni (Mudra), Sushma Durve Manuscript review and editing – Chinmaya Dunster, Behafrid Patel Artists – Sushma Durve and Anagha Deshpande CD ROM – Jaya Rai and Prasanna Kolte © Copyright Text – Erach Bharucha/ UGC, 2004. Photographs – Erach Bharucha Drawings – Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Environment Education and Research All rights reserved. Distributed by University Grants Commission, New Delhi. 2004. ii Environmental Studies for Undergraduate Courses Preliminary Pages.p65 2 4/9/2004, 5:06 PM Vision The importance of Environmental Studies cannot be disputed. The need for sustainable development is a key to the future of mankind. The degradation of our environment is linked to continuing problems of pollution, loss...
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...CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background to the Study The need for Environmental Accounting has become the concern and focus of nations and responsible corporate managements. It became one of the foremost issues on the agenda of nations and businesses earlier in the 1990s and the reasons for this were varied emanating from both within and outside of the firm and particularly at the global level (Okoye and Ngwakwe:2004:220-235). A lot of government enactments, laws and regulations on environmental protection have been made in several nations of the world. In the light of the awakening to environment protection, various laws and regulations such as the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, 1992 have been enacted. These require corporate managements to consider the environmental implications of all internal decisions of their managements. Also, all organizations monitored by environmental policy agencies in Kenya are expected to demonstrate much consideration in decision making. Environmentalists agree that it could be more cost effective and beneficial for companies to acquire pollution prevention or clean technology than those of pollution clean-up. It is also observed that in environmental regulations, there is a shift from the ‘command and control’ approach to market-driven forms in which pollution prevention alternatives are replacing pollution cleaning approach. It follows therefore, that determining the appropriate pollution prevention approach may lead to additional decisions...
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...How can Environmental Health be enforced and improved? To answer this question you must first know what Environmental Health is and its purpose. Environmental health is a branch of public health concerned with all aspects of the natural and built environment that may affect human health. Other phrases that concern or refer to the discipline of environmental health include environmental public health and environmental health and protection. Environmental health addresses all human-health-related aspects of both the natural environment and the built environment. Environmental health concerns include: Air quality, food safety, liquid waste disposal, medical waste disposal, hazardous materials, solid waste management, and vector control. Environmental health plays a big part in our everyday life, from the water we drink, to the air we breathe, to the food we grow and eat. Globally, nearly 25 percent of all deaths are the total disease burden can be attributed to environmental factors. We must ask ourselves how we can do our part in improving environmental health. For starters knowledge and research is a helpful source. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention is a great source and knowledgebase. It goes into depth on how to improve issues such as air quality, exposure to environmental chemicals, air pollution, and respiratory health. The Food and Drug Administration is also a great source. It provides you with information such as food transportation, food safety, foodborne...
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...ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION "Plans to protect air and water, wilderness and wildlife are in fact plans to protect man." Environmental protection means that to protect this world from those hazards which are fatal for all living things. These hazards are mainly related to the ever increasing level of pollution on earth. They posit danger for us and for our coming generations as well. There is dire need to protect human, wild life and aquatic life. Apart from this all, there is need to protect natural resources. Countless factors are responsible for leading to such a situation. “What's the use of a fine house if you haven't got a tolerable planet to put it on?” Environmental protection is a practice of protecting the natural environment on individual, organizational or governmental levels, for the benefit of both the natural environment and humans. Due to the pressures of population and technology, the biophysical environment is being degraded, sometimes permanently. This has been recognized, and governments have begun placing restraints on activities that cause environmental degradation. Academic institutions now offer courses, such as environmental studies, environmental management and environmental engineering, that teach the history and methods of environment protection. Protection of the environment is needed due to various human activities. Waste production, air pollution, and loss of biodiversity (resulting from the introduction of invasive species and species...
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...the world, environmental education has been included as a part of the curriculum in schools and colleges. This project attempts to study whether and to what extent has the formal method of imparting environment education in schools has been effective by studying the status of environmental awareness of school children. Many new townships and cities have sprung up during the last fifty years. Urbanization has had its impact on the previously uninhabited areas and the natural resources therein. The neglect of the masses has resulted in environmental degradation. To reverse this trend there is a need to convince the people about the importance of nature conservation and adoption of eco-friendly practices. The first step towards this is the creation of environmental awareness among the people. However, this should begin at the school level when the children’s minds are impressionable. ‘CATCHING THEM YOUNG’, is the most effective way of creating environment awareness and thus preparing the children to become ‘eco-soldiers’ in their later lives. Though environmental education is currently imparted by giving information on related topics through subjects like science, geography, civics and community living; there is a need to ascertain the effectiveness of this formal method by studying the level of environmental awareness. Realizing the importance of this fact, an attempt is made through this study to determine the level of environmental awareness...
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...Everywhere in the world, the issue of climate change presents an archetypal environmental problem. Communities often fight governments, both at the state and national levels in a bid to protect the environment they have known for ages. Governments, on the other hand, protect these natural settings by formulating laws and policies that ensure the society does not lose its treasures[1]. However, some seek to use the protected spaces as a means of developing projects that will provide the state or nation with more resources, revenues and products. These may be good developmental projects, but they ought to protect the environment first before they can sell such ideas to a conservative society. As in all other nations, Australia has also been engulfed in a fight to save the environment as the government looks at creating developmental projects that will necessary block any advantages that the local community has enjoyed since time immemorial[2]. By seeking to repeal at least 60% of protection that the New South Wales Far North Coast’s forests, wetlands and wildlife habitant, the government is slowly seeking to destroy the local community. Conservatives will agree that the best way of protecting the environment is by setting aside a portion of some indigenous scenery and protect it from encroachment[3]. However, encroachment is still a biting problem and the recent statements by the authorities only heighten the environmental issues at hand. Legal processes and issues have arisen with groups...
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...Major: Environmental Engineering We humans have a long history of polluting our air, water, and soil. This contamination not only hurts nature, but is dangerous to people. Luckily, environmental engineers are on the job. They use math and science to clean up the messes we've made and prevent new ones from happening. For example, they might figure out how to clean up toxic material that has seeped into the ground at an old gas station or design an effective way to treat wastewater. If you choose this major, you’ll study a wide range of subjects. Besides learning the basics of engineering, you’ll also take courses in the life and social sciences so you can understand environmental problems in all their complexity. Students in environmental engineering learn to design, develop, and evaluate structures, equipment, and systems that protect the environment from the effects of human activity and that improve public health and well-being. “[Engineering] allows you to think and be creative … We get to solve problems and [tackle] projects that seem impossible at first, but when they are completed, it's so cool. ” Cindy, junior, civil and environmental engineering, UC Berkeley It Helps to Be...Passionate about the environment. You should enjoy science and math, like solving problems, and have an eye for detail. Someone who is comfortable working as part of a team and who has good speaking and writing skills should do well in this field. To round off your studies, you will mostly...
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...Environmental protection is a practice of protecting the natural environment on individual, organizational or governmental levels, for the benefit of both the natural environment and humans. Due to the pressures of population and technology, the biophysical environment is being degraded, sometimes permanently. This has been recognized, and governments have begun placing restraints on activities that causeenvironmental degradation. Since the 1960s, activity of environmental movements has created awareness of the various environmental issues. There is no agreement on the extent of the environmental impact of human activity, and protection measures are occasionally criticized. Academic institutions now offer courses, such as environmental studies, environmental management and environmental engineering, that teach the history and methods of environment protection. Protection of the environment is needed due to various human activities. Waste production, air pollution, and loss of biodiversity (resulting from the introduction of invasive species and species extinction) are some of the issues related to environmental protection. Environmental protection is influenced by three interwoven factors: environmental legislation, ethics and education. Each of these factors plays its part in influencing national-level environmental decisions and personal-level environmental values and behaviors. For environmental protection to become a reality, it is important for societies to develop each...
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...Environmental Issues Carissa Gilson Soc 120 introduction to Ethics & Social Responsibility Ms. Soard 8/12/2010 History of environmental ethics: It started in the late 60’s with the publications of Lynn White’s “The Historical Roots of our Ecologic Crisis” (March1967) and Garret Hardin’s “The Tragedy of the Commons” (December 1968). These publications and others started the debate into environmental issues. The first thing they needed to do was to decide what” the field of environmental ethics might look like”. There were many philosophers who got into the mix and started writing publications as well. Then in the 1990’s the International Society for Environmental Ethics was founded through the efforts of Laura Westra and Holmes Rolston, III (www.cep.unt.edu/novice). This started today’s various organizations such as Greenpeace, the earth charter initiative, the environmental protection society, friends of the earth to mention just a few. These organizations are designed to create an awareness of today’s environmental issues. Some of the issues we are facing in the future seem to have to do with global warming and its impact on the earth’s environment. The issue here seems to be our use of gas and oil and the need for an alternate energy source. There are so many thoughts as to what should be done in this area; it makes your head spin. I’m all for green technology provided it really works. It is very hard to sort out what green really means to the average person. One...
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...Environmental Fundamentals ENV/100 Environmental Fundamentals The fundamental principles of environmental science will be discussed in this paper and the definition of environmental science along with the elements and principles related to it will be addressed. The concept of environmental sustainability and the historic patterns surrounding will be describe, along with human values and how it affects the challenges in society. Examples of environmental hazards and how they affect the health of humans will also be provided. There are many environmental issues facing the world today. To try to understand how the natural world functions is not an easy concept to comprehend and definitely not an easy responsibility to put on society. This is why it is important to know and recognize the significance of environmental science. Environmental science is the interdisciplinary study of humanity’s relationship with other organisms and the nonliving physical environment. As human population continues to reproduce, as technology progresses and the wants and needs of humans multiply, society’s impacts on the world become harsher, despite the improvement in some areas. Environmental impacts can affect the health of humans and a human’s wellbeing. After reviewing research on the environment, environmental hazards directly affect human health. One major environmental hazard to human health is pesticides. These pesticides...
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...Measures and controls which are directed at environmental conservation, the rational and sustainable allocation and utilization of natural resources, the optimization of interrelations between society and the environment and the improvement of human welfare for present and future generations. Environmental Impact Assessment Environmental Management Planning Environmental Auditing Socio-Economic Assessment Solid Waste Management Air Quality Monitoring Water Quality Assessment Soil Quality Assessment Water and Wastewater Management Environmental Impact Assessment It's the study undertaken in order to assess the effect on a specified environment of the introduction of any new factor, which may upset the current ecological balance. An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study is a statutory requirement in all projects that might produce considerable adverse effects. EIA does not involve any decisions about the project, nor does it restrict the citizens' subsequent opportunities to influence the project. The purpose of EIA is to increase the citizens' opportunities of participation and obtaining information at an early stage of the project, and to reveal the environmental impact so that it can be considered in the planning stage. The EIA process has to be completed before the commencement of any project. Environmental Management Planning Environment Management Planning includes the identification of mitigation and compensation measures for all the...
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...Environmental PE Identify areas of environmental concerns. Rest areas - ensure that the rest areas are policed up properly to include trash, cigarette butts, and human waste if facilities are not present at designated rest stops. Water pollution - ensure HW is not introduced into aforementioned wetlands, winding streams, or Yukon River. Policing and proper disposal of all operational trash and pyrotechnic dunnage. Survey areas for UXO. Ensure proper preventive environmental posture IAW federal, state, local, & international laws concerning vehicle maintenance and refueling. Ensure all mess, and field sanitation HW is properly secured and disposed of IAW all applicable regulations. Identify mission related environmental risks. The mission related risks for this operation include: Fuel and refueling leaks Vehicle fluid leaks Soldier’s garbage Human waste Mess waste Sanitary waste UXOs Operational waste (pyro, boxes, papers) Identify potential effects of environmental factors on missions and operations Environmental factors that may affect the mission include: Weather. Reported to not be a concern, but weather can take unexpected turns Wetlands. Soft water laden soil can be hazardous to heavy vehicles and machinery due to sinking soil which can swallow people and vehicles or cause damage and vehicle wrecks. Rivers and streams. Always dangerous, can lose vehicles and lives to rivers and streams...
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...Algoa Bay fin fish farming project 4. Analysis and Policy Implications 5. Conclusion 1. Introduction The global level of fish stocks are on an overall decline due to overfishing. Areas within South Africa such as the Eastern Cape Province are considered to be the second greatest producing province of aquaculture commodities. Because of the rich aquaculture within the Eastern Cape, the Departments of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, through various criteria based on a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), have selected Algoa Bay within the Eastern Cape to introduce fin fish farming. The various fin fish that are intended to be farmed in this area are linked fishery exports that contribute approximately R411 million per annum in the Eastern Cape. Thus study intends to investigate the development proposal aimed at increasing the growth of the aquaculture industry within South Africa as well as conducting an investigation into the economic and environmental issues associated with the introduction of aquaculture within areas such as Algoa Bay. The objectives with the introduction of fish farms are to increase job creation within the area and more importantly to manage the dwindling stocks of wild fin fish. A cost and benefit analysis will be applied to the Algoa Bay case study in order to establish the economic costs and benefits, and to establish whether it would be economically profitable to implement fish farms. Also taking into account the advantages...
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...The present environmental condition of Bangladesh is not equally balanced at all. Severe air, water and sound pollution are threatening human health, environment and economic growth of Bangladesh. The most environmental problem is water pollution. The water pollution caused due to industrialization. The underground water of Bangladesh has been polluted due to arsenic. Water pollution creates serious health hazard for Bangladesh. The most dangerous threat emanating from environmental degradation is the arsenic contamination of ground water. The main industrial areas of Bangladesh are at Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, and Bogra districts. The mostly contributing industries for water pollution are pulp and paper, pharmaceuticals, metal processing, food industry, fertilizer, pesticides, dyeing and painting, textile, tannery etc. Everyday approximately 700 tanneries of Dhaka city are discharging about 16,000 cubic meters of toxic wastes. The Department of Environment (DOE) has listed 1,176 factories that cause pollution throughout the country. Water pollution percentage of most five industrial sectors of Bangladesh in the year 2001 is shown below: **Water Pollution Percentage of most Five Industrial Sectors of Bangladesh in the Year 2001 Source: Research Work by Islam Faisal on “Industrial Pollution in Bangladesh” in the year 2002. The indiscriminate discharge of solid waste, domestic and hospital sewage are the major source of water pollution in Bangladesh. About 4,000 to 4,500...
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