Pollution Environments

8/8/2019 Pollution Environments

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Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation

College of Engineering and Technical Department

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Ryan Clifford P. Bibal

BSECE- III

Environmental Engineering

Friday 6:30 8:30


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Pollution Environments

Solid Environment

Like home air pollution, land pollution is also a common problem worldwide. Land

pollution is the direct result of the activities that humans engage in.

There are a number of major sources of land pollution, not counting the general litter

and trash that people choose not the throw away in a proper receptacle. Among these major

sources are burial sources, insecticides and pesticides, construction wastes, human waste,

herbicides, and mining waste.

Poisons to the land are destructive from the instant they touch the ground and their

pollutant spreads as it travels through the ground. Herbicides, pesticides, and insecticides are

harmful to more than what they are designed to kill or deflect.

When used in large quantities these products can pollute groundwater drinking supplies

as well as rivers and streams. Moreover, they pollute the ground and land surrounding the area

they are used. While these products were originally produced to save the farmers crops,

residential use is at an all time high and the land pollution effects are severe.

Burial is a very common methodology of surrendering the dead. Whether animal or

human, the general digging process leads to erosion especially when the burials happen on

plots within cemeteries. As bodies decompose there is a release of gases and fluids that are

harmful to the ground, causing serious pollution problems for the surrounding land. Its not

unusual for the spread of disease caused by decomposition to trigger an investigation into thenearby burial grounds.

Construction waste is responsible for several types of land pollution. The soil dumping,

which is often removed from a construction site and dumped into a nearby river or bay,

interferes with the natural filtration process that is necessary to keep the waterways cleaner.

On top of that, the oils, paints, and toxic chemicals which are often dumped or run off the

construction site cause major land pollution problems as well as water pollution problems.

The acid that drains from mines it terrible for the surrounding environment. In the

process of mining, gases are released from the ground and the composite chemicals are left torun through the wild habitats, killing off wildlife and aquatic life, both vegetation and animal.

Mining has been a core industry of some areas for decades, and the urge to offer cleaner

mining techniques is now so vital that refusing to do so could endanger entire states health

prospects.

Human wastes include raw sewage as well as the regular the trash day deposit. Its not

unusual for third world countries to become the dumping ground for a percentage of trash that


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more powerful countries create. Raw sewage that seeps away from the treatment plant has the

potential to spread disease and harm habitats. Recycling has improved in some areas, but even

this process has been known to contribute to pollution problems.

The biggest problem that land pollution creates is the impact it has on the surrounding

environments. Every form of land pollution kills off the habitats of land animals as well asaquatic life. The more we deplete these habitats the more the ecosystem is thrown out of

balance.

Without a well balanced ecosystem, more animals die from overpopulation to under

population. Aside from the moral issues associated with this, the survival of the ecosystem is

vital to human survival. We depend on the ecosystem to provide more than merely the air we

breathe, but to provide a wealth and richness that we thrive upon.

Land pollution is often visible, but there are many aspects of land pollution that remain

unseen by the human eye. We can see deforestation, the effects of mining as the surrounding

trees die off, and we can smell the effects on our shorelines and within our cities.

However, what we dont see is the senseless suffering of the creatures that we are

killing through our human actions. What we dont see is the final death of a flower or the last of

its kind. What we cant see is the future impact that our actions are likely to have on our lives as

well as the lives of the animals, fish, insects, and creatures that depend on the environment for

their daily survival. Most often, we dont see these things because we simply choose not to.

Land pollution basically is about contaminating the land surface of the Earth through

dumping urban waste matter indiscriminately, dumping of industrial waste, mineral

exploitation, and misusing the soil by harmful agricultural practices. Land pollution includes

visible litter and waste along with the soil itself being polluted. The soil gets polluted by the

chemicals in pesticides and herbicides used for agricultural purposes along with waste matter

being littered in urban areas such as roads, parks, and streets.


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Solid Waste and Soil Pollution

Solid Waste

Semisolid or solid matters that are created by human or animal activities, and which aredisposed because they are hazardous or useless are known as solid waste. Most of the solid

wastes, like paper, plastic containers, bottles, cans, and even used cars and electronic goods are

not biodegradable, which means they do not get broken down through inorganic or organic

processes. Thus, when they accumulate they pose a health threat to people, plus, decaying

wastes also attract household pests and result in urban areas becoming unhealthy, dirty, and

unsightly places to reside in. Moreover, it also causes damage to terrestrial organisms, while

also reducing the uses of the land for other, more useful purposes.

Some of the sources of solid waste that cause land pollution are:

Wastes from Agriculture: This comprises of waste matter produced by crop, animal manure,

and farm residues.

Wastes from Mining: Piles of coal refuse and heaps of slag.

Wastes from Industries: Industrial waste matter that can cause land pollution can include

paints, chemicals, and so on.

Solids from Sewage Treatment: Wastes that are left over after sewage has been treated,

biomass sludge, and settled solids.

Ashes: The residual matter that remains after solid fuels are burned.

Garbage: This comprises of waste matter from food that are decomposable and other waste

matter that are not decomposable such as glass, metal, cloth, plastic, wood, paper, and so on.

Soil Pollution

Soil pollution is chiefly caused by chemicals in pesticides, such as poisons that are used tokill agricultural pests like insects and herbicides that are used to get rid of weeds. Hence, soil

pollution results from:

y Unhealthy methods of soil management.y Harmful practices of irrigation methods.


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Land pollution is caused by farms because they allow manure to collect, which leaches into the

nearby land areas. Chemicals that are used for purposes like sheep dipping also cause serious

land pollution as do diesel oil spillages.

What are the Consequences of Land Pollution?

Land pollution can affect wildlife, plants, and humans in a number of ways, such as:

y Cause problems in the respiratory systemy Cause problems on the skiny Lead to birth defectsy Cause various kinds of cancers

The toxic materials that pollute the soil can get into the human body directly by:

y Coming into contact with the skiny Being washed into water sources like reservoirs and riversy Eating fruits and vegetables that have been grown in polluted soily Breathing in polluted dust or particles

How can land pollution be prevented?

y People should be educated and made aware about the harmful effects of litteringy Items used for domestic purposes ought to be reused or recycledy Personal litter should be disposed properlyy Organic waste matter should be disposed in areas that are far away from residential

places

y Inorganic matter such as paper, plastic, glass and metals should be reclaimed and thenrecycled


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Toxic and Hazardous Waste Treatment

Hazardous wastes are poisonous byproducts of manufacturing, farming, city septic

systems, construction, automotive garages, laboratories, hospitals, and other industries. The

waste may be liquid, solid, or sludge and contain chemicals, heavy metals, radiation, dangerouspathogens, or other toxins. Even households generate hazardous waste from items such as

batteries, used computer equipment, and leftover paints or pesticides.

The waste can harm humans, animals, and plants if they encounter these toxins buried

in the ground, in stream runoff, in groundwater that supplies drinking water, or in floodwaters,

as happened after Hurricane Katrina. Some toxins, such as mercury, persist in the environment

and accumulate. Humans or animals often absorb them when they eat fish.

Toxic and Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage & Disposal

Hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal is not just an environmental concern,

but a public health hazard that can even exist around the home in unsuspecting products. Even

the proper disposal and remediation of hazardous waste can still pose risks. The best way to

deal with hazardous waste is preventing it in the first place.

1. IdentificationBefore you can consider hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal you must first identify

that a product is in fact hazardous waste. This can be tricky because of the broad definition of hazardous

waste: any waste that can cause death or injury if not disposed of properly. In general, a hazardouswaste includes, but is not limited to, anything that is corrosive, flammable, toxic or reactive.

2. FunctionThe main objective when treating, storing or disposing of hazardous waste is to decrease any

risks or dangers the waste may have to the environment or public health, according to the

Environmental Protection Agency. Treatment is always desired for hazardous waste; it can reduce the

amount of waste or make it safer for storing and disposal.

3. Treatment and DisposalBurning hazardous waste in an incinerator is one of the most common methods to treat

hazardous waste. This reduces the volume of waste and destroys harmful components. However, this is

only good for biological material, and may still produce hazardous pollutants. Hazardous waste that

cannot be reduced or deactivated, such as metals, are often stored in landfills under strict monitoring by

the EPA.


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4. StorageStorage is the intermediary stage between treatment and disposal, according to EPA

regulations. One of the most the used storage facilities for hazardous waste is a 55 gallon drum.

Sometimes dangerous waste is simply stored in large piles with lining underneath to prevent toxins from

leaching into the ground. Storage tanks, essentially just metal holding cells, are another popular option.

5. Prevention/SolutionToxic wastes produced from households are not regulated by the EPA due to practicality

reasons. You can take some measures to reduce hazardous with a few habit changes and tips from the

EPA. First, learn about products around the home that contain dangerous chemicals. Light bulbs often

use lethal mercury than might leak if broken in a landfill. Also, consider buying products that will last a

long time vs. one-time use products like Styrofoam cups.

Different Hazardous Waste Treatments

Recycling

Many HWs can be recycled into new products. Examples might include lead-acid

batteries or electronic circuit boards where the heavy metals can be recovered and used in new

products. Another example is the ash generated by coal-fired power plants; these plants

produced two types of these residues: fly and bottom ash. Fly ash particles have a low density,

are very fine, and are removed by air pollution control devices. On the other side, bottom ash is

a dense, dark, gravely substance that remains on the bottom of combustion chambers. After

these types of ashes go though the proper treatment, they could bind to other pollutants and

convert them into easier-to- dispose solids, or they could be used as pavement filling. Such

treatments reduce the level of threat of harmful chemicals, like fly and bottom ash, while also

recycling the safe product and helping the environment.

Portland cement

Another commonly used treatment is cement based solidification and stabilization.

Cement is used because it can treat a range of hazardous wastes by improving physical

characteristics and decreasing the toxicity and transmission of contaminants. The cement

produced is categorized into 5 different divisions, depending on its strength and components.

This process of converting sludge into cement might include the addition of pH adjustment

agents, phosphates, or sulfur reagents to reduce the settling or curing time, increase the

compressive strength, or reduce the leach ability of contaminants.


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Neutralization

Some HW can be processed so that the hazardous component of the waste is

eliminated: making it a non-hazardous waste. An example of this might include a corrosive acid

that is neutralized with a basic substance so that it is no-longer corrosive. (see acid-base

reactions.)Another mean to neutralize some of the waste is pH adjustment. pH is an important

factor on the leaching activity of the hazardous waste. By adjusting the pH of some toxic

materials, we are reducing the leaching ability of the waste.

Incineration, destruction and waste-to-energy

A HW may be "destroyed" for example by incinerating it at a high temperature.

Flammable wastes can sometimes be burned as energy sources. For example many cement

kilns burn HWs like used oils or solvents. Today incineration treatments not only reduce the

amount of hazardous waste. They also generate energy throughout the gases released in the

process. It is known that this particular waste treatment releases toxic gases produced by the

combustion of byproduct or other materials and this can affect the environment. However,

current technology has develop ed more efficient incinerator units that control these emissions

to a point that this treatment is considered a more beneficial option. There are different types

of incinerators and they vary depending on the characteristics of the waste. Starved air

incineration is another method used to treat hazardous wastes. Just like in common

incineration, burning occurs, however controlling the amount of oxygen allowed proves to be

significant to reduce the amount of harmful bi products produced. Starved Air Incineration is an

improvement of the traditional incinerators in terms of air pollution. Using this technology it is

possible to control the combustion rate of the waste and therefore reduce the air pollutants

produce in the process.

Hazardous waste landfill (sequestering, isolation, etc.)

A HW may be sequestered in a HW landfill or permanent disposal facility. "In terms of

hazardous waste, a landfill is defined as a disposal facility or part of a facility where hazardous

waste is placed or on land and which is not a pile, a land treatment facility, a surface

impoundment, an underground injection well, a salt dome formation, a salt bed formation, an

underground mine, a cave, or a corrective action management unit (40 CFR 260.10)."

Pyrolysis

Some hazardous waste types may be eliminated using pyrolisis in an ultra high

temperature electrical arc, in inert conditions to avoid combustion. This treatment method may

be preferable to high temperature incineration in some circumstances such as in the

destruction of concentrated organic waste types, including PCBs, pesticides and other

persistent organic pollutants.

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