LECTURE NOTES

Course: Environmental Protection and Pollution Control (ECP 415)

Introduction

Definitions

WHAT IS ENVIRONMENT?

Environment is the aggregate/ensemble of physical, chemical, biological and social components capable of causing direct or indirect effects, in the short or long term, on living beings and human activities.(from United Nations Conference on Environment, 1972)

WHAT IS POLLUTION?The discharge or release of matter or energy into the environment in a direct or indirect way in quantities or concentrations that will result in negatively impacting the current and later use of the environment.

Pollution can be classified following different criteria. As an overview:

a) According the medium in which it occurs: air (or atmospheric) pollution, water and soil/land pollution.

b) Depending on who/what produced pollution (the source). Antropic pollution refers to pollution caused by man, while natural pollution refers to pollution that has occurred naturally, i.e. originated by “nature”. Note that the term “natural pollution” indicates a non antropic source, not a “natural” substance.

c) Depending on the location of the source: emissions can be due to mobile or stationary sources (point source).

d) Depending on the chemical transformations of the pollutants. If pollutants are emitted directly by a source, they are called “primary pollutants”, if they arise from the transformation of primary pollutants into other substances, they are usually called secondary “pollutants”.

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS AND EIA

Traditionally, industries and its basic components were designed based upon technical and economic considerations only. It is know essential to consider environment, health and safety as factors during design.

Environmental ethics is related to attitude of people towards other living beings and environment.

During any project, though it is essential that ‘economic sustainability’ is attained; however, it is also essential that ‘ecological sustainability’ and ‘social sustainability’ are also attained.

Impact assessment is a handy tool to assess the environmental compatibility of the projects in terms of their location, suitability of technology, efficiency in resources utilization and recycling, etc.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has now been made a prerequisite for the settling up of new projects and renewal of licenses of old and existing plants.

EIA is a major instrument in decision making and for measurement of sustainability in the context of the regional carrying capacity. It provides the conceptual framework for extending the cumulative assessment of development policies, plans and projects on a regional basis.

Sustainable development of chemical process industries is a process in which the exploitation of resources and the direction of the investments are all made consistent with future as well as present consideration.

The primary causes of industrial pollution are: Use of outdated and inefficient technologies for product manufacturing,

pollution abatement and various other operation in industries which generate a large amount of wastes

Development of unplanned industrial conglomerations without foreseeing the effect on environment

The existence of large number of small scale industries without defining land use patterns and environmental regulations for them

Poor enforcement of pollution control laws for big and small industries

Major polluting industrial sectors1) Cement 2) Thermal power plants 3) Iron & Steel4) Fertilizer 5) Copper Smelters 6) Distilleries7) Pulp & Paper 8) Dyes and Dye Intermediates 9) Pesticides10) Petro Chemicals 11) Sugar ` 12) Tanneries

ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS DUE TO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

Large scale contamination of water and air. Deforestation Increase in urban slums Generation of huge solid waste consisting of hazardous material. Water scarcity and ground water depletion. Global warming Greenhouse effect Ozone layer depletion

Environmental Acts and RulesThe Environmental Management Agency (EMA) is a statutory body established under the Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27] and operationalised on the 17th of March 2003 through SI 103 of 2003.

The act was created to provide for the sustainable management of natural resources and protection of the environment; the prevention of pollution and environmental degradation; the preparation of a National Environmental Plan and other plans for

the management and protection of the environment; the establishment of an Environmental Management Agency and an Environment Fund; to amend references to intensive conservation areas and committees and associated matters in various Acts;

To repeal

the Natural Resources Act [Chapter 20:13]; the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act [Chapter 20:03], the Hazardous Substances and Articles Act [Chapter 15:05] the Noxious Weeds Act [Chapter 19:07],

and to provide for matters connected with or incidental to the foregoing.

Environmental rights and principles of environmental management are Every person shall have a right to—

a) a clean environment that is not harmful to health; andb) access to environmental information, and protect the environment for the

benefit of present and future generations and to participate in the implementation of the promulgation of reasonable legislative, policy and other measures that— (i) Prevent pollution and environmental degradation; and

(ii) Secure ecologically sustainable management and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development.

Major environmental laws dealing with protection of environment are

Effluent and Solid Waste Disposal Regulations SI 6, 2007 Regulates the disposal of waste (solid waste and effluent). Uses polluter pays principle through licensing which is according to the following Four classes:

Blue – in respect of a disposal which is considered to be environmentally safe.

Green - in respect of disposal that is considered to present a low environmental hazard

Yellow - in respect of a disposal which is considered to present a medium environmental hazard  and

Red - in respect of a disposal that is considered to present a high environmental hazard.

Provides the water quality standards in which the effluent should be discharged into the environment

EIA and Ecosystems Protection Regulations SI 7, 2007 Prohibits extraction, possession, transportation of sand and clay deposits for commercial purposes without a licence issued by the Agency. The Statutory Instrument further provides for the procedure for conducting environmental impact assessment, registration of environmental impact assessment consultants and issuance of a environmental impact assessment licence. The Statutory Instrument also provides for prevention of veld fires, protection of wetlands and public streams

Hazardous Waste Management Regulations SI 10, 2007

The statutory Instrument provides for the licensing for generation, storage, use, recycling, treatment, transportation or disposal of hazardous waste. Generators of hazardous waste are also required to prepare waste management plans and targets. The Statutory Instrument also regulates waste collection and management by local authorities. The importation and exportation of hazardous waste and waste oils is also regulated by this Statutory Instrument.

Hazardous Substances, Pesticides and Toxic Substances Regulations SI 12, 2007 Statutory Instrument 5 of 2011Environmental and Natural resources management (Hazardous Substance, Pesticides and Others Toxic Substances) (Amendment) Regulations, 2011(No.2){CAP.20:27}It is hereby notified that the Minister of Environment and natural resources Management  has, in terms of section 140 of the Environmental Management Act{chapter 20:27}, made the following regulations:-1.) These regulations may be cited as the Environmental and Natural Resources Management (hazardous Substances, Pesticides and other toxic Substances) (Amendment) Regulation, 2011(No2).

2.) Section 13 (10) of the Environmental Management (Hazardous Substance, pesticides and Other Toxic Substances) Regulations, 2007, published in Statutory Instrument 12 of 2007(hereinafter called “the principal regulation”) as amended by Environmental and Natural Resources Management (Hazardous Substance, pesticides and Other Toxic Substances)Regulation ,2008 ,published in Statutory Instrument 99 of 2008n , is amended by the deletion after the phrase “between” of “ 2200 hours to 0400 hours” and the substitution of “1800 hours and 0600 hours “3.) Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the First schedule to the Environmental and Natural Resources Management (Hazardous Substance, pesticides and Other Toxic Substances) Regulations     2007, published in Statutory Instrument 12 of 2007 , is hereby repealed and substituted by the following – First schedule Fees (all fees in US$)

Registration fees for manufacturers, importers, storage and users of hazardous substances per facility: manufacturer, importer, seller of hazardous substances

 Type of registration Annual license

Class USD

Manufacturer, user, importer, seller, storage, of hazardous substances/ products per plant, per person, per premise respectively per year

Red 640.00

Amber 500.00

green 340.00

Issue a duplicate license

20.00

Local transporter of  hazardous substances/products per vessel  per year

Red 1030.00

amber 650.00

green 430.00

Fees for appealing against the decision of the Agency

10.00

Air Pollution Control Regulations SI 72, 2009 The objective is to provide for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution to ensure clean and healthy ambient air. It provides for the establishment of emission standards for various sources such as mobile sources (e.g. motor vehicles) and stationary sources (e.g. industries) as outlined in the Air Pollution Control Regulations SI 72, 2009.  It also covers any other air pollution source as may be determined by the Minister in consultation with the Environmental Management Agency. Emission limits for various facilities and vehicular transport have been set.

Exemptions

The following operations (provided they are not used for disposal of refuse), are exempt from these regulations: (a)Back-burning to control or suppress wildfires;(b)Fire fighting rehearsals or drills conducted by the Fire Service Agencies;(c)Traditional and cultural burning of savannah grasslands;(d)Burning for purposes of public health protection;

Importation and Transit of Hazardous Substances and Waste Regulations SI 77, 2009 Highlights of the Importation and Transit of Hazardous Substances and Waste Management Regulations SI 77, 2009  Waste Management Regulations are meant to streamline the handling, transportation and disposal of various types of waste. The aim of the Waste Management Regulations is to protect human health and the environment. Currently, different types of waste are dumped haphazardly posing serious environmental and health concerns. The regulations place emphasis on waste minimization, cleaner production and segregation of waste at source.

The regulations have classified various types of waste and recommended appropriate disposal methods for each waste type. Under the Waste Management Regulations, EMA licenses transporters, incinerators, landfills, composers, recyclers and transfer stations. Facilities to be licensed include

local authorities, transporters and handlers of various types of waste. The licensing employs a risk-based approach by concentrating on facilities considered to pose a high risk to the environment.

The Waste Management Regulations also provide an opportunity for investment in various aspects of waste management. A copy of the regulations is available at www.ema.co.zw. Hard copies can also be purchased from the government printers

Plastic Packaging and Plastic Bottles Regulation SI 98, 2010 Statutory Instrument 98 0f 2010[CAP.20:27 Environmental Management (Plastic Packaging and Plastic Bottles) Regulations, 2010] “The purpose of compulsory specification is to assist the implementation of the Plastic Packaging and Plastic Bottles Regulations in order to protect the environment. These specifications cover requirements for packaging that is made from thermo-plastic materials and covers plastic, and carrier packaging both domestically produced and imported for use within Zimbabwe. It also covers the thickness and printing requirements for these packaging.The specifications do not cover bread packaging, which may have a thickness of twenty-five micrometers.

EFFECTS OF POLLUTANTS TO ECO-SYSTEM AND HUMAN HEALTH

Gaseous and particulate pollutants

• Greenhouse effect• Ozone depletion• acidification • smog formation• eutrophication • human health

• Nitrogen Dioxide: NO2 – brownish gas irritates the respiratory system originates from

combustion (N2 in air is oxidized); NOx sum of NO, NO2, other oxides of N)

• Ozone: ground level O3

– primary constituent of urban smog– reaction of VOC + NOx in presence of heat +sun light

• Carbon monoxide: CO– reduces bloods ability to carry O2 – product of incomplete combustion

• Particulate Matter: PM10 (PM 2.5) – respiratory disorders

• Sulfur Dioxide: SO2

– formed when fuel (coal, oil) containing S is burned and metal smelting

– precursor to acid rain along with NOx

Heavy metals are metallic elements that are present in both natural and contaminated environments. In natural environments, they occur at low concentrations. However at high concentrations as is the case in contaminated Environments, they result in public health impacts. The elements that are of concern include lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, zinc, nickel and copper. Heavy metals may be released into the environment from metal smelting and refining industries, scrap metal, plastic and rubber industries, various consumer products and from burning of waste containing these elements. On release to the air, the elements travel for large distances and are deposited onto the soil, vegetation and water depending on their density. Once deposited, these metals are not degraded and persist in the environment for many years poisoning humans through inhalation, ingestion and skin absorption. Acute exposure leads to nausea, anorexia, vomiting, gastrointestinal abnormalities and dermatitis.

Toxic heavy metals with established health effects

μg/dl*: micrograms per decilitre of bloodmg/kg**: milligrams per kilogram

On the other hand, persistent organic pollutants are long-lasting non-biodegradable organic compounds that accumulate in the food chain, especially fish and livestock, and pose serious health risks to humans. They dissolve poorly in water and are readily stored in fatty tissue hence may be passed to infants through breast milk. These chemicals include: aldrin, dieldrin, dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT), endrin, heptachlor, toxaphene, chlordane, hexachlorobenzene, mirex, pesticides and

polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) all of which are to be phased out and/or eliminated under the international environmental agreements.

Liquid effluent

• Some of the risks include – pollutant runoff from agricultural lands – storm-water flows from cities

• sanitary sewers overflow and release raw sewage to streets and waterbodies.

– seepage into ground water from nonpoint sources

– the loss of habitats such as wetlands.

– we cannot always eat what we catch because fish flesh is contaminated by the remaining discharges and sources of toxic substances.

– Microbial contamination of drinking water still presents problems in many communities.

Solid waste

The relationship between solid waste and human disease is difficult to prove. The improper handling of solid waste is a health hazard and causes damage to the environment

The main risks to human health arise due to the breeding of disease vectors- primarily flies and rates. At has been estimated that in warm climates, exposed garbage produces as many as 70000 flies per 0.03m3 in a week.

Refuse dumps also save as a source of food for rates and small rodents which quickly proliferate and spread to the neighbouring areas. The handling and transfer of biological waste pose a threat to the worker and those he contacts.

The hazardous wastes care injurious to human health some have acute effects while others pose a health hazard after prolonged period of exposure. In proper disposal of such waste has resulted in the death of humans and animals through contamination of crops or water supplies.

The environmental damage caused by solid wastes is mostly aesthetic in nature. Uncontrolled dumping of urban wastes destroys the beauty of the country side, also there is the danger of water pollution when the leachate from refuyse dump enters surface water or ground water sources. Uncontrolled burning of open dumps can cause air pollution.