Water and Air Pollution

Group Rishav, 135 Tutor:

members: Roshan, 136 Asst. Prof. Shukra Raj Paudel
Ravi, 132 Rupesh, 137 Department of Civil
Ravi, 133 Sachet, 138 Engineering
Rhythmm, 134 IOE, Tribhuvan University
2018-06-07
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o To know different causes of air and

water pollution
o Identify the impacts of the pollution on
human health
o To understand different types of air
pollutants
o To learn about various mitigation
measures of air and water pollution
o To familiarize with indoor air pollution
and its severity Source:
[Link]/images
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5.1) Fecal- oral infection transmission

route
5.2) Preventive measures
5.3) On site sanitation (Including eco-
sanitation)
5.4) Importance of health education
5.5) Organic pollution
5.6) Inorganic pollution
5.7) Sources, causes and impacts of
air pollution
5.8) Mitigation measures of air
Source:
pollution [Link]/images
5.9) Indoor air pollution
5.10) Severity of its problem in Nepal
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Pollution is the process of

contamination of the environmental
components such as water, air, land,
Fig: Water pollution
etc. by unwanted foreign substances.

Source:
Fig: Air pollution
 5

Fecal-oral
transmission means spread
of microbes (viruses,
bacteria or parasites) from
the human or animal stool to
the mouth

Fig: Transmission route

Source: [Link]/images
 6

o Transmission of microbes
from your own stool is
called auto-infection
o Hands: By shaking someone’s
hands contaminated by stool,
touching surfaces in public
toilets, changing
diapers, working in the garden,
dealing with cattle or pets, etc.
o Toys: Contact of children to Fig: Transmission route
Source: Wagner and Lanois,
contaminated toys
1958
 7

o Fomites: Various objects, including

utensils, capable of carrying microbes
o Food: Usually raw fruits or vegetables,
contaminated by stool-contaminated
hands or house flies
o Drinking water, usually from lakes,
contaminated by animal stool,
swimming pools, contaminated by
human feces, or even tap water
in certain countries with low-hygiene
Fig: Fomites
habits
Source: [Link]/images
o Eating feces: Seen in children, or in a
mental disorder called coprophagy.
 8

o Viruses:
o Hepatitis A and E virus
o Polio virus
o Rotavirus: Causes viral diarrhea in
children, known as stomach flu Fig: Virus
o Parasites:
o Intestinal unicellular parasites:
Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia,
Cryptosporidium, Microsporidia
o Intestinal worms: Roundworms, Fig: Parasite
tapeworms or pinworms Source:
[Link]/images
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o Bacteria:
o Campylobacter, Salmonella,
Shigella: Causing food
poisoning and traveler’s
diarrhea
o Clostridium difficile: Causing
antibiotic associated
diarrhea
o Salmonella typhi: Causing
typhoid fever
o Toxoplasma gondii Fig: Bacteria
o Vibrio cholerae: Water Source: [Link]/images
borne infection causing
cholera
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Source: AMREF, 2007

 11

Main causes of fecal–oral disease

transmission include:
o Lack of dequate sanitation (leading
to open defecation)
Poor hygiene practices
o If soil or water bodies are
polluted with fecal material,
humans can be infected with water-
borne diseases or soil-transmitted Fig: Open defecation and
urination
Source:
diseases.
[Link]/images
 12

o Wash your hands after

using toilet, changing
diapers, working in garden
o Do not change diapers at
the same place where you
prepare food
o Do not drink water from
rivers, lakes and swimming
pools Fig: Proper handwashing method
o Disinfect suspicious tap
Source: [Link]/images
water
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o Separate provision of
laying the water supply
and sewage pipes
o Advertisements and
awareness in public
especially rural areas
o Travelers are at great risk
and it is therefore
important to be cautions &
practice good hygiene
while abroad.
Fig: Awareness
o Street food should be
avoided Source:
[Link]/images
 14

Source:
[Link]/images
 15

o On-site sanitation is a scheme

where the treatment of excreta or
manure is done at same
surrounding where its is generated
o It may be disposed of on site or
removed manually for safe
disposal
o It should only be used where a
Fig: On-site portable
community public sanitation toilet
Source: [Link]/images
system is not available or
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a) Dry system: A dry toilet operates without

flush water. Its features are:
o Requires no water to function thus
prevents underground water
pollution
o Functions as a composting toilet
o Suitable for use in urban, peri-urban
and rural area
o Weather resistant, reliable and hard
wearing
o Separates all fluids at source and
ensure dry pit conditions
Fig: Dry system
o Easily constructed and minimum
maintenance required Source:
o Pit lifespan increase to between 20- [Link]/images
40 years if maintained correctly
 17

Fig: Dry system

Source:
 18

Advantages of dry system:

o To save water – when there is either water
scarcity or when water is costly
o To prevent pollution of surface water or
groundwater – dry toilets do not mix excreta
with water and do not pollute groundwater
o To enable safe reuse of excreta, after the
collected excreta or fecal sludge has
undergone further treatment for example by
drying or composting Fig: Dry system
Source: [Link]/images
 19

Challenges of dry system:

o Dry toilets do not have a water seal,

thus odors may be a problem

o Dry toilets that are connected to a pit

(such as pit latrines) tend to make it

very difficult to empty the pit in a safe Fig: Full pit

manner when they are full Source: [Link]/images

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b) Wet system: Waste is diluted with

flush of water at point of generation.
Example: septic tank system. Its
features are:
o Require water to function
o Prevents underground water
pollution
o User friendly, accessible and
adaptable i.e. disabled, elderly,
Fig: Aqua privy
children can use it
Source: [Link]/images
 21

Fig: Raising the infiltration surface with a typical mound system

Source: [Link]/images
 22

Fig: Sanitation options

Source: [Link]/images
 23

Advantages of wet system:

o Free from flies and odors
o Increase the standard of life
o Decompose solid waste
easily
o Control of spreading of
diseases
Challenges of wet system:
o Repairs to pipes
o Removing sludge from
septic tanks
Fig: Normal sanitation
o Maintaining stabilization
practices
pond
Source: [Link]/images
o Wastes of water in water
scarcity place
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o Eco-sanitation is a closed loop

sanitation process in which
human excreta is recycled, render
safe and used for agriculture
purpose.
o Its main objectives is to prevent
pollution from happening rather
than to control it after it happens Fig: Normal sanitation practices
o In the minimization of the use of
Source: [Link]/images
non-renewable resources
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o Reduction in the transmission

of pathogens from human
excreta into human cycle
o Promotion of safe, hygienic
recovery and use of nutrients,
organics, water and energy
o Preservation of soil fertility,
improvement of agricultural
productivity and food security
o Energy reduction in fertilizer
o Improvement on health
condition of society. Fig: The poop loop
o Substitution of mineral fertilizer
Source: [Link]/images
and minimization of water
pollution
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o Health education is any combination of

learning experiences designed to help
Source: [Link]/images
individuals and communities improve
their health, by increasing their
knowledge or influencing their attitudes
o Aim of health education:
o To positively influence the health
behavior of individuals and
communities
o To promote and wisely use of
available health services
o to develop sense of responsibility for
health conditions ,as individuals ,as a Fig: Raising awareness to
member of society young women against
o To motivate people to follow health Chhaupadi pratha
habits
 27

Source: [Link]/images
 28

o In context of Nepal status of

health education is
extremely poor. It may be
due to following reasons:
o Low literacy rate
o Poor health services and
accessibility of health
stations
o Unscientific and unhealthy
superstations
o Lack of sense of
responsibility in every Fig: Health education in
Humla
individual as a member of
society Source:
[Link]/images
 29

Fig: Factors affecting health education

Source: [Link]/images
 30

Fig: Under 5 children nutrition status, 2011

Source: [Link]/images
 31

Fig: Sanitation in the “Federal democratic Republic of Nepal”

Source: [Link]/images
 32

Fig: Unhealthy postnatal hygiene

Source:
 33

o Health education enables a

person to remain physically fit
and in proper health.
o It enhances the health of
community
o It promotes the proper
utilization of available health
resources Fig: People incorporating healthy
o It enables people to make choices in their lifestyle
Source: [Link]/images
more healthy choices and
uplift their quality life
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o It enhances the ability to

avoid air, water, etc. borne
diseases
o It reduces premature deaths
o It may decrease financial
expenses that may be spent
on treatment
o It enables people to pressure
Source:
the governmental bodies to
[Link]/images
enhance health services and
facilities
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o Organic pollution is when human

activity allows organic compounds
to enter into environment which
causes harm to the ecosystem.
o They consists of protein,
carbohydrates, fats and nucleic
acid in any combination.
o These pollutants can usually be
oxidized by naturally occurring Fig: Organic water pollution

micro-organisms. Source:
[Link]/images
 36

o Domestic sewage (Raw or

treated)
o Industrial effluents
o Urban run-off
o Farm wastes
o Organic chemicals
o Food processing waste
o Lubricants (motor oil, Mobil)
o Burning fossil fuels(coal, oil Fig: Source of organic pollutants
and gas) Source:
[Link]/images
 37

o Concentration of Dissolved
oxygen in water is reduced
during decomposition
o Suspended solids near the
surface of water blocks
sunlight for plants
o Life of aquatic animals and
plants is hampered
Fig: Effects of organic pollution on
o Production of new disease aquatic life

Source: [Link]/images
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o The contamination of environment

caused by inorganic pollutant

o A pollutant of mineral origin and not

of basically carbon structure

o The concentration of these pollutant

are increasing over the years

o Some of the inorganic pollutants are

Fig: Inorganic pollutant
nitrate, fluoride, iron, manganese, released from a industry
arsenic, heavy metals etc. Source: [Link]/images
 39

o Found In the manufacture of dyes

and explosives.
o Found in the medicine used for
treating intestinal disorders i.e.
bismuth sub nitrate(BiONO3.H2O)
o Found in Amatol which is a powerful
explosive (TNT)
o When mixed with phosphates causes
Fig: Eutrophication
eutrophication which leads to
substantial increase in aquatic plants Source:
[Link]/images
 40

o Used to purify water but excessive

fluoride can cause bone fracture in
adults
o Coal is the source as it is seen
extensively on countries with coal
burning plants such as China
o They are also responsible for
damaging the crops.
Fig: Leachate in landfill site
o Improper disposal of fluoridated
waste may result in leaching. Source: [Link]/images
 41

o Corrosion of water supply iron

pipes results to rusty color and
metallic taste of water
o Even though iron is an essential
material, excessive intake of iron
has been linked to diseases like
Alzheimer's, arteriosclerosis,
diabetes etc.
o Iron toxicity in water results to
death of fish Fig: Corrosion in pipe
o Can cause algae blooms, which
Source: [Link]/images
creates biological oxygen demand
 42

o Has a tendency to accumulate in

some organism and plants which
could lead to harmful exposures
further up the food chain.
o Causes adverse health effects like
hallucinations, changes in behavior,
weakness, speech problems,
headaches, tremors, bronchitis,
balance problem and permanent
disease like impotence.
Fig: Difference in clean and
o Causes discoloration and turbidity in dirty water
water. Source: [Link]/images
 43

o A semi metallic element

o Extremely poisonous
o A high profile problem due to the
use of deep tube well for water
supply in Ganges delta
o A 2007 study showed that over
13.7 crore people in more than 70
countries are affected by arsenic
poisoning of drinking water
o Can cause diseases like lung Fig: Hand pump in a village
unused because of arsenic
cancer, skin cancer, birth defects
and reproductive problems
Source: [Link]/images
 44

o Metals like copper, cadmium, lead,

mercury and selenium falls under
this category
o They get mixed in water from
sources like industries, automobile
exhaust, mines and even natural
soils
o Cadmium found in fertilizer if
consumed by human can cause
diarrhea and overtime, liver and
kidney damage
Fig: Source of heavy metals
o Lead found in lead water pipes if
consumed by children can cause
mental retardation Source: [Link]/images
 45

Insecticide is the chemical agent

which is used to kill the insects in the
field. The organophosphate
insecticides include malathion,
parathion and dimethoate.
Types of insecticides
o Broad spectrum
o Narrow spectrum Fig: Spraying of insecticides
o Pheromones
Source: [Link]/images
o Miticides
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Pesticide is the chemicals used

eliminate or control a verity of
agricultural pest that can damage crops
and livestock and reduce the farm
productivity. Examples of pesticides are:
o chlorinated hydrocarbon DDT
o chlordane and toxaphene

Fig: Spraying of insecticides

Source: [Link]/images
 47

Type Of Pesticides:

o Insecticides: Kill insects by blocking reproduction, clogging

airways or disrupting nervous system
o Herbicides: Kill weeds by disrupting metabolism and growth
o Fungicides: Fungus killers
o Rodenticides: Rat and mice killers
 48

o Cellular and DNA damage

o Cancers, tumors and lesions on fish and animals.
o Death of organism.
o Disruption of endocrine system.
o Reproductive inhibition or failure.
o Suppression of immune system.
o Teratogenic effect (physical deformities such as hooked beaks
on birds)
o Poor fish health marked by low red to white blood cell ratio,
excessive slime on fish scales and gills etc.
o Intergenerational effects (effects are not apparent until
subsequent generation of organism).
o Physical effects such as egg shell thinning.
 49

Source: [Link]/images
 50

Source: [Link]/images

1. Burning fossil fuels: In

industries natural gas, coal and

oil are burned to power the

industrial mechanisms, which

release carbon dioxide, carbon

monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur

dioxide etc. to atmosphere

Fig: Coal burning oven

 51

2. Motor vehicle use: Use of

vehicles is increasing rapidly (in

Between 1900 and 1970) day to

day, and emissions of nitrogen

oxides, some of the most

damaging pollutants in vehicle

Fig: Pollution caused by motor vehicles
exhaust increased by 690%
Source: [Link]/images
 52

3. Incompletely burned fuel:

Incomplete burning of fuel release
Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOC).
4. Garbage: The garbage in landfills
and solid waste disposal sites emit
methane gas and many household
products give off VOCs.
5. Natural sources: Forest fires emit
particulates and VOCs into the
atmosphere.
6. Ultra fine dust particles: Ultra fine
dust particles are dislodged by soil Fig: Ultra fine dust particles size
erosion when water and weather comparison
loosen layers of soil, increase air
borne particulate levels. Source: [Link]/images
 53

7. Radioactive fallout:
Radioactive sources yield high
amounts of energy, as well as
harmful quantities of sulfur
dioxide and several heavy
metals into the air.

In highly-industrialized cities, air

pollution from radioactive fallout
have been proven to create
numerous environmental Fig: Radioactive fallout
concerns, such as defoliation,
deformation and undergrowth
Source: [Link]/images
damage in trees, to name a few.
 54

8. Volcanoes: They spew out sulfur

dioxide and large amounts of
pulverized lava rock known as volcanic
ash. A big volcanic eruption can
darken the sky over a wide region and Fig: An active volcano

affect the earths entire atmosphere.

9. Smog: It is intense local pollution
usually trapped by a thermal inversion.
Fig: Smog in
Most of the smog is a result of smoke Kathmandu valley
from automobiles or coal.
Source:
[Link]/images
 55

[Link]: The high voltage

lines, especially those located near
polluted cities, attract air that
contains harmful particulates. The
electricity running through the lines
results in the charging or the
ionization of the air. When inhaled
by humans, ionized air significantly
increases the level free radicals in
the body. These free radicals in the
Fig: Powerlines
body bring about tissue damage,
aging, even the development of Source: [Link]/images
certain cancer.
 56

Impacts of air pollution:

o Acid Rain: Oxides of nitrogen and sulfur dioxide in presence
of atmospheric moisture turn into droplets of pure acid floating
on smog. These airborne acids are bad for the lungs and
attack anything made of limestone, marble ,metal. It can burn
the leaves of plants and make lakes too acidic for aquatic life.
o Effect on Human health:
o Smog spoils views and makes outdoor activity unpleasant.
o Asthma or heart patients may get headaches or dizziness
and can cause breathing difficulties.
o Smog can lead to mass illness and death, mainly from
carbon monoxide poisoning
 57

Impacts of air pollution:

o Effect on ozone layer: The smog contains ozone and the
ozone in lower atmosphere damages vegetation, kills trees,
irritates lung tissues and attacks rubber. Environmental
officials measure ozone to determine the severity of pollution
.When the ozone level is high, other pollutants, including
carbon monoxide are usually present at high level as well.
o Depletion of ozone layer: Chemical pollutants like
Chlorofluorocarbons(CFCS), nitrous oxide from fertilizers and
the pesticides methyl bromide etc. attack ozone layer. The
ultraviolet radiation breaks the CFC molecules apart, releasing
the chlorine atom they contain. The chlorine atom begin
reacting with ozone, breaking it down into ordinary oxygen
molecules. A single chlorine atom can destroy up to
1,00,000 ozone molecules in the stratosphere.
 58

Impacts of air pollution:

o Global Warming: Experts expect a global rise in average
temperature of 1.4 to 5.8 ˚C in the next century. The 1990s
were the warmest decade on record and 2005 was the
warmest year on record.
o Temperature and rainfall are expected to increase in
Western United States, while dramatic decreases in rainfall
may lead to severe drought and plunging agriculture yields
in parts of Africa.
o The warmer temperature is expected to partially melt the
polar ice caps resulting in the rise of sea level.
 59

o Pollution can be controlled with the help of end-of-the-pipe

devices (catalytic converters, filters, etc.) that capture
pollutants already created and by limiting the quantity of
pollutants produced in the first place.
o Gasoline ha been reformulated numerous times to achieve
cleaner burning.
o Research on vehicles running on cleaner energy.
o Naturally heating and cooling mechanisms are being
incorporated in the architecture of the buildings to replace the
fossil fuels used for artificial heating.
o People can choose to use public transport rather than take
their own ride, in order to minimize the emissions.
o Banning smoking in public spaces.
 60

Source: [Link]/images
Fig: Smoking zone to
minimize public smoking

Fig: End of pipe approach

Fig: Clean energy use in
home and automobiles
 61

o It is the pollution in the air of

indoor spaces like home,
offices, buildings, etc.
o People spend almost 90% of
their time at home or offices
o Negligence is the major issue,
when it comes to indoor air
pollution

Source: Rhythmm Bhattarai

 62

o Since most of the daily activities can be

performed from the comfort of our homes,
the indoor air pollution becomes an even
greater threat
o Absence of natural air currents to disperse
the pollutants results in accumulation at
higher concentrations than they do outside
o Indoor air levels of many pollutants may
be 2-5 times, and occasionally even
more than 100 times the outdoor levels
Source: [Link]/images
 63

Source: Malla, M. B. (2013).Indoor air pollution monitoring and stove

efficiency test- Experience of plan action Nepal. Practical Action Nepal Office
 64

Asbestos
insulation
Bacteria

Molds/Mildews

Animal dander
and cat saliva
Virus

Source: [Link]/images
 65

House
dust
Mites

Cockroaches

Pollen
Tobacco
smoke
Source: Sachet Khatiwada
Source: [Link]/images
 66

Unvented
space
heaters
Kerosene space
heaters

Wood burning
stoves

Welding/
soldering

Source:
[Link]/images
 67

a) Source control: This strategy

involves replacing the sources of
indoor pollutants
o Replacement of the wood
burning stoves by gas or oil-
fired furnaces
o Modification in the design of
the gas and kerosene stoves
o Proper operation and Fig: Gas fired
Furnace
maintenance of the burners Source:
[Link]/images
 68

b) Increased ventilation:
o Local and mechanical ventilation
increase the rate of air exchange,
thus decreasing the concentrations
of the pollutants. Modification in the
design of the gas and kerosene
stoves
o Installation of hood over the
cooking place
Fig: Carbon
o Ductless cooking ranges with filter
Source:
improved carbon filter [Link]/images
 69

c) Air cleaning:
Adsorbents are used to
remove moisture from air. Fig: Silica gel
Commonly used adsorbents
are: Fig: Activated
alumina
o Silica gel
o Activated alumina
Fig: Activated
o Activated carbon Carbon Fig:
o Manganese oxides Manganese
oxides

Source:
 70

o For such a small country, Nepal is

contributing its fair share of pollution to

Source: [Link]/images
the world
o Unplanned urbanization has caused
the solid waste management, sewage
Fig: Air Pollution in
systems, etc. problems Kathmandu valley

o Uncoordinated development works

without the thought of sustainability
o Old and poorly maintained vehicles
o Lack of awareness regarding
Fig: Unplanned
hazardous effects of air pollution
urbanization
 71

The limiting values

according to the WHO
guidelines:
• TSP: 120mg/m3

Source: Report on AQM action plan 2017

 72

The limiting values

according to the WHO
guidelines:
• PM10: 70mg/m3

Source: Report on AQM action plan 2017

 73

Source: Report on AQM action plan 2017

 74

o According to the Environment Pollution Index 2014 published by

the Yale University- Nepal ranked second from last after
Bangladesh in terms of air quality and its effect to the human
health
o The bowl-shaped topography of the Kathmandu valley has cause
sever restrictions to the movement of the air pollutants in the
atmosphere
o There are above 100 brick kilns in the Kathmandu valley alone
according to the “All Brick Kiln Association”. They operate during
the dry season and release high concentration of pollutants
 75

o In 2005 “Ministry of population and environment” estimated that

ambient air pollution was responsible for 1600 premature deaths
in the Kathmandu valley.
o Whereas, a NRHC/WHO study based on the Environmental
Burden Disease (EBD) approach, estimated 1926 cases of
premature death per year (NHRC/WHO, 2009).
o World Bank estimate that Nepal’s annual health cost attributed to
urban air pollution was USD 21 million in 2007, equivalent to
0.29% of the GDP.
o Another study estimated that reduction of the current air condition
to the national ambient air quality standard would save
Kathmandu and Lalitpur NRs 315 million annually (Adhikari, 2012)
 76

o Bhatta, J.; Kafle, K. (2014). Tecnology, Environment and Society.

Makalu Publication House. Kathmandu.
o Karki, K.B.; Dhakal, P. et al. (2015). Situation Analysis of Ambient
Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Effects in Kathmandu Valley.
Nepal Health Research Council.
o Gautam, C. et al. (2017). Air Quality Management Action Plan for
Kathmandu Valley. Quest Forum Pvt. Ltd. Kathmandu, Nepal.
o Tilley, E.; Ulrich, L.; Lüthi, C.; Reymond, Ph.; Zurbrügg, C.
Compendium of Sanitation Systems and Technologies - (2nd
Revised Edition). Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and
Technology (Eawag), Duebendorf, Switzerland.
o Shaw, R. (2014). A Collection of Contemporary Toilet Designs.
EOOS and WEDC, Loughborough University, UK.
o Malla, M. B. (2013).Indoor air pollution monitoring and stove
efficiency test- Experience of plan action Nepal. Practical Action
Nepal Office