Chapter Eight: THE
ENVIRONMENT
Lecturer: Zabihullah Islami Economist
Chapter Content
• Environment
• Major environmental pollution
• Toxic air pollution
• The Major Air Pollutants and their Sources
• Acid Rain
• Toxic air pollution.
• Water pollution
• Main causes of water pollution
• Effects of water pollution
• Hazardous(Risky) land pollution
• Hazardous land pollution
• Causes of land pollution
• Environmental Laws
Chapter outcome
• The student will be able to understand the environmental factors and its effect on
individuals.
• To know about the different environmental factors and its causes.
References
• Business Ethics by Manisha Paliwal, Chapter 14, Business and Society, page
number 111.
Environment
“It basically says that the environment is everything: where we
live, work, play, go to school. And so we can’t separate
ourselves from the environment ,In fact humans and environment
are interdependent”
Major environmental pollutions
1: Toxic air pollution
2: Water pollution
3: Land pollution
Toxic(poisonous) air pollution…
I’ll go out for a breath of fresh air’ is an often-heard phrase. But
how many of us realize that this has become irrelevant in
today’s world, because the quality of air in our cities is anything
but fresh.
Cont.……
The moment you step out of the house and are on the road you can actually see
the air getting polluted like………………..
A cloud of smoke from the exhaust(gases ejected from an engine) of a bus, car, or a scooter(two-wheeled
motor vehicle similar to a motorcycle)
Smoke billowing from a factory chimney
Speeding cars causing dust to rise from the roads.
Question
• If a plane crashes on the border between the United States and
Canada, where do they bury the survivors?
Show answer
• Survivors are not buried.
Cont.…….
Definition: The presence of one or more contaminants (poison)in the atmosphere in such
quality and for such duration as is injurious, or tends to be injurious, to human health or welfare,
animal or plant life.’
OR
It is the combustion(burning) of fossil fuels(diesel, petrol) in cars and coal…
More people are killed by air pollution than by traffic crashes.
The Major Air Pollutants and their
Sources
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that is
produced by burning of carbon-based fuels
including petrol, diesel, and wood. It is also produced from the combustion of synthetic products (man made
not natural) such as cigarettes.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the gas emitted (send out)
as a result of human activities such as the burning of coal, oil.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC): are gases that are released mainly
from air-conditioning systems and refrigeration. When released
into the air, It leads to a reduction of the
ozone layer that protects the earth from the harmful rays of the sun.
Cont.…….
Ozone occurs naturally in the upper layers of the atmosphere.
This important gas shields the earth from the harmful ultraviolet
rays of the sun. Vehicles and industries are
the major source of ground-level ozone emissions. Ozone
makes our eyes itch, burn, and water.
Nitrogen oxide (NOx) causes acid rain. It is
produced from burning fuels including petrol, diesel, and coal.
Nitrogen oxides can make children susceptible to respiratory
diseases in winters.
Suspended particulate matter (substance that is composed of separate particles )
(SPM) consists of solids in the air in the form of smoke, dust that can remain for extended periods and is
also the main source of haze which reduces visibility. The finer/Harm of these particles, when breathed in
SMOG(mixture of smoke and fog )
Acid Rain
The phenomenon occurs when Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from the burning of fossil
fuels such as, petrol, diesel combine with water vapor in the atmosphere and fall as rain, snow
or fog. These gases can also be emitted from natural sources like volcanoes. Acid rain causes
extensive damage to water, forest, soil resources and even human health.
Toxic air pollution…
Major Air Pollutants and Associated Health Hazards
• Pollutant Health Impacts
• SO2 (Sulfur dioxide, an oxide of sulfur, a chemical compound) Which causes
Heart diseases, respiratory problems including cancer, eye burning, headache etc.
• NO2 (Nitrogen dioxide is the chemical compound with the formula NO
2.): which causes Lung irritation(burning pain) , viral infection, chest tightness etc.
• SPM (Suspended particulate matter) : Lung dise ases etc.
• Ozone :chest pain, coughing etc.
• CO (Carbon monoxide) : unconsciousness, anemia (blood shortage) etc.
Water pollution:
When toxic substances enter lakes, streams, rivers, oceans, and other water bodies, they get
dissolved or lie suspended in water. this results in the pollution of water whereby the quality
of the water deteriorates.
About 40% of the world's surface water is too polluted to fish or swim in.
Over a billion people ….one in every five on earth have no access to safe and clean drinking
water.
Main causes of water pollution
Oil spills (Shed)
sewage drainage
Use of chemicals like pesticides in agriculture
Oil Spills
Oil spills from tankers at sea or leaks from underground storage
tanks on land are very difficult to control as oil tends to spread
very fast, affecting a large area in a very short time.
They are a major menace(threat) to the environment as they cause severe damage to surrounding .
Oil spills at sea decrease the oxygen level in the water and cause grave harm to the creatures
living in the sea.
Sewage drainage:
Domestic sewage refers to wastewater that is
discarded from households. such water contains a
wide variety of dissolved and suspended
impurities(dirty).
Pesticides:
Chemicals used to kill unwanted animals and plants, for instance on
farms may be collected by rainwater runoff(Flow) and carried into
streams, especially if these substances are applied too lavishly(too
much). Some of these chemicals are biodegradable(can be broken
down) and quickly changes into harmless or less harmful forms, while
others are non biodegradable and remain dangerous for a long time.
The effects of water pollution
Pollution is not only devastating to people but also to animals,
fish and plants. Polluted water is…..
• Unsuitable for drinking
• Recreation; relaxing
• Agriculture
The effects of water pollution
Sample percentage of population who do have access to safe
water includes….
Countries % population
Ethiopia 18
Sudan 45
Mexico 72
USA 99
Hazardous(Risky) land pollution
Only in USA individuals and industries through out 400,000 tons
of solid waste (trash) each day.
Which is a great threat to the environment…
Causes of land pollution
1:Consumer affluence (much):
Increase wealth leads to increase spending, consumption and waste.
2:Materialistic cultural values:
Emphasis on consumption over conservation.
3: Urbanization:
Concentration of people in cities increase pollution.
4:Population explosion.
More population means more industrialization more product use. Hence more pollution
5: Industrial activities.
It has significant impact on environment
Environmental laws
1: Federal water pollution act of 1972…
This law controls the discharge of toxic pollutants into the water.
2: The safe drinking water act of 1974 and 1996.
3:The toxic substances control act of 1976…
A national policy on controlling regulating and banning toxic chemicals where
necessary.
4: Clean Air Act:
The Clean Air Act has two major objectives: (1) to improve the nation's air
quality and
(2) to reduce or eliminate certain air pollutants that have been linked to
The ethics of ecology
Ecology refers to the science of interrelationships among organisms and their
environment.
Ecological ethics or deep ecology, maintains that the environment deserves to
be preserved for its own sake….regardless of whether or not this directly benefits
humanity.
Example:
• World population reached
• • 1 billion in 1804
• • 2 billion in 1927 (123 years later)
• • 3 billion in 1960 (33 years later)
• • 4 billion in 1974 (14 years later)
• • 5 billion in 1987 (13 years later)
• • 6 billion in 1999 (12 years later)
• World population may reach
• • 7 billion in 2012 (13 years later)
• • 8 billion in 2026 (14 years later)
• • 9 billion in 2043 (17 years later)
Cont.……
• Zero Pollution is a Goal, But Usually Never Totally
Achievable