TES# Chapter 5

Water and Air Pollution
Group members:
Ravi, 132
Ravi, 133
Rhythmm, 134
Rishav, 135
Roshan, 136
Rupesh, 137
Sachet, 138
Tutor:
Asst. Prof. Shukra Raj Paudel
Department of Civil
Engineering
IOE, Tribhuvan University
2018-06-07

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:
www.google.com/images
2

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
pollution
5.9) Indoor air pollution
5.10) Severity of its problem in Nepal
Source:
3

Pollution is the process of
contamination of the environmental
components such as water, air, land,
etc. by unwanted foreign substances.
Source:
Fig: Water pollution
Fig: Air pollution
4

Fecal-oral
transmission means spread
of microbes (viruses,
bacteria or parasites) from
the human or animal stool to
the mouth
Fig: Transmission route
Source: www.google.com/images
5

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
contaminated toys
Fig: Transmission route
Source: Wagner and Lanois,
1958
6

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
habits
o Eating feces: Seen in children, or in a
mental disorder called coprophagy.
Fig: Fomites
7

o Viruses:
o Hepatitis A and E virus
o Polio virus
o Rotavirus: Causes viral diarrhea in
children, known as stomach flu
o Parasites:
o Intestinal unicellular parasites:
Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia,
Cryptosporidium, Microsporidia
o Intestinal worms: Roundworms,
tapeworms or pinworms Source:
Fig: Virus
Fig: Parasite
8

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
o Vibrio cholerae: Water
borne infection causing
cholera
Fig: Bacteria
9

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
diseases. Source:
Fig: Open defecation and
urination
11

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
o Disinfect suspicious tap
water
Fig: Proper handwashing method
12

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.
o Street food should be
avoided Source:
Fig: Awareness
13

Source:
14

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
community public sanitation
system is not available or
Fig: On-site portable
toilet
15

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
o Easily constructed and minimum
maintenance required
o Pit lifespan increase to between 20-
40 years if maintained correctly
Source:
Fig: Dry system
16

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
18

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
manner when they are full Source: www.google.com/images
Fig: Full pit
19

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,
children can use it
Fig: Aqua privy
20

Fig: Raising the infiltration surface with a typical mound system
21

Fig: Sanitation options
22

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
o Maintaining stabilization
pond
o Wastes of water in water
scarcity place
Fig: Normal sanitation
practices
23

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
o In the minimization of the use of
non-renewable resources
Fig: Normal sanitation practices
24

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.
o Substitution of mineral fertilizer
and minimization of water
pollution
Fig: The poop loop
25

o Health education is any combination of
learning experiences designed to help
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
member of society
o To motivate people to follow health
habits
Fig: Raising awareness to
young women against
Chhaupadi pratha
26

27

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
individual as a member of
society Source:
Fig: Health education in
Humla
28

Fig: Factors affecting health education
29

Fig: Under 5 children nutrition status, 2011
30

Fig: Sanitation in the “Federal democratic Republic of Nepal”
31

Source:
Fig: Unhealthy postnatal hygiene
32

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
o It enables people to make
more healthy choices and
uplift their quality life
Fig: People incorporating healthy
choices in their lifestyle
33

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
the governmental bodies to
enhance health services and
facilities
Source:
34

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
micro-organisms.
Fig: Organic water pollution
Source:
35

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
and gas)
Fig: Source of organic pollutants
Source:
36

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
o Production of new disease
Fig: Effects of organic pollution on
aquatic life
37

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
nitrate, fluoride, iron, manganese,
arsenic, heavy metals etc. Source: www.google.com/images
Fig: Inorganic pollutant
released from a industry
38

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
eutrophication which leads to
substantial increase in aquatic plants Source:
Fig: Eutrophication
39

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.
o Improper disposal of fluoridated
waste may result in leaching. Source: www.google.com/images
Fig: Leachate in landfill site
40

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
o Can cause algae blooms, which
creates biological oxygen demand
Fig: Corrosion in pipe
41

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.
o Causes discoloration and turbidity in
water.
Fig: Difference in clean and
dirty water
42

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
cancer, skin cancer, birth defects
and reproductive problems
Fig: Hand pump in a village
unused because of arsenic
43

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
o Lead found in lead water pipes if
consumed by children can cause
mental retardation
Fig: Source of heavy metals
44

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
o Pheromones
o Miticides
Fig: Spraying of insecticides
45

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
46

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

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.
48

49

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
50

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
exhaust increased by 690%
Fig: Pollution caused by motor vehicles
51

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
erosion when water and weather
loosen layers of soil, increase air
borne particulate levels. Source: www.google.com/images
Fig: Ultra fine dust particles size
comparison
52

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
concerns, such as defoliation,
deformation and undergrowth
damage in trees, to name a few.
Fig: Radioactive fallout
53

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
affect the earths entire atmosphere.
9. Smog: It is intense local pollution
usually trapped by a thermal inversion.
Most of the smog is a result of smoke
from automobiles or coal.
Fig: An active volcano
Source:
Fig: Smog in
Kathmandu valley
54

10.Powerlines: 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
body bring about tissue damage,
aging, even the development of
certain cancer.
Fig: Powerlines
55

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
56

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.
57

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.
58

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.
59

Fig: End of pipe approach
Source:www.google.com/images
Fig: Smoking zone to
minimize public smoking
Fig: Clean energy use in
home and automobiles
60

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
61

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
62

Source: Malla, M. B. (2013).Indoor air pollution monitoring and stove
efficiency test- Experience of plan action Nepal. Practical Action Nepal Office
63

Asbestos
insulation
Bacteria
Molds/Mildews
Animal dander
and cat saliva
Virus
64

House
dust
Mites
Cockroaches
Pollen
Tobacco
smoke
Source: Sachet Khatiwada
65

Unvented
space
heaters
Kerosene space
heaters
Wood burning
stoves
Welding/
soldering
Source:
66

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
maintenance of the burners Source:
Fig: Gas fired
Furnace
67

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
o Ductless cooking ranges with
improved carbon filter
Source:
Fig: Carbon
filter
68

c) Air cleaning:
Adsorbents are used to
remove moisture from air.
Commonly used adsorbents
are:
o Silica gel
o Activated alumina
o Activated carbon
o Manganese oxides
Source:
Fig: Silica gel
Fig:
Manganese
oxides
Fig: Activated
alumina
Fig: Activated
Carbon
69

o For such a small country, Nepal is
contributing its fair share of pollution to
the world
o Unplanned urbanization has caused
the solid waste management, sewage
systems, etc. problems
o Uncoordinated development works
without the thought of sustainability
o Old and poorly maintained vehicles
o Lack of awareness regarding
hazardous effects of air pollution
Source:www.google.com/images
Fig: Unplanned
urbanization
Fig: Air Pollution in
Kathmandu valley
70

Source: Report on AQM action plan 2017
The limiting values
according to the WHO
guidelines:
• TSP: 120mg/m3
71

The limiting values
according to the WHO
guidelines:
• PM10: 70mg/m3
72

73

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
74

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)
75

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
76

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