Environment science and technology

1. Environmental Science
and Technology
Definition, scope and importance

2. The science of Environment studies is a multi-disciplinary science
 The term environment means surrounding, in which the organisms live. It is the
sum total of all biotic abd abiotic factors that surround and potentially influence
an organism
 Environment is the sum of all social, economical, biological, physical or chemical
factors which constitute the surroundings of man, who is both creator and
moulder of his environment
 It includes air, water and land
 Valuable asset which provides food, air, water and shelter.
Literary environment means the surrounding external conditions influencing
development or growth of people, animal or plants; living or working conditions etc.

3. Definitions of Environment : Some important definitions of environment are as
under:
1. Boring: ‘A person’s environment consists of the sum total of the stimulation
which he receives from his conception until his death.’
2. Douglas and Holland: ‘The term environment is used to describe, in the
aggregate, all the external forces, influences and conditions, which affect the
life, nature, behaviour and the growth, development and maturity of living
organisms.’

4. Scope of Environment:
Atmosphere:
Hydrosphere:
Lithosphere:
Biosphere:

5. Element of Environment
Environment is constituted by the interacting systems of physical, biological and
cultural elements inter-related in various ways, individually as well as
collectively. These elements may be explained as under:
(1) Physical elements
(2) Biological elements
(3) Cultural elements

6. ENVIRONMENT STUDIES: IMPORTANCE
• Enlighten us, about the importance of protection and conservation of
our indiscriminate release of pollution into the environment.
• a great number of environment issues, have grown in size and
complexity day by day, threatening the survival of mankind on earth.

7. ENVIRONMENT STUDIES: IMPORTANCE
1. Environment Issues Being of International Importance
2. Problems Cropped in The Wake of Development
3. Explosively Increase in Pollution
4. Need for An Alternative Solution
5. Need To Save Humanity From Extinction
6. Need For Wise Planning of Development

8. NEED FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS
1. Growing Population
2. Poverty
3. Agricultural Growth
4. Need to Ground water
5. Development And Forests
6. Degradation of Land
7. Reorientation of Institutions
8. Reduction of Genetic Diversity
9. Evil Consequences of Urbanisation
10. Air and water Population

9. VARIOUS TYPES OF ENVIRONMENT
According to Kurt Lewin, environment is of three types which influence the
personality of an individual as under:
(a) Physical Environment,
(b) Social and Cultural Environment, and
(c) Psychological Environment.

10. STRUCTURE OF ENVIRONMENT
Environment is both physical and biological. It includes both living and
non-living components.
(i) Physical Environment
The Physical Environment is classified into three broad categories viz.
(i) Solid,
(ii) Liquid
(iii) Gas.

11. Man and Environment Relationship: The two words Man
and environment are not new to the human history and the
interrelation between them is well established.
• Worshiping nature
• Religious rituals

12. Man is the only living organism capable of modifying its
surrounding environment according to the need.

13. Industrial revolution
• Fossil fuel for generation of power for running vehicles
• many industries were started to produce the product which increase in pollution
all type
• Quantity of carbon dioxide emission increased tremendously which has started
showing effect in the form of discharge of industrial waste and sewage.
• Major environmental issues arising due to human activities are global warming,
acid rain, ozone depletion and population explosion.
• Emission of CO2 and global warming
• disrupt food production and flooding of low-lying coastal cities and croplands
• estimated 36500 spices of plants
and animals become extinct each year,
mostly because of human activities
The main factors which affect the
distribution of population and human
settlement are: Relief of land, climate,
soils, mineral deposits, water supply...

14. 1) Soils are eroding
2) Forests retreat
3) Water quality is unsatisfactory.
4) Urban air quality is worse.
5) Watersheds are losing storage capacity.
6) Reservoirs are filled up with sediments.
7) Wildlife and their habitats are being eliminated.
8) Solids wastes pile up and smolder
9) Costal spawning grounds disappear
Arctic cod eggs are totally dependent on
the ice in order to develop successfully.

15. Self regulatory mechanism of the environment.
• Consequently, the changed environmental conditions adversely affect
the living organisms of the biosphere.
• Environmental degradation thus can be defined as the lowering of
environmental qualities due to the damaged caused by both natural
events and human activities in the basic structure of environmental
quantities due to the damaged caused by both natural events and
human activities in the basic structure of the environment at local,
regional and global levels adversely affecting all living organism
including man.

16. Environmental degradation and pollution
• consumption of natural resources by over population of the developing
countries and wasteful over consumption of recourses by developed
countries.
• The impact on environment due to increasing population, even
developing technologies and the over use of natural resources
• Environmental degradation has led to the destruction of the environmental
stability and ecological balance.
• Some of the natural events that cause environmental degradation are volcanic
eruption, forests fires, earthquakes, floods.
• Examples of human activities causing pollution and degradation of environment
are nuclear explosion, deliberate forests fire, release of toxic gases from
automobiles, power plants and various industries etc.

17. Impact of technology on environment
• The technology - for the human well being.
• The intelligent application of technology - human well being -
without causing environmental disruptions which undermines
the well- being.
• Technology has played a major role in the well being of
humans but it has some negatives as well.
• No technology can be completely free of environmental
impacts.
the development and use any
technology leads to environmental
costs exceeding its benefits.

18. Some note worthy negative impacts of technology can be listed as under :
• Depletion of ozone layer, which protects the life on earth from damaging UV-B
radiation, is caused preliminary by CFC emission.
• Excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers is decreasing the inherent fertility of
soils.
• Global warming causing sea level rise.
• Testing of atomic bombs may cause volcanoes and earth quakes.
• Increasing pollution of water, air, land etc. can also be attributed to the
technology.
• Electromagnetic waves form excessive use of electronic gadgets affect human
health.
• Exploitation of resources leading to exhaustion. To reduce the impact, the
technology, should be no waste or low waste technology – the one which is
highly efficient.

28. Thank you

30. Man is the only living organism capable of modifying its surrounding
environment according to the need. Other animals change according to the
environment. First man starting hunting the animals and cutting trees for
his basics need gradually with the time he started cultivating food grains
for that he started hunting animals and cutting trees for his basics needs,
gradually with time he started cutting forests and converting them in to
grass lands/agricultural fields. To increase his comforts he started
disturbing each and every component of the environment.

31. Man and Environment Relationship: The two words Man and
environment are not new to the human history and the
interrelation between them is well established.
Thinking about the environment is as old as our first human ancestors. Their
survival depended on knowledge of it. Concern for the environment is also not
new. Since ancient times, people have known the importance of preserving it.
Worshipping of trees and rivers, animals and the birds was not based on the
superstition; but there was a hidden message preserving and protecting of the
environment. The religious rituals served an important purpose- they made
people aware of the environment and its important and so indirectly helped
preserve and nourishes it. Religion is used largely to ensure community
participation in all those practices that would lead to the maintenance of
ecological balance.

32. Emission of co 2 and the other gases in atmosphere from fossil fuel
burning and other human activities may raise the temperature of the
earth’s lower atmosphere several degrees by 2050. This would
disrupt food production and flooding of low-lying coastal cities and
croplands. An estimated 36500 spices of plants and animals become
extinct each year, mostly because of human activities. The main
factors which affect the distribution of population and human
settlement are: Relief of land, climate, soils, mineral deposits, water
supply...

33. Environmental Degradation Over the centuries we, Indians, have
worshiped nature. We have lived in harmony with nature. However, of
late, we have followed western countries past of conflict with nature.
The result is that today, we observe and experience, over all
environmental degradation. Any objective view of state of environment,
of India or any developing countries would clearly show that 1) Soils
are eroding 2) Forests retreat 3) Water quality is unsatisfactory. 4)
Urban air quality is worse. 5) Watersheds are losing storage capacity.
6) Reservoirs are filled up with sediments. 7) Wildlife and their habitats
are being eliminated. 8) Solids wastes pile up and smolder 9) Costal
spawning grounds disappear

34. Some of these components have changed to such an extent that can not
be set right by self regulatory mechanism of the environment.
Consequently, the changed environmental conditions adversely affect
the living organisms of the biosphere. Environmental degradation thus
can be defined as the lowering of environmental qualities due to the
damaged caused by both natural events and human activities in the
basic structure of environmental quantities due to the damaged caused
by both natural events and human activities in the basic structure of the
environment at local, regional and global levels adversely affecting all
living organism including man.

35. The total environmental degradation and pollution arises mainly due to
consumption of natural resources by over population of the developing
countries and wasteful over consumption of recourses by developed countries.
The impact on environment due to increasing population, even developing
technologies and the over use of natural resources and capabilities can be
easily understood and demonstrated through the I PAT equation popularly
known as the impact equation as presented. Environmental degradation has
led to the destruction of the environmental stability and ecological balance.
Some of the natural events that cause environmental degradation are volcanic
eruption, forests fires, earthquakes, floods. Examples of human activities
causing pollution and degradation of environment are nuclear explosion,
deliberate forests fire, release of toxic gases from automobiles, power plants

36. Impact of technology on environment The technology is
developed and used for the human well being. The intelligent
application of technology results in human well being but not
without causing environmental disruptions which undermines
the well- being. Technology has played a major role in the well
being of humans but it has some negatives as well. The scale
and the rapidly with which technology is being developed and
used make all the difference. No technology can be completely
free of environmental impacts. This statement simply says that
the development and use any technology leads to
environmental costs exceeding its benefits.

37. The direct effects include accidents, release of pollutants affecting human health,
exhaustion of resources, changes in landscapes, etc. The indirect effects interfere
with the vital services supplied to humanity by natural ecological systems.e.g.
control of pollution through natural process.
Some note worthy negative impacts of technology can be listed as under
: Depletion of ozone layer, which protects the life on earth from damaging UV-B
radiation, is caused preliminary by CFC emission. Excessive use of pesticides
and fertilizers is decreasing the inherent fertility of soils. Global warming
causing sea level rise. Testing of atomic bombs may cause volcanoes and
earth quakes. Increasing pollution of water, air, land etc. can also be attributed
to the technology. Electromagnetic waves form excessive use of electronic
gadgets affect human health. Exploitation of resources leading to exhaustion.
To reduce the impact, the technology, should be no waste or low waste
technology – the one which is highly efficient.