Lecture 1- Sustainable development Flashcards
What is sustainable development?
Sustainable development is seeking to meet the needs of the present without
compromising those of future generations. (support systems that sustain life)
what are the 3 pillars of sustainability?
Social, Environmental, Economic
What is sustainability about?
Human, environmental (ecosystems…) and economy (enable us to do what we do) wellbeing.
What human activities impact the environment?
- Land and water use for housing, agriculture, industry, transportation, and recreation
- Emissions or discharge of chemical
substances to air, land, and water.
What physical changes impact the environment?
- Deforestation & other landscape alterations (changes in
terrain slope, vegetation coverage, pavement, flooding, changes in river channels) - Changes to the built environment (buildings, bridges,…) from deposition & chemical attack (soot deposits, acid rain, liquid chemicals)
What chemical changes impact the environment?
- Changes to chemical constituents of soils and sediments (e.g., increased
acidity and turbidity of waters, removal of nutrients from soils) - Increases in the concentration of emitted substances in the air, water,
and soil; other chemical changes resulting from secondary reactions (e.g.,
ozone buildup in urban areas )
What biological changes impact the environment?
- Changes in the viability of organisms due
to altered habitat and chemical constituents/concentrations, possibly
leading to species succession, extinction, migration, or disease - Injury or illness to people, plants, and animals from exposure to and/or
accumulation of chemicals and their derivatives
What is the meaning of the word ‘anthropogenic’?
something caused by humans or their activities
What are the two broad categories of anthropogenic changes?
- changes associated with land use (including depletion of natural resources)
- changes induced by emissions or residues from products and industrial processes
How sustainable engineering can influence the lifestyle?
sustainable design –> sustainable engineering –> technologies –> processes & products –> lifestyle
What is the engineer’s responsibility in regard to potential impacts?
Recognize that even if activity may le local, it may have some long-lasting consequences.
What is the engineer’s responsibility in regard to social/cultural structures?
There exists different social/cultural structures outside their normal zone, whose opinions/vieuws need to be considered.
What are the guiding principles for engineers to achieve sustainability?
- Apply professional and responsible judgement and take a leadership role
- Seek multiple views to solve sustain. challenges
- ## Minimize risk of adverse impact to ppl/envir
What are the 3 major categories of sources of environmental impact?
Materials selection (can I get eco-friendly materials?), manufacturing processes (can I modify some steps to reduce the waste of pollutants?), energy use (heating, cooling, powering, foss.f. affect envir quality)
What is LCA?
An environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) provides the “big picture” of how engineering decisions in any particular area affect the environment.
Define the law of mass conservation and give the equation for it.
The law of mass conservation states that mass can be neither created nor destroyed. (Total mass flow in) = (Total mass flow out) + (Change in mass stored)
What is the first law of Thermodynamics?
(Total energy flow in) = (Total energy flow out) + (Change in energy stored)
What are the 6 major air pollutants? (aka criteria air pollutants)
Particulate Matters (PM)
Ground-level Ozone
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Lead (Pb)
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
What units are used to measure air pollutants?
parts per million (ppm) by
volume, parts per billion (ppb) by
volume, and micrograms per cubic
meter of air (µg/m^3).
What are the 4 major sources of air pollution?
- Stationary fuel combustion sources (such as electric utilities and industrial boilers)
- Industrial and other processes (such as metal smelters, petroleum refineries, cement kilns and dry cleaners)
- Highway vehicles
- Non-road mobile sources (such as recreational and construction equipment, marine vessels, aircraft and locomotives).
Define Particulate Matter
solid/liquid particles blown in air, measure in PM10 (<10 µg) or PM2.5 (<2.5 µg). Super toxic, no level is considered ‘safe’. Size affects the severity of impact –> smaller, more damage
List some effects of PM, and its major sources.
Effects: respiratory diseases such as
asthma, bronchitis and emphysema, and various forms of heart disease.
Sources: industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and smoke from open burning and residential wood heat
Define Nitrogen Dioxide
Brownish gas produced during fuel combustion causes respiratory irritation at 1ppm for 15 min. N02 is an important precursor to acid rain and ground-level ozone formation through photochemical reactions.
What is the main component of smog?
Ground level ozone
How is ground-level ozone produced?
VOCx + NOx + SUNLIGHT = OZONE
VOC = volatile organic compounds
NO = nitrogen oxide
What are the health risks of ground-level ozone?
Lung tissue, cause premature aging of the lungs and contribute to chronic lung disease
What are the major sources of ground-level ozone?
Solvents, industrial processes, and residential wood burning.
To what 2 air pollutants are VOCs contributing?
VOCs are carcinogenic, contributing to the formation of both
ground-level ozone and PM.
Define Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is an odourless, tasteless, colourless gas produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels, mainly from cars.
What are the health risks associated with CO?
It interferes with the blood’s ability to
carry oxygen to the brain, heart, and other
tissues. It can slow reflexes and cause fatigue, headache, confusion, nausea, and dizziness. Inhaling large amounts can cause death by suffocation.
What are the primary sources of CO?
- transportation sources [75% of tot] (e.g. on-road and offroad motor vehicles and engines, marine, air)
- wood industry
- aluminum industry
- residential wood heating
- other industrial sources
Define sulphur dioxide + health impacts + source
Sulphur Dioxide is a colourless gas with a strong odour.
Health: Irritant to the eyes and respiratory tract
Source: Generated by burning fossil fuels from smelters, power plants, refineries, and internal combustion engines (including automobiles)
What are the main sources of Lead?
metals processing, waste incinerators, utilities, and lead acid battery manufacturers
What are the health risks associated with Lead?
affect the nervous system, kidney function, immune system, reproductive and developmental systems and the cardiovascular system
What age category is more sensitive to Lead?
Infants and children are especially sensitive to lead exposures, which may contribute to behavioral problems, learning deficits and lowered IQ
What biological/environmental damages are caused by Lead?
decreased growth and reproduction in plants and animals, and neurological effects in vertebrates
Give examples of air pollutants in gaseous, compounds and elements forms.
Gaseous: hydrogen and chloride
Compound: asbestos
Element: cadmium, mercury, and chromium
What are the major health dangers associated with air toxins?
Cancer, including lung, kidney, bone, stomach
Harm to the nervous system and brain Birth defects
Irritation to the eyes, nose and throat
