CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

DCC 50262
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
& CONTROL

SESSION : SESI I 2024/2025

TITLE: ASSIGNMENT

LECTURER :
FITRIYAH BINTI MOHD ROSLAN

NAME STUDENT’S REGISTRATION

NO.
1.Muhammad Adib Zikri Bin 15DKA22F1025
Abdul Rahim
List of content

No Content Page
1 Introduction of environmental pollution and waste 1
management
2 Part 1 (answer) 2,3,4,5
3 Part 2 (answer) 6,7,8,9
4 Conclusion 10
5 References 11
1.0 Introduction

Environmental pollution is the unjustified release of mass or energy into the earth's
natural resource pool, such as the air, water, or land, which harms the atmosphere and its
ecological health over the long or short term and has a detrimental quantitative and qualitative
impact on living things and their lives. All of these things caused by mankind activities like
agriculture, deforestation, industrial, transportation, urbanization and waste management.
Pollution has far-reaching consequences, affecting both the natural world and human society.
The main effect of environmental pollution is climate change, air pollution, water pollution,
land pollution, light pollution, noise pollution and also biodiversity losses. With this pollution
happening around the human daily life, it will affect on human health and wildlife and interrupt
the life of human that will decrease the life expectancy.

Waste management or waste disposal refers to the processes and actions necessary to
manage waste from its conception to its final disposal. This encompasses waste collection,
transportation, treatment, and disposal, as well as the monitoring and regulation of waste
management processes, legislation, technology, and economic mechanisms. Waste
management is to reduce the harmful impacts of such garbage on the environment and human
health. A large portion of waste management is concerned with municipal solid waste, which
is generated by industrial, commercial, and home activities. There are common methods of
waste disposal that had been used. First, traditional methods using landfill and incineration.
The sustainable methods is recycling, composing, waste to energy, and waste gasification. The
waste management are important to reduce the pollution and keep the sustainability of
environment.

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2.0 PART 1

There are many short-term and long-term effect of air pollution on human health. First, the
short-term effects is respiratory problem/issues. Pollutants such as particulate matter, ozone,
and nitrogen dioxide can cause airway irritation, resulting in coughing, wheezing, and shortness
of breath. Individuals with asthma may develop exacerbations that necessitate more
medication. Secondly, eye, nose, and throat irritation caused by air pollution threat. Pollutants
such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide can irritate mucous membranes, resulting in
watery eyes, sore throats, and runny noses. Lastly, for the short term effect, air pollution will
reduce the human lung function. High levels of pollutants, particularly in metropolitan settings,
might temporarily impair lung function in healthy persons, causing difficulties breathing during
physical activity. For the long-term effect, respiratory system can be effected by leading to
chronic respiratory conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma,
and bronchitis. Secondly, it also can affect the human cardiovaskular system like heart disease.
Long-term exposure to air pollution increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, such as
coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and heart failure. Lastly, the pollution will risk human
health for more high staged disease like lung cancer. Long-term exposure to air contaminants,
particularly particulate matter and benzene, raises the risk of lung cancer. The International
Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has declared outdoor air pollution a carcinogen.

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Several sustainable concepts and techniques are employed in Malaysia to address air pollution,
often in alignment with the principles outlined in the Environmental Quality Act 1974:

1. Air Quality Standard

• The EQA 1974 establishes particular guidelines for numerous air pollutants, such as
particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone.
• Adherence to these standards is crucial for safeguarding public health and the
environment.

2. Emission Control Technologies

• Industries are required to adopt and use emission control systems to reduce pollution
emissions.
• These technologies include
Catalytic converters: Reduce harmful emissions from vehicles.
Flue gas desulfurization: Removes sulphur dioxide from power plant emissions.
Electrostatic precipitators: Capture particulate matter from industrial processes.

3. Monitoring networks
• To gather information on pollutant concentrations, a strong network of air quality
monitoring stations is set up.
• Decision-making is informed by real-time monitoring, which enables prompt
identification of pollution hotspots.

4. Green Initiatives and Sustainable Practices

• Promoting public transportation, cycling, and walking to reduce vehicle emissions.
• Encouraging energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy sources to minimize
power plant emissions.

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Air pollution, which is mostly generated by industrial operations, vehicle emissions, and fossil
fuel combustion, can have a substantial impact on water quality. Pollutants emitted into the
atmosphere can be transferred by wind and rain before settling into bodies of water.

Firstly, acid rain caused by industrial emissions contains Sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen
oxides (NOx) that react with water vapor in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid and nitric
acid. Acid rain lowers the pH of water bodies, making them more acidic and it can also damage
aquatic ecosystems and harm fish populations.

Secondly, toxic pollutants that contained in atmosphere have some heavy metals like lead,
mercury, and cadmium can be released into the atmosphere from industrial processes. These
metals can be deposited into water bodies through rainfall or dry deposition. They can
accumulate in aquatic organisms, leading to bioaccumulation and biomagnification, which can
harm fish, birds, and other wildlife.

Thirdly, Nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural runoff and industrial pollutants can cause
eutrophication. These nutrients can stimulate excessive growth of algae, leading to algal
blooms. Algal blooms can deplete oxygen levels in the water, causing fish kills and other
harmful effects.

For conclusion, air pollution poses a significant danger to water quality and aquatic life.
Addressing air pollution is critical to maintaining our water resources and providing a healthy
habitat for aquatic ecosystems. This may be accomplished by lowering emissions from
companies and cars, boosting renewable energy, and increasing air quality monitoring and
control.

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Noise pollutions especially in urban environment are caused by human activities like traffic,
vehicle engine, industry, construction, or loud public activities. These activities can interrupt
some individual that they will face some stress or depression. The noise triggers the stress in
the body, producing hormones such as norepinephrine, cortisol, and adrenaline. High blood
pressure, or hypertension, is a significant risk factor for heart disease and can result from
prolonged exposure to these stress chemicals hormones. Then, the stress/depression will
pressure the blood to high in human body that also will cause the heart disease. Even if it doesn't
wake someone up completely, nighttime noise disturbs sleep cycles and lowers the quality of
sleep. Heart disease is linked to both stress and inflammation, which are elevated in the body
when people don't get enough sleep. Frequent sleep disturbances can deteriorate metabolic
health by raising blood pressure and causing weight gain, two risk factors for heart disease. So,
from all the point, the stress is the main point that will cause the heart disease through some
symptoms that will lead people to heart attack.

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3.0 PART 2

i) Disposal area
• This is the primary area where waste is deposited and compacted.
• To stop leachate, or liquid waste, from leaking into the nearby soil, it is usually sealed with
a thick layer of impermeable material (such as clay or geosynthetic liner).
• The collected leachate is then pumped to a treatment plant for processing.

ii) Leachate piping system

• A network of pipes and collection sumps is installed beneath the disposal area.
• These collect leachate as it forms from the decomposing waste.
• The collected leachate is then pumped to a treatment plant for processing.

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iii) Leachate Treatment Plant
• Leachate is a complex mixture of chemicals and pollutants.
• The treatment plant uses various processes (like biological, chemical, or physical treatment)
to remove contaminants and make the leachate safe for discharge or reuse.

iv) Gas Recovery

• As waste decomposes, it generates methane gas, a potent greenhouse gas.
• A gas recovery system collects this methane through a network of wells and pipes.
• The collected methane can be used to generate electricity or as a fuel source.

v) Groundwater Monitoring System

• Wells are installed around the landfill to monitor the quality of groundwater.
• Regular testing is done to ensure that leachate is not contaminating the surrounding
groundwater.

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A
i) Organic Waste Decomposition
When organic waste, such as food scraps, paper, and yard trimmings, is placed in a landfill, it
begins to decay without oxygen. This process is known as anaerobic decomposition.

ii) Anaerobic Decomposition

During this process, microbes degrade organic matter, emitting a combination of gases, chiefly
methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide.

iii) Gas Composition

Landfill gas is typically composed of 50-60% methane and 40-50% carbon dioxide. The
remaining 20% consists of trace gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen sulphide.

B
i) Landfill Gas Collection and Utilization
• Install a network of wells to collect landfill gas.
• Purify the gas to remove contaminants like water vapor and hydrogen sulphide.
• Utilize the purified gas for energy generation through combustion in engines or turbines.
• The generated electricity can be used to power the landfill operations or sold to the grid.

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ii) Enhanced Landfill Gas Production
• Injecting oxygen or air into the landfill promotes aerobic decomposition, which produces
less methane but more carbon dioxide.
• This can be a temporary measure to accelerate gas production and facilitate collection.

iii)Waste Reduction and Recycling

• Executed waste reduction and recycling programs to minimize the amount of organic waste
entering landfills.
• This reduces the volume of gas generated and the need for gas collection and treatment.

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4.0 Conclusion

A responsible approach to environmental degradation and waste management is critical to the

health of our planet and its inhabitants. Pollution, ranging from air and water to soil
contamination, damages ecosystems, endangers human health, and hastens climate change.
Waste management is crucial in limiting these impacts because it reduces waste volume,
promotes recycling, and disposes of hazardous materials properly.

Effective solutions frequently involve a combination of regulatory changes, technical

innovation, and behavioural improvements. For example, tougher emission and waste disposal
rules, investments in cleaner technologies, and public education on sustainable habits can all
help to minimise pollution. Furthermore, circular economy models, which emphasise waste
reduction through material reuse and recycling, constitute a long-term solution.

To summarise, reducing environmental degradation and improving waste management are

interconnected issues that necessitate a coordinated, worldwide response. We can lessen our
environmental impact and contribute to a healthier, more sustainable Earth for future
generations by implementing sustainable habits at both the individual and social levels.

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5.0 References

• Nathanson, J. A. (2024, October 17). Pollution | Definition, History, Types, & Facts.
Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/pollution-environment
• Wikipedia contributors. (2024, October 16). Waste management. Wikipedia.
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waste_management
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Nobel House, 17 Smith
Square, London SW1P 3JR helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk. (n.d.). Short-term effects of air
pollution on health - Defra, UK. https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/air-
pollution/effects?view=short-term
• Malaysia. (1974). ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT, 1974. In ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY ACT, 1974.
https://www.env.go.jp/en/recycle/asian_net/Country_Information/Law_N_Regulation/Mal
aysia/Malaysia_mal13278.pdf
• Millar, H. (2020, December 22). What are the health effects of noise pollution?
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/noise-pollution-health-effects
• Basic Information about Landfill Gas | US EPA. (2024, September 20). US EPA.
https://www.epa.gov/lmop/basic-information-about-landfill-gas

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