SOLID POLLUTION REVIEWER

INTRODUCTION

• Solid Pollution is the buildup of discarded solid materials that harm the
environment and health.

• Includes biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste.

TYPES OF SOLID POLLUTION

1. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) – Household garbage (plastics, food waste, paper).

2. Industrial Waste – Manufacturing and mining by-products.

3. E-Waste – Discarded electronics (phones, batteries).

4. Agricultural Waste – Farm residues and chemicals.

5. Biomedical Waste – Hospital waste (syringes, expired drugs).

SOURCES

• Households

• Industries

• Commercial Establishments

• Agriculture

• Construction & Demolition

EFFECTS OF SOLID POLLUTION

1. Environmental Impact

o Land degradation, water contamination (leachate), air pollution.

2. Health Hazards

o Disease spread, toxic exposure (respiratory issues, cancer).

3. Economic Impact
 o High cleanup costs, reduced land value.

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

Proper Disposal Methods

• Landfilling – Engineered burial sites.

• Incineration – Burning waste for energy.

• Composting – Organic waste turned into fertilizer.

• Recycling & Reuse – Paper, plastics, and metals.

• Waste-to-Energy – Biogas, pyrolysis, gasification.

Waste Minimization

• Source reduction.

• Segregation at source.

• Upcycling and sustainable packaging.

CASE STUDIES

• Sweden – Efficient recycling and energy-from-waste system; imports waste.

• Great Pacific Garbage Patch – Massive marine plastic pollution.

• Rwanda – Strict plastic bag ban since 2008.

• San Francisco – Zero-waste initiative; >80% waste diverted from landfills.

POLICIES & REGULATIONS

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

• Waste Segregation Laws

• Ban on Single-Use Plastics

• Community Participation Programs

SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES

• Circular Economy – Reuse, recycle, upcycle.

• Education & Awareness

• Green Alternatives – Biodegradable materials.

• Smart Waste Tech – AI waste sorting, efficient collection.

 WATER ENVIRONMENT REVIEWER

BASICS OF WATER

• States: Liquid, solid (ice), and vapor.

• Chemical Formula: H₂O (2 Hydrogen + 1 Oxygen).

• Covers 70.9% of Earth, but only 2.5% is freshwater.

• Freshwater is mostly in icecaps and groundwater; <0.3% is in rivers/lakes.

UNIQUE PROPERTIES OF WATER

1. Exists in all three states naturally.

2. High heat capacity, heat of fusion, and vaporization.

3. Less dense as a solid (ice floats).

4. High surface tension and excellent solvent.

5. Forms strong hydrogen bonds (10× van der Waals forces).

DISTRIBUTION OF WATER

Source Volume (cubic miles) % of Total

Oceans 317 million 97.24%

Icecaps/Glaciers 7 million 2.14%

Groundwater 2 million 0.61%

Freshwater lakes 30,000 0.009%

Rivers 300 0.0001%

WATER QUALITY

• Essential for survival: 2.8–13 L/day/person.

• Used in drinking, hygiene, industry, agriculture, and recreation.

Types of Testing:

• Physical: color, turbidity, odor, temperature.

• Chemical: pH, alkalinity, hardness, chlorides, nitrates, metals.

• Bacteriological: Presence of pathogens (e.g. coliforms).

• Biological: Detect biological pollutants like algae.

KEY PARAMETERS

• pH: 6.5–8.5 ideal; affects reactions and corrosion.

• Alkalinity: Ability to neutralize acids; important in treatment.

• Hardness: Due to Ca & Mg; affects soap use and causes scaling.

• TDS: Taste, hardness, scaling.

• DO (Dissolved Oxygen): Needed for aquatic life.

• BOD: Oxygen needed by microbes to break down waste.

• COD: Measures oxidizable organics.

Problematic Chemicals:

• Fluoride: >1.5 mg/L = enamel damage; >10 mg/L = skeletal issues.

• Nitrates: Cause blue baby syndrome.

• Arsenic, Mercury, Lead: Toxic and carcinogenic.

WATERBORNE DISEASES

Transmission Types:

1. Water-borne: Cholera, typhoid.

2. Water-washed: Skin, eye infections.

3. Water-based: Schistosomiasis, Guinea worm.

4. Vector-based: Malaria, dengue (insects breed in water).

Control: Break transmission through sanitation and water treatment.

 WATER TREATMENT

Steps in Potable Water Treatment:

1. Coagulation/Flocculation – Clumps particles.

2. Sedimentation – Settles floc.

3. Filtration – Removes small particles.

4. Disinfection – Kills pathogens (chlorine, UV).

5. pH Correction – Avoids corrosion.

6. Fluoridation – Prevents dental decay.

Household Methods: Filtration, softeners, distillation, disinfection.

WASTEWATER TREATMENT

Stages:

1. Collection – Pipes or trucks.

2. Preliminary – Remove large debris.

3. Primary – Settling of solids (removes ~50% BOD).

4. Secondary – Biological treatment (Activated sludge, Trickling filters).

5. Tertiary/Advanced – Removes nutrients, pathogens (close to potable).

6. Disinfection – Chlorine, ozone, UV.

7. Sludge Treatment – Drying and possible reuse.

Benefits: Clean environment, disease prevention, water reuse.

KEY TERMS TO REMEMBER

• TDS – Total Dissolved Solids

• BOD – Biochemical Oxygen Demand

• COD – Chemical Oxygen Demand

• DO – Dissolved Oxygen

• pH – Acidity/Alkalinity

• Coliforms – Indicator of fecal contamination

 AIR POLLUTION REVIEWER

INTRODUCTION

• Air Pollution: Presence of harmful substances in the atmosphere that affect health,
environment, and climate.

• Sources can be natural (e.g., volcanic eruptions) or anthropogenic (e.g., vehicle

emissions).

• Air is composed mainly of nitrogen and oxygen; pollution disturbs its balance.

TYPES OF AIR POLLUTANTS

1. Primary Pollutants – Directly emitted (e.g., CO, SO₂).

2. Secondary Pollutants – Formed by reactions in the atmosphere (e.g., ozone, acid

rain).

MAJOR AIR POLLUTANTS

Pollutant Source Effects

Carbon Oxides (CO, CO affects blood’s oxygen

Fossil fuel combustion
CO₂) transport

Sulfur Oxides (SO₂) Coal/oil combustion Respiratory issues, acid rain

Nitrogen Oxides (NOₓ) Vehicles, industry Acid rain, smog

Fuel evaporation, products, Carcinogenic, indoor air

VOCs
industry pollution

Industry, construction,
Particulate Matter (PM) Respiratory & heart diseases
combustion

Toxic Compounds e.g., Lead, Mercury Neurological, bioaccumulation

Photochemical Ozone from VOCs + NOₓ + Damages lungs, crops,

Oxidants sunlight materials
 SMOG

• Formed from NOₓ + VOCs + sunlight

• Common in sunny, dry urban areas (e.g., Los Angeles)

• Main component: ozone

EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION

On Humans:

• Respiratory diseases (e.g., asthma, bronchitis)

• Cancer, neurological damage (lead, mercury)

• Increased vulnerability to infections

On Animals:

• Similar to human effects

On Plants:

• Ozone: Weakens defenses

• SO₂: Inhibits growth

• Acid rain: Damages foliage, depletes nutrients

ACID RAIN (ACID DEPOSITION)

• Caused by SO₂ and NOₓ forming H₂SO₄ and HNO₃

• Effects:

o Acidifies lakes/streams → fish death

o Damages forests and soil

o Deteriorates buildings and statues

Control Methods:

• Scrubbers, cleaner fuels, catalytic converters

• Alternative energy, energy conservation

 GLOBAL WARMING

• Caused by greenhouse gases (CO₂, CH₄, NOₓ, HFCs)

• Evidence:

o Temperatures rising

o Melting glaciers, rising sea levels

o More extreme weather

Effects:

• Food production instability

• Biodiversity loss

• Health risks from heat and disease

Solutions:

• Reduce fossil fuel use

• Increase energy efficiency

• Reforestation

• Population control

AIR POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT

Equipment Removes Examples of Pollutants

Dry Scrubbers Gases SO₂, acid gases

Wet Scrubbers Gases + PM Dust, vapors, VOCs

HEPA Filters PM (≥ 0.3 μm) Dust, pollen, bio-contaminants

Baghouses PM Fine powders, metals

Cartridge Collectors PM Dust, fumes

Equipment Removes Examples of Pollutants

Cyclones PM (≥ 10–20 μm) Dust, ash

Electrostatic Precipitators PM Smoke, fumes

Mist Collectors Vapors + mists Oil, acidic gas

Incinerators VOCs + PM Fumes, hydrocarbons

Catalytic Oxidizers VOCs + gases Odors, hydrocarbons

Catalytic Reactors NOₓ + VOCs Vehicle emissions

Biofilters Water-soluble gases VOCs, odors

 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) REVIEWER

WHAT IS EIA?

• EIA: A formal process to predict environmental consequences of proposed projects

before decisions are made.

• Purpose: Integrate environmental considerations into project planning and policy-

making.

LEGAL FRAMEWORK IN THE PHILIPPINES

• RA 8749 – Clean Air Act (1999): Supports EIA to prevent environmental degradation.

• PD 1586 (1978): Established the Philippine EIS System.

• DAO 2003-30: Provides the current guidelines under DENR.

KEY CATEGORIES

Environmentally Critical Projects (ECPs) – Always require full EIS, regardless of

location.

Examples:

• Heavy Industries: Steel, cement, petroleum

• Resource Extraction: Mining, logging, commercial fisheries

• Infrastructure: Dams, highways, airports, landfills

• Energy: Power plants, oil & gas extraction

Environmentally Critical Areas (ECAs) – Require EIA regardless of project type.

Examples:

• National Parks (NIPAS)

• Habitats of endangered species

• Coral reefs, mangroves, forests

• Earthquake/flood-prone zones
• Water bodies (rivers, lakes)

• Sites of cultural/historical significance

EIA PROCESS IN THE PHILIPPINES

1. Screening – Determine if EIA is required (ECP or ECA).

2. Scoping – Identify potential impacts.

3. EIA Study – Prepare EIS (or IEE for small projects).

4. Review – By EMB (Environmental Management Bureau); includes public

participation.

5. Decision – DENR issues ECC if environmentally sound.

6. Monitoring – Compliance with ECC conditions.

STAKEHOLDERS IN THE EIA PROCESS

• Proponent – Project initiator, funds the EIA.

• DENR-EMB – Main regulating agency.

• LGUs, NGOs, Communities – Consulted during hearings.

IMPORTANCE OF EIA

• Prevents environmental damage.

• Supports sustainable development.

• Minimizes project risks.

• Promotes transparency and public involvement.

COMMON PROJECTS THAT REQUIRE EIA

• Mining

• Power generation (coal, geothermal, etc.)

 • Dams, highways, airports

• Agro-industrial zones

• Resorts/tourism in protected areas

CHALLENGES IN THE PHILIPPINE EIA SYSTEM

• Slow ECC issuance

• Weak enforcement & monitoring

• Limited engagement in rural areas

• Political and business influence

Suggested Improvements:

• Digitalize the EIA process

• Strengthen education & community involvement

• Improve post-ECC monitoring

FPIC: FREE, PRIOR, AND INFORMED CONSENT

• Required for projects affecting Indigenous Peoples.

• Consent must be:

o Free – No coercion

o Prior – Before project starts

o Informed – Full, accurate info

o By legitimate IP authorities

INTERNATIONAL CASE STUDY

Three Gorges Dam – China:

• Massive hydroelectric project

• EIA used to evaluate:

o Biodiversity impacts

o Water quality

o Community displacement