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
