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1986 | Buch

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The Changing Environment

verfasst von: James W. Moore

Verlag: Springer New York

Buchreihe : Springer Series on Environmental Management

Enthalten in: Professional Book Archive

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This series is dedicated to serving the growing community of scholars and practitioners concerned with the principles and applications of environmental management. Each volume is a thorough treatment of a specific topic of importance for proper management practices. A fundamental objective of these books is to help the reader discern and implement man's stewardship of our environment and the world's renewable resources. For we must strive to understand the relationship between man and nature, act to bring harmony to it, and nurture an environment that is both stable and productive. These objectives have often eluded us because the pursuit of other individual and societal goals has diverted us from a course of living in balance and the environment. At times, therefore, the environmental manager may have to exert restrictive control, which is usually best applied to man, not nature. Attempts to alter or harness nature have often failed or backfired, as exemplified by the results of imprudent use of herbicides, fertilizers, water, and other agents. Each book in this series will shed light on the fundamental and applied aspects of environmental management. It is hoped that each will help solve a practical and serious environmental problem.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

1. Introduction

Abstract

Environmental issues can be broken into two general categories—those based on rapid population growth in developing nations and those based on consumer demand in the developed nations. In the poorer countries, the main issues are generally broad in scope, influencing immense numbers of people, other animal and plant species, and/or vast tracts of land (Table 1.1). On occasion, these problems result in the loss of many people, high infant mortality, and unstable social conditions. There will be about 6.35 billion people in the world by the year 2000, up from the 4 billion in 1975 (Hileman, 1982). The poorest countries will experience 90% of this growth and house 78–80% of the world’s population by the year 2000. Growth of the world’s population will slow only marginally from 1.8% in 1975 to 1.7% in 2000. Although food supply is on the increase, the actual per capita consumption of food in south Asia, the Middle East, and much of Africa is expected to improve little, if not to decline.

James W. Moore

2. Environmental Issues in Less Developed Countries

Abstract

Environmental issues in less developed countries can be characterized as a circle of interlinked problems. The starting point for these problems has generally been the inability of countries to manage population growth and land-use practices. At present the problems of preserving the carrying capacity of the land and maintaining a decent life for its inhabitants are enormous (Barney, 1981). However, the fact that some countries such as China have been able to structure their populations successfully, while permitting industrial growth, suggests that sound management techniques can overcome these problems in less developed countries.

James W. Moore

3. Environmental Management in Developed Countries

Abstract

Effective environmental management has two basic components. One is the objective, impersonal use of data and the other is the ability to manage personal factors during the decision making process. Since most environmental managers have a background in science or technology, they are generally effective in the implementation of component number one. In fact, their handling of many issues is usually couched in objective terms. The importance of the more personal factors may not be fully recognized or, in some cases, not handled competently, reflecting their lack of training in this area. For example, there are many managers in government who are active environmentalists and let their proenvironment bias influence a balanced approach to problem solving. Similarly, the need to appoint a new Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1983 indicates that bias in the opposite direction also occurs at higher management levels. It is interesting to note that business managers generally place emphasis on personality factors rather than technical matters. Numerous courses and other forms of training are available to improve skills in this area and performance is often assessed on the personal issues.

James W. Moore

4. Hazardous Waste

Abstract

Hazardous waste is a solid, liquid, or gaseous waste, or combination of wastes, that because of its quantity, concentration, or characteristics may: cause or significantly contribute to an increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible, or incapacitating reversible illness and pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed.

James W. Moore

5. Groundwater Contamination

Abstract

Ground water is that part of underground water that lies below the water table in saturated soils and geologic formations. Next to glaciers and ice caps, groundwater reservoirs are the largest holding basins for fresh water in the world’s hydrologic cycle, accounting for almost 23% of all fresh water. Approximately 50% of this total lies within 0.8 km of the surface.

James W. Moore

6. Toxic Substances in Water

Abstract

Apart from their importance in hazardous waste management and groundwater contamination, toxic substances may also significantly influence the quality of surface water and drinking water. Toxic substances are released to surface waters through industrial and municipal discharges, use of agricultural chemicals, and runoff/leachate from waste dumps. The concentration of most toxic compounds in drinking water can be greatly reduced through carbon filtration, aeration, and other treatment methods; however, the need to chlorinate drinking water produces numerous toxic compounds as byproducts of the process. Many of these substances are known or suspected carcinogens.

James W. Moore

7. Toxic Particulates in Air

Abstract

Either gaseous or particulate contaminants may affect human health and environmental processes. Up to the middle of this century, most attention had been focused on toxic gases, such as carbon monoxide, ozone, and various sulfur compounds, and their effect on chronic obstructive lung disease and other respiratory disorders. Although the massive smogs that once enveloped industrial areas are no longer reported, extensive research is still conducted on sensitive population groups. Topics that are currently under investigation include asthmatic response to sulfur dioxide, pulmonary effects of oxidants in asthmatics, and effects of carbon monoxide on coronary patients. During the last 10 years, increased emphasis has been placed on volatile organic chemicals, including human carcinogens (vinyl chloride, benzene), suspected carcinogens (carbon tetrachloride, chloroform), cocarcinogens, promoters (decane, dodecane), and bacterial mutagens (dichlorobenzene, styrene). Exposure to these chemicals generally occurs in the workplace and, occasionally, near waste management sites.

James W. Moore

8. New Fossil Fuel Technologies

Abstract

Research and development activities in the energy sector increased with the onset of two major issues during the 1970s (Darmstadter et al., 1984). One was the need for environmental protection during the production, conversion, transportation, and consumption of energy. The other was the oil embargo, which underscored the need for alternate energy sources. The outcome of these points has been a series of new, energy-related projects, many of which are still in the developmental stage. These include:

enhanced oil recovery
tar sands development
oil shales development
gasification and liquefaction

James W. Moore

9. Nuclear Energy

Abstract

The nuclear energy cycle begins with the mining of uranium-rich ores, which are then refined to uranium oxide (U₃O₈). The material is converted to gaseous uranium hexafluoride (UF₆) and, using gaseous diffusion, the fuel is enriched from a natural concentration of 0.7% ²³⁵U to about 3% ²³⁵U. The fuel is converted to a uranium dioxide (U0₂) ceramic, which is manufactured into pellets. These are loaded into hollow rods contained within the reactor vessel.

James W. Moore

10. Acid Deposition

Abstract

Acid deposition, or acid rain, refers to the atmospheric deposition of acidic or acid-forming compounds in either a wet or a dry state. The major precursors of acid rain are emissions of sulfur dioxide (S0₂) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x). They are converted chemically into sulfuric acid and nitric acid in the air and on the ground, or into sulfate and nitrate aerosols, which further react to form acids. The conversion processes generally require oxidizing agents, such as hydrogen peroxide or ozone. Transport to the ground may take place in rain, snow, or fog or result from attachment to solid particles. Although most attention is focused on the importance of S0₂ and NO_x in acid formation, hydrogen chloride (HC1) also contributes to the problem.

James W. Moore

Titel: The Changing Environment
verfasst von: James W. Moore
Verlag: Springer New York
Electronic ISBN: 978-1-4612-4952-8
Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9372-9
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4952-8

Springer Professional

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Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

1. Introduction

2. Environmental Issues in Less Developed Countries

3. Environmental Management in Developed Countries

4. Hazardous Waste

5. Groundwater Contamination

6. Toxic Substances in Water

7. Toxic Particulates in Air

8. New Fossil Fuel Technologies

9. Nuclear Energy

10. Acid Deposition