of land

Environment
surroundings
human Everything
1986, entitiesmeansment.
to
environment ENVIRONMENT 1.1 Chapter
Fig. and
Environment'
As
1.1 beings,environment
surrounding
per
and Water the encircle
oncept that
ials inter-relaiiaTashis is the
cancther thus of
definition Surrounds or
of be an Multidisciplinary
Subject-A
nment: ivik surround,All us is Environmental
Studies
ing tireriy defned.as organism inludes are derived
organisms
wing included
YLaniSIRS given and
Humans Materials understood from
Air that affects
r usair, thealong all in
inthe the
andwater, exist Environment the
and sum environment. biological Frenchliving
their from among physical with
land, materials." total
ons word
organisms
living Fig. their
them of and
(Protection)
and Environner,
anisms Soit 1.
1.interactions.
concept The and
water, non-biological
biological is
with air environ
which
the and Act,
 2 Chaptèk 1 Environmentál SdteseAMAtidiso nvronm
Figure 1.l depicts the environment of human beings, Air, water Life Sciences Phyaical Sciences
Physics, Chemistry, Earth Science,
Envitonmand land surrounding us constitute our environmnt,and influence us Biology, Biochernistry,
Microbiology. Atmospheric Science, Oceanography.
directly. At the same timewe too havean influence on our environment Biotechnology, etc. Geography etc.
by overuseor over-exploitation of resources or by discharge of pollutants
in the air, water and land. The flora, fauna and micro-organisms as Basic and
Applied Studies
well as the man-made structures in our Surroundings have.a Civil Engineering,
Máthematics, Chemical Engineering
bi-directional interaction with us directly or indirectly. The totality of Statistics, Environmenta Hydraulics,
all these components and their interactions.constitute the environment. Computer
Science
Modelling StudiesTechnology Nanotechnology.
etc.
Urban environment differs from rural environment Urban etc. Management
& Awareness
environment differs from rural.environment as there is profound
Economics, Politics, Sociology Law
nuence of human beingsinthe forner Mostof the.natural landscapes Education, Management, Mass
in cities have been changed and modified by man-made artificial Communication, Philosophy and Ethícs
etructures like multi-storeyed buildings, commercial complexes, 'Fig. 1.2 Multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies.
factories, transportation networks and so on. Urban air, water and soil provide
are loaded with various types of chemicals and wastes. Diversity of Subjects 1likeeconomics, management and sociology aspects
lants and animals is much less_ as compared to rural environment. the inputs for dealing with the soci0-economic
energy demands. associated with various development activities.
Urban population is more dense and has greatr hydraulics, chemical
Consumerism is very high in urban environment. A synthesis of civil engineering,
providethe technical solutions
engineering and nanotechnology
waste treatment that
to environmental pollution control and
MULTI-DISCIPLINARY NATURE OF protection of the environmnent.
are extremely important for measures
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Environmental lawS provide the guidelines and legal
enyironment.
protection of the
for effective management and communication are two
aspects. Environmental education and mass
Environment is complex and has multifarious instrumental in disseminating
its life-suppOr subjects that are
Environmental studies deals with working of earth,solutions. Keeping important
environmental awareness.
influences,its problems and guidelines for a sustainable
SYstems, its interactions, environment,knowledge and informaticn Environmental ethics provide the
inview the complex nature of social science, law andengineering life style. multi-disciplinary subject
ofscience,
from various disciplinesi-Environmental Studies to understand it Environmental sciences, therefore, is a
ave to be included holistic approach.
multi-disciplinary nature of environ where we deal with different aspects using a
completely. Figure 1.2 depicts the
mentalstudies.
Life Sciences includingbotany,
zoology, microbiology, genetics ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
understanding the biotic components 1.3 SCOPE OF
and biochemistryhelp in and biotechnology are
emerging environmental
multi-disciplinary nature
and their interactions. Genetics to environmental problems. Due to.its complex and wide scope. It encompasses alarge number
solutions studies as a subject has.a may be summarized as follows:
as useful tools for finding structure of
physical and çhemical of areas and aspects,
which
For understanding the environment along with mass and conservation and management.
of Natural Resources-their
abiotic components concept of
make use of the basic biodiversity.
energy transfers we have to atmospheric science, oceano " Ecology and pollution and control.
physics, chemistry, geology, Environmental
graphy and geography. likewise serve
Mathematics, statistics and computer science
environmental modeling.
in
as effective tools
ironmed
Subject5
Environr Multidiscipl nary
Environmental Studies-A:
Social issues in be able to plead
emerged, who sh.ould wildlife etc.

adir TheseHuman
eçt are the
popula tiornelatandion development
to
and environment.
environmental lawyers hasand air pollution, forest,
the cases related
to water of products
the qualityemphasis
While ensuringincrc.asing
basic
studies canrelealsovance to aspects enviof- ronme marketing:
(iii)Green mark, now there is an
on
products
aspects like be highlevery enviofronment
y specisectien al Environmental
studies which haye. with ISO environment fricndly.
marketinggoods that are14000 certification.
Such
Environmental

environmental management.
In the environmental
expanded recent years,
emerged() in drthisamatfieldicalthat
alized the society.
science, concent rating engineering or
environmental
On more techhical have ecomark
auditors and
or ISO
environmenta!
demand in the coming
years.
managers would be in great

can be spread
l&y theare broadly
the scope environmental studies
world
of
over. has (iv) Green media:
Environmental awarencsstelevision, radio,
through mass media like
advertisements etc. for
Research Development (RcategoriSeveral career options have. amongst masses hoardings,

environmental scientists zed environment: as. newspaper, magazines,educated persons are required.
& D) in Skilled which environmentally
consultancy: Many
non-govern ment
examining
manner and various
have an important role to play in
carry outenvironmental
(v)Environment
organisations(NGOs),
and
industries government bodies are
systematically
R&Dactivitiesproblems. in a scientific for
environmental consultants problems.
technologies and promoting
There is a need for sustainablefordeveloping cleaner engaging
studying and tackling
environment related

With trained manpower development.

environmental issues. at every level to deal
ENVIRONMENT
environmentalfor engineeringEnvironmental
are emergingmanagement aia.
as .new cals Y4 IMPORTANCE
OF
Opportunities
With environmental protection and managemen influences all and is
important to all.
the pollution control laws becoming more stringent, Environment belongs to all, he/she will be affected
1ndustries are finding it difficult to dispOse off the Whatever be the occupation or age of a person, environment by his/
wastes also he/she will affect the
produced. In order to avoid expensive litigation, companies by environment and make everyone
becomes very necessary to
are now rying to adopt green technologies, which would reduce her deeds. That is why it the importance of environment. There is
about.
pollution. aware and conscious calendar to mark some
observed environment
Investing in pollution control technologies will reduce an internationally environment, people think, discuss,
so that
important aspect or issue of environmental
pollution as well as cut on costs for effluent
treatment.
campaigns and act for the cause of those
increasing the world carry out
Market for pollution control technology is another potential issues.
up of the wastes produced is Environment
over. Cleaning billion per year Giobal Vs. LocalLImportance of
more than $ 100
market. It is estimated to be global as well as local in
business. Germany and Japan having more Environment is one subject that is actually
for all American gained more experience
years have nature.
of ozone layer, dwindling
stringent laws for many there is a $ 200 billion market for Issues like global warming, depletion biodiversity etc, which
global
alone. In India also
Still loss of
reducing effluents. Germany forests and energy resources,
in
former East implementing the mankind asa whole are global in nature and for
cleaning up the are goingto affect
Control Boards are seriouslyupgradation of that we have to think and plan globally.
the Pollution lawS and
insisting on
before they are Howeve, there are some environmental problems which are of
pollution control prescribed standards localized importance. For dealing with local environmental issues, e.g.
the Many companies
effluents to meet into a water body. closed or ordered impact of mining or hydr0-electric project in an area, problems of
or disposal and management of solid waste, river or lake pollution, soil
discharged on land orders have
been
complying with the implementing
not emphasis on for
to shift. increasing environnment, need
advocacy: With related to
Laws
(in)Green Acts and
various
 Environmentat tuaTesAANIIOSCtTuTSLN

1.5 NEED FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS

Environment. caland
Word WetlandDay There is a chinese proverb "If you plan for one year plant rice, if you
February2
World Wildlife Day March 3 plan for 10 years plant trees, and if you planfor 100 years, educate people".
wordForest
World
Day
Day for Water
March 21
March )
If we want to protect and sustain our earth, we have no other
WorldMeteoroloical Day March23 option but to make everyoneenvironmentally educated.
Earth Day April22 It is absolutely essential to create awareness about environment
Intermational Day for Biodiversity May 22
Anti-tobacco Day May 31 because:
World Environment Day June 5
Worid Ocean Day June 8 Rapidly changing technologies lead to abandoned wastes.
Worid Population Day July 11
World Nature Conservation Day July 28
In modern era of development there is greater inclination for
World Biofuel Day Aug. 10 adopting the latest product of technological advancement and
International Day of Clear Sept..7 discarding the older one as obsolete. People change their cars,
Air for Blue Skies mobile phones, computers, i-pads and electronic goods within
Ozone Day Sept. 16
World Car-free Day Sept. 22 a few years, thus adding to the vast e-waste stream.
Green Consumer Day. Sept. 28 Our fast and energy demanding life style pollutes the
Wotd Farm Animals Day Oct. 2
World Habitat Day 1st Monday of Ock environment. To keep pace with the fast and busy life, people
World Animal Welfare Day Oct. 4 have become increasingly dependent on machines to get the
Wiidlite WNeek (tndia) work done fast and make life more comfortable for us. But all
International Day for
Disaster Reduction 2ndWed ofOct. thest machines are energy demanding. Over-dependence on
Oct. 243
Worid.ConservationDay machines not only increases resource-depletion and energy
consumption, but also directly or indirectly affect our health.
and salinization of soil, fluorosis problem in The electromagnetic radiations from mobile towers and cell
erosion, water logging have to think phones, the toxic gases released from industries, noise produced
0pulation, arsenic pollutionof groundwater etc., we
and actlocally. by various activities and polluted water can seriously affect
envionie
about thoseaspects of human health along with that of other animals and plants.
Ia order to make people aware People should know the impacts of all such
which they are so intimately associated, it is very nporran to
with enVironmentally educated. anthropogenic activities.
Crazy consumerism leads to environmental dagradation.
one
makeevery
Environment There is a sharp increase in consumerism. With
increasing
Individualistic Importance of with the nost over-consumption. No
veryimportant since it deais buying capacity people have started
Environmental studies is standard of living, which is
matters, like deaiing doubt, it is good to have a good
life where each individual conditions, clean development. But, the wasteful
mundane problens of water, hygienic living achieved through technological degradation.
and clean drinking development. If life style of people leads to environmental
with saife healthyfood and sustainable about the harmful
fresh.air, fertile land, aesthetically beautiful, safe andsecure "It is important to make
people aware
and aclean, healthy, pollution on human health. At the
wantto ein
live
to hand over a clean and safe effects of environmental
we for a long time and
wish know how their activities influence
environment grandchildren, it is most same time, people should
our.children, grandchildren and great the environment.
to environment.
earth understand the basics of capacity to tolerate pollutants and
essentialto The earth has a definite that the earth cannot
assimilate
sustain populations. Beyond earth's life support system
How the
wastes and support life.