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Air Pollution, Environmental engineering

Air Pollution Meteorology and Plume Types

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Air Pollution meteorology deals with the meteorological processes near to the earth’s surface. This consist of the impacts of meteorology on air pollutants and the effects of pollutants on meteorology. Air pollution meteorology studies how meteorological conditions affect the dispersion and behavior of pollutants. This field is crucial for understanding how various plume types—such as buoyant, neutral, and dense—interact with atmospheric conditions.

By analyzing air pollution meteorology, we can better grasp how factors like wind patterns, temperature inversions, and humidity influence plume behavior and air quality. Understanding these interactions helps predict pollution dispersion and mitigate its impact on health and the environment. With insights into types of plumes and their behavior, we can develop more effective strategies for managing and reducing air pollution.

In this blog, we will show you some important terms related to air pollution meteorology, environmental stability and types of plumes. 

  1. Significance of air pollution Meteorology
  2. Meteorological Factors affecting Air Pollution
    1. Wind speed and direction
    2. Temperature
    3. Humidity
    4. Rainfall
    5. Solar Radiation
  3. Lapse Rate in Air Pollution Meteorology
    1. Environmental Lapse Rate
    2. Adiabatic Lapse Rate
  4. Atmospheric Stability
  5. Types of Plume
    1. Coning Plume
    2. Fanning Plume
    3. Looping Plume
    4. Neutral Plume
    5. Lofting Plume
    6. Fumigating Plume
    7. Trapping Plume
  6. Key Takeaways
  7. Conclusion

Significance of air pollution Meteorology

If the air is still and pollutants are unable to disperse, the local concentration of pollutants will rise. Strong, turbulent winds, on the other hand, remove pollutants fast, resulting in reduced pollutant concentrations.

Thus, the destiny of air pollutants is influenced by air movements. As a result, any study of air pollution should also include a look at the weather patterns in the area that is meteorology.

The following are some of the benefits of analyzing meteorological data:

  1. Identify the source of pollution.
  2. Predict the occurrence of inversions and days with high pollutant concentrations.
  3. Simulate and predict air quality with the help of computer models.

Meteorological Factors affecting Air Pollution

Meteorological factors significantly influence air pollution meteorology by affecting plume behavior and dispersion. Wind speed and direction determine how different types of plumes—such as buoyant or dense—spread behave. Temperature inversions can trap pollutants, altering plume types and intensifying air pollution. Humidity and atmospheric pressure also impact the dispersion and behavior of pollutants, influencing overall air quality.

The following factors should be measured while examining air quality. They can help us better understand the chemical reactions that take place in the atmosphere.

  • Wind speed and direction
  • Temperature
  • Humidity
  • Rainfall
  • Solar Radiation

Also read : Air Pollution Causes – A Comprehensive Guide

Industrial smokestacks emitting plumes of smoke against a sunset sky, illustrating the impact of air pollution on the environment.
Industrial smokestacks emitting clouds of smoke against a sunset backdrop, illustrating air pollution emissions.
Air Pollution Meteorology

Wind speed and direction

Wind data records can be used to estimate the general direction and range of emissions when high pollutant concentrations occur at a monitoring station. Identifying the sources allows for the creation of a plan to decrease the negative effects on air quality.

In air pollution meteorology, wind speed and direction are crucial for plume behavior. High wind speeds can disperse pollutants widely. This affects various types of plumes. Calm conditions may lead to plume stagnation and localized air pollution. Understanding these factors helps predict air quality changes.

A large, multi-layered plume of smoke rising into the sky against a pale backdrop, showcasing different shades of gray and white.
Image depicting a large plume of smoke, illustrating the dispersion of pollutants in air pollution meteorology.

Temperature

Temperature measurement aids in the assessment, modelling, and forecasting of air quality. The chemical processes that occur in the atmosphere to generate photochemical smog from other pollutants are influenced by temperature and sunlight (solar radiation). 

Temperature influences air pollution meteorology by affecting plume behavior. Higher temperatures can enhance plume rise, dispersing pollutants more effectively. Conversely, temperature inversions trap pollutants near the ground, altering plume types and intensifying air pollution. Temperature variations thus play a key role in determining pollutant dispersion patterns.

Humidity

Water vapour plays a key role in a variety of thermal and photochemical reactions in the atmosphere. They can dramatically raise the amount of light scattered by particles suspended in the air if they are bound to particles . If corrosive gases, such as sulphur dioxide, bond to water molecules, the gas will dissolve in the water and generate an acid solution that can harm people and property.

Humidity impacts air pollution meteorology by affecting the size and behavior of pollutant plumes. High humidity can lead to the formation of secondary pollutants. It can also alter plume types. Low humidity may enhance pollutant dispersion. Understanding humidity’s role is essential for accurate air quality assessments.

Rainfall

When the rain washes particulate matter out of the atmosphere and dissolves gaseous contaminants, it has a scavenging effect. Visibility is improved by removing particulates. Also, when there is a lot of rain, the air quality is usually improved. Acid rain can arise when rain dissolves gaseous pollutants like sulphur dioxide, causing possible damage to objects and plant.

Rainfall affects air pollution meteorology by removing pollutants from the atmosphere through washout processes. It can change plume behavior, reducing pollutant concentrations in the air. The type and intensity of rainfall influence plume behavior. This impacts overall air quality and pollution levels.

Solar Radiation

Solar radiation must be monitored for use in modelling photochemical smog occurrences because the intensity of sunlight has a significant impact on the rate of chemical reactions that form smog. The intensity of sunlight is affected by cloudiness in the sky, time of day, and geographic location.

Solar radiation influences air pollution meteorology by driving chemical reactions in the atmosphere. It affects plume behavior by promoting the formation of secondary pollutants and influencing thermal patterns that impact plume types. Solar radiation’s role is crucial in understanding how different types of plumes disperse and interact with the environment.

Lapse Rate in Air Pollution Meteorology

The rate of change in the measured temperature as we move up through the Earth’s atmosphere is known as the lapse rate.

  • When the temperature drops with elevation, the lapse rate is positive.
  • It is zero when the temperature remains constant with elevation.
  • When the temperature rises with elevation the adiabatic lapse rate is negative. This is called temperature inversion.

Environmental Lapse Rate

The rate of decrease of temperature with altitude in the stationary atmosphere at a given time and location is known as the environmental lapse rate (ELR). The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has defined an international standard atmosphere (ISA) with a temperature lapse rate of 6.49 K/km (1.98 °C/1,000 ft) from sea level to 11 km.

                                   (dT/dz)env = -6.5 K / 1000 metres

The environmental lapse rate in air pollution meteorology affects plume behavior. It influences how different types of plumes rise or stay grounded. This impacts the dispersion and concentration of pollutants.

Adiabatic Lapse Rate

The adiabatic lapse rate (ALR) refers to the rate with which the temperature of an air parcel changes in response to compression or expansion associated with elevation change. This process is assumed to be adiabatic, that is, no heat exchange happens in between given air parcel and its surrounding.

                                       (dT/dz)adia  = -g/Cp = -9.86 0C / 1000 metres

Where,

                g = acceleration due to gravity

  Cp = Specific heat at constant pressure

The adiabatic lapse rate in air pollution meteorology defines how temperature changes with altitude for rising or descending plumes. This influences plume types and their dispersion characteristics and behavior.

Atmospheric Stability

The degree of atmospheric stability plays a key role in the ability of atmosphere to disperse the pollutants emitted to it. It is determined by comparing ELR and ALR.

When ELR = ALR, the atmosphere is neutrally stable.

If ELR > ALR, the atmosphere is superadiabatic and unstable.

When ELR < ALR, the atmosphere is subadiabatic and stable.

Under an unstable atmospheric condition, the lapse rate is super adiabatic. The actual temperature gradient is more negative than the dry adiabatic temperature gradient. A rising parcel of air gets warmer and tends to travel upwards due to increasing buoyancy. Air from different altitudes mixes thoroughly. There is rapid dispersion of pollutants throughout the entire atmosphere. As a result, this is highly desirable in pollution prevention.

Under a stable atmospheric condition, the lapse rate is subadiabatic. In this condition, a rising parcel of air gets denser, cooler and tends to fall back. The vertical mixing is very less and the dispersion of pollutants is very slow.

Atmospheric stability in air pollution meteorology determines how air layers resist or promote vertical movement. This affects plume types and behavior. It also influences the dispersion and mixing of pollutants.

Types of Plume

A plume is a column of liquid, gas, or dust that moves through another fluid, gas, or dust. The term plume is commonly used to describe things like smoke rising from a chimney. Depending on the degree of atmospherical instability, exit velocity from a stack and the prevailing wind turbulence, the plume emitted from a stack behave in different ways.

In air pollution meteorology, plume types refer to the behavior of pollutant emissions as they disperse in the atmosphere. Each plume type exhibits distinct behavior based on meteorological conditions, influencing how pollutants spread and affect air quality. Common types of plumes include….

  • Coning Plume
  • Fanning Plume
  • Looping Plume
  • Lofting Plume
  • Fumigating Plume
  • Trapping Plume

Let’s have a look at each one of them.

A large industrial facility with multiple smokestacks emitting white steam against a blue sky.
Industrial smokestacks releasing emissions into the atmosphere, illustrating the impact of air pollution on meteorology.
Plume behaviour in Air Pollution Meteorology
Diagram illustrating different types of plumes in air pollution meteorology, including looping, neutral, coning, fanning, lofting, fumigating, and trapping plumes.
Illustration of various types of plumes in air pollution meteorology, showcasing their behavior under different atmospheric conditions.

Coning Plume

In air pollution meteorology, a coning plume occurs when pollutant emissions disperse in a vertical cone shape. This plume type typically forms under neutral atmospheric conditions, where temperature and wind speed are relatively consistent with height. The coning plume’s symmetrical spread limits its horizontal dispersion, keeping pollutants concentrated near the emission source. Understanding this plume behaviour is crucial for predicting pollutant distribution in various meteorological scenarios, influencing air quality management strategies.

  • Formed when horizontal wind velocity exceeds 32 km/h and cloud blocks solar radiation during the day and terrestrial radiation during the night.
  • There is little vertical mixing.
  • The environment is slightly stable under sub-adiabatic conditions (ELR<ALR).
  • The plume shape is vertically symmetrical about the plume line.

Fanning Plume

In air pollution meteorology, a fanning plume occurs under stable atmospheric conditions. This happens where the environmental lapse rate is less than the adiabatic lapse rate.

A smoke stack emitting a plume of white smoke against a clear sky, illustrating air pollution in industrial environments.
A fanning plume disperses pollutants horizontally due to stable atmospheric conditions, common in air pollution meteorology.
  • Formed at extreme inversion conditions owing to a negative lapse rate.
  • When the environment is under conditions of inversion, a stable environment occurs just above the stack, and the plume moves horizontally rather than upwards. 
  • Occurs more frequently when there is less turbulence.
  • For high stack, fanning is considered a favourable meteorological condition as it doesn’t cause ground pollution.

Looping Plume

In air pollution meteorology, a looping plume forms under highly unstable conditions. The plume rises and falls. This leads to erratic pollutant dispersion.

A plume of smoke and vapor billowing from a tall industrial smokestack against a clear blue sky.
A looping plume of smoke emerges from a factory chimney, showcasing the erratic dispersion of pollutants in an unstable atmospheric condition.
  • The wavy looping plume arises in a super adiabatic environment (ELR>ALR). This results in a very unstable atmosphere due to rapid mixing.
  • In an unstable atmosphere, rapid vertical air motions occur both upward and downward, resulting in a looping plume.
  • As a result, large pollution concentrations may arise near the ground.
  • It is preferable to create high stacks where the environment is normally hyper adiabatic to scatter these contaminants.

Neutral Plume

In air pollution meteorology, a neutral plume occurs in neutral atmospheric conditions. In these conditions, plume behaviour is neither buoyant nor sinking. It maintains a steady dispersion.

  • In neutral atmospheric circumstances (ELR=ALR), a neutral plume forms. 
  • A neutral plume rises vertically in an upward direction.
  • The plume will continue to rise until it reaches a height where the density and temperature of the surrounding air are equal.

Lofting Plume

In air pollution meteorology, a lofting plume rises above a stable layer of air, enhancing dispersion. This plume type benefits from favorable plume behavior for pollutant spread.

  • Lofting plume is produced by a strong super adiabatic lapse rate immediately above the stack and a negative lapse rate (inversion) immediately below the stack opening.
  • The downward movement is stopped by inversion.
  • This results in a very rapid and turbulent upward mixing of the plume. But the downward mixing is less. 
  • As a result, the dispersion of pollutants becomes quick, and pollutants cannot come down to the ground.
  • Such a plume is good for dispersing air contaminants and providing significant protection to living beings.

Fumigating Plume

In air pollution meteorology, a fumigating plume descends from an inversion layer. This descent causes pollutants to concentrate near the ground. This illustrates adverse plume behavior.

  • The fumigant plume is the exact opposite of the lofting plume.
  • Formed when there is a negative lapse rate (inversion) just above the stack and a strong super adiabatic lapse rate below the stack.
  • Pollutants cannot escape above the stack under these conditions, thus they settle towards the ground due to turbulence and mixing.
  • As a result, the dispersion of contaminants in a fumigant plume is exceedingly poor.

Trapping Plume

In air pollution meteorology, a trapping plume occurs between two inversion layers. It confines pollutants within a specific altitude. This showcases a critical plume behavior.

  • When an inversion layer exists above and below the stack, the plume does not rise or fall.
  • Rather, it is constrained or trapped between the two inversion levels, resulting in a trapping plume.
  • This plume isn’t optimal for pollution dispersion since it can’t go past a particular height.

Key Takeaways

  1. Air Pollution Meteorology: Examines how meteorological conditions like wind, temperature, and humidity influence pollutant dispersion and plume behavior.
  2. Types of Plume: Include Coning, Fanning, Looping, Lofting, Fumigating, and Trapping, each behaving differently based on atmospheric stability.
  3. Plume Behavior: Influenced by factors such as wind speed. Temperature inversions and atmospheric pressure also play a role. These factors determine how pollutants spread and affect air quality.
  4. Environmental Stability: Plays a critical role in how plumes rise, disperse, or remain trapped, impacting overall pollution levels.
  5. Meteorological Analysis: Helps predict and mitigate pollution impacts by understanding plume dynamics under varying weather conditions.

Conclusion

Understanding Air Pollution Meteorology is essential for managing and reducing pollution’s impact on the environment and health. By analyzing the Types of Plume and their behavior, we can predict how pollutants will disperse under different meteorological conditions. The interaction between Plume Types and factors like wind, temperature, and atmospheric stability determines air quality outcomes. Effective strategies for pollution control rely on insights into Plume Behavior, enabling us to mitigate the adverse effects of air pollution. This knowledge is crucial for developing sustainable solutions to manage air quality and protect public health.

Air Pollution, Environmental engineering

Air Pollution Causes and effects – A Comprehensive Guide

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Air pollution killed approximately 1.7 million Indians in 2019, according to a report by the interdisciplinary journal Lancet Planetary Health. The causes of air pollution can be natural or man-made. Breathing fresh and pure air has become nearly impossible due to the increased quantity of contaminants in the air.

All of us are concerned about our health these days due to the rising level of air pollutants. Since the pollutants in the air are invisible to the human eye, we are unaware of the main sources of pollution. To understand the sources of air pollution, we must first identify the fundamental causes of air pollution.

In this blog, l will walk you through some common activities that knowingly or unknowingly are becoming the major causes of air pollution. Now, off we go.

Air pollution causes

Let me list down the 9 major causes of air pollution.

  • The Burning of Fossil Fuels
  • Agricultural Activities
  • Waste in Landfills
  • Industrial Emissions
  • Mining Operations
  • Natural Phenomena
  • Indoor Pollution
  • Construction and Demolition
  • Open Burning of Waste and stubble

Let’s have a look at each of them in detail.

Burning of Fossil Fuels – Chief cause of air pollution

  • Millions of diesel and gasoline-powered vehicles run on our roads daily.
  • Gasoline is composed mainly of hydrocarbons and trace amounts of nitrogen and sulphur bearing compounds.
  • The gasoline doesn’t undergo complete combustion always.
  • As a result, the exhaust gases coming out of gasoline-powered vehicles consists of harmful oxides of sulphur ( SO2, SO3), nitrogen (NOX), Particulate matter, carbon monoxide, etc.
  • PAHs, or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, are also emitted from automobile exhaust.
  • When humans are exposed to large amounts of the same, it can harm their liver and lungs and even permanently destroy them.
  • It is not surprising that vehicular pollution contributes about 80% of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide in Delhi’s air.

Also read : Electric Vehicles- 5 Types & Advantages Full Guide

Agricultural Activities

  • Ammonia is the most common source of agricultural air pollution.
  • Heavily fertilised fields and livestock waste emit this gas in large amounts.
  • It combines with pollutants from combustion, primarily nitrogen oxides and sulphates from automobiles, power plants, and industrial operations, to form small solid particles known as aerosols.
  • They are little larger than 2.5 micrometres in diameter, or approximately 1/30 the width of a human hair.
  • These particles can get deep into the lungs and cause heart or lung diseases. 

Waste in Landfills

  • Garbage is buried or dumped into sites called Landfills.
  • Microbes act on these deposited or buried wastes and generate methane.
  • Methane is a significant greenhouse gas that is extremely combustible and dangerous.
  • It can form explosive mixtures along with air.

Industrial Emissions

Industrial activities release a variety of pollutants into the atmosphere, affecting air quality in ways we can’t even imagine. Industries that use coal and wood as their principal energy sources release PM 2.5 and 10, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and carbon monoxide.

Also read : Air Pollution Meteorology and Plume Types

Mining

Mining is one of the largest causes of air pollution. Excavations, blasting, and transportation of materials generate particulate matter. Also, Exhaust emissions from mobile sources such as trucks and heavy equipment raise these particulate levels.

Mining - A cause of Air Pollution
Mining – A cause of Air Pollution

Ever thought that there were natural causes of air pollution? Well, let me show you how this happens.

Natural Phenomena

  • Climate change is causing not only an increase in wildfires but also an increase in air pollution.
  • 0 -90% of wildfire smoke, by mass, lies within the particle size range of 2.5 micrometres in diameter or smaller.
  • PM 2.5 in the air combine with other dangerous chemicals, gases and pollen.
  • As a result, it causes smog.
  • Smog makes the air cloudy, making it difficult for people to breathe.
  • On warmer days, trees like Black gum, poplar, oak and willow emit substantial volumes of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the environment.
  • In addition, these VOCs combine with pollutants like NOx, SO2, and anthropogenic organic carbon compounds to form a seasonal haze of secondary pollutants.
  • Volcanic activity also produces pollutants like sulfur, chlorine, and ash particulates.

For a detailed insight on the major air pollutants, make sure that you go through our blog, What are air pollutants? | Types, sources and effects of air pollution.

Indoor Pollution – A hidden cause of air pollution

Have you ever observed that when you paint your house’s walls, it emits a noxious odour that makes it nearly impossible to breathe? This is due to the VOCs released by paints, perfumes, home decor, cleaning products etc. VOCs including acetone, formaldehyde, xylene, etc are chief causes of air pollution indoors.

Indoor Burning
Indoor Burning

Around 3 billion people still cook over open flames using solid fuels such as wood, crop wastes, charcoal, coal, and dung. These inefficient methods of cooking can release CO, CO2 and soot particles which can penetrate deep into the lungs. Above all, indoor smoke levels can be 100 times higher than permitted values in poorly ventilated houses. Shocking, right?

Here’s the truth. According to WHO, every year, around seven million people die prematurely as a result of the combined impacts of ambient (outdoor) and residential air pollution.

Also read : Waste water treatment – Stages and process

Construction and Demolition

Several construction sites and raw materials such as bricks and concrete produce haze and filthy air. This is endangering people, particularly children and the elderly. For instance, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded the highest number of air pollution complaints in the Delhi NCR due to building and demolition activity.

Open Burning of Waste and Stubble.

  • Garbage burning in the open is far more hazardous to your health and the environment than you might believe.
  • It is one of the major air pollution causes in Delhi along with the stubble burning by farmers.
  • Delhi produces 9500 tonnes of garbage each day, making it India’s second-largest waste dumping city.
  • Exposure to open rubbish burning poses a major health risk, including cancer, liver problems, immune system impairment, and reproductive dysfunction.

Causes of Air Pollution in Delhi

  • Firstly, the crop stubble burning by farmers of Punjab and Haryana contributes as much as 40% of Delhi’s air pollution in the winter months.
  • Secondly, construction activities add a great deal to the city’s pollution load. Dust from construction sites is responsible for 30% of air pollution in Delhi, according to authorities from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC).
  • Automobile emissions and industrial pollution are also major contributors to poor air quality in Delhi.
  • A major source of airborne particulates in Delhi is a fire in the Bhalswa landfill.
  • Some other causes include cow dung cake combustion, fires on agricultural land, diesel generator exhaust, waste burning, and illicit industrial activity.

If you wish to dig deep into the pollution levels in Delhi, check out our blog, Air Quality Index in Delhi – AQI categories and Causes.

Conclusion

To sum up, air pollution has a variety of causes, each with its own set of problems. Residential energy for cooking and heating, vehicle emissions, electricity generation, agriculture/waste incineration, and industry are all major sources of air pollution. Integrated policies supporting sustainable land use, energy-efficient housing, power generation, and better municipal waste management can effectively reduce significant sources of ambient air pollution.

The National Green Tribunal has played a key role in delivering effective and timely resolution in cases involving environmental preservation, forest conservation, and air quality management. Let’s all be a part of reducing air pollution and do our bit to protect the air quality.

To know more about air pollution control measures, have a look at our blog, Air Pollution Control measures – Top 9 Air pollution control devices.

Environmental engineering

What are E-wastes? | Classification and Recycling

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India ranked third in the world in terms of E-waste production last year, behind China (10.1 million tonnes) and the United States (3.2 million tonnes) (6.9 million tonnes). 

Consumers waste 44 million tonnes of electronics per year, according to a 2019 United Nations study titled “A New Circular Vision for Electronics, Time for a Global Reboot,” and just 20% of that is recycled sustainably.

According to the Global E-Waste Monitor 2020, customers discarded 53.6 million tonnes of electronics in 2019, an increase of 20% over the previous five years.

Shocking right? Can you imagine tonnes and tonnes of E-waste piling up? Think of the damage it would do to our mother nature.

But what if I say there’s an alternative? Yes, you heard me right. I am talking about recycling the E-waste.

In this blog, I will walk you through E-waste, different types and its recycling process.

Also read : Environmental Impact Assessment -(EIA) – Process and benefits

E-waste

E-waste or electronic waste is generated when an electronic product reaches the end of its useful life, The rapid advancement of technology, combined with our consumer-driven culture, has resulted in a massive amount of e-waste. Electronic waste refers to devices that have been discarded electrically or electronically. E-waste includes used electronics that are destined for refurbishment, reuse, resale, salvage recycling via resource recovery, or disposal. 

E-waste Classification

The European Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment divides waste into ten categories: 

  1. Small household appliances
  2. IT equipment (including monitors)
  3. Consumer electronics (including TVs)
  4.  Lamps 
  5. Luminaires
  6. Toys
  7. Tools
  8. Medical devices
  9. Monitoring and Control Instruments,
  10. Automatic dispensers

Let me brief about the importance of recycling E-waste.

Types of E wastes
Types of E wastes

Why should E-waste be recycled?

E-waste management is incomplete without recycling. Let’s see the reasons.

  • The aim of extracting metals and plastic from electronic waste is to use them in the manufacture of new electronics.
  •  Recycled metals are two to ten times more energy-efficient than metals smelted from raw ore.
  •  It’s used in tablets, smartphones, and electric car batteries.
  • According to the most recent estimates, the global value of e-waste is about $62.5 billion per year, which is more than the GDP of most countries.  It’s also worth three times what all of the world’s silver mines produce.
  • It can significantly minimise the release of radioactive materials into the atmosphere.
  • Helps to prevent the depletion of natural resources if properly implemented.
  • Reduces exposing workers to toxic and carcinogenic substances like mercury, lead, and cadmium.

Recycling Process

Recycling printed circuit boards from electronic waste is one of the most difficult tasks. Gold, silver, platinum, and other precious metals, as well as base metals like copper, iron, and aluminium, are used on the circuit boards. 

Some of the ways of processing e-waste includes:

  • Melting circuit boards
  • burning cable sheathing to retrieve copper wire
  •  open-pit acid leaching 

 Mechanical shredding and separation is the traditional process, but the recycling efficiency is poor. Cryogenic decomposition is an alternative method for recycling printed circuit board.

Let me give you a brief description of the recycling process.

  • Material for shredding is conveyed into a crude mechanical separator. 
  • It uses screening and granulating machines to separate constituent metal and plastic fractions. 
  • These are then sold to smelters or plastic recyclers.
  • This type of recycling equipment is enclosed and has a dust collection system. 
  • Scrubbers and windows capture some of the pollutants. 
  • After that, the glass, plastic, and ferrous and nonferrous metals are isolated using magnets, eddy currents, and Trommel. further separated at a smelter. 
  • CRT glass is recycled into car batteries, ammunition, and lead wheel weights, or sold to foundries for use as a fluxing agent in the production of raw lead ore. 
  • Copper, gold, palladium, silver, and tin are valuable metals that are sold for recycling to smelters.
  • To protect the atmosphere, hazardous smoke and gases are detected, contained, and treated. 
  • All useful device construction materials can be safely reclaimed using these techniques.
E - Waster Recycling process
E – Waster Recycling process

Also read : Air pollution – effects and causes

Benefits of Recycling

  • The most successful solution to the growing e-waste issue is to recycle raw materials from end-of-life electronics. 
  • Recycling preserves our natural resources. 
  • Dismantling and reuse options prevent air and water contamination induced by hazardous disposal.
  • Furthermore, recycling decreases the amount of greenhouse gas emissions generated by new product production. 

Conclusion

Considering the huge volume of E-waste generated everyday recycling them is the need of the hour. India has formulated and notified its strategy to tackle e-waste through the e-waste (Management) Rules, 2016. Recycling reduces pollution, saves energy and conserves resources.

That’s it about E-waste. Hope you found it useful.

civil engineering, Environmental engineering

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) – Process and Benefits

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Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an indispensable part of any proposed project be it governmental or non-governmental. Environmental Impact Assessment is the method of assessing the possible environmental consequences of a proposed project or development.In this blog I will show you what is EIA, its procedure, benefits and shortcomings.

Read on to know more details.

What is Environmental Impact Assessment?

Environmental Impact Assessment is the method of assessing the possible environmental consequences of a proposed project or development. It takes into account both the positive and negative socioeconomic, cultural, and human-health consequences of the process. It is a mechanism used by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to determine the environmental, social, and economic impacts of a project before making a decision. The Environment Protection Act of 1986, which includes various provisions on EIA methodology and mechanism, provides legal backing for environmental impact assessments in India.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Goals of Environmental Impact Assessment

Following are the goals of an EIA process:

  • Forecast environmental impacts early in the project planning and design process 
  • Identify ways to mitigate negative effects 
  • Tailor projects to suit the local community 
  • Present the predictions and options to decision-makers. 

Also read: Sustainable Cities -Features Full Guide

History of Environmental Impact Assessment in India

Environmental Impact Assessment has been practised in India for over 20 years. It began in 1976-77. In September 2006, the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) announced new EIA legislation. The following projects require environmental clearance under the notification:

  • Mining
  • Thermal power plants, 
  • River valleys, 
  • Infrastructure (roads, highways, ports, harbours, and airports) 
  • Factories, including very small electroplating or foundry units

Also read : What is e-waste?

EIA Process

The steps outlined below are part of the EIA method. The EIA mechanism, is cyclical, with interactions between the various phases.

Screening: 

The project plan is scrutinised for its size, location, and form of construction, as well as whether it requires legislative approval.

Scoping: 

The project’s possible effects, impact zones, mitigation options, and monitoring requirements.

Collection of baseline data: 

Baseline data refers to the state of the environment in the study region.

Impact Prediction: 

Positive and negative, reversible and irreversible, transient and permanent effects must all be forecast. This requires the evaluation agency to provide a thorough understanding of the project.

Mitigation measures and the EIA report: 

The EIA report should provide actions and steps for avoiding, mitigating, or transferring the impacts, as well as the extent of compensation for likely environmental harm or loss.

Public Hearing: 

After the EIA report is completed, the public and environmental organisations residing near the project site will be advised and consulted.

Decision Making: 

The Impact Assessment Authority, in consultation with experts, consults the project manager and a consultant to make a final decision, holding EIA and EMP in mind (Environment Management Plan).

Monitoring and implementation of EMP: 

The various phases of implementation of the project are monitored.

Alternatives Evaluation and Environmental Impact Assessment Report:

Alternatives should be defined for each project, and environmental attributes should be compared. Both the project site and the process technology should be seen as alternatives.

Following the evaluation of alternatives, a mitigation plan for the chosen choice should be created, which should be supported by an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to direct the supporter toward environmental improvements.

Risk Assessment: 

Inventory analysis and hazard likelihood and index are also used in EIA procedures.

Ever thought why all the projects must undergo the lengthy procedures of EIA? I have the answer for you. 

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Benefits of Environmental Impact Assessment

Ever thought why all the projects must undergo the lengthy procedures of EIA? I have the answer for you. 

  • Connects the environment and development for environmentally friendly and sustainable growth.
  • A cost-effective way to mitigate or reduce the negative effects of infrastructure projects.
  • Allows decision-makers to assess the impact of construction activities on the ecosystem well before the project is implemented.
  • Encourages the adaptation of mitigation techniques in the growth plan EIA ensures that the development strategy is environmentally sustainable and operates within the ecosystem’s capacity for assimilation and regeneration.