BPH-309: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
THEORY
Max. Marks: 80 Total Hours: 50 (2hrs/week)Note: Examiner to set eight questions and the candidates are required to attempt any five.
- Environmental studies: Definition, Scope and importance. Multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies. (2)
- Natural resources: (8)
i. Forest: Benefits of forests. Use and over exploitation, Deforestation and timber extraction. Dams - their effects on forests and tribal people.
ii. Water resources: Global water resources distribution. Use and over-utilization of surface and ground water, Floods, Drought, Conflicts over water, Dams-benefits and problems.
iii. Mineral resources: Usage and exploitation, Environmental effects of extracting and using mineral resources.
iv. Food: World food problems, Changes caused by agriculture and
overgrazing, Effects of modern agriculture, Fertilizer-pesticide problems, Water logging and salinity. Organic farming - Definition and advantages.
v. Energy sources-Conventional and non conventional / Renewable and non renewable.
a. Fossil fuels: Coal, Petroleum and natural gas -Availability, Dependency and environmental problems. Effect of global price of fossil fuel on nations.
b. Alternatives to fossil fuels: Hydro electric power, Bio energy, Nuclear, Wind, Solar, geothermal. Energy of future for transportation-Ethanol, Biodiesel and fuel cells.
vi. Land resources: Land as a resource, Land degradation, Man induced landslides, Soil erosion and desertification.
- Role of an individual in conservation of natural resources and equitable use of resources for sustainable life style.
- Ecosystem – Structure and functional components of ecosystem. Producers, Consumers and decomposers. Food chain and food web. Energy flow and material cycling in ecosystem. Balanced eco system. (3)
- Biodiversity and its conservation: Definition: Species and ecosystem diversity. Threats to biodiversity: Habitat loss, Poaching of wild life, Man wild life conflicts. Hot spots of biodiversity. Endangered and endemic species of India. Conservation of biodiversity: In-situ and ex-situ conservation of biodiversity. (5)
- Environmental pollution: Definition, Causes, Effects and control measures of: Water pollution (water quality standards and parameters, Assessment of water quality, Transformation process in water bodies, Oxygen transfer by water bodies, Turbulent mixing, Water quality in lakes and preservers, Ground water quality), Air pollution, Soil pollution and noise pollution), Air pollution, Soil pollution and noise pollution. (5)
- Current environmental issues: Population Growth, Human health and urbanization. Global warming (greenhouse effect), Climate change, Acid rain, Ozone layer depletion, Industrial and nuclear accidents, Nosocomial diseases. (7)
- Environmental protection: Salient features of Environmental Protection Act, Air & Water Acts, Wildlife and Forest Acts. Functions of Central and State Pollution Control Boards. Role of NGO’S. Environmental education. Role of information technology in environment and human health. (7)
- Waste management: (8)
i. Water Treatment: Water quality standards, Water sources and their quality, Water treatment processes, Pre-treatment of water, Conventional process, Advanced water treatment process.
ii. Waste Water Treatment: Water flow rate and characteristics, Design of waste water network, Waste water treatment process, pretreatment, primary and secondary treatment of waste water, Activated sludge treatment: Anaerobic digestion and its application.
iii. Solid Waste Management: Sources classification and composition of MSW ;properties and separation, storage and transportation, MSW Management, Waste minimization, Reuse and recycling, Biological treatment, Thermal treatment, Landfill, Integrated waste management. Hazardous Waste Management, Hazardous waste and their generation, Medical hazardous waste. Household waste, Transportation and treatment of hazardous waste: incinerators, Inorganic waste treatment, Treatment systems for hazardous waste, handling of treatment plant residue.
- Field work: equal to 5 lectures.
i. Visit to a local area to document environmental assets – river/forest/ grassland/hill/mountain etc.
ii. Visit to a local polluted site – urban/rural/industrial/agriculture
iii. Study of common plants, insects and birds.
iv. Study of simple ecosystems- pond, river, hill slopes etc.
Books Recommended (Latest editions)
- Principles of Environmental Engineering and Sciences, K.L. Davis & S.J. Masen, McGraw Hill International Edition, 2004.
- Principles of Environmental Science inquiring & applications, Cunningham & Cunningham (TMH, New Delhi)
- Introduction to Environmental Science, Y.Anjaneyalu, B.S.Publication. Hyderabad
- Environmental Engineering Irwin/McGraw Hill International Edition, 1997, G.Kiely,