ENV20

Introduction to Environmental Engineering

2nd Term 2016-2017

Part I. Write the meaning of the following acronyms: (10 pts)

1. PO- Permit to Operate
2. EMB- Environmental Management Bureau
3. ODS- Ozone Depleting Substances
4. EGF- Environmental Guarantee Fund
5. AQF- Air Quality Management Fund
6. NAAQGV- National Ambient Air Quality Guideline Values
7. POPs- Persistent Organic Pollutants
8. GWP- Global Water Partnership
9. AAQGV- Ambient Air Quality Guidelines Values
10. TLV- Threshold Limit Value

Part II. Answer the questions below: (10 pts each)

AIR

1. What are criteria pollutants? Give the criteria pollutants enumerated in R.A. 8749. Complete table below:

Criteria Pollutants Major Source Acceptable TLV Environmental Impact Major Pollution
Control
(1) SOx Fossil-fuel and 2 ppm Acid rain, SO2 human Increasing
lowgrade fuel (coal) health problem, reduced conservation
combustion, nonferrous visibility, damage to & energy
metal smelting, H2S, plants/animals, smog, efficiency
mercaptans haze, aesthetic damage, measures the
corrosion of materials use of
alternative
sources of
energy and
burn less coal
Utilize
pollution
abatement
technology
(Additional
Cost in
producing the
energy)
(2) NOx Burning of fuel, power 3-5 ppm Photochemical smog- Some
generation plants, injurious to abatement
industrial furnaces, plants/animals and technologies
transportations, waste human health Increased are currently
disposal systems nitrogen loading upsets available such
the chemical balance of as Flue Gas
nutrients in water bodies Recirculation,
Eutrophication w/c leads Low NOx
to O2 depletion Burners
(LNB) and
Combustion
Optimization.
(3) CO Incomplete combustion <30 ppm Prevents blood from Emission
of any organic fuel carrying oxygen thus Controls are
(transportation) extremely harmful to used in
humans todays life
Contributes to the such as air
formation of smog or injection,
ground-level ozone exhaust gas
recirculation,
catalytic
converter and
other
emission
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 ENV20
Introduction to Environmental Engineering
2nd Term 2016-2017

controls that
can help
reduce CO.
(4) Particulate Matter Combustion of fuel 10ppm Reductions in visibility To reduce
(noncombustible ash or (smog or haze), soiling of emissions,
incompletely burned buildings, corrosive there should
soot), materials damage, alteration of be dust
handling processes local weather, damage control for
(crushing, grinding or human health (respiratory roads,
bulk loading of dry disease, coughing and constructions
materials), dust storm, painful breathing & and landfills,
volcanic ash & forest chronic bronchitis), landscaping,
fires retard plant growth barrier and
fencing to
reduce
windblown
dust; avoid
using leaf
blowers and
other dust-
producing
equipment.
(5) VOCs Incomplete combustion Reactive HCs To reduce
or by evaporation of (RCH=CHR) form smog, exposure to
organic liquids, cars & implicated health these toxins,
other vehicles, solvent- problems i.e.benzopyrene products
based paints, forests & should
vegetation emit various contain LOW-
HCs in their biological VOCs or NO
normal processes, VOCs to
bacterial eliminate
decomposition of stockpiling of
organic matters (CH4 ), these
incomplete combustion toxins/chemic
of coal, oil & wood, als.
processing & use of
petroleum
(6) Pb Motor vehicles & Play areas: 400 ppm Damages organs Waste Water
industrial sources (kidneys, liver, brain and run-offs
Metals processing nerves) Osteoporosis & should be
(lead smelters) Waste reproductive disorders contained in
incinerators, utilities & Nonplay areas: 1200 Seizures, mental storage piles
lead-acid battery ppm retardation, behavioral with built-in
manufacturers. disorders, memory catchment
The EPA's standard problems & mood drainage to
for lead in bare soil changes retain and
in play areas is 400 Learning deficits & collect the
ppm by weight and lowered IQ sediments.
1200 ppm for non- High blood pressure, Adding
play areas. This heart diseases organic
regulation applies to Anemia or weak blood matter, like
cleanup projects
composted
using federal funds.
leaves, non-
acid peat and
decomposed
manure
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 ENV20
Introduction to Environmental Engineering
2nd Term 2016-2017

because lead
contents tend
to bind with
organic
compounds.
(7) O3 (Ozone ) Motor vehicles & Irritate lung airways & Vapor
industrial sources cause inflammation much recovery
Gasoline vapors 0.05 ppm like a sunburn nozzls at the
Chemical solvents Wheezing, coughing, gasoline
Called as pain when taking a deep pumps to
summertime breath during outdoor reduce
pollutant since activities or exercise refuelling
sunlight and hot Repeated exposure for emissions,
weather cause ground several months can cause strict NOx
level O3 to form permanent lung damage emission
harmful concentrations Aggravated asthma, limits for
Wind carries ozone reduced lung capacity power plants
Susceptibility to and industrial
pneumonia & bronchitis combustion
sources and
strict
limitations on
the solvent
usage in
factories.

2. If you will be in-charge with the site selection for an industrial plant, which would you prefer, in an attainment area or in a non-
attainment area? Explain your answer using RA 8749 Provisions on Attainment and Non-attainment areas.

Based on RA 8749, a non-attainment area is areas with persistent air quality problem. This means that the area has violated
federal health-based standards for outdoor air pollution. Thus, I would prefer to choose area which was designated as an
attainment area.I prefer attainment area rather than non-attainment area because the air quality is at below the NAAQV, meaning,
the government is not strict with the compliance compared to the non-attainment areas. Also, upon non-conformity, unlike in a
non-attainment area, the plant shall be rewarded of a grace period to comply certain standards.

3. What will you do if a problem arise in the plant (i.e. boiler broke down) to avoid violations of Clean Air Act?

Boilers are essential equipment in many industrial processes. For example, these equipment supply steam to the processes for heating.
Sudden breakdown of boilers may cause great interruption to the energy supply, thus, immediate action must be taken by experienced
engineers in order to avoid production of contaminants to the environment. In order to avoid these problems, the person in charge
within the plant should have an intensive knowledge of the process in order to properly troubleshoot the equipment.If there would be a
problem arise in the plant, I shall write a letter to the EMB & DENR regarding of what happened and I will ask for a help or solution
regarding of that. If they will approve it, 18 months is given to comply the necessary problems in the plant. If met, grace period shall
be given.

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 ENV20
Introduction to Environmental Engineering
2nd Term 2016-2017

Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted
rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
- ARISTOTLE

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