ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING AND SUSTAINABILITY

ECW 445
ASSIGNMENT 1

TITLE:
EFFECT OF COVID-19 TO OUR ENVIRONMENT

NAME: MUHAMMAD FATHULLAH BIN MD YAZID

MATRIC ID: 2019801698

GROUP: EC220 4C4

LECTURER: TS. DR. NURYAZMEEN FARHAN HARON

Introduction
Can you imagine that there’s already pollution on Earth since there’s lives. Of course,
the man kinds had cause pollution even before the stone ages which is when we know
how to set up fires by burning woods. The pollution growing seriously when human
undergoes evolution in technologies. During stone ages, human acknowledge the skills
to make weapon and pottery by cutting and trimming stones but the sides product is
dust. Until the metal ages, fires are widely and intensively use to melt metal in order to
shape it into something useful and large amount of smokes are produce. Then,
industrial era, the starting of massive pollution on Earth which is when vehicles are
introduce to humans and the level of pollution increased in amount that no one had
imagine. So, as we can see, things had worse from one to one until now, a modern
digital era. The pollution during this era is so serious that it involved almost all the
aspect of the environment such as air, water, soil, noise, and many more. They even
cause harmful effect on human health and no one know what will happen if the pollution
level continues to rise.

Objective

1. To study the effect of covid-19 towards environment

2. To determine the effect of human activity
3. To study the knowledge on environmental engineering and current issues related
4. To determine the technologies and mitigation strategies

Background topic

The Covid19 pandemic can be considered as the most crucial global health calamity
of the century and the biggest challenge that the humankind faced since the 2 nd World
War. December 2019, new infectious respiratory disease emerged in Wuhan, Hubei
province, China and was named by the World Health Organization as Covid19
(coronavirus disease 2019).

This research aims to show the effects of Covid-19 on the environment, particularly
in the most affected countries such as China, USA, Italy, and Spain. Our research
shows that there is a significant association between contingency measures and
improvement in air quality, clean beaches and environmental noise reduction. On the
other hand, there are also negative secondary aspects such as the reduction in
recycling and the increase in waste, further endangering the contamination of physical
spaces(water and land), in addition to air.
Cause and Effect to environment
A. Effect on Air Pollution

Decreased concentrations of NO2 and PM 2.5

Air quality is essential for people's health; however, 91% of the world population lives in
places where poor air quality exceeds the permissible limits (WHO, 2016). The
consequences of air quality degradation are manifested in a significant percentage of
global mortality each year (Zhang et al., 2017). In this regard, the 2016 World Health
Organization (WHO) report indicates that air pollution contributes to almost 8% of total
deaths in the world; the most affected countries being those found in Africa, Asia and
part of Europe (WHO, 2016).

China implemented strict traffic restrictions and self-quarantine measures to control the
expansion of SARS-CoV2. These actions generated changes in air pollution. Due to
quarantine, NO2 was reduced by 22.8 μg/m3 and 12.9 μg/m3 in Wuhan and China,
respectively. PM 2.5 fell by 1.4 μg/m3 in Wuhan but decreased by 18.9 μg/m3 in 367
cities.

On the other hand, the readings from the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite show a
significant decrease in NO2 concentrations over Rome, Madrid, and Paris, the first cities
in Europe to implement strict quarantine measures. Fig. 2 shows average NO2
concentrations from 14 to 25 March 2020 (panel b), compared to the monthly average
of concentrations from 2019 (panel a).
Clean air and clear skies

When Dr Jamie Chong opened her window one morning during the movement control
order (MCO) period, she was greeted by unusually clear skies and clear air.

“Friend have also forwarded me photos of noticeably cleaner rivers, clear and unhazy
skies taken from balconies, and even videos of otters playing by the Putrajaya Lake,”
says Chong, who is the director of Asia Pacific Environmental Consultants.

There are figures to back up the anecdotal evidence: The Air Pollutant Index showed a
14% increase in the number of days with “good” air quality during the MCO, according
to the Department of Environment (DOE). This is a result of fewer vehicles on the road
and less industrial activity, says the latest report issued by the Environment and Water
Ministry.

B. Effect on Noise Pollution

Reduction of environmental noise level

Environmental noise is defined as an unwanted sound that could be generated by

anthropogenic activities (for instance, industrial or commercial activities), the transit of
engine vehicles, and melodies at high volume. Environmental noise is one of the main
sources of discomfort for the population and the environment, causing health problems
and altering the natural conditions of the ecosystem (Zambrano-Monserrate and Ruano,
2019).

The imposition of quarantine measures by most governments has caused people to

stay at home. With this, the use of private and public transportation has decreased
significantly. Also, commercial activities have stopped almost entirely. All these changes
have caused the noise level to drop considerably in most cities in the world.
 C. Effect on Soil Pollution

Clean beaches

Beaches are one of the most important natural capital assets found in coastal areas
(Zambrano-Monserrate et al., 2018). They provide services (land, sand, recreation, and
tourism) that are critical to the survival of coastal communities and possess intrinsic
values that must be protected from overexploitation (Lucrezi et al., 2016). However,
non-responsible use by people has caused many beaches in the world to present
pollution problems (Partelow et al., 2015).

The lack of tourists, as a result of the social distancing measures due to the new
coronavirus pandemic, has caused a notable change in the appearance of many
beaches in the world. For example, beaches like those of Acapulco (Mexico), Barcelona
(Spain), or Salinas (Ecuador) now look cleaner and with crystal clear waters.

Increase of illegal dumpling

ILLEGAL dumping on Ryde Place and Malacca Road has continued despite the
nationwide lockdown currently in effect.

Last week North glen News was called to an illegal dumping scene on Ryde Place by
Glenhills Ratepayers Association member, Robin Candy, who was shocked to find bags
of garden refuse thrown along the sloped embankment on the road leading to the
municipal dump.

Several bags of household rubbish had also been dumped on Ryde Place and close to
around 20 bags of garden refuse.

In 2015 the City spent more than a million Rand to erect a 1.5 meter high concrete
palisade fence (topped with barbed wire) – spanning the length of Malacca Road and
Ryde Place.

It was thought at the time the fence would help with security and illegal dumping,
however it has failed to hamper dumpers, who, instead of throwing their rubbish into the
forest around the cemetery, now use the fence boundary to dump items at.
Knowledge on Environmental Engineering
 Air pollution

A mixture of solid particles and gases in the air can be called as air pollution. Car
emissions, chemicals from factories, may be suspended as particles. Ozone is a major
part of air pollution in cities. When ozone forms air pollution, it's called smog. Some of
air pollutants are poisonous. Inhaling them can increase the chance that you'll have
health issues. People who have heart or lung disease, older adults and children are at
the more risk from air pollution. Air pollution isn't just outside but inside buildings can
also be polluted and affect your health.

ANTHROPOGENIC SOURCES NATURAL SOURCES

"Stationary Sources" as smoke stacks of
power plants, manufacturing facilities,
municipal waste incinerators
"Mobile Sources" as motor vehicles,
aircraft marine vessels
Controlled/open burn practices used in
agriculture and forestry management
Chemicals, dust and crop waste burning in
farming
Waste deposition in landfills, which
generate methane
Dust from natural sources, usually large
areas of land with little or no vegetation
Methane, emitted by the digestion of food
by animals, for example cattle
Radon gas from radioactive decay within
the Earth's crust
Smoke and carbon monoxide from
wildfires
Volcanic activity, which produce sulfur,
chlorine, and ash particulates

Pollutants can be classified as either primary or secondary:

1. Primary pollutants are substances directly emitted from a process, such as ash
from a volcanic eruption or the carbon monoxide gas from a motor vehicle
exhaust.
2. Secondary pollutants are not emitted directly. Rather, they form in the air when
primary pollutants react or interact. An important example of a secondary
pollutant is ground level ozone.

Primary pollutants Secondary pollutants

Sulfur oxides (Sox) especially sulfur
dioxides are emitted from burning of coal
and oil.
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) especially nitrogen
dioxide are emitted from high temperature
combustion.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) a greenhouse gas
emitted from combustion activities.
Particulate matter formed from gaseous
primary pollutants and compounds in
photochemical smog, such as nitrogen
dioxide.
Ground level ozone (O3) formed from NOx
and VOCs.
Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) similarly
formed from NOx and VOCs.
  Noise pollution

Noise, basically is unwanted sound that disrupts activity or balance of human or

animal life. The word noise comes from the Latin word noxia meaning "injury" or "hurt".
Noise is measured in decibels, dB.

Classification of noise level:

Level Explanation
30 dB A quiet library or soft whisper.
70 dB Busy traffic. At this level, noise may affect your hearing if exposure is
constant.
80 dB Heavy city traffic and factory noise. These noises can be dangerous if you
are exposed to them for more than eight hours.
100 dB A chain saw and pneumatic drill. Even 2 hours of exposure can be
dangerous at 100 dB, and with each 5 dB increase, the “safe time” is cut in
half.
120 dB Sound at a rock concert in front of speakers and thunderclap. The danger
is immediate. At 120 dB, exposure can injure your ear.
140 dB A gunshot blast and a jet plane. Any length of exposure time is dangerous
and may cause actual pain in the ear.
180 dB The sound at a rocket launching pad. Noise at this level causes irreversible
damage if ear protection is not used, and hearing loss is inevitable.

Transportation
system

Loudspeaker Construction
work

Emergency sources Car

siren alarms

Office Barking
equipment dog
  Soil pollution

Soil pollution can be refers to anything that causes contamination of soil and
degrades the soil quality. It will occur when the pollutants causing the pollution reduce
the quality of the soil and convert the soil inhabitable for microorganisms and macro
organisms living in the soil.

Soil pollution can occur either because of human activities or from natural processes.
However, mostly it is cause from to human activities. The soil pollution can occur due to
the presence of chemicals such as pesticides, ammonia, petroleum hydrocarbons, lead,
nitrate, mercury, naphthalene, etc. in an excess amount.

Cause of soil pollution:

 Solid Waste
Disposal of plastics, cans, and other solid waste falls into the category of soil
pollution. Disposal of electrical goods such as batteries causes an adverse effect
on the soil due to the presence of harmful chemicals. For instance, lithium
present in batteries can cause leaching of soil.
 Industrial Pollution
The incorrect way of chemical waste disposal from different types of industries
can cause contamination of soil. Human activities like this have led to
acidification of soil and contamination due to the disposal of industrial waste,
heavy metals, toxic chemicals, dumping oil and fuel, etc.

After effect of soil pollution:

 Harmful Effect on Human Health

It will increase the exposure to toxic and harmful chemicals thus increasing
health threats to people living nearby and on the degraded land. Living, working
or playing in the contaminated soil can lead to respiratory diseases, skin
diseases, and other diseases. Moreover, it can cause other health problems.
 Inferior Crop Quality
It can decrease the quality of the crop. Regular use of chemical fertilizers,
inorganic fertilizers, pesticides will decrease the fertility of the soil at a rapid rate
and alter the structure of the soil. This will lead to decrease in soil quality and
poor quality of crops. Over the time the soil will become less productive due to
the accumulation of toxic chemicals in large quantity.
Technologies and Mitigation Strategies
Air pollution Noise pollution Soil pollution
Trees and Vegetation Surface Pavement Recycling and recovery
Perhaps counterintuitively, Selection of materials
for the same reason that Selection of surface This is a reasonable solution
vegetation barriers can be pavement affects sound for reducing soil pollution.
effective in preventing the level creates when vehicles Materials such as paper,
movement of pollution, trees travel on it due to different some kinds of plastics and
can lead to reduced air surface friction. Quieter glass can and are being
quality within built-up urban pavements are porous with a recycled. This decreases the
environments. If they are negative surface texture. volume of refuse and helps
planted along major roads, Louder pavements have a in the conservation of natural
their canopies can act as a transversely tined/grooved resources. For example,
roof, preventing surface, and/or a positive recovery of one tonne of
pollution from dissipating. surface texture. paper can save 17 trees.
Removing Pollutants Education and public Chemical methods
from the Air awareness. Treatment of the soil in
Technologies designed to Noise abatement policies suspension in a suitable
remove pollution from the air can only be established if liquid and without sludging is
often gain media attention basic knowledge and the two possible methods. In
due to their unusual designs. background material is these, intimate, contact
For example, China has available, and the people between soil and chemical is
recently constructed a 100m and authorities are aware essential and should be
tall air purifying tower in that noise is an frequently done so that the
Xi’an, which is shaped like a environmental hazard that process of detoxification is
chimney and uses needs to be controlled. It is, complete.
greenhouses to move air therefore, necessary to
through a filtration system. include noise in school
curricula and to establish
scientific institutes to study
acoustics and noise control.
Outreach Strategies Noise Barriers Reforesting
Outreach and marketing Can be used for existing Control of land loss and soil
activities have been shown road building projects. erosion can be attempted
to increase public awareness Can reduce adjacent land through restoring forest and
and compliance when used use by 10 dB. grass cover to check
in conjunction with other air Double glazed windows can wastelands, soil erosion and
quality initiatives. For block out 90 of the noise floods. Crop rotation or
example, Singapore’s air from outside. mixed cropping can improve
quality strategy emphasizes the fertility of the land.
creating community
ownership of air quality
issues and holds annual
‘community’ and youth for
the environment’ days.
Conclusion
The conclusion is, even though COVID-19 brings positive impact to our environment,
we still need to take care and avoid from number of pollution increased back. There are
always people who do not responsible to take care our nature. We also should prepare
strategies and mitigation how to reduce the pollution in our countries because we know
the pollution can make our health worst. On the other hand, the safe management of
domestic waste could be critical during the COVID-19 emergency. Medical waste such
as contaminated masks, gloves, used or expired medications, and other items can
easily be mixed with domestic waste. However, they should be treated as hazardous
waste and disposed of separately. Finally, it is concluded that COVID-19 will produce
both positive and negative indirect effects on the environment, but the latter will be
greater.

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