Major Environmental Problems

Land Solid Waste

Contamination Disposal Water Pollution

Noise and Air Pollution Control Noise Pollution Air Pollution

Professor Irene M. C. Lo, PhD, FHKIE, FASCE

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Audible Range Pressure vs. Power

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Range of Sound Pressure Levels Sound Pressure (p) and
Sound Pressure Level (Lp)?

What is the relationship

between sound pressure (p)
and sound pressure level (Lp)? 5 6

Transmission of Noise
How does Noise Affect Our Living? Receiver 2
Receiver 1

Source

r
Receiver 2
dB at receiver Distance between
Receiver 1
Lp ≅ Lw − 20 log r − 11 receiver and source
dB at source
dB at receiver 2 Distance between
r receiver 2 and source
Lp 2 ≅ Lp1 − 20 log 2
r1
dB at receiver 1 Distance between
Does receiver 1 or receiver 2 receiver 1 and source
get higher noise level?
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 How to calculate the combining sound levels?
Sound levels (in dB(A)) are not additive because of
their logarithmic nature:
⎡ n ⎛ Li ⎞ ⎤
和富花園
Lcom = 10 log ⎢∑ ⎜⎜1010 ⎟⎟⎥
⎣⎢ i =1 ⎝ ⎠⎦⎥
東區走廊 Find out the sound level from 3 sources:
68 dB, 75 dB & 79 dB

The East Corridor is located at a height of ~6 floors.

So you buy a flat at 1/F receiving the same noise level as

11/F. Similarly, the noise level at 2/F. is same as 10/F.

Which floor receives the highest noise level?

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Engineering Solutions to
Effect of Noise on Humans
Noise Reduction
• Auditory effects
• Separate the sources of noise from noise sensitive uses.
9 Hearing loss (impairment)
ƒ Damage of eardrum (normally temporary) 9Screening by natural landscape (such as earth bunds)
ƒ Damage of hair cells (temporary or permanent) and 9Using acoustic‐insulated materials in commercial blocks
resulting threshold shift. or office buildings
9 Speech interference (masking) 9Purposely built podium decking

• Psychological/sociological effects
9 Annoyance
9 Sleep interference
9 Lower work/study performance
9 Anxiety

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 Major Environmental Problems Air Pollution in Hong Kong
Land Solid Waste
Contamination Disposal Water Pollution

Noise Pollution Air Pollution

What are the typical

air pollutants (outdoor)?
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Types of Air Pollutants (Outdoor) Types of Air Pollutants (Outdoor)

• Particulates • Sulfur oxides (SOx)
9 products of coal or fuel combustion
9 Lung damage, respiratory diseases 9 irritant to throats
9 Some of them are carcinogen. 9 toxic to human
9 important in acid rain formation.

• Carbon monoxide (CO) • Ozone (O3)

9 product of incomplete combustion 9 very powerful oxidant
9 known human toxin 9 irritant to lungs, eyes, vegetation.

• Lead (Pb)
• Nitrogen oxides (NOx) 9 combustion of lead‐bearing fuels.
9 human toxicant
9 products of combustion
9 important in acid rain formation. • Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
9 irritant to respiratory system. 9 toxic to human
9 carcinogenic
(Liu and Liptak, 2000)
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 Indoor Air Quality Improve Indoor Air Quality
• Sources: • Source Control
9 Attached garages; – Eliminate individual source of pollution or to
9 New carpets and reduce their emissions.
furniture;
9 Paint; • Ventilation Improvements
9Chemical storage. – Increase the amount of outdoor air coming
indoors.
• Pollutants: – E.g. Open windows and doors, install attic fans
9 Radon
9 Asbestos; • Air Cleaners
9 Tobacco smoke; – Collect pollutants from indoor air through the
9 Solvents; cleaning or filtering machine
9 Mold and fungus.

Division of Air Quality, State of Alaska

Global Warming (Climate Change Evidence)

Six Greenhouse Gases (GHG)

Symbol Name Common Sources

CO2 Carbon Dioxide Fossil fuel combustion, forest clearing, cement production, etc.
Landfills, production and distribution of natural gas & petroleum,
1. Global temperature CH4 Methane fermentation from the digestive system of livestock, rice cultivation,
2. Sea level fossil fuel combustion, etc.
3. Snow cover N2O Nitrous Oxide Fossil fuel combustion, fertilizers, nylon production, manure, etc.

Refrigeration gases, aluminum smelting, semiconductor

HFCs Hydrofluorocarbons
manufacturing, etc.

PFCs Perfluorocarbons Aluminum production, semiconductor industry, etc.

Electrical transmissions and distribution systems, circuit breakers,

SF6 Sulfur Hexafluoride
magnesium production, etc.

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GHGs Atmospheric Concentration Temperature trend in Hong Kong
(1) Primary GHGs are
carbon dioxide (CO2),
methane (CH4) and
nitrous oxide (N2O)

(2) Their atmospheric

concentrations have
significantly increased
since the industrial
revolution

How does this

affect Hong Kong? Annual mean temperature recorded at the Hong Kong Observatory Headquarters
(1885‐2009). Data are not available from 1940 to 1946
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Carbon footprint is defined as the total amount of

direct and indirect
Carbonemissions of greenhouse gases,
Footprint Per Capita Carbon Emissions
expressed in in terms of equivalent amount of carbon
dioxide emission”

6.2 (HK)

Does China emit less

CO2 compared to U.S.? 24
 China Regulation & Compliance Hong Kong Reduction Target
• China committed to reduce its CO2 emissions Expected
intensity by 40 to 45% in 2020 compared to 2005 GHG
level. emissions
reduction in
• Carbon intensity = CO2‐e/GDP = CO2‐e/$ HK from
2005‐2020

How much is the CO2

emissions intensity reduction
for Hong Kong?
What are the major sectors
50‐60% by 2020 from 2005 level
account for GHGs emissions
25 in Hong Kong? 26

Routes to Professional Engineer

(Corporate Membership of HKIE)
Engineering General Mature Route
Graduate Emerging Route
Training Route Experience Route Over 35 Years of Age

Recognised Non-recognised
Recognised Academic Qualifications Degree in
Academic Academic
Qualifications Qualifications Applied Science

Journey to Become Engineering

Graduate Training
General
Experience

Environmental Engineer
2 or 3 Years 5 Years Min. 8 Years
Minimum 15 Years Relevant
6 Years Progressive Experience
Responsible Responsible Experience Experience in a Responsible
Experience Experience Position
2 or 1 Year 1 Year

Hong Kong Institution of Engineers

Professional Assessment

Member
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 Duties of
Environmental Engineers Potential Employers

Core Areas of Work: Private Sector:

z Consulting firms on waste/sewage
z Formulation and implementation of Government
Environmental Policies treatment and environmental impact
assessment, e.g. AECOM, ERM
z Design, Install, Maintain & Operate Sewerage &
z Utilities companies, e.g. HEC, CLP
Waste Facilities
z Semi-government organizations, e.g.
z Environmental Planning and Impact Assessment
HKPC, MTRC
z Environmental Monitoring
z Contractors, e.g. Gammon, Leighton
z Technologies development and commercialization

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Potential Employers

HKIE
Public Sector (HKSAR Government):
z Environmental Protection Department (EPD)
z Water Supply Department (WSD)
z Drainage Service Department (DSD)
z Civil Engineering and Development Dept (CEDD)

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 A Speech from 12‐year old girl
Environmental
who silenced the world at the engineering is a
United Nations Earth Summit in 1992 practical and
Interesting
for 6 minutes subject. We
solve problems
and improve
our daily life. It
is a meaningful
career that you
will be proud of.
Choose your major
based on interest-
driven, not market-
driven.

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Campus of Hong Kong University of Science & Technology

Thank you

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