ID1200

ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT

Tuesday: 4:45 PM

Friday: 4:45 PM

August-Nov: 2016

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Chennai – 600 036

Urbanization in Western Ghats
A VILLAGE NEAR MULSHI
LAVASA
ONE OF THE MANY NALAS
MULSHI RESERVOIR
How does the flow and material transport in the nalas in Western
Ghats, near Pune get affected by the contemplated land use changes
and potential climate changes.
 Groundwater Pollution: Causes

Hazardous waste injection well

Pesticides
Coal strip
De-icing Buried gasoline
mine runoff
road salt and solvent tank
Pumping Cesspool
well Gasoline septic tank
station
Waste lagoon Water pumping Sewer
well Landfill

Accidental Leakage from faulty

spills casing
uifer
a q Discharge
a ter
hw uif
er
f res a q Confined aquifer
n e d t e r
fi a
nco n r e s hw Groundwater
U df
n e flow
nfi
Co
 Read about Kodungaiyur in
Chennai’s backyard / dump yard
Kuthambakkam

Velachery
• What are soil types and conditions at site?

• What streams, lakes, rivers and reservoirs exist in

the vicinity that may be affected by surface and
subsurface runoff?

• What subsurface, hydro-geologic and geologic

conditions are present? Are there any instabilities in
the sub-base?
• Does the soil have high cation exchange capacity to
attenuate contaminants?

• Are there sole-source aquifers in the vicinity?

• Are there wetlands in the vicinity that will be

affected?

• What is the proximity to major roadways? Are there

load limits on roadways?
• What are the aesthetic considerations associated
with odor, noise and dust to nearby residents?

• Are there airports in the vicinity?

• Are there confined or unconfined aquifers at

shallow depths?

• What are the groundwater levels?

• How do we manage the leachate?

• How do we tackle contamination of

surrounding water bodies during operation?
 Leachate contains very high concentrations of

– Organic matter
– Pathogens
– Heavy metals
– PCBs and PAHs
– Pesticides
– Detergents
– Emerging pollutants (Endocrine disrupting agents) etc.
• Property Boundary: Buffer zone

• Other Facilities: Distance from wells,

residences, school, public park

• Airports: Away from airports (because of bird

problems)

• Surface Water: Distance from landfill

• Floodplain: Sites within 1 in 200 year floodplain

must be designed to prevent washout
Significance of Groundwater for Landfill Siting

• Landfill
failure rate: Two thirds reported to result in
groundwater contamination

• Reason is that most landfills are located in areas with

considerable precipitation and on shallow, surficial, high
K, sand and gravel aquifers

• Failure to meet quality criteria at compliance wells:

– landfill located on high permeability soils is 75%

– compared to 0.0005% for a low permeability site
If a proper waste separation scheme is not in
place, landfill would be used for both toxic and
non-toxic waste, which is not good.
Failure of Earthworks
Failure in the Liner
Kuthambakkam

Velachery
DDT
Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane
(organochloride)

Colorless
Crystalline
Tasteless
Odourless (almost)
1874: Synthesized

1939: Insecticidal action discovered

Used for controlling malaria, typhus, dengue

1948 Nobel Prize

1945 – Extensive use in agriculture

1955 – WHO depended on DDT for eradicating

malaria Paul Hermann Muller
(Spectacular success I!!, even in India)
Between 1950- 1980: Usage was 40,000 T/year worldwide

1.8 Million tons was produced globally

Year of Publication: 1962
This book talked about the detrimental effects
on the environment caused by the
indiscriminate use of pesticides.

Brought out the disinformation campaign on

pesticides by Chemical Industries

Questioned public officials who accepted claims

of industry claims unquestioningly.
Harmful effects of DDT

It is a persistent organic pollutant (POP)

It has a disastrous effect on a variety of freshwater and marine beings

Causes eggshell thinning in birds such as eagles and hawks

(decreased reproductive rates).

Carcinogenic to human beings (Breast & other cancers)

It is an endocrine disrupting compound

Effects reproductive and developmental effects

(Male infertility / Miscarriage & low birth weight)

Nervous system and liver damage

 No living organism is considered DDT free!!

Food supplies: USDA found DDT breakdown products in

60% of heavy cream samples, 42% of kale greens, 28%
of carrots and lower percentages of many other foods.

Body burden: DDT breakdown products were found in

the blood of 99% of the people tested by Center for
Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).

Health impacts: Girls exposed to DDT before puberty are

5 times more likely to develop breast cancer in middle
age, according to the President’s Cancer Panel.
 Banned in Sweden in 1970

Banned in USA in 1972

Banned worldwide (agricultural use) : 2001

Stockholm convention on POPs

DEBATE
Is the Ban on DDT Good or Bad??

DDT is still produced in a few countries, including the U.S.A.

Decision to ban is questioned because of its effectiveness in combating

vector-borne diseases.
 BIO DIESEL

petrofed.winwinhosting.net/upload/13Apr/4.ppt : N.R. Raje

Professor Bernard L. (Baruch) Epel, Director, The Manna Center for Plant
Biosciences Tel Aviv University.
With-in 40 years world population with
grow by at least 50% to 9 billion
More people, higher standard of living:

Much Much Much More

• Heating
• air conditioners
• cars and trucks

Fuel needs will grow tremendously

Professor Bernard L. (Baruch) Epel

 The Indian Petroleum Scenario

 Consumption of petroleum products -120 MMT

 Import of crude & POL (2003-04) - 90 MMT
 Production of crude - 33 MMT
 Consumption of HSDO & LDO - 45 MMT
 Consumption of motor gasoline (petrol) - 10 MMT

MMT : Million Metric Tonnes

POL : Petroleum, Oil & Lubricants

HSDO: High Speed Diesel Oil

LDO: Light Diesel Oil
Source: N.R.Raje
 Oil Economy

 Oil import constitutes a major part of our trade deficit and has an
enormous impact on our economy and creation of new jobs

 We spent annually more than 150,000 crores on import of petroleum

 Some day we may be faced with an oil crisis that is not temporary; today
oil field discovery and production is on the decline.

 Developing a strong market for bio diesel would have tremendous

economic benefits

 Investments in biodiesel technology may ensure that we have

transportation fuel options and we will not be so vulnerable

Source: N.R.Raje
 What is it going to cost us?
• Increased greenhouse gases (CO2, methane,
Nitrous oxide). =========global warming!!

• Energy insecurity; political blackmail

• Price increases and price instability

Professor Bernard L. (Baruch) Epel

 Bio Fuels

Oxygenated organic compounds from cellulosic

biomass

Bio ethanol, Biodiesel

Others include: bio methanol, pyrolysis oils, Fischer-
Tropsch fuels
Can provide a market share of ~15%

Source: N.R.Raje
 Bio Diesel
• Made by chemically combining any natural oil or fat
with an alcohol

• Most European Countries, North America and

Canada have active Biodiesel programs

• France currently the largest producer

• USA produced 30 million gallons in 2004.

Source: N.R.Raje
 Why Bio Fuels?
 SECURITY OF SUPPLY

 SUSTAINABILITY

 REDUCTION OF GREEN HOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

 REGIONAL (RURAL) DEVELOPMENT

 SOCIAL STRUCTURE & AGRICULTURE

Source: N.R.Raje
Figure 1: Emission reductions achieved by the use of biodiesel blends. Source:
NBB.

GHG emission reduction values of 54 to 40%

Source: N.R.Raje
 Raw Materials
 Rapeseed, the major source (>80%)

 Sunflower oil (10%, Italy and Southern France)

 Soybean oil (USA)

 Palm oil (Malaysia)

 Linseed, olive oils (Spain)

 Cottonseed oil (Greece)

 Beef tallow (Ireland), lard, used frying oil (Austria), Jatropha (Nicaragua),
Guang-Pi (China)

Source: N.R.Raje
 Replace petrol with biofuels
• Is this really a viable solution?
• Is it economically sound?
• Are there hidden problems we must consider?
• Are biofuel realistic solutions to global warming?
• Will biofuels solve one ecological problem but
create others?
• What are the societal consequences of developing
this technology?

Professor Bernard L. (Baruch) Epel

 Stakeholders
• Who is for and who is against?
• What are their motives for or against
developing these technologies?
• Are their motives pure or do some have a
hidden agenda?
• Who will be the winners/losers?

Professor Bernard L. (Baruch) Epel

 Stakeholders
• World population:
– FOR/AGAINST: need a reliable source of fuel at a
reasonable price.
– FOR: Want to prevent future catastrophe due to
global warming
– AGAINST: Want stable source of foods and
clothing at reasonable prices

Professor Bernard L. (Baruch) Epel

 Stakeholders
• Western governments
– FOR: Want energy security
– FOR: Want stable sustainable supply of fuel at a
stable price that will not cause economic
instability.
– FOR: ???Want to protect domestic farmers and
industries; will tax foreign producers; subsidize
local growers.

Professor Bernard L. (Baruch) Epel

 Stakeholders
• Third world governments (not oil producers)
– FOR: Want to develop a commodity market for
farmers and develop local biofuel producers.
– FOR: Become less dependent of foreign producers
and develop their own market.

Professor Bernard L. (Baruch) Epel

 Stakeholders
• Farmers
– FOR: BUT WITH AN AGENDA American corn farmers,
Sugar cane farmers (Brazil, latin America, many African
nations)
– FOR: BUT WITH AN AGENDA Commodity farmers growing
high oil content crops (small farmers, especially in third
world)
– FOR: BUT WITH AN AGENDA Industrial farmers But their
entry into the market will push out small farmers.
– Against: Farmers growing animals for meat due to higher
cost of feed crops

Professor Bernard L. (Baruch) Epel

 Stakeholders

• Shippers (truckers, rail, pipelines, ships)

– will need to increase investment in developing new transportation
infrastructure for raw materials and final product.
• Oil producers generally against
– Lower prices of oil, loss of markets, decreased profits
– Unless they diversify into biofuels, they will be big losers.
• Oil industry (refiners and petrochemical industry)
– Refiners will need to develop new technologies and infrastructure at
high cost or lose market shares
– Petrochemical industry, will see stabilization or decrease in price of
raw materials (winners).

Professor Bernard L. (Baruch) Epel

 Stakeholders
• Environmentalists (schizophrenics)
– For: Biofuels if they will aid in stabilizing atmospheric
carbon dioxide increases; stabilized global warming,
– For developing renewable energy sources that
decrease agricultural footprint. (Here we have a
possible conflict). Not maize.
– Against: they have concerns about loss of biodiversity
and loss of natural habitat due to clearing of land for
expanding agriculture.
– Against: if need to use GMOs

Professor Bernard L. (Baruch) Epel

Do they all provide positive results?

– Economically?
– Ecologically?
– Ethically?

Professor Bernard L. (Baruch) Epel

Effect of moderating oil prices

“Food vs fuel" debate

Poverty reduction potential

Carbon emissions levels,

Sustainable biofuel production

Deforestation and soil erosion

Loss of biodiversity

Impact on water resources

International Resource Panel: Towards sustainable production and use of

resources: Assessing Biofuels
 Nano Technology

It is science, engineering, and technology conducted

at the nanoscale, which is about 1 to 100
nanometers.
Design, characterization, and application of
structures, devices, and systems by controlled
manipulation of size and shape of materials at the
nanometer scale (atomic, molecular, and
macromolecular scale)
Nanometer: one thousand millionth of a meter / 10-9 m

Source: Dr. Safa M. Dahab et al.

 Nanomaterials
Materials which nanoparticles, smaller than 100 nanometres
in at least one dimension.

These are formed by incorporation or structuring of

nanoparticles.

At nanoscale physical and chemical properties of materials

differ significantly from those at a larger scale.

Increased interaction and reactvity

One can potentially use less material

On the nanoscale the properties are so utterly different

Nanocrystals: composed of atoms in either a
single- or poly-crystalline arrangement.

FeS2 Nanocrystals for thin film Photovoltaics

Nanopowder: An agglomerate of ultrafine particles,
nanoparticles, or nanoclusters.

Nanopowder of Graphite
Nanotubes: A sequence of nanoscale  atoms
arranged in a long thin cylindrical structure.

Extremely strong mechanically

Pure conductors of current

Used in resistors / capacitors

inductors / diodes
transistors etc.

Carbon Nanotubes

Source: Dr. Safa M. Dahab et al.

 example Category of nanomaterials
Layers, multi-layers, thin films, One-dimensional nanomaterials
platelets and surface coatings.
(Used in the electronics industry)
Nanowires, nanofibres made Two-dimensional nanomaterials
from a variety of elements
Nanotubes
Nanoparticles Three-dimensional
precipitates, colloids and nanomaterials
quantum dots (tiny particles of
semiconductor materials), and
Nanocrystalline materials

We now have tools which allow atoms and molecules to be

examined and probed with great precision

Enabled the expansion and development of nanoscience and

nanotechnologies. Source: Dr. Safa M. Dahab et al.
 Applications of Nanotechnology

Examples Application
Diagnostics / Drug delivery Medicine
Tissue engineering /
Cryonics

Memory storage Information and communication

semiconductor devices
optoelectronic devices
Displays
Quantum computers
Aerospace, Catalysis, Heavy Industry
Catalysis, Construction
Vehicle manufacturers
Foods, Household, Optics, Consumer goods
Textiles, Cosmetics, Sports

Source: Dr. Safa M. Dahab et al.

 Examples Application in Environmental Engrg.
Photocatalysts (Ex: silica Carbon capture
Nanosprings coated with a
combination of titanium dioxide)

Pollutants sensors Sensors

Heavy metal decontaminants Remediation (decontamination, oil

(EX: Removal of Lb, Ca etc. without spill management)
using any form of sulphur)
A variety of inorganic microfiltration Wastewater treatment
and ultrafiltration membranes.
Heat distribution e.g. ceramic-like  Energy
materials  that provide sufficient
reliability and durability of the entire
structure

Source: Dr. Safa M. Dahab et al.

 Water Purification
Detection of metals, nutrientss, algae,
biological agents
Nanoparticle-based assays and
nanodevices for biomolecular detection
Nanobiocides
Biofilm removal
Nanofiltration (brackish water treatment,
industrial wastewater
treatment & reuse
 Environmental Implications

Double Edged Knife??

Enabling characteristic of small size influences risk by
changing the particles' potential for mobility,
exposure, absorption, reactivity, and toxicity

The risk assessment requires knowledge of

their distribution in the environment and
food chain

Uncertainty in relationship between size, surface area,

and surface reactivity adds complexity to risk assessment
 Skin, lungs, and the gastro-intestinal tract are the most likely points of entry
for natural or anthropogenic nanoparticles.

Injections and implants are other possible routes of exposure

nanoparticles can translocate from these entry portals into the circulatory
and lymphatic systems / ultimately to body tissues and organs.

They can produce irreversible damage to cells by oxidative stress or/and

organelle injury.

Rat macrophage cell

Cristina Buzea, Ivan. I. Pacheco Blandino and Kevin Robbie, 2007

Cristina Buzea, Ivan. I. Pacheco Blandino and Kevin Robbie, 2007
 (a) The eruption plume of St.
Helen volcano, in 1980 (b)
Rabaul Eruption Plume, New
Britain Island, 1994. (c)
Scanning electron
microscope image of volcanic
ash from the first volcanic
eruption of Mount St.
Helens, (d) Podoconiosis -
impaired lymphatic system
drainage affecting the limbs
due to clogging with nano
and microparticles (e)
Volcanic iron oxide rich soil
in Rwanda (f) Aggressive
African-endemic Kaposi’s
sarcoma - cancer of blood
and lymph vessels - of the
foot

Cristina Buzea, Ivan. I. Pacheco Blandino and Kevin Robbie, 2007

Nanoparticles can influence basic cellular processes, such as
proliferation, metabolism, and death.

Cancer results from uncontrolled cell proliferation,

Neurodegenerative diseases are caused in part by

premature cell death

Oxidative stress has been implicated in many diseases,

including cardiovascular and neurological disease,
pancreatitis, and cancer.
 Nanostructured materials
in thin film form

(a) Si rugate filter

(b) Si 12-layered
structure
(c) MgF2 capping layered
helical films
(d) Ti pillars
(e) Cu pyramids
(f) Cu oblique columns
(g) ZnO nanowires,
(h) Porous Ag
(i) porous Si

Nanostructured materials shown here are firmly attached to a substrate and do not
pose a health risk as long as they do not detach from the substrate.

Cristina Buzea, Ivan. I. Pacheco Blandino and Kevin Robbie, 2007

 Examples of free
nanoparticles.
(a) MWCNTs
(b) ground MWCNTs
(c) Silicon rods
(d) Carbon black
(e) Silver
(f) titanium dioxide
(g) Gold nanorods
(h) Silicon zigzags
(i) Magnesium
fluoride helices

Nanostructured materials where nanostructures are free and can

become airborne, consequently posing a potential health risk.
Cristina Buzea, Ivan. I. Pacheco Blandino and Kevin Robbie, 2007
Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater !!

Nan
o tech
n ol o
gy
 IMPORTANT ANOUNCEMENT

There will be an on-line quiz based on today’s

and previous lecture

Access to Quiz will open at 5:30 PM today and

will close at 7:45 AM tomorrow

It will have 5 questions;

you may require only two minutes to answer them;
however you will be given twenty minutes
THANK YOU
THANK YOU