A Primer on Environmental Sciences

Olaniyi D. Olaleye, Uwakwe C. Chukwu, Matthew N. O. Sadiku

Description

The book fills an important niche for environmental science. It is a comprehensive, jargon-free introductory text on the issues, ideas, theories, and problems of environmental science. It provides an introduction to environmental science so that beginners can understand environmental science, its increasing importance, and its developments in the contemporary time. It is a must-read book for anyone who wants to save the world.
In a modern society, it is easy to forget that our society depends largely on the environmental processes that govern our world. Environment refers to an aggregate of surroundings in which living beings such as humans, animals, and plants live and non-living things exist. It includes air, water, land, living organisms, and materials surrounding us. The environment is an important part of our daily lives. Environmental issues are now part of every career path and employment area.
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field that applies principles from all the known technologies and sciences to study the environment and provide solutions to environmental problems. It is the study of how the earth works and how we can deal with the environmental issues we face. There is an ever demanding need for experts in this field because the environment is responsible for making our world beautiful and habitable. For this reason, environmental science is now being taught at high schools and higher institutions of learning. Education on environmental science will empower the youths to take an active role in the world in which they live.

Sujets

• Environmental Science
• Sciences et techniques
• Environment
• Nature
• Science
• Pollution

Informations

• Publié par: AuthorHouse
• Date de parution: 09 février 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781665547550
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 4 Mo

Extrait

A PRIMER ON ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Matthew Sadiku
Uwakwe C. Chukwu
Olaniyi D. Olaleye

 
 
© 2022 Matthew Sadiku. All rights reserved.
 
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.
 
AuthorHouse™
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Bloomington, IN 47403
www.authorhouse.com
Phone: [phone]
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
 
ISBN: 978-1-6655-4754-3 (sc)
978-1-6655-4755-0 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2021925439
 
 
Published by AuthorHouse 03/10/2023
 
 
 
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1INTRODUCTION
1.1 INTRODUCTION
1.2 TYPES OF ENVIRONMENT
1.1.1 Physical or Living Environment
1.1.2 Built Environment
1.2.3 Smart Environments
1.1.3 Green Environment
1.2 WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE?
1.4 COMPONENTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
1.5 CHALLENGES
1.6 CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
Chapter 2ENVIRONMENTAL NATURAL SCIENCES
2.1 INTRODUCTION
2.2 ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY
2.3 ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY
2.4 ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSICS
2.5 GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL NATURAL SCIENCES
2.8 CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
Chapter 3ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL SCIENCES
3.1 INTRODUCTION
3.2 SOCIAL SCIENCES AND ENVIROMENT
3.3 COMPONENTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL SCIENCES
3.4 ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL SCIENTISTS
3.5 GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL SCIENCES
3.6 BENEFITS
3.7 CHALLENGES
3.8 CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
Chapter 4ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
4.1 INTRODUCTION
4.2 CONCEPT OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
4.3 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
4.4 PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
4.5 ACHIEVING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
4.6 ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATORS
4.7 GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
4.8 BENEFITS
4.9 CHALLENGES
4.10 CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
Chapter 5ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
5.1 INTRODUCTION
5.2 CONCEPT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
5.3 ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER
5.4 APPLICATIONS
5.5 BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES
5.6 CONCLUSION
REFERENCE
Chapter 6ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
6.1 INTRODUCTION
6.2 CONCEPT OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
6.3 TYPES OF POLLUTION
6.4 CAUSES OF POLLUTION
6.5 EFFECTS OF POLLUTION
6.6 PREVENTATION OF POLLUTION
6.7 GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
6.8 CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
Chapter 7ENVIROMENTAL HEALTH
7.1 INTRODUCTION
7.2 WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH?
7.3 WHY IS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IMPORTANT?
7.4 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
7.5 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTIONS
7.6 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
7.7 GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
7.9 BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES
7.9 CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
Chapter 8ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS
8.1 INTRODUCTION
8.2 CONCEPT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS
1.4 SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS
8.3 ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMISTS
8.4 GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS
8.5 BENEFITS
8.6 CHALLENGES
8.7 CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
Chapter 9ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
9.1 INTRODUCTION
9.2 CONCEPT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
9.3 CHARACTERISTICS OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
9.3 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
9.4 ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
9.5 APPLICATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
9.6 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING
9.7 GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES ON ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT
9.8 BENEFITS
9.9 CHALLENGES
9.10 CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
Chapter 10ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
10.1 INTRODUCTION
10.2 CONCEPT OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
10.3 POLICY INSTRUMENTS
10.4 SAMPLE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES
10.5 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
10.6 ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVES
10.7 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY PROFESSIONALS
10.8 APPLICATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
10.9 INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
10.9 BENEFITS
10.10 CHALLENGES
10.11 CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
Chapter 11ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
11.1 INTRODUCTION
11.2 CONCEPT OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
11.3 ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYERS
11.5 PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
11.6 SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
11.7 INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
11.8 SCOPE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW
11.9 PRINCIPLES OF INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
11.10 APPLICATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS
11.11 ENVIRONMENTAL LAW IN DEVELOPED NATIONS
11.12 ENVIRONMENTAL LAW IN DEVELOPING NATIONS
11.13 BENEFITS
11.14 CHALLENGES
11.15 CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
Chapter 12ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
12.1 INTRODUCTION
12.2 CONCEPT OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
12.3 CAUSES OF ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE
12.4 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PRINCIPLES
12.5 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE MOVEMENT
12.6 GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
12.7 APPLICATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
12.8 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN DEVELOPED NATIONS
12.9 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN DEVELOPING NATIONS
12.10 BENEFITS
12.11 CHALLENGES
12.12 CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
Appendix A OTHER TOPICS
Appendix B SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

A PRIMER ON ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
“If you want to learn about the health of a population, look at the air they breath, the water they drink, and the places where they live .” –Hippocrates,
1.1 INTRODUCTION
The environment is an important part of our daily lives. The environment sustains life. Man needs to know the importance of the environment and keeps the environment as healthy as possible. Environmentalists around the world are constantly seeking sustainable solutions to restore a sustainable environment.
Today, we are facing some serious environmental challenges. The environmental crisis is one of the biggest challenges of the 21 st century. For this reason, environmental problems are now much-discussed around the globe. Environmental problems or threats include [ 1 ]: (1) Climate change, which is a change in earth’s climate; (2) Rapid urbanization and industrialization have destroyed a substantial part of natural vegetation and forced many wild animals on the verge of extinction; (3) Overconsumption of goods, which encourages the acquisition of goods in ever increasing amounts; (4) Ozone depletion, which is the wearing out or reduction of the amount of ozone in the stratosphere; (5) Deforestation, which is the cutting down of trees and the destruction of natural vegetation; (6) Desertification, which is the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid, and dry-sub-humid areas..
It is essential to make the public aware of the dire consequences of the environmental degradation [ 2 ]. Figure 1.1 shows how the environment impact our health [3]. Environmental science is, therefore, an interdisciplinary study of how the earth works and how we can deal with the environmental issues we face.

Figure 1.1 How the environment impact our health [ 3 ].
The threat to the environment has been increasing. People around the world are experiencing environmental problems such as rising population, poverty, air and water; pollution, food insecurity, flood management, land management, endangered species, etc. Careless handling of today’s environment would affect tomorrow’s generation. Hence, a judicious use of our resources is called for.
This chapter provides an introduction to environmental science. It begins by describing different types of environment. It presents what environmental science is all about. It also covers different components of environmental science. It highlights some challenges faced by environmental scientists. Finally, it concludes with some comments.
 
1.2 TYPES OF ENVIRONMENT
The word “environment” means to “surround, enclose, or encircle.” Environment refers to surroundings in which living beings live and non-living things exist. Environment belongs to all the living beings. Importance of the environment was realized in the 1960s and reached its climax in 1970, with the celebration of “Earth Day” under the auspices of the United Nation. Environment plays a major role in the healthy living of human beings. As shown in Figure 1.2, environment includes air, water, land, living organisms, solar energy, and materials surrounding us [4].

Figure 1.2 The concept of environment [ 4 ].
Our existence on this planet requires abundance of land, air, and water. Without doubt, the rapid technological development in the twentieth century has very adversely impacted the environment. To ensure a sustainable development, we need to know something about how our environment works. Environment may be regarded as all external conditions and factors that affect living organisms. It is generally equated with nature wherein physical components of the planet earth such as earth, air, and water support and affect life in the biosphere [ 5 ]. Our environment affects everything we do— from climate changes to air quality, and much more.
Since environment is a combination of physical and biological factors, it contains both living and non-living components. Everyone may be affected by environmental issues like global warming, ozone layer depletion, energy resources, acid rain, nuclear accidents, loss of