Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
signiicance of the socioeconomic-political grouping of factors. These are important, but
are not within the purview of this topic. From the geoenvironmental point of view, this
means dealing with the impacts to the geoenvironment from anthropogenic activities.
Yong and Mulligan (2004) show that to properly address the problems and issues con-
nected with degradation of the land environment, a knowledge of the linkages, interac-
tions, and impacts between the human population and a healthy, robust, and sustainable
land environment is required (Figure 1.4). The illustration in Figure 1.4 shows the linkages
and identiies some of the major issues and land environment impacts. The observations
made by Yong and Mulligan (2004) regarding the major land environment or geoenviron-
mental issues shown in Figure 1.4 are cited directly as follows:
• Waste generation and pollution : Wastes generated from the various activities associ-
ated with resource exploitation, energy production, and industry associated with
the production of goods and services will ultimately ind their way into one or all
of three disposal media: (a) receiving waters, (b) atmosphere, and (c) land. Land
disposal of waste products and waste streams appears to be the most popular
method for waste containment and management. The various impacts arising
from this mode of disposal and containment include degradation of land surface
environment and ground contamination by pollutants.
Anthropogenic activities associated with urbanization,
industrialization, production, and exploitation for production of
goods and services (energy, food, shelter, clothing)
Some major land
environment issues
Some major impacts from urbanization,
industrialization, and exploitation
Waste generation and contamination;
Depletion of agricultural lands;
Increased demand on natural
resources—water, ocean, forestry,
and mining assets;
Greenhouse gases and climate
change;
Desertification and watershed depletion;
Photosynthesis;
Biological magnification
Solid and liquid wastes;
Contamination; discharges; run-offs;
Groundwater and aquifer quality
deterioration and surface water quality
loss;
Contaminated soils and sediments;
Soil quality loss; emissions;
Surface hydrology changes; Erosion; Watershed loss;
Wastepiles, Tailings ponds; Acid mine drainage;
Land use deterioration;
FIGURE 1.4
Some major land environment issues and impacts resulting from activities associated with urbanization, indus-
trialization, production, and exploitation for production of goods and services. (Adapted from Yong, R.N. and
Mulligan, C.N., 2004, Natural Attenuation of Contaminants in Soils , CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 310 pp.)
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