Control environmental pollution

Introduction
This learning outcome covers environmental pollution control measures, procedures for
solid waste management according to standard procedure, Environmental Management and
Coordination Act 1999 (EMCA) and environmental regulation.

Definition of key terms

Waste management: Waste management is the collection, transportation, processing or
disposal of solid or liquid waste, usually produced by human activities, in order to reduce
their effect on human health and natural ecosystems such as lakes, forests and oceans.

Control measures: These are activities taken to prevent, reduce or eliminate an

environmental hazard that has been identified. In this learning outcome, the control
measures that are going to trained on concern solid waste and noise pollution.

Environmental Management and Coordination Act 1999 (EMCA): This is the principal
framework law on environmental management and conservation in Kenya. First enacted in
1999, it has been amended to align to the 2010 Constitution. The latest amendment to the
principal Act was in 2015.

Standard Protocol: This is a mandated, statutory or fixed procedure for completing a task
or complying with regulations. The procedure may be expressed through a flow chart, or
spelled out as text. Standard protocol may be nationally recognized or be part of an
organization structure.

Content/Procedures/Methods/Illustrations
Environmental pollution control measures compliance following standard protocol
Types of pollution
Air Pollution
Air pollution may result from a quantitative change by increasing the concentration in air of
some of the gases, for example Carbon (iv) Oxide or a qualitative change due to
introduction of external compounds (synthetic organic substances), or a combination of
these two phenomena. The source of these gases may be from anthropogenic activities
(from human activities) or from natural events such as volcanism, respiration of living
things or forest fires. Some pollutants in the atmosphere can result from the reaction
between many substances to give new highly toxic compounds, for example Sulphur (IV)
Oxide can react with water vapor in the atmosphere to give Sulphuric acid.
Table 10. Sources and nature of atmospheric pollutants
Nature of Pollutant Source
Gas 1.Carbon dioxide • Volcanism
• Respiration of living
things
• Fossil fuels
2.carbon monoxide  Volcanism 
Combustion engines
3.hydrocarbons • Plants
• Bacteria
• Combustion engines
4.Organic compounds • Chemical industries
• Incineration of refuse
• Various combustions
5.Sulphur dioxide and • Volcanism
Sulphur derivations • Sea spray
• Bacteria
• Fossil fuels
6.Nitrate derivatives • Bacteria
• Combustion
7.Radio nuclides • atomic power stations
• nuclear explosions
Particles 1.Heavy metals • volcanism-meteorites
Inorganic compounds • wind-spray erosion
• various industries
• combustion engines
2.Organic compounds • forest fire
Natural or synthetic • chemical industries
• various industries
• combustion engines
3.Radionuclide  nuclear explosions

Impacts of air pollution

 • Air pollution has effects on health and the nature. The effects of air pollution on
natural ecosystems can be felt at different geographical levels, and they can spread
to water and land ecosystems in the form of dry or wet deposits.
• Over acidification and over fertilization. Sulphur and Nitrogen inputs are
responsible for acidification and over fertilization of ecosystems such as forests,
rivers, lakes and swamps.
• Necrosis on plants. Necrosis is the death of cells in tissue. High concentration of
pollutants can cause death to plants and animal cells, leading to organ failure or
death of tissues.
• Air pollution can cause reduction in plant growth (stunted growth) or reduce the
ability of plants to resist diseases and infections.
• Air pollution can also change the chemical composition of the atmosphere, therefore
affecting biogeochemical cycles such as the nitrogen cycle, water cycle and carbon
cycle.
Control Measures
Control measures to prevent, reduce or eliminate pollutants in the air are guided by the
Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act (No 8 of 1999). The regulations to be
followed can be found in the Environmental Management Co-ordination (air quality)
Regulations of 2014. The air quality regulations of 2014 have different ways in which they
ensure air quality standards are fit for humans, animals and plants. The following are
measures to ensure safety of workers:
• The owner of the facility should inform the workers of the hazards in specific work
environment.
• Train the workers on the potential hazards of any hazardous substance to which they
are exposed, and the safety precautions to be taken to prevent any harm to their
health.
• Ensure that measurements of pollutants are carried out by a laboratory designated
by Environment Management Authority in order to determine compliance with the
prevailing allowed levels of exposure.
• Ensure that record of measurements carried out, are reported to the Authority on a
quality basis.
• Take exposure reduction measures.
Ambient air quality limits
Ambient air quality standards, means these ambient air quality standards which are
required to protect the human health and allow adequate margin of safety. Under the
Environmental Management and Coordination Act, limits have been set for the following
gases, Sulphur oxides, Oxides of Nitrogen, Nitrogen Dioxide, Suspended particulate,
Respirable particulate matter, carbon monoxide, Carbon Dioxide, hydrogen Sulphide and
Ozone among others.
Procedures for solid waste management observed according to environmental
management and coordination Act
Solid waste is discarded material that is disposal and is considered garbage. Refuse and
sludge from wastewater can be in solid, semi-solid, liquid or contained in gaseous material.
Types of Solid Waste
Domestic Waste
Domestic waste is also referred to as garbage, refuse, or trash. It consists mainly of
biodegradable waste which is food and kitchen waste, green waste paper and
nonbiodegradable such as plastics, glass bottles, cans, metals and wrapping materials.
Waste Tires
These are tires that have reached their end due to wear or damage and cannot be recycled or
reused. The bulk of the tires are informally collected and often illegally burnt in open to
recover steel for recycling.
Construction and Demolition Waste
This type is generated as a result of construction works, remodeling or demolition. It
comprises debris, steel, timber, iron sheets, tiles and ceramics among others.
Industrial waste
This is waste produced by industrial activities which includes any material that is rendered
useless during manufacturing process industries produce both hazardous and nonhazardous
waste. They include chemical solvents, paints, sand paper and paper products, industrial by
products, metals, municipal solid waste and radioactive waste.
Bio-Medical Waste
Bio medical waste refers to waste generated in health facilities, research institutions or
during immunization of human beings and animals. It is classified into; infectious waste
sharps, pharmaceutical wastes, chemical waste and pathological waste. Biomedical waste
pose risks to human health
Sewage Sludge
This is a sediment material that accumulates over time. In the sewage treatment plants and
ponds. Sewage sludge that is contaminated by heavy metals from industrial effluent can
severely contaminate agricultural land to which it is applied.
E-Waste
This is waste generated from electrical and electronic equipment (EEEs) becoming obsolete
e-waste comprises of heavy metal components and materials used in the manufacture of
electronic goods. They include; mercury, brominated flame retardants and cadmium, which
are considered hazardous.

Procedure for solid waste management

Waste Generation
Most of the waste is generated at household, market places, cities, town, institutions and
industrial zones. The waste generator should endeavor to minimize waste by reducing,
reusing, refusing, returning waste or by adopting cleaner production technologies. Waste
should be segregated at the source; this can be made possible by county governments
providing coded bags and bins.

Waste Collection
Collection centers or transfer stations should be established at strategic areas within a town.
These collection areas should be properly managed and maintained with frequent and
timely collection of waste to avoid scattering into undesignated areas. Adequate measures
should be put in place to manage any leachate from the waste receptacle and collection
areas.
Waste transportation
This involves transportation of various segregated solid waste types. Waste transportation
trucks should be closed and suitable for the transportation of various types of waste to
waste treatment facilities and landfills. These transportation vehicles should be lincensed to
be operated by NEMA.

Waste treatment
a) Recycling
This is the processing of waste materials. Into a new product of similar chemical
composition. Recycling prevents wastage of potentially useful materials, reduce the
consumption of raw materials and ultimately reduces pollution.
b) Composting
Composting is the biological decomposition of biodegradable solid waste under controlled
aerobic conditions to produce compost. Compost is used as an organic fertilizer in
agricultural production.
c) Thermal treatment of waste
This is the combustion of waste at specific temperatures with or without air supply as part
of the process and includes waste incineration, gasification and pyrolysis. This process
reduces the volume of waste and inert any hazardous components.

Waste Disposal
Disposal refers to the depositing or burial of waste in land. The sanitary landfills should be
filled with systems to collect leachate and methane gas. There should be frequent
spreading, compacting and covering of waste with soil or any other appropriate covering
material so as to avoid environmental pollution and scavenging birds.

2.3 Methods for minimizing noise pollution with compliance following environmental
regulations
Noise pollution or sound pollution is the transmission of sound in levels that have harmful
impacts on the functioning of humans and animals. High sound frequency can be from
activities of human beings or be caused by natural events such as volcanic explosions.
Sound intensity is measured in decibels (dB).
Types of Noise Pollution
Industrial Noise
This is high intensity sound caused by machinery, such as generators, turbines and
shredders from industry process. Noise from mechanical saws and drills is unbearable and
protective equipment for workers is needed. Industry noise does not only affect only
workers but also those who are close to the factory may suffer the effects.
Transportation Noise
Transport noise mainly is from traffic from road, rail and aircraft. With increase in
population, there has been an increase in the number of vehicles on roads, like motorcycles,
cars, and buses, trucks, and diesel engines vehicles. This has aggravated the noise pollution
problem. Noise pollution from aircrafts can be experienced by staff who work in airports
and military airbases and those living nearby. This type of noise pollution is usually
experienced in urban areas where traffic is high.
Neighborhood Noise
This type of noise includes disturbance from household electronics and community
activities. Common source of this type of noise pollution include TVs, loudspeakers and
musical instruments. Community activities carried out in neighborhoods such as parties,
cultural functions and wedding and burial ceremonies.

Methods of Minimizing Noise Pollution

Source Control
This involves reducing the transmission of sound from the source. This includes
modifications such as acoustic treatment to machine surface, design changes to factory
facilities, limiting operations to a certain time.
Transmission path intervention
This involves containing the source inside a sound insulate, enclosure, construction of a
noise barrier or provision of sound absorbing materials along the path of travelling sound.
Receptor control
The protection of the receiver by changing the work schedule or provision of Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE) such as ear plugs when operating noisy machinery. It may also
include the dissipation and deflection of sound that it may not reach humans and animals.
Machinery Maintenance
Proper oiling and maintenance of machinery will reduce noise from machines that are rusty
or will avoid friction from moving parts of a machine. Maintenance of vehicles will reduce
noise produce by automobiles.

Conclusion
At the end of this learning outcome, the trainee should have gained knowledge on; types of
pollution, environmental pollution, control measures, types of solid wastes, procedures for
solid waste management, different types of noise pollution and methods for minimizing
noise pollution. The trainee will also have clear understanding of the control measure
applied in Kenya in accordance to the Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act
(EMCA) and other guiding regulations.