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Please read this disclaimer before proceeding:

�This document is confidential and intended solely for the educational purpose of RMK Group of Educational Institutions. If you have received this document through email in error, please notify the system manager. This document contains proprietary information and is intended only to the respective group / learning community as intended. If you are not the addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy through e-mail. Please notify the sender immediately by e-mail if you have received this document by mistake and delete this document from your system. If you are not the intended recipient you are notified that disclosing, copying, distributing or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

(Common to All Branches)

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Table of Contents

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Table of Contents

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COURSE OBJECTIVES

• Objectives:
• To gain knowledge of the environment and various natural resources.
• To identify the Scientific and Technological solutions to pollution issues and waste management.
• To understand the significance of the conservation of biodiversity.
• To recognize the needs and benefits of sustainability and its management.
• To comprehend the effects of human population on the environment.

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UNIT - V HUMAN POPULATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT 6

Introduction - Population growth, variation among nations, population explosion, Environment and human health – endemic/epidemic/pandemic – Role of information technology in environment and human health.

Case Study – Pandemics of 21^st century

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ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY L T P C 2 0 0 MC

� COURSE OUTCOMES�Environmental pollution or problems cannot be solved by mere laws. Public participation is an important aspect which serves the environmental protection. Upon completion of the course, the students will knowledge and understand the following:�

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�Course Outcome mapping with POs / PSOs �

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LECTURE PLAN

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ACTIVITY BASED LEARNING

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• Activity based learning helps students express and embrace their curiosity.
• Once the students become curious, they tend to explore and learn by themselves.
• To evoke curiosity in students the following activities are given

UNIT – V��HUMAN POPULATION �AND �THE ENVIRONMENT

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UNIT-5 - HUMAN POPULATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT�

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5.2 Environment and Human health

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5.3 Endemic/Epidemic/Pandemic

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5.4 Role of information technology in environment and human health.

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• Satellites for Environmental monitoring (Remote Sensing):

Satellites are capable of revealing and monitoring Remote environments, Hidden features and events that the human eye cannot detect.

• Satellites monitor and provide information on metrological data such as, temperature, wind speed and direction, aerosols, water vapor, cloud cover, precipitation, storms and tropical cyclones.
• Satellites are used for ocean monitoring such as Sea surface temperature, sea level height, ocean currents and ocean winds.
• It is also possible to monitor accidents such as large oil spills and periodic oscillations in the sea that affect global weather patterns, such as El Niño in the Pacific Ocean.
• Provides land features such as land surface temperature, winds, vegetation cover, bodies of water, human settlements, soil moisture, depth and extent of snow and ice.

III) World wide web

• By enabling rapid access to exchange of information, the World Wide Web (WWW) has revolutionized many aspects of education. It is especially an appropriate resource for environmental education because it provides convenient access to timely information on rapidly developing environmental issues at both local and global levels. The online learning center provides the current and relevant information on principles, problems, quarries, application of environmental science.

It has digital files of photos, power points, lecture presentations, animations, web exercises and quiz.

Example: Google Earth, a computer program renders a 3D representation of earth based primarily on satellite imagery. The program maps the earth by superimposing satellite images, aerial photography and GIS data onto a 3D globe allowing users to see cities and landscapes from various angles. 

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Additional reading:

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Role of Information Technology in Healthcare:

Information Technology (IT) has the potential to improve the quality, safety and efficiency of healthcare. From Telemedicine to electronic health records, a variety of healthcare services have been shown to improve operational and administrative efficiencies, clinical outcomes, documentation and information flow, home care units, rural health centres and large urban hospitals. Health IT tools support in specific areas and promote more efficient healthcare through the use of technologies. Commonly used health IT tools are discussed below:

1. Electronic Medical Records (EMR) / Electronic Health Records (EHR):

• The EMR provides a clinician with real-time access to patient’s information such as patient’s medical condition, visit to health providers, images and reports of diagnostic procedures, schedule of services, allergies etc., to aid clinicians in decision making.
• The EMR support the collection of data for uses such as billing, quality management, outcome reporting, public health disease surveillance and reporting.
• Electronic document has tremendous advantages such as it does not require a warehouse for storage and is readily accessible from anywhere.
• Personal Health Record (PHR): PHR is an electronic application through which individuals can maintain and manage their health information in a private, secure and confidential environment.

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2. Clinical Decision Support (CDS)

CDS provide computerized alerts and reminders to clinicians, staff and patients with knowledge and person-specific information presented at appropriate time to enhance health and health care.

3. Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE)

It is formerly called Computer physician order entry which reduce total medication error rates by 80% and adverse (serious with harm to patient) errors by 55%. CPOE systems mandate physicians to write all orders online. These systems have the capacity to verify that the written orders are correct and that is based on a patient’s profile.so, they can automatically check the dose and contraindications of a specific drug.

4. Remote Monitoring: The ability for a clinician to monitor patient’s information about diagnostic, medication tracking and activities of daily living (ADL) measurements captured remotely enables the management of chronic health problems and management of new conditions.

5.Telehealth/Telemedicine: Telehealth is the use of telecommunication technologies to deliver health-related services and information that support patient care, health services and information over distances. Tele-homecare, video-conferencing and electronic health records are all components of telehealth.

• Improves access to health care.
• Reduce the cost of transportation.
• Increasing convenience to patients care.

6. Clinical Data Processing (CDP): Patients have to be monitored continuously (for ECG monitoring) or periodically (monitoring of vital signs). These monitoring processes may be done for diagnostic purposes in emergency room, for therapeutic purposes in the operating theatre or for surveillance purposes in the ICU.

7. Automated dispensing machines (ADMs): This is an advanced technology which distributes required medication doses to the prescribed patients on time.

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8. Picture archiving and communications system (PACS): This technology captures and integrates diagnostic and radiological images from various devices (Ex: X-rays, MRI, computed tomography scan) stores them and disseminates them to a medical record, a clinical data repository or other points of care.

9. Medical Transcription: Medical transcription is the transcribing (typing) of doctor's reports from dictated audio files. These files are used for diagnosis, information sharing and health care delivery.

10. Medical Apps: Mobile applications have revolutionised health care industry and can be used for online consultation, diagnosis, appointments and medical supply delivery. There are more than 40,000 health and wellness apps. Examples include ResolutionMD, AlivCor, MobileMIM etc.

IT in medical diagnosis:

• Endoscopy and Laparoscopy:
2. An endoscopy involves examining the inside of a person's body using an endoscope. The image of the organ can be seen on a computer monitor and can be studied for the growth of tumour, cancer etc.
3. Laparoscopic (key hole) surgery uses computer-based applications.
4. Magnetic resonance imaging unit (MRI scan), computed Axial Tomography (CT scan), Intensive Care units (ICU) etc. widely use computers for functioning.

2. Mobile blood banks

Mobile blood banks have data of different blood groups and those who are in need of blood to meet critical medical situations can get it from these banks. Software application helps people to find a nearest donor from his/her own locality. Information on all listed blood donors with the requested blood group and their phone numbers will be available through this application.

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Advantages of IT in healthcare:

• Not limited to transfer of information.
• Promote better health behavior.
• Improve decision making.
• Promote information exchange amongst peers.
• Promotes self-care.
• Provide professional support.
• Enhanced effectiveness of health institutions.

https://www.asianhhm.com/articles/role-information-technology-medical-sciences

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5.5 Case study – Pandemics of 21^st century

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Practice Quiz

1. A disease that becomes unusually widespread and even global in its reach is referred to as

a. Epidemic

b. Pandemic

c. Spanish flu

d. Hyperendemic

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2. By NEPA process, federal agencies assess social and ______ effects of proposed actions.�a) Industrial�b) Health�c) Economic�d) Chronic

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3. What is the need to control the population growth in India?�a) To improve the standard of living among existing people�b) To utilize all the natural resources among the existing people�c) To participate in war among neighboring nations�d) To increase the mortality rate in India

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4. What is India’s global rank in population?�a) First�b) Second�c) Third�d) Fourth

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5. What is the other name for infectious diseases?�a) Non-communicable diseases�b) Communicable diseases�c) Non-transmissible diseases�d) Heredity diseases

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6. What is the main aim of Janani Suraksha Yojana which is the programme by the Family Welfare programme?�a) To provide pensions to widow women�b) To provide shelters to poor people�c) To encourage people to use safe sexual methods�d) Reducing maternal and neonatal mortality

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Practice Quiz

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7. After which incident family planning programs are initiated in most countries?�a) After industrial revolution�b) After World War 2�c) After British invasion to India�d) After the United States independence

8. Which cells are destroyed by HIV?�a) A- helper cells�b) K-helper cells�c) T-helper cells�d) Y-helper cells

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9. What is the symbol of HIV-positive people?�a) Blue ribbon�b) Yellow ribbon�c) White ribbon�d) Red ribbon

10. The sudden increase in the population of the species is

a. Population growth

b. Population explosion

c. Over population

d. All the above

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11. Major cause of increment in population growth

a. Decrease in natality rate

b. Decrease in mortality rate

c. Illiteracy

d. None of the above

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12. A virus such as influenza which emerges suddenly and spreads globally is called:

a. Epidemic

b. Endemic

c. Pandemic

d. Zoonotic

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13. Can Covid-19 be cured?

a. Yes – Hot drinks can cure COVID-19

b. No – COVID-19 is a death sentence

c. No – but most people get better by themselves

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Assignment

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1. Explain the economic impact of Covid-19 in low and middle income countries? [K3]

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2. Compare the Population Characteristics in Most Developed

Countries and Less Developed Countries. [K3]

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Supportive online certification courses

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� Real time Applications in day to day life and to Industry

1. AI and machine learning are helping to fight COVID-19.

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/05/how-ai-and-machine-learning-are-helping-to-fight-covid-19/

2. Information Technology play a major role in protection of environment and human health.

(a) Monitoring of Greenhouse Gas emissions:

 https://edinburghsensors.com/news-and-events/measuring-greenhouse-gas-emissions/

(b) Using an Infrared sensor for reliable methane monitoring: 

https://edinburghsensors.com/news-and-events/infrared-sensor-gas-monitoring/

(c) Using a UAV drone attached to a gas sensor to measure harmful gases:

 https://edinburghsensors.com/news-and-events/uav-drone-methane-monitoring/

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Content beyond the syllabus

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1. Typhoid Mary -The Original Asymptomatic Super Spreader. https://youtu.be/vG1lI1PxraI

2. Nipah virus:

https://youtu.be/wf4hI6T-hvY

3. Social Impact of Growing Human Population (I = P × A × T)

I = PAT is the mathematical notation of a formula put forward to describe the impact of human activity on the environment. The expression equates human impact on the environment (I) to the product of three factors: population(P), affluence (A) and technology (T). It is similar in form to the Kaya identity which applies specifically to emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. The equation was developed in 1970 by Paul R. Ehrlich and John Holdren. Ehrlich and Holdren states that all three factors were important but emphasized the role of human population growth, focusing on a broader scale, being less specific in space and time. The equation can aid in understanding some of the factors affecting human impacts on the environment.

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Content beyond the syllabus

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In the I=PAT equation, the variable P represents the population of an area. Since the rise of industrial societies, human population has been increasing exponentially. This has caused Thomas Malthus, Paul Ehrlich and many other so postulates that this growth would continue until checked by widespread hunger and famine The United Nations project that world population will increase from 7.7 billion today (2019) to 9.8 billion in 2050 and about 11.2 billion in 2100.

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PRESCRIBED TEXT BOOKS & REFERENCE BOOKS

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• Textbooks
• Anubha Kaushik and C.P. Kaushik, “Perspectives in environmental studies”, New Age International, 2006
• Benny Joseph, ̳Environmental Science and Engineering‘, Tata McGraw-Hill, New Delhi, 2006.
• Gilbert M.Masters, ̳Introduction to Environmental Engineering and Science‘, 2nd edition, Pearson Education, 2004.
• Allen, D. T. and Shonnard, D. R., Sustainability Engineering: Concepts, Design and Case Studies, Prentice Hall.
• Bradley. A.S; Adebayo, A.O., Maria, P. Engineering applications in sustainable design and development, Cengage learning.
• Environment Impact Assessment Guidelines, Notification of Government of India, 2006
• Mackenthun, K.M., Basic Concepts in Environmental Management, Lewis Publication, London, 1998
• References
• William P.Cunningham & Mary Ann Cunningham Environmental Science: A Global Concern, McGraw Hill, 14^th edition, 2017.
• Erach Bharucha, ―Textbook of Environmental Studies‖, Universities Press(I) PVT, LTD, Hydrabad, 2015.
• Rajagopalan, R, ̳Environmental Studies-From Crisis to Cure‘, Oxford University Press, 2005.
• G. Tyler Miller and Scott E. Spoolman, ―Environmental Science‖, Cengage Learning India PVT, LTD, Delhi, 2014.
• Dharmendra S. Sengar, ‘Environmental law’, Prentice hall of India PVT. LTD, New Delhi, 2007.

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Mini project suggestions

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Disclaimer:��This document is confidential and intended solely for the educational purpose of RMK Group of Educational Institutions. If you have received this document through email in error, please notify the system manager. This document contains proprietary information and is intended only to the respective group / learning community as intended. If you are not the addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy through e-mail. Please notify the sender immediately by e-mail if you have received this document by mistake and delete this document from your system. If you are not the intended recipient you are notified that disclosing, copying, distributing or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited.

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Thank you