Learning Objectives

At the end of this course, the students will:

1. Have knowledge of the scientific process of standard setting in environmental quality management
2. Describe management modalities of various forms of pollution and their control measures needed to meet the set standards
3. Familiar with various issues involved in achieving the desired environmental quality
4. Know how to take and prescribe occupational health and safety management

Unit 1: Management of Air Pollution (10 hrs)

1.1 Introduction to air quality criteria: Exposure to air pollution, Evaluating exposure-response relationships, Formulation of air quality criteria or guidelines, Criteria for endpoints other than for carcinogenicity, Criteria for carcinogenic end points, Ecological effects

1.2 Air quality standards, Advantages and disadvantages of air quality standards, Adoption of standards, Aspects of air pollution control strategy

1.3 Air quality standards in Nepal: History, Standards, Air quality measurements, Air quality control in Nepal

Unit 2: Management of Water Pollution (10 hrs)

2.1 Surface water: Water quality monitoring, Natural purification processes, Oxygen balance, Sediments, Water quality in water reservoirs, Discharge of wastewater, Emission strategies, Legislation

2.2 Groundwater: Pollution migration transport processes, Specific pollutant substances, Protection of groundwater, Water quality monitoring

2.3 Rainfall water: Pollution of rainfall water, Transport processes

2.4 Water quality accidents (disasters)

2.5 Common procedures, practice, removal, and prevention (both ground and surface water)

2.6 Setting of standards, Guidelines for various water uses

Unit 3: Management of Land (10 hrs)

3.1 Land degradation and Desertification: Causes, Effects/Impact, Extent, Preventive and remedial efforts

3.2 Land capability and Land utilization: Land capability classification (various systems), Land capability maps of Nepal, Land capability and land utilization relationship

3.3 Land utilization/use policies and Land Act: Salient features of Land Use Policy (Nepal), Land Use Policy and Land Act relationship (Nepal), Other major policies influencing land management (Nepal)

Unit 4: Management of Waste (7 hrs)

4.1 Waste as an environmental issue: Urban challenge, Principles of integrated, holistic and sustainable waste management

4.2 Baseline data preparation (UNEP IETC guidelines), Data collection and analysis, Presenting and projecting baseline

4.3 Municipal solid waste management

4.4 Setting boundaries and criteria for information, Information collection and analysis

4.5 Identification of gaps in the current waste management system: Waste management policy and strategy, Legal framework, Status of compliance, Prevalent deficiencies in solid waste management systems, Steps toward an improved solid wastes management system

Unit 5: Occupational Health and Safety Management (8 hrs)

5.1 Nature and types of occupational hazards, Occupational and environmental health, Occupational health and safety management (Principle and Requirement), Occupational hygiene, Economics of occupational health and safety (OHS), OHS legislation, OHS implementation and certification

5.2 Health and safety management systems: Policy, Responsibility, Implementation, Monitoring, Audit and review

5.3 Occupational hygiene: Tools, techniques, and measurement

5.4 Hazard identification and risk assessment (Qualitative and Quantitative), Hazard control principle and techniques

5.5 Accident investigation and Root cause analysis

5.6 Toxicology: Routes of entry of harmful substances and their effect, Ergonomics, Personal safety gears (Principle and Classification)

5.7 Certification process of OHSMS, OHS tools and their application: Environmental Management System (EMS), Green Productivity (GP), Cleaner Production (CP), Energy Efficiency (EE), Product Quality, Globalization, Industrial Relation (IR)

References

1. De Zuane, J.P.E. (2013). Handbook of drinking water quality. 2nd ed. Wiley India Pvt. Ltd.
2. Eckenfelder, J.W.W. (1989). Industrial water pollution control. McGraw-Hill International.
3. FAO. (1972). Approaches to land classification. Soils Bulletin 22. United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.
4. Friend, M.A., & Kohn, J.P. (2007). Fundamentals of occupational safety and health. 4th ed. Government Institutes, UK.
5. Hodgson, E. (2011). A textbook of modern toxicology. 4th ed. John Wiley and Sons Inc., New Jersey.
6. LRMP. (1986 a, b and c). Land system maps. Land Resource Mapping Project, Government of Nepal/Government of Canada.
7. Nepal Law Commission. Land Act 2021(1964). Government of Nepal, Kathmandu.
8. Peavy, H.S., Rowe, D.R., & Tchobanoglous, G. (1985). Environmental engineering. Mcgraw-Hill International
9. UNGA. (1994). An elaboration to an international convention to combat desertification in countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa. United Nations General Assembly.