Nature Environment and Pollution Technology

Samia Saif ¹, Anum Feroz ², M. Asif Khan ¹, Sana Akhtar ², Asim Mehmood ¹

Affiliations
1 Environmental Consultancies and Options (ECO), 31 Commercial Area, 3^rd Floor, Cavalary Ground, Lahore, PK
2 Department of Environmental Sciences, Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore, PK

Abstract

The world's climate is changing rapidly, and these changes are having detrimental impacts on human health and the environment. Major part of it is contributed by the anthropogenic activities. The current study is undertaken for the estimation and calculation of the carbon footprint of the paint industry. In order to find out the greenhouse gas emissions released by the industry, the carbon footprint of the industry was calculated following the greenhouse gas (GHG's) protocol guidelines. The study includes emissions from different sources. Scope 1 emissions account for the direct emissions, these include emissions from industry owned boilers, generators, furnaces and vehicles. The Scope 2 emissions account for the indirect emissions, emitted from purchased electricity and natural gas generation. And Scope 3 emissions include emissions generated from waste disposal and employee business travel. The highest amount of emissions was released from Scope 1 which was 714 tCO₂e followed by Scope 2 emissions which were calculated to be 703.011 tCO₂e and then Scope 3 emissions which were 105.733 tCO₂e. The total carbon footprint calculated for the industry was 2105.733 tCO₂e.

Keywords

Carbon Footprint, Paint Industry, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, Direct Emissions, Indirect Emissions.

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Sana Akhtar ¹, Mohammad Nawaz ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Environmental Sciences, Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore, PK
2 College of Environmental and Earth Sciences, Punjab University, Lahore, PK

Abstract

This study assessed the water quality at the outfall of six drains in River Ravi at Lahore, Bridge and Balloki Barrage and B-S Link canal to check suitability of water for propagation of fish and aquatic life. The water quality parameters like pH, EC, DO, COD, BOD, TDS, SO₄ and heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Cr, Ni) were analysed at the outfall of six drains and three other locations on the river in 62 km stretch. The sampling period includes wet and dry weather seasons and canal closure periods. The study reach included the effect of urban and industrial effluents from the six drains and dilution effect of flow augmentation through Q-B Link canal. The results showed that the river water quality was not suitable for aquatic life during dry weather and canal closure period when compared with U.S.EPA standards for fish and aquatic life. The DO, BOD and heavy metals were not within the safe limits. Augmentation of about 600 m³sec^-1 discharge through B-Q Link helps to improve the water quality of the Balloki Barrage pond. However, during canal closure period the situation aggravates as this additional freshwater is not available during December and January. The river water quality at Lahore remained unsafe for aquatic life. The wet weather helps to flush out and slightly improve the water quality during July and August. Nevertheless, the storm water also brings heavy pollutant load from the city to the river. The study concluded that the disposal of untreated drainage effluent to the river remains as a major threat to its water quality and consequently the aquatic life.

Keywords

Ravi River, Effluent Disposal, Water Quality, Aquatic Life.

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Almas Hamid ¹, Iqra Saeed ¹, Sana Akhtar ¹, Sajid Rashid Ahmad ²

Affiliations
1 Kinnaird College for Women, 93 Jail Road, 54000, Lahore, PK
2 College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, PK

Abstract

Rubber manufacturing industry is associated with emissions to the environment. The emission of the rubber industry has been linked to various diseases and diverse impacts on human health. Data are available which correlate the adverse health impacts with occupational hazards to the pollutants in the rubber industry. In order to characterize and quantify the pollutants being generated and discharged from various industrial outlets and their impacts on relevant air, water and noise quality, monitoring is required. The study highlights the environmental hazards due to air, wastewater and noise pollution in selected rubber manufacturing industry, located at Wazirabad. Monitoring of selected parameters was carried out for three months. Substantial concentration of volatile organic matter and particulate matter are present in the air in the unit place and the facility which poses a number of health and environmental hazards. Also, different chemicals used during manufacturing processes are discharged in effluent as wastewater. The determination of VOCs and PM in the air was carried out through VOC meter and HAZ-Scanner respectively. Parameters for wastewater analysis included pH, TSS, TDS, COD, cadmium, chlorine and iron. The noise level was also monitored. The results showed that the VOCs and PM concentration in the air were above the standard value limit. The concentration of VOCs ranged from 25.3-28.8 mg/m³ while that for PM varied from 588.5-593.6 ppm respectively. The noise quality from two of the sources exceeded the limit value, while all the wastewater parameters were within the limit.

Keywords

Rubber Industry, Volatile Organic Matter, Particulate Matter, Wastewater, Noise Level.

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Sana Akhtar ¹, Shahzeen Fatima Baig ¹, Samia Saif ², Asim Mahmood ², Sajid Rashid Ahmad ³

Affiliations
1 Kinnaird College for Women, 93 Jail Road, Lahore, 54000, PK
2 Environmental Consultancies & Options, Cavalry Ground, Lahore, 54000, PK
3 College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54900, PK

Abstract

The world is experiencing deteriorating climatic changes which are significantly resulting from the increased emission of greenhouse gases. This research highlights the major activities of a textile industry that release greenhouse gases and then focuses on calculating the carbon foot print of the industry for last 5 years. Further, this study also links up the calculated carbon footprint with the environmental sustainability. The methodology adopted to calculate carbon footprint was in accordance to the GHG protocol guidelines. The study emphasizes the different emission sources including scope 1 emission which take into account direct emissions resulting from industry owned activities. The scope 2 are indirect emissions that emit due to the purchase of electricity, natural gas and the biogas emissions resulting from waste disposal. Scope 3 emissions were not accounted in the current study based upon its complexity. Scope 1 emissions were found to contribute greatest in total carbon footprint. The results symbolized an ascending trend in the carbon footprint of the industry over past five years. This ascending trend also denoted that very less environmental sustainability has been achieved by the industry in last five years. Carbon footprint calculated for the base year 2014 was 42867.72tCO₂e.

Keywords

Carbon Footprint, Textile Industry, Sustainability.

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Sana Akhtar ¹, Bakhtawar Khalid ¹, Mavara Mussawar ², Sajid Rashid Ahmad ², Shamaila Inayat ³, Sidra Asghar ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Environmental Sciences, Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore, 54000, PK
2 College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, University of the Punjab, Lahore, 54900, PK
3 Department of Zoology, Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore, 54000, PK

Abstract

Climate change and global warming are major concerns now-a-days, which are directly related to greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon emissions. This study focuses on the estimation of carbon emissions of the polyester fibre industry in Pakistan. A GHG protocol and IPCC guidelines were adopted for the calculation of carbon footprint. March 2015 to March 2016 was selected as a base year. The total carbon emissions came to be 92241.8 tCO₂e. The highest carbon emissions were from direct sources due to use of multiple fuels. The calculations performed in the study will enable and encourage industries to calculate their carbon footprint and try to reduce it.

Keywords

Carbon Footprint, Polyester Fibre Industry, GHG Protocol, IPCC Guidelines.

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