Environmental Disaster

Bhopal Gas Tragedy

In the early morning hours of December 3, 1984, a rolling wind carried a poisonous
gray cloud from the Union Carbide Plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh (India). Forty tons of
toxic gas (Methyl-Iso-Cyanate, MIC) was accidentally released from Union Carbide’s Bhopal
plant, which leaked and spread throughout the city. The result was a nightmare that still has
no end, residents awoke to clouds of suffocating gas and began running desperately through
the dark streets, victims arrived at hospitals; breathless and blind. The lungs, brain, eyes,
muscles as well as gastro-intestinal, neurological, reproductive and immune systems of those
who survived were severely affected. When the sun rose the next morning, the magnitude of
devastation was clear. Dead bodies of humans and animals blocked the street, leaves turned
black and a smell of burning chili peppers lingered in the air. An estimated 10,000 or more
people died. About 500,000 more people suffered agonizing injuries with disastrous effects
of the massive poisoning. None can say if future generations will not be affected.

Chernobyl Disaster
On April 26, 1986, a sudden surge of power during a reactor systems test destroyed Unit 4 of
the nuclear power station at Chernobyl, Ukraine, in the former Soviet Union. The accident
and the fire that followed released massive amounts of radioactive material into the
environment.
Emergency crews responding to the accident used helicopters to pour sand and boron on the
reactor debris. The sand was to stop the fire and additional releases of radioactive material;
the boron was to prevent additional nuclear reactions. A few weeks after the accident, the
crews completely covered the damaged unit in a temporary concrete structure, called the
"sarcophagus," to limit further release of radioactive material. The Soviet government also
cut down and buried about a square mile of pine forest near the plant to reduce radioactive
contamination at and near the site. Chernobyl's three other reactors were subsequently
restarted but all eventually shut down for good, with the last reactor closing in 1999. After the
accident, officials closed off the area within 30 kilometers (18 miles) of the plant. The Soviet
(and later on, Russian) government evacuated about 115,000 people from the most heavily
contaminated areas in 1986, and another 220,000 people in subsequent years.
Nuclear accident at Three Mile Island

The Three Mile Island nuclear power plant was built in 1974 on a sandbar on
Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna River. At 4 a.m. on March 28, 1979, the accident begins when a
pressure valve in the Unit-2 reactor at Three Mile Island fails to close. Cooling water,
contaminated with radiation, drained from the open valve into adjoining buildings, and the
core began to dangerously overheat.
After the cooling water began to drain out of the broken pressure valve on the morning of
March 28, 1979, emergency cooling pumps automatically went into operation. However,
human operators in the control room misread confusing and contradictory readings and shut
off the emergency water system. The reactor was also shut down, but residual heat from the
fission process was still being released. By early morning, the core had heated to over 4,000
degrees, just 1,000 degrees short of meltdown. In the meltdown scenario, the core melts, and
deadly radiation drifts across the countryside, fatally sickening a great number of people.
The contaminated water was releasing radioactive gases throughout the plant. Shortly after 8
a.m., word of the accident leaked to the outside world. Pennsylvania Governor Dick
Thornburgh considered calling an evacuation. Finally, at about 8 p.m., plant operators
realized they needed to get water moving through the core again and restarted the pumps. The
temperature began to drop, and pressure in the reactor was reduced. The reactor had come
within less than an hour of a complete meltdown. More than half the core was destroyed or
molten, but it had not broken its protective shell, and no radiation was escaping. The crisis
was apparently over.
Two days later, however, on March 30, a bubble of highly flammable hydrogen gas
was discovered within the reactor building. The bubble of gas was created two days before
when exposed core materials reacted with super-heated steam. After the radiation leak was
discovered on March 30, residents were advised to stay indoors. Experts were uncertain if the
hydrogen bubble would create further meltdown. This led to the panic and within days, more
than 100,000 people had fled surrounding towns.
Slowly, the hydrogen was bled from the system as the reactor cooled. At the height of
the crisis, plant workers were exposed to unhealthy levels of radiation, but no one outside
Three Mile Island had their health adversely affected by the accident. In the more than two
decades since the accident at Three Mile Island, not a single new nuclear power plant has
been ordered in the United State.
 CANCER AND YOUR ENVIRONMENT

What is cancer?

Cancer is not a single disease. It is a group of more than 200 different diseases.
Cancer is an uncontrolled growth of cells that disrupts body tissues and organs. Cancerous
cells are not normal in their structure and function. They grow and multiply to form tumors
that invade local tissues and sometimes scatter throughout the body. In the beginning, there
are no warning signs to alert us to the disease. Later, the signs of cancer are related to the
location of the tumor. As cancer progresses, it commonly causes loss of muscle tissue, pale
skin, pain, fatigue and loss of appetite.

How widespread is cancer?

It is estimated that one out of every two men and one of every three women will have
cancer in their lifetimes. About one in four persons will die of cancer. The American Cancer
Society estimates that about 570,000 cancer deaths occur each year in the United States.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death after heart disease.

Which cancers cause the most deaths?

In the United States, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for both
sexes, followed by prostate cancer in males and breast cancer in females. For children
younger than 15 years old, cancer is the fifth leading cause of death after accidents. Leukemia
and cancers of the brain and central nervous system are the leading cancers in children in this
age group.

How many kinds of cancer are there?

There are many types of cancer because cancerous cells can grow anywhere in the
body. The location of the cancer and the type of tissue involved helps to give the disease a
specific name, such as lung cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer. Other
examples are melanoma (involving cells that contain skin pigment called melanin) and
leukemia (involving the white blood cells).

How does cancer develop?

Cancer is a process with three steps: initiation, promotion and progression. Each step
plays a vital role in stopping the cancer process. Since a period of many years usually exists
between the initiation of the cancer process and the onset of the symptoms, cancer prevention
methods like risk control and early detection are most effective in the first two steps.

The first step involves changes to the genetic code (DNA) of a cell called initiation.
Initiation is simply a mistake (mutation). The mistake may appear on a chromosome, or it
could turn up in a gene segment of DNA. Usually, initiation by itself is not enough to produce
cancer; the body’s repair systems can replace damaged sections of DNA, which allow the cell
to recover under normal circumstances. If the cell reproduces while the DNA is damaged,
more abnormal cells can be made that may develop into cancer.
 The altered cells undergo more changes that may require an additional substance
called a promoter. A promoter is something that speeds up the pace of cell division, which
can create more genetic mutations. A promoter may be a hormone such as estrogen or a toxic
substance such as a chemical in tobacco smoke.

The last step is progression , which means that the cells have begun to grow out of
control and is the basis for all cancers. The out of control cells form a tumor. A tumor is
simply a mass of abnormal cells that keep growing and can extend into nearby tissues or
spread to other parts of the body. How quickly a cancer progresses is determined by body
conditions, such as hormones, and by genetic factors.

No one completely understands this process, but certain aspects of a person’s lifestyle
can be linked to cancer formation.

What causes cancer?

There is no single cause of cancer. Cancer development depends on things such as

family history (genetics), health, nutrition, personal habits and the environment. Genetic
factors by themselves probably account for only a small fraction of cancers. Genetic factors
do have an important influence on a person’s chance of developing cancer when combined
with outside factors. These factors are either voluntary (such as cigarette smoking, diet, and
sexual behavior) or involuntary (such as breathing polluted air or drinking contaminated
water).

What factors contribute to cancer?

Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of cancer. Cigarette smoke contains more than 3,800
individual chemicals, and more than 40 are carcinogenic (cancer causing).

Portions of the diet, especially fatty foods and alcoholic beverages, also are linked to cancer.

Skin exposure to ultraviolet radiation in sunlight is the primary cause of melanoma, a skin
cancer.

Environmental pollution by chemicals in drinking water, air, food and in the workplace may
contribute to cancer. The harmful health effects of chemicals depend on the dose, strength of
the chemical compound, the length of exposure and the general health of the individual.
Outside the workplace, very few cases of cancer are believed to be caused by exposure to
chemicals in the environment.

Most cancers may be prevented through the identification and control of external factors.
Approximately 30 percent of cancers are linked to cigarette smoking. The remaining 70
percent are likely the result of interaction among various factors.

How do chemicals cause cancer?

Some chemicals in the environment are toxic substances that can produce cancer in
humans and animals. Most chemicals act by causing the initiation step in the cancer process
(altering the DNA), but they also can act as promoters.
What cancers are caused by chemicals?

Most cancer-causing chemicals were first recognized in workplace settings. The

workplace is unique because workers are often exposed to large amounts of chemicals over
long periods of time. The first association of cancer with the workplace occurred in 1775. A
London doctor related cases of cancer of the scrotum among young chimney sweeps to their
exposure to soot. Other cause-and-effect relationships have been noted in workers between –

 benzene and leukemia;

 asbestos and lung cancer; and
 vinyl chloride and liver cancer.

Workers may be exposed to a combination of cancer-causing chemicals (carcinogens), which

increases their cancer risk. The risk of lung cancer in asbestos workers who also smoke
cigarettes is at least 50 times higher than the risk in non-smoking asbestos workers. Reducing
chemical exposure can prevent most work-related cancers.

What can you do to reduce your risk of getting cancer?

Scientific evidence shows that lifestyle choices, a healthy diet, good nutrition and physical
activity can reduce cancer risk. The American Cancer Society recommends the following –

1. Avoid using tobacco products, such as cigarettes, snuff and chewing tobacco. This is
especially important for individuals who drink alcoholic beverages. Cancer risk of
tobacco and alcohol combined is greater than the sum of their individual effects.
2. Choose most of the foods you eat from plant sources. Eat five or more servings of
fruits and vegetables each day. Eat other foods, such as breads, cereals, grain
products, rice, pasta or beans, several times each day. Wash fresh fruits and vegetables
before eating.
3. Limit your intake of high-fat foods, particularly from animal sources. Choose foods
low in fat and limit consumption of high-fat red meats. Choose baked and broiled
meats, seafood and poultry, rather than fried food.
4. Be physically active and achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Be moderately
active for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week. Stay within your healthy
weight range. Be aware that many fat-free cakes, cookies, snack foods and other
desserts are high in calories.
5. Limit consumption of alcoholic beverages. Men should have no more than two
drinks per day. Women should have no more than one drink per day because they
absorb alcohol more readily and are usually smaller in body size.
6. Avoid or reduce exposure to sunlight, particularly in childhood. Reduce your sun
exposure by avoiding sun during the middle of the day, wearing protective hats and
clothing, seeking shade while outdoors and applying sunscreen to uncovered skin.
 7. Follow safety rules and regulations at your workplace. If possible, carcinogens
should be replaced with safer substitutes. Workers should handle hazardous materials
in a ventilated area and be trained to protect themselves. Personal protective clothing
and respirators may be required.

Carcinogens

Carcinogenic substances are associated with causing or promoting some type of cancer in
humans and animals. Cancers are thought to be the result of changes in or damage to the
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) material in the chromosomes.Common carcinogens include
benzene, vinyl chloride, formaldehyde, dioxane, and acrylamide.

Mutagens

A mutagen is an agent that causes an increase in the rate of mutation of cells in the body.
Mutagens induce DNA damage that either kills cells or when mis-repaired, produces
abnormal sequences that will be passed on to daughter cells. These actions, in turn, induce
birth defects. Examples include X-rays, ultra-violet irradiation, and various chemicals.

Teratogens
Teratogens are substances that cause harm to the fetus or embryo during pregnancy, causing
birth defects while the mother shows no signs of toxicity.
Common teratogens include ethanol, mercury compounds, lead compounds, phenol, carbon
disulfide, toluene and xylene.
 Environmental Impact Assessment
The impact of anthropogenic activities on the use of environmental resources or the
natural environment is termed as environmental impact. The assessment or evaluations of this
impact are collectively called Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

EIA is required to understand the detrimental environmental changes like the degradation of
environment, ecological imbalance, etc. and take proper measures to make the earth
environmentally sound for our existence.

The ultimate objective of EIA is to provide information to the decision makers so that
proper programmes, plans can be made and new projects can be implemented. The EIA is
very important as its results help to implement appropriate procedures or measures in various
countries keeping in view their national laws and processes related to decision making,
exchange of information and consultation.

The steps involved in the EIA study are:

The way in which an EIA is carried out is not rigid: it is a process comprising a series of
steps. These steps are outlined below. The main steps in the EIA process are:

• screening
• scoping
• prediction and mitigation
• management and monitoring
• audit

Figure 1 shows a general flow diagram of the EIA process, how it fits in with parallel
technical and economic studies and the role of public participation. In some cases, such as
small-scale irrigation schemes, the transition from identification through to detailed design
may be rapid and some steps in the EIA procedure may be omitted.

• Screening often results in a categorization of the project and from this a decision is made
on whether or not a full EIA is to be carried out.

• Scoping is the process of determining which are the most critical issues to study and will
involve community participation to some degree. It is at this early stage that EIA can most
strongly influence the outline proposal.

• Detailed prediction and mitigation studies follow scoping and are carried out in parallel
with feasibility studies.

• The main output report is called an Environmental Impact Statement, and contains a detailed
plan for managing and monitoring environmental impacts both during and after
implementation.

• Finally, an audit of the EIA process is carried out sometime after implementation. The audit
serves a useful feedback and learning function.
Figure1: Flow diagram of the EIA process and parallel studies
 Environmental Audit
Environmental audits are tools which can quantify an organisational environmental
performance and position.

Definitions: The term 'audit' has its origins in the financial sector. Auditing, in general, is a
methodical examination - involving analyses, tests, and confirmations - of procedures and
practices whose goal is to verify whether they comply with legal requirements, internal
policies and accepted practices.

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) produced a definition in 1989 which is along the
same lines

Difference between Environmental Auditing and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Environmental auditing should not be confused with environmental impact assessment (EIA). Both
environmental auditing and EIA are environmental management tools, and both share some
terminology, for example, 'impact', 'effect', and 'significant', but there are some important differences
between the two.

Environmental impact assessment is an anticipatory tool, that is, it takes place before an action is
carried out. EIA therefore attempts to predict the impact on the environment of a future action, and to
provide this information to those who make the decision on whether the project should be authorised.
EIA is also a legally mandated tool for many projects in most countries.

Environmental auditing is carried out when a development is already in place, and is used to check on
existing practices, assessing the environmental effects of current activities. Environmental auditing
therefore provides a 'snap-shot' of looking at what is happening at that point in time in an organisation.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has produced a series of standards in the
field of environmental auditing. These standards are basically intended to guide organisations and
auditors on the general principles common to the execution of environmental audits.

The distinction between an environmental audit and an environmental review has become blurred, but
the table 1 should enable you to understand the differences between the two.
Table 1 : Distinctions between an environmental review and an environmental audit

Review Audit

Determine which performance Verify performance against these

standards should be met (eg standards (eg company checks
What is the
company decides to reduce total that it really has reduced emission
objective?
organic compound emissions from to 10 tonnes/year)
100 tonnes to 10 tonnes/ year)

All known environmental issues Only issues for which standards

Which with or without explicit standards exist (e.g. regulatory
environmental issues to measure performance requirements, internal company
are covered? standards, or good management
practice)

Before developing environmental Regularly and on a pre-planned

How often are they management systems or before and cyclical basis
required? after any significant changes in
operations or practices

Wherever the business could have Usually well-defined geographic

an environmental impact in the life boundaries, (eg limited to site,
What are the
of the product (ie raw material distribution companies or local
geographic
selection, transportation, planning authority)
boundaries?
manufacturing, product use and
disposal)

Irrespective of the process that is actually being undertaken, some organisations prefer not to use the
term 'audit'. In some cases, therefore, an organisation may call the procedure of measuring
environmental performance against set criteria an environmental review, an environmental
assessment, or another term used specifically for their own purposes (by now, you should be able to
distinguish between these terms, and be able to determine which is which).

What are the different types of environmental audits?

There are three main types of audits which are environmental compliance audits,
environmental management audits to verify whether an organisation meets its stated
objectives, and, functional environmental audits such as for water and electricity.

What are their benefits?

Benefits vary depending on the objectives and scope of the audit. Environmental auditing
benefits include:

i) Organisations understand how to meet their legal requirements

ii) Meeting specific statutory reporting requirements;

iii) Organisations can demonstrate they are environmentally responsible;

iv) Organisations can demonstrate their environmental policy is implemented;

v) Understanding environmental interactions of products, services & activities,

vi) Knowing their environmental risks are managed appropriately;

vii) Understanding how to develop and implement an ISO 14001 EMS; and

viii) Improving environmental performance and saving money.

Who should complete an environmental audit?

ISO 19011:2012 Guidelines for auditing management systems provides information
regarding the choice of Environmental Auditor. Environmental Auditors should have
personal attributes, such as ethics, open-mindedness, perceptiveness and tact. They should
understand audit principles, procedures and techniques, as well as having gained experience
through conducting audits. They should know the subject matter they are auditing against
and how this applies to different organisations.
Audit Team Leaders should be able to plan and resource effectively,have good
communication and leadership skills. Preferably Environmental Auditors should complete
training and have attained an appropriate level of education. A good Auditor should have
adequate skills and experience.

When seeking an external Auditor consideration could be given to the skills outlined above.
Exemplar Global Environmental Auditors have completed training (5 days) and have met a
minimum certification standard. Depending on the auditing requirements consideration could
be given to determining whether the Auditor needs to be certified by additional organisations
(e.g. EPA appointed Environmental Auditors).
 Environmental laws and protection act of India

Environment Protection Act, 1986 is an Act of the Parliament of India. In the wake of
the Bhopal Tragedy, the Government of India enacted the Environment Protection Act of
1986 under Article 253 of the Constitution. Passed in March 1986, it came into force on 19th
November 1986. The purpose of the Act is to implement the decisions of the United Nations
Conference on the Human Environments they relate to the protection and improvement of the
human environment and the prevention of hazards to human beings, other living creatures,
plants and property. The Act is an “umbrella” legislation designed to provide a framework for
central government coordination of the activities of various central and state authorities
established under previous laws, such as the Water Act and the Air Act.

Objectives of the Act

 To co-ordinate the activities of the various regulatory agencies already in existence.

 Creation of an authority or authorities with adequate powers for environmental
protection.

 Regulation of discharge of environmental pollutants and handling of hazardous

substance.

 Speedy response in the event of accidents threatening environment and punishment to

those who endanger human environment, safety and health.

How is ‘Environment’ defined under Indian Law?

According to Section 2(a) of the Environmental Protection Act, 1986, ‘Environment’
includes
a) Water, air and land
b) The inter-relationship which exists among and between,
i) water, air, land, and
ii) human beings, other living creatures, plants, microorganisms and property

What are the different statutes / legislations enacted in India exclusively for
environmental protection?
 The different statutes / legislations enacted in India exclusively for environment protection
are
 The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
 The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules, 1975
 The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977
 The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Rules, 1978
 The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
 The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules, 1982
 The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
 The Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986
 Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 1989
 Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989
 The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
 The Forest (Conservation) Rules, 1981
 The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
 The Wildlife (Transactions and Taxidermy) Rules, 1973
 The Wildlife (Stock Declaration) Central Rules, 1973
 The Wildlife (Protection) Licensing (Additional Matters for Consideration) Rules,
1983
 The Wildlife (Protection) Rules, 1995
 The Wildlife (Specified Plants - Conditions for Possession by Licensee) Rules, 1995
 The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991
 The Public Liability Insurance Rules, 1991
 The National Environment Tribunal Act, 1995
 The National Environment Appellate Authority Act, 1997

What are the provisions in the Indian Penal Code for environmental protection?

The Indian Penal Code has a chapter on offences affecting Public Health, Safety,
Convenience (Chapter XIV). Sec. 268 provides that “a person is guilty of a public nuisance
who does any act or is guilty of an illegal omission which causes any common injury, danger
or annoyance to the public or to the people in general who dwell or occupy property in the
vicinity, or which must necessarily cause injury, obstruction, danger, or annoyance to persons
who may have occasion to use any public right.” The section further explains that a common
nuisance is not excusable on the ground that it causes some convenience or advantage. Other
concerned provisions are: a “negligent act likely to spread infection or disease dangerous to
life” (Sec. 269 IPC.), a “malignant act likely to spread infection or disease dangerous to life”
(Sec. 270 IPC.), “making atmosphere noxious to health” (Sec. 278 IPC.).

But the essential requirement of the provision to punish a man is the guilty intention of the
accused, i.e. either the act of the accused should be negligent, malignant or voluntary, which
vitiates the atmosphere. In case of public nuisance, the Penal Code provides for fines up to
Rs. 200/- by way of punishment (Sec. 290 IPC.) and for making the atmosphere noxious to
health Rs. 500/- only (Sec.78 IPC.).

The punishments are too meagre to meet the objectives. With these penal provisions, it is not
possible to check environmental pollution.

Energy audit
An energy audit is an inspection, survey and analysis of energy flows for energy
conservation in a building or system to reduce the amount of energy input into the system
without negatively affecting the output(s). In commercial and industrial real estate, an energy
audit is the first step in identifying opportunities to reduce energy expense.

Definaion: "The judicious and effective use of energy to maximize profits (minimize costs)
and enhance competitive positions"

The objective of Energy Management is to achieve and maintain optimum energy

procurement and utilisation, throughout the organization and:
• To minimise energy costs / waste without affecting production & quality
• To minimise environmental effects.

Need for Energy Audit

The need to reduce energy costs is a crucial business practice for successful
organizations, and energy audits have begun to play a more significant role in managing
energy expenses. Energy audits can encompass a variety of surveying techniques but most
commonly consist of an analysis of energy usage within a building or facility and its
contained equipment.
Energy audits can use information from building management systems (BMS) with the goal
of reducing energy usage without negatively impacting the company’s everyday practices.
Industrial energy audits often focus on key aspects of the overall system that tend to use the
most energy.
The primary objective of Energy Audit is to determine ways to reduce energy consumption
per unit of product output or to lower operating costs. Energy Audit provides a " bench-mark"
(Reference point) for managing energy in the organization and also provides the basis for
planning a more effective use of energy throughout the organization.

Type of Energy Audit

The type of Energy Audit to be performed depends on:

- Function and type of industry
- Depth to which final audit is needed, and
- Potential and magnitude of cost reduction desired

Thus Energy Audit can be classified into the following two types.
i) Preliminary Audit
ii) Detailed Audit

Green chemistry
 The concept of greening chemistry is a relatively new idea which developed in the business
and regulatory communities as a natural evolution of pollution prevention initiatives. In our efforts to
improve crop protection, commercial products, and medicines, we also caused unintended harm to our
planet and humans.

By the mid-20th century, some of the long-term negative effects of these advancements could
not be ignored. Pollution choked many of the world's waterways and acid rain deteriorated forest
health. There were measurable holes in the earth's ozone. Some chemicals in common use were
suspected of causing or directly linked to human cancer and other adverse human and environmental
health outcomes. Many governments began to regulate the generation and disposal of industrial
wastes and emissions. The United States formed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970,
which was charged with protecting human and environmental health through setting and enforcing
environmental regulations.

Green chemistry takes the EPA's mandate a step further and creates a new reality for
chemistry and engineering by asking chemists and engineers to design chemicals, chemical processes
and commercial products in a way that, at the very least, avoids the creation of toxics and waste. We
are able to develop chemical processes and earth-friendly products that will prevent pollution in the
first place. This is a field open for innovation, new ideas, and revolutionary progress. This is the
future of chemistry.

Green chemistry is a philosophy of chemical research and engineering that encourages the design of
products and processes that minimize the use and generation of hazardous substances. Green
chemistry seeks to reduce the negative impact of chemistry on the environment by
preventing pollution at its source and using fewer natural resources.

The term ‘Green Chemistry’ was first coined by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Their early
definition of the subject is still widely quoted:

"Green Chemistry’ is the utilisation of a set of principles that reduces or eliminates the use or
generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture and application of chemical
products".
However in practice ‘Green Chemistry’ is nowadays taken to cover a much broader range of issues
than the definition suggests. As well as using and producing ‘better’ chemicals with less waste, ‘Green
Chemistry’ also involves reducing other associated environmental impacts, in particular reducing the
amount of energy used in chemical processes.

In practice ‘Green Chemistry’ embraces concepts such as:

• Atom efficiency - designing processes to maximize the amount of raw material that is converted
into the product

• Energy conservation – designing more energy efficient processes

• Waste minimization - recognizing that the best form of waste disposal is not to create waste in the
first place.

• Substitution - using safer, more environmentally benign raw materials and solvents or solvent free
processes.

12 Principles of Green Chemistry

Developed by Paul Anastas and John Warner*, the following list outlines an early conception of what
would make a greener chemical, process, or product.

1. Prevention
It is better to prevent waste than to treat or clean up waste after it has been created.

2. Atom Economy
Synthetic methods should be designed to maximize the incorporation of all materials used in the
process into the final product.

3. Less Hazardous Chemical Syntheses

Wherever practicable, synthetic methods should be designed to use and generate substances that
possess little or no toxicity to human health and the environment.
4. Designing Safer Chemicals
Chemical products should be designed to affect their desired function while minimizing their
toxicity.

5. Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries

The use of auxiliary substances (e.g., solvents, separation agents, etc.) should be made
unnecessary wherever possible and innocuous when used.

6. Design for Energy Efficiency

Energy requirements of chemical processes should be recognized for their environmental and
economic impacts and should be minimized. If possible, synthetic methods should be conducted
at ambient temperature and pressure.

7. Use of Renewable Feedstocks

A raw material or feedstock should be renewable rather than depleting whenever technically
and economically practicable.

8. Reduce Derivatives
Unnecessary derivatization (use of blocking groups, protection/ deprotection, temporary
modification of physical/chemical processes) should be minimized or avoided if possible,
because such steps require additional reagents and can generate waste.

9. Catalysis
Catalytic reagents (as selective as possible) are superior to stoichiometric reagents.

10. Design for Degradation

Chemical products should be designed so that at the end of their function they break down into
innocuous degradation products and do not persist in the environment.

11. Real-time analysis for Pollution Prevention

Analytical methodologies need to be further developed to allow for real-time, in-process
monitoring and control prior to the formation of hazardous substances.

12. Inherently Safer Chemistry for Accident Prevention

Substances and the form of a substance used in a chemical process should be chosen to
minimize the potential for chemical accidents, including releases, explosions, and fires
 Green Solvents

Solvents are used in almost all areas of chemistry including synthetic chemistry,
analytical chemistry, pharmaceutical production and processing, the food and flavour industry
and the materials and coating sectors. In chemical manufacture, organic solvents are widely
used in a variety of unit operations including extraction, recrystallization and the dissolutions
of solids for ease of handling.

Many of the commonly used solvents are volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), flammable and/or toxic. They also pose serious
environmental, health and safety (EHS) concerns. The main environmental issue concerned
with VOCs is their ability to form low level ozone and smog through free radical air
oxidation processes. The health effect originated from the presence of VOCs in the
environment are: conjunctival irritation, nose and throat discomfort, headache, allergic skin
reaction, nausea, fatigue, dizziness.

Hence alternatives to organic solvents are needed to decrease the negative environmental
impact of these substances. Some of the more common alternatives to use organic solvents
are: 1. Use of safer/green solvents
2. use of water as solvents
3. Solvent free processes
4. room-temperature ionic liquid.

Use of safer/green solvents

Many of the commonly used solvents (benzene, chlorinated organic solvents etc.) are
known carcinogens and pose hazardous treats to the environment. Some of the solvents which
can be used safely are: isoamyl alcohol, 2-butanol, t-butyl acetate, ethyl acetate, ethylene
glycol etc.
Another class of safer solvents is the Green Solvents. Green solvents are
environmentally friendly solvents or biosolvents, which are derived from the processing of
agricultural crops. Ethyl lactate is the ester of lactic acid. Lactate esters solvents are
commonly used solvents in the paints and coatings industry and have numerous attractive
advantages including being 100% biodegradable, easy to recycle, non-corrosive, non-
carcinogenic and non-ozone depleting.

Use of water as solvents

The use of water as solvent for organic reactions is one of the finest solutions to the problem
of solvent toxicity and disposal.

Solvent free processes

In general, many reactions involving miscible or partially miscible reagents can proceed
under solvent-free conditions. Following are the advantages associated with the use of a
solvent free system over the use of organic solvent:
i) There is no reaction media to collect, dispose of, or purify and recycle.
ii) Extensive and expensive purification procedures such as chromatography can often be
avoided due to the formation of sufficiently pure compounds.
iii) Reaction times can be rapid, often with increased yields and low energy uses.
Reactions achieved by solvent-free systems include aldol condensations, Michael additions,
Stobbe condensation etc.

Room-temperature ionic liquid

Most of the common liquids (e.g. water, ethanol, benzene etc.) are basically made up of
molecules. However, since the early 1980s a new class of room-temperature liquids, called
ionic liquids becomes available. Ionic liquids composed entirely of ions.

An ionic liquid is a salt in which the ions are poorly coordinated, which results in these
solvents being liquid below 100°C, or even at room temperature. In broad terms they can be
viewed like common ionic materials such as sodium chloride, the difference being that they
are at low temperatures, these being due to poor packing of the respective ions.

Ionic liquids posses unique properties that make them excellent solvents such as high thermal
stability and high electrical conductivity.

These simple liquid salts can be mixed with other salts to form multi-component ionic
liquids.

The first room-temperature ionic liquid (EtNH3)(NO3) was discovered in 1914, and later on
binary ionic liquids from mixture of aluminium(III) chloride and N-alkylpyridinium or 1,3-
dialkylimidazolium chloride was discovered.

There are many thousands of ionic liquids of which only a few have been studied in detail.
Following is the examples ionic liquids,

1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM]PF6)

Ionic liquids have been found useful for a wide range of chemical reactions including
hydrogenation reactions, biocatalysis reactions and electrochemical applications such as
battery electrolytes.
 Green energy

In the past three decades, research and development in green energy has exploded, yielding
hundreds of promising new technologies that can reduce our dependence on coal, oil, and
natural gas. But what is green energy, and what makes it a better option than fossil fuels?
Green energy is the term that is used when describing energy sources or sources of power
that are known to be non-polluting energy sources that are fundamentally environmentally
friendly.
Green energy comes from natural sources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, plants, algae and
geothermal heat. These energy resources are renewable, meaning they're naturally
replenished. In contrast, fossil fuels are a finite resource that take millions of years to develop
and will continue to diminish with use.
Renewable energy sources also have a much smaller impact on the environment than fossil
fuels, which produce pollutants such as greenhouse gases as a by-product, contributing to
climate change. Gaining access to fossil fuels typically requires either mining or drilling deep
into the earth, often in ecologically sensitive locations.
Green energy, however, utilizes energy sources that are readily available all over the world,
including in rural and remote areas that don't otherwise have access to electricity. Advances
in renewable energy technologies have lowered the cost of solar panels, wind turbines and
other sources of green energy, placing the ability to produce electricity in the hands of the
people rather than those of oil, gas, coal and utility companies.
Objectives
The primary objective of green energy is to reduce air pollution, and minimize or eradicate
completely any impacts to the environment. Thus, the primary benefits are:
1. The reduction of impacts to the environment based on the methods to produce energy or
power that is used.
2. The reduction of emissions that are harmful to the environment based on the methods of
energy that we use.

Types of green energy

Research into renewable, non-polluting energy sources is advancing at such a fast pace, it's
hard to keep track of the many types of green energy that are now in development. Here are
six of the most common types of green energy:
Solar Power - The most prevalent type of renewable energy, solar power is typically
produced using photovoltaic cells, which capture sunlight and turn it into electricity. Solar
energy is also used to heat buildings and water, provide natural lighting and cook food. Solar
technologies have become inexpensive enough to power everything from small hand-held
gadgets to entire neighborhoods.
Wind Power - Air flow on the earth's surface can be used to push turbines, with stronger
winds producing more energy. High-altitude sites and areas just offshore tend to provide the
best conditions for capturing the strongest winds. According to a 2009 study, a network of
land-based, 2.5-megawatt wind turbines in rural areas operating at just 20% of their rated
capacity could supply 40 times the current worldwide consumption of energy.
Hydropower - Also called hydroelectric power, hydropower is generated by the Earth's water
cycle, including evaporation, rainfall, tides and the force of water running through a dam.
Hydropower depends on high precipitation levels to produce significant amounts of energy.
Geothermal Energy - Just under the earth's crust are massive amounts of thermal energy,
which originates from both the original formation of the planet and the radioactive decay of
minerals. Geothermal energy in the form of hot springs has been used by humans for
millennia for bathing, and now it's being used to generate electricity. In North America alone,
there's enough energy stored underground to produce 10 times as much electricity as coal
currently does.
Biomass - Recently-living natural materials like wood waste, sawdust and combustible
agricultural wastes can be converted into energy with far fewer greenhouse gas emissions
than petroleum-based fuel sources. That's because these materials, known as biomass, contain
stored energy from the sun.
Biofuels - Rather than burning biomass to produce energy, sometimes these renewable
organic materials are transformed into fuel. Notable examples include ethanol and biodiesel.
Biofuels provided 2.7% of the world's fuels for road transport in 2010, and have the potential
to meet more than 25% of world demand for transportation fuels by 2050.

Top 10 Renewable Energy Sources

1. Nuclear power

2. Compressed natural gas

3. Biomass

4. Geothermal power

5. Radiant energy

6. Hydroelectricity

7. Wind power

8. Solar power

9. Wave power

10. Tidal power