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Gherlie R Marquez
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11 views

Additional Notes

Uploaded by

Gherlie R Marquez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Engineering decisions drive progress by shaping infrastructure, technology, and society.

They involve
problem-solving based on scientific principles and practical considerations. From designing bridges to
developing technology, engineers influence the world's development, impacting communities,
economies, and the environment.

• Nature of Technical Decisions:

No single perfect solution: Engineering problems can have multiple technically correct solutions.

Example: With correct engineering design procedures, such a sewer would carry the design flow
and thus, would be technically correct.

1. *Risk Assessment:* - Studies how harmful something can be. - Uses data to predict the impact
on health. - Example: Calculating the potential health risks associated with smoking cigarettes.

2. *Risk Management:* - Takes actions to reduce harmful risks. - Example: Quitting smoking to
lower health risks.

1. Define the Source and Type of Pollutant:*

- Identify where the pollutant comes from and what it is.

- Example: If a factory is making chemicals, what exactly are they making, and where is it going?

*2. Identify Pathways and Rates of Exposure:*

- Determine how the pollutant can reach humans and at what rate.

- Example: If it's in the air, can people breathe it in? If it's in water, can they drink it?

*3. Identify Receptors of Concern:*

- Identify the people at risk of exposure. Determine who might be affected by the pollutant.

- Example: Standardized assumptions (e.g., adult human weighs 70kg, lives for 70 years). Assuming all
adults are similar in size and health for comparison.

*4. Determine Potential Health Impact:*

- Define the dose-response relationship, especially adverse effects. Understand how much of the
pollutant can harm health.

- Ex. Consider both cancerous and noncancerous effects. Figuring out how it might cause cancer or other
health problems.

*5. Decide Acceptable Impact:*

- Determine what level of impact is considered acceptable to the public. Decide what level of harm is
okay for people to tolerate.

*6. Calculate Acceptable Levels and Emissions:*


- Based on acceptable impact, calculate the allowable levels at the receptor and maximum emissions.
Find out how much of the pollutant is okay for people to be exposed to, and how much can be released
into the environment.

*7. Implement Necessary Technology:*

- If emissions exceed allowable levels, determine and implement necessary technology to reduce
emissions. If the pollution is too much, find ways to reduce it using technology.

*Conclusion:*

- Environmental risk analysis involves systematic steps to identify, assess, and manage risks associated
with pollutants to protect human health and the environment.

*Government Responsibility:*

- Government has a duty to protect citizens from various dangers, including environmental hazards like
toxic pollutants and unsafe infrastructure.

2. *Limited Resources:*

- Despite this responsibility, government budgets are finite, necessitating allocation for maximum
health and safety benefits.

3. *Cost-Effectiveness vs. Human Value:*

- Rational calculations may prioritize cost-effective solutions, such as investing in coal mine safety over
rescue missions. However, sacrificing rescue efforts conflicts with societal values regarding the sanctity of
human life.

4. *Short-Term Focus and Hidden Costs:*

- Current risk analyses often prioritize short-term human benefits while neglecting long-term
environmental degradation and indirect costs.

*Additional Notes:*

- *Balancing Rationality and Values:* While rational calculations are essential for resource allocation,
they must be tempered with societal values, particularly regarding human life.

- *Need for Comprehensive Analysis:* Decision-making tools like alternatives assessment and
environmental impact analysis are vital for considering long-term and environmental costs, ensuring
more holistic risk management.

- *Government Accountability:* Agencies must be transparent in their decision-making processes and


accountable for the trade-offs made between short-term benefits and long-term consequences.

*Balancing Rationality and Values:* While rational calculations are essential for resource allocation,
they must be tempered with societal values, particularly regarding human life. The government is
responsible for keeping people safe from dangers like pollution and unsafe buildings. We need to find a
balance between making smart decisions and sticking to our values, like valuing human life.

- *Need for Comprehensive Analysis:* Decision-making tools like alternatives assessment and
environmental impact analysis are vital for considering long-term and environmental costs, ensuring
more holistic risk management. We should look at all the factors, not just the short-term ones, when
making decisions about risks.

- *Government Accountability:* Agencies must be transparent in their decision-making processes and


accountable for the trade-offs made between short-term benefits and long-term consequences. The
government needs to be honest about how it makes decisions and be responsible for the consequences
of those decisions.

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