Environment
The environment encompasses the physical and biotic components of the Earths environment with which humans interact. It includes the soil, water, rocks, flora, and fauna, as well as the air and the atmosphere, which is the major determinant of the quality of life. Human activities modify the physical environment in many ways, such as altering the landscape through land clearing and urbanization and by exploiting the resources of the soil, water, and air. Unwise use and abuse of the environment can have drastic consequences, such as water and air pollution, the destruction of animal habitats, and the extinction of certain species.
Environmental Quality
The concept of environmental quality encompasses a variety of properties of environmental surroundings, including characteristics such as air, water, and landscape quality, as well as noise, odors, dust, and radiation. These factors can be assessed in terms of health hazards, aesthetic problems, and economic losses. The quality of the environment can be compromised in a variety of ways, including pollution, habitat destruction, and disruption of the food chain.
Environmental Quality Parameters
The parameters commonly used to measure environmental quality include air and water quality, light, noise, and temperature. Air and water quality are two of the most important quality parameters, due to their direct effects on human health and the health of other organisms. Other important quality parameters include chemical and biological properties, such as the presence of pollutants or medical compounds and the presence of agricultural or urban runoff. In addition, light, noise, and temperature can also affect the quality of an environment. Light intensity, for instance, can affect the health of plants, while noise and temperature can affect the health of both plants and animals.
