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Impacts of Our Philadelphia Operations
The definition of an environmental impact is any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an organization's aspects and activities, products and services. Below is a list of our impacts and an explanation or definition we used for the environmental impact in our EMS.
Acidification - Combustion of fossil fuels results in emissions of NOx and SO2 that react with hydrogen in the atmosphere to form acids which are then deposited on the land and into the water by settling and rainfall causing acidification.
Contamination of Land - Substances and chemicals in waste are deposited into landfills and can be considered as contaminating land under a normal condition. If the landfill containment system fails, further contamination of land and possibly water would result.
Decrease in Ozone Layer - Fugitive emissions or other releases of fluorocarbons used in air condition systems have been shown to attack and deplete the protective ozone layer in the upper atmosphere.
Depletion of Habitat - Clear cutting and removal of trees from forested areas for paper will cause a depletion or degradation of habitat.
Depletion of Natural Resources (Chemicals) - Inorganic chemicals in products that are used or consumed by our activities/products/services such as cleaning are depleted when they are disposed of as waste.
Depletion of Natural Resources (Fossil Fuel) - Combustion of fossil fuel for the generation of electricity or to power internal combustion engines depletes this non-renewable resource. Also when products containing organic chemicals that are derived from petroleum, are used or consumed by our activities/products/services such as painting they are depleted.
Depletion of Natural Resources (Trees) - Clear cutting and removal of trees from forested areas for paper will cause a depletion of natural resources. Trees are however a renewable resource that may grow again but there is a loss or depletion when they are consumed by our activities/products or services.
Eutrophication - The nitrogen in the emissions of NOx from the combustion of fossil fuels are deposited on the land and into the water by settling and rainfall causing eutrophication or the over fertilization of water bodies. Even after primary and secondary treatment of our waste water by the City of Philadelphia sewage treatment plant, there is still nitrogen and phosphorus in the waste water that is discharged to the Delaware River. When released into the water these nutrients deplete oxygen levels either directly as they degrade or indirectly as they fuel algae growth that consumes oxygen when it dies and breaks down.
Global Warming - The combustion of fossil fuels produces emissions of CO2 which is a greenhouse gas. Increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere are believed by many scientist to be causing global warming.
Increase Ground Level Ozone - Evaporation and fugitive emissions of volatile organic compounds and emissions of nitrogen oxides, when released into the air react with sunlight to form ozone which causes adverse health effects when inhaled by people as well as causing damage to some plant tissues.
Increase in Suspended Solids in Delaware River - Increases in the velocity and quantity of storm water runoff from rainfall can carry suspended solids and soil into the Delaware River where it will increase turbidity in the water and reduce the penetration of sunlight that supports submerged aquatic vegetation. Suspended solids may also settle out and coat benthic organisms and be re-suspended in future high flow events.
Reduction of Baseflow of Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers - The source of the potable water in our office is drawn from either or both the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. This use will contribute to the lowering of the water level in these rivers which will mean less baseflow to support plant and animal communities in these water bodies.
Notes: Source EPA Mid-Atlantic Region 3 EMS Team
Impacts are directly linked to aspects. For example, if coal is used at
the electrical power plant, the Aspect "Use of Electricity"
will always have impacts of Acidification and Eutrophication.
Aspects of Our Philadelphia Operations
Revision History
Date of Action
Originally written January 2003
Revised August 2005 when aspects were finalized
Author: EMS Team/EMS Coordinator
Reviewed
and Approved: Senior Management
Review History
Reviewed January 2010