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UPDATED TO 2023-2025 SYLLABUS

CAIE IGCSE
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
SUMMARIZED NOTES ON THE THEORY SYLLABUS
Prepared for Bassil for personal use only.
CAIE IGCSE ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT

Acid rain: precipitation with a pH value of less than 7.

1. The Atmosphere and
Human Activities
1.1. The Atmosphere
The Composition of the Atmosphere:

Burning of fossil fuels in factories and power stations

release sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
Vehicle emissions add further nitrogen oxides.
When these gases mix and react with the water vapour
in the atmosphere, they form weak nitric and sulfuric
acid solutions.
Prevailing winds carry them.
They eventually fall to Earth as acid rain.
% in Importance to Life on
component
atmosphere Earth Smog:
Nitrogen (N2) 78.09 Growth of plants.
Oxygen (O2) Produced by
20.95
photosynthesis;
Used in respiration.
Water Vapour (H2O) 0.2-4 Source for Precipitation;
Provides most of the
natural greenhouse
gases;
Vital for existence of
life.
carbon dioxide (co2) Used by plants in
0.03
photosynthesis;
Greenhouse Gas
Can create an inert
argon (Ar) atmosphere that
0.93
Helium (He), Neon protects materials from
Trace
(Ne), Krypton (Kr) reacting with oxygen or
other gases.

Number of years gas stays in the atmosphere

Carbon Dioxide 200 years

Methane 12-17 years
CFCs 1000 years
Nitrous Oxides 114 years

1.2. Atmospheric Pollution and its

Causes

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CAIE IGCSE ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT
Human activities that increase their Pollutant impact
Greenhouse gas
abundance Smog Irritation of eyes and throat;
of carbon dioxide Burning of fossil fuels; Deforestation. Respiratory diseases, like asthma;
Cattle and rice production; Coal mine Fine particles are carried into the lungs,
methane ventilation; Deforestation; Decomposing leading to lung cancer, strokes and heart
waste (landfill sites). attacks;
Aerosol sprays; Fire extinguishers; Breathing difficulties.
CFCs
Refrigeration; Air conditioning. Acidification of groundwater, making the
Nitrogen Oxides Vehicle exhausts; Chemical fertilisers. Acid rain
water undrinkable;
Tropospheric Chemical reactions involving nitrogen It can cause diarrhoea and stomach
ozone oxides and unburnt fuel vapours. upset if the water is consumed;
Aluminium leached from the soil to
Ozone Layer Depletion: groundwater;
Acidification of groundwater damages
The ozone layer protects the Earth from the Sun’s tree roots
harmful radiation. Crop yields decline;
It is formed when oxygen (O2) filters from the top of the
Nutrients like calcium are leached out of
troposphere and reacts under the influence of ultraviolet the soil;
radiation to form ozone (O3). Fish die as acidity levels increase;
It is continually formed, destroyed and replaced Limestone buildings are chemically
naturally, creating a dynamic balance disturbed by weathered.
human activities. Higher levels of ultraviolet radiation
Ozone Depletion cause sunburn, skin cancers, retina
damage and cataracts;
Extra ultraviolet radiation limits the
reproduction of phytoplankton, affecting
the entire food web;
Changes in the biochemical composition
of some plant leaves make them less
attractive as food.
Melting of ice sheets, glaciers and
Climate Change
permafrost causes a rise in sea levels;
Damage to low-lying countries from
flooding;
Forced migration as people lose their
homes and farmland from rising sea
When CFCs reach the stratosphere, the ultraviolet levels;
radiation breaks them down, releasing chlorine. Loss of biodiversity, habitat or extinction
Chlorine reacts with oxygen in a destructive process, if animals and plants can’t adapt;
breaking down the ozone molecules to chlorine Increased droughts could lead to
monoxide and oxygen, depleting the layer and desertification and famine;
forming a hole. Sea-level rise leads to the loss of coastal
This hole allows harmful radiation to enter the Earth’s land and increased erosion.
atmosphere.
1.4. Managing Atmospheric Pollution
1.3. Impact of Atmospheric Pollution
Reduction of carbon footprint:

Carbon footprint: a measure of the impact of our

activities on the environment.

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CAIE IGCSE ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT
Reduced use of fossil fuels:

Low-sulfur coal can be used;

Increased use of renewable energy.

Energy efficiency:
Using energy-efficient appliances.

Carbon capture and storage:

Waste carbon dioxide from power stations can be

transported via pipelines to storage sites.

Transport policies:
Creation of cycle lanes, bus lanes, metro systems and trams;

Electric or hybrid cars can be encouraged;

Biofuels can be used;
Vehicles can be banned from certain parts of the city by
pedestrianisation;
Public transport and residential parking can be made
free.

International agreement and policies:

Policies such as the Montreal Protocol, Kyoto Protocol

and Paris Climate The conference can be passed on
worldwide;
An international cooperation is required.

CFC replacement:

Reduction in the use of CFCs;

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) can be used as an
alternative;
Safe disposal of items containing CFCs.

Taxation:

Higher road tax to decrease car ownership.

Catalytic converters:
Catalytic converters in vehicles reduce sulfur dioxide
emissions;
They also convert nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide
to carbon dioxide and nitrogen;
Low-sulfur vehicle fuels can also be used.

Flue-gas desulfurisation:

Scrubbers can be used to remove 95% of sulfur dioxide

emissions;
Lining chimneys with lime also reduces emissions.
Reforestation and afforestation:

Reforestation: replanting an area with trees;

Afforestation: planting trees in a barren land.

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CAIE IGCSE
Environmental Management

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