Environment means the surroundings. Land, water, air, plants, animals, solid wastes and other things that are surrounding us constitute our environment. Man and environment are closely intertwined with each other, to maintain a balance or equilibrium in nature.

Different groups of people working in different areas express it in various ways. When physical scientists talk about environment they generally refer to the physical environment that comprises the three inter locking systems the Atmosphere, the Hydrosphere and the Lithosphere.

Biologists often refer to biological environment consisting of all living organisms of the Biosphere. Similarly social scientists refer to the social, cultural, economic and organizational environment.

Hence environment may be defined as "the sum of all social, cultural, economical, biological, physical and chemical factors surrounding the 'man' to give ...