What is Environment?
the natural environment is generally referred as the environment, is a term which includes all the living and non-living things occruing naturally on the earth.
The concept of the natural environment can be distinguished by components:
1.Complete ecological units
2.Universal natural resources
different kinds of issues in the environment are as follows:-
1.Pollution
2.Thermal inversion
3.Acid rain or acid deposition
4.Greenhouse effect
5.Ozone depletion
1.what is pollution?
undesirable change in the physical,chemical and biological condition of the environment.
pollutant-substances that makes environment undesirable to live this is generally know as pollution.
or
Pollution is a serious problem to the environment that is Pollution is the contamination of the environment. Efforts to improve the standard of living for humans have started a very serious problem.
effects-
.formation of dark cloud in the sky that may cause eye throat irritation
.causes impaired lung function.
.causes nausea and headache in human.
.causes damage to trees and various crops.
AIR RELATED PROBLEMS
.photochemical smog-caused by exhaust of vehicles,factories and industries.
.smog-combination of smoke and fog.
.the hotter the day, the higher the level of pollutants in the atmosphere beacause of the reaction promoted by sunlight.
causes-pollutants from the exhaust of vehicles and factory smoke-stacks and incomplete burning of hydrocarbon
Why is Pollution a Problem?
Pollution exposes all people to risks of disease. It also exposes animals to the same problem. Animals often cut their tongues on half open cans. That is only because the cans are littered. Oil spills are a very big problem. the pollution is the main threat to our environment so now the question is how many types of pollution is in our environment these are as follows:-
a.Air Pollution
b.Water Pollution
c.Land Pollution
d.Noise Pollution
e.Radioactive Pollution
f.Thermal Pollution
A.Air Pollution:-Air pollution is a mixture of several kinds of particles in the air i.e solid particles and gases in the air. Car emissions, chemicals from factories, dust, pollen and mold spores may be suspended as particles may also affect the environment.ozone, a gas, is a major part of air pollution in the cities and in the towns. When ozone forms air pollution, it's also called smog.
Some air pollutants are poisonous and very harmfull to living things. Inhaling them can increase the chance you'll have health problems like skin disease and asthama etc. People with heart or lung disease, older adults and children are at greater risk from air pollution.air pollution is not just outside - the air inside buildings can also be polluted and affect your health.
Causes of air pollution:-
There are many different different kinds of chemical substances that contribute alot to air pollution. These chemicals come from a variety of sources which always affect our environment.
Among the many types of air pollutants are nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxides, and organic compounds that can evaporate and enter the atmosphere which cause the air pollution.
Air pollutants have sources that are both natural and human. Now, humans contribute substantially more to the air pollution problem people harm the environment by unknowing ways.
Forest fires, volcanic eruptions, wind erosion, pollen dispersal, evaporation of organic compounds, and natural radioactivity are all among the natural causes of air pollution.
Usually, natural air pollution does not occur in abundance in particular locations. The pollution is spread around throughout the world, and as a result, poses little threat to the health of people and ecosystems and also the threat to ozone depletion.
Though some pollution comes from these natural sources, most pollution is the result of human activity. The biggest causes are the operation of fossil fuel-burning power plants and automobiles that combust fuel to do their industrial work. Combined, these two sources are responsible for about 90% of all air pollution in the United States and in various countries.
Some cities suffer severely because of heavy industrial use of chemicals that cause air pollution. Places like Mexico City and Sao Paulo have some of the most deadly pollution levels in the world and in india also places like New Delhi where just because of the AC in cars it causes very dangerous pollution.
B.What is water pollution?
Water pollution is any chemical, physical or biological change in the quality of water that has a harmful effect on any living thing that drinks or uses or lives in it. the undesired waste from the several industries through the pipes in the ocean and seas leads to the water pollution that affect the environment and also to the living things.When humans drink polluted water it often has serious effects on their health. Water pollution can also make water unsuited for the desired use.
What are the major water pollutants?
There are several classes of water pollutants.
.The first are disease-causing agents. These are bacteria, viruses, protozoa and parasitic worms that enter sewage systems and untreated waste or in the collected water in any places which leads to the dangerous pollution .
.A second category of water pollutants is oxygen-demanding wastes; wastes that can be decomposed by oxygen-requiring bacteria. When large populations of decomposing bacteria are converting these wastes it can deplete oxygen levels in the water. This causes other organisms in the water, such as fish, to die and another aquatic animals present in the water.
.A third class of water pollutants is water-soluble inorganic pollutants, such as acids, salts and toxic metals. Large quantities of these compounds will make water unfit to drink and will cause the death of aquatic life Generally all these watse is come from the industries and other firms which deals with the various metals and equipments.
How do we detect water pollution?
Water pollution is detected in laboratories, where small samples of water are analysed for different contaminants. Living organisms such as fish can also be used for the detection of water pollution and we can also use different kinds of aquatic animals for the testing of water pollution. Changes in their behaviour or growth show us, that the water they live in is polluted form or in the safe form. Specific properties of these organisms can give information on the sort of pollution in their environment. Laboratories also use computer models to determine what dangers there can be in certain waters. They import the data they own on the water into the computer, and the computer then determines if the water has any impurities. there are different kinds of technologies introduced in the market by the scientists to dtect the water pollution.
Why does water sometimes smell like rotten eggs?
When water is enriched with nutrients, eventually anaerobic bacteria, which do not need oxygen to practice their functions, will become highly active. These bacteria produce certain gasses during their activities. One of these gases is hydrogen sulphide. This compounds smells like rotten eggs. When water smells like rotten eggs we can conclude that there is hydrogen present, due to a shortage of oxygen in the specific water.
What causes white deposit on showers and bathroom walls?
Water contains many compounds. A few of these compounds are calcium and carbonate. Carbonate works as a buffer in water and is thus a very important component.
When calcium reacts with carbonate a solid substance is formed, that is called lime. This lime is what causes the white deposit on showers and bathroom walls and is commonly known as lime deposit. It can be removed by using a specially suited cleaning agent.
C.Land Pollution?
- It damages thin layer of fertile soil essential for the growth of tress and other plants for their best ever growth.
Effects of Land Pollution
A. Erosion, siltation and flooding
- the problem of eroding soil and muddied streams and lakes, affects not only rural but urban areas.
B. Perils on People's Health
1. From infection wastes
- rotting garbage besides fooling the air is stench, is a treat to one's health.
2. Proliferation of disease - bearing animals
- the most important vectors of human disease associated with sol\id waste are rats and flies. The fly is a prolific breeder a carrier of many disease.
3. Rural and Urban Blight
- many places in the Philippines show a roadside land. Scape of dilapidated buildings and billboards abandoned business enterprises, scared fields, junkyards and refuse defects.
Control of Land Pollution
A. Reduce
- First, we must reduce the waste we generate. Reducing the amount of garbage is the step in easing the disposal problem.
B. Reuse
- Second, we must reuse. Most plastics and glass products are reusable.
C. Recycle
- Third, recycle. Easily 50% of our domestic waste is recyclable.
D. Composting
- It is a natural process where organic materials like leaves are decomposed by microorganism into material - rich, soil additive called humus. This way, nutrients are resume back to the soil.
E. Waste - To - Energy (WTE)
- plays a vital role in solid ways management. Waste - to - energy plants can reduce the volume of garbage by 70 - 90 %.
Sanitary Landfills
- The land where the trash is placed is no longer called just a damp site, but sanitary landfill. Before a piece of land is used a sanitary landfill the area must first carefully studied for its subsurface geology, ground water in the site, its sources and flow direction.
D.What is Noise Pollution ?
It is one of the most big problem or threat to our environment.Noise is generally regarded as an unwanted sound or sound, which produces unpleasant effects on the ears. Noise is produced by household gadgets, vehicles on the road, jet planes, loud speakers etc. Noise produces severe adverse effects on the quality of mans surrounding and is, therefore, considered to be polluting the environment. It is the loudness and duration of the noise which is disturbing and causes physical discomfort and damage to hearing.the noise generally affects the living and non-living things.
Sources:-
Household gadgets like mixer, grinder,video games, vacuum cleaner, washing machine, cooler, air conditioners, greatly enhance the levels of sound and are deleterious to health.
Loud speakers not only disturb the students in their studies but also the peace of the locality. Loud radios, stereos and televisions are also a major source and various DJ parties in the localities.
Printing presses, industries, vehicles on road, aero planes contribute to noise pollutions in large cities.
Control of Noise Pollution:-
we can controll it by various methods.Noise generation is associated with most of our daily activities. A healthy human ear responds to a very wide range of SPL from - the threshold of hearing at zero dB,
uncomfortable at 100-120 dB and painful at 130-140 dB. Due to the various adverse
impacts of noise on humans and environment, noise should be controlled. The
technique or the combination of techniques to be employed for noise control depend upon
the extent of the noise reduction required, nature of the equipment used and the economy
aspects of the available techniques.
Reduction in the noise exposure time or isolation of species from the sources form part of
the noise control techniques besides providing personal ear protection, engineered control
for noise reduction at source and/or diversion in the trajectory of sound waves.
The techniques employed for noise control can be broadly classified as:-
· Control at different kinds of sources
· Control in the transmission path of noise sources
· Using protective equipment to controll all kinds of noise.
E.What is Radioactive Pollution?
The radioactive pollution is defined as the physical pollution of air or we can say that in environment, water and the other radioactive materials. The ability of certain materials to emit thedifferent kinds of rays like proton,gamma and electrons by their nuclei is known as the radioactivity. The protons and electron are also know as the alpha and beta particles. and those materials are known as the radioactive elements. The environmental radiations can be from different sources and can be natural or manmade.
The natural radiations are also known as the background radiations. In this the cosmic rays are involved and reach the surface of earth from space. It includes the radioactive elements like radium, uranium, thorium, potassium and carbon these are some elements of radioactive elements. These will always occur in the hills,rocks, soil and water. The man made radiations include the mining and refining of plutonium and thorium. This production and explosion of nuclear weapons include the nuclear fuels, power plants and radioactive isotopes.
All these radioactive materials are passed through the land to water and cause an adverse effect on the aquatic animals. The material reached to human begins through the food chain other methods. The nuclear power generates a lot of energy which is used to run turbines and produces electricity. The fuel and the coolant produce a large amount of pollution in the environment. The atomic reactors are also rich in the radioactive materials. There biggest problem is in their disposal and if they are not properly disposed they can harm the living organisms. If they escape they can cause a hell lot of destruction. The gases escape as a vapor and cause pollution on the land and water. The use of radioactive isotopes is multipurpose. They are of a great scientific value and they may be present in the waste water. From these water resources they reach to the human body via food chain. The people who work in power plants have more chances of the exposure to harmful radiations. The human beings also receive the radiation and radiotherapy from the x rays.
F.What is thermal pollution?
Thermal Pollution; is a form of environmental pollution caused by the release of waste heat into water or in environment. Electric power plants are a major source of thermal pollution. In these plants, only about one fourth of the energy in the fuel is converted into electricity, and the remaining energy is released as heat to the local environment—into water pumped to a river, lake, or other waterway or into the air as hot exhaust gases. The entrance of this waste heat into the environment may have serious problems.
solution for thermal pollution:-
various enginering solutions are available to minimize thermal pollution from major industrial sources. One is a cooling pond into which heated wastewater is released before it enters a natural waterway. The cooling pond permits evaporation of some water, carrying heat into the air and thus releasing cooler water into the waterway. The evaporated water might, however, under some conditions, condense, producing fogs where none existed before. In addition, the evaporation from the cooling pond might deprive the waterway of significant amounts of water, which could be serious during summer months when the natural flow in a river is low.
Another possible solution to the problem of thermal pollution is the cooling tower—either wet or dry—which also transfers heat to the air. In both types, heated water is introduced into a tower through which air is blown, and some heat is passed to the air. In wet towers, water and air are in contact, resulting in water loss. In dry towers, a device like a car radiator carries the heated water, and less water is lost.
Several suggestions for the beneficial uses of thermal pollution have been made. Among them is the possible use of heated water under fields to lengthen the growing season for certain crops, under city streets in winter to melt snow, or in cold estuarial areas to increase growth of fish and shellfish. At the moment, these schemes are untested on a large scale. All solutions must consider the general health of the environment as well as energy use patterns, overall population growth, and other factors.
2.Thermal inversion:-Thermal energy is the exhertion of power that is created by heat, or the increase in temperature. The Sun is a source of thermal energy. Hot water turned to steam is another source.
whenever in nature the heat gets over follow then in that case thermal inversion takes place it is very dangerous to our environment.
Thermal Inversions.
In the normal situation, the temperature decreases as you go up in altitude in the
troposphere. The rate of decrease varies, but an accepted average value is 6.5 degrees
Celsius per 1000 meters (this is called the normal lapse rate). That is, if you start at sea
level and go up (say, in a balloon) 1000 meters in the atmosphere, you can expect that
the temperature of the surrounding air will drop an average of 6.5 degrees Celsius. Go
up another 1000 meters (one kilometer), and the temperature will drop another 6.5
degrees (that is, it will be 13 degrees colder than it was when you started at sea level). If
you are measuring in feet and Fahrenheit degrees, this translates to a drop of about 3.6
degrees F per 1000 feet.
Photochemical Smog
What follows is a brief description of photochemical smog formation, from a nonchemist.
For those who want to pursue this topic, there are also some links to follow
for more information.
Photochemical smog is brown smog, the gray-brown haze that fills the air in many
cities. It is especially a problem in warm, sunny regions where there are lots of cars
burning gasoline. Researchers in the 1940's and 1950's in Los Angeles noticed that the
kinds of pollutants in the air varied over the course of the day. Some pollutants
increased in the morning, as people started driving their cars. Other pollutants,
including the visible, brown smoggy haze, were most common in the middle of the day.
The mix of pollutants changed again in the late afternoon and evening. It became
apparent that the chemical reactions among the various pollutants were related to
sunlight. Smog is worse in Los Angeles--and everywhere--in the summer, because the
light energy from the sun moves some of the reactions along.
To form photochemical smog, three main ingredients are needed: nitrogen oxides
(NOx), hydrocarbons, and energy from the sun in the form of ultraviolet light (UV).
The first thing that starts the chain of events is that people start driving in the
morning. As gasoline is burned, nitrogen (N2) in the atmosphere is also burned, or
oxidized, forming nitric oxide (NO)
N2 + O2=2NO
Hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide (CO) will also be emitted by cars. Hydrocarbons
are volatile organic compounds that may include acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, ethylene,
and many other compounds.
In the air, nitric oxide combines with molecular oxygen to form nitrogen dioxide within a
few hours.
2NO + O2--------->2NO2
Nitrogen dioxide absorbs light energy and splits to form nitric oxide and atomic oxygen:
NO2-->NO + O
Then, in sunlight, the atomic oxygen combines with oxygen gas to form ozone (O3):
O+ O2--->O3
If no other factors are involved, ozone and nitric oxide then react to form nitrogen
dioxide and oxygen gas.
O3 + NO<------>NO2 + O2
3.Acid Rain:-
The term ‘acid rain’ is known as any form of precipitation like rain, fog, snow, or hail that contains harmful substances such as nitrogen and sulfur oxides. The main human sources come from the industry, transportation, and a variety of power plants. Strictly speaking these industrial amounts of nitrogen, sulfur oxides and general pollutants from the air cause a drastic increase rate of the acidity of the precipitation and do also harm plants, humans, and buildings.
In order to save the climate and to save the general air quality the Air Pollution & Climate, formerly known as the Swedish NGO Secretariat in Acid Rain, tries to promote awareness of the variety of problems being associated with air pollution. Strictly saying the Air Pollution & Climate Secretariat is a combine venture between five Swedish environmental organizations. This secretariat operates with the chief purpose to achieve the required reduction of the emission of air and industrial pollutants, including greenhouse gases. Consequently those emissions should be brought downward to a level that our environment and nature are able to tolerate without suffering any damage regarding plants, buildings, and humans.
Fact is that air pollution affects both humans and the nature. Most obvious are the so-called direct effects on human health. Results of recent research show that small particles in the air caused more than 350,000 premature deaths within the 25 countries of the European Union in 2000. Further it has to be taken into consideration that there are also other air pollutants as well as indirect effects on nature and humans. Those indirect effects include effects such as toxic groundwater and corrosion of materials. Many people use so-called blinds and/or marquees, also called Plissee in German, in order to protect for instance their terrace or patio from polluted air particles.
just because of drastic air pollution and the worsening of the general air quality, the climate does also get affected. If the climate gets warmer it affects a human begins health. A number of researchers fear that a warmer climate in the course of a general climate change may cause more extreme weather conditions. Strictly speaking this would also lead to more injuries and deaths being caused by hurricanes, flooding as well as to property damage. Another effect resulting from a warmer climate is the spread of a variety of insect transmitted diseases such as malaria and bilharzias.
causes of acid rain:-"Acid rain" is a broad term used to describe several ways that acids fall out of the atmosphere. A more precise term is acid deposition, which has two parts: wet and dry.
Wet deposition refers to acidic rain, fog, and snow. As this acidic water flows over and through the ground,
it affects a variety of plants and animals. The strength of the effects depend on many factors, including
how acidic the water is, the chemistry and buffering capacity of the soils involved, and the types of fish,
trees, and other living things that rely on the water.
Dry deposition refers to acidic gases and particles. About half of the acidity in the atmosphere falls back
to earth through dry deposition. The wind blows these acidic particles and gases onto buildings, cars,
homes, and trees. Dry deposited gases and particles can also be washed from trees and other surfaces
by rainstorms. When that happens, the runoff water adds those acids to the acid rain, making the
combination more acidic than the falling rain alone.
Prevailing winds blow the compounds that problem both wet and dry acid deposition across state and
national borders, and sometimes over thousands of miles. Scientists discovered, and have confirmed, that
sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are the primary causes of acid rain. In the US, About 2/4
of all SO2 and 1/4 of all NOx comes from electric power generation that depants on burning fossil fuels like
coal.
Acid rain occurs when these gases react in the atmosphere with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to
form various acidic compounds. Sunlight increases the rate of most of these reactions. The result is a
mild solution of sulfuric acid and nitric acid.
How Do We Measure Acid Rain?
Acid rain is measured by using a scale called "pH scale." The lower a substance's pH, it is the more acidic. Pure
water has a pH of 7.0. Normal rain is slightly acidic because carbon dioxide dissolves into it, so it has a
pH of about 5.5. As of the year 2000, the most acidic rain falling in the US has a pH of about 4.3.
Acid rain's pH, and the chemicals that cause acid rain, are monitored by two networks, both supported by
EPA. The National Atmospheric Deposition Program measures wet deposition, and its Web site features
maps of rainfall pH and other important precipitation chemistry
measurements.
The Clean Air Status and Trends Network (CASTNET) which measures dry deposition. Its web site features
information about the data it collects, the measuring sites, and the kinds of equipment it uses.
Effects of Acid Rain?
Acid rain causes acidification of lakes and streams and contributes to damage of trees at high elevations
(for example, red spruce trees above 2,000 feet) and many sensitive forest soils. In addition, acid rain
accelerates the decay of building materials and paints and many more contents, including irreplaceable buildings, statues, and
sculptures that are part of our nation's cultural heritage. Prior to falling to the earth, SO2 and NOx gases
and their particulate matter derivatives, sulfates and nitrates, contribute to visibility degradation and cause
public health.
Prevention:-
Take action as individuals
It may seem like there is not much that one individual can do to stop acid deposition. However, like many
environmental problems, acid deposition is caused by the cumulative actions of millions of individual
people. Therefore, each individual can also reduce their contribution to the problem and become part of
the solution. One of the first steps is to understand the problem and its solutions for which acid rain affect our nature.
Individuals can contribute directly by conserving energy, since energy production causes the largest
portion of the acid deposition causes. For example, you can just:-
• Turn off lights, computers, and other appliances when you're not using them try to consume energy as much as you can
• Use energy efficient appliances: lighting, air conditioners, heaters, refrigerators, washing
machines, etc.
• Only use electric appliances when you need them.
Keep your thermostat at 68 F in the winter and 73 F in the summer. You can just turn it even lower in
the winter and higher in the summer when you are away from home.
• Insulate your home as best you can as much as possible.
• Carpool, use public transportation, or better yet, walk or bicycle whenever possible,whereever possible
• Buy vehicles with low NOx emissions, and maintain all vehicles well.
• Be well-informed.
4.Greenhouse effect:-
cause:-
.Build up of greenhouse gases(co2,ch4,no,cfc's) that absorb and trap heat energy in the lower atmosphere.
.Increased level of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels burning.
.Allows ultraviolet radiations to enter earth but traps infrared radiations in the lower atmostphere.
.Effects:-
.high atmospheric temperature(global warming) causes major climatic changes that disrupt natural ecosystem of many plants and animals.
.melting of polar ice cap and glaciers which increase the sea level and flood low-lying coastal lands.
.cause water to evaporate faster from soil that would result to drought and low productivity in both water and soil environment.
5.Ozone depletion:-
causes;
.widespread of cfc's(freons) and halonswhich remain chemically unchanged in the atmosphere.
.when bombarded by ultraviolet radiations,cfc's and the halons degrade and release and bromine atoms respectively, that crystalyze the breakdown of stratosphere ozone.
Effects:-
.high incidence of eye cataract and skin cancer,and suppression of human immune or defense againts infectious disease.
.decline in crop production.
the natural environment is generally referred as the environment, is a term which includes all the living and non-living things occruing naturally on the earth.
The concept of the natural environment can be distinguished by components:
1.Complete ecological units
2.Universal natural resources
different kinds of issues in the environment are as follows:-
1.Pollution
2.Thermal inversion
3.Acid rain or acid deposition
4.Greenhouse effect
5.Ozone depletion
1.what is pollution?
undesirable change in the physical,chemical and biological condition of the environment.
pollutant-substances that makes environment undesirable to live this is generally know as pollution.
or
Pollution is a serious problem to the environment that is Pollution is the contamination of the environment. Efforts to improve the standard of living for humans have started a very serious problem.
effects-
.formation of dark cloud in the sky that may cause eye throat irritation
.causes impaired lung function.
.causes nausea and headache in human.
.causes damage to trees and various crops.
AIR RELATED PROBLEMS
.photochemical smog-caused by exhaust of vehicles,factories and industries.
.smog-combination of smoke and fog.
.the hotter the day, the higher the level of pollutants in the atmosphere beacause of the reaction promoted by sunlight.
causes-pollutants from the exhaust of vehicles and factory smoke-stacks and incomplete burning of hydrocarbon
Why is Pollution a Problem?
Pollution exposes all people to risks of disease. It also exposes animals to the same problem. Animals often cut their tongues on half open cans. That is only because the cans are littered. Oil spills are a very big problem. the pollution is the main threat to our environment so now the question is how many types of pollution is in our environment these are as follows:-
a.Air Pollution
b.Water Pollution
c.Land Pollution
d.Noise Pollution
e.Radioactive Pollution
f.Thermal Pollution
A.Air Pollution:-Air pollution is a mixture of several kinds of particles in the air i.e solid particles and gases in the air. Car emissions, chemicals from factories, dust, pollen and mold spores may be suspended as particles may also affect the environment.ozone, a gas, is a major part of air pollution in the cities and in the towns. When ozone forms air pollution, it's also called smog.
Some air pollutants are poisonous and very harmfull to living things. Inhaling them can increase the chance you'll have health problems like skin disease and asthama etc. People with heart or lung disease, older adults and children are at greater risk from air pollution.air pollution is not just outside - the air inside buildings can also be polluted and affect your health.
Causes of air pollution:-
There are many different different kinds of chemical substances that contribute alot to air pollution. These chemicals come from a variety of sources which always affect our environment.
Among the many types of air pollutants are nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxides, and organic compounds that can evaporate and enter the atmosphere which cause the air pollution.
Air pollutants have sources that are both natural and human. Now, humans contribute substantially more to the air pollution problem people harm the environment by unknowing ways.
Forest fires, volcanic eruptions, wind erosion, pollen dispersal, evaporation of organic compounds, and natural radioactivity are all among the natural causes of air pollution.
Usually, natural air pollution does not occur in abundance in particular locations. The pollution is spread around throughout the world, and as a result, poses little threat to the health of people and ecosystems and also the threat to ozone depletion.
Though some pollution comes from these natural sources, most pollution is the result of human activity. The biggest causes are the operation of fossil fuel-burning power plants and automobiles that combust fuel to do their industrial work. Combined, these two sources are responsible for about 90% of all air pollution in the United States and in various countries.
Some cities suffer severely because of heavy industrial use of chemicals that cause air pollution. Places like Mexico City and Sao Paulo have some of the most deadly pollution levels in the world and in india also places like New Delhi where just because of the AC in cars it causes very dangerous pollution.
B.What is water pollution?
Water pollution is any chemical, physical or biological change in the quality of water that has a harmful effect on any living thing that drinks or uses or lives in it. the undesired waste from the several industries through the pipes in the ocean and seas leads to the water pollution that affect the environment and also to the living things.When humans drink polluted water it often has serious effects on their health. Water pollution can also make water unsuited for the desired use.
What are the major water pollutants?
There are several classes of water pollutants.
.The first are disease-causing agents. These are bacteria, viruses, protozoa and parasitic worms that enter sewage systems and untreated waste or in the collected water in any places which leads to the dangerous pollution .
.A second category of water pollutants is oxygen-demanding wastes; wastes that can be decomposed by oxygen-requiring bacteria. When large populations of decomposing bacteria are converting these wastes it can deplete oxygen levels in the water. This causes other organisms in the water, such as fish, to die and another aquatic animals present in the water.
.A third class of water pollutants is water-soluble inorganic pollutants, such as acids, salts and toxic metals. Large quantities of these compounds will make water unfit to drink and will cause the death of aquatic life Generally all these watse is come from the industries and other firms which deals with the various metals and equipments.
How do we detect water pollution?
Water pollution is detected in laboratories, where small samples of water are analysed for different contaminants. Living organisms such as fish can also be used for the detection of water pollution and we can also use different kinds of aquatic animals for the testing of water pollution. Changes in their behaviour or growth show us, that the water they live in is polluted form or in the safe form. Specific properties of these organisms can give information on the sort of pollution in their environment. Laboratories also use computer models to determine what dangers there can be in certain waters. They import the data they own on the water into the computer, and the computer then determines if the water has any impurities. there are different kinds of technologies introduced in the market by the scientists to dtect the water pollution.
Why does water sometimes smell like rotten eggs?
When water is enriched with nutrients, eventually anaerobic bacteria, which do not need oxygen to practice their functions, will become highly active. These bacteria produce certain gasses during their activities. One of these gases is hydrogen sulphide. This compounds smells like rotten eggs. When water smells like rotten eggs we can conclude that there is hydrogen present, due to a shortage of oxygen in the specific water.
What causes white deposit on showers and bathroom walls?
Water contains many compounds. A few of these compounds are calcium and carbonate. Carbonate works as a buffer in water and is thus a very important component.
When calcium reacts with carbonate a solid substance is formed, that is called lime. This lime is what causes the white deposit on showers and bathroom walls and is commonly known as lime deposit. It can be removed by using a specially suited cleaning agent.
C.Land Pollution?
- It damages thin layer of fertile soil essential for the growth of tress and other plants for their best ever growth.
Effects of Land Pollution
A. Erosion, siltation and flooding
- the problem of eroding soil and muddied streams and lakes, affects not only rural but urban areas.
B. Perils on People's Health
1. From infection wastes
- rotting garbage besides fooling the air is stench, is a treat to one's health.
2. Proliferation of disease - bearing animals
- the most important vectors of human disease associated with sol\id waste are rats and flies. The fly is a prolific breeder a carrier of many disease.
3. Rural and Urban Blight
- many places in the Philippines show a roadside land. Scape of dilapidated buildings and billboards abandoned business enterprises, scared fields, junkyards and refuse defects.
Control of Land Pollution
A. Reduce
- First, we must reduce the waste we generate. Reducing the amount of garbage is the step in easing the disposal problem.
B. Reuse
- Second, we must reuse. Most plastics and glass products are reusable.
C. Recycle
- Third, recycle. Easily 50% of our domestic waste is recyclable.
D. Composting
- It is a natural process where organic materials like leaves are decomposed by microorganism into material - rich, soil additive called humus. This way, nutrients are resume back to the soil.
E. Waste - To - Energy (WTE)
- plays a vital role in solid ways management. Waste - to - energy plants can reduce the volume of garbage by 70 - 90 %.
Sanitary Landfills
- The land where the trash is placed is no longer called just a damp site, but sanitary landfill. Before a piece of land is used a sanitary landfill the area must first carefully studied for its subsurface geology, ground water in the site, its sources and flow direction.
D.What is Noise Pollution ?
It is one of the most big problem or threat to our environment.Noise is generally regarded as an unwanted sound or sound, which produces unpleasant effects on the ears. Noise is produced by household gadgets, vehicles on the road, jet planes, loud speakers etc. Noise produces severe adverse effects on the quality of mans surrounding and is, therefore, considered to be polluting the environment. It is the loudness and duration of the noise which is disturbing and causes physical discomfort and damage to hearing.the noise generally affects the living and non-living things.
Sources:-
Household gadgets like mixer, grinder,video games, vacuum cleaner, washing machine, cooler, air conditioners, greatly enhance the levels of sound and are deleterious to health.
Loud speakers not only disturb the students in their studies but also the peace of the locality. Loud radios, stereos and televisions are also a major source and various DJ parties in the localities.
Printing presses, industries, vehicles on road, aero planes contribute to noise pollutions in large cities.
Control of Noise Pollution:-
we can controll it by various methods.Noise generation is associated with most of our daily activities. A healthy human ear responds to a very wide range of SPL from - the threshold of hearing at zero dB,
uncomfortable at 100-120 dB and painful at 130-140 dB. Due to the various adverse
impacts of noise on humans and environment, noise should be controlled. The
technique or the combination of techniques to be employed for noise control depend upon
the extent of the noise reduction required, nature of the equipment used and the economy
aspects of the available techniques.
Reduction in the noise exposure time or isolation of species from the sources form part of
the noise control techniques besides providing personal ear protection, engineered control
for noise reduction at source and/or diversion in the trajectory of sound waves.
The techniques employed for noise control can be broadly classified as:-
· Control at different kinds of sources
· Control in the transmission path of noise sources
· Using protective equipment to controll all kinds of noise.
E.What is Radioactive Pollution?
The radioactive pollution is defined as the physical pollution of air or we can say that in environment, water and the other radioactive materials. The ability of certain materials to emit thedifferent kinds of rays like proton,gamma and electrons by their nuclei is known as the radioactivity. The protons and electron are also know as the alpha and beta particles. and those materials are known as the radioactive elements. The environmental radiations can be from different sources and can be natural or manmade.
The natural radiations are also known as the background radiations. In this the cosmic rays are involved and reach the surface of earth from space. It includes the radioactive elements like radium, uranium, thorium, potassium and carbon these are some elements of radioactive elements. These will always occur in the hills,rocks, soil and water. The man made radiations include the mining and refining of plutonium and thorium. This production and explosion of nuclear weapons include the nuclear fuels, power plants and radioactive isotopes.
All these radioactive materials are passed through the land to water and cause an adverse effect on the aquatic animals. The material reached to human begins through the food chain other methods. The nuclear power generates a lot of energy which is used to run turbines and produces electricity. The fuel and the coolant produce a large amount of pollution in the environment. The atomic reactors are also rich in the radioactive materials. There biggest problem is in their disposal and if they are not properly disposed they can harm the living organisms. If they escape they can cause a hell lot of destruction. The gases escape as a vapor and cause pollution on the land and water. The use of radioactive isotopes is multipurpose. They are of a great scientific value and they may be present in the waste water. From these water resources they reach to the human body via food chain. The people who work in power plants have more chances of the exposure to harmful radiations. The human beings also receive the radiation and radiotherapy from the x rays.
F.What is thermal pollution?
Thermal Pollution; is a form of environmental pollution caused by the release of waste heat into water or in environment. Electric power plants are a major source of thermal pollution. In these plants, only about one fourth of the energy in the fuel is converted into electricity, and the remaining energy is released as heat to the local environment—into water pumped to a river, lake, or other waterway or into the air as hot exhaust gases. The entrance of this waste heat into the environment may have serious problems.
solution for thermal pollution:-
various enginering solutions are available to minimize thermal pollution from major industrial sources. One is a cooling pond into which heated wastewater is released before it enters a natural waterway. The cooling pond permits evaporation of some water, carrying heat into the air and thus releasing cooler water into the waterway. The evaporated water might, however, under some conditions, condense, producing fogs where none existed before. In addition, the evaporation from the cooling pond might deprive the waterway of significant amounts of water, which could be serious during summer months when the natural flow in a river is low.
Another possible solution to the problem of thermal pollution is the cooling tower—either wet or dry—which also transfers heat to the air. In both types, heated water is introduced into a tower through which air is blown, and some heat is passed to the air. In wet towers, water and air are in contact, resulting in water loss. In dry towers, a device like a car radiator carries the heated water, and less water is lost.
Several suggestions for the beneficial uses of thermal pollution have been made. Among them is the possible use of heated water under fields to lengthen the growing season for certain crops, under city streets in winter to melt snow, or in cold estuarial areas to increase growth of fish and shellfish. At the moment, these schemes are untested on a large scale. All solutions must consider the general health of the environment as well as energy use patterns, overall population growth, and other factors.
2.Thermal inversion:-Thermal energy is the exhertion of power that is created by heat, or the increase in temperature. The Sun is a source of thermal energy. Hot water turned to steam is another source.
whenever in nature the heat gets over follow then in that case thermal inversion takes place it is very dangerous to our environment.
Thermal Inversions.
In the normal situation, the temperature decreases as you go up in altitude in the
troposphere. The rate of decrease varies, but an accepted average value is 6.5 degrees
Celsius per 1000 meters (this is called the normal lapse rate). That is, if you start at sea
level and go up (say, in a balloon) 1000 meters in the atmosphere, you can expect that
the temperature of the surrounding air will drop an average of 6.5 degrees Celsius. Go
up another 1000 meters (one kilometer), and the temperature will drop another 6.5
degrees (that is, it will be 13 degrees colder than it was when you started at sea level). If
you are measuring in feet and Fahrenheit degrees, this translates to a drop of about 3.6
degrees F per 1000 feet.
Photochemical Smog
What follows is a brief description of photochemical smog formation, from a nonchemist.
For those who want to pursue this topic, there are also some links to follow
for more information.
Photochemical smog is brown smog, the gray-brown haze that fills the air in many
cities. It is especially a problem in warm, sunny regions where there are lots of cars
burning gasoline. Researchers in the 1940's and 1950's in Los Angeles noticed that the
kinds of pollutants in the air varied over the course of the day. Some pollutants
increased in the morning, as people started driving their cars. Other pollutants,
including the visible, brown smoggy haze, were most common in the middle of the day.
The mix of pollutants changed again in the late afternoon and evening. It became
apparent that the chemical reactions among the various pollutants were related to
sunlight. Smog is worse in Los Angeles--and everywhere--in the summer, because the
light energy from the sun moves some of the reactions along.
To form photochemical smog, three main ingredients are needed: nitrogen oxides
(NOx), hydrocarbons, and energy from the sun in the form of ultraviolet light (UV).
The first thing that starts the chain of events is that people start driving in the
morning. As gasoline is burned, nitrogen (N2) in the atmosphere is also burned, or
oxidized, forming nitric oxide (NO)
N2 + O2=2NO
Hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide (CO) will also be emitted by cars. Hydrocarbons
are volatile organic compounds that may include acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, ethylene,
and many other compounds.
In the air, nitric oxide combines with molecular oxygen to form nitrogen dioxide within a
few hours.
2NO + O2--------->2NO2
Nitrogen dioxide absorbs light energy and splits to form nitric oxide and atomic oxygen:
NO2-->NO + O
Then, in sunlight, the atomic oxygen combines with oxygen gas to form ozone (O3):
O+ O2--->O3
If no other factors are involved, ozone and nitric oxide then react to form nitrogen
dioxide and oxygen gas.
O3 + NO<------>NO2 + O2
3.Acid Rain:-
The term ‘acid rain’ is known as any form of precipitation like rain, fog, snow, or hail that contains harmful substances such as nitrogen and sulfur oxides. The main human sources come from the industry, transportation, and a variety of power plants. Strictly speaking these industrial amounts of nitrogen, sulfur oxides and general pollutants from the air cause a drastic increase rate of the acidity of the precipitation and do also harm plants, humans, and buildings.
In order to save the climate and to save the general air quality the Air Pollution & Climate, formerly known as the Swedish NGO Secretariat in Acid Rain, tries to promote awareness of the variety of problems being associated with air pollution. Strictly saying the Air Pollution & Climate Secretariat is a combine venture between five Swedish environmental organizations. This secretariat operates with the chief purpose to achieve the required reduction of the emission of air and industrial pollutants, including greenhouse gases. Consequently those emissions should be brought downward to a level that our environment and nature are able to tolerate without suffering any damage regarding plants, buildings, and humans.
Fact is that air pollution affects both humans and the nature. Most obvious are the so-called direct effects on human health. Results of recent research show that small particles in the air caused more than 350,000 premature deaths within the 25 countries of the European Union in 2000. Further it has to be taken into consideration that there are also other air pollutants as well as indirect effects on nature and humans. Those indirect effects include effects such as toxic groundwater and corrosion of materials. Many people use so-called blinds and/or marquees, also called Plissee in German, in order to protect for instance their terrace or patio from polluted air particles.
just because of drastic air pollution and the worsening of the general air quality, the climate does also get affected. If the climate gets warmer it affects a human begins health. A number of researchers fear that a warmer climate in the course of a general climate change may cause more extreme weather conditions. Strictly speaking this would also lead to more injuries and deaths being caused by hurricanes, flooding as well as to property damage. Another effect resulting from a warmer climate is the spread of a variety of insect transmitted diseases such as malaria and bilharzias.
causes of acid rain:-"Acid rain" is a broad term used to describe several ways that acids fall out of the atmosphere. A more precise term is acid deposition, which has two parts: wet and dry.
Wet deposition refers to acidic rain, fog, and snow. As this acidic water flows over and through the ground,
it affects a variety of plants and animals. The strength of the effects depend on many factors, including
how acidic the water is, the chemistry and buffering capacity of the soils involved, and the types of fish,
trees, and other living things that rely on the water.
Dry deposition refers to acidic gases and particles. About half of the acidity in the atmosphere falls back
to earth through dry deposition. The wind blows these acidic particles and gases onto buildings, cars,
homes, and trees. Dry deposited gases and particles can also be washed from trees and other surfaces
by rainstorms. When that happens, the runoff water adds those acids to the acid rain, making the
combination more acidic than the falling rain alone.
Prevailing winds blow the compounds that problem both wet and dry acid deposition across state and
national borders, and sometimes over thousands of miles. Scientists discovered, and have confirmed, that
sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are the primary causes of acid rain. In the US, About 2/4
of all SO2 and 1/4 of all NOx comes from electric power generation that depants on burning fossil fuels like
coal.
Acid rain occurs when these gases react in the atmosphere with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to
form various acidic compounds. Sunlight increases the rate of most of these reactions. The result is a
mild solution of sulfuric acid and nitric acid.
How Do We Measure Acid Rain?
Acid rain is measured by using a scale called "pH scale." The lower a substance's pH, it is the more acidic. Pure
water has a pH of 7.0. Normal rain is slightly acidic because carbon dioxide dissolves into it, so it has a
pH of about 5.5. As of the year 2000, the most acidic rain falling in the US has a pH of about 4.3.
Acid rain's pH, and the chemicals that cause acid rain, are monitored by two networks, both supported by
EPA. The National Atmospheric Deposition Program measures wet deposition, and its Web site features
maps of rainfall pH and other important precipitation chemistry
measurements.
The Clean Air Status and Trends Network (CASTNET) which measures dry deposition. Its web site features
information about the data it collects, the measuring sites, and the kinds of equipment it uses.
Effects of Acid Rain?
Acid rain causes acidification of lakes and streams and contributes to damage of trees at high elevations
(for example, red spruce trees above 2,000 feet) and many sensitive forest soils. In addition, acid rain
accelerates the decay of building materials and paints and many more contents, including irreplaceable buildings, statues, and
sculptures that are part of our nation's cultural heritage. Prior to falling to the earth, SO2 and NOx gases
and their particulate matter derivatives, sulfates and nitrates, contribute to visibility degradation and cause
public health.
Prevention:-
Take action as individuals
It may seem like there is not much that one individual can do to stop acid deposition. However, like many
environmental problems, acid deposition is caused by the cumulative actions of millions of individual
people. Therefore, each individual can also reduce their contribution to the problem and become part of
the solution. One of the first steps is to understand the problem and its solutions for which acid rain affect our nature.
Individuals can contribute directly by conserving energy, since energy production causes the largest
portion of the acid deposition causes. For example, you can just:-
• Turn off lights, computers, and other appliances when you're not using them try to consume energy as much as you can
• Use energy efficient appliances: lighting, air conditioners, heaters, refrigerators, washing
machines, etc.
• Only use electric appliances when you need them.
Keep your thermostat at 68 F in the winter and 73 F in the summer. You can just turn it even lower in
the winter and higher in the summer when you are away from home.
• Insulate your home as best you can as much as possible.
• Carpool, use public transportation, or better yet, walk or bicycle whenever possible,whereever possible
• Buy vehicles with low NOx emissions, and maintain all vehicles well.
• Be well-informed.
4.Greenhouse effect:-
cause:-
.Build up of greenhouse gases(co2,ch4,no,cfc's) that absorb and trap heat energy in the lower atmosphere.
.Increased level of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels burning.
.Allows ultraviolet radiations to enter earth but traps infrared radiations in the lower atmostphere.
.Effects:-
.high atmospheric temperature(global warming) causes major climatic changes that disrupt natural ecosystem of many plants and animals.
.melting of polar ice cap and glaciers which increase the sea level and flood low-lying coastal lands.
.cause water to evaporate faster from soil that would result to drought and low productivity in both water and soil environment.
5.Ozone depletion:-
causes;
.widespread of cfc's(freons) and halonswhich remain chemically unchanged in the atmosphere.
.when bombarded by ultraviolet radiations,cfc's and the halons degrade and release and bromine atoms respectively, that crystalyze the breakdown of stratosphere ozone.
Effects:-
.high incidence of eye cataract and skin cancer,and suppression of human immune or defense againts infectious disease.
.decline in crop production.
No comments:
Post a Comment