The behaviour of pollutants in the environment can depend on the type and use of the pollutant, for example, atmospheric pollutants, such as oxides of sulphur and nitrogen, will behave differently than water pollutants, such as petroleum from an oil spill, because their compounds and the environment in which they pollute are different. Every pollutant has a source, pathway and sink. The source determines where the pollutant came from, the pathway is the route that the pollutant takes to reach different parts of the environment and the sink is the place of distribution or accumulation (Holdgate, 1979). A pollutant can have a single source or multiple sources and could take several pathways. Pollutants can have acute or chronic effects, which depend on the concentration and type of pollutant and also the duration in which an organism has been exposed to the pollutant. The pollutants effects, such as asbestos, could take a long time to arise, for example, a person exposed to asbestos could develop a chronic lung condition as the asbestos could accumulate in their lungs and the effects of this could occur for a long time (Doll and Peto, 1985). In comparison, a pollutant, for example, could have a severe but brief effect. Ultimately the material properties of the pollutant determine the pollutants behaviour, especially in regards to where the pollutant travels and for how long the pollutant acts, for example, Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in water have low solubility and are
This law establishes air quality to protect public health welfare to regulate emissions of hazardous air pollutants. States requirement to enforce the adopt plan to achieve air quality to control emissions. These two policies can assist with enforce state regulation guide line for vehicles emissions CHAPTER 62-285 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction all gasoline sold in the country’s worst ozone areas must contain a minimum oxygen content and a maximum benzene content. CHAPTER 62-297 Stationary Sources - Emission Monitoring regulated emissions tests for comparison with air pollution emission-limiting standards that are enforceable under state law an opacity test. These polices established by EPA provide state, tribal, and local agency plans for reducing air pollution. The state can necessary take over enforcing the Clean Air Act in that area. Regulation guide line in place can assist towards reduction ratio of emission in the atmosphere can a bringing balance to ecosystem.
Organic pollutants normally originate from numerous human activities which include manufacturing, managing storing, and disposal of chemicals. Industrial places are a contributor of the contaminations that besiege our environment and this does not stop there as the oil refineries on their own in some countries cause unquantifiable damages to their land and water bodies. Agricultural activities which involve use of pesticides and insecticide also contribute, not to talk of households generally.
We are getting rid of materials that the world would benefit from. Cutting down trees that produce an enormous amount of oxygen for the people can damage the lives of many. “Air pollution is a grave environmental reality affecting many people across the world and affecting their health and the overall quality of life” (Class notes, Lecture 6).There are certain that we should be protecting, but many do not see a reason to do so, we look at the many products that can come from it not the quality of life.
America's increasingly prominent contamination of water and air from nitrates, lead, plastic and other pathogenic organisms is critical to our environment and the health of our population. Pollution has existed since the dawn of man. However, the transition from a nomadic lifestyle to a settled society escalated pollution. The Roman empire had been the first to introduce lead pollution into the atmosphere. As the population grows exponentially so does pollution rates, primarily in developed countries. It hadn't been until the second world war that industry's begun producing synthetic plastic materials. These materials are hardly biodegradable and therefore accumulate in the environment faster than they can be broken down. It was also in this 1950’s era that scientist first began developing agriculture fertilizers as well as inorganic pesticides. It has been discovered that these particular compounds have a negative effect on ecosystems and humans.
To help to reduce these types of impacts on our environment, many organizations have become more involved, by developing guidelines, complying with policies and complying with regulations. For example, such guidelines might require that all business managers to follow the maximum rate and concentration of emission, guidelines for sampling, and guidelines for monitoring these emissions. A buisiness licence might also require that all business owners provide their specific instructions for their prevention and treatment procedures that that particular company will follow in the process of business operations. Another form of pollution that can affect the environment is known as wastewater. There can be a number of treated and untreated wastewater sources which can be discharged into surface waters. This is known as effluent. Sources of effluent can come from industrial zone outlets, sewers, as well as from treatment plants. Untreated wastewater can be a major negative impact on the environment. For example, when water that has not been treated effectively can pollute the groundwater reservoirs. untreated water can also damage the transportation of wastewaters as well as the treatment systems, designed to treat water. As a result, treated wastewaters can degrade as well, which would prevent the usage of these water resources from being utilized for agricultural purposes. Treated water resources are most commonly utilized for irrigation purposes. However, salts, and other
The world reached an invisible but momentous milestone in 2008 when the human population for the first time in the history reached more than 3.3 billion people, lived in urban areas. (UNPF, 2007) The more people you have in the world the more crowded it tends to be and at that point where would one fit in. While the population is increasing where do you expect to lay your head, in one of the high rises they are building in downtown, LA or one of the hundreds of home tracks in the rural section of Southern California. The car Industry is in hot demand and with the added cars on the road along with the older cars that have shared in the pollution, we are seeing bad pollution in the air. Then this leads to unaffordable housing for those who are not financially stable. And, let’s not forget the poverty amongst those who do not have Jobs or can afford to keep food on the table. If we do not address these problems we will eventually start to result in killing our own selves without even knowing it. The more we keep building the more we will find each other dealing with pollution, unaffordable housing and poverty.
The earth is 4.543 billion years old. Our ancestors have been estimated to date back to six million years, with modern human life dating to 200,000 years ago (Reed). The effects of humanity on earth can be exhibited by the increase of pollution within our world. As our population begins to grow, so does our carbon footprint upon the earth. On a more localized scale, the Central Valley is a mecca to poor air quality and elevating pollution levels. An assortment of environmental factors increases pollution levels. The central Valley is a mecca for the climate, natural, industrial, mobile and agricultural components that equate to this growing problem.
What will our Earth look like if we, as human beings living on this single planet, continue to carelessly live our lives, destroying and setting the environment up for near failure? (Rhetorical Question). The major issue of pollution and other disastrous environmental effects caused by industrialization is one that is very significant, for this is what will determine what our planet will look like in the following decades and centuries. As the millennial generation, it must be known that our generation will be the one to shape the earth in the near future, and therefore we all should be driven to substantial change for the environment, and consequently our planet. In today’s age, because we have an advancement in sources and technology, every single individual here has the ability to make a significant change that will contribute to the global and collective growth of our future planet and society. We believe that we must take action against pollution, and for environmentalism, through sustainability, reducing carbon emissions, and conserving energy.
The world we live in now is negatively affected by pollution. Our environment and even our bodies are being impacted by the amount of pollution being taken in. while every organism on our planet has some impact on its environment, only a few affect the planet as tremendously as we ourselves humans and the many activities we perform on a daily basis. Therefore, we have a great negative impact on the planet, including that of pollution. Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the environment that causes a disturbance in the equilibrium of the environment, especially the air we breathe in every second. Pollution affects everyone in the world and it is produced by various everyday human activities, therefore pollution can have adverse effects on the human body and provoke different effects on the environment.
Q1: List the major gaseous, liquid and solid pollutants emitted from a large scale coal fired power station plant such as the Drax Plant.
Pollution is a very wide-use term that means the introduction of contaminants that cause a negative change into a natural environment. It englobes all sort of contaminations such as air contaminants, water contaminants, solid contaminants on soil and a lot more. As we can see in the World Wild Life website, pollution is a very important issue he have and that we have to fix as soon as possible. There are even natural substances considered as pollutants once they exceed natural levels in a certain area.
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 7 million premature deaths annually are linked to air pollution. Air pollution is described as “a mixture of solid particles and gases in the air” (“Air Pollution” MedlinePlus). This form of pollution mainly occurs from the burning of fossil fuels, noxious gases from vehicles, manufacturing chemicals, ground-level ozone (a reactive form of oxygen and a primary component of urban smog), and tobacco smoke (“Air Pollution” National Institute...). These emissions suspend deadly particles around in the air that can remain in the environment for long periods of time. People exposed to high levels of air pollutants may experience “burning in their eyes, an irritated throat, or breathing difficulties” (“Basic Information”). Moreover, this pollution can lead to serious, long-term health concerns including accelerated aging of the lungs, lost lung capacity, decreased lung functionality, and developed diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and possibly cancer (“Health Effects”). Air pollution poses a threat to the majority of Earth’s population due to the fact that the average adult breathes in 3,000 gallons of air everyday (“Basic Information”).
From the beginning of the existence of humans on planet Earth, humans have caused the majority of pollution in the environment. It is widely accepted that pollution causes negative effects on the planet and on biological health. Humans have polluted all the the four major parts to Earth; air, water, soil, and wildlife. Many countries have taken steps to limit or remove many harmful chemicals that are released into the environment but many large countries, such as China, still don 't have tight restrictions on manufactures. As a united race, all countries must work together to eliminate most, if not all, the main ways that we pollute the Earth. This is planet-wide problem that needs to be fixed now so it isn 't left to the next generation to fix, like the previous generation left it to the current generation. The human race has had a long path of causing pollution over history. To not let history repeat itself, it would be beneficial to reflect on how humans have been careless with our delicate environment.
Pollution happens when chemicals and other outside substances leech into the ground, air and water. These pollutants contain poisons that adversely affect environments and the living animals inside of them. Although natural well being and security gatherings work to build attention to the threat contamination presents, if contamination proceeds at its present rate, the future impacts could crush to human populaces and the earth.
From plastic bags to pesticides - the greater part of the waste we deliver ashore inevitably reaches the oceans, either through purposeful dumping or from keeping running off through channels and waterways. This includes oil spills, which cause colossal harm to the marine environment - yet actually are in charge of just around 12% of the oil entering the oceans every year. Stated by the US National Research Council, 36% descends channels and waterways as waste and spillover from urban communities and industry.