Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat, or light. Pollutants, the elements of pollution, can be foreign substances or energies, or naturally occurring; when naturally occurring, they are considered contaminants when they exceed natural levels. Pollution is a special case of habitat destruction; it is chemical destruction rather than the more obvious physical destruction. Pollution occurs in all habitats—land, sea, and fresh water—and in the atmosphere
Environmental pollution is the contamination of the physical and biological components of the earth/atmosphere system to such an extent that normal environmental processes are adversely affected
Perhaps the overriding theme of these definitions is the ability of the environment to absorb and adapt to changes brought about by human activities. In one word, environmental pollution takes place when the environment cannot process and neutralize harmful by-products of human activities (for example, poisonous gas emissions) in due course without any structural or functional damage to its system. In fact, “the due course” itself may last many years during which the nature will attempt to decompose the pollutants; in one of the worst cases – that of radioactive pollutants – it may take as long as thousands of years for the decomposition of such pollutants to be completed. Pollution occurs, on the one hand, because the natural environment does not know how to decompose theunnaturally generated elements (i.e., anthropogenic pollutants), and, on the other, there is a lack of knowledge on the part of humans on how to decompose these pollutants artificially.
There are three major types of environmental pollution: •Air pollution •Water pollution •Soil pollution (contamination) •Some of the most important air pollutants are sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and airborne particles, with radioactive pollutants probably among the most destructive ones (specifically when produced by nuclear explosions). •Water pollutants include insecticides and herbicides, food processing waste, pollutants from livestock operations, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), heavy metals, chemical waste and others. •Some soil pollutants are: hydrocarbons, solvents and heavy metals.
There are 3 types of Effects of Pollution: Linear effect Greater-than-linear effect Threshold effect ?In the linear effect, environmental damage increases linearly with pollution concentrations. In other words, “ the total damage or risk is directly proportional to the accumulated exposure”. (13) This effect occurs with radioactive substances as well as mercury, lead, cadmium and asbestos. ?In the greater-than-linear effect, environmental damage increases with an increase in pollution concentrations but at a decreasing rate. This means that, as pollution concentrations continue to increase the environmental damage will continue to decrease. (14) This is the case with thermal pollution ?In the threshold effect, pollution produces no effect until a certain threshold in pollution concentrations is achieved. In other words, “so long as a given threshold is not exceeded, the damage from pollution would be completely repaired as quickly as it is produced”. (15) This effect is found with biodegradable pollutants. It is also important to mention synergistic effects of pollutants on the environment. While interacting with each other, pollutants can produce greater impacts than when acting individually. (16) A good example of that is a synergy between asbestos exposure and smoking in causing lung cancer.
Reduced lung functioning Irritation of eyes, nose, mouth and throat Asthma attacks Respiratory symptoms such as coughing and wheezing Increased respiratory disease such as bronchitis Reduced energy levels Headaches and dizziness Disruption of endocrine, reproductive and immune systems Neurobehavioral disorders Cardiovascular problems Cancer Premature death
Waterborne diseases caused by polluted drinking water: Typhoid, Amoebiasis, Giardiasis, Ascariasis, Hookworm Waterborne diseases caused by polluted beach water: Rashes, ear ache, pink eye Respiratory infections Hepatitis, encephalitis, gastroenteritis, diarrhoea, vomiting, and stomach aches Conditions related to water polluted by chemicals (such as pesticides, hydrocarbons, persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals etc): Cancer, incl. prostate cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma Hormonal problems that can disrupt reproductive and developmental processes Damage to the nervous system Liver and kidney damage Damage to the DNA Exposure to mercury (heavy metal): In the womb: may cause neurological problems including slower reflexes, learning deficits, delayed or incomplete mental development, autism and brain damage In adults: Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, and even death Water pollution may also result from interactions between water and contaminated soil, as well as from deposition of air contaminants (such as acid rain) Damage to people may be caused by fish foods coming from polluted water (a well known example is high mercury levels in fish)
Environmental pollution is causing a lot of distress not only to humans but also animals, driving many animal species to endangerment and even extinction. The transboundary nature of environmental pollution makes it even more difficult to manage – you cannot build stone walls along the borders of your country or put customs cabins at every point of entry to regulate its flows into your country. We sholuld take some quick action to stop pollution
BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!!!
doc_235462263.ppt
Environmental pollution is the contamination of the physical and biological components of the earth/atmosphere system to such an extent that normal environmental processes are adversely affected
Perhaps the overriding theme of these definitions is the ability of the environment to absorb and adapt to changes brought about by human activities. In one word, environmental pollution takes place when the environment cannot process and neutralize harmful by-products of human activities (for example, poisonous gas emissions) in due course without any structural or functional damage to its system. In fact, “the due course” itself may last many years during which the nature will attempt to decompose the pollutants; in one of the worst cases – that of radioactive pollutants – it may take as long as thousands of years for the decomposition of such pollutants to be completed. Pollution occurs, on the one hand, because the natural environment does not know how to decompose theunnaturally generated elements (i.e., anthropogenic pollutants), and, on the other, there is a lack of knowledge on the part of humans on how to decompose these pollutants artificially.
There are three major types of environmental pollution: •Air pollution •Water pollution •Soil pollution (contamination) •Some of the most important air pollutants are sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and airborne particles, with radioactive pollutants probably among the most destructive ones (specifically when produced by nuclear explosions). •Water pollutants include insecticides and herbicides, food processing waste, pollutants from livestock operations, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), heavy metals, chemical waste and others. •Some soil pollutants are: hydrocarbons, solvents and heavy metals.
There are 3 types of Effects of Pollution: Linear effect Greater-than-linear effect Threshold effect ?In the linear effect, environmental damage increases linearly with pollution concentrations. In other words, “ the total damage or risk is directly proportional to the accumulated exposure”. (13) This effect occurs with radioactive substances as well as mercury, lead, cadmium and asbestos. ?In the greater-than-linear effect, environmental damage increases with an increase in pollution concentrations but at a decreasing rate. This means that, as pollution concentrations continue to increase the environmental damage will continue to decrease. (14) This is the case with thermal pollution ?In the threshold effect, pollution produces no effect until a certain threshold in pollution concentrations is achieved. In other words, “so long as a given threshold is not exceeded, the damage from pollution would be completely repaired as quickly as it is produced”. (15) This effect is found with biodegradable pollutants. It is also important to mention synergistic effects of pollutants on the environment. While interacting with each other, pollutants can produce greater impacts than when acting individually. (16) A good example of that is a synergy between asbestos exposure and smoking in causing lung cancer.
Reduced lung functioning Irritation of eyes, nose, mouth and throat Asthma attacks Respiratory symptoms such as coughing and wheezing Increased respiratory disease such as bronchitis Reduced energy levels Headaches and dizziness Disruption of endocrine, reproductive and immune systems Neurobehavioral disorders Cardiovascular problems Cancer Premature death
Waterborne diseases caused by polluted drinking water: Typhoid, Amoebiasis, Giardiasis, Ascariasis, Hookworm Waterborne diseases caused by polluted beach water: Rashes, ear ache, pink eye Respiratory infections Hepatitis, encephalitis, gastroenteritis, diarrhoea, vomiting, and stomach aches Conditions related to water polluted by chemicals (such as pesticides, hydrocarbons, persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals etc): Cancer, incl. prostate cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma Hormonal problems that can disrupt reproductive and developmental processes Damage to the nervous system Liver and kidney damage Damage to the DNA Exposure to mercury (heavy metal): In the womb: may cause neurological problems including slower reflexes, learning deficits, delayed or incomplete mental development, autism and brain damage In adults: Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, and even death Water pollution may also result from interactions between water and contaminated soil, as well as from deposition of air contaminants (such as acid rain) Damage to people may be caused by fish foods coming from polluted water (a well known example is high mercury levels in fish)
Environmental pollution is causing a lot of distress not only to humans but also animals, driving many animal species to endangerment and even extinction. The transboundary nature of environmental pollution makes it even more difficult to manage – you cannot build stone walls along the borders of your country or put customs cabins at every point of entry to regulate its flows into your country. We sholuld take some quick action to stop pollution
BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!!!
doc_235462263.ppt