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which are commonly discussed. These include: a) dust b) carbon monoxide c) CFC d) lead
There are many effect of air pollution such as: a) haze b) acid rain c) Greenhouse effect/global warming d) Lung cancer e) allergy f) respiratory diseases
Haze is a type of large-scale outdoor pollution. It is caused by chemical reactions between pollutants derived from different sources. Cities are often centers of these types of activities
The rate of smog pollution depends on the following variables: a) geographical location, b) temperature, c) wind, d) weather factors. However, sometimes this does not happen and the pollution can build up to dangerous levels too.
Acid rain
Another consequence of outdoor air pollution is acid rain. When a pollutant, such as sulfuric acid combines with droplets of water in the air, the water (or snow) can become acidified . The effects of acid rain on the environment can be very serious. It damages plants by destroying their leaves, it poisons the soil, and it changes the chemistry of lakes and streams. Damage due to acid rain kills trees and harms animals, fish, and other wildlife.
Greenhouse Effect
The Greenhouse Effect, also referred to as global warming, is generally believed to come from the build up of carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is produced when fuels are burned. Plants convert carbon dioxide back to oxygen, but the release of carbon dioxide from human activities is higher than the world's plants can process. The situation is made worse since many of the earth's forests are being removed, and plant life is being damaged by acid rain The layer traps heat close to the surface of our earth. Changes of even a few degrees will affect us all through changes in the climate and even the possibility that the polar ice caps may melt
WATER POLLUTION
Water pollution is caused by domestic wastes, and agriculture wastes that are discharged directly to the river.
(a) Discharge of untreated sewage and domestic waste into river (b) Discharge of industrial waste
EUTROPHICATION
Eutrophication occurs as a result of abundant supply of fertilisers or sewage, in lakes, ponds and river.
Phosphates and nitrate, promote rapid growth of algae. This phenomenon we call as eutrophication.
Effect of Eutrofication
When the algae grow rapidly, cover up the surface of river, ponds or lake, it prevents the sunlight from reaching the plants in the lower depths of the water. As a result the plant die
The aerobic bacteria will decompose the dead plants and increase the usage of oxygen in the water. This will increases the B.O.D (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) of the water.
B.O.D is the amount of oxygen taken up by the microorganism that decompose the organic waste matter in water
Thermal Pollution
Thermal pollution is a harmful increase or decrease in the average temperature of a body of water caused by human activity.
It is the result of excess heat that is released into the water or air.
Causes of Thermal Pollution Use of water as a cooling agent Deforestation of shorelines Soil erosion Burning of fossil fuels
When water is used as a cooling agent, especially in power plants and industries, the water that is taken from the environment is usually returned at a higher temperature.
This causes the water in the particular environment to have a higher temperature than before.
Deforestation
The deforestation of shorelines causes the land around the shorelines to lack trees and plants that provide shade for the water.
As a result, the water is exposed to direct sunlight and is warmed up to around 10C.
Soil Erosion
Soil erosion causes the water to be muddy and contain mud suspensions. It causes the water to be darker in colour and will trap more heat than clear water which can reflect heat off its surface.
The burning of fossil fuels produces heat in excess which will increase the temperature of the water that is near the area of where the heat is produced.
Effects of Thermal Pollution Decrease in oxygen content in the water Killing of organisms in the water Disruption of the food chain Sensitivity of organisms
The decrease in O2 solubility in the water causes the organisms in water that depend on oxygen to suffer from a lack of O2 that will interfere in their natural processes. It may include changes in metabolic rates and processes and also changes in the reproductive processes of organisms in the water as well as immunity to diseases.
Because of the sudden change in temperature, organisms living in the water may not be able to adapt to the changes in the temperature and will die gradually or immediately.
Because of the sudden deaths in the aquatic ecosystem, the food chain is disrupted because there are many deaths at all levels of the food chain. This will cause some of the organisms to not be able to find food to keep them alive. It may also change the composition of the ecosystem
The metabolic rate of organisms also rises with increasing water temperatures, resulting in even greater oxygen demand. The life cycles of aquatic insects tend to speed up in warm water. Animals that feed on these insects can be negatively affected, particularly birds that depend on insects emerging at key periods during their migratory flights.
Sensitivity of Organisms
Because of the increase of heat, certain plants may be more sensitive to toxic wastes, parasites and diseases. This causes them to die easily because they cannot resist the effects of foreign substances on their bodies.
Solutions Controlling the amount of water used as coolants Replanting the forest areas Cooling water before returning it to the environment
By controlling the amount of water used as coolant, we are reducing the impact of the excess heat from the water cooling process in industries to the environment.
The less heat is released back to the environment, the less the effect will be.
By replanting the forest areas, the function of the forest as a shade for the water will be restored.
This will result in a lower amount of heat being absorbed by the water and lower the effects of thermal pollution.
Cooling Water
By cooling water in cooling towers, the heat from the water used to cool the products in the industry will be removed or lessened before the water is returned to the environment. This will lower the effects of thermal pollution of the water.
By using other available sources of water like contaminated water that is of no use to human life or the environment, the amount of water taken from rivers and seas is reduced. This will reduce the effect of thermal pollution on the rivers and seas.
OZONE
Oxygen Oxygen Oxygen
Ozone O3
O2
O3
OZONE LAYER
The ozone layer is a layer in Earth's atmosphere which contains relatively high concentrations of ozone (O3). This layer absorbs 93-99% of the sun's high frequency ultraviolet light, and prevent them from reaching the Earths surface. It is mainly located in the lower portion of the stratosphere from approximately 10 km to 50 km above Earth's surface.
The stratosphere is the second major layer of Earth's atmosphere, just above the troposphere, and below the mesosphere. The stratosphere is situated between about 10 km (6 miles) and 50 km (31 miles) altitude above the surface at moderate latitudes, while at the poles it starts at about 8 km (5 miles) altitude.
DEPLETION OF OZONE
Today, the ozone layer is becoming thinner because of the destruction of the ozone gas. The depletion of ozone is caused by the increasing use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) which can break down and destroy ozone molecules into other elements. Chrolofluorocarbon are widely used as a cooling agent in refrigerators and air conditioners, in aerosol sprays, polystyrene food container, and rubber foams for making cushions, pillows, and mattresses. Other pollutants such as halons, chlorine and nitrogen oxides can also destroy the ozone.
Cl
Cl
Chlorine Chlorine Cl Monoxide
Cl
O Ultraviolet radiation reacts with OFree oxygen atoms in the atmosphere will the chlorine monoxide bond.As a CFC by breaking the chlorine atom breakOxygen result, a chlorine atom is released and this bond in the CFC Ultraviolet Rays chlorine atom can destroy more ozone molecules
On Plants
On Human Health
An increase of UV radiation would be expected to affect crops. A number of economically important species of plants, such as rice, depend on cyanobacteria residing on their roots for the retention of nitrogen. Cyanobacteria are sensitive to UV light and they would be affected by its increase.
It was found that the depletion of the ozone layer occurred over both the Artic and Antartic, creating ozone holes. The ozone hole in Antartic is found to be as big as the continent of U.S.A.
ULTRAVIOLET RAYS