Human activities often have a widespread

impact on the ecosystem.

Since older days, human have hunted,
fished and cleared forests. Sheep, cattle
and goats grazed on vast areas of
grasslands, harming the ecosystem.
Today, expectation of better living
conditions, better modes of transport and
industrial revolution have brought about
clearing of more forests to grow food,
build factories, houses and roads.

The negative effects of unplanned

development and mismanagement of the
ecosystem give rise to various
environmental problems such as:
 Pollution

Ozone Global
depletion warming

Environmetal
Problems

Soil erosion,
landslide, Greenhouse
flash flood effects
 Human activities usually affect the ecosystem.
The activities that endanger the ecosystem is
shown below:

Human activities that endanger the

ecosystem.

Deforestation
Soil erosion
Landslides
Flash flood

Extinction of flora and fauna

Global warming
Greenhouse effect

Burning
Industrialisation pollution
pollution Greenhouse effects

Urbanisation Farming
pollution pollution

a) DEFORESTATION….
 • Deforestation is an act of extensive
cutting down or burning the trees in the
forest.
• The vast areas of forests are being
cleared away for extracting timber or fuel
wood, agriculture and urban development.

• There are many impacts of deforestation

such as:
→ Soil erosion, flash floods and landslides.
 Landslides occurs when the top
layer of soil loosens and slides down
because of rains for a long period of
time during rainy seasons.

 The landslides happen because of the

stability of soil is lost due to
deforestation.
 Clearing of trees causes the loss of
tree leaves to protect the soil from
the impact of raindrops and also
 causes the loss of tree roots to hold
the soil in places.
 Thus, the soil is exposed directly to
the force of the rain. Heavy rainfall
will easily washed away the top
layer of the soil. This leads to soil
erosion.
 The eroded soil is carried away by
water and may be deposited into
the river.
 During heavy rains, rainwater flows
quickly into rivers because there is
no retention of water by plant roots
as well as water catchment areas.

 Due to silting in the rivers, the water

flows is blocked. Thus, water flows
inland and causes flash flood in low
areas.

 Soil erosion also leads to DEPLETION

OF MINERALS for the land. The land
cannot be used for cultivation.
→ Extinction of flora and fauna
  Deforestation leads to the loss of
habitats for many species of flora and
fauna.
 This will cause an increased rate of
extinction of plants and animals. As a
results, it reduces biodiversity and
the source of food and valuables
medicines for humans.
→ Greenhouse effect and global warming.
 Deforestation causes weather
and climatic changes.
 When a large scale of trees
are destroyed by cutting and burning,
it will reduce rainfall, transpiration
rate and the rate of using carbon
dioxide during photosynthesis by
plants.
 Clearing and burning of
forests also release vast amounts of
greenhouse gases such as carbon
dioxide into the atmosphere.
 Deforestation is believed to
contribute about 20-30% of all carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere for every
year.
 Carbon dioxide can prevent
heat from escaping from the
atmosphere. Thus, the level of carbon
dioxide increases and global
temperature also increases. This leads
to greenhouse effect and global
warming.
 Increasing global temperature
may change the ecosystem.
b) FARMING
 • Excessive use of land for farming and
stock rearing lead to infertile land and
may expose soil to erosion by wind.

• Use of inorganic fertilisers in farming also

leads to eutrophication.
c) URBANISATION
• Dumping of domestic waste as well as
sewage discharge from houses causes
pollution.
• The waste materials in landfills act as
toxic substances which pollute nearby
water sources.

INDUSTRIALISATION
• Industrial plants discharge industrial and
heated waste water causing water
pollution and thermal pollution.
• Toxic gases released by industries
contribute to air pollution.
e) BURNING
• Open burning of rubbish, farms and
forests release more carbon dioxide into
the atmosphere which aggravates the
greenhouse effect.
• Burning of fossil fuels causes air pollution
as well as increase the carbon dioxide
content.
• As a result, it causes the greenhouse
effect and global warming.

 Pollution is an undesirable change in the

chemical, physical or biological characteristics of
 the natural environment. The environment is
polluted with harmful substances or pollutants.
 Pollutant is any substance that is present in an
excessive amount in the environment as a result
of human activities. It has damaging effects on
living organism.
 Pollutants may be toxic substances such as
pesticides or natural constituents of the
atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide. They may
affect the soil, rivers, seas or the atmosphere.
 There are four types of pollution:

Air
pollution

Types
Water Noise
of
pollution pollutions pollution

Thermal
pollution

AIR POLLUTION
→ Air pollution occurs when pollutants such as
smoke, dirt, dust and poisonous gases are released
into the air endangering human lives and other
living organisms.
→ Most air pollutants come from burning of fossil
fuels from motor vehicles.
→ Examples of air pollutants are carbon monoxide
(CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxide (NO)
and sulphur dioxide (SO2).
Pollutant Sources Effects
Carbon • Incomplete Health
monoxide (CO) combustion of • Combines with haemoglobin to form
• Odourless, fossil fuels. carboxyhaemoglobin which reduces the
colourless and • Combustion ability of the blood to transport oxygen.
toxic gas. sources such as • Early symptoms of carbon monoxide
motor vehicle poisoning are headaches, nausea and
exhaust, smoke fatigue.
from fires, engine • Prolonged exposure can lead to brain
fumes. damage and even death.
Carbon dioxide • Combustion of Health
(CO2) fossil fuels. • Causes emphysema.
• Odourless, • Affects respiration.
colourless gas. Building
• Contributes to acid rain which damages
buildings.
Climate
• Contributes to greenhouse effect and
global warming.
Nitrogen • Combustion of Health
monoxide (NO) fossil fuels. Damages lung tissues.
and nitrogen
• Motor vehicle May cause bronchitis.
dioxide(NO2)
exhaust Irritates the eyes.
• NO-odourless,
colourless gas. Lowers the body’s defence against flu.
• NO2-browmish Agriculture
gas • Contributes to acid rain which reduces the
pH of soil, lakes and rivers.
Building
• Contributes to acid rain which destroys
buildings.
Climate
• Contributes to acid rain.
Sulphur dioxide • Combustion of Health
(SO2) fossil fuels which • Irritates and damages the lining of the
• Colourless, contain sulphur. eyes, air passages and lungs.
pungent and • Industries. • Causes coughing and wheezing.
acidic gas. • Combines with rainwater to form acid rain
• Dissolves in that may cause skin diseases.
water. Agriculture
• Reduces the growth of plants.
• Damages the leaves and may kill the
plants.
• Contributes to acid rain which lowers the
pH of soil, lakes and rivers.
Buildings
• Contributes to acid rain which corrodes
iron, copper, steel, aluminium and
stonework, thereby destroying buildings.
 Climate
• Causes acid rain.
Fine particular • Combustion of Health
matter. (Includes fossil fuels from • Irritates the eyes and respiratory tract.
smoke, fumes, motor vehicles, • Contributes to haze which can cause
dust, ash and agricultural asthma attack, conjunctivitis, sore throat,
pollen) burning and bronchitis and reduced visibility.
• Tiny and industries. Agriculture
invisible • Forest fire • Deposits on leaves and darkens
• The composition • Quarries and vegetation.
of particulate asbestos factories • Blocks stomata, thus lowering the rate of
matter varies photosynthesis. The crop yield is
with place, reduced.
season and Buildings
whether • Soot can darken building.
conditions. Climate
• Contributes to formation of haze and
smog which can reduce light intensity.
Lead • Combustion of Health
fossil fuels • Reduces the sensitivity of the hands and
feet coordination.
• Retards mental development in children.
• Disrupts body’s ability to produce new
cell.
Hydrocarbon • Combustion of Health
fossil fuels from • Affects growth
motor vehicles Causes cancer
→ Other than that, air pollution also causes acid rains.
→ Acid rain only occurs when the pH of the rain is less
than 5.0(natural rain water has a pH of about 5.4)
→ Combustion of fossil fuels releases sulphur
dioxide and oxides of nitrogen which
contribute to acid rain.
→ Sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen form
acidic solutions when dissolves in water.
→ Sulphur dioxide combines with water vapour
to form sulphuric acid.

2SO2(g) + O2(g) + 2H2O(l) → 2H2SO4(aq)

→ Oxides of nitrogen combine with water

vapour to form nitric acid.
→ Then, these acid will fall back as acid rain.
 → Carbon dioxide in the air also contributes to
acid rain. It dissolves in water to form
carbonic acid.
→ The effect of acid rain is shown below:

Corrodes metals,
marble, rubber,
plastics,
stonework and
other materials
Increases the acidity
of aquatic
Destroyed plant
ecosystems leading
to the killing of tissues and
planktons and damages plant
aquatic organism roots

Effects of acid
rain

Leaching of
minerals from the Reduces the pH
soil such as value of the soil
calcium, causing making it unsuitable
infertile soil for farming

Releases ions of
heavy metals such
as lead which may
contaminate the
water
 → The air quality is measure by Air Pollution
Index (API)
→ It is normally includes the major pollutants
which could cause potential harm to human
health.
→ In Malaysia, the air pollutants included are
ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide,
sulphur dioxide and suspended particulate
matter.
→ This index is calculate by using the
concentrations of major air pollutants,
but it is developed in easily understood
ranges of values as shown below
API Status Level of pollution
0-50 Good Low, no ill effects on health
51-100 Moderate Moderate pollution, no ill effects on health
101-200 Unhealthy Mild aggravation of symptoms among high risk
group
201-300 Very unhealthy Significant aggravation of symptoms and
decreased exercise tolerance among high risk
groups
301-500 Hazardous Severe aggravation of symptoms and a danger to
health
Above 500 Emergency Severe aggravation of symptoms and a danger to
health
→ This index helps us to take precautionary
measures by drinking more water, staying
indoors and wearing masks when the air
pollution index exceeds 200.

Water pollution.
→ Water pollution occurs when people discharging
agriculture wastes, industrial waste, domestic waste
and sewage into rivers.
→ The sources of water pollution and the effects of
water pollution are shown below.
 Non-
biodegradable
rubbish
Suspended
solids
Rubbish
Oil

Fertilisers
and pesticide
from farms Oil spills
Nitrates Grease
Phosphates Oil
Pesticides
Herbicides

Sources and
pollutants of
water pollution

Effluent from Sewage

factories effluent
Heavy metals Detergent
Chemicals Faeces
Oil Nitrates
Grease
 Effects of water
pollution

Animals and plants

Human health
Untreated water contains pathogen
such as Vibrio bacteria which
causes cholera.
Pesticides and herbicides passed to
humans through the food chain are
harmful.
Heavy metals such as mercury
cause nervous disorders, blindness,
paralysis and even death
Excess nitrates and phosphates
lead to eutrophication.
Rubbish and oil reduce light
penetration and diffusion of
oxygen into water. Aquatic
organisms may die due to lack of
light and oxygen.
Oil covers the gills of fishes
affecting their respiration.
Decomposition of decayed
materials by saprophytic bacteria
reduces the oxygen content in the
water
→ Eutrophication is a natural process whereby an
aquatic ecosystem becomes enriched with nutrients
causing an excessive growth of aquatic plants

→ Nutrients can come from many sources such as

a. Fertiliser(especially nitrates and
phosphate) from agriculture fields
b. Sewage treatment plant discharges
c. Run-off of animal waste
→ The increased nutrients promote
rapid growth of algae when they are deposited in
rivers, lakes and streams.
→ This excessive growth of algae is
often called an algae bloom

→ Algae blooms endanger the

ecosystem in two main ways.
• 1.The densely populated algae cover the water
surface and block sunglight. Unable to carry out
photosynthesis, the aquatic plants die.
• When these plants die,
aquatic animals lose their food sources and
 habitats. As a result, the food chains and
ecosystem change.
• Algae also reduce the level of
dissolved oxygen in the water.
• 2. When the algae die,
decomposing organisms especially saprophytic
bacteria use up oxygen for its activities
• This reduces the oxygen
content in the water.
→ A depletion in oxygen results in an increases in
biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)
→ Eutrophication increases the BOD value in the
water.
→ BOD refers to the amount of oxygen utilised by
microorganisms to oxidise all organic matter in one
litre of water
→ The higher the BOD value, the more polluted the
water as the dissolved oxygen level decreases.

Thermal pollution
→ Thermal pollution occurs when there is an increases
in the temperature of a water source or excessive
heat in the environment.
→ Hot water is discharged into nearby rivers, streams,
lakes and ponds from the effluent of industrial
processes, cooling towers of power stations and
reactor plants.
→ Many industries use water for cooling the machines.
The hot water is discharged to rivers causing the
temperature of water to increase by 10°C.
→ Reflection of heat from glass buildings also leads to
an increase in temperature of the surroundings.
→ An increase in temperature of water will cause the
following.
 a) It reduces the level of dissolved oxygen in
water. This affects the life of aerobic aquatic
organisms
b)It causes some aquatic organisms to die
because they only survive at suitable
temperatures. Some organisms also move
away. This affects the food chain and also the
entire ecosystem.
c) It encourages some algae to grow rapidly
which can lead to a higher BOD value.

Noise pollution
→ Noise pollution occurs when our daily
lives are disturbed by high levels of noise.
→ There are many sources and most of
them are related to urban development. Examples
are:
a) Vehicles
b)Jet planes
c) Construction sites
d)Entertainment outlets
e) Machines
→ World Health Organisation (WHO)
recommends a noise level of not more than 55
decibels(dB)
→ When the surrounding noise level
reaches 80 dB or more, it causes discomfort and
affects the human health.
→ Excessive exposure to a noise level of
80 dB or more for a long period of time may cause
headache, emotional and mental disturbances and
in certain cases, may cause deafness.

→ Energy from the sun reaches the earth

through radiation. Some of this radiation is
absorbed by the earth to warm the surfaces of sea
and land.
→ As the earth is warmed, heat in the
form of infrared radiation is radiated back into
space.
→ However much of this radiation is
prevented from escaping into space by greenhouse
gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane
(CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and chlorofluorocarbons
(CFC)
→ As a result the infrared radiation is
radiated back to the earth’s surface, warming the
earth further.

→ This phenomenon is known as the

greenhouse effect. It is similar to a greenhouse
used in farming in countries which experience
temperate climates. The glass of a greenhouse
allows light to enter but retards the loss of heat. The
heat is used to keep the soil and air warm in the
greenhouse.
→ An increase in greenhouse gases is
caused by human activities, mainly burning of fossil
fuels and deforestation.
→ Data collected has shown that
atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased by nearly
25%, methane by 20% and concentrations of
chlorofluorocarbons have doubled.
→ The increasing amount of greenhouse
gases increases the greenhouse effect causing
more heat to be trapped in the atmosphere. The
 earth’s average temperature increases and is
known as global warming.
→ Some scientists predicted that the
earth’s temperature may rise by 1.5°C to 4.5°C by
2030.

Floods in low-
lying countries
Spread of pests
and disease-
Melting of polar carrying vectors to
ice and glaciers new areas
causing a rise in increases the
sea level outbreak of
diseases

Effects of
global warming
Change in wind
directions and
Intense rains in
some regions weather
patterns

Decline in the
yield of crops
Increases of
due to dry and
droughts
infertile soil
 Ozone layer is present in the stratosphere, which
is approximately 12-25 kilometres above the earth’s
surface.
 This ozone layer shields the earth from the
harmful effects of ultraviolet(UV) radiation.

 High concentrations of ozone (O3) in the ozone

layer can absorb large quantities of UV radiation.
 Ozone, although a form of oxygen, once depleted
will not be replenished naturally.
 Evidence of ozone depletion was first discovered
over the Antarctic in 1985 by the British Antarctic
survey.
 The main cause of ozone depletion is the
increasing level of chlorofluorocarbons(CFC) in the
atmosphere.
 The use of CFCs as coolants in air conditioners
and refrigerators, as propellants in aerosol cans, as
solvents in the electronics industry and as foaming
agents in the making of polystyrene boxes has
released large amounts of CFCs into the
atmosphere.
 CFCs are reactive and can remain unchanged for
over 100 years.
 UV radiation breaks down CFCs, releasing chlorine
radicals which destroy ozone in a chain reaction.
 It is estimated that a single chlorine atom can
destroy 100 thousand molecules of ozone in a year.
 With the thinning of the ozone layer, more UV
radiation would be able to reach the earth’s surface.
Prolonged exposure to UV radiation leads to the
following effects.
a) Human health
• Skin cancer or melanoma
• Eye damage such as cataract
• Lowering of body’s immune system
b)Plants
• Damage of leaf cells and chlorophyll,
reducing photosynthesis.
• Decrease in nutrient content and crop
yields
• Killing of phytoplanktons
c) The environment
• Increase in surrounding temperature
• Change in wind directions
• Climate changes
 Impact of thinning
of the ozone layer
and global warming
on the ecosystem

Ecosystems such
Sea water Drought due to
as coral reef, UV radiation
becomes warm global warming
wetlands, polar affects
due to global causes the land to
seas and photosynthesis.
warming. Decline dry. Ecosystem
temperate forests Aquatic becomes unstable as
in zooplanktons.
are slowly losing organisms are the producers, the
Ecosystem’s food
its flora and sensitive to UV. plants are not be
web affected. able to thrive.
fauna.
• There are many steps can be taken to maintain
the balance of nature such as:
a) Enforcement of the environmental laws
• Environment quality act, 1974
 Controls and prevents the pollution of
the environment
 Controls the type of licensing, content
and quality of environment
 Tests and examines the samples of
substances and gas from industries
• Natural forestry act, 1984
 Aims at protecting and preserving our
forests and wildlife
• Pesticides act, 1974
 Aims at controlling the use of pesticides
• Protection of wildlife act, 1972
 Aims at protecting wildlife animals,
birds and plants
• Fisheries act, 1985
 Aims at controlling marine pollution
b)Use of technology
• Use modern equipments and
chemicals to control oil spills.
• Recycle rubbish
• To look for methods to do research
• Change organic rubbish to biogas
• Use less polluting and clean fuels in
motor vehicles.
• Control and treat the toxic and
dangerous waste before disposing
c) Education
• To increase the awareness and sensitivity
of the individual to the environment.
• To provide the basic knowledge of
environmental problems and effects of
pollutions.
• To teach the public the necessary skills to
protect and maintain a healthy society.
• To help the individuals to become
responsible and sensitive to the
environment.
d) Preservation and conservation of the
ecosystem.
• Force the development companies to
replant the forest trees after deforestation.
• Remaining the mangrove swamps area so
that the ecosystem is protected.
• Restore the mining and used land for
agriculture.
• Put effort in rivers cleaning to ensure there
is sufficient supply of water in future

e) Practice of biological control.

• A method of controlling the animal pests
by using natural predators instead of using
chemical substances.
• Factors to choose the animals predators.
1. The animals predators do not bring
any infection or disease.
2. the animal predators do not eat the
other organisms in the same habitat.
f) Efficient use of energy and use of renewable
energy.
 • Energy plays an important role in our life
• Non-renewable energy will be exhausted in
one day. For example, coal, oil and fossil
fuels
• Solar energy can be used as a substitute of
fuels
• Renewable energy, such as solar energy,
wave power and tidal power are
environmental friendly and need to be
developed.

• Biology form 4 textbook.

• Focus Ace SPM Biology Reference book
• http://www.doe.gov.my/en/content/environmental
-quality-act-1974
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Pollution_Index
• Memory master through mind maps and diagrams
Biology SPM reference book.