HANDOUTS in NGEC 9  Decomposers – bacteria and fungi including
mushrooms.
I. Overview of environmental Science
Environment – the total of our surroundings
- Includes living things, non- living things, built
environment, social relationships and institutions
Environmental Science is the study of:
- How the natural world works
- How the environment affects humans and vice versa
 The fundamental insight of environmental science
is that we are part of the natural world.
Components of Environmental Science
1. Atmospheric Science - deals with the study of the
atmosphere, its processes, the effects other systems
have on the atmosphere, and the effects of the
atmosphere on these other systems. Covers also
meteorology, climatology and aeronomy.
2. Ecology – study of the relationship between organisms
and their environment.
Came from Greek words “oikos” means family of
households and “logy” means study.
3. Environmental Chemistry – study of the chemical
changes in the environment.
4. Geosciences – study of the earth’s crust that includes
environmental soil science and volcanic phenomena
and in some classifications cover hydrology like
oceanography.
ECOLOGY and ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Difference between ecology and environmental science:
*Environmental science incorporates many elements of
earth and life sciences to understand various natural
processes.
*Ecology focused on how organism interacts with each
other and with their immediate surroundings.
Ecosystems:
Ecosystem – refers to an interacting group of and the
organisms in a given environment.
- A unit of interrelationships between and among living
things and non-living things.
Homeostasis –steady state condition of the environment
where living things respond and adopt to non- living
conditions.
Components of the ecosystems:
I.Biotic – includes all the living things present in the
ecosystem.
Ex. Bacteria, protists, algae, fungi, plants and animals.
Autotrophs- require only inorganic nutrients and an outside
energy source to produce organic nutrients for their own use
and indirectly for all the other members of the ecosystem.
- Producers because they produce energy
Ex. Algae – contain chlorophyll and carry on photosynthesis
in freshwater and marine habitat
- Photosynthesizing organisms suspended in water
Trees – photosynthesizers on land
Heterotrophs – need a performed source of organic
nutrients
- Consumers
Herbivores – are animals that graze directly on plants
or algae
Carnivores- feed on other animals
Omnivores- feed on both plants and animals
Scavengers – feed on dead remains of animals and also
on plants that have recently begun to decompose.
 Detritus – is a term that refers to organic remains in
the water and soil that are in the final stage of
decomposition.
- Use their digestive secretions to chemically breakdown
dead organic matter, including animal wastes in the
external environment.
II. ABIOTIC COMPONENTS:
1. Sunlight – light energy is the primary source of
energy in nearly all ecosystems
- energy used by the green plants in photosynthesis by
which plants gather energy from sunlight and use this
energy to make carbohydrates from atmospheric
carbon dioxide and water.
Photoperiodism – the response of plants to day and
night.
2. Water – universal solvent and the basis of all life on
our planet.
- Covers more than ¾ of the earth’s surface
- 97% are salt water
- 3% are freshwater and 2% of it are in solid form found
in ice caps and glaciers
- 1% of the earth’s water in a form useable to humans
and land animals.
Group of plants according to their water needs:
1. Hydrophytes – water loving plants
2. Mesophytes – moderate water loving plants
3. Epiphytes - get their water from the air such as
orchids
4. Xerophytes – plants loving dry condition
5. Halophytes – saltwater – loving plants such as
mangrooves
3. Temperature - measure of hotness or coldness of a
body
- Environmental temperature is an important abiotic
factor because of its effect on metabolism
- Temperature above 50°C destroy the enzymes of most
organisms.
Types of individuals based on body temperature:
1. Poikilotherm – vernacular cold- blooded
Ex. Reptiles, fishes and amphibians
2. Homeotherms – warm- blooded animals
Ex. Mammals and birds
Homeotherms – animals capable of temperature regulation
within a given range.
Corrective Mechanisms in Temperature control:
Increased sweating – corrective response aimed to reduce
the temperature of the organisms.
Vasodilation – corrective response where the blood vessels
close to the skin surface become more dilated
- There is a larger surface area for heat to be lost of the
external environment from the blood vessels carrying
overheated blood
Vasoconstriction – occurs when temperature in an
organism drop. The blood vessels become constricted so
that minimal heat loss occurs.
Effect of temperature in plants:
- To manipulate and influence the flowering plants.
Thermoperiod – daily temperature change
4. Wind – refers to the horizontal movement of the air
that tend to equalize lateral difference in temperature
and pressure.
- Parallel to the eatrh’s surface
- Blows from areas of high pressure to low pressure
 Bumpy air – effect of vertically moving air
Monsoons – are large-sclale seasonal wind
June-October - southwest monsoon (habagat) –abundant
rainfall and extensive cloud at the western section of the
country
November to February - northeast monsoon in the
Philippines (amihan) at the eastern section of the country
 Philippines have a year –round tropical climate
 Condensation of water vapor precipitation that
falls to the Earth’s surface providing needed fresh
water for plants and animals
 Helps warm the earth’s atmosphere through the
greenhouse effect
Carbon dioxide – increased by over 35% in the last 300
years
- Human caused increased in its concentration has
strengthened the greenhouse effect and has
contributed to global warming over the last 100 years

*Effects of wind on the organisms: Methane – is a very strong greenhouse gas

 Bacteria, protists and many insects that live on snow - Since1750, methane concentration in the atmosphere
covered mountain peaks – depend on nutrients blown have increased by more than 150%
on them by winds Primary sources for the additional methane added to
 Many plants depend on the wind to disperse their the atmosphere:
pollen and seeds. 1. Rice cultivation
 Local wind damage often create opening in the forest, 2. Domestic grazing animals, termites, landfills, coal
contributing the patchness in ecosystems mining
 Increases an organisms’ rate of water loss by 3. Oil and gas extraction
evaporation Nitrous oxide – increasing at a rate of 0.2-0.3 per year
 Affect patterns of plant growth 4. Ozone – supply nutrition for plant growth.- triatomic
molecule with a formula of O3
- provides important service to life on earth as it absorbs
5. Atmospheric gases –
harmful ultraviolet radiation
- in recent years, levels of stratospheric ozone has been
11 Most Abundant Gases Found in the Earth’s Lower decreasing due to the build up of human created
Atmosphere by Volume chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere.
- since the late 1970’s scientists have noticed the
Gases Name Chemical Percent Volume development of severe holes in the ozone layer over
Formula Antarctica
Nitrogen N2 78.08 % - 65° North to 65°South latitude has had a 3% decrease in
Oxygen O2 20.95 stratospheric ozone since 1978
Water H2O (gas) 0 to 4 -- measurement of this gas is currently unavailable because
Argon Ar 0.93 97% are found concentrated in the stratosphere at an
Carbon Dioxide CO2 0.0360 altitude of 15-55 kilometers above the earth’s surface.
Neon Ne 0.0018 - at the earth’s surface in and around the cities, ozone is also
Helium He 0.0005 highly concentrated as a result of a by-product of human
Methane CH4 0.00017 created photochemical smog of which its build up is toxic to
Hydrogen H2 0.00005 almost all organisms living on earth.
Nitrous Oxide N 2O 0.00003
Ozone O3 0.000004 6. Rocks and Soil
Soil – is the material that serves as an interface between the
Nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, atmosphere, and the lithosphere and with the hydrosphere
nitrous oxide and ozone – extremely important to the health - Sustains the growth of all plants and animals and forms
of the earth’s biosphere. part of the biosphere
Nitrogen and oxygen – are the main components of the - Natural body of mineral and organic material
atmosphere by volume - Important for cultivation and agricultural production
- Make up 99% of dry atmosphere - Soill fertility and productivity are important issue to
address
Nitrogen – removed from the atmosphere and deposited
on the earth’s surface mainly by specialized nitrogen-fixing Hydrosphere – bottom of the of the vast bodies of water, the
bacteria, and by way of lightning through precipitation fresh and marine
- Addition of nitrogen to the earth’s surface soils and
various water bodies supply nutrition for plant growth. Classification of soil as to particle size:
- Nitrogen returns to the atmosphere primarily through 1. Clay soil - ˂0.002 mm is made up of approximately 0-
biomass combustion and denitrification. 45%sand, 0-45% silt and 50-100% clay
Oxygen – exchanged between the atmosphere and life - Sticky and feels almost plastic like when its wet
through the processes photosynthesis and respiration - Holds water and nutrients well
2. Silt Soil – 0.002 – 0.05 mm – approximately 25 to 50 %
Photosynthesis – produces oxygen when carbondioxide sand, 30-50% silt and 10-30% clay
and water are chemically converted into glucose with the - Feels smooth and slippery when wet.
help of sunlight 3. Sandy soil (0.05-2.0 mm)- 80-100% sand, 0-10% silt,
and 0-10% clay
Respiration – opposite process of photosynthesis - Drain quickly after it rains, easy to work with and
- Oxygen is combined with glucose to chemically release warms up quickly in warm weather
energy for metabolism - Lower nutrient and moisture holding capacity than clay
- Products are water and carbondioxide or silt soil and must be watered and fertilized more
often.
Functions of water vapor: 4. Gravel – has a particle size greater than 2.0 mm
 Redistribute heat energy on the Earth through
latent heat energy exchange
 Soil Horizon: distinct layer of soil that lie one above the
another parallel to the soil surface.
e. carbon dioxide – chemical formula: CO2
1. O- organic matter – litter layer of plant residues in
relatively undecomposed form
- O stands for organic
- Rich in organic material of plants and animal origin
- humus
2. A – Surface soil – layer of mineral soil with most
organic matter accumulation and soil life.
- Topsoil
- Layer called biomantle where biological activities
takes place
- Soil organisms like earthworm, fungi and bacteria are
mainly concentrated
3. B- subsoil –accumulates iron, clay, aluminum and
organic compounds, a process referred to as illuviation
- Subsoil rich in clay and minerals like iron or aluminum
- Reddish or brownish due to the oxides of iron and clay
4. C- Parent rock – layer of large unbroken rocks
- Accumulate the more soluble compound
- Also called regolith
- Made of large rocks or lumps of partially broken
bedrock
- Devoid of organic matter
7. Chemical substances
- Existence of the biotic components is also dependent
on the chemical substances which constitutes the
earth’s surface
1. Inorganic substance – chemical substances found
in the ecosystems in the form of acids, bases, salts,
water and carbon dioxide
a. Acids – pH less than 7.Abscisic acid for plant growth
development that plays an important role in integrating
various stress signals and controlling downstream
stress responses.
Ex. Of plants that live in acid soils
Acidophiles – microorganisms that require acidic condition
to survive
b. Bases – alkaline substances known to buffer acidic
conditions – pH more than 7
-ammonification or sulfate reduction can lead to
transient alkalinity in microhabitats that is
manifested in widespread feature of heterogeneous
environments such as soils and the highly alkaline
Ca++ dominated ground waters that are present in
various geological locations around the world.
-some plants grow best in alkaline soil such as
lucerne and many xerophytes.
c. Salts – are ionic compounds that result from the
neutralization reaction of an acid and a base.
- halophytes are plants that have adopted to live in salty
environment and grow in salt marshes, shallow coastal
waters, dry salt pans and on sand dunes such as mangrove
trees.
d.Water – most essential component of life
hydrosphere – 71% water
protoplasm – 70-90% of water
 Universal solvent
III. LIMITING FACTORS AND TOLERANCE
The existing natural ecosystem is often confronted with
 Ionizing power
negative impacts of modern technology
 Higher specific heat
 Latent heat of fusion
 Latent heat of vaporization
 Highest surface tension
 Maximum density at -4°C
 All organisms on earth need water for survival
 Compound composed of two oxygen atoms
covalently bonded to a single carbon atom
 As part of the carbon dioxide cycle known as
photosynthesis, plants, algae and cyanobacteria
absorb carbon dioxide, light, and water to produce
carbohydrate energy for themselves and oxygen as a
waste product.
 By product of combustion; emitted from volcanoes,
hot springs and geysers; and freed from carbonate
rocks by dissolution.
Organic substances - are materials that do contain
large amounts of carbon in combination with hydrogen
and oxygen
 For biological systems, the four major organic
substances considered are the carbohydrates,
proteins, lipids and nucleic acids – the 4 major
organic compounds essential in the make up of life.
 Carbohydrates – Poysaccharides serve as storage of
energy ( starch and glycogen), and as ( cellulose in
plants and chitin in arthropods)
-the 5-carbon monosaccharide rebose
-backbone of the genetic molecule known as
RNA. The related deoxyribose in a component of
DNA
-saccharides and their derivatives play key roles
in the immune system, fertilization, preventing
pathogenesis, blood clotting
 Proteins – amino acids arranged in a linear chain
and joined together by peptide bonds
-enzymes that catalyze the chemical reactions in
metabolism
-also important in cell signaling, immune
responses, cell adhesion, active transport among
membranes, and the cell cycle
 Lipids – molecular organic compounds composed
largely of carbon and hydrogen, non-soluble in
water and combine with carbohydrates and proteins
to form the majority of all plant and animal cells
 Nucleic acids – biological molecules essential for life,
include DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA
(ribonucleic acid). Together with proteins, nucleic
acids make up the most important macromolecules
each found on living things where they functions in
encoding, transmitting and expressing genetic
information.
-when a cell divides, its DNA is copied and passed
from one cell generation t the next generation. DNA
contains the programmatic instructions or cellular
activities. When organisms produce offspring, these
instructions, in the form of DNA, are passed down.
RNA is involved in the synthesis of protein.
Information is typically passed from DNA to RNA to
the resulting proteins
8. Periodic disturbances
 Catastrophic disturbances, such as fires, hurricanes,
tornadoes, and volcanic eruptions can devastate
biological communities
-after the disturbance, the area is re-colonized by
organisms or repopulated by survivors, but the
structure of the community undergoes a succession
of changes during the rebound

Limiting factors - environmental influences that constrain
the productivity of organisms, populations or communities
and thereby prevent them from achieving their full biological
importance, which could be realized through optimal
conditions.
Environmental factors – must satisfy minimum and
maximum criteria for life
Minimum criteria - represent the least availability that will
sustain organisms or ecological processes
Maxima – represent toxicity or other biological damages
2 laws for organism response to environmental changes:
1. The law of minimum – the growth and well- being of
an organism is ultimately limited by that essential
resource that is in its lowest supply relative to what
is required.
Limiting factor – most deficient resource
2. The law of tolerance – each physical factor in the
environment a minimum and maximum limit exists
called the tolerance limit; beyond which the
organism does not thrive or survive
-either too little or too much of any required factor
like food, energy, heat, vitamins, minerals, water or
oxygen threatens the survival of organisms and even
the entire species.
The principle of limiting factors: is an ecological
generalization that suggests, at any given time at a particular
ecosystem, productivity constrained by a single,
metabolically essential factor that is present in the least
supply relative to the potential biological demand.
IV. ECOLOGIC NICHE
-each biotic component has an ecological niche
Aspects of ecological niche for plants and animals:
Aspects of niche for Aspects of niche for
plants animals
Season of year for Time and day for feeding
growth and and season of year for
reproduction. repeoduction
Sunlight, water and soil Habitat and food
requirement requirement
Relationships with other Relationships with other
organisms organisms
Effect on abiotic Effect on abiotic
environment environment
 Every organism has a significant role to play in the
ecosystem of the earth.
 Ecological niche- role on how organism relates or
fits in the ecosystem that it belongs to
 Morphology – physical attributes of the organism
are important
 Physiological and behavioral ways are also
important
 Niche – more focused on the response of the
organism to the limited resources of the
environment and their competitors
- It is how an organism makes a living in the ecological
community it belongs
Habitat- location or place in the environment where the
organisms live.
Niche and habitat are correlated in the study of
biodiversity. People may be able to keep the homes of
different organisms healthy and ultimately maintaining the
number of organisms in the ecosystem.
Difference between niche and habitat:
1. Niche is more on how the organisms behave in
theplaces ehere they belong, while habitat is focused on
the places where each organisms belong
2. Niche is more on how organisms react to their
environment, while habitat is more on how organisms
affect them.
3. The short definition of niche is hoe an organism makes
a living, while habitat ie where the organisms live.
V. HOMEOSTASIS IN THE ECOSYSTEM
Homeostasis – refers to the optimum balance in any
system, be it biological or environmental in nature
- Taking into account balance in the environment
simply considers the different aspect of the
ecosystem which comprise of the biotic and the
abiotic components in it.
- The abiotic factors in an ecosystem maintain the
requirements of the biotic components in it for
sustenance and healthy interactions, likewise
biotic components as they do their activities must
not disrupt the natural patterns of abiotic parts
for balance of environment.
- Humans and other living entities in the ecosystem
must not engage in activities that incurred
accumulated wastes that will disrupt the
prevailing biochemical cycles and other abiotic
factors that will lead to an imbalance state of
ecosystem.
VI. Types of Philippine Ecosystem:
(https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/what-are-
flora-and-fauna.php)
Flora and fauna are words originating from Latin.
Flora in Latin means goddess of the flower. Flora is
also derived from the word floral, which means relating
to flowers. Therefore flora is a group of
indigenous plants in an ecosystem of a
geographical region. The origin of the word fauna is
a bit shrouded in mystery. According to Roman
mythology, Fauna refers to the goddess of fertility.
Fauna is sometimes referred to as Fauns, meaning
forest spirits. By definition, fauna is a group of
indigenous animals of any geographical region.
So, the term flora and fauna was coined by biologists to
refer to a collection of plant and animal specifies in a
given geographic location. This is why you hear
phrases like flora and fauna of India, flora, and fauna of
Indonesia and so on.
VII. FOOD CHAIN AND FOOD WEB
Food chain – the path of food from a given final
consumer back to a producer
Ex. The plant is the producer, the grasshopper is the
first-order consumer, the field mouse is the second –
order consumer that feeds on plant-eating animals.
 Pathway of energy in an ecosystem always
begins with a producer
Food web – food chains connected at different points
-----end of prelim topic------
MIDTERM:
HUMAN IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT:
EARTH – is the only planet known where life exists.
Pollution – evidence of the human abuse of the earth
Earth – become the receptacle of man’s waste and
suffering because of man’s irresponsibility and lack of
awareness.
POLLUTION – is the undesirable change in the
physical, chemical or biological characteristics of an
ecosystem.
- abuse and misuse of the environment.
POLLUTANTS – anything that makes the environment
undesirable and unclean
Ex. Dust, oil, runoff from mines, industrial emissions,
industrial wastes, oil spills and even beer cans that
thoughtless boater tosses into the water
TYPES OF POLLUTION
Air Pollution – presence in the air of substances that
adversely affect its chemical composition
- particulates floating in the air like smoke, soot, dust
and fly ash
Rubber , iron and cement – principal particles included
in the measurement of suspended solid particulate
Water pollution – contamination in any body of water
Pollutants coming from households, industries and
municipalities
- includes organisms that cause negative effects to the
natural inhabitants of the said ecosystem.
LAND POLLUTION – the accumulation of solid waste in
the land
- Degradation of earth’s land due to human activities
- includes solid waste that comes from the household,
industries and hospitals.
AIR POLLUTION:
-physical or chemical changes brought about by natural
processes or human activities that result in air quality
degradation.
- we inhale 20,000 li. Of air per day
- 150,000 premature deaths per year are caused by
pollutants
- can cause chronic health effects and life threatening to
those with asthma
- are known carcinogens and can kill plants and
animals
TWO MAJOR SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION:
1. Natural Sources – includes volcanic eruptions
and wild fires
2. Anthropogenic sources – brought about by human
activities
Ex. June 1991 eruption of the Mt. Pinatubo ejected
about 5 billion cubic meters of ash, sulfur oxide and
carbon dioxide
- Wild fires also add particulate matter in the form of
ash and dust and carbon compounds on air
Ex. Of anthropogenic sources of air pollution – mobile
sources – vehicles, vessels and aircrafts; stationary
sources like factories, power plants and incinerators
Area source – refers to relatively large areas of specific
activities that generate significant amounts of air
pollutants
Ex. Heating and cooling units of commercial buildings,
fire places, surface coatings and even the family
landowners and barbecue grills
- Waste disposal in the form of open burning landfills
and wastewater treatment.
Environmental management Bureau (EMB) – under
the DENR – in charge of monitoring and assessment of
air quality in the country
Based on 2008 Philippine National Emission Inventory
– 65% of the pollutants came from mobile sources,
21% from stationary and 14% from area sources
2 Major types of Air Pollutants:
1.Primary pollutants – released directly from the
source into the air in hazardous form
Ex. Carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and particulate
matter
* Cigarette smoke-draws particulate materials directly
into the lungs.
2. Secondary pollutants - substances modified to a
hazardous form; after they enter the air or are formed
by chemical reactions as components of air mix and
interacts
Ex. Products of hydrocarbon and nitrogen forming
nitric oxide and nitrogen oxides
Atmosphere - thin layer of gas that envelope the earth
- Serves to moderate the extreme cold and heat in the
earth
Air clings tightly to the earth by the attraction of
gravity
- in constant motion due to the earth’s rotation
During the day, the sun penetrates the earth,
atmosphere traps heat so that it escapes more slowly
into the space.
- effect is that night become warmer
- common function of the atmosphere is protection
from ultaviolet radiation from the sun and screen out
harmful materials so the they do not reach the earth’s
surface.
* Very important phenomenon in the earth occurs in
the atmosphere
- Formation of clouds brings weather and climate
Troposphere – 1st layer of the atmosphere clouds are
formed
When clouds become heavy rain is formed causing
changes in weather and climate
* There is vital change of matter and energy that occurs
between the atmosphere and ocean
* Ocean acts as a reservoir of heat moisture and CO2
needed by the atmosphere
* Atmosphere supplies the ocean surfaces with energy
of motion that produces ocean currents.
COMPONENTS OF THE EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE
 Gases in the eatrh’s atmosphere: nitrogen, carbon
dioxide, oxygen, argon and xenon
- pull of gravity trapped the gases into the earth
- living organisms utilized these gases
Carbon dioxide – only 0.0325% - efficient absorber of
radiant energy emitted by the earth
-Essential in photosynthesis
- large amount of carbon dioxide will cause
extreme heat
Oxygen – 20% in the atmosphere
- for respiration
Nitrogen – most abundant gas – 78% - important
element of protein structure material of our body
Trace gases – 1% - xenon, argon, neon, helium,
methane, ozone and water vapor
Water vapor – source of all clouds and precipitation
- Water from the ground that evaporates
Condensation – water turns into clouds
There is a Water cyle
Water cycle – there is a transformation of water from
one phase to the other thus producing the absorption
and release of heat energy from one location to the
other
Water vapor - plays a controlling influence on the
energy transfer for hydrologic cycle
Dust particles – provide the nuclei on which moisture
can collect to form fogs, clouds and precipitation
- Condensation process depends on the presence of
minute particles called dust particles in the atmosphere
Dust particle – also called nuclei – grain of salts from
ocean sprays and particles from fires, burning meteors
and volcanic erruptions
*Dust also responsible for the so-called prism effect on
air
- optical phenomena of having varied hues of red and
orange during sunrise and sunset are due to the
presence of dust particles
- like CO2 & water vapor, dust particles also intercept
and reflect incoming solar radiation
OZONE –molecule that contains 3 atoms of oxygen
*Also referred as triatomic oxygen (O3)
* main role is to absorb damaging ultraviolet radiation
from the sun.
Aerosol – suspended particles within the atmosphere
May be in solid or liquid and occur in wide ranges of
size, shape and chemical composition
- tend to concentrate in the lower atmosphere near
their source on earth’s surface
- sources are soil and sediment eroded by the wind,
tiny crystals of sea salt form from breaking sea waves ,
volcanic emissions, by- products of industrial
processes.
Clouds – natural aerosol of water droplets in air
Smoke which contains solid paticles of carbon and ash,
combine with fog and certain chemicals is the harmful
aerosol called SMOG.
Criteria pollutants - substances that contribute to the
largest volume of air quality degradation
-Are monitored and assessed
- major threat to human health
- carbon compounds, nitrogen compounds, sulfur, and
particulate materials
COMMON CRITERIA POLLUTANTS:
1. Carbon oxide (CO) – colorless, odorless but highly
toxic gas formed from incomplete combustion of fossil
fuel
- binds irreversibly with hemoglobin
2. Carbon dioxide (CO2) - natural non- toxic
greenhouse gas and a major cause of global warming
3. Nitrogen oxide (NO) – highly reactive gas when
nitrogen is heated to high temperatures.
4. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) – a reddish brown gas that
gives photochemical smog its distinctive color
5. Sulfur compounds - a colorless corrosive
compounds as a result of combustion of fossil fuels,
which are directly damaging to plants and animals
6. Particulate materials – small suspended solids or
water droplets in the atmosphere
Includes ash, dust, smoke, soot and pollen
- are breathable for it has a size of not more than 25-50
microns (µm) most dangerous types of air pollutants
because it can be drawn to the lungs.
SOURCES OF PARTICULATES
1. Dusts – suspended particles larger than colloidal
particles
Lifted by the wind from point of origin and carried to
the atmosphere by the atmospheric current
- main sources are soil blowing, volcanic activity, forest
fires, oceanic spray, domestic and industrial
combustion process, vehicle exhaust and metric matter
2. Photochemical gas reactions – between naturally
produced ozone and hydrocarbons resulting in small
particles that remained suspended in the air
3. Solid particles – smoke from motor vehicles and
industries and from combustion of materials
4. Photochemical reactions between oxygen and
nitrogen, and hydrocarbons called smog reaction,
producing small size particles
5. Radioactive fallouts and radiations – results from
nuclear tests in the earth’s atmosphere
As long as nuclear weapons are manufactured and
stockpiled, there are hazards caused by their transport.
NON- CRITERIA POLLUTANTS
1. Metals and Halogens – toxic metals occur as
trace elements in fossil fuels, especially in coals.
Includes lead Pb is accounted for 2/3 of world
wide metallic air pollution and considered
metabolic poison and a neurotoxin.
2. Volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) – synthetic
compounds such as benzene, toluene, chloroform,
etc
3. Air toxins – chemical pollutants known as
carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic, and
neurotoxins. Includes mercury, lead, sulfur,
nitrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon,
cadmium, beryllium, fluoride, and nickel
SMOG
Chemical changes brought about by the gases and
particles in the atmosphere
- pollutant react with sunlight; it creates a ground
level ozone known as photochemical smog
Nitrogen compound and heated by solar energy – it
gives smog a reddish brown discoloration
SMOG – coined term referring to smoke and fog
- Occurs when high concenration of moisture mixes
and combines with smoke containing sulfur and
nitrogen oxides in the presence of high
temperature
- cause air to stagnate over industrial areas
- usually blankets major cities including Manila and
Quezon City
- can cause diff. health hazards like breathing
difficulties, irritated throat, and long term exposure
can cause cancer.
Solutions to smog problems:
To encourage carmakers to develop cars that
produce less smog
The practice of car-pooling or use of public
transport to limit car usage.
ACID RAIN:
 Any form of precipitation that is usually acidic
or low in pH
 Formed when substances such as sulfur dioxide
and nitrogen oxide react with water vapor
 Acid rain is formed when these gases react with
oxygen and/ or water to form either sulfuric
acid or nitric acid. Sunlight increases the rate of
this reactions.
 SO2 gas comes from mining smelters and the
burning of coal. Also came from electrical
power stations.
 Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide – main
cause of acid rain
Effects of Acid Rain:
 Human respiratory disease such as cough,
colds, asthma and throat irritation.
 Can pollute drinking water
 Decrease atmospheric visibility and can
damage historical statutes.
 Can leach plant nutrients such as magnesium
and calcium salts that weakens plant resistance.
 Can cause massive fish kill because of the
aluminum ions from rocks and soil released
from acid rain and can harm bodies of water
because of low pH.
SOURCES OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES THAT
CAUSE ACID RAIN:
1. Nitrogen Oxide – by- products of firing process
that utilize extreme temperature from automobiles
and factories
- burning of high sulfur coal from electrical
power plant
- 43% nitrogen emission from transportation
- 32% from industrial combustion
2. Sulfuric Compounds – Sulfur from petroleum and
coal-based fossil fuel that combines with oxygen
forming sulfur dioxide (SO2) released into the
atmosphere from iron and steel companies, crude
oil processing plants and smelting of metal surface
ore
- 69.4% sulfur dioxide from industrial
combustion
- 3.7% from vehicles
HARMFUL EFFECTS OF ACID RAIN
1. Effect on structure – dissolves the surfaces of
buildings and monuments
2. Effects on vegetation –inhibit cell division in the
root that stops growth of the tree
3. Effects on bodies of water – kills fishes and
marine organisms
4. Effects on humans – responsible for minor
intestinal ailments
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS:
Tall Smokestacks
Electric cars
Scrubbers – remove sulfur from smokestacks
before it reaches the atmosphere
Shift to nuclear or solar energy
Japan’s low sulfur fuels
Philippine Efforts to clean the air:
Bantay Tambutso sa Eskwela
Bantay Tambutso sa malls
Bantay Sunog Basura
Bantay Tsimneya
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THAT PROTECTS AIR
The Phil. Clean Air Act of 1999 – declares
November as the Clean Air Month
Bio-fuels Act of 2006 – aim to achieve energy
independence
GREENHOUSE EFFECT AND GLOBAL WARMING:
Greenhouse effect – natural phenomenon
- keeps our world warm by trapping sun’s energy
- rise in temperature due to certain gases such as
water vapor, carbon dioxide and methane
Greenhouse gases – gases in the atmosphere that
traps the sun’s heat energy/ radiation and reflect it
back to the earth causing a rise in temperature to
the earth.
GREENHOUSE GASES:
1. Carbon dioxide (C𝑂_2) – comes from burning
fuels and destruction of forest
- major gas that cause global warming and climate
change
2. Metane (〖𝑂𝑂〗_4) – anaerobic decomposition
of organic wastes
3. Sulfur oxide (〖𝑂𝑂〗_𝑂) – produced mostly by
power that burns fossil fuels like coal and coil
4. Lower Level Ozone – produced from car exhaust
which reacts with sunlight to form smog
5. Nitrogen Oxide (〖𝑂𝑂〗_𝑂)− emitted during
agricultural and industrial activities as well as
during combustion of solid waste anf fossil fuels
6. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) – released into the
atmosphere by industrial used as refrigerants,
aerosol propellants, and solvents, and by process of
producing plastics forms and cigarettes. Found
from the emission from refigerators, air-
conditioners and fire retardants.
*Very powerful greenhouse gases that are not
naturally occuring include:
1. Hydrofluorocarbons – (HFCs)
2. Per fluorocarbons – (PFCs)
3. Sulfur hexafluoride – (〖𝑂𝑂〗_𝑂)
* from industrial processes

GLOBAL WARMING
- average increase in the Earth’s atmosphere
primarily due to the so-called greenhouse effect
EFFECTS OF GREENHOUSE GASES AND GLOBAL
WARMING
1. Melting of ice Caps – desalinate seas and oceans
causing disturance to ocean currents and
temperature displacing polar organisms
2. Rising Sea Levels – Polar ice caps will melt
resulting to the rise in sea level anywhere between
10 cm and 2 m or approximately 4 inches and 6 feet
Rise of sea level would flood 2000 square miles of
land.
Low- lying coastal areas could be wiped off the map
By the end of the next century sea level will rise as
much as 1 m resulting in floods of low lying areas
like the plains of Central Luzon and of Central
Mindanao, and most of the port cities of the
country.
3. Change in Climatic patterns - already been
observed for the past few years
4. Spread diseases – some countries become warm,
disease carrying insects and animals migrate
towards warmer areas bringing disease
- increased rate of vector-borne disease infection
(dengue) due to increase of mosquito’s breeding
places
5. Economic Consequences – Global warming and
climatic changes have brought hurricanes and
typhoons that damage our households and
agricultural industries
-disease that comes with global warming cost one
to treat and control.
6. Increased droughts and Heat waves – other areas
to suffer droughts & heat waves especially Africa
and Europe and could lead to conflicts and war
7. Other effects: bleaching of coral reefs, El Niño
and La Niña
El Niño – term means little boy or Christ child
first use by a Peruvian fiaherman in the late 1800
to describe warm current appearing off the western
coast of Peru around Christmas time
- today it refers to a disruption of the ocean
atmosphere system in the tropical Pacific having
important global consequences
-refer to a warming of the eastern tropical Pacific
Changes that occurs during El Niño and La Niña:
- Wind velocities
- Sea surface temperatures
- Surface air pressures
- Sea level
La Niña – means “The Little Girl”, cold event or a
cold episode
Recent El Niños and La Niñas:
1986 -1987 – warm water was noticeable in the
Eastern Pacific in the spring of 1987
1988-1989 – very cool water in Eastern Pacific
- very strong La Niña
1991-1992 – warm water penetrated towards the
east in the nothern hemisphere spring of 1992
1995 -1996 weaker La Niña year
1997-1998 – severe El Niño
Climate – long-term average of a region’s weather
events lumped together
Climate change- represents a change in these long-
term weather patterns
Can become warmer or colder
-annual amount of rainfall or snowfall can increase
or decrease
SOLUTIONS TO GLOBAL WARMING AND
CLIMATE CHANGE:
1. Planting trees
2. Carpool
3. Replace light bulb into energy saving model
4. Unplug electrical appliances when not in use
OZONE LAYER
Five layers of the atmosphere:
1. Troposphere – 10 km above the earth’s surface
- formation of cloud
Tropopause - boundary between troposphere and
stratosphere – characterized by sudden change of
temperature with height
2. Stratosphere – 45 km above the earth’s surface
temperature increases as the altitude increases
Wind moves horizontal
Characterized by jet streams because of its stability
Significant feature – ozone layer located 16-32 km
above the earth’s surface that protects organisms
from harmful ultraviolet radiation of the sun.
3. Mesosphere – air mixes and temperature
decreases at lowest value of – 90 degrees Celcius
with altitude
- meteors burn up when entering the earth’s
surface
-90 km above the earth
4. Thermosphere – layer that is first expose to
the sunlight
- where space shuttle orbits
-temperature reaches 1500 degree celcius or
higher
5. Exosphere – region where atoms and molecules
escape
-true upper limit of the earth’s atmosphere
OZONE LAYER – thin bond of ozone gas O3 formed
from ultraviolet splits oxygen molecules into free
oxygen atoms
Oxygen atoms combine with oxygen molecules to
form ozone
Chemical reaction:
O3 + UV O2 + O
O + O2 O3
CFC – Chlorofluorocarbon ( Freon) – major cause of
ozone depletion
Disrupt the ozone gases in the atmosphere through
the ultraviolet rays of the sun.
- CFC in its heated state will cause chlorine atom to
break away and to hit ozone gases
- chlorine atom will take oxygen molecule resulting
to chlorine monoxide
- finally 2 oxygen atoms form an oxygen molecule
then chlorine atom is free and will repeat the
depletion process
Massive hole in the ozone layer was seen right
above Antarctica – major reason of the melting ice
caps in the region
EFFECTS OF THE OZONE DEPLETION
1. increase cancer levels
2. increase rate of disease like malaria and cases of
cataracts
3. life cycles of plants will be affected thus
disrupting food chains
4. kill marine animals
5. change in wind patterns causing climatic change
SOLUTIONS TO OZONE DEPLETION:
1. Reduce the use of CFC
WATER POLLUTION
-one of the world’s critical problem
WATER – integral part of life in this planet
odorless and tasteless substance that cover more
than three-fourths of the earth surface
97% is saltwater
3% freshwater – 2% ice caps and glaciers - 1%
useable to humans and land animals found in lakes,
rivers, streams, ponds and in the ground
SOURCES OF WATER POLLUTION
1. Point source – contributors of pollution that can
be identified like oil refineries
2. Non-point source - diffuse sources like
agricultural activities
SPECIFIC SOURCES ARE:
1.Harmful chemicals – sodium chloride, sodium
sulfate, calcium sulfate, mercury and pesticides
from industrial wastes.
2.Oil washing, kitchen wastes and other wastes
from homes
3. Agricultural practices – eutrophication of lakes
and rivers. Nitrates and phosphates commonly
used as fertilizers can enhance algal bloom and
later on change the state of the water.
4. Sugar mills – produce hot water discharge that
can cause thermal pollution in rivers and seas.
WATER POLLUTANTS:
1. Domestic wastes - produced by the households
70 % of the water pollutants
Includes food leftover, animal and human manure,
fruit peelings
2. Biological pollutants – Living organisms with
negative effects in the environment
Includes coliform bacteria, janitor fish and water
lilies
3. Plastics and styrofoam – made from petroleum
and CFC, non-biodegradable and had caused
clogging of waterways and canals.
4. Detergents – cause frothing and foaming of the
streams and rivers and contains alkyl benzene
sulfonate, that is toxic to fishes and other aquatic
organisms
5. Mine Tailings – residue of mining and ore
extraction
-large release of acid to rivers and lakes
Add sediments that interfere with sunlight and
make body of water shallower
6. Sugar Mills - wastewater that is rich in
suspended and dissolved solids, hot water, alkaline
effluents from caustic cleaning of evaporators and
mud presses.
7. Alcohol distillery – produce methyl alcohol from
molasses that produce wastewater with slops
having a biological oxygen demand of 40 000 mg /l
to 50 000 mg /l. Can turn water into black and
produce stinking odor.
8. Agricultural pollutants – fertilizers contain
nitrogen and phosphorous that can leach to
groundwater
Nitrates cause infant methemoglobinemia
-phosphate causes extensive algal blooms and
contributes to eutrophication.
Pesticides may include the development of
resistant pest species.
9. Oil – interfere with digestion and causes
respiratory failure to organism
Limits sunlight penetration and results to the death
of fish and plankton.
10. Thermal pollution – discharge of hot water
likewise affecting the oxygen content of the water
leading to fish suffocation
- Kills fishes because they cannot regulate
temperature change
EFFECTS OF WATER POLLUTION:
- Pollutes our drinking water
- Threatens our health
- Decrease the value of our property
- Destroy commercial and game fish
- Contaminates jellyfish and pushes up seafood
prizes
- Poisons water flow and other domestic
structures
- Degrade the quality of our total environment
RED TIDE MENACE
-is a phenomenon wherein there is an unusual
discoloration in a body of water specially the ocean
Cause by the proliferation of alga or algal bloom
also known as dinoflagellates that contain pigments
ranging from red, yellow or brown

TYPES OF HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM
Do not produce toxins but utilize the dissolved
oxygen thus killing the fish
Produce potent toxins associated with different
types of gastro intestinal illnesses like:
- Paralytic shellfish poisoning
- Diarrhetic shellfish poisoning
- Amnesic shellfish poisoning
- Ciguatera fish poisoning
3rd type of algal bloom is those algal species that
are non-toxic to humand but harmful to fish and
invertebrates by damaging or clogging their gills
EFFECTS OF RED TIDE
 Health Impact – paralytic shellfish poisoning
developes from eating mollusk containing
dinoflgellates that contain a neurotoxin known as
saxitoxin
 Economic impact – decline in the demand of
fishery products
 Environmental Impact – extent of water
pollution
Government action against red tide:
Created National Red Tide Task Force (NRTTF) to
monitor toxic red tide occurences in the Phil. to
inform the public of the possible illnesses and
death caused by the toxin.
OIL SPILL – type of pollution wherein oil
(petroleum) is released in a body of water mostly in
seas and ocean due to leaks from ships during the
transport
Effects of oil spills:
- Can kill fishes and other aquatic resources
- Reduces insulating ability in marine mammals
like sea lions and seals. Oil coats their fur and
reduces their insulation abilities causing body
temperature to change.
- Thin film on top of water limits light
penetration into the waters affecting
photosynthesis of plants and planktons.
- Poison coral polyps in reef
- 27 000 km of coral reefs in tha Phil. - causes of
deterioration are cyanide fishing and muro-ami
methods
- Worst oil spill in the phil.: On august 11, 2006
- MV Solar I sinks in the water of Guimaras Island
- Carrying petron oil about 2.4 million li. Of oil to
Mindanao
POLLUTION OF PHIL. RIVERS AND LAKES
421 rivers in the Phil.
50 rivers considered biologically dead including
Pasig River because they are made into dumping
sites of the different industries.
Sagip Ilog Programs – 19 priority rivers identified
by the EMB that needs with water quality criteria
set by the DENR
MARCH 24, 1996 – Marcopper Mine’s Pit Drainage
leaked in one of the major rivers in Marinduque is
the most fatal mining accident that happened
It destroyed crops, clogged irrigation channels and
had left the Boac River virtually dead
- caused lost of 1.8 million worth of marine and
freshwater life
- residents near the Boac river has been positive for
copper and zinc within their blood.
Philippines has the longest coastline in the world
Country’s inland waters – 421 rivers, 79 natural
lakes and more than 50 000 sq. m of water
reservoir where 50 rivers are considered dead
- most of them are positive for nitrates and
phosphates that have caused algal bloom
PHILIPPNE EFFORTS TO CLEAN THE WATER
Industrial Eco-watch
Tap watch
Beach Eco-watch
Sagip Pasig Movement
Critical thinking questions:
Do you think that Pasig River can still be
recovered?
What are the different method of solving oil spill?
Explain the effect of red tide and oil spill to nearby
coastal communities?
Explain how janitor fish and water lilies become
biological pollutants.
APPLICATION
Visit a body of water in your area or school. Be able
to list the common pollutants that you can find and
give the possible effects of these to the inhabitants
of the water and the community?
SOLID WASTE POLLUTION
SOLID WASTE – any unwanted material that is
neither liquid nor gas
Different types or classifications of solid waste:
Municipal wastes – are those coming from
households
Industrial wastes – from factories
Toxic and hazardous waste – from hospitals and
laboratories
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT METHODS
ZERO WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
System aims to achieve zero waste from its source
1. Reduce – cut waste disposal and handling cost
- reduce packaging materials, avoid practices that
produce toxicity
- maintain durable products.
2. Reuse – finding alternative use of materials we
usually consider as junk.
3. Recycle – method of processing used materials
into new products
COMPOSTING
Biodegradation of organic matter into humus like
product
By – product is known as compost commonly used
as fertilizers for farming.
SANITARY LANDFILL - solid wastes are spread in
layers, compacted and covered with earth daily
Away from faults, wet lands and flood plains
 There should be composite liners of 2 feet of
compacted clay soil lining the bottom and the
sides of the landfill
 Leachate collection and removal system
 Operating practices that includes compacting
and covering waste with several inches of soil
INCINERATORS:
Used in the burning of garbage and removal of the
residue
- machine that burns the trash and waste into ash
- aims to avoid accumulation of hazardous
materials into landfills
- burning can add smog and air pollution
OPEN DUMPSIGHT
Garbages dumped in open sites where organic
matter is allowed to rot
Least preferred method
Temporarily removes waste from its source and
designate another location to place garbages.
CONTROLLING POLLUTION
- seawage treatment plants that use bacteria to
break down sewage before it is released into
waterways
PHILIPPINE EFFORTS TO SOLVE SOLID WASTE
1.Accelerated Compositing Technology
(Bioreactor) – aerobic degradation of solid wastes
inside fabricated reactor to a level suitable for
organic fertilizer
2. Anaerobic Compositing ( Biogas reactor) –
anaerobic conversion of organic wastes from
agriculture, livestock, and domestic into energy
and biofertilizers that do not use oxygen
3. Vermicompositing – produces compost with the
use of worms african nights crawlers that eat solid
wastes and produce vermicast, a pure worm
excreta and worm biomass
Material recovery facility:
RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste
Management Act of the Phil. – law provides a
solid and legal framework for the country’s
systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid
waste management program that will ensure public
health and the environment
Establishment of Materials Recovery Facility in
every barangay or cluster of barangays.
MRF – specialized plant that receives, segregates
and prepares recycled materials
San Pablo City – first to build MRF in Calabarzon
area.
PHILIPPINE ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS:
1. Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 (R.A. No. 8749
– an act providing for a comprehensive air
pollution control policy
2. Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 (R.A. 9211)
- act regulating the packaging, use, sale distribution
and advertisements of tobacco products
3. Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear
Wastes Control Act of 1990 (R.A. No. 6969)
-act that regulate, restrict or prohibit the
importation, manufacture, processing, sale ,
distribution, use and disposal of chemical
substances and mixtures
4. Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of
2000 (R.A. No. 9003) - provides guidelines and
targets for solid waste avoidance and volume
reduction through source reduction and waste
minimization measures.
5. Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 (R.A. No.
9275) – act providing for a comprehensive
water quality management of our fresh,
brackish and marine waters focusing on
pollution prevention
6. The Water Code of the Philippines (P.D. No.
1067) - revised and consolidated the laws
governing the ownership, appropriation,
utilization, exploitation, development,
conservation and protection of water resources
7. 7. Wildlife Resources Conservation and
Protection Act ( R.A. No. 9147)
- provides for the conservation and protection
of wildlife resources and their habitats
8. 8. National Integrated Protected Areas System
Act of 1992 ( R.A. No. 7586) – act providing for
the establishment and management of National
Integrated Protected Area System (NIPAS)
9. Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (R.A. No. 8371)
IPRA seeks to recognize, promote and protect
the rights of the indigenous people.