Environmental Science

Week 16 Pollution, Causes and Prevention

At the end of this module, you are expected to:

1. Determine environmental problems.
2. Identify the causes of environmental problems.
3. Identify the operating principles of a sustainable society.
4. Apply the operating principles of a sustainable society in ecosystem use.
5. Determine activities that can cause pollution and ways for clean up or
prevention.
6. Predict possible dangers and to be able to foresee the possible beneficial
effects of any action imposed on the environment.
7. Develop a scheme for sustainable development.

Wasteful Use of Resources

RESOURCES:
What is a resource (in human terms)?
- Anything we get from the environment (the earth’s life support systems) to meet our needs
and desires.
- All forms of life need resources such as food, water and shelter for survival and good health.

Some resources and directly available for use by humans and other
organisms.
Ex. Water, fertile soil, plants, etc.

Others are not directly available (supplies are limited)

= become useful only after some effort or technological alteration.

Ex. Petroleum, ground water, minerals etc.

CLASSIFICATION OF RESOURCES:

1) Renewable resources – essentially inexhaustible on a human time scale.

2) Potentially Renewable Resources – can be renewed fairly rapidly (hours to several decades)
through natural processes – potentially because these resources can be depleted if used faster
than natural processes renew them)
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 Ex. Forest trees, wild animals, fertile soil, fresh water, biodiversity

Sustainable Yield – the highest rate at which a potentially renewable resource can be used
indefinitely without reducing its available supply

Environmental Degradation – when a resources natural replacement is exceeded; where

available supply begins to shrink.
= can change potentially renewable resources into non-renewable or
unusable resources.
3) Non-renewable resources – resources that exist in a fixed quantity in the earth’s crust and
thus theoretically can be used up completely (also called exhaustible resources)
Ex. Energy resources (fossil fuels)
Metallic mineral resources
- on a timescale of millions to billions of years such resources can be renewed by geological
processes. But on a short time scale, these and depleted faster than they are formed.
Remedies:
- re-cycle or re-use existing supplies
- use less of available supplies
- try to develop a substitute
- do without and wait millions of years for more to be produced.

POLLUTION:

What is pollution?
- any addition to air, water, soil or food that threatens the health, survival or
activities of human or other living organisms.

Pollutant - particular chemical or form of energy that causes pollution.

 solid liquid or gaseous byproducts or wastes produced when a resource is extracted,
processed, made into products or used
 can be unwanted energy emissions ex., excessive heat, horse or radiation

Where does pollution come from?

A. natural source
Ex. Volcanic eruptions

B. Human activities mostly occurring near urban and industrial areas where
pollutants are concentrated.

1. Point sources identifiable sources

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ex. Smokestack of a power plant; exhaust pipe of an automobile chimney

2. Non-Point sources dispersed/difficult to identify
ex. Run-off fertilizers and pesticides into streams and lakes
pesticides sprayed and blown by winds into the atmosphere.

It is much easier and cheaper to identify and control pollution from point sources
than form widely dispersed non-point sources.

Effects of Pollution
1. disruption of life-support systems for humans and other species.
2. damage to property
3. damage to wildlife
4. damage to human health
5. nuisances, ex noise, unpleasant smell, tastes and sights
Factors that determine the severity of Pollutants:

1. Chemical nature – how active and harmful is it to living organisms.

2. Concentration – the amount per unit volume of air, water, soil or body weight.
3. Pollutant’s persistence – how long it stays in the air, water, soil or body.
 Non-persistent (degradable) pollutants – are broken down completely or
reduced to acceptable levels by natural physical, chemical and biological
processes.

 Biodegradable pollutants – complex chemical pollutants broken down

(metabolized) into simpler chemicals by living organisms (specialized
bacteria)
 Slowly degradable pollutants
*ex DDT, pesticides, most plastics –

 Non-degradable pollutants
Ex. Heavy metals (pb, Hg)

Major problem in dealing with pollution:

- differences in definition of pollutant and acceptable level.

- Choice bet. Control and job.
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 DEALING WITH POLLUTION:

1) prevention – reduces or eliminates the release of pollutants and wastes into the
environment.
2) Clean-Up deals with pollutants after release.

Problems:
 Temporary – as long as populations and consumption levels continue to
grow.
Ex. Use of catalytic converters – reduced air pollution
 Removes pollutants from one part of the environment only to cause pollution
in another part.
 One dispersed – high cost to remove.
(An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure)

AIR POLLUTION

Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials

that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or damages the natural
environment into the atmosphere.

The atmosphere is a complex dynamic natural gaseous system that is essential to support
life on planet Earth. Stratospheric ozone depletion due to air pollution has long been recognized as
a threat to human health as well as to the Earth's ecosystems.

An air pollutant is known as a substance in the air that can cause harm to humans and the
environment. Pollutants can be in the form of solid particles, liquid droplets, or gases. In addition,
they may be natural or man-made.

Pollutants can be classified as either primary or secondary. Usually, primary pollutants are
substances directly emitted from a process, such as ash from a volcanic eruption, the carbon
monoxide gas from a motor vehicle exhaust or sulfur dioxide released from factories.

Secondary pollutants are not emitted directly. Rather, they form in the air when primary
pollutants react or interact. An important example of a secondary pollutant is ground level
ozone — one of the many secondary pollutants that make up photochemical smog.

Important global processes taking place in the atmosphere

a) greenhouse effect
b) Ozone shield
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Sources of Air Pollutants and their effects on health:

Types of pollutants based on state of matter

a) gaseous pollutants gases

b) particulate air pollutants – very first suspended liquid or solid particles

Gaseous Air Pollutants

1) Carbon oxides –

a) CO2 – most notable source is the worldwide burning of fuels greenhouse gas
b) CO – the poison gas
- major source is automobile exhaust
- results from incomplete (burning) combustion of C and C cpds.
- Allowable cmc. Is 50 mg/L ; a conc. Of 1000 mg/L an result to unconsciousness in 1 hr. and
death in 4 hrs.

2) Hydrocarbons (include oxygenated hydrocarbons) org. cpds.

- introduced into the atm. By automobile exhaust.

- Evaporation of solvents
- Harmful to liver

3) Sulfur compounds – important ex: SO2, SO3

a) SO2 – is present in coal and oil;
- most notable air pollutant

b) SO3 – produced in the atm. By oxidation of SO2 under the influence of sunlight.

SO2 + O2 SO3 results to acid rain

Acid rain – destroy plant tissues and other living tissues,
-defaces buildings and other architecture structures.

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 c) H2S – more poisonous than CO
- hot or widespread as SO2
- occurrence is mostly associated with geothermal energy production and decomposing OM

4) Nitrogen compounds – NO; NO2

- one of products combustion
- source is automobile exhaust
- effects include
* unpleasant odor
*being congestion (respiratory ailments
* death
one of the key substance that enters into a chain of chemical reactions leading to the
formation of smog.

SMOG:

a) Photochemical smog (brown air smog) – a mixture of primary and secondary

pollutants formed under the influence of sunlight (photochemical rxn-
chemical rxn activated by light)
 when mixtures of primary pollutants (NO, vol. HC) from motor vehicles interact under
the influence of light to produce secondary pollutants.

b) Industrial Smog – (gray air smog)

 when burned the C in coal and oil is connected to CO2 and CO.
 some unburned C ends up in atmosphere. As suspended particulate matter
 burning of coal and oil also produce SO2

Factors that influence the formation of photochemical and industrial smog.

a. local climate and topography
b. population climate and topography
c. the amount of industry
d. fuels used in industry, heating and transportation
5) Ozone and Oxidants:
a) O3 – toxic in higher concentrations
-causes headaches and severe irritation of the eyes, upper respiratory system and lungs.
b) oxidants – pollutant gases closely related to ozone
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6) Hydrogen fluoride, HF
- significant pollutant because it causes serious and widespread damage to vegetation.
- Originates from various specific industrial operations ex. Al. smeltering.
- Causes lesions which can become gangrenous . (local death of soft tissues due to loss of blood
supply)

Particulate Pollutants:

a) Organic particles
- pollen grains
- bacteria
- fungi
- molds or spores
- insects or insect parts (wings, legs, hair, etc)
- responsible for hay fever, bronchial asthma, fungal infections and airborne bacteria diseases.

b) Inorganic particles
- sand, soil particles
- salty droplets near seashore
- volcanic dust
- smoke
- insecticides dusts, lead in gasoline
- metallurgical operations

Effects of Air Pollution

1) Decrease in visibility due to scattering of light by particulates in the atmosphere
2) Affects weather conditions:

Due to:

a) greenhouse effect – a natural effect that traps, heat in the atmosphere (troposphere)
near earth’s surface.

-leads to global increase in CO2 concentration.

- Results to increased absorption of IR energy.

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3) Ozone Depletion

WATER POLLUTION

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans and
groundwater).

Water pollution affects plants and organisms living in these bodies of water; and, in almost
all cases the effect is damaging not only to individual species and populations, but also to the
natural biological communities.

Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water
bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds.

Water – often the repository of waste from homes agriculture, industry, transport and
nuclear testing

Water pollution categories

Sources of surface water pollution are generally grouped into two

categories based on their origin.

Point source pollution

Point source pollution refers to contaminants that enter a waterway

through a discrete conveyance, such as a pipe or ditch. Examples of sources
in this category include discharges from a sewage treatment plant, a factory,
or a city storm drain.

Non–point source pollution

Non–point source (NPS) pollution refers to diffuse contamination that

does not originate from a single discrete source. NPS pollution is often the
cumulative effect of small amounts of contaminants gathered from a large
area. The leaching out of nitrogen compounds from agricultural land which
has been fertilized is a typical example. Nutrient runoff in storm water from
“sheet flow” over an agricultural field or a forest is also examples of NPS
pollution.
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Contaminated storm water washed off of parking lots, roads and

highways, called urban runoff, is sometimes included under the category of
NPS pollution. However, this runoff is typically channeled into storm drain
systems and discharged through pipes to local surface waters, and is a point
source. However where such water is not channeled and drains directly to
ground it is a non-point source.

Sources of water pollution:

1) Municipal Sewage/Oxygen demanding wastes)

- waste water of communities from sewer pipes coming from homes and factories
- most serious water pollutant
- the decomposition of organic wastes consumes O2, thus too much load of organic matter
decreases the dissolved oxygen.
- When dissolved O2 is too low decomposition shifts from aerobic to anaerobic which results to
stinking of water due to putrefaction
- oxygen is important in water because it oxidizes OM to produce simpler
substances (ex CO2) which are used by plants and other microorganisms for
their growth.
2. Infections agents
- pathogenic bacteria
- fungi
- viruses
- parasitic worms

3. Plant nutrients - eutrophication

4. Toxic chemicals

a) Heavy metals – most interfere with biochemical process

b) Oil Slicks

- contain aromatic hydrocarbon which are toxic

- cover water surface that prevents dissolution of oxygen

5. Persistent substances

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 pesticides – biomagnification
slowly degrade

6. Radioactive materials

- mini tailings and nuclear wastes

- produce ionizing radiation (destroys atoms)
- effects like teratagenic (resulting in birth defects) mutagenic (causing aberrations in the
genes).

LAND POLLUTION

Land pollution is the degradation of Earth's land surfaces often caused by human
activities and their misuse of land resources. It occurs when waste is not disposed properly.
Health hazard disposal of urban and industrial wastes, exploitation of minerals, and improper use
of soil by inadequate agricultural practices are a few factors. Urbanization and industrialization
are major causes of land pollution. The Industrial Revolution set a series of events into motion
which destroyed natural habitats and polluted the environment, causing diseases in both humans
and other species of animals.

Land Pollution Comprises Of: Solid Waste and Soil Pollution

Solid Waste:
Semisolid or solid matters that are created by human or animal activities, and which are
disposed because they are hazardous or useless are known as solid waste. Most of the solid
wastes, like paper, plastic containers, bottles, cans, and even used cars and electronic goods are
not biodegradable, which means they do not get broken down through inorganic or organic
processes. Thus, when they accumulate they pose a health threat to people, plus, decaying wastes
also attract household pests and result in urban areas becoming unhealthy, dirty, and unsightly
places to reside in. Moreover, it also causes damage to terrestrial organisms, while also reducing
the uses of the land for other, more useful purposes.

Some of the sources of solid waste that cause land pollution is:

Wastes from Agriculture: This comprises of waste matter produced by crop, animal manure, and
farm residues.

Wastes from Mining: Piles of coal refuse and heaps of slag.

Wastes from Industries: Industrial waste matter that can cause land pollution can include paints,
chemicals, and so on.

Solids from Sewage Treatment: Wastes that are left over after sewage has been treated, biomass
sludge, and settled solids.
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Ashes: The residual matter that remains after solid fuels are burned.

Garbage: This comprises of waste matter from food that are decomposable and other waste matter
that are not decomposable such as glass, metal, cloth, plastic, wood, paper, and so on.

Soil Pollution:

Soil pollution is chiefly caused by chemicals in pesticides, such as poisons that are used to kill
agricultural pests like insects and herbicides that are used to get rid of weeds. Hence, soil pollution
results from:

 Unhealthy methods of soil management.

 Harmful practices of irrigation methods.

Land pollution is caused by farms because they allow manure to collect, which leaches into the
nearby land areas. Chemicals that are used for purposes like sheep dipping also cause serious land
pollution as do diesel oil spillages.

What are the Consequences of Land Pollution?

Land pollution can affect wildlife, plants, and humans in a number of ways, such as:

 Cause problems in the respiratory system

 Cause problems on the skin
 Lead to birth defects
 Cause various kinds of cancers

The toxic materials that pollute the soil can get into the human body directly by:

 Coming into contact with the skin

 Being washed into water sources like reservoirs and rivers
 Eating fruits and vegetables that have been grown in polluted soil
 Breathing in polluted dust or particles

How can Land Pollution be Prevented?

 People should be educated and made aware about the harmful effects of littering
 Items used for domestic purposes ought to be reused or recycled
 Personal litter should be disposed properly
 Organic waste matter should be disposed in areas that are far away from residential places
 Inorganic matter such as paper, plastic, glass and metals should be reclaimed and then recycled.

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 ENERGY:

Energy appears in different forms:

- energy an object has because of motion or elevation above the earth

hydropower

- energy of a stretched or compressed spring

- energy of positive and negative electric charges when separated
 electricity
- thermal energy of hot substances
- mass energy of nuclei in the sun
 nuclear energy

- Chemical energy of glucose molecules

 ATP obtained from food
 Photosynthesis – producing ATP

Energy – force of life

Energy transformations:
- governed by laws of thermodynamic
- cause every climatic phenomenon
- in living systems, capture, transform and store:

Our Absolute Reliance on Energy:

1. Our bodies need energy – obtained from food (15)
2. Greater for – transportation industry and residential and commercial purposes.

We normally do not think of energy

- but without it, our most common tasks would be impossible without it.
- Only a few hours without it we realize hour much depend on energy.
 38% - used in industrial sector
- energy used to produce everything from jigsaw puzzle to jumbo jets.
 26% – transportation sector
- energy used in homes for heating, cooling cooking, entertainmentstore, malls, supermarkets,
etc.
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Evaluating Energy Resources:

1) Some 99% of the energy used to heat the earth and all of our buildings, comes directly from the
sun. without this direct input of solar energy the earth’s average temp = 240 C, and life would
be impossible as we know it.

- Solar energy recycles the C, O,, H2O and other chemicals needed by living organisms.

Solar Energy – include

 renewable direct energy from the sun

 renewable indirectly produced
ex. Wind
falling and flowing water
biomass

2) 1% - energy generated to supplement solar input

 commercial energy – ex. used in market most are coming from extracted and burned
mineral resources obtained from the earth’s crust – primarily non-renewable fossil
fuels.
 Non commercial energy – fuel wood, during crop wastes.

Energy for our society:

- prior to 1970, energy was taken for granted believed to last forever, to be cheap
- 1970’s- energy crisis; ended the illusion
-prices soared
- 1990’s brought expansion due to technology
 Started with use of wood, then fossil fuels, nuclear energy.
Fossil Fuels:
- Provide 85% of energy needs
- Yet supply is limited
- Will not last forever
- Primarily hydrocarbons. Ex natural gas (mix of methane and ethane)

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 Petroleum – HC, 5C – 18 C or more
Coal – long chain or rings of HCs.

Energy of fossil fuels – obtained from sunlight through PS.

Electricity from Fossil Fuels:

- Fossil fuel burning plants used the heat emitted in combustion reactions to boil water creating
steam that turns the turbine of an electric generator.

Importance of Improving Energy Efficiency:

Doing more with less – the easiest, fastest and cheapest way to get more
energy with least environmental impact is to eliminate much of energy
waste by making lifestyle changes that reduce energy consumption.

Ex. – walking or biking for short trips

- using mass transit
- putting on a sweater instead of turning up the thermostat.
- Turning off unneeded lights.
- Increase efficiency of energy conversion devices.

Energy Efficiency – percentage of total energy input that does not useful work (I,e., not
converted to low quality, essentially useless heat) in an energy conversion system.

Reducing energy waste is one of the planets best and most important economic and
environmental bargains because of the following reasons:
1) makes non-renewable fossil fuels last longer
2) gives us more time to phase in renewable energy sources.
3) Decreases dependence on oil imports.
4) Lessens the need for military intervention in the oil-rich but politically unstable middle-east.
5) Reduces local and global environmental damage because less of each energy resource would
provide the same amount of useful energy.
6) It is the cheapest and fastest way to slow projected global warming.
7) Saves more money, provides more jobs, improves productivity and promotes more economic
growth per unit of energy than other alternatives.

8) Improves competitiveness in the international market-place,

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Ways to improve Energy efficiency:

1) using “waste” heat

2) saving energy in industry

ex. Co-generation – the production of 2 useful forms of energy (steam and electricity) from
the same fuel source.
3) saving energy in transportation
4) saving energy in buildings

WORKING WITH THE EARTH:

A) Preserving biodiversity and protecting the soil

1) Plant trees on regular basis and take care of them

2) Reduce the use of wood
 use recycled papers (recycle papers, paper products)
 don’t purchase products from wood
3) Don’t buy furs, ivory products, or products made from endangers species
4) Landscape areas not used for gardening with a mix of wild flowers, herbs (for cooking and
repelling insects), low growing ground cover, etc.
5) Set-up a compost bin and use to produce soil conditioner for yard and garden plants.

B) Promoting sustainable Agriculture and Reducing Pesticide use

1) Waste less food

2) Eat lower on food chain
 eliminate meat consumption to reduce environmental impact.
3) Reduce use of pesticides/promote organic method
4) Grow own food employing organic farming techniques
5) Compose your food wastes.

C) Saving Energy and Reducing Outdoor air Pollution

1) reduce use of fossil fuels

2) plant and care for trees to absorb CO2
3) don’t use electricity to heat space or water
4) buy energy efficient lights, cars, appliance, etc.
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D) Reducing Exposure to Air Pollutants
E) Saving Water

1) For existing toilets, reduce amount of water used per flush only when necessary
2) Check frequently for water leaks, repair promptly.
3) Turn off sink faucets while brushing teeth, shaving or washing
4) Wash only full loads of clothes
5) Wash a car from a bucket of soapy water use faucet only for raising
6) Reduce evaporation losses by watering plants in mornings or evening rather than mid-day
7) Use drip irrigation and much for gardens and flower beds.

F) Reducing Water Pollution

1) Use manure or compost instead of inorganic fertilizers

2) Use biological methods to control pests.
3) Use biodegradable or phosphate-free dishwashing liquid.
4) Use less harmful substances instead of commercial chemicals for most household cleaners.
5) Don’t pour chemicals on drain.

G) Reducing Solid Waste and Hazardous Waste

1) Buy less by asking yourself whether you really need a particular item.
2) Buy things that are re-usable, recyclable or compostable and be sure to re-use recycle and
compost them.
3) Buy beverages in refillable glass containers instead of disposables.
4) Carry sandwiches and store-food in the refrigerator in re-usable containers instead of wrapping
them in aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
5) Use rechargeable batteries and re-cycle them when useful life is over.
6) Stop using disposable when re-usable or refillable versions are available.
7) Choose products with least packaging.