bk 13 - other contemporary issues

• brownfield site


  term used to describe land previously used for industrial purposes or some commercial uses
• dereliction


  area that has become abandoned or dilapidated
• greenfield site


  area of undeveloped land
• land remediation


  removal of pollution or contaminants from the ground, which enables area of derelict former industrial land to be brought back into commercial use
• what causes atmospheric pollution?

  the release of particles and noxious gases into the atmosphere

  wet/windy weather - pollution is low (blown/washed away)

  still hot weather - pollution builds up to harmful amounts
• what are the issues of air pollution on urban dwellers?

  - puts them at risk of serious long-term health problems eg. heart disease, stroke, respiratory illnesses and cancers

  - estimated 9400 londoners died prematurely in 2010 as a result
• world concentration of particulate matter in urban areas

  China - high pollutant levels, increasing population, lack of regulations, lots of industrial action

  more advanced countries - generally lower concentration, more developed, public transport, lower emission vehicles
• difference between particulate pollution and photochemical pollution

  Particulate pollution:

  - primary air pollutants are gases and solid matter that pose health risk in unmodified form

  - may be emitted from identifiable source

  photochemical pollution:

  - caused by secondary air pollutants

  - produced when primary pollutants react with each other
• what are the strategies used to manage air pollution in London?

  - 8.3 million trees provide air filtration

  - clean air acts

  - Act of 1956 introduced smoke free zones

  - local councils monitor pollution and establish air quality areas where needed

  - use of dust suppressants at industrial sites

  - greater public transport provision and restrictions of polluting vehicles

  - ULEZ

  - hybrid double decker buses and zero emission single decker buses
• Beijing - poor air quality CAUSE

  - over 5 million cars on roads each day

  - high quantities of particulate matter forming smog layer

  - combines with industrial emissions and coal fired power stations

  - visibility = very poor, high risk to health
• Beijing - poor air quality STRATEGIES

  - relocating power stations to outskirts

  - half of vehicles on road removed on days when pollution levels are high (number plate system)

  - fireworks are banned

  - red warnings = schools closed
• Beijing - poor air quality CONCERNS


  - winds from north still blow smoke into the city from the outskirts
• Beijing - waste CAUSE

  - increasing middle class consumer population

  - lack of available space in city (waste dumped on urban-rural fringe)

  - waste has increased 2x as fast as population

  - contaminates soil
• Beijing - waste STRATEGIES

  - incineration reducing size of landfill sites
• Beijing - waste CONCERNS

  - incineration had led to air quality deteriorating
• Beijing - acid rain CAUSE

  - use of coal power stations

  - increasing levels of sulphur dioxide emissions
• Beijing - acid rain STRATEGIES

  - gov phased out older, less efficient power stations and replaced them with newer power generated technology that produces fewer emissions
• Beijing - water pollution CAUSE

  - pollution from chemical and pharmaceutical enterprises

  - high levels of carcinogens in drinking water
• Beijing - water pollution STRATEGIES

  - more robust regulations ensuring waste is properly cleaned before being released
• what causes water pollution?

  - industrial waste

  - rubbish dumps, waste chemical and fuel storage

  - air pollution - leads to acid rain

  - surface run off from streets carrying contaminants

  - untreated / poorly treated sewage

  - intentional dumping of substances
• consequences of water pollution

  - breading grounds for malaria

  - water borne infections

  - damage health of aquatic animals - effects those who eat them

  - microbial pollutants - typhoid, cholera, major cause of infant death

  - birth defects

  - carcinogenic
• strategies to manage water pollution

  - legislation, regulation and enforcement

  - low impact development

  - construction of water treatment facilities and wastewater plants

  - education and awareness

  - improvements in sewage + wastewater processing

  - regulations aimed at point source polluters

  - appropriate technology
• what are the issues with water pollution in the River Thames?

  - 40 million cubic metres of sewage goes into Thames a year

  Victorian sewage system:

  - built when population was 2 million, designed for 4 mil

  - population is now 9 milllion
• impacts of sewage entering the River Thames

  - effects fish

  - ecology

  - litter

  - health issues
• The Thames Tideway Tunnel

  - costs £4.2 billion

  - from Acton to Abbey Mills

  - 25km long

  - capture the overflow from Victorian systems
• the Thames Tideway Tunnel - stages


  - capture waste water and treat it

  - built lee tunnel

  - built tunnel under the Thames
• water pollution issues in India

  - chronic water problems

  - half India's rivers were polluted

  - leaking and incomplete sewage systems

  - major cause of poor nutrition and under development in children
• management strategies for water pollution issues in India

  - infrastructural improvements and wastewater recycling

  - paying children to use public toilets

  - increasing number of public toilets
• what causes dereliction?


  - ageing and decay of buildings

  - movement of urban activities to better and more profitable locations

  - changes in urban economy
• how does dereliction have a negative impact on surrounding area?

  - crime and vandalism rates higher

  - house prices fall and outmigration of residents

  - high costs in renewal discourage authorities and individuals from renovation/rebuilding
• how does dereliction pose a risk to human health?

  - contamination from industrial processes stays even if industry has gone

  - proximity to derelict sites has links with health issues

  --- low birth weight infants, heart disease cancer and respiratory disease
• strategies implemented to deal with derelict sites

  - community action

  - land remediation

  - brownfield sites for new building sites instead of greenfield sites

  - regeneration schemes
• advantages of using brownfield sites in urban areas

  - improves physical environment

  - revives older urban communities

  - existing infrastructure lowers costs and encourages faster occupancy

  - preserves historical landmarks and heritage architecture

  - reduces urban sprawl

  - preserves greenfield land
• disadvantages of using brownfield sites in urban areas

  - greater costs of clearing contaminated land

  - most brownfield sited are in inner city areas

  --- higher levels of noise and congestion
• land remediation - 2012 Olympic Games

  - 350 hectare area of east London 'cleaned up'

  - now largest new urban park in Europe

  --- 100 hectares of open land and 45 hectares of new habitats

  - over 2.2 million square metres of soil excavated

  --- 80% reused on site

  - 235,000 cubic metres of contaminated groundwater successfully treates