ENVISCI

• Pollution


  The contamination of the environment by humans adding any substance or energy
• Common pollutants


  • Heavy metals
  • Gases
  • Oil
  • Sewage
  • Noise
  • Heat
  • Radiation
  • Pesticides
• Pollutant


  Any matter or energy introduced by human activities that produces harmful effects on resident populations thus altering community structure
• Biological magnification


  The increase in concentration of a substance in successive members of a food chain
• Toxic substances may accumulate in members of higher trophic levels as a result of biomagnification
• Trophic transfer


  The movement of compounds (molecules) through trophic levels
• Toxic substances, like nutrients, can be transferred through trophic levels
• Water pollution


  Occurs when toxic substances enter water bodies such as oceans, lakes and rivers leading to the degradation of water quality and rendering it toxic to human health and the environment
• Causes of water pollution

  • Domestic wastes
  • Industrial wastes
  • Agricultural wastes
• Domestic wastes


  Wastes coming from houses and different commercial establishments, usually containing nitrates and phosphates that are usually responsible for eutrophication
• Sewage water


  Carries pathogens, other harmful bacteria, and chemicals that can cause serious health problems leading to diseases
• Industrial wastes


  Contains large amounts of toxic chemicals, heavy water pollution occurs when untreated industrial waste is irresponsibly discharged into water bodies
• Agricultural wastes


  Wastes such as fertilizers, farm animal wastes, and sediments contribute to the pollution of water since they contain nitrates and phosphates which are carried away by water runoff resulting to eutrophication

  
• Eutrophication


  Refers to the phenomenon in which enrichment of nutrients leads to the increase of algal population in a water body, thereby affecting the aquatic life

  
• Diseases caused by polluted water

  • Typhoid
  • Cholera
  • Hepatitis
  • Methemoglobinemia
  • Various other diseases
• Air pollution


  Occurs when there is a release of air pollutants in the atmosphere and can bring global effects and is harmful to human health
• Causes of air pollution

  • Industrial pollutants
  • Automobiles
  • Burning of fuels
  • Agricultural activities
• Industrial pollutants


  Industrial chimneys and powerhouses - CO, CO2, SO2, H2S, and hydrocarbons

  Phosphate fertilizer manufacturing plants - fluorine compounds (HF, F2, SiF4, H2SiF6)

  Other chemical industries - hydrochloric acid, chlorine, oxides of nitrogen, Zn, Pb, As, oxides of Cu, and SO2, CO, and H2S
• Automobiles


  The most significant contributor to air pollution, usage of petrol and diesel releases the three volatile organic compounds (VOC) - benzene, toluene, and xylene
• Burning of fuels


  Found to produce two-thirds of sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere, resulting in acid rain
• Sulfur dioxide (SO2)


  A colorless gas produced by combustion of fossil fuels at power plants and certain industrial sources, it along with nitrogen oxides results in acid rain
• The impact of acid rain in Europe has been severe and is most noticed in forests of the northeastern US
• Agricultural activities contributing to air pollution

  • Burning of forest areas
  • Burning of grasslands to provide pastures and croplands for production
• Effects of air pollution

  • Photochemical smog
  • Greenhouse effect
• Greenhouse effect


  A natural phenomenon, however, the enhanced greenhouse effect occurs due to elevated air pollutants
• Soil pollution


  The presence of pollutants or contaminants in soil, in high enough concentrations to pose a risk to human health and the environment
• Causes of soil pollution

  • Mining activities
  • Waste and sewage generation disposal
  • Agricultural and livestock activities
• Impact of soil pollution from agriculture

  Affecting natural resources, specifically soil and groundwater bodies, crop productivity, and living organisms, including humans

  Contaminating areas of land
• Solid waste


  Discarded household and commercial waste, nonhazardous institutional and industrial waste, street sweepings, construction debris, agricultural waste, and other non-hazardous/non-toxic solid waste
• Hazardous waste


  Substances that are without any safe commercial, industrial, agricultural or economic usage and are shipped, transported or brought from the country of origin for dumping or disposal

  By-products, side-products, process residues, spent reaction media, contaminated plant or equipment or other substances from manufacturing operations and as consumer discards of manufactured products which present unreasonable risk and/or injury to health and safety and to the environment
• Annually, 400 million metric tons of hazardous waste is generated
• Developing countries have used more hazardous waste for production and consumption (chemicals and materials) than in developed countries
• Most industries in developing countries use outdated and banned technologies that operate poorly and produce hazardous wastes
• RA 9003


  Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000
• RA 6969


  Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act of 1990