4.0 Pollution

• Pollution; the contamination of the environment by humans adding any substance or energy.
• Common Pollutants;

  1. Heavy Metals
  2. Gases
  3. Oil
  4. Sewage
  5. Noise
  6. Heat
  7. Radiation
  8. 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
• Biomagnification; toxic substances may accumulate in members of higher tropic levels
• Trophic Transfer; the movement on compounds (molecules) through trophic levels
• Toxic Substance; 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:

  1. Domestic Wastes
  2. Industrial Wastes
  3. Agricultural Wastes
• Effects of Water Pollution:

  1. Eutrophication
  2. Diseases
• Domestic Wastes; wastes coming from houses and different commercial establishments.
• Domestic Wastes; Usually responsible for eutrophication
• Industrial Wastes; contains large amounts of toxic chemicals.
• Heavy Water Pollution; occurs when untreated industrial waste is irresponsibly discharged into water bodies
• Sewage Water; carries pathogens, other harmful bacteria, and chemicals that can cause serious health problems leading to diseases.
• Industrial Chemical Wastes; when discharged can accumulate within the living tissues of aquatic organisms living in those areas and threatens human health through the food chain
• 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; the phenomenon in which enrichment of nutrients leads to the increase of algal population in a water body, thereby affecting the aquatic life.
• Diseases Caught in Water Pollution:

  1. Typhoid
  2. Cholera
  3. Hepatitis
  4. Methemoglobinemia
• 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:

  1. Industrial Pollutants
  2. Automobiles
  3. Burning Fuels
  4. Agricultural Activities
• Effects of Air Pollutions:

  1. Photochemical Smog
  2. Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
• Industrial Pollutants; air pollutants discharged coming from industries. Industrial Chimneys and powerhouses release CO, CO2, SO2, H2S, and Hydrocarbons.
• 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 Fuels; found to produce two-thirds of sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere, resulting to acid rain.
• Sulfur Dioxide (SO2); a colorless gas produced by combustion of fossil fuels at power plants and certain industrial sources
• Acid Rain; SO2 with nitrogen oxides results in acidic rain.
• Agricultural Activities; associated with the burning of forest areas and grasslands to provide pastures and croplands for production
• Photochemical Smog; a mixture of pollutants that are formed when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOC) react to sunlight, creating a brown haze above cities.
• 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:

  1. Mining Activities
  2. Waste and Sewage Generation Disposal
  3. Agricultural and Livestock Activities
• Effects of Soil Pollution:

  1. Impact on Ecosystem Services of Soil Pollution from Agriculture
  2. Acidification and Crop Loss
  3. Human Health Risks Associated with Soil Pollution
• Mining Activities; The types of machinery used are capable of releasing a significant amount of heavy metals and many other toxic substances detrimental to the environment.
• Heavy Metals; dangerous because of their cytotoxicity
• Waste and Sewage Generation and Disposal; as the human population increases, the number of wastes produced increases as well.
• Agricultural and Livestock Activities; Sources of soil pollutants coming from agriculture include agrochemical sources like pesticides, livestock manure, and fertilizers applied. Metals that can be found in agrochemical plants like the reduction of photosynthetic activity and eventually decrease crop production productivity
• Impact on Ecosystem Services of Soil Pollution from Agriculture; Agricultural wastes that are released into the environment poses a severe threat to the environment.
• Acidification and Crop Loss; Improper application of fertilizers containing phosphorus and nitrogen can lead to acidification and crop loss.
• Soil Acidification; lowering of the soil pH caused by the buildup of hydrogen cations.