Pollution and it's Consequences

Pollution (poltn.) is the introduction of contaminants into an environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms.

Poltn. can take the form of chemical substances, can be foreign substances or energy, such as noise, heat, or light energy. or naturally occurring; when naturally occurring, they are considered contaminants when they exceed natural levels.

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Poltn. is often classed as

1. point source poltn.

A point source of poltn. is a single identifiable localized source of air, water, thermal and noise or light poltn.













2. or non point source poltn.

Nonpoint source (NPS) poltn. is water poltn. affecting a water body from diffuse sources, such as polluted runoff from agricultural areas draining into a river, or wind-borne debris blowing out to sea.











Air poltn.

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.

Water pollution

The storm Drain-Pollution take place even if you live miles from the river, you may be contributing harmful pollutants to coastal waters. Urban runoff is caused by chemicals and other materials that are poured or washed down storm drains. Unlike household sewer systems, storm drain pollution is NOT cleansed by sewage treatment plants – it flows directly though storm drains and out into River waters untreated. You, your friends and family all depend on healthy waterways and oceans. Remember this when you go to the beach, surf, swim in the ocean, go fishing, and eat local sea food.



Land-Pollution

• Motor oil

• Pesticides

• animal waste

• automotive fluids

• fertilizers

• chemicals

• and litter

all make their way into oceans every day


How pollution affect the environment

• One quarter of motor oil dumped down a storm drain can contaminate 250,000 gallons of water.

• Oil from one engine (4-6) quarts can cause an 8 acre slick.

• Every year 350 million gallons of used motor oil is discarded in storm drains, waterways, and soil. This is 30 times greater than the Exxon Valdez oil spill!

• Some wildlife get their water from polluted storm drains. Animals not only get sick from the oil and gasoline in the water, but oil and gasoline also stick to feathers and fur. When this happens, feathers and fur lose the ability to provide warmth for the animal.


Key Facts on Waste Issues

• According to the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements, only between 25 and 55 per cent of all waste generated in large cities is collected by municipal authorities.

• The UN Development Program (UNDP) estimates that more than five million people die each year from diseases related to inadequate waste disposal systems.

• At least 60 per cent of the countries that submitted national reports to the United Nations in advance of the 1992 Earth Summit said that solid waste disposal was among their biggest environmental concerns.

• More than half of the world's municipal waste is generated in developed countries. In the United States, for example, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average American produces well over .75 tons of trash each year.

• Industrialized countries generate more than 90 per cent of the world's annual total of some 325-375 million tons of toxic and hazardous waste, mostly from the chemical and petrochemical industries.

• Most countries in the developed world only introduced laws to control hazardous waste disposal in the 1970s and are left with a vast heritage of pre-legislation sites. Nearly two per cent of North America's underground aquifers may be contaminated by such dumps. Germany has identified 35,000 problem sites; Denmark has 3,200 and the Netherlands 4,000.

• According to the World watch Institute, there are more than 80,000 tons of irradiated fuel and hundreds of thousands of tons of other radioactive waste accumulated so far from the commercial generation of electricity from nuclear power.

• Irradiated fuel can take hundreds of thousands of years to decay into a harmless substance. Until then, it is extremely dangerous and must be kept far away from possible human contact.


What you can do

1-Recycle

• It takes 42 gallons of crude oil to make two and a half quarts of lubricating oil.

• The same two and a half quarts can be produced with half as much energy from only one gallon of recycled oil.

• Take used motor oil and antifreeze to a gas station or hazardous waste site that recycles these products.

• Recycle plastic, aluminum, and paper.

• Trash poses a threat to marine animals as they try to eat it or get trapped or tangled in the debris.

2-Reuse

• Rinse paint brushes in the sink.

• Filter and reuse paint thinner or brush cleaners.

• Dispose of used paint and thinners at a hazardous waste site.

3-Reduce

• Use pesticides (look for nontoxic alternatives whenever possible) and fertilizers carefully and sparingly. Do not use if rain is forecast.

• Dispose of animal waste in garbage cans or toilets, not in storm drains.

• Wash cars with biodegradable, phosphate free detergent.


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