Pollution: Causes & Consequences Don’t be trashy

July 22, 2012Footer text here2

What is pollution? Pollution is the introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment. We will examine the three main classes of pollution: Water Land Air July 22, 2012Footer text here3

Whats wrong with this picture? July 22, 2012Footer text here4

Whats wrong with this picture? lady using chemical fertilizers guy pouring motor oil down storm drain Guy throwing trash on ground (not biodegradable also) Car leaking oil onto ground Guy cleaning up grass trimmings Stream bank erosion Water overflowing onto street July 22, 2012Footer text here5

Stream Bank Erosion Sometimes plants and trees are disturbed or moved during construction. When this happens, the soil that was underneath can be easily washed into nearby lakes and streams by rain or wind. Soil from eroding land that washed into steams makes the water look muddy and can smother aquatic life, clog fish gills, and cut off light that underwater plants need to grow. Help your community plant trees or leave native grasses and shrubs along a stream bank to reduce erosion. Plants prevent erosion by keeping soil where it belongs - on the land, and out of the water!. July 22, 2012Footer text here6

Stream Bank Erosion July 22, 2012Footer text here7

Causes of Water Pollution Factors that contribute to water pollution can be categorized into two different groups: Point sources Non-point sources Point sources are the easiest to identify and control. Non-point sources are unknown and harder to control. July 22, 2012Footer text here8

Point Sources Some point sources of water pollution include: Waste products from factories Waste from sewage system Waste from power plants Waste from underground coalmines Waste from oil wells These can be reduced and monitored! July 22, 2012Footer text here9

Non-Point Sources When rain or snow moves through the ground and picks up pollutants as it moves towards a major body of water The runoff of fertilizers from farm animals and crop land Air pollutants washed or deposited to Earth Storm water drainage from lawns, parking lots, and streets Waste from oil wells Fish and seafood contaminated with mercury or other heavy metals July 22, 2012Footer text here10

Thermal Pollution When wastes are dumped or leak into a body of water, the viability (good quality) of the water changes. -Temperatures rise -Dissolved oxygen decreases -Living organisms suffer health effects, contamination of pollutants, death *What happens when we eat fish that have been contaminated with heavy metals and/or radiation? July 22, 2012Footer text here11

Causes of Air Pollution One of the main causes of air pollution is the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere; this happens because of deforestation and fossil fuel burning. Sulfur dioxide is another air polluter and is released into the atmosphere by the burning of fossil fuels and from volcanoes. Sulfur compounds also form acid rain. July 22, 2012Footer text here12

More causes: CFC’s from aerosol cans or the burning of plastic foam items, these deplete the ozone so most have been banned. Carbon monoxide: cars, power plants Particulate matter: sources are from dust, diesel trucks, industry Lead: sources from smelting and lead fuels Smoke from wildfires July 22, 2012Footer text here13

Acid Rain and Smog: When compounds in the air combine with water vapor in the air they form acid rain. When smoke combines with fog and pollutants in the air smog is created. Both of these damage the environment and cause harmful effects to living organisms. Remember: These can be caused by natural sources and human activity. July 22, 2012Footer text here14

Consequences: CO2 is a good transmitter of light, but it also partially restricts infrared radiation (heat waves) going back from Earth to space producing the Greenhouse Effect that prevents cooling of the Earth at night. Increased amounts if CO2 in the air increases this effect. Increased CO2  Increased Global Warming July 22, 2012Footer text here15

More Consequences: Air pollution contributes to asthma, emphysema, mortality, death Most at risk: elderly, very young children, people who exercise outdoors, people who already have breathing problems July 22, 2012Footer text here16

The Clean Air Act In 1970, the US congress passed this law that established some air quality standards with the help of the EPA. Criteria Pollutants: must have health effects Ex: CO, NO2, ozone, lead, PM10, SO2 July 22, 2012Footer text here17

Air Quality Index July 22, 2012Footer text here18

Units July 22, 2012Footer text here19 Air pollution is measured in specific units: ppm = parts per million ppb = parts per billion ppmv = parts per million by volume

Fracking & Pollution July 22, 2012Footer text here20