ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS

What are environmental hazards?  Pollutants in our air, land, and water that can affect our health  EPA-Environmental Protection Agency monitors levels of pollutants

AIR POLLUTION  Estimated that 50,000 to 120,000 people die prematurely each year  EPA has identified 5 major air pollutants

AIR POLLUTANTS POLLUTANT  Ozone, Ground- level Ozone (smog)  Particulate Matter (PM): dirt, dust, soot, smoke, liquid droplets in air  Carbon Monoxide (CO): colorless, odorless gas formed when carbon in fuel is not completely burned HEALTH CONCERNS  Asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis  Asthma, bronchitis, decreased lung function, premature death  Poisonous, can harm people with heart disease and affects the central nervous system, fatal in large amounts

AIR POLLUTANTS CONT. AIR POLLUTANT  Sulfur Dioxide: gas that dissolves in water to form acid, reacts with other gases in air to form harmful particles  Nitrogen Oxides: group of highly reactive gases HEALTH CONCERN  Respiratory illnesses, aggravates heart & lung diseases  Causes or triggers serious respiratory problems

INDOOR AIR POLLUTANTS AIR POLLUTANT  Asbestos: fibrous material that has fireproof properties  Lead  Radon: odorless, radioactive gas HEALTH CONCERN  Lung cancer  Damage to kidneys, liver, brain & nerves  Lung cancer

LAND AND WATER POLLUTION o Wastes from human activity can pollute our land and water o Many wastes are biodegradable o Hazardous waste: explosive, corrosive, highly reactive, or toxic to humans or other life forms o Pesticides can cause eye & skin irritations, damage to nervous or endocrine systems, o Water pollution is sometimes caused by illegal dumping, but most surface contamination is caused by polluted runoff o Unclean water can cause cholera, typhoid, diarrhea, dysentery, intestinal worms