1. Earth and Space Science
Pollution
Earth and Space Science
4 d. Summarize the Causes and Effects of pollution on people and the environment and Justify how and why pollution should be minimized

2. Pollution-the presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance or thing that has harmful or poisonous effects.
There are actually SEVEN different kinds of environmental pollution.
Most people can name air, water and land...do you know the other four?
Light Pollution
Noise Pollution
Thermal Pollution
Visual Pollution

3. Air Pollution
The Earth is surrounded by a blanket of air (made up of various gases) called the atmosphere. Any additional gas, particles or odors that are introduced into the air (either by nature or human activity) to distort this natural balance and cause harm to living things can be called air pollution.
Air pollution is a mixture of solid particles and gases in the air.
Air pollution occurs when the air contains gases, dust, fumes or odor in harmful amounts.
That is, amounts which could be harmful to the health or comfort of humans and animals or which could cause damage to plants and materials.
The substances that cause air pollution are called pollutants.

4. What Causes Air Pollution?
Air pollution can result from both human and natural actions. Natural events that pollute the air include forest fires, volcanic eruptions, wind erosion, pollen dispersal, evaporation of organic compounds and natural radioactivity. Pollution from natural occurrences is not very often.

5. Human Causes of Air Pollution
1. Industries and manufacturing activities 2. Burning Fossil Fuels 3. Household and Farming Chemicals

6. Common Air pollutants
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Fuel combustion from vehicles and engines. Reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the body’s organs and tissues; aggravates heart disease, resulting in chest pain and other symptoms.
Ground-level Ozone (O3) Secondary pollutant formed by chemical reaction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and NOx in the presence of sunlight. Decreases lung function and causes respiratory symptoms, such as coughing and shortness of breath, and also makes asthma and other lung diseases get worse.
Lead (Pb) Smelters (metal refineries) and other metal industries; combustion of leaded gasoline in piston engine aircraft; waste incinerators (waste burners), and battery manufacturing. Damages the developing nervous system, resulting in IQ loss and impacts on learning, memory, and behavior in children. Cardiovascular and renal effects in adults and early effects related to anemia.

7. Common Air pollutants
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) Fuel combustion (electric utilities, big industrial boilers, vehicles) and wood burning.
Worsens lung diseases leading to respiratory symptoms, increased susceptibility to respiratory infection.
Particulate Matter (PM) This is formed through chemical reactions, fuel combustion (e.g., burning coal, wood, diesel), industrial processes, farming (plowing, field burning), and unpaved roads or during road constructions.
Short-term exposures can worsen heart or lung diseases and cause respiratory problems. Long-term exposures can cause heart or lung disease and sometimes premature deaths.
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) SO2 comes from fuel combustion (especially high-sulfur coal); electric utilities and industrial processes as well as natural occurrences like volcanoes.
Aggravates asthma and makes breathing difficult. It also contributes to particle formation with associated health effects.

8. What are the Effects of Air Pollution???
Air pollutants can be very harmful to our health. The level of effect usually depends on the length of time of exposure, as well the kind and concentration of chemicals and particles exposed to. Short-term effects include irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, and upper respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Others include headaches, nausea, and allergic reactions. Short-term air pollution can aggravate the medical conditions of individuals with asthma and emphysema. Long-term health effects can include chronic respiratory disease, lung cancer, heart disease, and even damage to the brain, nerves, liver, or kidneys. Continual exposure to air pollution affects the lungs of growing children and may aggravate or complicate medical conditions in the elderly.

9. How Can our Government Help Prevent Air Pollution?
Governmental Level: Governments throughout the world have already taken action against air pollution by introducing green energy. Some governments are investing in wind energy and solar energy, as well as other renewable energy, to minimize burning of fossil fuels, which cause heavy air pollution.
Governments are also forcing companies to be more responsible with their manufacturing activities, so that even though they still cause pollution, they are a lot controlled. Car manufacturing companies are also building more energy efficient cars, which pollute less than before.

10. How Can Individuals Help Prevent Air Pollution?
Encourage your family to carpool when commuting. fewer cars on the road and less fumes produced. Use energy (light, water, boiler, kettle and fire woods) wisely. This is because lots of fossil fuels are burned to generate electricity, and so if we can cut down the use, we will also cut down the amount of pollution we create. Recycle and re-use things. This will minimize the dependence of producing new things. Remember manufacturing industries create a lot of pollution, so if we can re-use things like shopping plastic bags, clothing, paper and bottles, it can help.

11. Water Pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and groundwater).
This form of environmental conditions occurs when pollutants are directly or indirectly discharged into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds.

12. Water Pollution
The water pollution problem: Water covers over 70% of the Earth’s surface. It is a very important resource for people and the environment. Water pollution affects drinking water, rivers, lakes and oceans all over the world. In many developing countries, it is usually a leading cause of death, by people drinking from polluted water sources. Water pollution affects not only individual living species but also populations and entire functioning ecosystems that exist in the waters.

13. Water Pollution Types: Nutrients Pollution Surface Water Pollution
Oxygen Depleting
Ground Water Pollution
Microbiological
Suspended Matter
Chemical Water Pollution
Oil Spillage

14. Water Pollution Causes
Industrial Causes:
Industries cause huge water pollution with their activities. These come mainly from: Sulphur – This is a non-metallic substance that is harmful to marine life. Asbestos – This pollutant has cancer-causing properties. When inhaled, it can cause illnesses such as asbestosis and some types of cancer.
Lead and Mercury – These are metallic elements and can cause environmental and health problems for humans and animals. It is also poisonous. It is usually very hard to clean it up from the environment once it gets into it because it is non-biodegradable.
Nitrates & Phosphates– These are found in fertilizers, and are often washed from the soils to nearby water bodies. They can cause eutrophication, which can be very problematic to marine environments.

15. Water Pollution -Oil Spills
Oils – Oils form a thick layer on the water surface because they do not dissolve in water. This can stop marine plants receiving enough light for photosynthesis. It is also harmful to fish and marine birds.
A classic example is the BP oil spill in 2012 with killed thousands of animal species. Read more on this HERE
Oil Pollution by Oil Industries Routine shipping, run-offs and dumping of oils on the ocean surfaces happen every day. Oil spills make up about 12% of the oil that enters the ocean. Oil spills cause major problems, and can be extremely harmful to local marine wildlife such as fish, birds and sea otters and other aquatic life. Because oil does not dissolve, it stays on the water surface and suffocates fish. Oil also gets caught in the feathers of seabirds, making it difficult for them to fly. Some animals die as a result.

16. Water Pollution-Other Causes
Sewage and waste water
Every day, we cook, do laundry, flush the toilet, wash our cars, shower and do many things that use water. Think about how we use water in schools, hospitals and public places. Where do you think all the water, liquid waste, poop and urine end up? In many developed communities, wastewater and soluble waste (called sewage) is treated, cleaned and dumped into the sea or river. Even though they are treated, they are never the same as fresh water. In some not-so-developed countries, the sewage is not treated but quickly dumped into the sea or water bodies. This is VERY dangerous because they contaminate the environment and water bodies and bring many deadly diseases to us.
Septic Tanks
Every domestic (home) toilet is connected to septic tank usually located outside the house. Each time poop is flushed down the toilet, it goes into this tank, where the solid part is separated from the liquid part. Biological processes are used to break down the solids and the liquid is usually drained out into a land drainage system. From this stage, it can escape into the soil and nearby water bodies.
Ocean and marine dumping
Again, think of the rubbish we all make each day. Paper waste, food waste, plastic, rubber, metallic and aluminum waste. In some countries, they are deposited into the sea. These waste types take some time to decompose. For example, it is known that paper takes about 6 weeks, aluminum takes about 200 years and glass takes even more years. When these end up in the sea, they harm sea animals and cause a lot of water animal deaths.
Underground storage and tube leakages
Many liquid products (petroleum products) are stored in metal and steel tubes underground. Other sewage systems run in underground tubes. Over time, they rust and begin to leak. If that happens, they contaminate the soils, and the liquids in them end up in many nearby water bodies.
Atmospheric
Atmospheric deposition is the pollution of water bodies caused by air pollution. Each time the air is polluted with Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, they mix with water particles in the air and form a toxic substance. This falls as acid rain to the ground and gets washed into water bodies. The result is that water bodies also get contaminated and this affects animals and water organisms.

17. Effects of Water Pollution
The effects can be catastrophic, depending on the kind of chemicals, concentrations of the pollutants and where there are polluted.
Death of aquatic (water) animals
The main problem caused by water pollution is that it kills life that depends on these water bodies. Dead fish, crabs, birds and sea gulls, dolphins, and many other animals often wind up on beaches, killed by pollutants in their habitat (living environment).
Disruption of food-chains Pollution disrupts the natural food chain as well. Pollutants such as lead and cadmium are eaten by tiny animals. Later, these animals are consumed by fish and shellfish, and the food chain continues to be disrupted at all higher levels. Diseases Eventually, humans are affected by this process as well. People can get diseases such as hepatitis by eating seafood that has been poisoned. In many poor nations, there is always outbreak of cholera and diseases as a result of poor drinking water treatment from contaminated waters. Destruction of ecosystems Ecosystems (the interaction of living things in a place, depending on each other for life) can be severely changed or destroyed by water pollution. Many areas are now being affected by careless human pollution, and this pollution is coming back to hurt humans in many ways.

18. Water Pollution Preventions
Dealing with water pollution is something that everyone needs to get involved with. Step 1: Educating yourself Step 2: Never throw rubbish away anyhow. Always look for the correct waste bin. If there is none around, please take it home and put it in your trash can. This includes places like the beach, riverside and water bodies. Step 3: Use water wisely. Do not keep the tap running when not in use. Also, you can reduce the amount of water you use in washing and bathing. If we all do this, we can significantly prevent water shortages and reduce the amount of dirty water that needs treatment.

19. Water Pollution Preventions
Step 4: Ask your parents to not throw chemicals, oils, paints and medicines down the sink drain, or the toilet. Step 5 Ask your parents to not overuse pesticides and fertilizers. This will reduce runoffs of the chemical into nearby water sources. Composting and using organic manure instead. Step 6 If you live close to a water body, try to plant lots of trees and flowers around your home, so that when it rains, chemicals from your home does not easily drain into the water.

20. Land Pollution What is Land Pollution? How Does it Occur?
Land pollution is the deterioration (destruction) of the earth’s land surfaces, often directly or indirectly as a result of man’s activities and their misuse of land resources.
How Does it Occur?
It occurs when…
waste is not disposed of properly
when humans throw chemicals onto the soil in the form of pesticides, insecticides and fertilizers during agricultural practices.
Exploitation of minerals (mining activities) has also contributed to the destruction of the earth’s surface.
Since the Industrial Revolution, natural habitats have been destroyed, and environments have been polluted, causing diseases in both humans and many other species of animals.

21. Land Pollution Types:
There are 4 main types: 1. Solid Wates 2. Pesticides and Fertilizers 3. Chemicals 4. Deforestation

22. Land Pollution Solid Waste
These include all the various kinds of rubbish we make at home, school, hospitals, market and workplaces. Things like paper, plastic containers, bottles, cans, food and even used cars and broken electronic goods, broken furniture and hospital waste are all examples of solid waste
Biodegradable (They are organic and can easily rot or decay) Examples: Food, Paper Products, Vegetation Non-biodegradable Examples: Plastic, Metals, Aluminum cans, broken computer and car parts

23. Land Pollution: Pesticides and Fertilizers
Many farming activities engage in the application of fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides for higher crop harvest. Good Bad More Food What happens to the chemicals?
Sometimes, insects and small animals are killed and bigger animals that eat tiny animals (as in food chains) are also harmed. Finally, the chemicals may be washed down as it rains and over time, they end up in the water table below (causes water pollution).

24. Land Pollution Chemicals
Chemical and nuclear power plants produce waste materials that have to be stored somewhere.
Fertilizer, insecticides, pesticides, pharmaceuticals manufacturers also produce lots of solid and liquid waste.

25. Land Pollution Deforestation
Humans depend on trees for many things including life.
Trees absorb carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) from the air and enrich the air with Oxygen, which is needed for life.
Trees provide wood for humans and a habitat to many land animals, insects and birds.
Trees also, help replenish soils and help retain nutrients being washed away.
Unfortunately, we have cut down millions of acres of trees for wood, construction, farming and mining purposes, and never planted new trees back. This is a type of land pollution.

26. Land Pollution Sources
Agricultural sources: These include waste matter produced by crop, animal manure and farm residues.
Ashes: The residual matter that remains after solid fuels are burned. When waste is burned in incinerators, two types of ashes are produced. Bottom ash is the debris from burnt metal and glass waste. Bottom ash is not bio-degradable. The second type of ash is called fly ash. This is the ash that is trapped by filters in the chimney of the incinerators. It is known to be very toxic (poisonous). Every four trucks of waste burnt produce about one truck of ashes that end up in the landfill too. Ashes easily leak into the soil and water tables causing land and water pollution.
Mining sources: This includes piles of coal refuse and heaps of slag and underground debris. Mining and forestry activities that clear the land surfaces (clearcutting) and use 'skid trails' often leave the land unrestored. The surface is exposed to erosion which destroys the quality of the land. Additionally, iron and other chemicals such as copper, mercury and lead from mining practices leach into the soil, polluting it and leaving it exposed to water bodies as well.
Industrial sources: These include paints, chemicals, metals and aluminum, plastics and so on that are produces in the process of manufacturing goods.

27. Land Pollution Sources
Sewage Treatment: Wastes that are left over after sewage has been treated, biomass sludge, and settled solids. Some of these are sent directly to landfills whiles other treatment plants burn them to generate electricity. Both end up polluting the environment.
Garbage or waste: These include household or municipal waste such as glass, metal, cloth, plastic, wood, paper, and so on. Some of these can decay and others cannot. They are usually collected and sent to landfills where the pollution action begins.
Construction sources: These include waste like debris, wood, metals and plastics that are produced from construction activities.
Deforestation: This is when trees are cut down for economic purposes, mining, farming and construction. In forests areas, trees absorb and reflect about 20% of the intense heat from the sun, protecting and preserving its surface soils. Cutting down trees mean that the land is exposed to direct sunlight and rain, resulting in soil erosions, desertification and land degradation
Chemical And Nuclear Plants: These include chemical waste from chemical industries that are disposed of into landfills. Oil Refineries: When crude oil is refined into usable petrol, gas or diesel, there are by-products that end up as waste.

28. Land Pollution Effects
Effects of land pollution: There can be catastrophic consequences of land pollution in relation to humans, animals, water and soils. The effects are even worse if the garbage is not separated into organic, reusable and recyclable waste. Contaminated lands and environments can: Cause problems in the human respiratory system. Cause problems on the skin. Cause various kinds of cancers.
The toxic materials that pollute the soil can get into the human body directly by: Coming into contact with the skin. Being washed into water sources like reservoirs and rivers. Eating fruits and vegetables that have been grown in polluted soil. Breathing in polluted dust or particles.
Dump sites and landfills also come with serious problems like an extremely bad smell in the town.
Landfills breed rodents like rats, mice and insects, who in turn transmit diseases.
Landfills in towns do not attract tourists to the town. The town will lose revenue.
Many landfills are always burning and they cause further air pollution.

29. Land Pollution Prevention and Solution
The greatest prevention to land pollution is in the three ‘R's’ … Reduce Waste, Reuse things and Recycle things
Personal litter should be disposed properly. We can separate household waste at home for recycling. More than half of our household waste could be recycled or re-used but once it is mixed up, it becomes more difficult to separate different components for recycling. This is also true for the waste we make at school or hospitals. Buy biodegradable products. Store all liquid chemicals and waste in spill-proof containers. Use a drip tray to collect engine oil. Don’t dump motor oil on the ground. Eat organic foods that are grown without pesticides. Look out for fertilizer or pesticide free products when you go to the market. Don’t use pesticides if you can. Governments can also ensure that there are incentives for people to recycle and re-use things.
PREVENTION
Like many other challenges, the best way to solve problems is to understand it. This means learning about it (like what you are doing now) is the greatest step forward.

30. Noise Pollution
Sound is essential to our daily lives, but noise is not.
Noise is generally used as an unwanted sound, or sound which produces unpleasant effects and discomfort on the ears.
Sound becomes unwanted when it either interferes with normal activities such as sleeping, conversation, or disrupts or weakens one’s quality of life. Not all noise can be called noise pollution. If it does not happen regularly, it may be termed as Nuisance.

31. Noise Pollution
Scientists also believe that its not only humans who are affected. For example: water animals are subjected to noise by submarines and big ships on the ocean, Land Animals are subjected with clearing of their habitats. (Chainsaws) Moving animals closer to cities.

32. Noise Pollution
Noise (or sound) is measured in the units of decibels and is denoted by the dB. Noise which is more than 115 dB is tolerant. The industrial limit of sound in the industries must be 75 dB according to the World Health Organization. Noise is considered as environmental pollution, even though it is thought to have less damage on humans than water, air or land pollution. *** But people who are affected by severe noise pollution know that it is a massive issue that needs attention.

33. Noise Pollution Sources:
Household sources: Gadgets like food mixer, grinder, vacuum cleaner, washing machine and dryer, cooler, air conditioners, can be very noisy and injurious to health. Others include loud speakers of  sound systems and TVs, iPod and ear phones. Another example may be your neighbor’s dog barking all night everyday at every shadow it sees, disturbing everyone else in the apartment. Social events: Places of worship, concerts, parties and other social events also create a lot of noise for the people living in that area.
In many market areas around the world, people sell with loud speakers, others shout out offers and try to get customers to buy their goods. It is important to note that whey these events are not often, they can be called 'Nuisance' rather than noise pollution.
Commercial and industrial activities: Printing presses, manufacturing industries, construction sites, contribute to noise pollutions in large cities. In many industries, it is a requirement that people always wear earplugs to minimize their exposure to heavy noise. People who work with lawn mowers, tractors and noisy equipment are also required to wear noise-proof gadgets. Transportation: Think of airplanes flying over houses close to busy airports like in Memphis, over ground and underground trains, vehicles on road—these are constantly making a lot of noise and people always struggle to cope with them.
Can you think of your own examples in your city ?

34. Noise Pollution Nuisance
Examples:
Barking dogs
Building and construction site noise (please note however that noisy Work is permitted between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday, and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays)
DIY noise during anti-social hours
Burglar / car alarms
Noisy deliveries at unreasonable hours
Parties- Outside :Loud music / television / computer games
Industrial processes (dry cleaners, factories etc)
Air conditioning units
Open-air events
What can be called a Nuisance? Nuisance is usually used to describe an activity or condition that is harmful or annoying to others. A public nuisance is an unreasonable interference with the public's right to property. It includes conduct that interferes with public health, safety, peace or convenience. This is a term that is mostly used in law and court rooms.

35. Noise Pollution Generally, problems caused by noise pollution include:
stress related illnesses
speech interference
hearing loss
sleep disruption,
Feeling irritable
Most importantly, there are three major effects we can look at 1. Hearing 2. General health 3. Marine Animals

36. Noise Pollution Effects
Hearing The immediate and acute effect of noise pollution to a person, over a period of time, is impairment of hearing. Prolonged exposure to impulsive noise to a person will damage their eardrum, which may result in a permanent hearing impairment.

37. Noise Pollution Effects
Health effects of noise include anxiety and stress reaction and in extreme cases fright. The physiological manifestations are headaches, irritability and nervousness, feeling of fatigue and decreases work efficiency.

38. Noise Pollution Solutions
What are some solutions to all this noise?
Construction of soundproof rooms for noisy machines in industrial and manufacturing installations must be encouraged. Use of horns with jarring sounds, motorbikes with damaged exhaust pipes, noisy trucks to be banned. Noise producing industries, airports, bus and transport terminals and railway stations to sighted far from where living places. Community law enforcers should check the misuse of loudspeakers, outdoor parties, as well as public announcements systems. Community laws must silence zones near schools / colleges, hospitals etc. Vegetation (trees) along roads and in residential areas is a good way to reduce noise pollution as they absorb sound.