Pollution - Form 5

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Pollution

Form 5 Geography
Brian Lara Cricket Stadium
Definition
• Pollution is the presence/introduction of harmful substances into
the environment, which negatively impacts and causes the
environment to change

• There are varying types of pollution and effects of pollution

• These varying impacts can be direct as well as indirect, and some of


the impacts can be seen easier than others
Pollution
• Population growth and the strain it causes from the demand for the
earth’s resources is the leading reason behind environmental
pollution

• It is the waste generated by the use of the resources which results in


pollution
Waste
• Waste can be biodegradable , meaning it will naturally decompose in
a relatively short period of time when it enters the environment

• The waste which is an issue, is waste which is not biodegradable


when placed into the environment. It takes a considerable length of
time to be broken down – example plastics
Waste
• Waste can also be toxic.
• Toxic waste poisons and contaminates the environment. Examples are
heavy metals, chemicals from industries and factories, oils and
fertilizers.
• Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) includes pesticides and some
plastics but are not limited to these, they remain in the environment
and can travel for long distances via water. These pollutants can
buildup and accumulate in the environment.
Types of Pollution
• Land

• Water

• Air

• Noise
Land Pollution
Land pollution
• Land pollution is the deterioration of the earth’s terrestrial surfaces,
caused by the result of human activity when they misuse and
improperly discard of their waste
• The effects can be directly or indirectly on the land resources
• On land the main source of pollution is industries, many industries
emit waste which is untreated and often toxic
• Waste produced by industries is know as industrial effluent

• Examples : cement, textile, oil, paint, steel and sugar cane industries
Land pollution
• Households also pollute the land with waste being generated from
households, they enter the environment via improper disposal

• Agriculture - via the use of pesticides and herbicides


- Pesticides are substances used in eradicating insects and pests
- Herbicides are substances used for killing plants either totally or selectively
Land pollution – Pesticides and fertilizers
• Pesticides and fertilizers used in agriculture are often washed from
land and into water bodies via runoff

• The effects they have are:


- Poisoning of the soil, air, underground water and ultimately humans
- It affects the safety of produce as residues could remain, which can be highly
toxic
Remedies

- Reduced use

- Crop Rotation, mix farming, strip cropping

- Integrated Pest Management (IPM)


Land Pollution - Livestock
• Improper treatment and disposal of the waste from animals can
pollute the environment e.g. Pig farms
- Stench
- Infestation – flies and diseases
- Runoff pollutes surface and ground water
Land Pollution - Landfills
• Solid waste is often dumped in landfills, while the organic materials
are easily broken down, materials such as heavy metals and plastic,
remain in the ground for long periods
• Leachate water trickles through the waste, collects contaminants and
flows underground, this can affect drinking water
• Handlers at land fills are exposed to toxins while they are being burnt
• Though landfills are controlled dumps, they are major contributors to
land and water pollution
Water Pollution
Water Pollution
• Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies, and is primarily
due to the activities of man
• Water pollution occurs when pollutants (particles, chemicals,
materials and or substances that make water contaminated) are
discharged, directly or indirectly into water bodies without being
properly treated to remove any of harmful elements
• Pollutants get into water commonly by human activities and or
human factors
• Water pollution can be a Point-source or none Non Point-source
Water pollution
• Water pollution causes changes and or modification in the physical,
chemical and biological properties of water that will have a harmful
impact on organisms and vegetation in the water
• Water pollution does not affect individual species only but rather
affects the entire ecosystem from functioning as it should
Water Pollution
• 80% of pollution in the marine environment originates on land
• Industry, municipal, agriculture, landfill/dumps.
Marine Pollution
• There are two types of marine pollution: persistent and non
persistent
- Non persistent / degradable: domestic sewage, fertilizers, household cleaners.
They are broken down naturally
- Persistent: degrade slowly or not at all: pesticides like DDT, leachate from
landfills, radioactive material, petrochemicals. They remain in the
environment and can remain and accumulate in marine life.
Water Pollution - Sewage
Water Pollution - Sewage
• Improper disposal and non treatment of raw sewage before it enters
water ways leads to pollution
• Leads to Eutrophication : water becomes nutrient rich
• Algal blooms/ excessive weed growth
• Reduction in dissolved oxygen and death of marine life
• Affects coral reefs and fish spawning grounds
Water Pollution - Industrial waste
• Factories are often located at the coastlines or close to water courses
where their waste drains directly into the water killing aquatic life
• Examples of industries are:
• Smelting plants
• Paper manufacturing
• Textile
• Agrochemical
• Food processing
• Brewing
Water Pollution - Mining
• In mining, water is used for a variety of things including the disposal
of mine tailings which is a hazardous waste
Sedimentation
Sedimentation
• This is where sediment from runoff makes it way into water courses.
This severely affects coral reefs in particular
• Sedimentation can lead to:
• Blocking of sunlight
• Suffocation and death of aquatic life
• Rising temperatures and particles in the water increase temperatures
• Particles themselves may be toxic
• Sedimentation can be a result of deforestation, poor farming
practices and the overall clearing of land. The exposed excess soil is
washed into water courses
Water pollution – Oil Spills

• When petroleum is released into the environment resources become


contaminated the oil affects marine life
• Results from drilling, exploration and transport of oil and gas
• The direct drilling for oil affects the sea floor, affects bottom dwelling
marine life
Noise Pollution
Noise Pollution
• We hear sound daily and it is important to our daily lives, but with
noise such is not the case
• Noise is basically termed for unwanted sound, or sound which causes
discomfort for humans and other animals
• Not all noise can be viewed as noise pollution, especially if it is not a
regular occurrence
• Sound becomes noise when it interrupts daily/regular activities and
impacts negatively on one’s quality of life
Noise Pollution
• Noise can be derived from many sources; it can be household
sources, social events, commercial/industrial activities and
transportation
• Noise (sound) is measured in the units of decibels and is denoted by
the dB
• Noise is thought to be environmental pollution, though it is believed
to have less of an impact and cause less damage on humans than the
other forms of pollution such as water, air or land pollution
• But its impacts are still worthy enough to mention
Air Pollution
• Air pollution happens when
gases, dust particles, smoke or
odour are introduced into the
atmosphere and becomes
damaging to humans, animals
and plant.
• This is as a result of the air
becoming contaminated or
unclean
Air Pollution
• Air is polluted as substances such as soot and dust from example
cement and bauxite plants, which can lead to respiratory distress

• Sources of air pollution can be industries as mentioned above,


combustion engines which release oxides sulphur and volatile organic
matters and the burning of waste which can release toxins into the
atmosphere
Common Air Pollutants
• Benzene: Naturally occurs in crude oil, emitted from vehicles and
cigarettes, linked with leukaemia
• Carbon Monoxide: Incomplete combustion of carbon (cars, burning of
wood, coal, oil)
• Lead: A heavy metal pollutant, can be found in old pipes and paint,
released via engine exhausts and industries, has serious health effects
on children and adults.
• Nitrogen Oxide
• Sulphur Oxide
Air Pollution
Impacts
- Reduction in the amount of solar radiation
- Reduction in plants ability to photosynthesize
- Increased heating of the lower atmosphere
- Reduction in the amount of precipitation
Visual Pollution

• Visual pollution deals with aesthetics and how pollution impacts your
ability to appreciate the environment you are viewing
• Visual pollution negatively impacts how you view or conceive the
environment
• Aesthetically, if the environment is not pleasing to look at, it causes
eye fatigue, a distraction from the true beauty and loss of identity for
the area
Point and Non-Point Source Pollution
• Pollution can be viewed as being either Point Source and Non-Point
Source Pollution, with either having various effects on the
environment
• Point source pollution is pollution that can be simply tracked back to
its source
• You can recognize (point to) the source of this pollution, it is pollution
produced from a static facility or stationary location where pollutants
are being discharged; any single identifiable source of the pollution
• Non-point source pollution unlike point source is one that cannot be
simply traced back to its source. You cannot simply identify (point to)
the source of this pollution
Tourism and Pollution
• Pollution from the tourism sector is a major concern, specifically in
the Caribbean region
• It can be generated from the release of untreated sewage from
hotels, cruise ships and yachts
• The Caribbean is ranked among the world’s most polluted seas
• Coral reefs are the most affected as a result
• Polluted areas do not attract tourist
Impacts of pollution

• Physical
• Economic
• Social
• Ecological
Impacts of pollution
The impacts of pollution in the area can be viewed in four spheres
1. The physical impacts – This is the direct impact from pollution on
the area
2. Economic – There is a cost attached to the impact of and removal of
pollutants, potential future earnings also affected
3. The social impact – Aesthetics, inability to access and use the
polluted area
4. Ecologically – Pollution affects the flora and fauna and the whole
ecological functioning of an area
Polluter Pays Principle
• Is a form of pollution control
• The key feature of this type of pollution control is that the cost associated
with preventing and reducing the impact of the pollution is borne by the
party causing the pollution
• The principle, which is a policy of Environmental Management Authority
(EMA), though not properly enforced aims to optimally allocate the limited
resources
• Important elements of the principle are:
a) Charges are levied as an application or processing fee, purchase price of a licence or
permit, which entitle the holder to generate specific quantities of pollutants
b) Money collected will accrue to the Environmental Trust Fund
Examples of Pollution in the Caribbean
• Industrial Estates in Trinidad
- Responsible for vast amount of Marine Pollution that exists
• Industrial Sources
- Waste from alcohol distilling
- Process waste: caustic soap lye, sulphuric acid, electroplating solutions,
photo-finishing chemicals
- Organic waste from breweries, food processing, drink manufacturers

• The discharges reach the Caroni river via its tributaries when they
are released into drainage systems
Examples of Pollution in the Caribbean
• These waste products, which are usually toxic end up in the sea,
namely the Gulf of Paria where they kill fish and other marine life and
pose toxic threat to humans
• The chemistry of the water is also changed by the contaminants
which results in greater competition for the recourses in the water
• At these estates there are also petrochemical plants which produce
ammonia, methanol and urea
• Iron and steel plants are also present
Remedial measures
• Technologies have to be implemented to treat the waste and remove
the contaminants before it is released into the environment
• Enforcement of the pollution rules
• Monitoring of companies
• Implementation and enforcement of fines and penalties for offenders
Examples
Kingston Harbour
• Life in the Kingston harbour is dead
• 20 million gallons of untreated sewage enters the Bay yearly
• Sedimentation is another major contributor adding 1.5 million tonnes
per year
• The natural filter in the harbour which is the Palisadoes peninsular
cannot filter the volume of pollution
Kingston Harbour
• The raw sewage entering the harbour is a result of the surrounding
large settlements, which do not have proper waste and sewage
disposal systems, pipe borne water is also limited

• Apart from degradation of the land and harbour, this has also resulted
in adverse health effects for the residents
Remedies
• As land activities account for 80% of aquatic pollution, attention is
focused on the land based source of the pollutants
• Jamaica’s National Programme of Action – PNPA is trying to address
the issues on land
• The Caribbean Environmental Programme (CEP), which is a regional
body was created with the aim of protection and management of
coastal resources in the region which includes the Kingston Harbour
Caroni River Basin
• The basin of the Caroni river Covers 22% of Trinidad’s landmass and
houses 33% of the island’s homes

• The sources of pollution are:


- Agriculture (pesticides, herbicides)
- Domestic
- Industrial (brewing, food processing, distilling)
Other pollutants
• Other pollutants entering the river include
- Car parts
- Leachate
- Hospital/infectous waste
- Sediments

Note: the Caroni river drains into the Gulf of Paria


The Gulf of Paria
• The Gulf of Paria receives waste from various sources (domestic,
industrial, urban runoff and agricultural)
• Rivers that drain into the gulf are: Caroni, Guapo, Diego Martin, St.
Anns, Cipero etc.
• Industry is the major polluter of the Gulf (industrial estates)
• 80% of the island’s industries are located along the west coast
The Gulf of Paria
• These industries include:

• Iron and Steel


• Cement
• Oil Refining
• Urea
• Methanol
• Ammonia

The pollutants include lead, mercury, zinc, copper, cadmium


The Gulf of Paria
Pollution in the Gulf is worrisome as
- Commercial fishing is conducted which includes shellfish and
crustaceans
- It’s a nursery to many aquatic species
- The beaches on the west coast are used by the public for bathing/
recreation
Homework
• Research areas in the Caribbean that are affected by pollution.
- Look at how the areas are impacted by pollution and what was done or is
being done to remedy the problem
Online Source
• http://www.cep.unep.org/issues/lbsp.html

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