Introduction

pollution, contamination of Eartha? the environment with materials that interfere with human health, the quality of life or the natural functioning of ecosystems (living organisms and their physical environment). Although some of the pollution is the result of natural causes, such as volcanic eruptions, most caused by human activities.

There are two broad categories of pollutants or contaminants. Biodegradable pollutants are materials, such as sewage, decomposing rapidly by natural processes. These pollutants are a problem if the environment decompose faster than it has (see wastewater). non-biodegradable pollutants are materials that decompose either not, or decomposes slowly in the natural environment. Once contamination occurs, it is difficult or impossible to eliminate these pollutants. not

degradable compounds such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and radioactive materials can reach dangerous levels of accumulation, as it grows through the food chain in the past bodies of animals. accumulate, for example, the molecules of toxic compounds on the surface of aquatic plants without much damage can be directed to plants. A small fish that graze on these plants accumulates a high concentration of the toxin. The biggest fish or other predators that eat small fish accumulate even greater, and perhaps life threatening, the concentrations of the compound. This process is called bioaccumulation.

II pollution effects

The pollution also has a significant impact on natural resources. Ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, coral reefs and rivers offer many important services for Eartha? The environment. They improve the quality of air and water, provide habitat for plants and animals and provide food and medicines. All or part of these ecosystem functions are impaired or destroyed by pollution. In addition, due to the complex relationships between the many types of organisms and ecosystems, pollution can have far-reaching consequences that are not immediately obvious or difficult to predict. For example, scientists can only some potential consequences of ozone depletion, the protective layer in the atmosphere speculate that shields the earth from Suna? S harmful UV rays.

Another important effect of pollution is the enormous cost of pollution control and prevention. Global efforts to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, a gas generated by burning fossil fuels such as coal or oil or other organic materials such as wood produced, control is an example. The annual maintenance costs of the national emissions of carbon dioxide compared to 1990 is estimated at 2 percent of gross domestic product in developed countries. Expenditure, reduce the pollution in the United States in 1993 amounted to € 9,000,000,000, 5.4 billion of the reduction of 0.9 billion regulatory and 0.7 billion euros for research and development. Twenty-nine percent of the total cost was for air pollution used, 36 percent of water pollution, and 36 percent in waste management.

In addition to its impact on the economy, health and natural resources, pollution has social consequences. Research has shown that not enjoy low-income people and minorities the same protection against environmental contamination and high-income communities. toxic waste incinerators, chemical plants and landfills are often located in low-income communities because of lack of organization, informed participation in local community decision-making.

III types of pollution

The effects of these pollutants can immediately or delayed. occur, the primary effects of pollution immediately after infection, as the death of marine plants and animals occurs after an oil spill at sea, side effects may be delayed or may be in the environment in the continuing future can go for years without being noticed. DDT, a compound that is persistent, rare bird poisons collected immediately, but gradually in their bodies. Birds with high concentrations of the pesticide was thin shell, hatch failed to produce eggs or deformed offspring. These side effects, by Rachel Carson in her book in 1962, Silent Spring, published the survival of species such as eagles and peregrine falcons and aroused public interest in the hidden effects of non-degradable chemical compounds.

An air pollution

Brown Smog over Phoenix, Arizona, smog caused by industrial pollution and automobile. It is of temperature inversions, aggravated that air pollution will be kept in a certain place for a long time cause. Prolonged exposure to smog can be respiratory problems, eye irritation and even death.

Eartha human contamination? the atmosphere can take many forms and has existed since man fire for agricultural use began, heating and cooking. During the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19 Century, however, the air pollution a major problem. In 1661 the British writer and founding member of the British Royal Society John Evelyn of London in his contract Fumifugium reported: “a | tiredness of the journey, many miles away smells, earlier, does the city to which he repaired Smoak is that. full suspension of all its malicious glory superinducing crust of soot or Furrer known to all lights.â ??|”

air pollution in cities often as smog. Dark smog of London, wrote Evelyn usually a mixture of smoke and carbon monoxide, organic compounds from the incomplete combustion (burning) of fossil fuels like coal, sulfur, and impurities in fuels. With the aging of smog and condensed oxygen reacts with acids, organic acids and sulfuric acid droplets, the fog is rising. Smog became a major health risk of the 20 Century. In 1948, 19 people died and thousands were in the small town of smog American steel mill in Donora, Pennsylvania ill. In 1952, 4,000 Londoners died of its effects.

A second type of smog, photochemical smog, the reduction of air quality in large cities such as Los Angeles began in the 1930s. This smog is produced by combustion in cars, trucks and aircraft engines, nitrogen oxides and unburned hydrocarbons fuels produce press caused. Sunlight causes the nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons to combine and transform oxygen into ozone, a chemical agent, the rubber, hurt the plants attacks, and irritate the lungs. The hydrocarbons are condensed in materials, and a visible minority, pungent haze oxidized.

Finally, most pollutants from the air by rain, snow or fog are washed, but after traveling long distances, sometimes across continents. Because the pollutants accumulate in the atmosphere, sulfur and nitrogen oxides are converted into acids that mix with the rain. This acid rain falls into lakes and forests, where they can lead to death of fish and plants, and destruction of ecosystems while. Finally, contaminated lakes and forests are lifeless. Regions that are highly industrialized regions such as Eastern Europe and the United States and Canada are wind direction, are hardest hit by acid rain. Acid can also stimulate effects on human health and man-made objects, slowly dissolving the stone statues and facades of historic buildings in London, Athens, Rome and

Air pollution can also damage in the upper atmosphere called the stratosphere. Excessive production of chlorine-containing compounds such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) (compounds even in refrigerators, air conditioners are used, and in the manufacture of polystyrene products) depleted the stratospheric ozone layer, creating a hole over the Antarctic for several weeks a year. Consequently, exposure to Suna? S harmful rays has damaged aquatic and terrestrial wildlife and threatens human health in areas of high latitude northern and southern hemisphere.

B water pollution

sewage, industrial effluent and agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides are the main causes of water pollution. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that about 37 percent of country A? S lakes and estuaries, and 36 percent of the rivers are too polluted for basic applications such as fishing or swimming during all or part of the year. discharged in developing countries over 95 percent of urban waste water into rivers and bays untreated, creating a risk to human health major.

pollution of rivers in the United Kingdom The pollution of rivers and streams with chemical contaminants is one of the main environmental problems of the 20th Century has become. chemical pollution from entering rivers and streams comes from two basic sources: point sources and diffuse pollution. Point source pollution includes pollution sources from which chemicals can be identified clearly, like factories, refineries and outfall pipes. Nonpoint pollution concerns pollution from sources that can not be identified, such as runoff from agricultural or mining or seepage from septic tanks or drain waste water sector. It is estimated that every 10 million people worldwide die from drinking contaminated water.

Chemicals

water runoff, a nonpoint source pollution, transported nutrients such as phosphates and nitrates from agricultural fields and streams into lakes, streams and rivers. This combined with phosphates and nitrates from waste water, the growth of algae, a kind of plant-like body to accelerate. Water, the oxygen supply can be throttled with decaying algae, which significantly reduced. This process, called eutrophication, can kill fish and other aquatic organisms. Agricultural runoff may be to called for the growth of a toxic form of Pfiesteria piscicida algae, which was responsible for the deaths of large quantities of fish in the waters of Delaware Bay in the Gulf of Mexico debt in the 1990s. Outflow also toxic pesticides and urban and industrial waste into lakes and rivers.

The erosion of topsoil by wind and rain wear, also contributes to water pollution. Soil and clay (a fine sediment) washed logged hills, fields or construction sites can clog waterways and kill aquatic vegetation. eliminate even small amounts of silt may be desirable fish species. For example, when logging removes the protective layer of vegetation on mountain slopes, can stimulate soil and silt to wash into streams, the gravel beds that trout or salmon use for spawning.

sea fishing of marine ecosystem supports are an important source of protein, especially for developing countries. However exhausted pollution in the bays, estuaries, wetlands and endangered fish stocks through overfishing already. In 1989 260.000 barrels of oil from the tanker Exxon Valdez spilled Alaskaâ? S Prince William Sound, a pristine fishing grounds and rich. In 1999 there were 8539 reported spills in and around the waters of the United States, where 4.4 billion liters (1.2 billion gallons) of oil.

C soil pollution

pesticides or pollution? Fight against pests become a difficult problem for farmers because of their potential impact on the environment. While the insecticide is sprayed on the potato field, a whole generation of bugs eliminated, it can also contaminate food and water sources.

The soil is a mixture of minerals, plants and materials of animal origin, which may, during a long process that takes thousands of years is being formed. It is necessary for plant growth and essential for all agricultural production. Soil contamination is an accumulation of toxic chemicals, salts, pathogens (disease-causing organisms) or may influence the radioactive material of plants and wildlife.

Unhealthy soil management methods have severely degraded soil quality, caused soil contamination and increased erosion. Treat the soil with chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides and interferes with natural processes that occur in the soil and destroys useful organisms such as bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms. For example, California strawberry production to soil fumigation with methyl bromide to destroy organisms that may harm young strawberry plants. This kills indiscriminately even beneficial microorganisms and leaves the soil sterile and dependent upon fertilizer to support plant growth. This leads to heavy use of fertilizers and increases in runoff of polluted lakes and streams.

unsuitable irrigation in areas with poorly drained soils can in salt deposits that inhibit plant growth result and can lead to poor harvests. In 2000, British Columbia, the Sumerian cities of the southern valley of the Euphrates and Tigris in Mesopotamia to bloom from the Agriculture. In 1500 BC, these cities primarily because of poor crops because of the high salt content of the soil together. The problem of soil contamination, which still exists in the Indus Valley in Pakistan, the Nile Valley in Egypt and the Imperial Valley, California.

D solid waste

MSW components

A person living in a developed country produces a variety of solid wastes, which are often a mixture of potentially reusable or recyclable (eg paper and garden waste) and largely non-recyclable material (such as food waste and many types of plastic). (Collected waste from households and businesses) to the municipal waste produced in the United States in 2000, about two-fifths of the paper, metal and yard waste was recycled, and about a quarter of the glass was returned.

Solid wastes are unwanted solids such as waste paper, plastic and other synthetic materials, metals and wood. Billion tonnes of solid waste are discarded every year. The U.S. alone produces about 200 million tonnes of municipal waste per year (see solid waste disposal). A typical American generates an average of 2 kg (4 pounds) of solid waste per day. Cities in economically developed countries produce far more waste per capita than the developing countries. In addition, waste from developed countries generally have a high percentage of synthetic materials that last longer than the primarily biodegradable waste to decompose in developing countries.

A city full of landfill agent can produce one ton of waste per year, a volume that runs fast on local landfills. Cities lack of space for landfills is often on the combustion of waste or products transported to other areas, although was up to 90 percent of the material is recycled.

areas where wastes are buried, are as landfills, disposal method worldwide cheaper and more common for solid waste. But landfills quickly crowded and can contaminate air, soil and water. Combustion or incineration of waste reduces the volume of solid waste, but produces waste ash dense (some in the air), which often contain dangerous levels of hazardous substances such as heavy metals and toxic compounds. Composting, using natural biological processes to accelerate the decomposition of organic waste is an effective strategy for the treatment of organic waste and produces a material that can be used as fertilizer. Recycling, reuse and extraction of waste is an important part of the municipal solid waste strategies in developed countries. According to the EPA, over a quarter of municipal solid waste in the United States is recycled or composted. Recycling also plays an important role in the informal waste economy in many Asian countries like India, where organized road crest and collectors of waste and landfills terms such as plastics, or resell them to use.

Construction recycling programs worldwide can contribute to solid waste pollution, but the key to solving difficult problems of solid waste is to reduce the amount of waste generated. Reduction of waste prevention or source, such as changing the way products are designed and manufactured to use them more easily, reduce the high costs of pollution connected.

E Hazardous Waste

toxic waste into Love Canal residents of the area of Love Canal in Niagara Falls were to evacuate forced if hazardous waste leakage from a place of disposal of used their health and property threatened by the late 1970s . One of the most notorious cases of leaks of toxic waste crisis, the attention both locally and nationally. Examination by the public outcry spurred showed that there were many landfills like Love Canal at the national level, New York alone had hundreds. Several states have assigned more stringent rules for industrial waste and billions of dollars for the cleaning of contaminated areas has.

Hazardous wastes are solid, liquid, gas or waste that may be fatal or harmful to humans or the environment and tend to be persistent or non-degradable in nature. These wastes include toxic chemicals and flammable or radioactive substances, including industrial waste from chemical plants or nuclear reactors, agricultural wastes such as pesticides and fertilizers, medical waste and household hazardous waste such as toxic paints and solvents.

produced over 400 million tons of hazardous waste per year. The U.S. alone produces about 250 million tons tonsa? 70 percent of the chemical industry. The use, storage, transportation and disposal of these substances serious environmental and health risks. Even with short-term exposure, some of these materials may cause cancer, birth defects, nervous system disorders and death. large-scale release of hazardous substances can cause thousands of deaths and contaminate air, water and soil for many years. The world? The worst nuclear accident took place near Chernobyl in Ukraine ????, 1986 (see Chernobyl? Accident). The accident killed at least 31 people forced evacuation and resettlement of over 200,000 again, and sent a cloud of radioactive substances into the atmosphere as the affected areas as far away as Norway and the United Kingdom.

Until the contamination was discovered in Minamata Bay in Japan in the 1960s and 1970s, most hazardous wastes were legally dumped solid waste, buried or thrown lakes, rivers and oceans. The legal limit now, as these materials can be used or disposed of, but these laws are cumbersome and often disputed by the industry. It is not uncommon for industrial companies in the developed countries to poor countries pay to accept shipments of hazardous and solid wastes, a practice that became known as industrial waste. In addition, cleaning of careless disposal half of the 20th Century cost billions of dollars and is growing very slowly, if at all. The United States has an estimated 217 000 contaminated sites that require immediate action. their cleanup could be more than 30 years and cost $ 7 billionth

special interest are the radioactive wastes from nuclear power and weapons industry. So far there is no safe method for permanent removal of fuel elements for nuclear reactors old. Most are kept in storage at reactor sites country of origin, where they were produced. With the end of the Cold War, decommissioned nuclear warheads, or are no longer in use, it presents challenges in storage and disposal.

F. Noise Pollution

sound intensity sound intensities are measured in decibels (dB). For example, the intensity at the threshold of hearing is 0 dB, the intensity of the noise is usually more than 10 dB, and the volume of rustling leaves almost 20 dB. Sound intensities are means arranged on a logarithmic scale, an increase of 10 dB corresponds to an increase in the intensity by a factor 10. Thus, the rustling of the leaves about 10 times louder than a whisper.

unwanted sounds or noise, such as the production of aircraft, traffic or industrial machines, is considered a form of pollution. Noise pollution is at its peak in densely populated areas. It can cause hearing damage, stress, high blood pressure, sleep loss, distraction and lost productivity.

The sounds of objects at a speed that cover the ear to vibrate to produce. This rate is called frequency and is measured in Hertz or cycles per second. Most people can hear sounds 20-20000 Hz, while dogs can hear high pitched sounds up to 50,000 hertz. While high-frequency sounds tend to hear more dangerous and annoying low frequency sounds, most noise is the damage to the intensity of sound, or the amount of energy that you are available. Measured in decibels different noise intensity from zero, the faintest sound the human ear can detect, at over 160 decibels. Discussion takes place at about 40 decibels, a subway is about 80 decibels and a rock concert is 80-100 decibels. The intensity of a nearby jet taking off is about 110 decibels. The threshold of pain, tissue damage and possible hearing loss in humans is 120 decibels. Long-duration, high intensity sounds the most damaging to hearing and produce the most stress in humans

Solutions

noise pollution include adding insulation and doors, walls and ceilings. With ear protection, particularly in industrial areas of work to absorb and filter out noise and landscaping .
Arizona eating disorder