Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Ozone Global
depletion warming
Environmetal
Problems
Soil erosion,
landslide, Greenhouse
flash flood effects
Human activities usually affect the ecosystem.
The activities that endanger the ecosystem is
shown below:
Deforestation
Soil erosion
Landslides
Flash flood
Burning
Industrialisation pollution
pollution Greenhouse effects
Urbanisation Farming
pollution pollution
a) DEFORESTATION….
• Deforestation is an act of extensive
cutting down or burning the trees in the
forest.
• The vast areas of forests are being
cleared away for extracting timber or fuel
wood, agriculture and urban development.
INDUSTRIALISATION
• Industrial plants discharge industrial and
heated waste water causing water
pollution and thermal pollution.
• Toxic gases released by industries
contribute to air pollution.
e) BURNING
• Open burning of rubbish, farms and
forests release more carbon dioxide into
the atmosphere which aggravates the
greenhouse effect.
• Burning of fossil fuels causes air pollution
as well as increase the carbon dioxide
content.
• As a result, it causes the greenhouse
effect and global warming.
Air
pollution
Types
Water Noise
of
pollution pollutions pollution
Thermal
pollution
AIR POLLUTION
→ Air pollution occurs when pollutants such as
smoke, dirt, dust and poisonous gases are released
into the air endangering human lives and other
living organisms.
→ Most air pollutants come from burning of fossil
fuels from motor vehicles.
→ Examples of air pollutants are carbon monoxide
(CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxide (NO)
and sulphur dioxide (SO2).
Pollutant Sources Effects
Carbon • Incomplete Health
monoxide (CO) combustion of • Combines with haemoglobin to form
• Odourless, fossil fuels. carboxyhaemoglobin which reduces the
colourless and • Combustion ability of the blood to transport oxygen.
toxic gas. sources such as • Early symptoms of carbon monoxide
motor vehicle poisoning are headaches, nausea and
exhaust, smoke fatigue.
from fires, engine • Prolonged exposure can lead to brain
fumes. damage and even death.
Carbon dioxide • Combustion of Health
(CO2) fossil fuels. • Causes emphysema.
• Odourless, • Affects respiration.
colourless gas. Building
• Contributes to acid rain which damages
buildings.
Climate
• Contributes to greenhouse effect and
global warming.
Nitrogen • Combustion of Health
monoxide (NO) fossil fuels. Damages lung tissues.
and nitrogen
• Motor vehicle May cause bronchitis.
dioxide(NO2)
exhaust Irritates the eyes.
• NO-odourless,
colourless gas. Lowers the body’s defence against flu.
• NO2-browmish Agriculture
gas • Contributes to acid rain which reduces the
pH of soil, lakes and rivers.
Building
• Contributes to acid rain which destroys
buildings.
Climate
• Contributes to acid rain.
Sulphur dioxide • Combustion of Health
(SO2) fossil fuels which • Irritates and damages the lining of the
• Colourless, contain sulphur. eyes, air passages and lungs.
pungent and • Industries. • Causes coughing and wheezing.
acidic gas. • Combines with rainwater to form acid rain
• Dissolves in that may cause skin diseases.
water. Agriculture
• Reduces the growth of plants.
• Damages the leaves and may kill the
plants.
• Contributes to acid rain which lowers the
pH of soil, lakes and rivers.
Buildings
• Contributes to acid rain which corrodes
iron, copper, steel, aluminium and
stonework, thereby destroying buildings.
Climate
• Causes acid rain.
Fine particular • Combustion of Health
matter. (Includes fossil fuels from • Irritates the eyes and respiratory tract.
smoke, fumes, motor vehicles, • Contributes to haze which can cause
dust, ash and agricultural asthma attack, conjunctivitis, sore throat,
pollen) burning and bronchitis and reduced visibility.
• Tiny and industries. Agriculture
invisible • Forest fire • Deposits on leaves and darkens
• The composition • Quarries and vegetation.
of particulate asbestos factories • Blocks stomata, thus lowering the rate of
matter varies photosynthesis. The crop yield is
with place, reduced.
season and Buildings
whether • Soot can darken building.
conditions. Climate
• Contributes to formation of haze and
smog which can reduce light intensity.
Lead • Combustion of Health
fossil fuels • Reduces the sensitivity of the hands and
feet coordination.
• Retards mental development in children.
• Disrupts body’s ability to produce new
cell.
Hydrocarbon • Combustion of Health
fossil fuels from • Affects growth
motor vehicles Causes cancer
→ Other than that, air pollution also causes acid rains.
→ Acid rain only occurs when the pH of the rain is less
than 5.0(natural rain water has a pH of about 5.4)
→ Combustion of fossil fuels releases sulphur
dioxide and oxides of nitrogen which
contribute to acid rain.
→ Sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen form
acidic solutions when dissolves in water.
→ Sulphur dioxide combines with water vapour
to form sulphuric acid.
Corrodes metals,
marble, rubber,
plastics,
stonework and
other materials
Increases the acidity
of aquatic
Destroyed plant
ecosystems leading
to the killing of tissues and
planktons and damages plant
aquatic organism roots
Effects of acid
rain
Leaching of
minerals from the Reduces the pH
soil such as value of the soil
calcium, causing making it unsuitable
infertile soil for farming
Releases ions of
heavy metals such
as lead which may
contaminate the
water
→ The air quality is measure by Air Pollution
Index (API)
→ It is normally includes the major pollutants
which could cause potential harm to human
health.
→ In Malaysia, the air pollutants included are
ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide,
sulphur dioxide and suspended particulate
matter.
→ This index is calculate by using the
concentrations of major air pollutants,
but it is developed in easily understood
ranges of values as shown below
API Status Level of pollution
0-50 Good Low, no ill effects on health
51-100 Moderate Moderate pollution, no ill effects on health
101-200 Unhealthy Mild aggravation of symptoms among high risk
group
201-300 Very unhealthy Significant aggravation of symptoms and
decreased exercise tolerance among high risk
groups
301-500 Hazardous Severe aggravation of symptoms and a danger to
health
Above 500 Emergency Severe aggravation of symptoms and a danger to
health
→ This index helps us to take precautionary
measures by drinking more water, staying
indoors and wearing masks when the air
pollution index exceeds 200.
Water pollution.
→ Water pollution occurs when people discharging
agriculture wastes, industrial waste, domestic waste
and sewage into rivers.
→ The sources of water pollution and the effects of
water pollution are shown below.
Non-
biodegradable
rubbish
Suspended
solids
Rubbish
Oil
Fertilisers
and pesticide
from farms Oil spills
Nitrates Grease
Phosphates Oil
Pesticides
Herbicides
Sources and
pollutants of
water pollution
Thermal pollution
→ Thermal pollution occurs when there is an increases
in the temperature of a water source or excessive
heat in the environment.
→ Hot water is discharged into nearby rivers, streams,
lakes and ponds from the effluent of industrial
processes, cooling towers of power stations and
reactor plants.
→ Many industries use water for cooling the machines.
The hot water is discharged to rivers causing the
temperature of water to increase by 10°C.
→ Reflection of heat from glass buildings also leads to
an increase in temperature of the surroundings.
→ An increase in temperature of water will cause the
following.
a) It reduces the level of dissolved oxygen in
water. This affects the life of aerobic aquatic
organisms
b)It causes some aquatic organisms to die
because they only survive at suitable
temperatures. Some organisms also move
away. This affects the food chain and also the
entire ecosystem.
c) It encourages some algae to grow rapidly
which can lead to a higher BOD value.
Noise pollution
→ Noise pollution occurs when our daily
lives are disturbed by high levels of noise.
→ There are many sources and most of
them are related to urban development. Examples
are:
a) Vehicles
b)Jet planes
c) Construction sites
d)Entertainment outlets
e) Machines
→ World Health Organisation (WHO)
recommends a noise level of not more than 55
decibels(dB)
→ When the surrounding noise level
reaches 80 dB or more, it causes discomfort and
affects the human health.
→ Excessive exposure to a noise level of
80 dB or more for a long period of time may cause
headache, emotional and mental disturbances and
in certain cases, may cause deafness.
Floods in low-
lying countries
Spread of pests
and disease-
Melting of polar carrying vectors to
ice and glaciers new areas
causing a rise in increases the
sea level outbreak of
diseases
Effects of
global warming
Change in wind
directions and
Intense rains in
some regions weather
patterns
Decline in the
yield of crops
Increases of
due to dry and
droughts
infertile soil
Ozone layer is present in the stratosphere, which
is approximately 12-25 kilometres above the earth’s
surface.
This ozone layer shields the earth from the
harmful effects of ultraviolet(UV) radiation.
Ecosystems such
Sea water Drought due to
as coral reef, UV radiation
becomes warm global warming
wetlands, polar affects
due to global causes the land to
seas and photosynthesis.
warming. Decline dry. Ecosystem
temperate forests Aquatic becomes unstable as
in zooplanktons.
are slowly losing organisms are the producers, the
Ecosystem’s food
its flora and sensitive to UV. plants are not be
web affected. able to thrive.
fauna.
• There are many steps can be taken to maintain
the balance of nature such as:
a) Enforcement of the environmental laws
• Environment quality act, 1974
Controls and prevents the pollution of
the environment
Controls the type of licensing, content
and quality of environment
Tests and examines the samples of
substances and gas from industries
• Natural forestry act, 1984
Aims at protecting and preserving our
forests and wildlife
• Pesticides act, 1974
Aims at controlling the use of pesticides
• Protection of wildlife act, 1972
Aims at protecting wildlife animals,
birds and plants
• Fisheries act, 1985
Aims at controlling marine pollution
b)Use of technology
• Use modern equipments and
chemicals to control oil spills.
• Recycle rubbish
• To look for methods to do research
• Change organic rubbish to biogas
• Use less polluting and clean fuels in
motor vehicles.
• Control and treat the toxic and
dangerous waste before disposing
c) Education
• To increase the awareness and sensitivity
of the individual to the environment.
• To provide the basic knowledge of
environmental problems and effects of
pollutions.
• To teach the public the necessary skills to
protect and maintain a healthy society.
• To help the individuals to become
responsible and sensitive to the
environment.
d) Preservation and conservation of the
ecosystem.
• Force the development companies to
replant the forest trees after deforestation.
• Remaining the mangrove swamps area so
that the ecosystem is protected.
• Restore the mining and used land for
agriculture.
• Put effort in rivers cleaning to ensure there
is sufficient supply of water in future