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The atmosphere
The aquatic environment
The land
Pollution is any effect of human activities on the environment. A pollutant is any product of
human activity that has a harmful effect on the environment.
Pollution on the environment
Causes
Greenhouse gases trap infrared radiation close to the earths surface
Carbon dioxide (released by combustion of fossil fuels)
Methane (produced in the guts of ruminants)
CFCs chlorofluorocarbons (from aerosol propellants and refrigerator coolants)
Effects
Greater climatic extremes
Melting of polar ice changes density of sea water
Evaporation of water from fertile area
Pests may spread to new area
More photosynthesis more food production
Solutions
Reduce burning of fossil fuels (explore alternative energy sources)
Reduce cutting of forests (avoid deforestation)
Replant forests
Acid rain
Causes
Sulphur and oxygen are converted into oxides during combustion
More oxidation occurs in the clouds
The oxides dissolve in water and fall as acid rain.
Carbon + Oxygen
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon Dioxide
Sulfur + oxygen
sulfur dioxide
Nitrogen + oxygen
nitrogen monoxide
nitrogen dioxide
Effects
Soil becomes very acidic causing leaching of minerals and inhibition of soil
decomposition
It also affects the water in lakes and minerals causing death of fish and
invertebrates- food chains are disrupted
Forest trees suffer starvation and destruction of photosynthetic tissues
Solutions
Cleaning up emissions from power stations with scrubbers
Cleaning up car exhausts with catalytic converters
Acid lakes can be improved by the addition of crushed limestone
Pest control (killing of species that causes inconvenience to humans and hunting other
beneficial animals)
Commercial exploitation (species of value have been exploited)
Loss of habitat (more land is being used for agriculture, removing the habitat for many
species)
Conservation strategies:
Conservation plan:
An example of a conservation plan is the red squirrel in the U.K. these are the reasons for the
decline of red squirrel:
a) Hunting for fur, bones, teeth and blood, used in traditional medicines
b) Villagers used to kill leopards as they killed livestock.
Snow leopard populations are carefully monitored by cameras and
tracked by radio collars. Government provide financial compensation to
villagers and promoted ecotourism.
Additionally,
Macaws in Brazil
Cheetahs in Namibia
Elephants in Botswana
Rhinoceros in Africa
A hole is dug deep enough to accept a large quantity of sewage (several meters deep)
Then filled with soil to keep away flies and rats.
Disadvantages: smell can be unpleasant. Sewage can overflow, during rainy season
contaminating drinking water.
Methane is produced
The production of these biomass fuels can help reduce over use of fossil fuels.
incineration
landfill
(recycling)
Recycling involves reusing waste products or materials which otherwise may be thrown away.
They can also be pulped or melted.
This is how paper is recycled (takes about 7 days):