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Pollution After Japan Tsunami
Types of pollution caused by the Japan’s Tsunami: › Water pollution
Soil Contaminants and physical contaminants;
Oil spills;› Nuclear pollution
Water Pollution
A worldwide contamination (developed countries) of the ocean water are due to land runoff, bringing contaminants into the water, such as chemical fertilizers, detergents, sewage, herbicides, etc.
Water Pollution› Nitrogen-rich fertilizers
increase algae when flowed into the ocean. This latter robs the oxygen from the water causing no marine life possible.
› Everything comes back into the food chain, where we end up consuming ourselves.
Water Pollution
Other common pollutants would be solid wastes such as plastic bags, and other solid items dumped in to the oceans where aquatic animals mistake them as food.
Water Pollution
Oil spills (in this case) is due to immersion and damages of cars and boats. › Possible of light oil and heavy oil spills:
Light oil: highly flammable, highly toxic, evaporates quickly
Heavy oil: less toxic, but high life span over water. Hardens on shore coasts, can suffocate aquatic life in water
Video
This video showing the water washing everything away, but also how people were trying to reach to higher grounds
http://www.youtube.com/user/RussiaToday#p/u/60/vC0OFT8WWHk
Explanation of the nuclear byproduct
Iodine 129 and Iodine 131› Thyroid constantly absorbs iodine› Cannot tell apart from radioactive and
nonradiactive iodine
Prevention: › Raise concentration of stable iodine in blood› Iodized table salt is useful to maintain health,
but strong but NOT anti-radiation!› Excess or too little is not good for health:
Thyroid disease
Explanation of nuclear byproducts
Cesium 137› Increase risk of cancer› Higher concentration in muscles than in
bone and fat› Decay time: 30.17 years
Prevention: › Cesium in environment cannot be avoided› Remains short time in body and eliminated
through urine.
Nuclear Pollution
Contamination of the air: › Forced up to higher atmosphere, particles
would be carried around by the jet stream
Contamination of the ecosystems: › Iodine -131 (through milk, accumulated in
thyroid) Farm in Hitachi, 27 times higher than
acceptable Dairy farm in Iitate, 18 times higher than
acceptable
Nuclear Pollution
› Cesium 137 (damage cells, increase risk of cancer) 4 times higher than normal
Human contamination: › Over exposure to radioactive environment› Human body a walking contamination
References
› http://www.greenlivingtips.com/blogs/164/Effects-of-oil-spills.html
› http://www.ehow.com/about_5434352_oil-spills-affect-ocean.html
References
› http://www.ehow.com/facts_5933006_do-oil-spills-affect-animals_.html
› Soil pollutants: http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/critical-issues-marine-pollution/
› Nuclear contamination: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/21/world/asia/21japan.html?_r=1&pagewanted=2