Unit 16 and 17. Understanding and

coping with pollution

Pollute-Make unclean, impure, corrupt, dirty -Contaminate (water, air, etc.) with harmful chemicals, waste materialPage 136

Introduction of contaminants into an

environment that causes instability, disorder,

harm or discomfort to the ecosystem

Definition of POLLUTION

Contaminate = to make impure, infected, corrupt, etc. by contact with or addition of

something;

Pollution – Air, water, land, noise

1.Extent – The scale that it affects

2.Causes – Human activities, natural events

3.Effects – on people, animals, environment… anything you can think of?

4.Measures – Solutions to reduce the problem

One type of pollution can lead to other types of

pollution = as the physical environment is

INTERCONNECTED

Extent of pollution

• Local scale• Only affect a certain area• Air, water, land, noise

• Regional scale

• Spread over countries

• Air and water

• Global scale

• Spread over continents• Global warming/ Ozone depletion

http://www.youtube.co

m/watch?v=4GluDBxSVfQ

•Introduction of chemicals or particles into the atmosphere that are harmful or dangerous •Example = Dust, ash, harmful gases

Air Pollution

Human ActivitiesCauses of air pollution

Natural events

Motor vehicles – carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide

Industries, Incinerators (Treat waste)

Volcanic eruption - Produce ash and dust

Forest fires – ash and smoke

Q : Which human activity will also cause forest fire?

Acid Rain

Withered trees

Effects on Air pollution – 1. EnvironmentSmog (Smoke + sulphur dioxide)

Visible corrosionHaze (Dust and smoke particles in air)

Visibility affected in traffic (Safety

issue)

Eg Cars, aeroplanes

Individual health problems

(respiratory)

Eg Asthma, Bronchitis

Effects on Air pollution2. Health 3. Traffic

Water Pollution

The contamination of water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans and groundwater.

What is the keyword?

Causes of water pollution

Discharging industrial waste

Oil Spills (hard to clean up)

Dumping garbage and raw sewage

Seepage from landfill

Plants and Animals

Economic Loss (fisherman, tourist)Human lives (poisoning)

Algae Growth (Chemical fertilizers, affects aqualife)

Effects of water pollution

(a) (b)(c)

(d)

(1) (2)

(4)

(5)

(7)

(3)

(6)

Unit 16 – Understanding pollution

Causes and effects of pollution

Name : __________________

• Fill in the causes of pollution in for (a) to (d)

• State the effects of pollution on the following (1) to (7)

1

1. Fill in the causes of pollution in for (a) to (d)

Refer to text page 136 and 137 to find out more

(a)Agriculture(b)Fire

(c)Industry

(d)Transport

• Ground water – contamination of water supply, affects people, animals and plants

• Human health – Respiratory problems, breathing difficulty eg Asthma, bronchitis

• Cultural resources – Corrosion of surface

• Aquatic ecosystem – Poisoning of animals, lack of oxygen due to algae boom

• Drinking water – Poisoning of people and animals

• Forest productivity – Withered trees, dying plants

• Visibility – How clear/far we can see, affects traffic conditions

Land Pollution

The degradation of Earth’s land surfaces by human activities and misuse of land resources. It also occurs when waste is not disposed properly.

Improper disposal of waste

Farming practices = Fertilizers & pesticides (results in both water and land pollution)

Causes of land pollution

1. Negative impact on human health (Spread of diseases)

2. Poisoning of animals (When consume untreated waste)

Effect of land pollution

Sound that disrupts the environmentNoise pollution

Effects of noise pollution

• Stress and anxiety

• Affect our hearing

• Increase blood pressure

Write a complaint letter in pairs. Include the following : The extent of problem, causes and solutions

Pollution From To Problem

Air Pilot Air traffic control authority

Haze and smog

Water Fisherman Water treatment board

Contaminated water, oil spills

Land Farmer Soil association

Spread of diseases

Noise Resident Housing board

Noisy neighbour

Measures1. International – UNEP www.unep.org- Control Toxic emission, increase clean water supply, implement proper sewage system

2. Regional Case study : Haze problem in Indonesia- Transboundary Haze pollution- Annual issue = ongoing problem- Air Quality monitoring stations

Measures3. National-Laws & regulations (control amount of pollutants within safety limits), alternative source of energy, proper waste disposal methods (landfills, incinerators)

Case Study : Singapore’s Semakau landfill- Careful planning of the island led to its amazing biodiversity- Semakau maintains a sustainable solid waste management system and a wealth of natural habitats- Biodiversity includes various species of birds, sea animals and insects

4. Individual- RRR- Education

Pollution in the world

Air Pollution (dust + smoke) Water Pollution Land Pollution Noise Pollution

Causes 1. Natural events

-Volcanic eruptions release ash/smoke

-Forest Fires : hot & dry weather (haze)

2. Human activities

-Industries : burn fossil fuel = soot

-Motor vehicles produce harmful gas

-Construction work

1. Improper disposal of sewage (human waste, detergent, toxic chemicals)

2. Oil spills (spread over large areas)

1. Improper disposal of waste – space constraint, technology

2. Excessive use of chemical fertilizers & pesticides (lead to soil contamination,)

1. Traffic - vehicles

2. Construction – drilling, knocking, heavy machines

3. Others – talking loudly, concerts

Extent -Industrial waste leads to ACID RAIN (falls into river to cause WP)

-Haze : Dust & smoke particles are suspended in air

-Smog : Dust & smoke combine with water vapour & toxic gas

-Spreads across boundaries

1. Health – difficulty breathing, irritate throat & eyes (respiratory system), toxic gas (carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides)

2. Traffic hazard – visibility affects safety

3. Environment – Acid rain destroys building (corrodes) & ecosystem (forest)

1. Endangering plant & animal species (oil sticks to fur & remove air insulation = freeze to death/birds cant fly & drown)

2. Chemicals cause growth of algae which blocks sunlight (cant photosynthesize)

3. Human – poison in fish, humans consume contaminated food

4. Economic loss- Livelihood of fisherman, beach unattractive to tourists

1. Negative impact on human health – unhygienic (germs & bacteria), eyesore

2. Poisoning of animals

-Damage hearing

-Increase stress level & anxiety

-Lead to poor work performance

-1 type of pollution can lead to other types as the physical environment is interconnected

Start the pledge with “We, the citizens of Singapore, pledge to reduce pollution by … “

Start the pledge with “We, the Government of Singapore, pledge to reduce pollution by … “

Start the pledge with “We, the representatives of the world, pledge to reduce pollution by … “