Transnational Pollution

• What is transnational pollution?

• Why is it important?

• What could be done about it?

• What are some examples?

Sweden

Nuclear Radiation

•Form of energy that comes from nuclear reactors

•No smell•No taste•Harmful to living things

An accident has taken place at the Chernobyl power station, andone of the reactors was damaged. Measures are being taken toeliminate the consequences of the accident. Those affected by it are being given assistance.

Nuclear Power Plants

• 100s

• about 30 countries

• 15% of the world’s electricity

Nuclear Power Plants

• Use uranium for fuel.

• The uranium is mined from the ground and then put in a special container called a nuclear reactor.

Nuclear Power Plants

• Inside the reactor, the uranium gives off energy in the form of heat, which is used to boil water.

• The boiling water creates steam, which in turn powers a turbine to make electricity.

• This accident did not just “happen.”

• It occurred when workers doing a routine check failed to follow their own safety rules.

• One of the reactors got too hot to control.

The Chernobyl Radiation Accident

The Chernobyl Radiation Accident

At 1:24 A.M. on April 25, 1986, an explosion rocked the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in present day Ukraine.

The Chernobyl Radiation Accident

• The explosion started a fire that raged out of control.

• A fireball of radioactive dust rose three miles into the air.

• The radioactive cloud rode the winds to places thousands of miles away.

The Chernobyl Radiation Accident

• Since the accident, people of the area still have to deal with the accident.

Radiation Spread from Chernobyl

Radiation Spread from Chernobyl

Radiation Spread from Chernobyl

The Chernobyl Radiation Accident

• The people of Lapland also suffered as a result of the accidental pollution.

• Many people in Lapland fish or raise herds of reindeer for a living. After the accident, radiation polluted their fishing grounds and reindeer herds, killing large numbers of fish and reindeer. Those that survived were not safe to eat.

The Chernobyl Radiation Accident

• 28 people died within four months from radiation or thermal burns, 19 have subsequently died, and there have been around nine deaths from thyroid cancer apparently due to the accident: total 56 fatalities as of 2004.

• 135,000 (?) people from areas surrounding the reactor were relocated

• Workers also destroyed contaminated crops, food, and animals

The Chernobyl Radiation Accident

• World’s worst nuclear accident - 100 times greater than the bombs dropped in World War II

• Since then world leaders have paid more attention to safety

• Changes in reactors- less likely to overheat and shut down

The Chernobyl Radiation Accident

• Write the name of the country where the radiation leak happened.

• Then complete this sentence: Chernobyl became a source of radioactive pollution when…

The Radioactive Cloud Spreads Across Europe• Describe how the radioactive cloud spread. Names two countries

that were affected by the pollution. • Then complete this sentence: One effect of the spread of

radioactive pollution across borders was…

Efforts to Reduce Radioactive Pollution• Write one way to reduce radioactive pollution. Then complete this

sentence: ____________________ help to reduce radioactive pollution by…

The Black Triangle

Acid Rain

Acid Rain

• Rain that can damage the environment because it contains acid from factory smoke and car exhaust

• Can damage plants, fish, animals, and even buildings.

Acid Rain

Location

• Where Germany, Poland, and Czech Republic meet

• Lots of factories and power plants here

• They burn a soft, brown coal that blackens the air

Acid Rain

• When lignite burns it gives off two chemicals

–Sulfur dioxide

–Nitrogen oxides

Consequences of Acid Rain

• When they react with water, they form acids

• Acids eat away at things

Acid Rain

Consequences of Acid Rain

• Turn lake water acidic

–Kill fish

Consequences of Acid Rain

• The National Park of Karkonosze/Krkokonose was notorious for its thousand hectares of blackened and needle-less spruce trees.

Consequences of Acid Rain

• In terms of public health, doctors' statements refer to chronic respiratory and allergenic disorders.

Effects on Other Countries

• Because of high chimneys of factories, the smoke is carried by high winds

• Better for cities/worse for other areas and countries – Sweden and Finland

Ways to Reduce Acid Rain

• Rewards to reduce pollution

• New technologies

–Smokestack scrubbers

–Catalytic converter

• Decrease use of coal

Smokestack Scrubber

Results

• Salmons have returned to some rivers.

• The forests have been regenerated. • The air has reached a quality similar

to that breathed within the European Union.

Acid RainSoot from Factories Creates Acid Rain• Write the name of the countries that were the source of the acid

rain. • Then complete this sentence: The Black Triangle became a source

of acid rain when…

Air Pollution Brings Acid Rain to Other Countries• Describe how the acid rain effected other countries. Then complete

this sentence: One consequence of the spread of acid rain across borders is…

Efforts to Reduce Acid Rain• What is one way to reduce acid rain. Complete this sentence:

_______________________ help to reduce acid rain by…

Tisza-Danube“Water Chernobyl”

Cyanide

• Toxic chemical that is used in mining and other industries

Cyanide

• Cyanide was used in Romania at a mining operation

• Separates gold from rock

• After it is used it was stored behind a dam

• January 30,2000• Rain swelled the pond and it

reached a dangerously high level• The dam burst releasing 100,000

cubic meters of cyanide water into the Szamos River

• Equivalent to 30 Olympic pools

• Szamos River in Romania

• Went across Hungary and entered the Tisza River

• Tisza empties into the Danube

• Went across Serbia, Montenegro, and Bulgaria and then into the Black Sea

Effects

• Dead fish

–Killed 200 tons of fish

• Hundreds of otters

• Fish-eating birds died

Effects

• Other animals that ate or drank from the water died.

Effects

• Affected the water supply of 2.5 million people

• Shut down water systems

Effects

• Warned people to stay away from water

• Canceled trips to area

• Did not last long

• Breaks down in sunlight

• When reached the Danube – no longer toxic to fish

• Take years for the river to “get back to normal”

Other Sources of Water Pollution

• Mining

• Farming – chemicals and fertilizers

• Boats

• factories

Efforts to Reduce Water Pollution

• Different groups working on helping the Danube in the future

• “Danube Day”

Tisza-DanubeA Burst Dam Releases Deadly Chemicals• Write the name of the country that was the source of the water

pollution. On the map, color the source of the water pollution.• Then complete this sentence: Accidental water pollution occurred

when…

Cyanide Flows into the Danube River System• Summarize how the pollution spread. Names two countries most

affected by the pollution.• Then complete this sentence: One consequence of the spread of

water pollution across borders was…

Efforts to Reduce Water Pollution• Describe one effort to reduce water pollution. Then complete this

sentence: _______________________ help to reduce water pollution by…