ENDANGERED ECOSYSTEM

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POLLUTION

WATER POLLUTION

THERMAL POLLUTION

NOISE POLLUTION

AGRICULTURAL RUN-OFFS AND WASTE FROM OIL PALM AND RUBBING

PROCESSING MILLS

Nitrates and phosphates ( in fertilisers )- Excess nitrates and phosphates lead to

eutrophication

Control the use of fertilisers by:Applying only when crops are growingNot applying in empty fieldsNot spraying when there is a forecast of rainNot disposing of them into rivers and pondsReducing the usage of excess nitrates from fertilisers and ammonia

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Herbicides and pesticide residue-Accumulation of pesticides and herbicides may have toxic effects on organisms in the water and humans if the water is used as drinking water - the pesticides levels accumulate as they pass through the food chains- high concentrations of pesticides may accumulate in the tissues of final consumers which are mainly carnivores. The pesticides may kill the carnivores or may affect their metabolism- studies have also shown that pesticides have led to lower sperm counts, decreased ovulation, the inability to conceive and birth defects

Use biodegradable pesticidesUse biological pest control methodsPlant genetically modified crops that can resist attacks by pests as this may reduce the need of chemical insecticides

UNTREATED SEWAGE – CONSISTING MAINLY OF HUMAN FAECES AND DOMESTIC WASTE

Suspended solids-Reduced light penetration- if suspended solids are biodegradable, they can be decomposed by microorganisms and this process requires a high demand for oxygen

Treats sewage before it enters riversPrevent farm slurry (liquid manure) from entering rivers and ponds

Nitrates and phosphates- Lead to eutrophication

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Domestic Waste Includes Detergents And Food Waste

Detergents- ‘hard’ detergents create foam which reduces the supply of oxygen to organisms living in water- ‘soft’ detergents are biodegradable but may contain high levels of phosphates which can lead to eutrophication

Use biodegradable detergents with low phosphate content

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Animal waste from farms

Microorganisms such as bacteria and protozoa- If the water is used for drinking, it must be properly treated or it may cause water-borne diseases such as cholera

Drink properly treated and boiled water

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Effluents from industries-Electronics and electroplating plants- foods and beverage processing industry- rubber product processing industry

Treat effluents before they are discharged into water sourcesTake illegal action against illegal dumping of toxic wastes

Heavy metals such as copper, mercury, zinc and chromium - Highly toxic and accumulate in the organisms via food chains - Mercury can cause acute nervous disorders in humansOil, grease and suspended solidsWaste water contains numerous contaminants, including hydrogen sulphide

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Underground pipes

Lead- Lead is a highly toxic heavy metal which can accumulate in the tissues of living organisms- Lead can impair the mental ability of children

Use copper pipes instead of lead pipes in plumbing

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Eutrophication is when the environment becomes enriched with nutrients. This can be a problem in marine habitats such as lakes as it can cause algal blooms.Fertilisers are often used in farming, sometimes these fertilisers run-off into nearby water causing an increase in nutrient levels.This causes phytoplankton to grow and reproduce more rapidly, resulting in algal blooms.This bloom of algae disrupts normal ecosystem functioning and causes many problems.The algae may use up all the oxygen in the water, leaving none for other marine life. This results in the death of many aquatic organisms such as fish, which need the oxygen in the water to live.The bloom of algae may also block sunlight from photosynthetic marine plants under the water surface.Some algae even produce toxins that are harmful to higher forms of life. This can cause problems along the food chain and affect any animal that feeds on them.

Eutrophication

Biochemical oxygen demand or B.O.D. is the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic biological organisms in a body of water to break down organic material present in a given water sample at certain temperature over a specific time period. The term also refers to a chemical procedure for determining this amount. This is not a precise quantitative test, although it is widely used as an indication of the organic quality of water.[1] The BOD value is most commonly expressed in milligrams of oxygen consumed per litre of sample during 5 days of incubation at 20 °C and is often used as a robust surrogate of the degree of organic pollution of water.BOD can be used as a gauge of the effectiveness of wastewater treatment plants. It is listed as a conventional pollutant in the U.S. Clean Water Act.

Biochemical oxygen demand

THE PROCESS AND CONSEQUENCES OF EUTROPHICATION

Thermal pollution

• Causes hot water is discharged into nearby lakes and rivers

from the effluents of industrial processes an the cooling towers of electrical power stations which is used water as cooling agent the excess heat that is released into the

environment leads to thermal pollution thermal pollution causes the temperature in a body

of water to rise above the normal value. The increase in temperature can be between 5-10 Celsius

• Effect water temperature can affect the level of dissolved oxygen. When the temperature of water increases, oxygen becomes less soluble in water -for some species, a sudden increase in temperature can lead to instant death because many aquatic species can survive within a certain range of temperature

-the death of these species may have a negative effect on the food chain causing the entire ecosystem to collapse For other species, for example, algae, an increase in temperature actually encourages their rapid growth which, in turn, leads to a higher BOD value If the temperature increase continues over a long period, this may result in permanent changes in the species composition of the aquatic ecosystem

Ways to prevent- Control the amount of hot water

discharged from industrial plants and power stations into the surrounding lakes and rivers

- Control the amount of hot water or industrial effluents discharged into still or slow moving rivers

Noise pollution

- Noise from cars, motorcycles, aeroplanes, construction sites, agricultural and industrial machinery can be a form of pollution

- The noise level of residential areas should not exceed 55 decibels (dB)- According to the World Health Organization (WHO), prolonged exposure to

noise levels at or above 80 decibels (dB) can lead to deafness- Excessive exposure to high levels of noise is considered a health risk because

noise can contribute to stress-related problems such as high blood pressure, coronary disease, ulcers, depression and headaches

- Loud noise can cause an arousal response in which a series of reactions occurs in the body. Adrenaline is released into the blood stream. A person's heartbeat

rate , blood pressure and respiration rate are likely to increase. The blood vessels constrict and the muscles become tense

- It is possible that repetitive or constant exposure to noise can be harmful to health

Question?

1.Untreated sewage that is discharged into rivers can kill aquatic organisms. Explain how this happens?The large amount of organic matter in untreated sewage results in the rapid growth of aerobic bacteria. These aerobic bacteria use up oxygen faster than it can be replaced. This depletes the oxygen content in the river2.What is the effect of the activity on ecosystem?The temperature of water increases3.What is thermal pollution?The increases in the temperature of a body of water above the normal value as a result of the discharge of excess water