Environmental Pollution - GEC 10

Air Pollution

• refers to any physical, chemical, or biological change in the air

• contamination of air by harmful gases, dust and smoke which affects plants, animals and humans drastically

Types of Air Pollutants

• Aeroplanes

• Volcanoes 

• Wildfires

• Agriculture

• Vehicle Exhausts

• Ships

• Towns and homes

Causes of Air Pollution

• Fossil fuel burning

• Industrial activities

• Vehicle emissions

• Agricultural practices

• Poor waste management

Effects of Air Pollution

• Diseases

• Global Warming

• Acid Rain

• Ozone Layer Depletion

• Effects on Animals

Kinds of Pollutants

1. Primary Pollutants

2. Secondary Pollutants

3. Gaseous Pollutants

4. Particulate Pollutants

5. Organic Pollutants

6. Inorganic Pollutants

Primary Pollutants

released directly into the air, like particle matters, nitrogen oxide, and sulfur dioxide

Secondary Pollutants

formed in the air through chemical reactions, like ozone and smog

Gaseous Pollutants

gases like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide

Particulate Pollutants

tiny particles like particulate matter, dust, soot

Organic Pollutants

olatile organic compounds (VOCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Inorganic Pollutants

metals like lead, mercury, arsenic

Clean Air Act (Republic Act No. 8749)

• aims to reduce air pollution and protect public health and the environment

• was enacted in 1999 to promote clean air and protect the environment

Key Features of Clean Air Act

1. Air Quality Standards

2. Emission Control

3. Air Quality Monitoring

4. Pollution Control

5. Public Awareness

Air Quality Standards

set standards for air quality and emission limits for pollutants

Emission Control

requires industries and vehicles to implement emission control measures

Air Quality Monitoring

mandates regular air quality monitoring to track progress

Pollution Control

encourages the use of pollution control technologies and practices

Public Awareness

promotes public awareness and education on air pollution issues

Goals of the Clean Air Act

1. Reduce air pollution

2. Protect the environment

3. Promote sustainable development

Land Pollution

known as the deterioration of the earth’s land surface at and below ground level as a result of human activities

Types of Land Pollution

• Solid Waste

• Chemical and Agricultural Waste

• Deforestation

• Mining

• Nuclear waste

• Illegal dumping

Causes of Land Pollution

• Mining

• Industrial activities

• Agricultural activities 

• Improper water disposal

• Deforestation

Effects of Land Pollution

• Habitat Loss

• Climate Change

• Health Problems

• Wildlife Impacts

Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA 9003)

aims to create a systematic and comprehensive program to protect public health and the environment from solid waste

Preventive Measures for Land Pollution

• Managing hazardous waste properly

• Use eco-friendly products

• Practice proper waste disposal 

• Sustainable practices in agriculture

• Plant more trees

• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Properties of Water

• Tasteless, Colorless, and Odorless

• described as “Universal Solvent”

• Most abundant substance on Earth’s surface

Sources of Water

• 97% Ocean

• 2% Glaciers and Ice Caps

• 0.6% Groundwater

• 0.4% Freshwater

Major Water Pollutants

• Oil

• Acid Rain

• Sewage

• Slurry

• Pesticides

• Kitchen Oil

• Solid Waste

• Heavy Metals

Sources of Water Pollution

• Point Sources

• Non-Point Sources

• Natural Causes

Point Sources

• easy to identify

• came from a direct source

Non-Point Sources

• harder to identify

• pollution from many scattered sources

Natural Resources

pollution cause by natural events

The Philippine Clean Water Act (RA 9275)

aims to protect the country’s water bodies form pollution from land-based sources