Fundamentals of Pollution

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“In an underdeveloped country, don’t drink the water; in a developed country, don’t breathe the air.” - Changing Times Magazine

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“In an underdeveloped country, don’t drink the water; in a developed country, don’t breathe the air.” - Changing Times Magazine

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• One of the greatest problems that the world is facing is that of environmental pollution, which is causing grave and irreparable damage to the natural world and human society.

• About 40% of deaths worldwide being caused by water, air, and soil pollution, coupled with human overpopulation, has contributed to the malnutrition of 3.7 billion people worldwide, making them more susceptible to disease.

• A polluted environment is a polluted society—one people created and one only people can renew.

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• One of the greatest problems that the world is facing is that of environmental pollution, which is causing grave and irreparable damage to the natural world and human society.

• About 40% of deaths worldwide being caused by water, air, and soil pollution, coupled with human overpopulation, has contributed to the malnutrition of 3.7 billion people worldwide, making them more susceptible to disease.

• A polluted environment is a polluted society—one people created and one only people can renew.

Pollution

It is the introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment.

Pollution

It is the addition of a substance or an agent to an environment through human activity, at a rate greater than that at which it can be rendered harmless.

Pollution

It includes the release of substances that affect air, water, and soil, as well as on the organisms in the environment, and which reduces human quality of life.

False

(CORRECT ANSWER: Rate greater than)

TRUE OR FALSE. Pollution is the addition of a substance or an agent to an environment through human activity, at a rate lesser than at which it can be rendered harmless.

1. Natural

2. Deliberate

3. Accidental

Pollution can be (3):

1. Chemicals

2. Noise

3. Energy sources

4. Solids

5. Naturally occurring substances

Pollution can occur in many forms (5):

Chemicals

FORMS OF POLLUTION. Determine what is being asked below.

In gaseous or liquid forms

Solids

FORMS OF POLLUTION. Determine what is being asked below.

Wastes that end up in landfills

Naturally occurring substances

FORMS OF POLLUTION. Determine what is being asked below.

Considered pollution when additional quantities are added to the environment in unsafe amounts by industries

Energy sources

FORMS OF POLLUTION. Determine what is being asked below.

Light or heat

Acid rain

Some sources of pollution can’t be contained by natural boundaries and therefore can act either locally, regionally, or globally such as ___.

1. Point source pollution

2. Non-point source pollution

Pollution can also be the ff. based on their source (2).

Non-point source pollution

POLLUTION BASED ON SOURCE. Determine what is being asked below.

It is pollution released from diffuse sources.

Point source pollution

POLLUTION BASED ON SOURCE. Determine what is being asked below.

It arises from a single clearly identifiable site.

Point source

POLLUTION BASED ON SOURCE. Determine what is being asked below.

It is easy to monitor and control emission at source.

Point source

POLLUTION BASED ON SOURCE. Determine what is being asked below.

Its impact is more localized.

Non-point source

POLLUTION BASED ON SOURCE. Determine what is being asked below.

It arises from numerous widely dispersed origins.

Non-point source

POLLUTION BASED ON SOURCE. Determine what is being asked below.

Monitoring this type requires extensive survey techniques.

Non-point source

POLLUTION BASED ON SOURCE. Determine what is being asked below.

Its effects are spread over a wider area.

Pollutant

It is a substance or energy introduced into the environment that has undesired effects or adversely affects the usefulness of a resource.

Pollutant

It is typically a foreign substance, particularly a contaminant or toxin, that produces some kind of a negative or harmful impact on the environment or living beings.

Pollutant

It may cause long-or short-term damage by changing the growth rate of plant or animal species, or by interfering with human amenities, comfort, health, or property values.

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Under pollutant,

• It may come from a wide range of human activities, including the combustion of fossil fuels.

• Different forms: organic or inorganic substances, light, sound or thermal energy, biological agents or invasive species

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Under pollutant,

• It may come from a wide range of human activities, including the combustion of fossil fuels.

• Different forms: organic or inorganic substances, light, sound or thermal energy, biological agents or invasive species

1. Organic vs inorganic

2. Biodegradable vs persistent

3. Acute vs chronic

4. Primary vs secondary

Enumerate the four (4) sets or pairs of pollutants.

Organic pollution

TYPES OF POLLUTANTS. Determine what is being asked below.

It is a type of chemical pollution caused by carbon pollutants, such as liquid manure, sewage treatment sludge, DDT, etc.

Inorganic pollution

TYPES OF POLLUTANTS. Determine what is being asked below.

It is the release of the compounds of inorganic by-products arising due to radiant energy and noise, heat, or light.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

TYPES OF POLLUTANTS. Determine what is being asked below.

These are organic compounds that do not break down in the environment through chemical, biological, and light processes.

Biodegradable pollutants

TYPES OF POLLUTANTS. Determine what is being asked below.

It helps with the decay or breakdown of pollution that occurs when microorganisms use an organic substance as a source of carbon and energy.

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Under biodegradable pollutants,

• The products are rendered harmless by natural processes and so causes no permanent harm.

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Under biodegradable pollutants,

• The products are rendered harmless by natural processes and so causes no permanent harm.

Biodegradable

This term means that an object is capable of being broken down by natural biological processes.

Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants

The effect of POPs on human and environmental health was discussed, with intention to eliminate or severely restrict their production, by the international community at the ___ in 2001.

2001

When did the Stockholm Convention happen?

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Under persistent organic pollutants (POPs),

• Some POPs arise naturally (ex.: volcanoes, various biosynthetic pathways), but most are man-made (used as pesticides, solvents, pharmaceuticals, and industrial chemicals).

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Under persistent organic pollutants (POPs),

• Some POPs arise naturally (ex.: volcanoes, various biosynthetic pathways), but most are man-made (used as pesticides, solvents, pharmaceuticals, and industrial chemicals).

Acute pollution

TYPES OF POLLUTANTS. Determine what is being asked below.

It is pollution that occurs suddenly and should take into account worst case discharge scenario from the facility.

Chronic pollution

TYPES OF POLLUTANTS. Determine what is being asked below.

It refers to the persistent release of pollutants at low concentration resulting in adverse effects on animal or human body with symptoms that develop slowly, due to long and continuous exposure to low concentrations of a hazardous substance.

Chronic pollution

TYPES OF POLLUTANTS. Determine what is being asked below.

In this type of pollution, symptoms do not usually subside when the exposure stops.

Primary, secondary

Pollutants are classified as ___ or ___ based on their characteristics while they are emitted and physical or chemical changes they undergo while in the environment.

Primary pollutants

TYPES OF POLLUTANTS. Determine what is being asked below.

These are pollutants emitted into the environment directly from the identifiable sources.

Secondary pollutants

TYPES OF POLLUTANTS. Determine what is being asked below.

These are pollutants which undergo chemical changes in the environment as a result of reactions among two or more pollutants.

Primary pollutants

TYPES OF POLLUTANTS. Determine what is being asked below.

These pollutants remain unchanged within the environment.

1. Carbon monoxide (CO)

2. Sulfur dioxide (SO2)

3. Nitric oxide (NO)

4. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)

5. Ammonia (NH3)

6. Particulates (PM)

7. Volatile organic compounds (VOC)

Enumerate the seven (7) examples of primary pollutants mentioned in the module.

1. Sulfur trioxide (SO3)

2. Sulfuric acid (H2SO4)

3. Ammonium (NH4+)

4. Ozone (O3)

5. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)

6. Nitric acid (HNO3)

7. Particulates (PM)

Enumerate the seven (7) examples of secondary pollutants mentioned in the module.

1. Change the human activity that generates the pollutant in the first place.

2. Minimize the amount of the pollutant released into the environment.

3. Clean up the pollutant and the affected areas after the pollutant has been released.

Strategies for reducing impacts of pollution can be directed at three different levels in pollution management. What are these three (3)?

Change the human activity that generates the pollutant in the first place.

STRATEGIES OF POLLUTION MANAGEMENT. Determine what is being asked below.

It is the most proactive or preventive strategy because the pollutant is not created (or less of it is created) in the first place.

Minimize the amount of the pollutant released into the environment.

STRATEGIES OF POLLUTION MANAGEMENT. Determine what is being asked below.

It is the next most proactive or preventive strategy because the pollutant is controlled at the place where it is released.

Clean up the pollutant and the affected areas after the pollutant has been released.

STRATEGIES OF POLLUTION MANAGEMENT. Determine what is being asked below.

It is a reactive strategy and tends to be very expensive.

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Under Strategy 3: Clean up the pollutant and the affected areas after the pollutant has been released,

• This strategy usually takes a very long time to implement.

• Sometimes, it may not be scientifically possible.

• This strategy does not solve the problem.

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Under Strategy 3: Clean up the pollutant and the affected areas after the pollutant has been released,

• This strategy usually takes a very long time to implement.

• Sometimes, it may not be scientifically possible.

• This strategy does not solve the problem.

Minimize the amount of the pollutant released into the environment.

STRATEGIES OF POLLUTION MANAGEMENT. Determine what is being asked below.

This strategy is frequently adopted by government agencies that regulate industries.

Change the human activity that generates the pollutant in the first place.

STRATEGIES OF POLLUTION MANAGEMENT. Determine what is being asked below.

This strategy tends to be difficult to achieve because it’s necessary to change the behavior of people, businesses, and/or governments.

Minimize the amount of the pollutant released into the environment.

STRATEGIES OF POLLUTION MANAGEMENT. Determine what is being asked below.

This strategy fails to fully address the problem because the pollutant is still being produced.

True

TRUE OR FALSE. Monitoring is easiest at the place of emission.

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Under pollution management,

• Pollution management depends on all of the individuals involved.

• If there are associated costs, then it becomes harder to persuade people of the benefits of pollution management.

• In many less economically developed countries, limited infrastructures such as the removal of domestic waste can become a major issue.

• Societies awareness of problems and cultural acceptances can also impact pollution management.

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Under pollution management,

• Pollution management depends on all of the individuals involved.

• If there are associated costs, then it becomes harder to persuade people of the benefits of pollution management.

• In many less economically developed countries, limited infrastructures such as the removal of domestic waste can become a major issue.

• Societies awareness of problems and cultural acceptances can also impact pollution management.

1. Cultural factors

2. Political factors

3. Economic factors

Enumerate the three (3) factors that affect pollution management.

Political factors

FACTORS THAT AFFECT POLLUTION MANAGEMENT. Determine which of the three factors match the given situation below.

Weak regulation and lack of enforcement in less economically developed countries

Economic factors

FACTORS THAT AFFECT POLLUTION MANAGEMENT. Determine which of the three factors match the given situation below.

Pollution can be promoted if the environment is seen as a free resource.

Economic factors

FACTORS THAT AFFECT POLLUTION MANAGEMENT. Determine which of the three factors match the given situation below.

The cost of reducing or cleaning pollution would reduce the likelihoods of solving the pollution problem.

Cultural factors

FACTORS THAT AFFECT POLLUTION MANAGEMENT. Determine which of the three factors match the given situation below.

If society adopts an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ approach, then individuals would be more likely to dispose pollution in a more hazardous way.

Political factors

FACTORS THAT AFFECT POLLUTION MANAGEMENT. Determine which of the three factors match the given situation below.

Strong corporate involvement and lobbying in policy decisions in more economically developed countries