ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACT: POPULATION

pollution

Never has our planet earth been faced with so many environmental problems, because never before has there been such a large global population. Living is polluting. With increasing population its quite impossible to control pollution problems. The water we drink, the air we breathe, the land we live on are rapidly being polluted. This exposes us to new risks from diseases. Biologist define __________ as the undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of an ecosystem that injures or kills living organisms and makes part of the ecosystem unfit for the use we want to make of it.

Air Pollution

is a condition in which the quality of air is degraded due to the presence of harmful substances, particulate matter and biological agents. Its sources are classified into point and non – points sources

point sources

are those which are readily identified and stationary such as factory smokestack

nonpoint sources

are not easily identified as they diffused and may not be constantly emitting pollutant

pollution
rate of emission
wind
topography or location

The degree and extent of air pollution in an area depends on several factors such as source of?

Republic Act 8749: Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999

In our country principal air pollutants are identified and regulated by ?

Primary Pollutants

are released in harmful forms

Secondary Pollutants

become hazardous after reactions on the air

conventional

Most __________ air pollutants are produced primarily from burning fossil fuels, especially in coal powered electric plants, motor vehicles as well as in processing natural gas and oil. Others, especially sulfur and metals, are by products of mining and manufacturing processes. In this section we will discuss briefly the characteristics and origin of the major outdoor and indoor air pollutants.

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Nitrate (NO3)
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Particulate Material
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s)
Lead and other Toxic Elements

Outdoor Air Pollutants

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

OUTDOOR AIR POLLUTANTS
colorless corrosive gas that damages both plants and animals.

SO3

Once SO2 is in the atmosphere, it oxidized to ____, which reacts with water vapour or dissolves in water droplets to for H₂SO₄ a major component of acid rain.

SO₂ and Sulphate Ions

cause health damage while its sulfate particles and droplets can reduce visibility by as much as 80%.

Nitrate (NO3)

OUTDOOR AIR POLLUTANTS
highly reactive gases formed when combustion between atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen. The initial product NO oxidizes further in the atmosphere to NO₂ to form photochemical smog.

HNO₃

NO3 also combines with water to form ____ a major component of acid rain.

eutrophication

Excess nitrogen in water causes _____________ and also encourage growth of weedy species that crowd out native plants.

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

OUTDOOR AIR POLLUTANTS
colorless, odourless but highly toxic gas produced mainly by incomplete combustion of fuel. It inhibits respiration in animals in animals by binding irreversibly to hemoglobin. Land clearing fires and cooking fires are also major sources. About 90% in the air is consumed in photochemical reactions that produce ozone.

Particulate Material

OUTDOOR AIR POLLUTANTS
includes dust, ash, soot, lint, smoke pollen, spores, aerosols and many other suspended materials.

Particulate

___________ reduce visibility and leave dirty deposits on windows etc. They can also damage lung tissues like asbestos fibers.

Volatile Organic Compounds [VOCs]

OUTDOOR AIR POLLUTANTS
benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, vinyl chloride, phenols, chloroform and trichloroethylene. Principal sources are incompletely burned fuels from vehicles, power plants, chemical plants and petroleum refineries.

Lead and other Toxic Elements

OUTDOOR AIR POLLUTANTS
toxic metals like Pb. Hg, As, Ni, Be, and Ca and halogens [F, Cl, Br, I] are toxic when released to the environment.

Lead
Mercury

____________ are widespread neurotoxins that damage the nervous system.

Indoor Air Pollutants

accumulation or build up of chemicals, suspended solid particulate and volatile organic compounds inside offices, buildings, houses, schools and commercial establishments that are harmful to health.

dirty air

Consequences of breathing _____ ___ include increased probability of heart attacks, respiratory diseases and lung cancer. The United Nations estimates that at least 1.3 B people around the world live in areas where the air is dangerously polluted. In China, city dwellers are four to six times more likely than country folk to die of lung cancer. WHO estimates that 4 M people die each year from disease exacerbated by air pollution.

How do air pollutants cause these health effects?

Because they are strong oxidizing agents, sulfates, SO₂, NOx and O₃ irritate and damage delicate tissues in the eyes and lungs. Fine, suspended, particulate materials penetrate deep into the lungs, causing irritation, scarring and even tumor growth. Heart stress results from impaired lung functions.

CO

__ monoxides bind to hemoglobin, reducing oxygen flow to the brain. Headaches, dizziness and heart stress result.

Lead

____ also binds to hemoglobin, damaging critical neurons in the brain and resulting in mental and physical impairment and developmental retardation.

sensitive

There are two probable ways that air pollutants damage plants.
(1) They can damage _________ cell membranes. Toxic levels of oxidants produce discoloration and then necrotic [dead] spots.

hormones

There are two probable ways that air pollutants damage plants.
(2) It can also act as _________, disrupting plant metabolism, growth and development.

ozone
photochemical oxidants

Some plant pathologist suggest that ____________________________
are responsible for as much as 90% of agricultural, ornamental and forest loses from air pollution.

Acid deposition/ precipitation

the deposition of wet acidic solutions or dry acidic particles from the air is recognized as a pollution problem. Acid fog, mist and dew can deposit damaging acids on plants, in water systems and building.

Human Health
Plant Pathology
Visibility Reduction
Acid Deposition/ Precipitation

Most important effects of Air Pollution

Water Pollution

It refers to any physical, biological or chemical change in water quality that adversely affects living organisms or makes water unsuitable for desired uses.

¾

About ___ of the earth’s surface is covered with water. Despite this we hear of water depletion or the need to conserve water. Water is very important to all living things. In the modern world, the quality of water is as important as its quantity. It must be free from harmful substances. However, man intentionally or intentionally changes the quality of our water resources making it unfit for use.

A. Causes health problems
B. Causes ecosystem disruption

Major Categories of Water Pollution

Ex: Bacteria, viruses, parasites
S: Human and animal excretion

A. Causes health problems
Infectious agents

Ex: Pesticides, plastics, detergents, oil, gasoline
S: Industrial household, farm use

A. Causes health problems
Organic chemicals

Ex: Acids, caustic salts, metals
S: Industrial effluents, household cleaners, surface runoff

A. Causes health problems
Inorganic chemicals

Ex: Uranium, thorium, cesium, iodine, radon
S: Mining and processing of ores, power plants, weapons production, natural resources

A. Causes health problems
Radioactive materials

Ex: Soil, silt
S: Land erosion

B. Causes ecosystem disruption
Sediment

Ex: Nitrates, phosphates, ammonium
S: Agricultural and urban fertilizers, sewage,

B. Causes ecosystem disruption
Plant Nutrients

Ex: Animal manure, plant residues
S: Sewage, agricultural, runoff, paper mills, food processing

B. Causes ecosystem disruption
Oxygen- Demanding Wastes

Ex: Powerplants, industrial cooling

B. Causes ecosystem disruption
Thermal Heat

pathogenic organisms

The most serious water pollutants in terms of human health are _______________________________ that cause several water borne diseases whose main source is untreated or improperly treated human waste. On the other hand, toxic metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic and nickel are highly toxic because they accumulate in food chains and have cumulative effects to humans.

- ½ kilo the average trash generated per person per day in Metro Manila, according to the ADB. This translates to 7,000 tons of trash per day.

- Php 3.8 billion the annual total spending of Metro Manila for garbage collection. This translates to Php1, 500 per ton of garbage or Php10.5 million per day.

 - Php 3.61 billion will be saved if recyclables and biodegradables are segregated at source and do not end up in dumpsites. This translates to cost savings of 95%.

Waste is every one's business. We all produce unwanted by – products and residues in nearly everything we do. Consider the following facts:

Solid waste

__________ refers all discarded waste material from household, trade, commercial, industrial and mining activities. There are organic materials such as yard and garden waste as well as consumer products of all types.

a) Household waste is generally classified as municipal waste
[household waste, construction and demolition debris, sanitation residue, and waste from streets]
b) Industrial waste as hazardous waste, and
c) Biomedical waste or hospital waste as infectious waste

Solid waste can be classified into different types depending on their source:

Organic
Toxic
Recyclable
Soiled

There are four broad categories of solid wastes

kitchen waste, vegetables, flowers, leaves, fruits

SOLID WASTES
Organic Waste

old medicines, paints, chemicals, bulbs, spray cans, fertilizer and pesticide containers, batteries, shoe polish

SOLID WASTES
Toxic Waste

paper, glass, metals, plastics

SOLID WASTES
Recyclable Waste

hospital waste such as cloth soiled with blood and other body fluid

SOLID WASTES
Soiled Waste

State of the national economy
Lifestyle of the people
Demographic profile of the household
Size and type of dwelling
Age
Religion
Extent in which the 3R’s are carried out
Presence of pets and domestic animals
Seasonal variations
Presence of laws and ordinances governing waste management
Company buy – back guarantees for used containers and packaging

The following are the factors that affect waste generation:

Open Dumps
Ocean
Landfills
Exporting
Incineration and Resource Recovery

Where do our wastes go?

Open Dumps

Where do our wastes go?
are still the predominant method of waste disposal especially in most developing countries. Third world megacities have enormous garbage problems. In our country we have at least 10 huge open dumps where the most notorious is “Smokey Mountain” because of its constant smoldering fires. Thousands of people live and work in this 30 m high heap of refuse. They spend their days sorting through the garbage for edible and recycle materials without minding the effect to their health. Open dumping is illegal and still a problem. You have seen trash accumulating along roadsides and vacant lots. This problem is likely to become worse as acceptable sites for open dumping is getting scarcer and the cost for legal dumping become more expensive. We  need better enforcement of antilittering laws as well as change in our attitudes and behaviour.

Ocean Dumping

Where do our wastes go?
Every year some 25, 000 metric tons of packaging, including half a million bottles, cans, plastics containers are dump at sea. Beaches even in remote regions are littered with non degradable flotsam and jetsam. In addition to this are miles of nets and fishing gear are lost or discarded at sea each year. Some people claim that the deep abyssal ocean plain is the best place to dump our wastes because of its remoteness and harmlessness. Others argue that we know too little about the importance of these remote places or the rare and undiscovered species that will likely be affected by our wastes.

Landfills

Where do our wastes go?
Countries around the world recognized the health and environmental hazards of open dumps. They have turned to sanitary _________ a more sanitary and better managed disposal facility but more expensive to put up and maintain. A plastic or clay liner separates the waste from the soil to prevent seepage of liquid into groundwater. The dumped waste is spread out by bulldozers, sprayed with deodorizers, covered with soil, and planted with grass.

Exporting Waste

Where do our wastes go?
Although industrialized nations in the world have agreed to stop shipping hazardous and toxic waste to less developed countries, the practice still continues. In 1999 for example 3, 000 tons of incinerator waste from plastic factory in Taiwan was unloaded from ship in the middle of the night and dump in a field near the small coastal Cambodian village of Bet Trang. The village residents emptied the plastic shipping bags of crumbling residue and use them as roofing material, for rice storage and the string for clotheslines and lashing for their oxcarts. The children played in the white material. The following weeks the dock workers who unloaded the waste died and some have symptoms of nerve damage and respiratory distress and villagers began to complain of a variety of illnesses. They were evacuated and the investigation found high levels of mercury and other toxic metals in the residue.

Incineration and Resource Recovery

Where do our wastes go?
Most common waste treatment involves the combustion of waste material in the presence of oxygen. The combustion process converts wastes into ash, flue, gas, water vapour, and carbon dioxide. This thermal treatment method is commonly used as a means of recovering energy for electricity or heating .

(1) Recycling when we are really are reusing something, such as refillable beverage containers.
(2) Recycling is the processing of discarded materials into new useful products.

The term recycling has two meanings in common usage.

Bottles, cans, newspapers, cardboard packaging and metal

What are some candidates for recycling?

Recycling saves money, energy, raw materials and land space while also reducing pollution. It also encourages individual awareness and responsibility to for the refused product. Furthermore, reduces the pressure on landfills and incinerators, lowers our demands for raw resources, and reduces energy consumption and air pollution and reducing litter.

Why is recycling a better alternative to either dumping or burning?

Composting

SOLUTION
Rather than bury valuable organic material, they are turning it into a useful product through __________ : biological degradation or breakdown of organic matter under aerobic conditions. The organic compost resulting from this process makes nutrient – rich soil amendment that aids in water retention, slows soil erosion and improve crop yields.

Energy from Waste

SOLUTION
In developing countries 85% of the waste is biodegradable materials. In landfill, much of this matter is decomposed by microorganisms generating billions of cubic meters of methane. Many cities are drilling methane wells in their landfills to capture this valuable resource. This valuable resource can provide fuel for cooking and electricity

Demanufacturing

SOLUTION
It is the disassembly and recycling of obsolete consumer products such as TV, computers, refrigerators, washing machines and air conditioners. These products contain both valuable materials and toxins that must be kept out of the environment. Older refrigerators and air conditioners for example have CFCs while electronic equipments contain both toxic metals and valuable ores. In addition soil, groundwater and surface water have been found to be contaminated. In response to such problems recycling fees are added to the purchase price of the electronics.

Reusing

SOLUTION
Even better than recycling or composting is cleaning and _______ materials in their present form thus saving the cost and energy of remaking them into something else. Auto parts are regularly sold from junk. yards. In many cities glass and plastic bottles are routinely returned to beverage producers for washing and refilling. The reusable, refillable bottle is better for the environment than remelting and more profitable for local communities.

Producing Less Waste

SOLUTION
Generating less waste is much better then reusing. What are the sources of unnecessary wastes. Excess packaging of food and consumer products is our greatest source. Paper, plastic, glass, Styrofoam make 50% of domestic trash by volume. Much of that packaging is primarily for marketing and has little to do with product protection. Manufacturers and retailers might be persuaded to reduce these wasteful practices if consumers ask for products without excess packaging. No packaging, minimal packaging, reusable packaging and recyclable packaging are recommendations that minimize depletion of resources toxin production.

CASE STUDY

Barangay COMEMBRO, Makati City: Adversity breeds opportunity Problems with dumpsite forced a small barangay in Makati City to embrace waste segregation in 1998. Purification D. A. Gonzales, then newly elected barangay captain of COMEMBO was just warming her seat when the San Mateo dumpsite in Rizal closed its doors to trash coming from Metro Manila. Using an abandon building as a makeshift MRF, the barangay embarked on a program that was borne out of necessity rather than compliance with the law. At that time, RA 9003 was still a draft bill in congress. To make compost, the barangay scrounged for fund to buy a composter drum and shredder. Money eventually came from the 20% development fund in its 1999 budget. Its plan was to drastically bring down the volume of waste collected from households and the market. Enforcers implemented strict” no segregation, no collection” rules on biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes. The result surprised even the barangay captain herself. Before garbage segregation, the barangay needs more than one garbage truck per street to haul all the trash. Nowadays, one truck is more than enough. “Political will is very important” says barangay captain Gonzales. COMEMBO now reports 98% compliance with RA 9003. It went on to win numerous awards in Makati City including the coveted “Cleanest and Greenest Award”. When the dengue epidemic hit Metro Manila, COMEMBO’s clean surroundings spared its residents – proof that the barangay’s persistence paid off.