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Air pollution is the introduction of particulates, biological molecules, or other harmful gases into earth's atmosphere,
causing disease, death to humans, damage to other living organisms such as food crops, or the natural or built or natural sources.
*anthropogenic -an effect or object resulting from human activity
3 Major air pollutants:
1) Lead
Sources:
- Emitted from waste incinerators and utilities
- Manufacturing of lead-acid batteries
- While processing ore and metals
Effects on Health:
- Excessive amounts of lead may lead to neurological deficiencies (eg. seizsures, mental retardation and behavioral disorders)
- may lead to high blood pressure, eventually heart diseases in adults.
- leads to lowered IQ in infants and children.
- affects amount of oxygen in the blood stream.
Effects On Ecosystem:
- Decreases growth and reproduction rates in plants and animals.
- changes community composition > loss in biodiversity.
- may be found in plants which are harmful to grazing animals.
Solutions:
- Use dry-type dust collecting materials and design to enclose fixed conveyors, rail cars in all transfer points.
2) Ground-level Ozone
Formed when oxides of nitrogen react with volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Sources:
- Motor vehicle exhaust
- Found in gasoline vapors
- Emitted from chemical solvents
Effects On Health:
- Difficulty breathing
- Shortness of breadth and pain
- Inflames and damages airways
- Increases risk to have asthma in children and elderly
Effects On Ecosystem:
- Interfere the ability in plants to produce and store food.
- Damages appearances of plants in
> urban areas
> recreational areas
> national parks
- Affects ecosystem due to poisoning
Solutions:
- Conserve energy
> helps minimise the emissions associated with energy production.
- Try to avoid driving your car when the destination is not really far. Take public transport instead.
- Avoid gasoline powered devices
3) Nitrogen Dioxide
Sources:
- emitted from
> cars, trucks, buses and power plants
> off-road equipment
> burning of fossil fuels
> refining of petrol and metals
> electricity generation from coal power stations
Effects On Health:
- increases likelihood of respiratory problems
- reduces immunity to lung infections
> wheezing
> coughing
> colds
> flu
> bronchitis
Effects On Ecosystem:
- Contributes to ground-level ozone formation
- Eutrophication in coastal waters
- found in acid rain
*Eutrophication- where a body of water suffers an increase in nutrients which reduces the level oxygen in water. Therefore deemed destructive to fish and animal life.
Solutions:
- Develop and promote alternative fuel
- Support the implementation of tighter vehicle emission standards
- Jog or cycle to nearby places
>promote through events
Solutions to air pollution
1. Use public mode of transportation
2. Conserve energy
> can save the environment from degradation by reducing the amount of fossil fuels to be burned.
3. Understand the concept of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
4. Emphasis on clean energy resources
>clean energy technologies like solar, wind and geothermal
5. Use energy efficient devices
they live longer, consume less electricity, lower electricity bills and also help you to reduce pollution by consuming less energy.
* What about Singapore?
NEA (national environment agency) is in charge to manage air pollution in Singapore
Measures taken:
Monitoring air quality through telemetric air quality management and monitoring system
Measuring concentrations of major pollutants
Checking the designs of industrial plants and pollution control equipment at the building plan stage
Conduct source emission test
Conducts regular inspections of sources of pollution
(on gaseous emissions, fuel analyses and smoke observations of chimneys)
These are to ensure
emissions at source are minimised
the impact of residual pollution on surrounding developments minimised
efficient methods of obtaining air quality data
that industries do not contribute to unmanageable pollution, health and safety hazards
compliance with pollution control requirements
that industries monitor their exhaust emissions regularly and take measures to comply with the air emission standards
pollution control equipment is handled and operated efficiently
AROUND THE WORLD
WHO (World's Health Organisation) states that In 1,600 cities in 91 countries, nearly 90% of people in urban areas breathe in air that are at an unsafe level. About 1/2 of the world's urban population is exposed to pollution at a min. 2.5 times greater than it should actually be. Asia has the poorest air quality 7, 000, 000 people around the world died due to air pollution in 2012. 3.7 million of these deaths were estimated from outdoor air pollution.
FACTS ON AIR POLLUTION
Ozone depletion
The ozone layer is a layer of naturally occuring ozone gas about 15 to 30 km above Earth which prevents the ultraviolet rays from entering the Earth. Ozone depletion is the destruction of the ozone layer. It is the destruction of Ozone molecules in the Ozone Layer of the Stratosphere by chemical reactions with materials released by human activities. The main chemicals are the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and the halons which are groups of chemicals that are highly stable in the Troposphere. If the chemicals move to the stratospheric ozone layer, the UV radiation will be strong enough to overcome the bonds of the molecules, releasing chlorine atoms (CFC's) or bromine atoms (halons) which react and cause the destruction.
*Stratosphere- The 2nd most upper layer of the earth's atmosphere.
Halons - They are both atmospheric ozone-depleting and greenhouse gases.
Troposphere - The lowest layer, right below the stratosphere.
Changes in the ozone layer over the years.
Causes
Ozone depletion is caused by the presence of chlorofluorocarbons a.k.a CFCs which are most commonly found in aerosol cans, the presence of carbon tetra chloride which are found in solvents and some fire extinguishers and the release of chemicals chlorine and bromine. Halons (Bromine atoms) are also the causes of ozone depletion. Halon is a compound that contain, bromine, fluorine and carbon. These chemicals react and cause destruction in the ozone layer.
Other Sources of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Used as coolants in refrigerators, air conditioners in buildings and cars manufactured (>1995).
Found in industrial solvents such as dry-cleaning agents and hospital sterilizer.
Used in foam products such as (soft) cushions and mattresses and (rigid) home insulation.
Sources of Halons
Fire extinguishers
Effects
With the layer of ozone starts to become thinner, it allows the harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays to enter the Earth's atmosphere.
This will eventually affects human beings, animals and also the environment as earth are exposed to higher amounts of UV rays. Finally, it will affect agriculture, economy and manufacturers.
Human beings
- increase risk of skin cancers, sunburns and premature aging of the skin
- Blindness and other eye diseases
- Immunosuppression (immune system weakened)
Environment
- Crops and Plants are vulnerable to UV rays and will be reduced in growth, photosynthesis and flowering.
- Trees are also harmed, especially in seedlings.
Animals
- Planktons are the first to get threatened as they are on the surface of the ocean.
- As planktons are the start of food chains, it will disrupt the biodiversity of marine life.
- Thus, fish yields for commercial and sport fisheries will be minimised.
- Domestic animals may get skin cancers and eye diseases
Others
- Agriculture will be affected as most important crop species are vulnerable.
- There will be lack of food in the world for all humans and animals.
- Materials like Wood, plastic, rubber, fabrics and many construction materials will degraded by radiation.
- Economic impact will significant as selling of crops, materials, animals will be affected as well replacing and protecting them.
Solutions
To solve ozone depletion, emissions of CFCs must first be reduced.
Emissions of CFCs and their replacements can be reduced by:
improving the control of chemicals
-to avoid leakage and evaporation that may emit unintended by-products
2. minimising the amount required in any particular type of equipment;
3. introducing and promote more end-of-life recovery, recycling and destruction of substances;
4. enlarging the usage of ammonia and other substances with a lower or 0 global warming potential
5. using technologies that prevent gases from depleting ozone or contributing to climate change.
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