Pollution and Its Impacts

BI TECHNOLOGY

Environmental ScienceDr. Anneth R. Ramirez, School of Biotechnology; 2011-2012Pollution and Its Impacts

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY AT HO CHI MINH CITYINTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITYAnneth R. Ramirez, Ph. DEmail: rranneth@hcmiu.edu.vn Mobile phone: +84908634901SCHOOL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY Lecture#5 Pollution and Its ImpactsLearning Objectives:In this lecture we will discuss air, water, soil pollution and their impacts. We will also discuss climate change as an effect of pollutionAir pollutionWater PollutionSoil Pollution Climate Change

2 However, our greater role will be an attempt to make a critical anaysis of the worlds environmental polllution problems Review

Environmental Science: The scientific study of the influence of human actions on natural processes

What is Environmental Science?Environment (from the French environner: to encircle or surround) can be defined as (1) the circumstances or conditions that surround an organism or group of organisms, or (2) the complex of social or cultural conditions that affect an individual or community Environmental ImpactEnvironmental impact refers to the alteration of the natural environment by human activityResource depletion and pollution are the two basic types of environmental impactEnvironmental Pollution started with the Industrial Revolutionhttp://www.dailyinterestingfacts.com/environment/pollution-facts.html

As industrialization has spread around the globe, so the problem of pollution has spread with itWhat is Water Pollution?Water pollution is broad term that includes contamination of different water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans, and groundwater

Types of Water PollutionSurface Water Pollution The most obvious type of water pollution affects surface waters (oceans, lakes and rivers)Groundwater Pollution-water stored underground in aquifer)

Industry: Main Reason for Global Water Pollution ProblemsThe industry is the main reason for global water pollution problems primarily because there are many industries that ignored country policies about dumping waste in rivers and other water bodieshttp://www.dailyinterestingfacts.com/environment/pollution-facts.html

Waste Water and Sewage Water: Main Water PollutantsWaste water and sewage waste are the main sources of water pollutants . It has been estimated we generate more than 4 billion tons of industrial waste per yearhttp://www.dailyinterestingfacts.com/environment/pollution-facts.html

15,000 die each year from water pollutionIt is believed that water pollution is the leading worldwide cause of deaths and diseases responsible for around 15,000 deaths each day. About 20% of the world's population lacks access to safe drinking water and about 50% lacks adequate sanitationhttp://www.dailyinterestingfacts.com/environment/pollution-facts.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ardilesrante/Factories, power plants, sewage treatment plants, underground coal mines and oil wells are classified as point sources because they discharge pollution from specific locations such as drain pipes, ditches or sewer outfalls (Cunningham and Cunningham, 2008)The effects of nonpoint source pollutants on specific waters vary and may not always be fully assessed. However, we know that these pollutants have harmful effects on drinking water supplies, recreation, fisheries and wildlife.

Both organic (those that contain carbon) and inorganic (those that don't) contaminants are important in soil. The most prominent chemical groups of organic contaminants are fuel hydrocarbons, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chlorinated aromatic compounds, detergents, and pesticides. Inorganic species include nitrates, phosphates, and heavy metals such as cadmium, chromium and lead; inorganic acids; andradionuclides(radioactive substances). Among the sources of these contaminants are agricultural runoffs, acidic precipitates, industrial waste materials, and radioactive fallout.

Read more:Soil Pollution - water, effects, environmental, pollutants, United States, EPA, pesticide, chemicals, industrial, toxic, sources, use, life, Phytoremediationhttp://www.pollutionissues.com/Re-Sy/Soil-Pollution.html#ixzz1cf86LnO2Soil pollution can lead to water pollution if toxic chemicals leach into groundwater, or if contaminated runoff reaches streams, lakes, or oceans.

Read more:Soil Pollution - water, effects, environmental, pollutants, United States, EPA, pesticide, chemicals, industrial, toxic, sources, use, life, Phytoremediationhttp://www.pollutionissues.com/Re-Sy/Soil-Pollution.html#ixzz1cf8MDvsRSoil also naturally contributes to air pollution by releasing volatile compounds into the atmosphere. Nitrogen escapes through ammonia volatilization anddenitrification. The decomposition of organic materials in soil can release sulfur dioxide and other sulfur compounds, causing acid rain.

Read more:Soil Pollution - water, effects, environmental, pollutants, United States, EPA, pesticide, chemicals, industrial, toxic, sources, use, life, Phytoremediationhttp://www.pollutionissues.com/Re-Sy/Soil-Pollution.html#ixzz1cf8fOwZHSoil Pollution and Bioaccumulation Chemicals that are not water soluble contaminate plants that grow on polluted soils, and they also tend to accumulate increasingly toward the top of the food chain

Read more:Soil Pollution - water, effects, environmental, pollutants, United States, EPA, pesticide, chemicals, industrial, toxic, sources, use, life, Phytoremediationhttp://www.pollutionissues.com/Re-Sy/Soil-Pollution.html#ixzz1cf8xr5NHa colourless chemical pesticide, which is a potent nerve poison in insects was first widely used to combat diseases such as yellow fever and malaria. It was later used to control and/ or eradicate disease carrying and crop eating insects. DDT was later on discovered to cause endagerement of species in the same food chain as thecontrolled insects, particularly birds. DDT prevents the shelling of bird eggs and in humans causes health threats. We saw these in a class presentation chemical impurity resulting from the production of the auxin 2,4,5T. Dioxin is a toxic chemical and was used as a defoliant by the American army. Dioxin was a major constituent of argent orange which was applied on trees which would then fall off revealing enemy camps. After the war it was found that the chemical cause congenital deformalities and mental effects to the children born to the American soldiers and in the area over which it was applied. In minute amount ,dioxin has the ability to cause cancer,chloracne, miscarriage, and fetal abnormalitiesThe most common decontamination method for polluted soils is to remove the soil and deposit it in landfills or to incinerate it.

Whats the problem with this method?Read more:Soil Pollution - water, effects, environmental, pollutants, United States, EPA, pesticide, chemicals, industrial, toxic, sources, use, life, Phytoremediationhttp://www.pollutionissues.com/Re-Sy/Soil-Pollution.html#ixzz1cf9mdcs1Soil washing techniques have been developed including physical methods, such as attrition scrubbing and wet-screening, and chemical methods consisting of treatments with organic and inorganic acids, bases, salts and chelating agentsWhat are the problems with these methods?

Read more:Soil Pollution - water, effects, environmental, pollutants, United States, EPA, pesticide, chemicals, industrial, toxic, sources, use, life, Phytoremediationhttp://www.pollutionissues.com/Re-Sy/Soil-Pollution.html#ixzz1cfAC1SoNIn situ Methods Are Less Harmfulin situmethods are used directly at the contamination site. In this case, soil does not need to be excavated, and therefore the chance of causing further environmental damage is minimized.In situbiodegradation uses naturally occurring microorganisms by artificially stimulating their numbers and activity. The microorganisms then assist in degrading the soil contaminants.

Read more:Soil Pollution - water, effects, environmental, pollutants, United States, EPA, pesticide, chemicals, industrial, toxic, sources, use, life, Phytoremediationhttp://www.pollutionissues.com/Re-Sy/Soil-Pollution.html#ixzz1cfAgkbhAAir Pollution

Natural Sources of Air PollutionMajor Indoor Air PollutantsIndoor Air PollutionIndoor air pollution is even bigger problem than the outdoor air pollution because according to the data from the World Health Organization indoor air pollution has caused more deaths than outdoor air pollutionhttp://www.dailyinterestingfacts.com/environment/pollution-facts.html

Indoor smoke contains a variety of health-damaging pollutants:

Environment Poverty NexusEnvironmental problems have hit the poor the hardest and have been a significant cause of the rise in poverty and vulnerability.The environment-poverty nexus is a two-way relationship.Environmentalists say the relationship between poverty and environment is a vicious circle.Environmental degradation has deprived poor people off their assets, affected their health and increased their vulnerability towards it. On the other hand, poverty affects the environment by leading people to excessive exploitation of natural resources.However, in the process it is mostly the poor who bear the brunt of environmental degradation

mtweb.mtsu.eduThe termacid precipitationis used to specifically describe wet forms of acid pollution that can be found in rain, sleet, snow, fog, and cloud vapor. An acid can be defined as any substance that when dissolved in water dissociates to yield corrosive hydrogen ions. The acidity of substances dissolved in water is commonly measured in terms ofpH(defined as the negative logarithm of the concentration of hydrogen ions). According to this measurement scale solutions with pHs less than 7 are described as beingacidic, while a pH greater than 7.0 is consideredalkalineSource: http://www.physicalgeography.netSO2+ H2OH2SO3H2SO3+ 1/2O2H2SO4Several processes can result in the formation of acid deposition.Nitrogen oxides(NOx) andsulfur dioxide(SO2) released into the atmosphere from a variety of sources call fall to the ground simply as dry deposition. This dry deposition can then be converted into acids when these deposited chemicals meet water. Most wet acid deposition forms when nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) are converted tonitric acid(HNO3) andsulfuric acid(H2SO4) through oxidationanddissolution. Wet deposition can also form whenammoniagas (NH3) from natural sources is converted intoammonium(NH4)Source: http://www.physicalgeography.net

Are the Sulfur Released in the Atmosphere of Human Origin? ANSWER: YES, 90% of the Sulfur released into the atmosphere are of human originIs the Sulfur Dioxide Released in the Atmosphere of Human Origin?About 99% of the sulfur dioxide in air comes from human sources. The main source of sulfur dioxide in the air is industrial activity when we process materials that contain sulfur. For example, the generation of electricity from coal, oil or gas that contains sulfur. Some mineral ores also contain sulfur.

Is the Sulfur Dioxide Released in the Atmosphere of Human Origin? Sulfur dioxide is also present in motor vehicle emissions, as the result of fuel combustionIs the Sulfur Dioxide Released in the Atmosphere of Human Origin? One of extraction processes of mining, the pyrometallurgicalprocesses, causes emission of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere

StraightDope.com Effects of Acid Deposition Acid deposition has a destructive and unhealthy impact on the environment. For example, in water, acid deposition kills fish, with acid that can be directly deposited into bodies of water.

Effects of Acid DepositionOr the acid can leach heavy metals in the water and release harmful metals into the aquatic environment, and after marine life absorb these metals, they die, or become sterile, or produce mutated offspring. Another impact of acid deposition is the destruction of artifacts, where limestone or marble are extremely vulnerable to corrosion from acid

Air pollution is linked to premature births

Global warming controversyIn the scientific literature, there is astrong consensusthat global surface temperatures have increased in recent decades and that the trend is caused mainly by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gasesSource: Oreskes, Naomi(December 2004)."BEYOND THE IVORY TOWER: The Scientific Consensus on Climate Change".Science306(5702): 1686.doi:10.1126/science.1103618

climategate:another controversyTheClimatic Research Unit email controversy(also known as"Climategate")began in November 2009 with thehackingof a server at theClimatic Research Unit(CRU) at theUniversity of East Anglia(UEA).On 20 November, two weeks before theCopenhagen Summiton climate change, an unknown individual or group breached CRU's server and copied thousands of emails and computer files to various locations on the InternetClimategate scientists have been cleared of such accusationsClimate skeptics alleged that the emails revealed scientists manipulating climate data and suppressing their critics. Climate skeptics said the documents showed evidence that global warming wasa scientific conspiracy I. What Are Some Natural Causes of Climate Change?(A) Variations in the Earth's Orbit (tilt or shape) - cycles from 20,000 to 100,000 yrs.

(B) Changes in the amount of energy coming from the SunC) Volcanic eruptions

(D) Collisions with comets or meteorites

II. Have Humans Caused Some of the Recent Climate Changes? ANSWER: STRONG POSSIBILITY Linking Air Pollution With Climate Change ANSWER: STRONG POSSIBILITY 2. Carbon Dioxide, Methane and Nitrous Oxide Concentrations4. Chemical measurements of Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere show that the additional CO2 is from burning of fossil fuels (the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere is decreasing in direct proportion to the increase in CO2); they are from plants (which assumes, coal) rather than geological sources such as volcano (www.pewclimate.org)Climate Change

Source: step.nn.k12.va.us/science/envsci/ppt/Climate_Change.pptStudying climate change: Direct samplingScientists have recorded carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere directly since 1958, at a station in Hawaii.The data show a steady upward climb from 315 to 373 ppm.(The up and down zigzags are from regular winter-summer fluctuations.)(Brennan and Withgott, 2008)

Figure 12.6

Increase of other greenhouse gasesHalocarbon gases (which include CFCs) are powerful greenhouse gases.

But their effects are slowing due to the Montreal Protocol.

Water vapor is the most abundant greenhouse gas. Its future changes, if any, remain uncertain.Aerosols and coolingStudying climate change: Ice coresIce caps and glaciers accumulated over thousands or millions of years.They contain bubbles of gas preserved from the time when each layer formed.Scientists drill cores and analyze the gas bubbles in each layer to see what the atmosphere was like at that time.(Brennan and Withgott, 2010)

Figure 12.5Using Pollen analysis to Study Climate Change

From The Science behind the StoriesStudying climate change: ModelingScientists test their models by entering real data from the past and seeing how well their model would have predicted past trends.

They generally find: Models that incorporate only natural factors or only anthropogenic (human-caused) factors predict poorly.

But models including both natural and anthropogenic factors predict very well.

(Brennan and Withgott, 2010)Climate Change 2007, theFourth Assessment Report(AR4) of theUnited NationsIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC), is the fourth in a series of reports intended to assess scientific, technical and socio-economic information concerningclimate change, its potential effects, and options for adaptation and mitigation. The report is the largest and most detailed summary of the climate change situation ever undertaken, produced by thousands of authors, editors, and reviewer from dozens of countries, citing over 6,000peer-reviewedscientific studies

ObservedChanges, Effects..and Predictions

Changes in Global Climate 65 ma to PresentAsteroid hit Chesapeake led to major glaciation periodstep.nn.k12.va.us/science/envsci/ppt/Climate_Change.ppt Phenological ChangesLife-cycles of plants and animals have been affected by global changeTemperatures affecting plants growing season, flowering time and timing of pollination by insects are also changingstep.nn.k12.va.us/science/envsci/ppt/Climate_Change.ppt

Phenological ChangesPenuelas J and Filella I 2001. Response to a warming world. Science 294: 793 795Major Biomes and Their VegetationTundra no trees, lichens, grasses and shrubsTaiga (or Boreal Forest) coniferous evergreensTemperate forests include evergreens (spruce), deciduous forests (oaks), mixed forests, and temperate rain forests (sequoias)Tropical rain forests greatest amount of diversity in vegetation (vines, orchids, palms)Grasslands grasses, prairie cloverDeserts cacti, small bushes

Major Terrestrial BiomesGeographic distribution of biomes are dependent on temperature, precipitation, altitude and latitudeWeather patterns dictate the type of plants that will dominate an ecosystem

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570 505 438 408 360 286 245 208 144 66 2 10K Million years before presentGlobal Temperature

570 505 438 408 360 286 245 208 144 66 2 10K Million years before presentSoutheast Asia Tropical Rainforest Monsoons role

SE Asia has a tropical wet climate which is influenced by ocean wind systems originating in the Indian Ocean and China Sea2 monsoon seasons:Northeast monsoons (Oct. Feb) bring heavy rains to Eastern side of the islandsSouthwest monsoons (April Aug) more powerful of the two seasons brings heavy rainfall to the western side of the islands Eastern side of islands dry but windy (due to rain shadow)

Change in monsoon cycle bring heavy consequencesEx. 1992 1993 logging degraded primary foresting making it vulnerable to fires. A drought brought on by El Nino created devastating fires destroying 27,000 km2 of acreage.In 1998 the same type of thing happened again when El Nino created a weak monsoon season destroying many plant and animal species.

step.nn.k12.va.us/science/envsci/ppt/Climate_Change.ppt

Monsoons Seasons

Summer monsoonIndiaIndianOceanS. ChinaSeastep.nn.k12.va.us/science/envsci/ppt/Climate_Change.ppt

Present day Predicted Distributionforestforestgrasslandgrasslandaridwoodlandshrub landshrub landwoodlandgrasslandgrassland

Climate change p. 104Arid deserts in Southwestern U.S. will shrink as precipitation increasesSavanna/shrub/woodland systems will replace grasslands in the Great PlainsEastern U.S. forests will expand northerly weather conditions will become more severeSoutheastern U.S. increasing droughts will bring more fires triggering a rapid change from broadleaf forests to Savannas

Predicted Change in BiomesLoss of existing habitat that could occur under doubling of CO2 concentration. Shades of red indicate percentage of vegetation models that predicted a change in biome type.

Frequency of forest fires will increase

step.nn.k12.va.us/science/envsci/ppt/Climate_Change.pptShifts in Terrestrial HabitatIt is predicted that at the end of this century there will be large scale shifts in the global distribution of vegetation in response to anthropogenic climate change.

With man doubling the amount of carbon dioxide entering into the atmosphere the climate is changing more rapidly then plant migration can keep up.

Potential distribution of the major world biomes under current climate conditionsProjected distribution of the major world biomes by simulating the effects of 2xCO2-equivalent concentrations www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/ seminars/960610SM.html Boreal and Alpine VegetationResearch indicates the greatest amount of change will occur at the higher latitudes

Northern Canada and Alaska are already experiencing rapid warming and reduction of ice cover

Vegetation existing in these areas will be replaced with temperate forest species

Tundra, Taiga and Temperate forests will migrate pole ward

Some plants will face extinction because habitat will become too small (ex. Mountain tops of European Alps)

Predicted changes in Siberian vegetation in response to doubling of CO2Climate changestep.nn.k12.va.us/science/envsci/ppt/Climate_Change.pptWhat Will Happen to Grasslands and Shrub Lands?Grassland will change to deserts or shrub lands Exposing greater amounts of soilIncreasing soil temperature poor nitrogen content poor plant growthBarren soil exposed to winds and transported into atmosphere as dust and trapping IR leading to more warmingWho are at Risk? Northern countries (Russia, Sweden, Finland) of existing terrestrial habitats at risk

In Mexico, its predicted that 2.4% of species will lose 90% of their range and threatened with extinction by the year 2055

Population at greatest risk are the rare and isolated species with fragmented habitats or those surrounded by water, agriculture or human development

Polar bears facing extinction by prolonged ice melts in feeding areas along with decline in seal population

step.nn.k12.va.us/science/envsci/ppt/Climate_Change.pptwww.sciencedaily.com/.../ 09/050918132252.htm

35% of worlds existing terrestrial habitat predicted to be altered

Studies found that deforestation in different areas of the globe affects rainfall patterns over a considerable region

Deforestation in the Amazon region of South America (Amazonian) influences rainfall from Mexico to Texas and in the Gulf of Mexico

Deforesting lands in Central Africa affects precipitation in the upper and lower U.S. Midwest

An analysis post-kyotoThe future of the kyoto protocol is in limboAfter 2012, a regulatory gap will result Countries generally have fallen into camps of rich and poor on the issue. Developing countries insist the Kyoto obligations be extended and new targets adopted. Industrial countries say they want emerging economies to accept similar binding commitments.

Read more:http://www.3news.co.nz/UN-seeks-post-Kyoto-Protocol-climate-solutions/tabid/1160/articleID/214153/Default.aspx#ixzz1cUTtGD3cThree countries that fell under the Kyoto mandate - Japan, Canada and Russia - have said they will not renew their commitments after they expire in 2012

Read more:http://www.3news.co.nz/UN-seeks-post-Kyoto-Protocol-climate-solutions/tabid/1160/articleID/214153/Default.aspx#ixzz1cUU71Z7zThe global carbon markets is shrinkingFrom an estimated market value of about $15 billion in 2005, the practice of trading in greenhouse gas emissions allowances and carbon emission offsets credits has enjoyed rapid growth, exploding tenfold to reach a record value of close to $144 billion in 2009. Emissions trading doubled in 2008 alone.

The World Bank and other sources now say emissions trading activity fell by about $2 billion in 2010, to $142 billion. The value of trades in the European Union's Emissions Trading System held steady, but activity in the U.N.-administered Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) shrank by 48 percent in value over the previous year.Japan announced that it would not sign on for a second commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol after the first period expires in 2012 unless China and the U.S. join the agreement.The Japanese reasoning is based squarely on this key problem with the protocol: Why should they sign onto a second period of binding reductions for an agreement that can never hope to achieve meaningful carbon reductions when it does not include the U.S. and China?Worlds Worst PollutersAUSTRALIA has the world's highest per capita carbon dioxide emissions from energy use, according to a British analysis.

Read more:http://www.theage.com.au/environment/the-worlds-worst-polluters-20090910-fjdt.html#ixzz1cTx9q9B5

China, now the biggest overall annual emitter of greenhouse gas, recorded 4.6 tonnes per person

Read more:http://www.theage.com.au/environment/the-worlds-worst-polluters-20090910-fjdt.html#ixzz1cUYvYNtV

China admitted that it is the world's biggest greenhouse gas emitter, though this was known for more than a year because already in 2009 China overtook United States and became world's biggest polluter.China's fast growing economy, mostly based on using coal as primary fuel, is the main reason why China emits about 6,018 million tons of greenhouse gases per yearChina and other emerging countries are demanding rich nations make cuts of 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020. It would give poorer countries time to expand their economies and reduce poverty before deepening their carbon footprints

Read more:http://www.theage.com.au/environment/the-worlds-worst-polluters-20090910-fjdt.html#ixzz1cUZ8a9JFClimate Conference in durban, south africa IN NOVEMBER, 2011EXPECTATIONS ARE LOWAccording to reports, the US administration could not commit to such targets at this stage. There is simply no support in Congress. The position of China is more difficult to predict. China is not expected to take on absolute reduction targets by 2020 unless there is a clear commitment from the US to do the same

Source:viewpointonline.netBibliography for Climate Change SlidesJay H. Withgott , Scott R. Brennan,2010. Environment: The Science behind the Stories with Mastering EnvironmentalScience, 4th Edition, USA:Benjamin Cummings :47-81earthobservatory.nasa.govHardy, J. T. Effects on Terrestrial Ecosystems. Climate Change; Causes, Effects and Solutions, 2003: 99 115.Malcolm JR and Markham A. 2000 Global Warming and Terrestrial Biodiversity Decline. Report of the World Wildlife Fund, Gland, Switzerland.Penuelas J and Filella I 2001. Response to a warming world. Science 294: 793 795.Prentice, C.I., Guiot, J., Huntley, B., Jolly D. and Cheddadi, R., 1996, Reconstructing biomes from palaeoecological data: a general method and its application to European pollen data at 0 and 6 ka. Climate Dynamics 12:185-194. "Rainforests", http://passporttoknowledge.com/rainforest/GEOsystem/Maps/seasia.html, (3/18/02) taggart.glg.msu.edu/isb200/fland.htm The Greenhouse Effect and Climate Change. Commonwealth of Australia 2006, Bureau of Meteorology (ABN 92 637 533 532): pp. 9 77.Wing, S.L. and Boucher, L.D. 1998. Ecological aspects of the Cretaceous Flowering plant radiation. Annual Review Earth Planet. Science 26: 379 421www.behav.org/ecol/wildife/w_02_bioms.htmwww.geo.arizona.edu/ ~rees/Jurassic.htmlwww.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/ seminars/960610SM.htmlwww.sciencedaily.com/.../ 09/050918132252.htmZachos, J., Pagani, M., Sloan, L., Thomas, E., Billups, K. 2004. Trends, Rhythms, and Aberrations in Global Climate 65 ma to Present. Science 292: 686 693