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Humans and Pollution Sustainability Defined as living within the means of nature Ensuring that there is always enough of a resource for future generations Indicators Can be ecological: air quality, environmental vulnerability, water quality, species populations Can economical: poverty, famine, gross domestic product Both global and local scales are important MEA Millennium ecosystem assessment Funded by the UN in 2001 and results released in 2005 Looked at how ecosystems have changed over the last decades 60% of ecosystems degraded 25% of earth is cultivated 25% of all fish are overharvested 35% of mangroves are depleted 20% of coral reefs are degraded Recommendations Remove subsidies to sources that harm the environment Encourage sustainable resource use Protect areas from development Natural Capital vs. Natural Income Capital is the production of goods from nature and the environment Income is money produced from the sell of the goods Which is capital and which is income? A forest provides timber A shoal of fish provides food EIA’s Environmental Impact Assessments Report prepared before the development of land Looks at the impact on all 3 spheres of environmental systems Current conditions are considered and impact of the project is forecasted Input from the community, the project leaders, government and scientists Pollutants and pollution Pollutants are released by human activities As human population increases so does the effect of pollution Matter (gas, liquid or solid) that is both organic or inorganic Energy in the form of sound, light or heat Living organisms such as invasive species and biological agents Primary pollutants Active on emission and can kill immediately (ex: carbon monoxide) Secondary pollutants Formed by primary pollutants that undergo chemical or physical change Major Sources of Pollution Major Source Pollutant Effect Combustion of fossil fuels Carbon dioxide Climate change Sulfur dioxide Acid rain Nitrogen oxides Respiratory and eye irritation Photochemical smog Secondary pollutant causing respiratory and eye irritation Carbon monoxide Blocks hemoglobin - death Organic waste (food and sewage) Eutrophication and waterborne disease Waste paper Fills landfills Plastics Fills landfills, ocean pollution Glass Some recycled but most goes to landfill Tins/cans Can be recycled but most goes to landfill Domestic waste Major sources of pollution Major Source Pollutant Effect Industrial waste Heavy metals Poisoning Fluorides Poisoning Heat Reduces solubility of gases in water – less oxygen Lead Disabilities in children Acids Corrosive Nitrates Eutrophication Organic waste Eutrophication Pesticides Accumulate up the food chain Agricultural Waste Pollutants Point Source Non-Point Source Clearly identifiable source Example is a factory dumping waste Easy to manage – stop Release from numerous pollution at the source dispersed sites Example is car exhaust Many sources Hard to determine direct cause Pollution found in rivers, lakes and oceans traveled far from the source One solution is to cap pollution from all possible sources Persistent organic pollutants Old pesticides that remain active in the environment for long periods of time Bioaccumulation in the food chain Example: DDT – best pesticide of all time….weakened egg shells leading to the near extinction of birds of prey Types of Pollution Acute Chronic Large amounts of pollution Small amounts of pollution are released at one time causing immediate harm Ex: Bhopal Disaster released over a long period of time Often goes undetected Difficult to determine source and difficult to clean up Widespread Ex: air pollution Detection and Monitoring of Pollution Direct measurement Indirect measurement Acidity of rainwater Measure abiotic factors that Amount of gas in the change when exposed to a pollutant atmosphere Amount of particulates emitted by an engine Amount of lead Oxygen in a lake that has fertilizer run-off Trent biotic index Look at the types animals – some thrive in polluted environments whereas others don’t Frogs don’t do pollution Pollution Management Process of Pollution Level of Pollution Management Human activity producing the pollution Change the human activity that is producing the pollution • Campaigns • Education • Community groups • Legislation • Economic incentives Release of the pollution into the environment Control the location of the release and the amount • Legislate and regulate emission • Develop standards/apply technologies to extract pollutants from emission Impact of pollutants on the environment Clean up and restore damaged ecosystem • Remove pollutant • Replenish/restock/replant lost species
