T3-1 Contaminant

Monday, April 12, 2010

INTRODUCTION

Pollution in general, is never good. Certain countries are bigger contributors to pollution than others. For example, high-tech countries that are developed are going to have more chemical and thermal pollution than developing countries. Also, the biological pollution is keyed in with the environmental factors. If the environmental conditions are in favor, such as much algae, then pollution is more likely. Here you will learn about the repercussions, health risks, and ways you can prevent all of these different types of pollution.

TYPES OF POLLUTANTS

There are basically four types of pollutants, biological pollution, chemical pollution, physical pollution, and thermal pollution. Biological pollution consists of all of the different types of bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and worms carried by water. It also consists of things like algal blooms and untreated human and animal wastes that are emitted into the water supply. All of these things can be removed through normal water treatment systems, however, when they go through the water supply without being filtered, they can cause many different harmful human and animal diseases.
Chemical pollution consists of heavy metals that are released into water, such as mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, and aluminum. These metals can be released from sediment, and can also industrial and household sources. Other chemical pollutants include nutrients, such as nitrogen from fertilizer runoff, and oil from automobiles and domestic sources. The last chemical pollutant is radioactive waste. If any heavy metals are directly ingested from contaminated water, they can easily harm humans.
Physical pollution consists of sediment released in water. Sediment can be released into water through erosion, deforestation, and projects regarding agriculture and hydroelectricity. When sediments are released they often cause a choking effect on lakes, rivers, streams, reservoirs and harbors. This effect makes photosynthesis more difficult, which in turn causes problems for aquatic food webs.
Thermal pollution is often caused by water-cooling systems designed for power plants. The water is heated to a level that depletes the oxygen supply. Once the oxygen supply is lower, it weakens aquatic species, and makes them more vulnerable to diseases, parasites, and toxins in the water. Also, thermal shock can occur when a drastic temperature change is made in an aquatic environment, which can potentially kill many aquatic animals.

CLASSIFICATIONS

First, biological pollutants are microscopic viruses, bacteria, protozoans, phytoplankton, zooplankton, insects, worms, large plants and fish. These are point source pollutants. They come from direct sources such as sewage in a water system. They can contaminate and live in the intestines of mammal. Next, chemical pollutants are defined as anything that can dissolve in water. This includes gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide, salts, nitrates and phosphorous, and other man made or natural substances. These pollutants come from a non-point source. In addition, physical pollutants can usually be detected through your senses. Some of the most common senses are temperature, taste, color, odor, and turbidity. Turbidity is the cloudiness or clearness of the water. Lastly, thermal pollution is when heated water is added into a body of water. This is described as point source pollution and comes from factories in the cooling processes of materials such as cooling electric power plants. All in all, there are many types of water pollutants

METHODS OF DETECTION, CAUSE AND AFFECT

First, the best way to identify biological pollutants in your water is to pour some water into a bacterial culture and then identify the pollutants in your water. This is one of the most common methods of detection. This kind of pollution is often caused by the infestation of bacteria and microorganisms which probably travel through the air and reach a water source. They are a leading source of sickness to the surrounding environment. Next, some easy ways to detect the amount of a chemical substance is in a water, you can use a variety of tests. These tests could be for example, the turbidity of the water or the total amount of dissolved oxygen present in the water. This is an example of what kind of tests that can be performed. Also, the amounts of a heavy metal, toxin, or nutrient can be measured. The cause of these pollutants entering the water is due to a variety of factors such as runoff from agricultural sources and from wastewater treatment plants. It can cause many different affects to the water including depletion of dissolved oxygen levels, changing of the pH level, and the turbidity of the water. Also, the best way to detect physical changes in the water is by using your senses. If it changes its state of matter or if it changes its shape, color, taste, smell, etc… these are all ways to detect physical changes. The cause of a physical change in the water could be the change in temperature or the transfer of energy through the water. Lastly, measuring the amount of thermal pollution can be done with a simple heat test in the water. Thermal pollution is caused by electric factories and from runoff. It can drastically change the environment of the water which will lead to a major disruption in the surrounding ecosystems.

REPERCUSSIONS OF EACH

Biological pollution can cause horrible diseases in humans. The viruses, protozoa, parasitic worms, and bacteria that cause these diseases can have an impact on animals as well. Marine organisms are especially susceptible to these pathogens. The fishing industry is then affected, because fish can be killed by a result. But it can also be affected if another part of the food chain is harmed. 19 humpback whales and 22 million fish were killed because of biological pollution. $55 million dollars was lost in seafood sales as a result as well. It can also affect livestock if their water source is polluted; killing them or the pathogen can be passed on to humans when consumed. When there is excess nutrients in the water it causes excess algae growth using the oxygen in the water killing organisms that need the oxygen, this is called eutrophication.

Chemical pollution is heavy metals, oil, nutrients, and radioactive wastes in the water. Humans and other organisms consume the heavy metals in the waters, and then they accumulate in their tissues. This accumulation can cause diseases and other health problems. Oil spills also create another problem. The oil leaks from ships and cars where it makes its way to the ocean. Then because oil and water does not mix the oil stays at the surface where it eventually makes its way to beaches causing environmental problems. Each year, humans discharge approximately three to six million metric tons of oil into the ocean. In 1989, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez spilled eleven million gallons of oil into Alaskan waters. Over 300,000 birds and 2,500 otters were killed, and the total environmental damage amounted to a cost of over fifteen billion dollars. Radioactive waste will be dumped into water sources from factories. When the radioactive wastes are consumed in both humans and animals is causes genetic mutations, miscarriages, birth defects, and certain cancers.

Physical pollution is mainly sedimentation which can greatly affect interactions of organisms and their environment. Sediments can enter bodies of water or even be stirred up from the bottom. Either one of these can cause problems for organisms. The sediment can block out light from the body of water, preventing photosynthesis. The photosynthetic organisms then can die. The loss of the plants takes away the base food source for the ecosystem affecting all animals. Sediment may also carry pesticides, bacteria, and other harmful substances which can harm the organisms. The sediments also disturb the habitat which can destroy the feeding and spawning grounds of fish.

Thermal pollution is created when water is used for cooling factory. So when the water is released it lowers dissolved oxygen levels. The depleted oxygen makes aquatic species more susceptible to disease, parasites, and toxic chemicals. Organisms can also go into thermal shock because the differences of temperature.

PROACTIVE MEASURES

Biological pollution is hard to stop because of the pollution being microscopic organisms in the water. One of the only ways to stop this is to treat the water. Treating storm drain water is one way to stop it. Not all communities treat their water from the storm drains. When this water goes to a sewage treatment plant, all of the microscopic organisms can be filtered out be a variety of methods.

The chemical pollution comes from several sources, so there are several measures to stop it. House hold chemicals are often one source, so disposing of them properly rather than pouring them down the drain. The main proactive measures of the oil spills are laws. Laws prevent people from dumping oil into water systems. Because the laws set in the U.S. most of the oil spills are accidental.

Physical pollution is sedimentation in the water which usually comes from erosion. So preventing erosion is a great proactive measure. Planting trees and other plants reduces erosion. Replanting the trees after deforestation, which cause a large amount of erosion, protects water sources from the physical pollution as well as practicing sustainable use in the forestry industry.

Thermal pollution is hard to prevent because the water is needed to cool the industrial factories. So, one major proactive measure is to begin building power plants that need less cooling. Hydropower plants and solar powered plants do not need the water to cool the machinery. Even fossil fuel power plants use less than nuclear power plants, though it would be worse to use more fossil fuel power plants. Changing the way we get energy would help to reduce the thermal pollution, but it would be a slow transition.

KNOWN HEALTH RISKS

Biological pollution is caused by surplus fertilizers and chemicals that create more frequent toxic algal blooms, which cause the population of living organisms to increase. This increases the amount of waste given off by the animals, therefore increasing the biological pollution. Not only does this pollute our waters, but this can affect the human and animal health. Through direct exposure or bioaccumulation, this affects the entire ecosystem. Whales seem to be at the top of the food chain, yet due to the algal blooms and toxic marine life, their food supply was infected, therefore infection more then 19 humpback whales. If humans eat the contaminated food supply, then the consumer will be contaminated as well. For example, in 1995, more than 500,000 fish (many with red and black sores) were either fished for food, or they died. People who came into contact with the water in the bay, or ate these fishes, developed sores and eye irritation along with breathing difficulties, nausea, and deficiencies in learning and memory.

One example of chemical pollution is when a plant draws water from a river to cool off it’s turbines. The heated water used to cool the turbines, is returned, polluting the water. As you can imagine, water at such a high temperature emits certain chemicals that shouldn’t be there! Therefore damaging any life that the water may have. If swimming in a body of water that has been chemically contaminated, certain diseases may come. Also, chemicals from the plant may leak into the water supply used to cool off the turbines, therefore contaminating the water even more, killing wild life and harming humans.

Physical pollution can be changed. It is all up to us. Physical pollution is the pollution that is produced by manmade items, which can harm animals’ health, as well as the health of humans. By coming in contact with more dangerous pollutants, certain cancers can form. These cancers, as well as kidney failure, organ failure, nervous system damage, tooth decay, skin irritation, birth defects, fertility problems, infections, and susceptibility to H1N1 are all common side effects of physical pollution, as well as the other pollutions.

Thermal pollution can be defined as the artificial warming of a body of water to the point where the inhabitants it are damaged. Thermal pollution comes from the release of heated water used to cool turbines, such as those used in power-generation equipment, into a body of water. Thermal pollution can raise the temperature of a stream beyond the rather limit range that many organisms require for life and breeding, causing reproductive failure (trout and salmon are particularly sensitive to this). It can also encourage the growth of microorganisms, thus contributing to cultural eutrophication which can greatly affect humans. The worst affects of this pollution, however, are on the solubility of solids and gases in the water. A rise in temperature increases the solubility of solids, therefore raising the water's ability to carry pollutants in solution and effectively increasing its pollutant load. The condition of the water degrades, leaving the fish’s tolerance range dangerously low. Of course, coming in contact with this pollution leaves humans sick and weak. Coming in contact with this can cause many short-term illnesses as well as longer term ones that may never go away. In the long run, this can definitely take a life.

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

Ways to prevent chemical pollution in water is to wash your car away from storm drains, don’t dispose of any trash or any type of chemical into sewer drains, using fewer fertilizers and pesticides. Also, other ways for prevention are using non-toxic cleaners, not cleaning paintbrushes in sinks, and not flushing medicines down toilets. Two ways to prevent biological pollution in water are inspecting septic systems once a year and always pump the waste systems on boats .One way to prevent thermal pollution in water are having factories and plants reusing water they need to cool machine instead of releasing it into the environment. A way to prevent physical pollution in water is no dumping products of mining and drilling into streams and rivers.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, CULTURAL BELIEFS, AND SOCIOECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS ON THE HEALTH OF A SOCIETY

Different cultures all seem to have a different belief about the health of a society, including their economic status and not including it. Different countries will have more pollution than others, and they will be either cleaning it up, or continuing the cycle. For example, high-tech. countries will be more likely to have more thermal and chemical pollution than a developing country. Due to the fact that thermal and chemical pollution are caused by large power plants that consume much energy, a nation must be flourishing in order to have much pollution. Also, the issue of power comes before water pollution, therefore continuing the cycle. With developing countries and poor countries, other issues are focused on way before water pollution. For example, in Africa, people focus on other issues such as food and shelter. The people there pollute their waters, creating physical pollution, and then do not reach out for help to clean it. Even though the country may not be very economically aided or environmentally fit, Africa can reach out for help against water pollution, making it a healthier nation.

CONCLUSION

As you can see, pollution does not help any nation. Some types of pollutions, such as physical pollution can be controlled by the nation. Others are determined by environmental factors, such as the amount of algae, which contributes to biological pollution. Chemical and thermal pollution can also be stopped by alternate means of technology, or cleaning off this technology. Other ways should be developed to stop pollution should be thought out by now, and if not, it is up to our generation. The health of a nation is dependent off of this, and for the good of any nation, alternate measures should be thought out.

WORKS CITED

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Thursday, March 25, 2010

Post 2: Water Pollution Sources

INTRODUCTION
Water is essential to our lives today; if polluted by certain industrial, domestic, and agricultural sources, it will not function the same way as clean water. Water pollution is caused by human activities, and the different human sources add to the pollution of water. Industrial, domestic, and agricultural pollution have many effects on today’s world. For as much as we use water for, it needs to be clean water. Agricultural pollution comes from animals and pesticides on farms, which will eventually lead into our sources of clean water. Domestic waste is the pollution that comes from our homes. Industrial pollution comes from industrial sources such as factories, which their wastes can pollute clean water. The water we use, and make unclean is then spread into the clean water sources that we will later have to use. Without water, life on Earth would cease to exist, because everything on our planet needs to grow and prosper. The purpose of this second post is to expand the knowledge about where water pollution can come from and what are the different categories of the sources. Industrial, domestic, and agricultural pollution are equally at fault to the poor content of water today.

CLASSIFICATIONS
Agricultural waste is technically a non-point source of pollution because it is mostly runoff of nitrogen-based fertilizers from farms. These fertilizers lead into streams, rivers, lakes, bays, and oceans in the form of runoff. This can cause many problems, such as algal blooms, which can destroy an ecosystem. However, agricultural waste can also be considered a point source because farms that raise livestock produce a large amount of animal waste, which directly pollutes the environment.

Domestic waste is classified as a point source of pollution, because the wastewater from homes and commercial establishments is often directly emitted into bodies of water. Domestic waste can vary from cleaning products, to household things used by regular people. These pollutants can pose a high risk on a large scale. When these domestic liter is mixed in with the clean environment, the pollution and our water can be combined into a very deadly mix.

Industrial waste is classified as a point source of pollution. The most common source of this type of pollution is from business factories. These factories usually will have waterways and tubes that transport their dirty waste material away to another place, usually emptied out at a nearby body of water. It is this that causes the area of marine organisms to suffer, and their habitat will be destroyed. Raw sewage from industrial processes are often emitted directly into bodies of water, along with the pollution from domestic wastewater. Factories will recklessly dump their industrial waste into pure water, which can turn the translucent and pure water into dirty and foul green water.

DETECTION, CAUSES AND EFFECTS METHODS
Water pollution is very major in our destruction of the planet. Hence, we must have many detection methods of preventing pollution. Water pollution can be detected in laboratories, where small samples of water are analyzed for different contaminants. Scientists test and examine the pollution sources in their labs.

Methods like chemical and radioactive carbon testing have been used to detect pollution in waters. They conduct chemical analysis of rivers, lakes, and oceans on a regular basis. Sampling could be used with accuracy to detect changes and trends in the bodies of water, through their innovative technology. Once the water sample is taken, it is brought back to their labs where they can plug the data into their computers. The computers can determine if and how polluted the water is, and it can calculate a model that shows the possible relationships and impacts on the habitat, along with methods to prevent the problem. Laboratories use the computers to determine the dangers in the waters.

One natural way to detect pollution is using the organisms in the habitats! Many living organisms can be used for detecting water pollution. If pollution is heavily concentrated on one particular area, those organisms in that area will express signals and signs of unusual behavior. Changes in their behavior or growth can show scientists that the water they live in is polluted. Scientists have demonstrated that African clawed frog tadpoles "light up" when a pollutant is in existence, and can indicate the presence of several chemical species at the time. Specific properties of these organisms can give us information on the source and composition of pollution in their environment. These tadpoles have a green fluorescent protein in their bodies; when physiological stress is expressed because of the pollutants, the green light will show visibly. These tadpoles are very useful as environmental monitors because they can develop a complete immune system with complex body systems, such as a heart, and have circulatory systems. These are just like humans, but the animal matures in matters of days, not years. In this experiment, genetically codified tadpoles have been combined with a detection system to detect the presence of heavy metal pollution in river water. Many detection methods have been used for environmental monitoring, but they require a lot of money and time with labor.

In London 2005, scientists and technological engineers have made a robotic fish. This carp-shaped robot can mimic the movement of a real life fish, and the robotic fish has chemical sensors to sniff out dangerous pollutants, such as petroleum oil leaks from water vessels or chemicals from underwater pipelines. These fishes, costing $29,000 apiece, is about the size of a seal (5 feet long).

Scientists in Israel have discovered a new way to detect water pollution by "listening" to the plants in the waters. When they shine a laser beam on these tiny pieces of algae floating in the water and measure the rate of photosynthesis, they hear sound waves that tell them the type and amount of impurities in the water. By looking at the condition of the algae and the rate of photosynthesis, heat is shot back into the water, creating sound waves. Using a special underwater microphone, researchers are able to analyze the power of the sound waves. The strength of the sound can determine the health of the algae and the condition of its surrounding water.

Other than using scientific knowledge, you can base water pollution off your common sense. If the water is not clear, and there is garbage in and floating on the surface, then this is water pollution.

Causes of water pollution are hot water discharge from factories; cement, plastics, metals, and lubricants from construction byproducts; waste chemicals, disposed of medicine, fertilizers, and detergents from our homes; oil spills, and untreated sewage from boats.

Effects of water pollution are the death of marine organisms in rivers and oceans (this may be due to lack of oxygen, destruction of habitat, not enough food, lack of sunlight, etc.). When our waters are polluted, this can threaten our living. Many diseases will come with drinking unpure- water or swimming in toxic water. Such health problems may be blood disease, heart disease, nervous system disorders, diarrhea, skin lesions, and vomiting in humans.

REPERCUSSIONS
Each type of pollution source had a different type of repercussions. In agricultural waste the repercussions originate from the animals as well as the pesticides from the crops. In agriculture, large tracts of land are typically plowed to grow crops. Plowing the land exposes and disturbs the soil, making it more vulnerable to erosion during rainstorms. Then this runoff carries unabsorbed fertilizers and pesticides away from the farm and into nearby waters. Runoff creates areas of dead zone, where oxygen is not abundant hence killing its organisms. The animal wastes also create a problem. Some farms will not treat the animal waste and it will flow into a body of water as raw sewage. This then puts large amount of nutrients in the water that can activate harmful algae blooms killing other organisms. It can also cause hypoxia, where decaying matter uses the oxygen in the water. In many towns and cities water from storm drains aren’t treated before emptying into nearby water bodies. So debris and waste flow into the storm drains, where this waste flows directly into a body of water.

Industrial waste also has a great impact on the environment. Whether a discharged chemical is harmful to the aquatic environment depends on a number of factors, including the type of chemical, its concentration, the timing of its release, weather conditions, and the organisms living in the area. All of the sources, especially industrial, result in water pollution and unsafe drinking water, and can restrict activities like fishing and swimming, just as the other possibly can.

Domestic waste can harm our water drinking environment. The pollution can contaminate and make our waters dirty. The contaminants can then kill the organisms native there, and can turn the pure, clean water into an unpleasant, dirty and filthy unclear water.

You should never directly pour toxic chemicals down a drain, because it may end up in nearby bodies of waters. The chemical drug that you have just littered will be overdosed by the water's organisms, such as fishes. These animals now have the drug in their system. Such drugs like pain relievers, steroids, birth control pills, aspirin, and other medical drugs may be helpful to humans, but deadly to marine animals. Fish, plants, and other aquatic life are feeling the effects of pharmaceuticals in their environment. These drugs may cause the animals to suffer, may cause deformity, and hormonal and unnatural changes.

PROACTIVE MEASURES
There are many proactive measures of each source. In agricultural sources conservation tillage and crop nutrient management can be done as well as the use of beneficial insects. Conservation tillage leaves behind some plant matter to prevent erosion and will decay, producing nutrients. It also will usually keep most of the pesticides so less will need to be applied. Less use of pesticide can be beneficial, and organic organisms can come to eat these plant-eating critters.

For domestic wastes buffer strips and porous paving material can be used. If buffer strips in areas such as parking lots are made in construction will drastically reduce pollutants. These strips of grass, surrounded by pavement, absorb soil, fertilizers, pesticides, and other pollutants before they can reach storm drains or a body of water.

Using porous paving materials allow the water to pass through the pavement then into the ground, where the sediments filter out pollutants.

Industrial waste can also be reduced if grass and straw is laid in construction sites, trees are replanted after logging. Grass planting and laying of straw around construction sites help reduce runoff as well as erosion. When trees are replanted after deforestation, the new trees prevent erosion, limiting sediments in the water. Taking proactive measures beforehand can easily reduce the amount of pollution that is eventually caused.

HEALTH RISKS
The manure from animals is agricultural waste.

Although many people find manure to be harmless, it actually is quite toxic as it has to be moved from place to place. There are 335,000,000 tons of manure produced each year that contribute to the pollution of the world. Due to the manure that factories harbor for fertilizers, 400 gasses are released into the air. Some of the gasses include hydrogen sulfide, methane, ammonia, and carbon dioxide. These gasses can cause acid rain, eventually harming the human health.

These gasses harm human health due to the composition of the air, as well as how that leads to water. Acid rain, and eutrophication can alter human health a lot. Through this pollution, water borne diseases can be spread, eventually harming the entire population of an area. Also, pollution from animals has claimed the lives of farm workers. Manure pits have very high levels of chemicals, which can cause asphyxiation. Domestic Waste affects the soil, which can then affect the crops, therefore affecting human health. With too much added nitrogen and phosphorous is never good. As said before, moderation is necessary- even for nutrients.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES/ STRATEGIES
First, there are many methods and strategies to preventing water pollution. Some ways to prevent water pollution via agricultural waste are through legislature and specific plans. For example, in 1991 the Ministry of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (MEFRA) made a “Code of Good Agricultural Practice.” This document gives detailed advice on the treating, storing, and applying of annual waste disposal of dirty water, fertilizers, fuel oil, pesticides, nitrates, the disposal of animal carcasses, and other such wastes. Members have to produce a Farm Waste Management Plan according to the pollution regulation standards set by the “Code of Good Agricultural Practice.”

Next, to prevent industrial pollution we use a system called the sewage treatment process. This process allows for effluents that are toxic to waters, to be safely decontaminated and recycled back into the environment. This process has two methods of treatment. The first or primary step is the simplest, however least efficient, method of treatment. It involves the settling out of solid suspensions in the water to become sludge. This removes only one third of the BOD and none of the dissolved minerals. The next method of treatment or secondary treatment is when the effluents come into contact with oxygen and microorganisms and they together break down organic matter into substances such as carbon dioxide. In addition to the sewage processes, the government has played a role in the prevention process. They have passed the Clean Water Act in 1972 that set standards for industrial and municipal sources of pollution. Lastly, people cause domestic wastewater pollution.

To prevent domestic wastewater pollution, the polluters must learn how to properly dispose of pollutants in their homes. They must learn how to dispose of hazardous household products, how to recycle, the conservation of water, the use of natural fertilizers, not to over water your lawns, and to maintain your septic systems. These are all ways that the common person could try to do everyday to reduce the effects of domestic water pollution.

FACTORS, BELIEFS, CONSIDERATIONS ON SOCIETY HEALTH
When factories dump out dirty and toxic chemicals, the toxins spread in the water, while the pollution arises into the atmosphere. A gradual buildup will lead to the development of acid rain, which can be very dangerous and life threatening. There is a lot of debate over the public acceptance of the use of wastewater in the farming and water environments. Places such as North and South America, Africa, and Europe oppose the use of extra as a fertilizer. On the contrary, some countries accept the practice. Wastewater is used in parts of the world were water is not very accessible. For example, wastewater (once cleaned) is used for the irrigation of the crops in Islamic countries.

Contaminated waste water pours into a public canal in Thailand from a industrial treatment plant.

This means that economical need is more favorable than cultural preference. Some impure water is purified by methods of self-purification, adding pure water to dilute the impurities, or removing the impurities by time and physical effects. Many refuse or accept the practice of wastewater reuse. Some cultures refuse to reuse wastewater.

CONCLUSION
Overall, water pollution is very harmful whether it is industrial, domestic, or agricultural. All of these sources of water pollution can harm our environment, and need to be stopped in order to use the water for the future. Ordinary tap water may become deadly within minutes out of contamination due to the industrial spillage. Without water, this world will not survive. By listening to the proactive measures, you can make a difference in your community. Stop being part of the problem, but rather part of the solution!