Pollution
Module 8
Prepared by:
Jessabel Capatoy Castil
Learning outcomes:
1. Describe the air pollution problem and its effects.
2. Determine how water quality can be degraded by
pollutants.
3. Explain the basics of solid waste, including some
techniques of minimization.
4. Discuss the health concerns related to problems on
pollution, including bioaccumulation and biomagnification.
Air Pollution
• the contamination of the indoor or
outdoor environment by any
chemical, physical or biological
agent that modifies the natural
characteristics of the atmosphere.
• Household combustion devices,
motor vehicles, industrial facilities
and forest fires are common
sources of air pollution.
Types of Air Pollutants
• Primary air pollutants
- come directly from
sources such as industrial
facilities, automobiles and
forest fires.
• Secondary air pollutants
- pollutants which form in the
atmosphere.
Health Effects
• Irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat
• Wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and breathing
difficulties
• Worsening of existing lung and heart problems,
such as asthma
• Increased risk of heart attack
Environmental Effects
• Acid rain
• Eutrophication
• Haze
• Effects on wildlife
• Ozone depletion
• Crop and forest damage
• Global climate change
Aquatic Pollution
• can be defined as the
contamination of a stream, river,
lake, ocean or any other stretch of
water, depleting water quality and
making it toxic for the environment
and humans.
Water Pollution
- water whose composition has
been changed to the extent that it is
unusable.
- anything that degrades water
quality.
Types of Water Pollution
• Organic pollution
- due to microorganisms present in the water,
generated by excrement, animal and vegetable waste.
• Chemical pollution
- generated by the nitrates and phosphates of
pesticides, human and animal drugs, household
products, heavy metals, acids and hydrocarbons used in
industries.
Sources of Water Pollution
• Point sources
- specific locations of highly
concentrated pollution
- factories, power plants,
sewage treatment plants,
underground coal mines, oil wells.
Sources of Water Pollution
• Non- point sources
- scattered, diffuse sources of pollutants
- runoff from farm fields, golf courses, and
construction sites.
Effects of Water Pollution
• Destruction of biodiversity
• Contamination of the food chain
• Lack of potable water
• Disease
• Infant mortality
Prevention
• Reduce CO2 emissions to prevent global warming and acidification
of the oceans.
• Reduce the use of chemical pesticides and nutrients on crops.
• Reduce and safely treat waste water so that, as well as not polluting,
it can be reused for irrigation and energy production.
• Restrict the use of single-use plastics that end up floating in rivers,
lakes and oceans, many as microplastics.
• Encourage sustainable fishing to ensure the survival of species and
avoid depletion of the seas.
Terrestrial Pollution
• refers to the deterioration of the
earth’s land surfaces.
• caused by the accumulation of solid
and liquid waste materials that
contaminate groundwater and soil.
Causes
• Litter and Waste
• Urbanization and Construction
• Mining and Extraction
• Agriculture
Effects
• Contamination of drinking water
• Polluted soil, which leads to a loss of fertile land for
agriculture and a reduction in the availability of food
• Climate change, which causes an onslaught of
disastrous problems, including flash floods and
irregular rainfalls
• The endangerment and extinction of species in wildlife
Effects
• An increase in wildfires due to polluted areas often
becoming very dry
• Increased air pollution, which burning waste
contributes to
• Increased soil pollutants can enter the body through
the food chain and cause health issues
• Increased human health issues, including cancer,
respiratory illnesses and congenital disabilities,
caused by exposure to harmful chemicals
Solid Waste
• any type of garbage, trash, refuse or discarded material.
Ways to Minimize Solid Waste
• Use a reusable bottle/cup for beverages on-the-go
• Use reusable grocery bags, and not just for groceries
• Purchase wisely and recycle
• Compost it!
• Avoid single-use food and drink containers and
utensils
• Shop local farmers markets and buy in bulk to reduce
packaging