Ask a Teacher

Search



Define air pollution and water pollution briefly.
Defining “air pollution” is not simple.  One could claim that air pollution started 
when humans began burning fuels.  In other words, all man-made (anthropogenic) 
emissions into the air can be called air pollution, because they alter the chemical 
composition of the natural atmosphere.  The increase in the global concentrations 
of greenhouse gases CO2, CH4, and N2O, can be called air pollution using this approach, even though the concentrations have not found to be toxic for humans and the ecosystem.  One can refine this approach and only consider anthropogenic emissions of harmful chemicals as air pollution.   

Air pollution can affect our health in many ways.Numerous scientific studies have linked air pollution to a variety of health problems including: (1) aggravation of respiratory and cardiovascular disease; (2) decreased lung function; (3) increased frequency and severity of respiratory symptoms such as difficulty breathing and  coughing; (4) increased susceptibility to respiratory infections; (5) effects on the nervous system, including the brain, such as IQ loss and impacts on learning,memory, and behavior; (6) cancer; and (7) premature death. Some sensitive individuals appear to be at greater risk for air pollution-related health effects, for example, those with pre-existing heart and lung diseases(e.g., heart failure/ischemic heart disease, asthma,emphysema, and chronic bronchitis), diabetics, older adults, and children. In 2008, approximately 127 million people lived in counties that exceeded national air quality standards.


Water is a unique substance, because it can naturally renew and cleanse itself, by allowing pollutants to settle out (through the process of sedimentation) or break down, or by diluting the pollutants to a point where they are not in harmful concentrations.  However, this natural process takes time, and is difficult when excessive quantities of harmful contaminants are added to the water.  And humans are using more and more materials that are polluting the water sources that we drink from.  In nine of the last ten years, large blue-green algae blooms have appeared on the northern part of Lake Winnipeg.  These are caused by excess phosphorus in the water.  Fertilizer use is 15 times higher today than it was in 1945.  Beach closures are becoming increasingly common.  The list of pollutants is long and the signs of water pollution surround us, but the point is this: we are dumping contaminants into the small portion of water on the planet that is fit for drinking.  
 
Water pollution:

Any physical, biological or chemical change in water quality that adversely affects living organisms or makes the water unsuitable for desired uses.

Types of Water Pollution
(fresh water mainly)
• Infectious agents
• Oxygen demanding wastes
• Plant nutrients and Eutrophication
• Toxic inorganic materials
• Organic chemicals
• Sediment and suspended solids
• Thermal pollution/ thermal shock

Water Pollution Solutions
• Ban or regulate phosphate detergents 
– advanced water treatment  to remove them
• Control agricultural runoff
– revegetation, wetlands, riparian, reduce water runs off of 
farms, reclaim water
• Control urban runoff
– golf courses, lawns, pets etc.; reduce use
• Control sediments and acids from mines
– revegetation and sediment traps (ponds)
• Control streambank erosion and protect wetlands
– protect and revegetate


comments powered by Disqus