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Why Should we even care?
Why Should we even care?
SO MANY People are DYING prematurely.
Our Planet is DYING.
Shouldn't that be enough reasons to care?
What are the different types of environmental pollution?
What are the different types of environmental pollution?
Air Pollution
Air Pollution
What is air pollution?
A mixture of solid particles and gases.
Car emissions, chemicals from factories, dust, pollen and mold spores may be suspended as particles.
Ozone, a gas, is a major part of air pollution in cities. When ozone forms air pollution, it's also called smog.
What causes air pollution?
Especially in urban cities, air pollution is caused by particles and gases that come from car and truck exhaust, factories, dust, pollen, and mold spores.
Air pollution could also be cause by wildfires and volcanoes.
The burning of fossil fuels in factories.
Natural sources of pollution include dust carried by the wind from locations with very little or no green cover, gases released from the body processes of living beings, and methane from cattle indigestion.
What areas of the world are most affected by air pollution?
Bangladesh holds the spot for having the most air pollution in the world, with an average of 77.1 µg/m³ of air pollution in 2020, a very unhealthy amount.
In Southeast Asia, people are exposed to much higher levels of air pollution due to industrialization, increase in poverty, and minimal resources. Children and the elderly are more vulnerable since such high levels of air pollution can cause significant damages to people's health.
Water Pollution
Water Pollution
What is water pollution?
Water pollution occurs when mixture of harmful substances, usually caused by microorganisms or chemicals, contaminate a stream, river, lake, ocean, aquifer, or any type of body of water.
The degrading water quality is only rendering it toxic for humans to exist in our current environment.
In polluted areas of the world, some communities rely on dangerous drinking water for beverages and for cooking.
What causes water pollution?
Water is uniquely vulnerable to pollution.
Toxic substances from farms, towns, and factories readily dissolve into and mix with it, causing water pollution.
Water is known as the universal solvent, meaning water is able to dissolve more substances than any other liquid on earth.
The effect of water and its solvent properties is the main reason of why water is so easily polluted.
What areas of the world are most affected by water pollution?
More than 2.1 billion people lack the access to clean water, according to a report released by the World Health Organization and UNICEF.
Nearly 40% of people in Uganda need to travel over 30 minutes to access drinking water.
In the capital of Uganda, researchers have discovered the presence of pathogenic bacteria in the springs. These springs provide a major source of water for the population. This contamination could be due to poor waste management and badly-designed pit latrines.
Land Pollution
Land Pollution
What is land pollution?
Land pollution refers to the deterioration of the earth’s surface, at and below the ground.
The cause of land pollution is the accumulation of solid and liquid waste materials that contaminate groundwater and soil. These waste materials are referred to as municipal solid waste, which includes hazardous and non-hazardous waste.
When waste is deposited on land, the permeability of the soil formations below the waste can increase or reduce the risk of land pollution.
What causes land pollution?
One cause of land pollution is littering. Littering is the improper disposal of waste products, sadly, it is unfortunately common. Every cigarette tossed on the ground, food wrapper tossed out of a car window, or other sort of littering is a small contribution to a monumental issue. According to Keep America Beautiful, 76% of litter found on roadways is from pedestrians and motorists.
While urbanization isn't necessarily littering, large quantities of people living in urbanized cities produce trash and litter. Littering in a dense area can lead to inadequate numbers of waste and to land pollution. To accommodate this increased population, construction activities also occur, which result in large waste materials, such as metal, plastic, wood, and bricks. If these materials are not properly disposed of, it contributes to the land pollution of that area.
Lastly, mining is yet another cause of land pollution in a region. Mining is the extraction of minerals and other geological materials from the ground, which are then used for a wide range of purposes, including producing gasoline for automobiles, generating electricity, and selling materials such as gold and silver. The extraction of minerals deplete the earth of its natural resources and cause damage and pollution, thus only furthering the issue of land pollution.
What areas of the world are most affected by land pollution?
In the nation of Zambia, the city of Kabwe is one of the most polluted places on Earth as a result of the long history and procurement of lead and zinc mining.
Other
Other
Even though air, water, and land pollution are the most well known types of pollution, there exist many more.
Radioactive Pollution: When we think of radioactive pollution, we will most likely think of Chernobyl or Fukushima. Both of these nuclear power plants used fission of radioactive materials, uranium and plutonium and other radioactive chemicals, to create electricity, which both ended up failing. Their failure led to toxic chemicals and radiation being leaked out into the environment, which is radioactive pollution. This radioactive pollution affected and killed thousands of people living in the area.
Thermal Pollution: While most pollution types are straightforward, thermal pollution is a bit distinct. Many times, nuclear power plants and factories use water to cool things; chemicals, substances, or solutions. However, if they eject the warmed up water back into the environment, it wreaks havoc on the wildlife of the areas as it has less oxygen. This is called thermal pollution.
Light Pollution: At night, when the sky is too dim to see the stars, we might say it is natural, but it is indeed not and is called light pollution. Light pollution, using electric lights to light up the sky, is the cause. While lights are great for helping humans to see at night, too many lights cause light pollution blocking out the night sky. Light pollution can also be harmful to animals. For instance, the lights of big cities can confuse migrating birds traveling in the sky.
Why is this happening?
Why is this happening?
Due to overpopulation, industrial developments, and other factors, environmental pollution has only worsened. As of today, 40% of all deaths in the world are caused by pollution; either air, water, or soil pollution. The urbanization of human society furthers the destruction of our environment, with the development of new cities and increase of poverty. But, there is hope. If we start now, as a community, we can help our environment one step at a time!
What can I do to help?
What can I do to help?
Ten simple things you can do to Help
Ten simple things you can do to Help
Reduce, reuse, recycle: Cut down on what you throw away and conserve the three "R's" to conserve natural resources and landfill space.
Volunteer: Volunteer for cleanups in your community. Volunteering could be a mean of things, including spreading awareness, helping out in your community, or joining organizations such as I.A.S.C to help out our community here in the San Fernando Valley.
Educate: When you further your own education, you can help other people understand why our environment is at the risk it currently is.
Conserve Water: The less water you use, the less wastewater will runoff into our oceans.
Choose Sustainable: Research sustainable resources such as sustainable food sources, sustainable clothing brands, solar panels, and more!
Shop Wisely: Buy less plastic and reuse bags you already own.
Use long-lasting light bulbs: Energy efficient light bulbs reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Plant: Wherever you can in your home, bring more plants to offset the carbon dioxide in your own environment or even consider planting a tree in your backyard!
Don't send chemicals into our waterways: Choose non-toxic chemicals in the home and office.
Bike more if possible: Choose to use a bike and drive less. Also, look into purchasing an electric vehicle or begin to carpool with friends and family!
Some Helpful Links
Some Helpful Links
The United Nations Environment Programme website
Increased cancer risk for petroleum industry workers and people living near plants: New UN study
Urban Gardening : Growing Food in New York City
Ecosia Search Engine (Extension Can be added to Chrome. Plant trees when you make searches)
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Google Sites
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