Ground Water and Sulphur Cycle

Ground Water and Sulphur Cycle

• 9.86% of total freshwater resources is in the form of groundwater, which is about 35-50 times that of surface water.
• Sulphur falls on earth with rainfall.
• Steps of sulphur cycle include:
  • Decomposition of organic compounds, releasing amino acids that contain sulphur.
  • Reduction of sulphates to H2S by Desulfotomaculum bacteria.
  • Oxidation of hydrogen sulphide to elemental sulphur.
  • Oxidation of elemental sulphur, which cannot be utilized directly by plants.

Uses of Water

• Domestic use: drinking, bathing, washing, cooking, and sanitary purposes.
• Industrial use: required for various industries such as cement, mining, textile, and leather.
• Public use: includes water used for public utility purposes, such as watering parks and flushing streets.
• Fire use: used in case of accidents and to prevent fire issues.
• Irrigation: used to grow crops, which is the main source of food.
• Other uses: hydroelectric power generation requires water.

Scope of Environmental Science

• Studying the interrelationship between environment components.
• Carrying out impact analysis and environmental audit.
• Preventing pollution from existing and new industries.
• Stopping the use of biological and nuclear weapons.
• Managing unpredictable disasters.

Environmental Pollution and Awareness

• Environmental pollution cannot be solved by mere laws.
• Public participation is essential for environmental protection.
• Public awareness of environmental issues is at an infant stage.
• 30-40% of the public in developing countries are aware of environmental problems, but they do not bother about it.

Ecology of Life

• Ecology can be defined as the study of relationships between organisms and their environment.
• Ecosystem: refers to the relationships between organisms and their environment.

Carbon Cycle

• Carbon cycle explains the movement of carbon between the earth's biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.
• Carbon is an important element of life.
• Carbon enters the atmosphere through natural processes such as respiration and industrial applications.
• Photosynthesis involves the absorption of CO2 by plants to produce carbohydrates.
• Carbon atoms are released as carbon dioxide when organisms respire.

Nitrogen Cycle

• Nitrogen exists in both organic and inorganic forms.
• Organic nitrogen exists in living organisms and is passed through the food chain.
• Inorganic forms of nitrogen are found in abundance in the atmosphere.
• Nitrogen is made available to plants by symbiotic bacteria.

Water Cycle

• The water cycle has a tremendous impact on the climate.
• The water cycle is an integral part of other biogeochemical cycles.
• Water cycle affects all life processes on earth.
• Steps of the water cycle include:
  • Evaporation: occurs when water molecules at the surface of water bodies become excited and rise into the air.
  • Evapotranspiration: occurs when evaporation occurs through the leaves of plants.
  • Sublimation: occurs when snow or ice changes directly into water vapour without becoming water.
  • Runoff: occurs when water flows down the sides of mountains and hills, eventually forming rivers.

Philippine Clean Air Act

• Republic Act No. 8749, also known as the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999, aims to achieve and maintain healthy air for all Filipinos.
• Health impacts of air pollution include acute and chronic effects on the respiratory, skin, nervous, and cardiovascular systems.
• Total Suspended Particulates (TSP) composed of 55-60% fine particles (PM 10 & 2.5) penetrate deeply into the lungs.
• Covered by the Clean Air Act: penalties and civil liabilities for failure or refusal to clean up, which results in serious injury or loss of life or irreversible water contamination.