Ground Water and Sulphur Cycle

Study Notes

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.

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.

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 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 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 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.

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.

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.