كيمياء البيئة والسمية الداخلية

Environmental Pollution Study Notes

• Definition of Environmental Pollution: Any change in environmental characteristics leading to direct or indirect harm to living organisms, infrastructure, or impacting human life.

Levels of Environmental Pollution

• Acceptable Pollution (Non-Hazardous): The initial level where the ecological balance isn't affected, and there are no major environmental problems. No environment is entirely pollution-free due to the easy transfer of pollutants.

• Hazardous Pollution: A more advanced stage where pollutant quantities and types exceed the critical ecological limit, negatively impacting both environmental elements and human health. Industrial activity and reliance on coal and petroleum as energy sources are primary contributors in many industrialized countries.

• Destructive Pollution: The stage where the ecological system collapses and loses its natural functions due to significant imbalance. Nuclear radiation pollution is an example.

Types of Environmental Pollution

• Air Pollution: Presence of harmful substances, primarily affecting human health then the environment. Cigarette smoke is a prime example.

• Water Pollution: Includes contamination of freshwater and marine environments.

• Waste Pollution: Diverse forms of waste (domestic, industrial, hospital, agricultural) in solid, liquid, or gaseous forms, including radioactive wastes.

• Visual Pollution: Impairment of any visual scene, causing psychological discomfort. Examples include poor architectural design or unsightly roadways.

• Noise or Sound Pollution: Primarily associated with urban and industrialized areas due to increased machine and technology use.

Classification by Nature

• Chemical Composition:

• Organic pollutants (e.g., hydrocarbons)

• Inorganic pollutants (e.g., sulfur oxides)

• Physical State:

• Gases

• Liquids

• Solids

• Properties:

• Solubility in water, oil, and fat

• Rate of dispersal and dilution

• Biodegradability

• Stability in air, water, soil, and living organisms

• Reactivity with other substances

Classification by Source

• Combustion products: Home, industrial, and agricultural sources.
• Industrial by-products: Classified according to the type of industry (i.e., plastic, cement, metal smelting).
• Household and service products: Household waste, hospital waste, and factory waste.
• Agricultural products: Animal waste, fertilizer residue, and pesticide remnants.
• Military activities
• Bacterial and fungal products: Acidic and alkaline substances.

Classification by Use Pattern

• Industrial use: Raw materials, solvents, pigments, stabilizers, preservatives, etc.
• Household and hospital use: Cleaning agents, softeners, paints, disinfectants, and pesticides.
• Agricultural use: Fertilizers, pesticides, fuels.
• Transportation: Fuels, lubricants, cleaning and painting products.
• Warfare.

Classification by Effects

• Human health impact
• Animal health impact
• Plant health impact
• Atmospheric component impact (e.g., ozone layer)
• Aquatic ecosystem impact

Types of Pollution (General)

• Natural pollutants: Occur without human intervention, such as volcanic gases, solar flares, forest fires, and pollen.
• Man-made pollutants: Result from human activities, like factory emissions, vehicle exhaust, and household waste.
• Chemical pollutants: Substances that have adverse effects.
• Physical pollutants: Include noise, heat, and radiation.
• Biological pollutants: Living organisms like bacteria, viruses, and fungi that cause health problems.

Concentration of Pollution

• Pollutant concentrations are expressed in parts-per-million (ppm).
• Even small concentrations can be harmful (e.g., 1 ppm phenol in water).
• Persistence varies. Some pollutants remain long-term, while others degrade into less harmful compounds (e.g., some pesticides).

Biological Concentration

• Bio-accumulation occurs in food chains, with higher concentrations of pollutants in organisms higher up. (e.g., DDT).

Biological Discrimination

• Certain organisms adapt or counteract pollutant concentrations.
• Traces of pollutants can be lower in the organism than the level in the environment. (e.g., pesticides in plant tissues versus soil).

Layers of the Atmosphere and Air Pollution

• The atmosphere has layers. Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere.
• Air pollution impacts these layers.

Air Pollutants and Components

• Important air pollutants: carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter (PM), hydrocarbons, heavy metals, etc.

Types of Air Pollution

• Particulate matter (PM): Smoke, dust, and vehicle exhaust; 10 PM is a common metric.
• Gases and vapors: Chlorides, nitrogen oxides, carbon and sulfur oxides.
• Microbial Pollution: Microorganisms from organic decompositions.
• Noise/Sound Pollution: Unpleasant sounds.
• Radioactive Pollution: Dangerous emissions from some industrial and military activities.

Sources of Air Pollution

• Transportation (various vehicles)
• Fixed combustion sources (waste incineration)
• Industrial sources
• Power generation plants
• Agricultural activities

Types of Smog

• Classical smog: London-type smog, often during cold weather.
• Photochemical smog: Los Angeles-type smog, frequently occurring during sunny summer days.

Soil Pollution

• Soil contains water, air, minerals, and organic matter.
• Soil is vital for plant growth (Producers), and impacts the whole food chain.
• Soil can also be polluted by many chemical factors: pesticides, fertilizers, industrial wastes, etc.

Soil Pollution Sources

• Chemical fertilizers and pesticides misuse.
• Industrial waste.
• Waste disposal (in various forms).
• Acid rain

Water Pollution

• Water covers 71% of Earth's surface.
• It's essential for life and various economic activities: industry, agriculture, transportation.
• Water isn't always pure; pollutants like dissolved oxygen levels and industrial waste are present.

Types of Water Pollution

• Natural pollutants: naturally occurring (e.g., salts, sediments).
• Man-made pollutants: Result of human activities.
• Point source: A specific source of pollution (i.e., factories, pipes).
• Non-point source: Diffuse pollution sources (e.g., agricultural runoff, acid rain).

Main Water Pollutants

• Oxygen-demanding wastes: sewage, industrial discharges.
• Infectious agents: bacteria, viruses.
• Synthetic organic chemicals: pesticides, detergents.
• Plant nutrients: fertilizers.
• Inorganic chemicals and mineral substances: acids, heavy metals.
• Sediments: soil particles, eroded material.
• Radioactive substances: nuclear waste.
• Thermal pollution: release of heated water.

Water Quality Classification

• Different classifications exist based on water quality standards. (e.g., high quality to bad quality)

هذا الاختبار يتعلق بكيمياء البيئة وتأثيراتها على التربة والصحة. يناقش خصائص السمية الداخلية وتأثير الحموضة على خصوبة التربة وصحة الكائنات الحية. يحتوي على معلومات حول طبقات الغلاف الجوي وتأثيرات العناصر الكيميائية مثل الكادميوم والزئبق.