Major Environmental Problems Overview
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary atmospheric effect of carbon dioxide that qualifies it as an air pollutant?

  • It contributes to warming the atmosphere. (correct)
  • It decreases solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface.
  • It leads to increased humidity in the atmosphere.
  • It facilitates the formation of clouds.

    • How does a temperature inversion affect outdoor air pollution?

  • It creates consistent wind patterns that disperse pollutants.
  • It prevents pollutants from rising due to a warm layer of air. (correct)
  • It cools the ground air, enhancing pollutant formation.
  • It increases the dispersion of pollutants into the atmosphere.

    • What are the two forms in which acid deposition descends to the Earth's surface?

  • Smoke and fog
  • Rainwater and groundwater
  • Wet deposition and dry deposition (correct)
  • Industrial waste and sediment

    • What is a consequence of acid deposition on the environment?

    <p>It causes lung disease and kills fish.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What phenomenon is described by the sudden runoff of highly acidic water into lakes and streams during spring melt?

    <p>Acid shock</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one advantage of operation-oriented noise control methods used by major airlines?

    <p>They can reduce sound levels effectively during operations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is considered a type of light pollution?

    <p>Skyglow</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of interposing barriers between the source and receiver in noise control?

    <p>To attenuate noise levels effectively.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does land use planning help in managing noise pollution?

    <p>By separating objectionable noise sources from sensitive areas.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of source noise control during product design?

    <p>To implement adequate mufflers for noise management.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is the primary cause of most water pollution?

    <p>Industrialized agriculture</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of Earth's water is freshwater?

    <p>3%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a critical parameter for measuring water quality?

    <p>Dissolved Oxygen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to estimates, how many people die prematurely each year due to waterborne diseases?

    <p>5 million</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which phenomenon is NOT a part of the hydrologic cycle?

    <p>Chemical weathering</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary source of pollutants that results from energy generation?

    <p>Burning coal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes ecological ignorance?

    <p>Lack of knowledge about environmental impacts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a significant consequence of rapid population growth on the environment?

    <p>Poverty and unsustainable resource use</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the correct method to significantly reduce acid deposition?

    <p>Increase natural gas use</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is recognized as a more serious health threat in developed countries?

    <p>Indoor air pollution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What common household product is a major source of formaldehyde exposure?

    <p>Plywood and particleboard</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which pollutant is primarily associated with vehicle emissions and can be reduced by catalytic converters?

    <p>Nitrogen oxides</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of vehicles on the road in the United States produces a large amount of air pollutants?

    <p>10%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an effective method to reduce indoor air pollution?

    <p>Ban smoking or limit it</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following strategies does NOT contribute to improving air quality?

    <p>Using more polluting engines</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following factors is a major contributor to noise pollution?

    <p>Vehicular traffic</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the major causes of light pollution?

    <p>Street and vehicle light</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which impact is NOT associated with inefficient artificial lighting?

    <p>Increased star visibility</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What health issue can arise from excessive light exposure at night?

    <p>Disruption of melatonin production</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is glare in the context of light pollution?

    <p>Light that causes discomfort and distraction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following are examples of light pollution effects?

    <p>Glare, sky glow, light trespass</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one recommended solution to minimize light pollution?

    <p>Install low voltage warm lights</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What describes the term 'light intrusion'?

    <p>Unwanted lighting that spills into dark areas</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What impact does light pollution have on wildlife?

    <p>Disturbance or harm to nocturnal animals</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Major Environmental Problems

    • Air pollution, biodiversity depletion, food supply problems, waste pollution, and water pollution are major environmental problems
    • Human activities such as burning coal, and driving cars, contribute to pollution issues.

    Causes of Environmental Problems

    • Rapid population growth, poverty, wasteful and unsustainable resource use, poor environmental accounting, and ecological ignorance are key contributors to environmental problems.

    Pollution and Pollutants

    • Pollution occurs when substances are present at high levels in air, water, soil, or food, threatening the health, survival, or activities of humans and other organisms.
    • Pollutants enter the environment naturally from volcanic eruptions or through human activities like burning coal.
    • Most pollution originates from industrialized agriculture and human activities near urban areas.
    • Many pollutants are unintended byproducts of activities such as burning coal for electricity, driving cars, or growing crops.
    • Pollutants contaminate the area where they are produced and some are carried by wind or flowing water to other areas.

    Water Pollution

    • The hydrologic cycle describes the movement of water between reservoirs on both a local and global scale.
    • Water is the only molecule on Earth present in all three states of matter.
    • The hydrologic cycle includes evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration into the soil, groundwater flow, transpiration, and overland flow.
    • 97% of Earth's water is saltwater in oceans, and 3% is freshwater.
    • The majority of freshwater is stored in ice caps and glaciers.
    • 1.2 billion people lack access to clean drinking water.
    • The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 5 million people die prematurely each year from waterborne diseases.
    • Diarrhea kills 1.5 million people annually.
    • 1.6 million people in North America are affected by infectious agents found in food and water.

    Water Quality Measurement

    • Water quality is measured using physical parameters (temperature, suspended solids, odor), chemical parameters (pH, nutrients, metals, pesticides, herbicides), and biological parameters (fish, bacteria, algae).
    • Dissolved oxygen is a critical water quality parameter affecting the health of aquatic ecosystems, fish mortality, and odors.

    Global Warming and Precipitation

    • Carbon dioxide is classified as an air pollutant because it warms the atmosphere and contributes to global climate change.
    • Global warming alters precipitation patterns.

    Temperature Inversions and Air Pollution

    • Temperature inversions occur when a warm layer of air sits on top of a layer of cool air near the ground, preventing pollutants from rising and dispersing.
    • This creates turbulence and disperses pollutants.
    • The cooler air is denser than the warmer air above, preventing it from rising and mixing.
    • Temperature inversions are common in cold, cloudy weather in valleys surrounded by mountains and sunny climates with light winds, mountains on three sides and an ocean on the other.

    Air Pollution from Acid Deposition

    • Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen react in the atmosphere to produce acidic chemicals that travel long distances.
    • Coal-burning power plants are a major source of sulfur dioxide emissions.
    • Tall smokestacks reduce local air pollution but increase regional air pollution downwind.
    • Acidic substances remain in the atmosphere for 2-14 days and descend to the earth's surface in two forms: wet deposition (acidic rain, snow, or fog) and dry deposition (acidic particles).
    • The resulting mixture is called acid deposition.

    Harmful Effects of Acid Deposition

    • Acid deposition can cause or worsen respiratory disease, attack metallic and stone objects, decrease atmospheric visibility, and kill fish.
    • Acid shock is caused by the sudden runoff of highly acidic water and aluminum ions into lakes and streams when snow melts in the spring.

    How to Reduce Acid Deposition

    • Reduce air pollution, reduce coal use, increase natural gas use, and increase renewable resources.

    Indoor Air Pollution

    • Indoor air pollution is a greater threat to human health than outdoor air pollution.
    • The four most dangerous indoor air pollutants in developed countries are: cigarette smoke, formaldehyde, radioactive radon-222 gas, and very small fine and ultrafine particles.
    • Indoor air pollution for the poor is the world's most serious air pollution problem.

    Formaldehyde

    • Formaldehyde is found in a variety of common materials and household products and can cause a number of health problems.
    • Health problems caused by formaldehyde include chronic breathing problems, dizziness, rash, headaches, sore throat, sinus and eye irritation, wheezing, and nausea.
    • Formaldehyde is found in building materials (plywood, particleboard, paneling, high-gloss wood), furniture, drapes, upholstery, carpeting adhesives, wallpaper, urethane-formaldehyde insulation, fingernail hardener, and wrinkle-free coating on permanent-press clothing.

    Reduction and Prevention of Indoor Air Pollution

    • Methods exist to minimize indoor air pollution, and incentives can be introduced.

    Reducing Emissions from Internal Combustion Engines

    • Emission control systems in cars manage the air and fuel mixture to minimize the production of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide.
    • Catalytic converters transform these harmful pollutants into nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide.

    Preventing and Controlling Engine Exhaust

    • 10% of vehicles on the road in the United States emit 50% to 70% of vehicular air pollutants.
    • Mass transit, walking and cycling, less polluting engines and fuels, improved fuel efficiency, and removing older cars from the road are measures to reduce vehicle emissions.

    Coal Burning Facilities

    • Burning low sulfur coal, converting coal to liquid or gaseous fuel, and shifting to less polluting fuels can reduce emissions from coal-burning facilities.

    Reducing Indoor Air Pollution

    • Covering ceiling tiles and AC duct linings, banning or limiting smoking, setting stricter formaldehyde emission standards, preventing radon infiltration, and using office machines in well-ventilated areas can reduce indoor air pollution.
    • Improving energy efficiency to reduce fossil fuel dependence and rely on lower-polluting natural gas.

    Noise Pollution

    • Noise pollution is a genuine threat to human health and quality of life.

    Noise Control in Product Design

    • Adequate mufflers control intake and exhaust noise during product design.
    • Source noise control can also be undertaken as a retrofit measure, but it can be more expensive, and could result in performance compromises.

    Active Noise/Vibration Control

    • Active noise/vibration control attempts to reduce sound levels by injecting sound near the source to force destructive interference.

    Operation-Oriented Noise Control

    • Effective noise control can be achieved by introducing methods of performing an operation, as used by major airlines.

    Path Control

    • Modification or alteration of the noise path between the source and receiver can reduce noise pollution.
    • Rerouting or relocating noise sources is an example of path modification.
    • Interposing barriers between the source and receiver, such as shielding, is useful in attenuating highway noise levels.
    • Combining source control with path modification results in noise reduction.

    Receiver Control

    • Personal protection or source control at the receiver level is used in factories or workshops.

    Land Use Planning

    • Separating the most objectionable noise sources from noise-sensitive areas through acoustical zoning and noise contour mapping prevents noise pollution from becoming a problem.

    Conclusion

    • A complete study and analysis of noise problems is essential, considering both magnitude and frequency.

    Light Pollution

    • The twenty-first century has seen a surge in the use of bright, usually white light sources such as metal halide, CFL, and increasingly, LED lamps.

    Types of Light Pollution

    • Glare is excessive brightness that causes visual discomfort,
    • Skyglow is the brightening of the night sky over inhabited areas.
    • Light trespass is light falling where it is not intended or needed.
    • Clutter is bright, confusing, and excessive groupings of light sources.

    Skyglow

    • Skyglow is light carelessly or deliberately projected from the ground into the night sky.
    • Light from poorly designed lamps is scattered and reflected by aerosols in the atmosphere, creating skyglow.
    • The fewer the stars in the sky, the more severe the light pollution.

    Causes of Skyglow

    • Street and vehicle lights, advertising lights, and industrial lights contribute to skyglow.

    Impacts of Inefficient Artificial Lighting

    • Waste of money and energy, environmental degradation, skyglow, impact on wildlife, and human health issues result from inefficient artificial lighting.

    Waste of Money and Energy

    • One-third of all lighting in the USA is wasted by being directed where it is not needed.
    • The wasted light requires an estimated 30 million barrels of oil and 8.2 million tons of coal, costing $2 billion per year.

    Environmental Degradation

    • Skyglow, glare, and light intrusion negatively impact the environment.

    Glare

    • Overbright, poorly-directed lights cause glare which causes discomfort, distraction, and inability to see clearly.
    • Glare can result from lights not installed correctly with the glass parallel to the ground.

    Light Intrusion

    • Shielding or reangling offending lights, or reducing the power output can reduce light intrusion.
    • Well-controlled and well-directed lighting, or sensible wattages can help reduce light intrusion.

    Impacts of Light Pollution on Wildlife

    • Nocturnal animals, including insects and birds, can be disturbed or killed by light pollution.

    Human Health Issues Caused by Light Pollution

    • Glare from poor lighting is a public hazard.
    • Wasted light represents unnecessary energy and CO2 production.

    Definition of Light Pollution

    • Light pollution is excessive, misdirected, and obtrusive artificial light.

    Kinds of Light Pollution

    • Glare, skyglow, light trespass, and overlighting are forms of light pollution.

    Causes of Light Pollution

    • Traffic lights, advertising lights, and industrial lights contribute to light pollution.

    Effects of Light Pollution

    • Wasting energy, damaging the environment, negatively impacting people's health, and harming plants and animals are effects of light pollution.

    Solutions to Light Pollution

    • Low voltage, warm lights (low intensity), Sense it (use sensors to respond to activity), Cut it off (using timers), Turn off (unnecessary lights), and Be involved (get others to adopt solutions) are all strategies to reduce light pollution.

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