15 Questions
What is pollution?
The introduction of contaminants that have harmful effects on nature and human health into the environment
What does 'environment' refer to in the context of pollution?
The water, air, or land
Why is pollution a concern for humans?
Because we depend on water, air, and land for our survival
What is one major source of water pollution in Canada?
Municipal wastewater treatment plants
How much inadequately treated wastewater is dumped into the environment in Canada each year?
150 billion liters
What was the result of a major oil spill in Canada in 2016?
It contaminated the local population's drinking water
What is an example of natural water contamination in Canada?
Acid rain
What was the consequence of a smelting plant in Ontario allegedly dumping toxic substances into local water sources?
Levels of metals in the water increased to hundreds of times higher than legal limits
How does Canada try to prevent pollution in the first place?
By regulating what substances can be used in an industry
What is one of the natural sources of air pollution in the U.S.?
Wildfires
What is one of the effects of long-term air pollution?
Increasing the risk of respiratory disorders
What has the U.S. done to tackle and manage air pollution problems?
Reduced the content of toxic chemicals in gasoline
What is one of the sources of land pollution in Mexico?
Mining
What has Mexico done to help control land pollution?
Instituted basic policies to minimize exposure to contaminants
What was the aim of closing one of the world's largest landfills in Mexico?
To replace it with a recycling plant
Study Notes
What is Pollution?
- The introduction of contaminants that have harmful effects on nature and human health into the environment
- Can be found in water, air, or land
Water Pollution in Canada
- Over 150 billion liters of inadequately treated wastewater (sewage) is dumped every year
- Sources of water contamination include:
- Industry
- Municipal discharge
- Acid rain
- Natural erosion or sedimentation
- Examples of water pollution:
- 2016 oil spill in Canada, 200,000 liters of tar sand crude oil leaked into the North Saskatchewan River
- Smelting plant in Ontario allegedly dumping toxic substances into local water sources since 1963
Tackling Water Pollution in Canada
- Developing regulations for appropriate wastewater treatment
- Monitoring water quality to identify contaminants and address the problem
- Preventing pollution through regulating industry practices and product design
Air Pollution in the U.S.
- Sources of air pollution:
- Natural sources (e.g. wildfires)
- Human-based sources (e.g. automobiles, airplanes, factories, power plants)
- Effects of air pollution:
- Increase risk of respiratory disorders, like lung cancer
- Examples of air pollution:
- Wildfires in the northwestern United States in 2016, causing air pollution levels to rise to toxic levels
- Los Angeles, with high levels of air pollution due to a large number of automobiles
Tackling Air Pollution in the U.S.
- Reducing toxic chemicals in gasoline
- Promoting the development of cleaner alternative sources of energy (e.g. wind, solar)
Land Pollution in Mexico
- Sources of land pollution:
- Mining
- Landfills
- Hazardous wastes
- Construction and demolition waste
- Examples of land pollution:
- Toxic chemicals and substances (e.g. lead, arsenic, chromium) infiltrating the surrounding land
- Steps to control land pollution:
- Instituting policies to minimize exposure to contaminants
- Closing dangerous industries or land pollution sites and replacing them with environmentally friendly alternatives (e.g. recycling plant)
Learn about pollution, its effects on nature and human health, and its impact on the environment in North America.
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