2pollute Besoedel

Pollution
Ayanda
Table of Contents:
Table of Contents
Type chapter title (level 1) 1
Pollution
Introduction
Pollution is the addition to the ecosystem of something which has a detrimental

effect on it. One of the most important causes of pollution is the high rate of
energy usage by modern, growing populations.
Different kinds of pollution are found. In this section we will discuss:
Air and Sound Pollution
1. Noise Pollution
2. Tobacco Smoke
3. Exhaust Gases of Vehicles
4. Combustion of Coal
5. Acid Rain
Water Pollution
A. Industrial Effluent
B. Mining and Agricultural Wastes
C. Sewage Disposal and Domestic Wastes
Land Pollution
A. Waste Disposal
B. Soil Pollution
Air and Sound Pollution
AIR POLLUTION IS THE ACCUMULATION IN THE ATMOSPHERE OF SUBSTANCES THAT,

IN SUFFICIENT CONCENTRATIONS, ENDANGER HUMAN HEALTH OR PRODUCE OTHER
MEASURED EFFECTS ON LIVING MATTER AND OTHER MATERIALS. AMONG THE MAJOR
SOURCES OF POLLUTION ARE POWER AND HEAT GENERATION, THE BURNING OF SOLID
WASTES, INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES, AND, ESPECIALLY, TRANSPORTATION. THE SIX
MAJOR TYPES OF POLLUTANTS ARE CARBON MONOXIDE, HYDROCARBONS, NITROGEN
OXIDES, PARTICULATES, SULPHUR DIOXIDE, AND PHOTOCHEMICAL OXIDANTS.
1
Examples of Air and Sound Pollution
NOISE POLLUTION
Noise pollution or unwanted sounds that are carried by the air have an irritating
and detrimental effect on humans and other animals. Careful planning of streets
and buildings in towns and better control over noisy vehicles may add to the
control of noise pollution.
TOBACCO SMOKEN
Tobacco smoke is one of the major forms of pollution in buildings. It is not only
the smoker who is infected, but everyone who inhales the polluted air. There is
a very strong connection between smoking and lung cancer. Bronchitis is common
among smokers and unborn babies of mothers who smoke also suffer from the
harmful effects of smoking.
EXHAUST GASES OF VEHICLES
Pollution from exhaust gases of vehicles is responsible for 60% of all air
pollution and in cities up to 80%. There is a large variety of harmful chemicals
present in these gases, with lead being one of the most dangerous.
COMBUSTION OF COAL
The combustion of coal without special precautions can have serious

consequences. If winds do not blow away the poisonous gases, they can have
fatal effects and may lead to death.
ACID RAIN
Acid rain is the term for pollution caused when sulphur and nitrogen dioxides
combine with atmospheric moisture to produce highly acidic rain, snow, hail, or
fog. The acid eats into the stone, brick and metal articles and pollutes water
sources. Coal in South Africa is rich in sulphur and the power stations in the
Mpumalanga Province could be responsible for acid rain over other areas of our
country.
Highest average smoke concentrations (1997)
2
Place Highest Annual Annual
soiling average guideline
index soiling
detected index
(S/m3)
Sunderland Ridge, Centurion
112 56 20
(residential and industrial)
Welkom Municipality
272 44 20
(industrial)
White City, Springs
84 33 20
(residential)
Fordsburg, Johannesburg
71 25 20
(industrial/commercial)
Average
Control Measures
Although individual people can help to combat air pollution in their own
immediate environment, efficient control can be best achieved by legislation.
Some commonly enforced control measures include the establishment of more
smokeless zones; control over the kinds of fuel used in cars, aeroplanes, power
stations, etc.
3
Water Pollution
Water pollution is the introduction into fresh or ocean waters of chemical,

physical, or biological material that degrades the quality of the water and
affects the organisms living in it. This process ranges from simple addition of
dissolved or suspended solids to discharge of the most insidious and persistent
toxic pollutants (such as pesticides, heavy metals, and non-degradable, bio-
accumulative, chemical compounds).
Examples of Water Pollution
INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENT
Water is discharged from after having been used in production processes. This
waste water may contain acids, alkalis, salts, poisons, oils and in some cases
harmful bacteria.
MINING AND AGRICULTURAL WASTES
Mines, especially gold and coalmines are responsible for large quantities of acid
water. Agricultural pesticides, fertilisers and herbicides may wash into rivers
and stagnant water bodies.
SEWAGE DISPOSAL AND DOMESTIC WASTES
Sewage as well as domestic and farm wastes were often allowed to pollute rivers
and dams.
Control Measures
The following measures can be used to stop water pollution:
 every person should be wise enough not to pollute water in any way
 by research and legislation the pollution of water bodies, even though not
entirely prevented, must be effectively controlled.
Land Pollution
4
Land pollution is the degradation of the Earth's land surface through misuse of
the soil by poor agricultural practices, mineral exploitation, industrial waste
dumping, and indiscriminate disposal of urban wastes. It includes visible waste
and litter as well as pollution of the soil itself.
Examples of Land Pollution
SOIL POLLUTION
Soil pollution is mainly due to chemicals in herbicides (weed killers) and

pesticides (poisons which kill insects and other invertebrate pests). Litter is
waste material dumped in public places such as streets, parks, picnic areas, at
bus stops and near shops.
WASTE DISPOSAL
The accumulation of waste threatens the health of people in residential areas.

Waste decays, encourages household pests and turns urban areas into unsightly,
dirty and unhealthy places to live in.
Control Measures
The following measures can be used to control land pollution:
 anti-litter campaigns can educate people against littering;

 organic waste can be dumped in places far from residential areas;
 inorganic materials such as metals, glass and plastic, but also paper, can
be reclaimed and recycled.
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Pollution

Pollution is the addition to the ecosystem of something which has a detrimental

Different kinds of pollution are found. In this section we will discuss:

Air and Sound Pollution

Air and Sound Pollution

AIR POLLUTION IS THE ACCUMULATION IN THE ATMOSPHERE OF SUBSTANCES THAT,

EXHAUST GASES OF VEHICLES

The combustion of coal without special precautions can have serious

Highest average smoke concentrations (1997)

Water pollution is the introduction into fresh or ocean waters of chemical,

Examples of Water Pollution

MINING AND AGRICULTURAL WASTES

SEWAGE DISPOSAL AND DOMESTIC WASTES

The following measures can be used to stop water pollution:

Examples of Land Pollution

Soil pollution is mainly due to chemicals in herbicides (weed killers) and

The accumulation of waste threatens the health of people in residential areas.

The following measures can be used to control land pollution:

 anti-litter campaigns can educate people against littering;

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