Water Pollution

Definition of water pollution

The introduction of impurities into the water which adversely affects human, animal and aquatic
life is referred to as water pollution.

Sources of Water Pollution

Industrial Waste - Industries pollute water in a variety of ways. In the first instance chemical
plants as oil refining, ammonia and urea plants release waste such as sulphur oxide, sulphur
dioxide and nitrogen oxide into the atmosphere.

Domestic Effluent - Household waste includes detergents which are used in bathing and
washing. These detergents travel through drains eventually reaching rivers and seas.

Sewage - Raw sewage enters water courses in many ways. Some yachts and cruise liners release
human wastes directly into the seas. Poultry and pig farmers contribute to excreta pollution by
discharging wastes directly into the waterways.

Fertilizer and Pesticides - Pesticides and fertilizers used in agriculture usually enter water
courses after being washed away by rain.

Oil Spills - Increased marine drilling activities have advanced the likelihood of oil spills through
the blow-out of wells. Accidental and careless handling of crude oil during transport causes
millions of gallons of this commodity being spilled into the oceans every year.

Solid Waste - Our rivers and seas are treated as an ideal dumping ground for items such as
bottles, cans, tyres, derelict vehicles, plastics, old fridges and stoves, dead animals and waste
from poultry processing.

Consequences of Water Pollution

 Acid rain contributes to fishes being killed in rivers and lakes; soil becomes acid which
stultifies the growth of plants; accelerated corrosion of metalwork on buildings.
 Detergents encourage the proliferation of marine plant life which uses the oxygen in
water; fishes are therefore starved of oxygen.
 Oil spills. Since oil is light it floats on the surface of the water. This therefore prevents
the absorption of oxygen. Fish and other marine life are therefore affected.
 Pesticides are organic chemicals which have a toxic effect on fish and other aquatic life.
  Sewage. Water polluted with sewage transmits deadly diseases such as dysentery,
typhoid and cholera. The breakdown of sewage by bacteria results in the removal of
oxygen from the water.
 Toxic chemicals released from industries are ingested by fish, crab, shrimp and oysters.
The gradual accumulation of toxic waste in these aquatic creatures becomes magnified in
human beings who consume large quantities as food.
 Solid waste dumped into our rivers prevents the flow of water and contributes to
flooding.

Solutions to Water Pollution

 Oil producing countries should have systems in place to deal with oil spills. The
‘slick-bar’ system recovers oil from the surface of water by skimming off the oil.
The system operates similar to a vacuum. Booms can also be used.
 Sewage treatment plants should be properly constructed and regularly maintained
so that dangerous effluents do not enter the water system.
 Industries should create reservoirs for industrial effluent. These can be treated to
remove harmful chemicals before the water is disposed.
 Strict laws with heavy penalties should be instituted and administered for all
forms of water pollution.
 Water treatment plants using the processes of coagulation, sedimentation,
filtration and chlorination serve to purify water.
 Education, using the mass-media, can serve to prevent individuals and
corporations from indiscriminate pollution of water. The government of Trinidad
and Tobago has established the Environmental Management Authority (E.M.A)
which has a responsibility to educate the public on environmental issues.
 Many pests which attack agricultural crops can be eradicated using biological
control. The mealy bug destroys crops has been successfully controlled by the
introduction of the ladybird beetle and a parasitic wasp which feed on the mealy
bug.
Air Pollution
Air pollution is the contamination of the air with impurities. These include smoke, dust and soot
from forest fires and the burning of garbage. Internal combustion engines using gasoline emit
carbon monoxide, lead and particulates into the atmosphere. Some factories release dangerous
sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxide, thereby polluting the atmosphere.

The sugarcane factories at crop time emit black polluted dust. Likewise, cement and chemical
plants emit white polluted dust, in some instances, tainting the vegetation around.

Effects of Air Pollution

 One of the most detrimental effects of air pollution is on human health. There is a
dramatic increase in illness rates and death especially among the elderly and those with
respiratory or heart conditions. There is a long-range effect on human health caused by
exposure to low-level but prolonged air pollution which contributes to bronchitis.
 One of the most common pollutants is carbon monoxide, derived mainly from incomplete
combustion of gasoline in automobile engines. When inhaled, it displaces the oxygen in
the blood and reduces the amount of oxygen carried to the body tissues.
 The sulphur oxides, produced mainly by burning of coal and oil can cause both
temporary and permanent injuries to the respiratory system.
 Sulphur dioxide fumes devastate thousands of hectares of timberland and forests in the
United States of America. Many plants suffer chronic injury, described as ‘early ageing’.
 Air pollutants are damaging to a wide variety of materials. Steel corrodes two or four
times faster in industrial areas than it does in rural areas.
 Decreased visibility caused by air pollution interferes with safe operation of aircrafts and
automobiles disrupting transportation schedules.
 One of the most intriguing aspects of air pollution is its effect on weather and climate. In
many areas precipitation patterns have already been affected by emissions of particles
into the air.
Solutions to Air Pollution
 Strict law to ensure that factories install pollution control devices.
 Experiment with the use of alternative sources of fuel in place of gasoline such as natural
gas, ethyl alcohol, gasohol and hydrogen which emit fewer pollutants.
 Factories should be required to make waste gases harmless by passing them through
special burners and filters before releasing them into the air.
 Tall chimneys should be used to expel the gases high in the air where winds may carry
them away.
 Industrial sites should be placed on the leeward side of countries.
 Unwanted fires must stop now. Serious legislation must be implemented. Penalties must
be heavy and hurtful.
 Through the education system, teach and make the citizens aware of the dangers of air
pollution.

Land/Soil Pollution
The growth of the world’s population has led to a growing demand for goods and services.
Technological improvements and increasing knowledge have resulted in the proliferation of new
factories and chemical plants which cater for the ceaseless wants of a large population. Wastes
from production plants and household are becoming problematic with respect to disposal. The
land is sometimes seen as the only receptacle for wastes produced by factories and families.

Solid Waste
Pollution by disposing of garbage is a global problem. Households generate solid wastes which
include paper, plastics, tyres, bottles, cans, glass, old motor vehicles and appliances. These
usually find themselves on the roadside, beach front and vacant plots of land.

Noise Pollution
Noise pollution is any undesirable sound which disturbs the peace and tranquility of human
beings. Sound is measured in decibels (dB). Prolonged exposure to noise levels about 80 decibels
damages the eardrums, resulting in deafness.

Sources of Noise Pollution

 Construction machinery- tractors, cranes and backhoe.
 Transportation equipment- airplanes, trucks, motor cycles and trains.
 Public address systems.
  Factories and manufacturing plants.
 Musical equipment, speakers and sound systems, radio and television.
 Explosive- firecrackers, dynamite etc; guns
 Barking dogs

Consequences of noise pollution

 Prolonged exposure to noise levels above 80 decibels cause deafness.
 Disturbs peaceful sleep resulting in restlessness and tiredness.
 Emotional disturbance and stress resulting in anger and anxiety.
 Productivity at work is hampered.
 Physiological effects such as indigestion rise in blood pressure, nervousness and
hypertension.

Solutions for noise pollution

 Wearing of ear-plugs at construction sites where jackhammers, cutting and
grinding equipment are constantly in use.
 Legislation which prohibits noise levels over 80 decibels in residential areas.
 Education on the effects of noise pollution.
 More efficient silencers on vehicles.

The Greenhouse Effect

The ‘greenhouse effect’ may be described as the global atmospheric warning caused by the
heating of atmospheric gases which are prevented from rising to higher levels. Hot air normally
rises and becomes cool as it reaches the higher levels of the atmosphere. However, the buildup of
certain greenhouse gases prevents hot air from rising further and become cool.

Causes of the Greenhouse Effect

Some of the greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane and chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s).
These gases form a blanket in the higher levels of the atmosphere, thus trapping heat. This results
in global warming.

Industrialization and activities connected with modern living contribute significantly to the
greenhouse effect. Some of these are explained below:
  The burning of fossil fuels such as gasoline in motor vehicles releases carbon monoxide.
 The burning of oil and gas in a variety of industries releases nitrous oxide, carbon
dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
 Deforestation contributes to the greenhouse effect. We are fully aware that plants use up
carbon dioxide during the process of photosynthesis. The massive removal forests
therefore contribute to the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
 Chlorofluorocarbons are used as propellants in spray cans, air conditioners and
refrigerators. Chlorofluorocarbons are potent greenhouse gases.

Consequences of the Greenhouse Effect

 Melting of the ice caps and consequently rising of the sea levels. This may have
the effect of the sea claiming large portions of the earth.
 Rise in the temperature which will affect man, plants and animals. The stress
levels of human beings and animals will increase.
 The excessive heat may cause climatic changes with droughts, storms and floods
becoming more regular and severe.

Activities that can reduce the greenhouse effect

 Substitutes for petroleum as a source of energy should be explored such as natural gas,
ethyl alcohol, methanol and hydrogen.
 A massive programme of reforestation should be vigorously pursued.
 Burning of sugar cane before harvest, burning of garbage and burning of vegetation in
preparation for agriculture should be discontinued.
 The use of CFC’s as propellants in spray cans and refrigerators can be substituted by
environmentally friendly products.