GED110

PRESENTATION
MADE BY GROUP 7
TABLE OF
CONTENTS:

pg. 3.) Biodiversity extinction

pg. 5.) Water Pollution

pg. 7.) Examples of Water Pollution

pg. 11.) Environmental Accidents on Water

pg. 17.) References

BIODIVERSITY
EXTINCTION

The diversity of all living forms on Earth is known as biodiversity.

Humans depend on animals and plants for everything they need to
thrive, including clean water, food, and medications. Plants are essential
for purifying the air, reducing temperature increases, and offering
protection against climate change. However, species are disappearing
between 100 and 1,000 times more fast than expected, and 28% of the
more than 142,000 species studied are deemed endangered. 40% of
amphibians, a category that includes frogs and toads, are in danger.
BIODIVERSITY
EXTINCTION

So...
In other words, biodiversity is essential.

Since 98% of all species that have ever existed are now gone, it is typical
for species to develop and go extinct over time.

But today, species are disappearing between 100 and 1,000 times more
fast than expected, according to biologists.

A "red list" of endangered species has been maintained by the

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since 1964.
28% of the more than 142,000 species studied are deemed endangered,
meaning they face a very high risk of going extinct.
 Water pollution is the polluting of bodies of water. Water
pollution occurs when rivers, lakes, seas, groundwater, and

WATER aquifers become contaminated with industrial and

agricultural effluents.

POLLUTION When water becomes contaminated, it has a negative impact

on all lifeforms that rely on it, whether directly or indirectly.
The consequences of water pollution might be felt for many
years.
WATER POLLUTION
The discharge of pollutants into water bodies that render the water unfit for human use and disturb
aquatic ecosystems is referred to as water pollution.

Numerous diverse pollutants, such as petroleum, hazardous waste, and disease-causing bacteria, can
lead to water pollution.

Another cause of water pollution that has a terrible effect on the ecosystems in the area is oil spills.
Either point sources or distributed sources contribute to water pollution.

A pipe or canal, as those used for discharge from an industrial facility or a city drainage system, is
referred to as a point source.

Because the polluted water has been gathered and transported to a single location where it can be
cleaned, point sources of water pollution are simpler to manage than distributed sources.
EXAMPLES
MICROPLASTIC
POLLUTION

plastic
Microplastics have been discovered in a wide
range of settings, including marine and freshwater
ecosystems. In the early twenty-first century,
annual plastic pollution from all sorts of plastics
was projected to be 4 million to 14 million tons in
the seas alone. Microplastics, which are found in
dust and airborne fiber particles, are also a source
of air pollution. The health consequences of
inhaling microplastics remain unclear.
EMERGING
CONTAMINANTS
EMERGING
CONTAMINANTS
Emerging contaminants, also known as contaminants
of emerging concern, can relate to a wide range of
chemicals, including pharmaceuticals, personal care
or home cleaning goods, lawn care, and agricultural
products, among others. These pollutants end up in
our country's lakes and rivers, where they harm fish
and other aquatic creatures. It has also been
demonstrated that these contaminants
bioaccumulate up the food chain, placing non-aquatic
animals at danger when they consume polluted fish.
The USGS monitors and evaluates these harmful
compounds from their point of origin all the way
through the food chain.
EUTROPHICATION

eutrophication
Eutrophication causes a chain reaction in the
environment, beginning with an excess of algae
and plants. Excess algae and plant materials
breakdown and emit enormous volumes of
carbon dioxide. This causes ocean acidification by
lowering the pH of seawater. Acidification inhibits
fish and shellfish development and can hinder
bivalve mollusk shell production. As a result,
commercial and recreational fisheries capture
less, resulting in smaller harvests and more costly
seafood.
ENVIRONMENTAL ACCIDENTS ON
WATER
MINAMATA DISEASE
The Minamata Bay disaster
occurred in Japan in the
1950s and was caused by
severe mercury poisoning
from a chemical factory
owned by the Chisso
Corporation.
The factory released large
amounts of industrial
wastewater containing high
levels of methylmercury into
the bay, contaminating the
seafood and causing many
residents of the area.
The legacy of Minamata
disease serves as a reminder
of the devastating effects of
industrial pollution on
human health and the
environment
The disaster led to the creation
of stricter environmental
regulations in Japan and
around the world and is
considered one of the worst
cases of industrial pollution in
history.
The Chisso Corporation finally
accepted responsibility for the
disease in the 1970s and
compensated the affected
families.
The Japanese government
established the Minamata
Disease Certification Center to
provide medical treatment and
compensation to Minamata
disease patients and their
families, and to conduct
research on the disease.
 SILENT SPRING
"Silent Spring" is a book written by
Rachel Carson in 1962 that
documented the environmental
impact of widespread pesticide
use.
The book detailed the harm
caused by pesticides to birds, fish,
and other wildlife, as well as to
human health and the
environment.
The book was influential in raising
public awareness about the
dangers of pesticides and the need
for better regulation and control
of their use.
Prior to the publication of "Silent
Spring," the widespread use of
pesticides was largely accepted as
necessary for controlling pests
and increasing crop yields.
Carson's book documented the
devastating environmental and
health impacts of pesticides, and
it called for a more balanced and
cautious approach to their use.
It sparked a national debate on
the use of pesticides and led to
the creation of new
environmental regulations and
laws, including the creation of the
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA).
"Silent Spring" remains a seminal
work in the history of
environmentalism and it
continues to influence public
opinion and policy on the use of
pesticides and other hazardous
chemicals.
 LOVE CANAL
The Love Canal environmental
tragedy occurred in Niagara
Falls, New York, in the late 1970s.
The disaster was caused by
dumping toxic chemicals,
including toxic wastes such as
dioxin and PCBs, into a canal that
was later covered over and
turned into a residential
neighborhood.
The toxic chemicals leached into
the soil and groundwater,
contaminating the area and
exposing residents to hazardous
chemicals.
The disaster led to a range of
health problems for residents,
including birth defects, high
rates of cancer, and other
illnesses.
Despite warnings from scientists
and residents, the government
and industry were slow to
recognize the problem and take
action to clean up the area.
A state of emergency was
declared in 1978, and the federal
government eventually stepped
in to fund a cleanup of the site.
The Love Canal tragedy led to
increased public awareness
about the dangers of toxic waste
and the importance of proper
waste management, and it
played a key role in the creation
of the 1980 Comprehensive
Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act
(CERCLA), also known as the
Superfund Act.
THE GREAT STINK
OF 1854
Cholera Outbreaks became frequent.
Dr. John Snow - Scientist that successfully
proven that the river waste water was the
source of Cholera disease
Hot summer of 1858 - unnatural hot
weather significantly dropped the river's
water level exposing the rotted sewage at
the banks, emitting a horrible stench
A bill was passed to refurbish the entirety
of the Thames river
Joseph Bazalgette - civil engineer known for
his effective sewerage system design that
wiped out cholera and saved the people.
It is an eye opener for people that albeit
not seen, there will always be damage for
every malpractice we do
THE GREAT STINK
OF 1854
The Thames river had been
unceremoniously dumped with waste
water from manufacturing industries, from
slaughterhouses, and tons from domestic
buildings.
Tidal river - the tides from the sea
invariably push the waste water away
The Thames river became a storage of
waste for centuries
People are dumping their wastes from 17th
to 19th century
It only became a public concern when
thousands of London citizens connected
their ill-constructed cesspits to several of
London’s surface drains.
THANK YOU
REFERENCES:
LONDON'S GREAT STINK. (2019, OCTOBER 9). HISTORIC UK. HTTPS://WWW.HISTORIC-
UK.COM/HISTORYUK/HISTORYOFBRITAIN/LONDONS-GREAT-STINK/

WATER POLLUTION | DEFINITION, CAUSES, EFFECTS, SOLUTIONS, EXAMPLES, & FACTS | BRITANNICA

WHAT IS EUTROPHICATION? (NOAA.GOV)

EMERGING CONTAMINANTS | U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (USGS.GOV)

BIODIVERSITY: WHAT IS A MASS EXTINCTION AND ARE WE CAUSING ONE? - BBC NEWS

MICROPLASTICS | DEFINITION, PROPERTIES, & PLASTIC POLLUTION | BRITANNICA