16.1 ,16.3 and 16.

AIR POLLUTION, WATER POLLUTION

AND SAVING FORESTS
INDICATORS
● Lichens obtain almost all their nutrients from the atmosphere through uptake over their
entire surface.
● They have no cuticle, nor means of controlling nutrient uptake, unlike vascular plants, and
free exchange of both gases and solutions occurs across cell surfaces (Turetsky 2003).
● In addition their surface area to mass is very high and assimilatory capacity relatively
low.
● Lichens are therefore highly susceptible to changes in atmospheric chemistry and
deposition and for this reason provide very sensitive indicators of such changes.
●
ACID RAIN
● "Acid rain" is a general name for many phenomena including acid fog, acid sleet, and acid snow.
Although we associate the acid threat with rainy days, acid deposition occurs all the time, even
on sunny days.
● Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides both combine with water in the atmosphere to create acid
rain. Acid rain acidifies the soils and waters where it falls, killing off plants. Many industrial
processes produce large quantities of pollutants including sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxide.
These are also produced by car engines and are emitted in the exhaust. When sulphur dioxide
and nitrous oxide react with water vapour in the atmosphere, acids are produced. The result is
what is termed acid rain, which causes serious damage to plants.
● In addition, other gaseous pollutants, such as ozone, can also harm vegetation directly.
● Acid rain does not usually kill trees directly. Instead, it is more likely to weaken the trees by
damaging their leaves, limiting the nutrients available to them, or poisoning them with toxic
substances slowly released from the soil. The main atmospheric pollutants that affect trees are
nitrates and sulphates. Forest decline is often the first sign that trees are in trouble due to air
pollution.
EFFECTS OF ACID RAIN
● Acid rain affects nearly everything. Plants, soil, trees, buildings and even statues can be
transformed by the precipitation.
● Acid rain has been found to be very hard on trees. It weakens them by washing away the
protective film on leaves, and it stunts growth. A paper released in the online version of
the journal of Environmental Science and Technology in 2005 showed evidence of acid rain
stunting tree growth.
● Acid rain is very harmful to agriculture, plants, and animals. It washes away all nutrients
which are required for the growth and survival of plants. Acid rain affects agriculture by
the way how it alters the composition of the soil.
● Acid rain can also change the composition of soil and bodies of water, making them
uninhabitable for local animals and plants. For example, healthy lakes have a pH of 6.5
or higher.
 FLUE GAS DESULFURIZATION - PROCESS
Wet limestone scrubbing is the most efficient means for removing SO2 in the stack gases
exhausted to the atmosphere.
●
This limestone slurry, a mix of limestone and water, is supplied from the limestone slurry tank to
the absorber. Slurry flow is regulated by the slurry control valve, with recirculation pumps
moving the limestone slurry to the header. These recirculation pumps keep the limestone slurry
flowing to the header so as to continue spraying it into the flue gas from the top of the
absorber.

Flue gas from the boiler passes through a gas-to-gas heat exchanger to remove excess heat. It
then flows into the absorber in the reverse direction to the spray of limestone slurry. After the
flue gas is sprayed with wet limestone, it exits the absorber. It then passes through the
gas-to-gas heat exchanger, and is finally vented to atmosphere through the stack.

In the absorber, SO2 contained in the flue gas is absorbed because of the chemical reaction
between the SO2 and the limestone slurry. The chemical reaction formula for this desulfurization
process is:
LINKS

● https://youtu.be/Gz1CRpy9_4s
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2dOSidxvLA
WATER POLLUTION

●
EUTROPHICATION
● Eutrophication is the process in which a water body becomes overly enriched with
nutrients, leading to plentiful growth of simple plant life. The excessive growth (or bloom)
of algae and plankton in a water body are indicators of this process. Eutrophication is
considered to be a serious environmental concern since it often results in the
deterioration of water quality and the depletion of dissolved oxygen in water bodies.
Eutrophic waters can eventually become “dead zones” that are incapable of supporting
life.
● Eutrophication may be defined as the inorganic nutrient enrichment of natural waters,
leading to an increased production of algae and macrophytes. Many lakes are naturally
eutrophic and in some cases there is a progressive eutrophication as the lake matures.
The term Eutrophication is more widely known in relation to human activities where the
artificial introduction of plant nutrients has led to community changes and a deterioration
of water quality in many freshwater systems. This aspect has become increasingly
important with increases in human population and more extensive development of
agriculture and eutrophication now ranks with other major anthropogenic effects such as
deforestation, global warming depletion of the ozone layer and large scale environmental
disturbance in relation to its potentially harmful effect on natural ecosystems.
LINKS

● https://edpuzzle.com/media/6071680277499741773baa9e
● https://edpuzzle.com/media/606f16276f7b024158125dd7
● https://edpuzzle.com/media/5a0a422446b2c340cf00ed85
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGqZsSuG7ao
SEWAGE
Domestic households, industrial and agricultural practices produce wastewater that can cause pollution
of many lakes and rivers.

● Sewage is the term used for wastewater that often contains faeces, urine and laundry waste.
● There are billions of people on Earth, so treating sewage is a big priority.
● Sewage disposal is a major problem in developing countries as many people in these areas don’t
have access to sanitary conditions and clean water.
● Untreated sewage water in such areas can contaminate the environment and cause diseases such
as diarrhoea.
● Sewage in developed countries is carried away from the home quickly and hygienically through
sewage pipes.
● Sewage is treated in water treatment plants and the waste is often disposed into the sea.
● Sewage is mainly biodegradable and most of it is broken down in the environment.
● In developed countries, sewage often causes problems when people flush chemical and
pharmaceutical substances down the toilet. When people are ill, sewage often carries harmful
viruses and bacteria into the environment causing health problems.
LINKS

https://edpuzzle.com/media/60719d8d7340d641558b926f
https://edpuzzle.com/media/604a3404ed03e4428478e353
https://edpuzzle.com/media/60648639335094428bd935b4
https://edpuzzle.com/media/607056343ac74c417a97bfd7
https://edpuzzle.com/media/606f23360f72e8418752b7fe
LANDSLIDE

AFTER AFFECTS
The impact of a landslide can be
extensive, including loss of life,
destruction of infrastructure, damage
to land and loss of natural resources.
Landslide material can also block
rivers and increase the risk of floods.
LANSLIDES
What is a landslide?
-a landslide is the movement of a mass of rock or debris. they are several forms of
mass wasting that include a wide range of ground movements such as rock falls,
deep-seated slope failures, mudflows and debris flows.
-landslides can occur in a variety of environments, characterized by either steep or
gentle slope gradients, from mountain ranges to coastal cliffs or even underwater, in
that case are called submarine landslides.

How is a landslide caused?

-gravity is the primary driving force for a landslide to occur but there are other
factors affecting slope stability that produce specific conditions that make a slope
prone to failure. -landslides can also be caused by disturbances in the natural
stability of a slope. they can accompany heavy rains or follow droughts, earthquakes
or volcanic eruptions. -both natural and human-related activities can increase the
risk of landslides.
LANDSLIDES
What are the effects of landslides?
-the impact of a landslide can be extensive. it includes loss of life,
destruction of infrastructure, damage to land and loss of natural
resources.
-landslides can also block rivers and increase the risk of floods.

how can we prevent landslides?

-We can prevent landslides by modifying slope geometry, using
chemical agents to reinforce slope material, installing structures such
as piles and retaining walls, grouting rock joints and fissures, diverting
debris pathways and rerouting surface and underwater drainage.
DEFORESTRATION
Deforestation is increasing every year as global warming is increasing due
to deforestation is happening cutting of trees which is increasing as
demand is increasing as we are using paper books etc which is and it
can happen by 2 parts man made and natural example Tsunami as its a
natural disaster

And man made can be fire etc the rate is increasing as it helps humans in
food

As they take in co2 and give out oxygen this also help humans there are
many advantage of trees
MAKING FORESTS MORE VALUABLE
Forests provide the wildlife shelter and a living.
Forests bear many flowers, fruits and roots which are suitable for human consumption.
Forests hold both the top and underground soil firmly and prevent soil erosion.
Wood from the forests is a great requirement in the production of furniture and in the
building of wooden houses.
Forests covering a large area promote perfect seasonal rains through their vast amounts of
transpiration.
Forests help in large scale exchange of gases and thence, demote the levels of air
pollution.
Many useful drugs and alkaloids are extracted from the forests.
Many useful drugs and alkaloids are extracted from the forests.
Forests promote biodiversity to a great extent.
Forests enhance the rate of decomposition, formation of soil and hence maintain the
ecological services.
Either directly or indirectly, forests bless a large crowd with employment.
How Government Trying To
Make Forests More Valuable?
Encourage tourists to
visit the jungle, to
provide local
employment.
How Government Trying To
Make Forests More Valuable?

Harvest rainforest
products such as
fruits and nuts for
export.
How Government Trying To Make
Forests More Valuable?
Prevent poaching and illegal logging by outsiders.
How Government Trying To Make
Forests More Valuable?
Pay people to plant trees on land that is unsuitable for crops.
How Government Trying To Make
Forests More Valuable?
Encourage wealthy people to buy trees and protect them.
REDUCING DEMAND FOR ENERGY AND RESOURCES
Reducing demand for energy and resource
Reducing energy is simply the cut back of energy use required to provide humans with products, goods
and services. A big energy reduction factor is air pollution. If individuals reduce energy in their day-to-day
life then air pollution will massively be reduced because energy plays a critical role in the effects of air
pollution, it can either have a dirty production behaviour or it can work as a asset for reducing pollution.
Natural resources has an increase in demand as well because humans are using it for their own purpose
and not caring about the natural balance. We as humans use these resources but don’t give back to
nature, this is wrong on our part. This simple act of taking away from earth may lead to deforestation,
climate change, global warming or overconsumption. In todays day and age these are world problems that
nobody can tackle.
But we humans can change this by following some basic things in our homes.
1. Reuse products
2. Recycle materials
3. Use energy and electricity more efficiently
4. Reduce pollution and resource use as much as possible
5. Try limiting the use of objects that consume excess energy
These are some examples of ways in which we can limit the use of energy and resources. By
implementing these methods we can contribute to the global energy and resource demand which makes
us a small solution to a large problem and together maybe we can solve it.
16.1 ANSWERS OF COURSE BOOK QUESTIONS

1. Acid rain is caused by sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen. Sulfur dioxide is
released when fuels burn and when metals are extracted. Cars release oxides of
nitrogen.

2. Many lichens cannot survive in polluted air so the varieties of lichen species
present shows how clean the air is.

3 Acid rain damages plants in three ways: it makes soil more acidic which can stop
plants getting essential mineral elements; it dissolves aluminium from rocks, which
can poison plants; it damages leaves and seeds, so pathogens can infect plants more
easily.

4 Air pollution has increased in the past 100 years 5 because the human population is
larger, we have more cars, and we burn more fuels.
16.3 ANSWERS OF COURSE BOOK QUESTIONS
1 Fertilisers make plants and algae grow faster by providing extra minerals.

2 Eutrophication happens when fertiliser enters water, algae multiply rapidly and block off
the light, plants below the surface die, micro- organisms use up oxygen as they decompose
dead plants, and finally fish die from a lack of oxygen.

3 We can stop sewage polluting rivers by storing it in huge tanks while micro-organisms
break its contents down.

4 Invertebrates can be used to monitor water pollution because they act as living
indicators. Many species cannot survive in polluted water, so the species present show how
polluted the water is.
16.4 ANSWERS OF COURSE BOOK QUESTIONS
1. A growing population removes trees for many reasons: to grow food; to keep farm
animals; to remove metal ores, oil, or coal from the ground; to use the wood as a fuel or
building material; to grow food crops to sell to other countries; to grow biofuels to sell to
other countries; to build new roads and houses.

2 Other countries encourage tropical countries to remove forests by buying crops grown in
deforested areas.

3 Deforestation damages the local environment by: destroying habitats; removing people’s
access to the food and fuel the forest provided; making the local climate warmer, windier,
and drier; making soil erosion more common; making rivers flood more easily.

4 Deforestation affects the world’s climate by adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere and
increasing global warming.