Effects of Changes in

Materials on the
Immediate Environment
and Living Organisms
Changes Affect Our Immediate
Environment and Living Organisms
• Pollution can change the environment as well as living
organisms.
• Things that cause pollution are called pollutants.
• Pollutants can get into . . .
a.) soil – from chemicals used on farms to help crops grow,
and kill insects and other pests
b.) water – from factories that dump poisonous chemicals into
bodies of water; from oil spills
c.) air – gases or particulates from combustion
Global Warming
• Is the increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s
atmosphere .
• Methane and carbon dioxide rises in the atmosphere

• Greenhouse gases traps the heat from the sun in the

atmosphere
• Global warming can …

- cause catastrophic flooding around the world due to the

melting of the arctic region
- trigger climate change (formation of extremely strong
typhoons)
- cause extinction of species and increase human diseases

- result to draught, and changes in agricultural yield

Acid rain
• Acid rain can …
- harm trees and crops
- kill fish and aquatic plants
- cause respiratory diseases in humans
- cause the decay of concrete structure
- corrosion of metals
• How acid rain is formed
- by man-made emissions of
gaseous chemical wastes
- these chemicals produce sulfur
oxide and nitrogen oxide
- they become stronger when
combined with water in the
atmosphere to produce acids
 Depletion of the Ozone
Layer
• The ozone layer serves as a protective
shield that traps harmful ultraviolet
radiation to reach us.
• CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons)
- are considered the most destructive
greenhouse gas
- Used in aircons, refrigerants, aerosol
sprays, and plastic foam insulation
• Industrial processes release CFCs and
contributes to the acceleration of
atmospheric temperature and
destruction of ozone layer.
• Depletion of ozone layer can lead to
- sunburn, skin cancer, cataracts,
premature aging, weak immune system,
and other diseases/abnormalities
- slowing down of natural processes like
photosynthesis
- death of planktons and algae (sources of
food for marine animals)
Non-biodegradable and Toxic Wastes Are
Global Problems Too
• non-biodegradable wastes are those that
will not decay for a long period of time
• the problem with disposal of plastic bags
and containers has not yet been solved
• clogging of canals and drainage systems
lead to flooding
• plastic wastes in the oceans and seas kill
marine animals
• workers in toxic industrial factories get sick
(cancer)
Ways to Prevent
Changes that May Have
Harmful Effects on the
Environment and Living
Organisms
• be responsible for the proper disposal of
waste we produce (practice 5Rs)
• avoid practices that will produce acid rain,
increase global temperature, or deplete
the ozone layer
• avoid the use of too much electricity and
gasoline
• avoid burning rubber tires and plastics
• maintain air conditioners and refrigerators
• proper maintenance of vehicles to avoid
producing black smoke and pollutants
END