1.5 Humans and pollution Pollution and Pollutants Key terms
-Pollution is the addition of a substance or an agent to Pollutants are released by human activity and may Pollution is the addition of a substance or an agent to an
environment by human activity, at a rate greater that that at be: environment by human activity. Alternate greater that that at
which it can be rendered harmless by the environment, and 1. Organic or inorganic matter which it can be rendered harmless by the environment, and
which has an appreciable effect on the organisms in the 2. Energy which has an appreciable effect on the organisms within it.
environment. 3. Living organisms
-Pollutants may be in the form of organic/inorganic substances, There are: Point source pollution
light, sound, or heat energy, or biological agents/ invasive Primary pollutants, which are active on emission Point source pollution is the release of pollutants from a single,
species, and derive from a wide range of human activities e.g.: carbon monoxide clearly identifiable site, for example; a factory chimney or the
including combustion of fossil fuels. Secondary pollutants which are formed by waste disposal pipe of a sewage works into a river.
-Pollution may be non- point or point source, persistent or primary pollutants undergoing physical or It is easy to see who is polluting and where its coming from
biodegradable, acute or chronic. chemical changes e.g.: sulphuric acid forms making it easier to manage.
Pollutants may be primary (active on emission) or secondary when Sulphur trioxide reacts with water.
(arising from primary pollutants undergoing physical or chemical
Non- point source pollution
change. Photochemical smog is both a primary and Non- point source pollution is the release of pollutants from
-DDT exemplifies a conflict between the unity of a pollutant and secondary pollutant (contains a mixture) numerous widely dispersed origins, e.g.: gases from the
its effect on the environment.
exhaust systems of vehicles and chemicals spread on a field.
Major sources of pollution
Non point source pollution may have many sources and may
Major source Pollutant Effect be impossible to discern where it’s coming from. Rainwater
Combustion of Carbon dioxide Greenhouse gas- climate change can collect nitrates and phosphates spread on fields and run
fossil fuels off could carry these for many kilometers, before draining in
Sulphur dioxide Acid deposition- tree and fish death. a lake and causing eutrophication.
Nitrogen oxides Respiratory infections, eye irritation, smog A solution is to set limits for all farmers and all industries to
Photochemical Secondary pollutants- damage to plants, eye irritation, respiratory reduce emissions and then monitor what they do.
smog problems in humans Persistent organic pollutants
Carbon monoxide Binds with hemoglobin in red blood cells instead of oxygen- can lead to POPs were manufactures as pesticides in the past; they are
death by suffocation. resistant to breaking down and remain active in the environment
Domestic waste Organic waste Eutrophication and waterborne diseases for a long time. As a result of this, they bioacummulate in animal
Waste paper Volume fills up landfill sites; forests cut to produce it. and human tissues and biomagify in food chains causing harm.
Plastics Volume fills landfill sites; derived from oil. Properties of POPs are:
Glass Energy required to manufacture and volume fills landfill sites. High molecular weight
Not very soluble in water
Tins/cans Can be recycled but also goes to landfill
Highly soluble in fats and lipids- meaning they can pass
Industrial Heavy metals Poisoning e.g. lead, mercury, cadmium
through cell membranes
waste Fluorides Poisoning
Halogenated molecules, often with chlorine.
Heat Reduces solubility of gasses in water, so less oxygen so organisms may
die.
Lead Disabilities in children
Acids Corrosive Chronic pollution
Agricultural Nitrates Eutrophication - Results from the long term release of a pollutant but in small
Organic waste Eutrophication; disease spread amounts. It is serious because:
waste It often goes undetected for a long time
Pesticides Accumulate up food chains
It is usually more difficult to clean it up
Acute pollution
Is when large amounts of pollutant are released, causing a lot of harm. E.g.: when the chemical aluminum sulphate was
It often spreads widely
- Air pollution is often chronic, causing non- specific
accidently tipped into the wrong place in a water treatment works in Cornwall, poisoning many people.
respiratory diseases for example asthma or bronchitis.
-Pollution is the addition of a substance or an agent to Pollutants are released by human activity and may Pollution is the addition of a substance or an agent to an
environment by human activity, at a rate greater that that at be: environment by human activity. Alternate greater that that at
which it can be rendered harmless by the environment, and 1. Organic or inorganic matter which it can be rendered harmless by the environment, and
which has an appreciable effect on the organisms in the 2. Energy which has an appreciable effect on the organisms within it.
environment. 3. Living organisms
-Pollutants may be in the form of organic/inorganic substances, There are: Point source pollution
light, sound, or heat energy, or biological agents/ invasive Primary pollutants, which are active on emission Point source pollution is the release of pollutants from a single,
species, and derive from a wide range of human activities e.g.: carbon monoxide clearly identifiable site, for example; a factory chimney or the
including combustion of fossil fuels. Secondary pollutants which are formed by waste disposal pipe of a sewage works into a river.
-Pollution may be non- point or point source, persistent or primary pollutants undergoing physical or It is easy to see who is polluting and where its coming from
biodegradable, acute or chronic. chemical changes e.g.: sulphuric acid forms making it easier to manage.
Pollutants may be primary (active on emission) or secondary when Sulphur trioxide reacts with water.
(arising from primary pollutants undergoing physical or chemical
Non- point source pollution
change. Photochemical smog is both a primary and Non- point source pollution is the release of pollutants from
-DDT exemplifies a conflict between the unity of a pollutant and secondary pollutant (contains a mixture) numerous widely dispersed origins, e.g.: gases from the
its effect on the environment.
exhaust systems of vehicles and chemicals spread on a field.
Major sources of pollution
Non point source pollution may have many sources and may
Major source Pollutant Effect be impossible to discern where it’s coming from. Rainwater
Combustion of Carbon dioxide Greenhouse gas- climate change can collect nitrates and phosphates spread on fields and run
fossil fuels off could carry these for many kilometers, before draining in
Sulphur dioxide Acid deposition- tree and fish death. a lake and causing eutrophication.
Nitrogen oxides Respiratory infections, eye irritation, smog A solution is to set limits for all farmers and all industries to
Photochemical Secondary pollutants- damage to plants, eye irritation, respiratory reduce emissions and then monitor what they do.
smog problems in humans Persistent organic pollutants
Carbon monoxide Binds with hemoglobin in red blood cells instead of oxygen- can lead to POPs were manufactures as pesticides in the past; they are
death by suffocation. resistant to breaking down and remain active in the environment
Domestic waste Organic waste Eutrophication and waterborne diseases for a long time. As a result of this, they bioacummulate in animal
Waste paper Volume fills up landfill sites; forests cut to produce it. and human tissues and biomagify in food chains causing harm.
Plastics Volume fills landfill sites; derived from oil. Properties of POPs are:
Glass Energy required to manufacture and volume fills landfill sites. High molecular weight
Not very soluble in water
Tins/cans Can be recycled but also goes to landfill
Highly soluble in fats and lipids- meaning they can pass
Industrial Heavy metals Poisoning e.g. lead, mercury, cadmium
through cell membranes
waste Fluorides Poisoning
Halogenated molecules, often with chlorine.
Heat Reduces solubility of gasses in water, so less oxygen so organisms may
die.
Lead Disabilities in children
Acids Corrosive Chronic pollution
Agricultural Nitrates Eutrophication - Results from the long term release of a pollutant but in small
Organic waste Eutrophication; disease spread amounts. It is serious because:
waste It often goes undetected for a long time
Pesticides Accumulate up food chains
It is usually more difficult to clean it up
Acute pollution
Is when large amounts of pollutant are released, causing a lot of harm. E.g.: when the chemical aluminum sulphate was
It often spreads widely
- Air pollution is often chronic, causing non- specific
accidently tipped into the wrong place in a water treatment works in Cornwall, poisoning many people.
respiratory diseases for example asthma or bronchitis.
