Environmental Degradation And Human Health Environmental Degradation Environment

Environmental Degradation And Human Health

Environmental Degradation Environment: The environment is the sum total of physical and biotic conditions influencing the responses of the organisms. • Biosphere-(Air, Water & Soil) Atmosphere Hydrosphere lithosphere

Atmosphere

Atmosphere The multilayered gaseous envelope surrounding the planet earth is called as atmosphere. Zones of Atmosphere 1. Troposphere o lowest layer, 8 -10 km from earth surface. o Climatic events- cloud formation, lightenning, thundering, storm formation. o Air temperature decreases with increase in height. o Upper layer temp(- 60 o C ).

2. Stratospherei. 50 -55 Km in height ii. Free from clouds iii. Aeroplanes usually fly in its lower zone. iv. Temp increases up to 90 o. C. v. Ozone layer is present in this zone. 3. Mesosphere – i. 50 km up to 100 km ii. Temp decreases up to – 80 o. C.

4. Ionosphere(Thermosphere) – i. Extends up to height of 400 km ii. Temp rises up to 1000 o. C. iii. Contains large no of ions & free electrons. iv. It reflects radio wave signals & helps in long distance radio communication & telecommunication. 5. Exosphere – i. Lies beyond 400 km. ii. Air density is very low. iii Temp. increases.

Environmental Degradation • Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of wildlife. It is defined as any change or disturbance to the environment perceived to be deleterious or undesirable. • The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction defines environmental degradation as “The reduction of the capacity of the environment to meet social and ecological objectives, and needs”.

Climate change will lead to an increase in the intensity and frequency of weather extremes, such as heat waves, floods, droughts and tropical cyclones. The people hardest hit by climate change and environmental degradation are those living in the most vulnerable areas, including coastal communities, small island nations, Sub-Saharan Africa and Asian delta regions. It is the poorest of the poor, who lack the resources to prepare, adapt and rebuild, are most affected.

Environmental Change and Human Health, a special section of World Resources 1998 -99 in this report describes how preventable illnesses and premature deaths are still occurring in very large numbers. If vast improvements are made in human health, millions of people will be living longer, healthier lives than ever before.

Effects of the major environmental problems on both health and productivity • A. Water pollution and water scarcity: As per the estimation of UN, more than two million deaths and billions of illnesses a year are attributable to water pollution. Water scarcity compounds these health problems. Productivity is affected by the costs of providing safe water, by constraints on economic activity caused by water shortages, and by the adverse effects of water pollution and shortages on other environmental resources such as, declining fisheries and acquifer depletion leading to irreversible compaction.

B. Air pollution: As per the estimation of UN, urban air pollution is responsible for 300, 000— 700, 000 deaths annually and creates chronic health problems for many more people. Restrictions on vehicles and industrial activity during critical periods affect productivity, as does the effect of acid rain on forests and water bodies. C. Solid and hazardous wastes: Diseases are spread by uncollected garbage and blocked drains; the health risks from hazardous wastes are typically more localized, but often acute. Wastes affect productivity through the pollution of groundwater resources.

D. Soil degradation: Depleted soils increase the risks of malnutrition for farmers. Productivity losses on tropical soils are estimated to be in the range of 0. 5 -1. 5 per cent of GNP, while secondary productivity losses are due to siltation of reservoirs, transportation channels and other hydrologic investments. E. Deforestation: Death and disease can result from the localized flooding caused by deforestation. Loss of sustainable logging potential and of erosion prevention, watershed stability and carbon sequestration provided by forests are among the productivity impacts of deforestation.

F. Loss of biodiversity: The extinction of plant and animal species will potentially affect the development of new drugs; it will reduce ecosystem adaptability and lead to the loss of genetic resources. G. Atmospheric changes: Ozone depletion is responsible for perhaps 300, 000 additional cases of skin cancer a year and 1. 7 million cases of cataracts. Global warming may lead to increase in the risk of climatic natural disasters. Productivity impacts may include searise damage to coastal investments, regional changes in agricultural productivity and disruption of the marine food chain.

Environmental Pollution An undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of our air, water and soil harmfully affect human life or create a potential health hazard of any living organism. Types – 1. Air pollution 2. Water pollution 3. Soil pollution 4. Noise pollution

Air Pollution • Sources • Natural pollutant – Natural fog, pollen grain, bacteria, products of volcanic eruption. • Aerosol or particulate matter- dust, smoke, mists , fog& fumes. • Gases &Vapours – Organic & radioactive compounds, S, N, O 2,

Effects of Pollution

Gas phase chemistry In the gas phase sulfur dioxide is oxidized by reaction with the hydroxyl radical via an intermolecular reaction: SO 2 + OH → HOSO 2 which is followed by: HOSO 2· + O 2 → HO 2+ SO 3 In the presence of water, sulfur trioxide (SO 3) is converted rapidly to sulfuric acid: SO 3 (g) + H 2 O (l) → H 2 SO 4 (l) Nitrogen dioxide reacts with OH to form nitric acid: NO 2 + OH· → HNO 3

Effect of acid rain on statues

Effect of acid rain on monuments

Acid Rain Effects On Statues Philadelphia

Since 1998, Harvard University wraps some of the bronze and marble statues on its campus, such as this "Chinese stele", with waterproof covers every winter, in order to protect them from erosion caused by acid rain (or, actually, acid snow)

Green House Effect • Greenhouse gases • water vapor, 36– 70% • carbon dioxide , 9– 26% • methane, 4– 9% • ozone, 3– 7%

Green House Effect

Green House Effect

Effect of Green House effect • Temp is going to increase, about 3. 6 o. C. • All the glaciers will recede & ice cap in the Antarctica & the Arctic will begin to melt. • The sea level will rise by a few meter. • Most of the cities on the sea shore may be submerged.

Photochemical Smog • Smog = smoke + fog • Photochemical smog is secondary pollutant which is produced in the air by interaction among two or more primary pollutant • Action of sunlight on hydrocarbons & nitrogen oxides • Main constituents of photochemical smog are Peroxy acetyl nitrate (PAN), nitrogen oxide, hydrocarbon, CO, & Ozone.

Photochemical Smog • Photochemical smog is a mixture of pollutants which includes particulates, nitrogen oxides, ozone, aldehydes, peroxyethanoyl nitrate (PAN), unreacted hydrocarbons, etc. The smog often has a brown haze due to the presence of nitrogen dioxide. It causes painful eyes.

Photochemical Smog

Photochemical Smog

Photochemical Smog

Photochemical Smog

Water Pollution • • • Sources 1. Domestic waste water & sewage 2. Industrial waste 3. Agricultural Waste 4. physical pollutants(thermal & radioactive)

Photochemical Smog

Case Study • On 9 December 1952, foggy conditions developed over London. Being very cold, most houses kept fires burning, with coal as the major fuel. The smoke from these fires mixed with the fog and was unable to disperse, resulting in a smog which persisted for 4 days. The p. H of air during the Great London Smog was as low as 1. 6. During this period some 4000 more people died than would expected at this time of the year. Most of these additional deaths were due to respiratory disorders

New York City, before and after a photochemical smog.

Effect of Photochemical Smog • • • Eye irritation Vegetation damage Visibility reduction Cracking of rubber Fading of Dyes- affects colour of dyes.

Water Pollution • • • Sources 1. Domestic waste water & sewage 2. Industrial waste 3. Agricultural Waste 4. physical pollutants(thermal & radioactive)

Effect of Water Pollution • Eutrophication. The enrichment of water body by input of organic waste containing nutrients, chiefly nitrates & phosphates. Due to nitrates & phosphates the water body becomes highly productive or eutrophic, which is called as Eutrophication.

Process Of Eutrophication

Eutrophic and Non Eutrophic Lake

Algae and dead fish in Dianchi Lake, China

Effect of Eutrophication

Minamata Disease • Due to methyl mercury deposition in mina river in Japan & Sweden during 1953 – 1961. Methyl mercury accumulates in food chain i. e. through fish to human. Several deaths occurs. • Symptoms- Damage to nervous system, loss of sensation , loss of co-ordination, loss of hearing

Itai – Itai Disease Due to cd pollution in water body , this disease occurs in Japan. Symptoms – 1. Bone deformation 2. Victim would unable to walk. 3. Bones could be easily fractured

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