Radie A.

Arnaldo
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Envi Eng 2
MODULE 2
POLLUTION ENVIRONMENTS

Discussion Questions

1. What is the need of protection of the environment?

Protecting the environment is important for several reasons, including

Biodiversity Conservation: Protecting the environment helps maintain the biodiversity
and ecosystems that are essential to the balance of life on Earth. Save lives: A clean
and healthy environment is essential for people's health and well-being. They provide us
with air, water, food, and other necessary survival resources. Climate protection:
Protecting the environment helps mitigate the impacts of climate change, such as
rising temperatures, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events. Economic
advantages: A healthy environment is essential for economic growth and sustainable
development. For example, the tourism and recreational industries rely on clean,
attractive natural environments.

2. What are the adverse effects of environmental pollution?

● Health Effects, pollution can cause various health problems, including respiratory
disease, heart disease, cancer, congenital disabilities, and neurological disorders.
● Ecosystem Impact, pollution can upset the delicate balance of ecosystems and damage
wildlife and plants. It can also lead to species extinction and loss of biodiversity.
● · Economic Impact, pollution can lead to economic losses for local communities,
declining property values ​, and fewer tourists.
● · Climate change, air and water pollution contributes to global warming, leading to
changes in weather patterns and rising sea levels. · Soil contamination – Soil
contamination can lead to reduced agricultural productivity, lead to food shortages and
affect food security.
● · Water Pollution, water pollution can harm aquatic life, lead to water-borne diseases that
affect human health, and cause economic losses to industries such as fishing and
tourism.

3. Differentiate urban, regional, and global air pollution.

The difference between urban, regional, and global air pollution is the range and
scope of the problem. Urban air pollution refers to pollutants in the air of cities or urban
areas, mainly caused by human activities such as vehicle emissions, industrial activity,
and energy production.
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Regional air pollution refers to the spread of air pollutants beyond the boundaries
of a single city or urban area to a wider geographical area, caused by pollutant
emissions from multiple sources, such as factories and power plants, and can affect
multiple regional cities.

Global air pollution refers to air pollutants that have a global impact, spread
across borders, and affect the entire planet, caused by emissions from ships, aircraft,
and natural sources such as dust storms, volcanic eruptions, and wildfires. Greenhouse
gasses such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are examples of global air
pollutants that contribute to climate change.

4. Explain the harmful impacts of vehicular emissions on human beings.

Vehicle emissions contain pollutants that are harmful to human health. These
pollutants include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and volatile
organic compounds.
● Carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the body's vital
organs, causing headaches, dizziness, and nausea.
● Nitrogen oxides can react with other chemicals in the air to form smog
and acid rain, which can irritate the eyes, throat, and lungs and exacerbate conditions
such as asthma and bronchitis.
● Particulate matter, a mixture of microscopic solids and liquids, can
penetrate deep into the lungs and cause heart disease, lung cancer, and stroke. ·
Volatile organic compounds such as benzene and formaldehyde are toxic and can cause
cancer, damage the nervous system, and damage the liver and kidneys.

5. Discuss how local environmental regulations protect the humans and the environment
from the adverse effects of environmental pollution.

Local environmental regulations play an important role in protecting people and

the environment from the harmful effects of pollution. Local governments enact these
regulations and aim to ensure that businesses and industries operate safely and
sustainably for the environment. Below are examples of how local environmental
regulations protect people and the environment.
● Air quality standards: Local regulations set air quality standards limiting the number of
pollutants released into the air. This standard protects the air quality and reduces the risk
of respiratory diseases such as asthma and other lung diseases
● Water quality standards: The regulation also establishes water quality standards to
ensure that water supplies are safe for human consumption and do not harm aquatic life.
This standard helps prevent waterborne diseases and protects the environment from
toxic chemicals and heavy metals
● Waste management: The regulation also establishes guidelines for hazardous waste
disposal and solid waste management. This regulation prevents soil and water pollution
and reduces the risk of air pollution
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● Land use: Local regulations also dictate how land should ensure that it is not
contaminated with toxic substances or used in a manner that is harmful to the
environment
● Environmental impact assessment: Local regulations often require an environmental
impact assessment before a development project is approved. This assessment
assesses the project's potential environmental impacts and identifies actions to mitigate
any negative impacts
● In summary, local environmental regulations play an important role in protecting people
and the environment from the adverse effects of pollution. They set standards for air and
water quality, waste management, land use, and environmental impact assessment and
help protect the environment for future generations.

6. Enlist the various laws made for protection of the environment and mention the main
aims and objectives of each of them.

● The Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 - aims to regulate and control air pollution and
ensure the quality of the country's air.
● The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 - aims to protect and preserve the quality of the
country's water resources, as well as prevent and control water pollution.
● The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 - aims to regulate and manage the
proper disposal of solid waste in the country, with a focus on environmental protection
and public health.
● The Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001 - aims to conserve and
protect the country's wildlife resources and their habitats, and regulate the trade of
wildlife and wildlife products.
● The Philippine Forestry Code of 1975 - aims to ensure the sustainable management,
conservation, and development of the country's forest resources.
● The Mining Act of 1995 - aims to promote the responsible exploration, development, and
utilization of the country's mineral resources, while also protecting the environment and
communities affected by mining activities.
● The National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992 - aims to protect and
conserve the country's important and unique ecosystems, biological diversity, and
cultural heritage through the establishment of protected areas.

7. What is the Greenhouse Effect? Describe its impact on global climate, food production
and world geography.

The greenhouse effect is a phenomenon that occurs when certain gases in the
earth's atmosphere, known as greenhouse gases, trap heat from the sun, causing the
temperature of the earth to rise, leading to global warming.
Global climate impact: The greenhouse effect increases the earth's average
temperature, leading to global warming and having a variety of impacts on our planet,
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including melting polar ice caps, rising sea levels, and frequent extreme weather events
such as hurricanes, heat waves, and droughts.
Impact on food production: Rising temperatures and changing weather
patterns due to the greenhouse effect are majorly impacting global food production.
Crops are affected by changes in temperature, rainfall patterns, and soil moisture,
leading to reduced yields and poor quality, food shortages, higher prices, and increased
hunger for vulnerable populations.
Impact on world geography: The greenhouse effect also affects global
geography, as melting glaciers and rising sea levels cause flooding coastal areas, and
changing weather patterns affect water availability in arid areas. These changes can
lead to increased competition for resources, population shifts, and ecosystem changes.

8. Which of the following individuals is at greater risk from inhalation of an airborne

contaminant: a 1-year-old child; an adult female; an adult male? Explain your reasoning.

Children are particularly susceptible to air pollution due to the fact that they
breathe faster than adults and, as a result, absorb more pollutants. They also live near
the ground where some pollutants reach peak concentrations, but at a time when their
brains and bodies are still developing. Young children, especially infants, may be more
susceptible to damage from airborne contaminants than adults because of their more
developed and permeable airways, smaller bodies, and higher respiratory rates, making
them more susceptible to the negative effects of air pollution. Similarly, people with
pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular conditions may also be at increased risk.

9. Explain how noise pollution can cause physiological/psychological disorders in

humans and affect movement of migratory birds.

Noise pollution can have physiological and psychological effects on humans.

Physiologically, noise pollution can cause stress, increase blood pressure, increase
heart rate, and lead to hearing loss. Psychologically, it can lead to sleep disturbances,
increased stress and irritability, decreased productivity, and poor quality of life.

Migratory birds can also be affected by noise pollution. Excessive noise can
cause birds to become disorientated and stray off course and away from the flock. Noise
pollution can make navigating and reaching one's destination difficult, reducing chances
of survival. In addition, chronic exposure to noise pollution can stress birds, affect
feeding and mating behavior, and lead to population declines over time.

10. Explain the difference between point sources and nonpoint sources of pollution.

The difference between point and non-point pollution is how the observer
identifies the source. A point source is an identifiable source of pollution, such as a
factory, a sewage treatment plant, or an individual house with a septic tank. These
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sources have specific locations, and their contamination can be measured and
controlled. Point sources, on the other hand, originate from many sources and spread
over a wide area, making them more diffuse and difficult to control. Examples of
non-point sources include agricultural runoff, suburban and urban stormwater runoff, and
atmospheric deposition. Pollution from non-point sources can have a wide range of
impacts and cannot be attributed to a single source, making it much more difficult to
regulate and control.