PHYSICS

ENVIRONMETAL
POLLUTION

GROUP NO: 7
Lumumba Secondary School
PHYSICS
LUMUMBA SECONDARY SCHOOL

Teacher’s Name: Mr. Iddi ._ Kitwana

Submission date: 18/07/2023
 PHYSICS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Form six

GROUP NO: 7
Lumumba Secondary School
 ENVIRONMENTAL
POLLUTION
Environment can be defined as everything which surrounding us.

Within everything surrounding us comprises of both biotic and abiotic

component.

Biotic component are all living things while Abiotic component are all non-living
things.

Pollutants/Novel entity

Pollutant: Is a substance or energy introduced in the environment that has

undesired effect.

Environment has some capacity to absorb many discharges without measurable

harm and is called assimilative capacity.

A pollutant actually cause pollution when assimilative capacity is exceeded.

Pollutant may be classified into three categories

 Solid pollutant eg. Plastic.

 Liquid pollutant eg. Oil spills.
 Gaseous pollutant eg. Chlorofluorocarbon.

Pollution

Pollution: Refers to the introduction of harmful substance into the environment.

Types of pollution
There are three main types of pollution:

 Terrestrial pollution
 Water pollution
 Atmospheric pollution
 TERRESTRIAL POLLUTION
Terrestrial pollution: Is the deterioration of earths land surfaces at and below
ground level.

It caused by accumulation of solid and liquid waste materials that contaminate

ground water and soils

Causes of terrestrial pollution

 Agriculture: Solid waste from agricultural activities include farm residue,
animal manure and waste matter produced by crops.
Also poor irrigation can cause terrestrial pollution

 Mining: This results in the production of solid waste in form of

overburden, waste rock, tailings and heap leach spent ore.

 Industries: Industries produce solid chemical waste

 Nuclear plants: Nuclear plants produce nuclear waste. This is the

radioactive waste from nuclear reactors
 Garbage disposal: This comprises of waste matter from foods that are
degradable and other waste that is not degradable, such as glass, metal,
cloth and plastics

 Solid fuel: Are residual matter that remains after solid fuels are burned

Effect of terrestrial pollution

1. Non-biodegradable waste remains in the environment for long, they pose

a health threat to living organism and people.
2. Toxic chemicals cause a problem such as cancer eg. radioactive waste.
3. They make environment ugly (spoil the appearance of land).
4. Reduce amount of land for useful purposes eg. Agriculture.
5. Damage terrestrial life eg. Plants.

Methods of preventing terrestrial pollution

1. Recycling and re-use: Recycling involve reprocessing of old materials into
usable raw materials eg. glass.
Packaging materials can also re-used.

2. Using biodegradable plastics eg. photodegradable plastics which

breakdown on being exposed to light.

3. Using designated dumping sites. Waste should be treated accordingly in

the disposal sites.
 4. Formulating laws and policies. Government should put in place laws and
regulations to prevent and control terrestrial pollution.

5. Public should be educated on the importance of keeping the

environment clean.

WATER POLLUTION
Water pollution: Is the contamination of water sources by substances that
lowers the quantity of water into water bodies.

This makes the water unsafe for use in homes and industries.

Sources of water pollution

There are two categories of sources of water pollution

Point sources: Are those that release harmful substances directly into
water body.

Non-point sources: This delivers pollutants into the water bodies

indirectly through environmental changes eg. when fertilizer from a field
carried into a steam by surface runoff.

Causes of water pollution

 Pesticides: Pesticides that are applied to and certain animal may drip into
the soil are carried into local streams by surface runoff.

 Oil spills: Oil spills in ocean cause a major water pollution and problem
for local wild life.

 Mining: Mining companies dump mining waste directly into rivers or other
water bodies.

 Industrial process: Most of water that is used in production process is

thereafter discharged into water bodies. This water may contain acids,
alkalis, salts and toxic chemicals.
 Marine debris: The debris mainly comes from urban waste and garbage
thrown from ships and boats.

 Noise: Marine organism use sound to communicate, navigate and hunt.

Noise from ships and sonar has negative effect on such organism.

Effect of water pollution

1. Waterborne diseases: Water borne diseases occur when parasites or
other diseases causing microorganism are transmitted through
contaminated water eg. typhoid, cholera and dysentry.

2. Severe chemical spills and leaks into water bodies kill aquatic life such as
fish.

3. Thermal pollution kill microorganism through thermal shock because

fish and other micro-organism are adapted to particular temperature
range.

4. Marine debris cause intestinal blockage and sometimes death when

swallowed by marine animals such as turtles.

5. Excessive growth of waterweeds as a result of nuclear pollution reduces

water clarity. Also decomposition of the water weeds takes a lot of
oxygen out of the water.

6. Mercury causes serious nervous system problems in adults

Methods of preventing water pollution

1. Reducing nutrients and pesticide pollution. This can be achieved by
adopting environment friendly agricultural practices.

2. Treating sewage and industrial waste.

3. Sewage and industrial waste should be checked by treating before

releasing it into the water bodies.
 4. Cleaning up chemical pollution. Chemicals should be treated accordingly
before it finds its way to the water bodies.

5. Mining practices which cause pollution should be banned and also new
mines should not be established in areas where they are likely to cause
water pollution problems.

6. Reducing mercury emission in industries where alternative exist, the use

of mercury should be stopped completely.

7. Controlling coastal development. Government should put in place laws

that prohibit the building of structures near the water bodies.

8. Stopping deforestation. Deforestation cause rain water rushes directly

into streams, flowing over exposed soil and carrying sediment into
nearby water bodies.

ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
Atmosphere: is the layer of different gases that surrounding the earth surface,
such gases includes N2 , H2 , CO2 as well as O2

Importance of atmosphere
 It provides air gases to living organism eg human respire carbon dioxide
and inspire oxygen this is vice versa to plant.

 It also provides shelter to living organism includes birds and insects.

 It prevents the earth from solar radiation and other celestial radiation.
About 99% of the total energy resources on the earth’s surface come from
the sun.

 It helps to warm the earth surface via green house effect.

 It prevents the earth from different chemicals eg. Chlorofluorocarbon

and organic matter which change atmospheric natural environment.
 AIR POLLUTION
Air pollution: Is introduction of harmful substance (air pollutant) in to the
earth’s atmosphere eg. Smoke from industries and organic product includes
perfumes, body splash.

It may be either primary or secondary pollutants

Types of primary pollutants

Primary pollutants

Primary pollutant: Are those directly emitted from either natural events or
human activities.

The natural events associated with pollution include dust storms and volcanic
eruption, Human activities including agriculture, transportation, industrial
activities and house hold emission.

Over 90% of global air pollution is due to primary pollutants which are carbon
monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrocarbon and particulate matter.

Secondary pollutants

Secondary pollutants: Are those introduced into the atmosphere as result of

interaction of primary pollutants. Example of secondary pollutants is ozone
which is formed near the surface of earth when hydrocarbon and nitrogen
oxides combine in the presence of sun light (Smog).
 Difference between Primary pollutant and Secondary pollutant

Primary pollutant Secondary pollutant

1. Pollutants enter into the Pollutants enter into the atmosphere

atmosphere directly from directly from the sources
the sources

2. They persist in the form in They are formed through

which they are added to photochemical reaction and release
environment nascent oxygen

3. They are less potent than They are more potent than primary
secondary pollutant pollutant to synergism

Sources, Effects, and Mitigation of air pollutants

Carbon monoxide:
Carbon monoxide (CO) is colourless, odourless, toxic and flammable gas which
originated from an incomplete combustion.

Sources of carbon monoxide

It include automobile exhausts, coal burning, atmospheric oxidation of

hydrocarbon.

Effects of carbon monoxides

 Carbon monoxide may cause illness such as headaches, dizziness, and

drowsiness.
 Carbon monoxide also results in heart failure or permanent brain damage
if excessive gas is inhaled.

Strategies to reduce carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide emission can be reduced by ensuring complete combustion

in vehicle and when burning fossil fuel or wood.

Sulphur dioxide:
Sulphur dioxide (SO2 ) is a colourless gas with chocking or suffocating odour.
 Sources of sulphur dioxide

Sulphur dioxide may be produced from chemical industries and oil refineries.

Effects of sulphur dioxide

 Sulphur dioxide can react with moisture in human or animal organ to

form strong irritating acid.
 Sulphur dioxide can combine with moisture in the atmosphere to form
dilute sulphuric acid or sulphate particulates that contribute to pollution
in the atmosphere.

Stratergies to reduce sulphur dioxide

 Lowering of sulphur contents in fuel; Forexample before burning the coal

we must first wash up after burning using different technology such as
fuel gas and desulphurization.
 In domestic purpose we must use alternative sources of energy instead of
using fossil fuel, solar energy and biogas can be used.

Nitrogen dioxide:
Nitrogen dioxide is the reddish brown irritating gas.

Sources of nitrogen dioxide

Source of nitrogen dioxide include motor vehicle exhaust, fossil fuel

combustion process, volcanic eruption and lightning.

Effect of nitrogen dioxide

Nitrogen dioxide on humans causes increased likelihood of respiratory

problems.

Strategies to reduce nitrogen dioxide

Organic nitrogen content in fuels cannot be lower before combustion, however

it is possible to be reduced during combustion by using fluidized bed
“combustion technique’’.
After combustion nitrogen oxide can be reduced by treating the emitted gas
through technique such as selective catalytic reduction, selective non catalytic
reduction and activation carbon process.

Hydrocarbons:
Hydrocarbons are volatile organic compound that can evaporate easily.

This hydrocarbon made up of carbon and hydrogen. Hydrocarbon can be

divided into aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon.

The most common hydrocarbon here is methane (CH4 )

Sources of hydrocarbon

The main sources are petroleum and fossil fuels are coal, oil and natural gases.

Coal are obtained from plants and oil obtained from living organisms live in
water.

Both petroleum and fossil fuel obtained from crude oil and natural gases.

Uses of hydrocarbon

Its used as fuel eg methane

Effects of hydrocarbons

These gases are toxic to living organism and contribute to ground level ozone
formation.

Ground level ozone is the result of volatile organic compound and nitrogen
oxides in the presence of sunlight. However most ozone is produced naturally
in the upper atmosphere

Even though both types of ozone contain the same molecules their presence in
different parts of the atmosphere have very different environmental
consequences.

Ground level ozone has adverse effect on human health and significant impact
on vegetation include reduce productivity of some crops.

The stratospheric ozone blocks harmful U.V from reaching the earth surface.

The emission of CFCs depletes the ozone layer

 Strategies to reduce hydrocarbons

 Improving the combustion of hydrocarbons based on gasoline and diesel

fuels
 Reduction of dependence on fossil fuel
 Education
 Laws and policies

Particulate matter:
Particulate matter is also known as Aerosol particles or Suspended particles.

Aerosol particle/suspended particle is a complex mixture of both organic and

inorganic particle. Such as pollen, dust, fag, forest exudates, geyser steam,
soot, fumes, liquid drops and others

Sources of aerosols

Primary sources
Primary sources are material in particulate form emitted directly into the
atmosphere such as smoke, volcanic ash and combustion of fuels,
windblown, dust etc.

Secondary sources
Are aerosols which are emitted in another form (air contaminants) then
become aerosol (particulate matter) after going through chemical reaction
in the atmosphere such as sulphate aerosol from volcano.

Effects of aerosols

 Since aerosols are able to penetrate respiratory system leading to heart

and lung disease, stroke, asthma and more.
 Can limit visibility.

Strategies to reduce aerosols

 Plant and care for trees.

 Using electric hybrid (gasoline-electric) and other low smoke emitting
vehicles.
 Reduce amount of particulate matter such as smoke produced by
industries and transportation.
 Avoid using uncertified electronic air cleaners in vehicles because some
produce ozone.
 Reduce fire place and wood stove using.

Effect of air pollution

 Air pollution cause health effects include difficult breathing, wheezing
and coughing.
Also can cause chronic respiratory problems.

 Air pollution results to global warming.

Global warming is the increase of earth’s average temperature as a result
of greenhouse effect.
Greenhouse gases reflect back to the earth’s the heat radiation which
would otherwise be dispersed into space.

 Depletion of the ozone layer.

Ozone layer is found in stratosphere which protects the earth from
harmful radiation by filtering out the harmful ultraviolet radiation from
the sun radiation.

Gases that destroy ozone layer are nitrogen monoxide, nitrogen dioxide
and chloroflurocarbons.
When ozone layer is depleted harmful radiation from the sun reaches the
earth.
This radiation cause serious illness such as cancer and blindness.
  Air pollution causes acid rain.
When sulphur dioxide or nitrogen dioxide combine with water vapour in
the atmosphere they form dilute acidic solution.
These solutions reach the earth in form of rain.
Acid rains damages forests and corrodes many buildings

 Reduces visibility.
Smog reduces visibility making activities such as driving very difficult.

GLOBAL WARMING
Global warming: is the increase of average temperature near or on the surface
of the earth as a result of greenhouse effect.

Greenhouse effect
When heat from the sun reach the earth’s surface in the form of sun light some
of it is absorbed by earth, the rest is radiated back to the atmosphere.
Some of these are absorbed by greenhouse gases. Absorption of these radiant
energy warms the atmosphere.

Causes of global warming

Global warming it’s caused by greenhouse gases which are:

 Carbondioxide
 Methane
 Dinitrogen oxide
 Chlorofluorocarbons

Effect of global warming

 Increase in temperature of the oceans which cause bleaching of corals.
 Rise in the sea level due to thermal expansion of oceans and melting of
land ice.
 Change in world’s climatic pattern.
 Acidification of the oceans. Ocean acidification is caused by acid rain,
acid rain results bleaching and death of coral reefs.
 Extreme weather events such as floods, drought, hurricanes and
tornadoes.

Solution to global warming

 Put in place energy conservation measures to reduce the use of fossil
fuels.
 Use of cleaners alternative source of energy such as solar and wind.
  Replant trees that would absorb carbondioxide.
 Countries should commit themselves to minimizing the emission of
greenhouse gases.

TRANSPORT MECHANISM OF ATMOSPHERIC

POLLUTANTS
Transport mechanism of atmospheric pollutant involves convection of air
pollutants from one area where emission occurs to a downwind receptors area
by local or regional wind.

Local wind is the type of wind which is occurred due to movement of air
between high and low pressure-systems within small area

Causes of the transportation of atmospheric pollutant

The movement of pollutants in the atmosphere is caused by transport,
dispersion and deposition. Transport is movement caused by a time average
wind flow.

Dispersion results from local turbulence, that is, motion lasts less than the time
used to average the transport (highly irregular motion of the wind)

Factor affecting transportation of atmospheric pollutant

At local level, the primary factors affecting the transport and dispersion of
atmospheric pollutants are wind and stability of the atmosphere.

As the particulate matter in the atmosphere is light, they are carried away by
wind. The pollutant usually goes in the direction of wind, the higher the wind
speed the higher the dispersion and consequently the lower the concentration
of pollutants in the immediate area.

Also pollutant transport in the atmosphere is affected by the vertical motion of

air in the atmosphere which is directly correlated to different types of weather
system.

How convectional wind transport atmospheric pollutant

Pollutant in the atmosphere is a result of the following three mechanisms:

General air motion that transport pollutant downwind (in the direction in which
the wind is blowing)

Turbulent velocity (highly irregular motion of the wind) that disperse pollutants
in all direction.

During unstable atmospheric condition

It’s noted that air near the surface of the earth is usually warmer during day
due to absorbed radiations from the sun.

Therefore the warmer air will rise up and lead to the dispersal of pollutants in
the air.

This creates unstable condition in the atmosphere.

During stable atmospheric condition

Now when the material deposits on the atmosphere, they tend to absorb the
radiations from the sun.

This results that, the warm air to become above the cooler air. This reduces the
air mixing process in the atmosphere. This process is known as the
temperature inversion.
The inversion made the temperature to decrease about 5.5℃ per 1000m
altitude.

An inversion act like a lid or cap which prevent the air rise up.

Due to prevention of rise up of air create localized air pollution as no rise and
dispersal of air pollutants.

This condition occurs in stable atmosphere.

Important of transport mechanism

Transport mechanism is very important in order to enable us at least to
minimize the effects of accumulation of atmospheric pollutants which otherwise
lead to strokes, heart diseases, lung cancer, acute and chronic respiratory
diseases

Fine

PARTICIPANTS:
Rajab Salum Khamis
Mahir Mwinyi Pembe
Shufaa Yussuf Said
Rukaiyya Haji
Rawwal Badru Amani
Riziki Abdallah Abdillahi
Salama Hassan Ameir
Siti Ali Nassor
Salha Omar
Rehema Silima Moh’d
Salum Hamad Muhidini
Moh’d Ali Hassan
Mudrik Mohamed Rashid
Safia Ahmad Dil-shad
Saida Hamad Ali
Rashid Said Ameir
Moh’d Makame Khamis
Said Sarahan