Learning-Module-in-Envi-Con-chapter-7

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University of Antique

College of Teacher Education

GEE 18 (Environmental Conservation)


Van Helen S. Cuaderes
Prof. Zenaida T. Juada
Monalie C. Saylo, PhD
=================================================================================================================

…Let us continue our environmental journey…we are now on our seventh


leg…this time we will have a glimpse of our environmental health…

Chapter VII: Environmental Health and Pollution

 More than 12 million people around the world die every year because they live or
work in unhealthy environments.
o Healthy People 2030 focuses on reducing people’s exposure
to harmful pollutants in air, water, soil, food, and materials in homes and
workplaces.
 Environmental pollutants can cause health problems like respiratory diseases, heart
disease, and some types of cancer.
o People with low incomes are more likely to live in polluted areas and have
unsafe drinking water.
o Children and pregnant women are at higher risk of health problems related
to pollution.
 Tracking environmental pollutants is key to figuring out where and how people
are exposed.
o Laws and policies to reduce different types of pollution can also help prevent
many serious health problems and deaths.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the unit, students must have:

1. classified pollutants based on its categories; and


2. analyzed cases on pollution in a local community highlighting the risks generated by
pollutants identified.

Lesson 1: Environmental Health

…before we start with our lesson proper, let us have a glimpse of this video about
environmental health: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxmjMH600aw; and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x18wNgubfi8

What is Environmental Health?

 Environmental Health is the branch of public health that focuses on


the interrelationships between people and their environment, promotes human
health and well-being, and fosters healthy and safe communities.

1
University of Antique
College of Teacher Education

GEE 18 (Environmental Conservation)


Van Helen S. Cuaderes
Prof. Zenaida T. Juada
Monalie C. Saylo, PhD
=================================================================================================================
 Environmental Health, as a fundamental component of a comprehensive public health
system, works to advance policies and programs to reduce chemical and other
environmental exposures in air, water, soil and food to protect residents and provide
communities with healthier environments.

What is the Goal of Environmental Health?

 The goal of environmental health is to promote healthier environments to improve health.

…see how the environment can impact our health when the environment is
altered by us through our various activities…

2
University of Antique
College of Teacher Education

GEE 18 (Environmental Conservation)


Van Helen S. Cuaderes
Prof. Zenaida T. Juada
Monalie C. Saylo, PhD
=================================================================================================================
…and see also what we can do for our environment to make it a healthy place
for living…

Learn more about environmental health through this link: https://www.who.int/health-


topics/environmental-health#tab=tab_1

3
University of Antique
College of Teacher Education

GEE 18 (Environmental Conservation)


Van Helen S. Cuaderes
Prof. Zenaida T. Juada
Monalie C. Saylo, PhD
=================================================================================================================
Lesson 2: Pollution

What is Pollution?

 Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment called pollutants.
o Pollutants can be natural, such as volcanic ash.
o Pollutants can also be created by human activity, such as trash or runoff produced
by factories.
o Pollutants damage the quality of air, water, and land.

Did you know?

 Many things that are useful to people produce pollution.


o Cars spew pollutants from their exhaust pipes.
o Burning coal to create electricity pollutes the air.
o Industries and homes generate garbage and sewage that can pollute the land and
water.
o Pesticides—chemical poisons used to kill weeds and insects—
seep into waterways and harm wildlife.
 All living things—from one-celled microbes to blue whales—depend on Earth’s supply
of air and water.
o When these resources are polluted, all forms of life are threatened.
 Pollution is a global problem.
o Although urban areas are usually more polluted than the countryside, pollution
can spread to remote places where no people live.
o For example, pesticides and other chemicals have been found in the Antarctic ice
sheet.
 In the middle of the northern Pacific Ocean, a huge collection
of microscopic plastic particles forms what is known as the Great Pacific
Garbage Patch.
 Air and water currents carry pollution.
o Ocean currents and migrating fish carry marine pollutants far and wide.
o Winds can pick up radioactive material accidentally released from a nuclear
reactor and scatter it around the world.
o Smoke from a factory in one country drifts into another country.

4
University of Antique
College of Teacher Education

GEE 18 (Environmental Conservation)


Van Helen S. Cuaderes
Prof. Zenaida T. Juada
Monalie C. Saylo, PhD
=================================================================================================================
Major Types of Pollution

Air Pollution

 Air pollution is the presence of toxic chemicals or compounds (including those of


biological origin) in the air, at levels that pose a health risk.
o Air pollution means the presence of chemicals or compounds in the air which are
usually not present and which lower the quality of the air or cause detrimental
changes to the quality of life (such as the damaging of the ozone layer or causing
global warming).
 Air pollution is one of the most serious environmental problems confronting our
civilization today.
o Air pollution is most often caused by human activities such as mining,
construction, transportation, industrial work, agriculture, smelting, etc.
 Natural processes such as volcanic eruptions and wildfires may also
pollute the air, but their occurrence is rare and they usually have a local
effect, unlike human activities that are ubiquitous causes of air pollution
and contribute to the global pollution of the air every single day.
 Air pollution causes can be natural or anthropogenic.
o Natural causes include: volcanic activities, winds and air currents, wildfires,
microbial decaying processes, radioactive decay processes and increasing
temperatures.
o Anthropogenic causes include: mining and smelting, mine tailing disposal,
foundry activities, industrial processes, transportation, construction and
demolition, coal power plants and heating of the buildings, waste incineration,
etc.

5
University of Antique
College of Teacher Education

GEE 18 (Environmental Conservation)


Van Helen S. Cuaderes
Prof. Zenaida T. Juada
Monalie C. Saylo, PhD
=================================================================================================================
What are the Cause of Air Pollution?
a) Urbanization
b) Population
c) Deforestation
d) Industrialization
e) Vehicle emission

Major Air Pollutants and their Effects


a) Carbon dioxide: the concentration of CO2 gas increase in atmosphere due to emission
from vehicles, burning of fossil fuel, emission from volcano, industries, agricultural
activity etc.
 It increase greenhouse effect which causes global warming and climate
change.
b) Carbon monoxide: carbon monoxide gas releases after incomplete combustion of fossil
fuel or other product.
 The source of CO is vehicle emission, burning of coal, biomass combustion
etc.
 CO causes headache, dizziness, heart failure (in blood CO combines with
oxygen which reduce the affinity of hemoglobin towards oxygen), etc.
c) Sulfur dioxide: SO2 releases from oil refineries, volcanic eruption, and chemical
industries etc.
 Sulfur dioxide react with moisture to form secondary pollutant which causes
eye irritation.
 It can also cause allergic reaction and asthma.
d) Lead: tetra ethyl lead used as anti-knocking agents in petrol for smooth function
vehicle. Lead particle coming out from the exhaust of vehicle and mixed with air.
 It causes injurious effect on kidney and liver.
 It also lowers down the intelligence power in children.
e) Nitrogen oxide: release from vehicle exhausts, volcanic eruption, lighting, etc.
 Like SO2, it also react with moisture content present in atmosphere and
causes eye irritation.

Techniques Used for Prevention of Air Pollution


1. Filters: filter remove particulate matter from the gas stream.
 Bag house filter system is the most common and it is made up of cotton
fibers.
 When polluted gas passed through it, then polluted gas are deposited on
cotton fibers.
2. Electrostatic scrubber: the emitting dust is charged with ions and ionized particulate
matter is collected on oppositely charged surface.
 The collected particles are removed by shaking the surface.
3. Scrubbers: Scrubbers are wet collectors.

6
University of Antique
College of Teacher Education

GEE 18 (Environmental Conservation)


Van Helen S. Cuaderes
Prof. Zenaida T. Juada
Monalie C. Saylo, PhD
=================================================================================================================
 They remove aerosol from a stream of gas either by collecting wet particle on
a surface followed by their removal on the particles are wetted by scrubber
liquid.

…this figure
presents how
dangerous air
pollution is…

The Effects of Air Pollution on Human Health

 Air pollution has serious effects on the human health.


o Depending on the level of exposure and the type of pollutant inhaled, these
effects can vary, ranging from simple symptoms like coughing and the irritation
of the respiratory tract to acute conditions like asthma and chronic lung diseases.
 Skin problems and irritations can develop due to prolonged exposure to several air
pollutants, and a variety of cancer forms may develop after inhaling air contaminants.
 Air pollutants that have serious negative effects on the human health can be classified as
toxic and non-toxic.
o Toxic Pollutants can be:
 Carcinogenic: asbestos, PCE, TCE, vinyl chloride (VC), benzene, PAHs (such as
benzo[a]pyrene), ethylene dibromide (EDB), ethylene dichloride (EDC),
PCBc, As, Cd, Ni, Cr, some Hg compounds, arsenic oxide, some nitrates,
pesticides/insecticides/herbicides, radon;
7
University of Antique
College of Teacher Education

GEE 18 (Environmental Conservation)


Van Helen S. Cuaderes
Prof. Zenaida T. Juada
Monalie C. Saylo, PhD
=================================================================================================================
 Non-Carcinogenic: lead, carbon monoxide, ammonia, acetone
o Non-Toxic Pollutants: These pollutants can still asphyxiate by oxygen depletion,
therefore they are still not safe in certain quantities and/or contexts. These
pollutants can be:
 Non-explosives: carbon dioxide
 Explosives:: methane

Water Pollution

 Water pollution is defined as the presence in groundwater of toxic chemicals and


biological agents that exceed what is naturally found in the water and may pose a
threat to human health and/or the environment.
o Water pollution may consist of chemicals introduced into the water bodies as
a result of various human activities. Any amount of those chemicals pollutes
the water, regardless of the harm they may pose to human health and the
environment.

Types of Water Pollution

Water pollution can be of different types based on the various causes of water pollution.

1. Based on the type of water pollutants –water pollution can be:


 Chemical: when various chemicals causes water pollution.
o The most common chemicals as water pollutants:
o Crude oil and various petroleum products (including gasoline, diesel fuel,
kerosene, motor and lubricating oils, jet fuel).
 These compounds are lighter than water and thus always sit on top of
water forming sheens of “free product”.
 However, part of these compounds dissolve in water and, even in
small amounts may be harmful and at the same time may remain
unnoticeable by the eye.
o Fertilizers (including nitrates and phosphates)-while small amounts are useful
to life, higher amounts of nitrates and phosphates in water are only beneficial
to algae and harmful microorganisms and are poisonous to human and
aquatic life.
 These contaminants cannot be seen themselves in water (as they do
not form sheens or color the water), but their effects can.
 The typical effect of water pollution by fertilizers (usually through
agricultural runoff) is the fast and abundant water growth.
o Chlorinated solvents (including carbon tetrachloride, Freon) which sink in
water (are denser than water) and are quite persistent and toxic.

8
University of Antique
College of Teacher Education

GEE 18 (Environmental Conservation)


Van Helen S. Cuaderes
Prof. Zenaida T. Juada
Monalie C. Saylo, PhD
=================================================================================================================
 These compounds thus, cannot be seen by the eye, in contrast with
petroleum products that are easily seen as sheens on top of water
surface.
o Petroleum solvents (including benzene, toluene, xylenes, ethylbenzene)
o Other organic solvents and chemicals (such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone,
alcohols such as ethanol, isopropanol; or oxygenate compounds such as
MTBE)
o Antibiotics and other pharmaceutical products;
o Perchlorate – perchlorate salts are used in rocket fuels, as well as many other
applications such as fireworks, explosives, road flares, inflation bags, etc.
 This contaminant is usually associated with military bases,
construction sites (when explosives are used).
 Natural formation in arid areas may account for perchlorate in
water.
o Trihalomethanes – these are usually byproducts of water chlorination and may
pollute groundwater and surface water via leaking sewer lines and
discharges.
 Examples of such compounds are: chloroform, bromoform,
dichlorobromomethane
o Metals and their compounds – of higher health risk are the organo-metal
compounds which may form when metals from water react with organic
compounds from water.
 Common examples include Hg, As, and Cr poisoning of water.
 If water is polluted with both metals and organic compounds, the
health risk is higher as well as the effect of water pollution on aquatic
life.
o Pesticides/insecticides/herbicides – comprise a large number of individual
chemicals that get into water due to agricultural activities directly (by
spraying over large areas) or indirectly with agriculture runoff.
 The insecticide DDT is a typical example of such type of water
pollutant.
o PCBs – in spite of their recent ban, their ubiquitous environmental presence
makes these contaminants usually associated with urban runoffs.
 Radiological: when radioactive materials are the water pollutants.
 Biological: when various microorganisms (e.g., bacterial species and viruses),
worms, and/or algae occurring in a large number are the water pollution causes.
o This type of pollution is caused by decaying organic material in water, animal
wastes, as well as improper disposal of human wastes.

9
University of Antique
College of Teacher Education

GEE 18 (Environmental Conservation)


Van Helen S. Cuaderes
Prof. Zenaida T. Juada
Monalie C. Saylo, PhD
=================================================================================================================
2. The type (grouping) of the source of water pollutants:

 Point Sources: These are localized sources like an industrial process, a mining activity,
etc.
o These sources are usually regulated so that the effect may be predicted and
the impact minimized, however, accidental leaks and spills are an exception
to that.
 Non-Point Sources: These are unidentified sources from which pollutants are carried
away by water discharges and runoffs.
o Non-point pollution may involve a broad range of pollutants, but in lower
amounts than the point sources.

Sources of Water Pollution

 The main sources of pollution resulted from the disposal of chemical substances coming
from medical, industrial and household waste, chaotic agricultural fertilizers disposal
and accidental oil spills that pollute the water to a large extent.
 Examples of major water pollutants that affect the health of humans are:
o the numerous infectious agents (bacteria, viruses, and parasites) that contaminate the
water through sewage, human waste, and animal excreta.
o radioactive waste that contains highly toxic materials such as uranium, thorium, and
radon.
 This waste is a major water pollutant resulted from mining activities, power
plants or natural sources.
o the chemical substances that contaminate the water.
 These chemicals can be either organic - pesticides, plastic, oil, detergents, etc.
- coming from domestic, industrial or agricultural waste, or inorganic - acids,
metals, salts - domestic and industrial effluents.
 Examples of major water pollutants that affect the ecosystem only are the following:
o plant nutrients like phosphates and nitrates that form various chemical fertilizers,
sewage, and manure
o oxygen-demanding manures and agricultural waste resulted from sewage and
agricultural run-offs
o sediments in the soil (silt) following soil erosion, and heated waters used in several
industries and power plants.

10
University of Antique
College of Teacher Education

GEE 18 (Environmental Conservation)


Van Helen S. Cuaderes
Prof. Zenaida T. Juada
Monalie C. Saylo, PhD
=================================================================================================================
How Does Water Pollution Affect Us?

 Water pollution may cause a large variety of diseases and poses a serious problem
for human health. This is mainly because we may get exposed to polluted water in
various ways, including, but not necessarily limited to:
o Drinking polluted water
o Bathing or showering in polluted water
o Swimming in polluted water
o Breathing the vapors of a polluted water while sitting next to a polluted
water source
o Consuming polluted food (meat and/or vegetables) affected by polluted
water
o Consuming meat from animals fed with polluted water of food affected by
polluted water (e.g. vegetables irrigated with polluted water or grown in an
area with polluted groundwater)

Cause and Effects of Water Pollution


a) Disease causing agents: the micro-organism including bacteria, virus, protozoa, if
present in drinking water causes disease.
b) Oxygen depleting waste: organic matters present in water are degraded by
microorganism present in water which required oxygen.
o If large amount of organic matter present in waste water then large amount of
oxygen is required by the microorganism to degrade the waste.
c) Content in water decrease. The amount of oxygen consumed by microorganism is
referred as Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD).
o High level of BOC means large amount of waste present in water.
d) Water soluble inorganic chemicals: the elements like lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic
adversely affect the human being and animals.
o For example, cadmium causes Itai-Itai disease, mercury causes Minamata
disease.
e) Suspended solids: if suspended solid present in water bodies, then water become
turbid and therefore proper sunlight does not reach to the aquatic plant and animal
which disturb the life of aquatic ecosystem.

Control Measures for Preventing Water Pollution


1. Industrial effluent and domestic waste must be treated before disposal.
2. Recycling of waste water through waste water treatment.
3. Public awareness program.

11
University of Antique
College of Teacher Education

GEE 18 (Environmental Conservation)


Van Helen S. Cuaderes
Prof. Zenaida T. Juada
Monalie C. Saylo, PhD
=================================================================================================================
Soil Pollution
 Soil being a "universal sink" bears the greatest burden of environmental pollution. It is
getting polluted in a number of ways. There is urgency in controlling the soil pollution in
order to preserve the soil fertility and increase the productivity.

…our soils become polluted because of us…because of our activities…

 Soil pollution is the presence of toxic chemicals (pollutants or contaminants) in soil, in


high enough concentrations to pose a risk to human health and/or the ecosystem.
 Soil pollution is the build-up in soils of persistent toxic compounds, chemicals, salts,
radioactive materials, or disease causing agents, which have adverse effects on plant
growth and animal health.
 Soil pollution is the introduction of undesirable substance in soil which adversely affects
its physical, chemical and biological properties.
 Soil contamination or soil pollution as part of land degradation is caused by the presence
of xenobiotics (human-made) chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil
environment caused by industrial activity, agricultural chemicals or improper disposal
of waste.

How Do Soils Become Polluted?

 Seepage from a landfill


 Discharge of industrial waste into the soil
 Percolation of contaminated water into the soil
 Rupture of underground storage tanks
 Excess application of pesticides, herbicides or fertilizer
 Solid waste seepage

12
University of Antique
College of Teacher Education

GEE 18 (Environmental Conservation)


Van Helen S. Cuaderes
Prof. Zenaida T. Juada
Monalie C. Saylo, PhD
=================================================================================================================
Soil Pollution Causes

 Anthropogenic (man-made) causes: man-made contaminants are the main causes of soil
pollution and consist of a large variety of contaminants or chemicals, both organic
and inorganic.
o Man-made pollutants can pollute the soil either alone or combined with
several natural soil contaminants.
o Man-made soil pollution is usually caused by the improper disposal of waste
coming from industrial or urban sources, industrial activities, and
agricultural pesticides.
 Natural causes: natural processes can lead to an accumulation of toxic chemicals in
the soil.

Types of Soil Pollutants

 Soil pollution consists of pollutants and contaminants.


o The main pollutants of the soil are the biological agents and some of the human
activities.
 Biological agents work inside the soil to introduce manures and digested
sludge (coming from the human, bird and animal excreta) into the soil.
o Soil contaminants are all products of soil pollutants that contaminate the soil.
o Human activities that pollute the soil range from agricultural practices that
infest the crops with pesticide chemicals to urban or industrial wastes or
radioactive emissions that contaminate the soil with various toxic substances.
 Agricultural practices: The soil of the crops is polluted to a large extent
with pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides, slurry, debris, and manure.
 Radioactive pollutants: Radioactive substances such as Radium, Thorium,
Uranium, Nitrogen, etc. can infiltrate the soil and create toxic effects.
 Urban waste consists of garbage and rubbish materials, dried sludge and
sewage from domestic and commercial waste.
 Industrial waste: Steel, pesticides, textiles, drugs, glass, cement, petroleum,
etc. are produced by paper mills, oil refineries, sugar factories, petroleum
industries and others as such.

Source of Soil Pollution/Cause of Soil Pollution or Degradation


a) Soil erosion: removal or movement of top soil from one place to another place is a
natural process of soil erosion.
o Soil erosion enhance by human activities like mining, construction, new land
for agricultural practices, deforestation, overgrazing and many other is
anthropogenic or man-made.

13
University of Antique
College of Teacher Education

GEE 18 (Environmental Conservation)


Van Helen S. Cuaderes
Prof. Zenaida T. Juada
Monalie C. Saylo, PhD
=================================================================================================================
o Due to erosion, soil become less fertile and erosion also reduce the soil water
holding capacity.
b) Excess use of fertilizers: essential micronutrients like N, P, K are supplied by chemical
fertilizer to increase the crop yield or productivity.
o The microorganism present in the soil converts nitrogen into nitrate ions;
enter into food chain from soil disturbing the biochemical process.
c) Acid Rain: acid rain increases the acidity of soil which reduces the crop yield.
d) Salinity of water: due to excessive irrigation, concentration of soluble salt increase in
soil, then productivity and quality of soil decrease.
o The salts deposit on the surface then diffusion of oxygen and drainage of
water in soil does not occur therefore growth of plant is slow down.
e) Industrial waste: various pollutants present in the environment from industrial waste.
o Discharge from chemical industries, fertilizer and pharmaceutical companies
are highly polluting.

Effect of Soil Pollution


1. Salinity and water logging reduce the fertility of soil and crop yield.
2. Toxic chemical present in the soil also affect the plant growth and human life.
3. Soil pollution contaminated the underground water.

Control Measures for Preventing Soil Pollution


1. Soil erosion must be prevented by proper tree plantation.
2. Waste from industry and domestic must be treated before dumping.
3. Replace synthetic fertilizers with organic fertilizers.
4. Toxic and non-degradable materials must be banned.
5. Recycling and reuse of waste materials.
6. Public awareness.

This entire planet is our home. We are the only species that
systematically destroy our own habitat.

— Marianne Williamson
14
University of Antique
College of Teacher Education

GEE 18 (Environmental Conservation)


Van Helen S. Cuaderes
Prof. Zenaida T. Juada
Monalie C. Saylo, PhD
=================================================================================================================
Pollution Is Our Problem

 Pollution prevention is a major global concern because of its harmful effects on people's health
and the environment.
o Because we are all inhabitants on Earth, everyone is a stakeholder, and every person
has something to contribute to advance effective pollution prevention and awareness.
 Environmental protection is a natural extension of caring for ourselves, loving our children,
and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.

If We Heal the Earth, We Heal Ourselves

…we should all accept personal responsibility for the success of our local environmental protection
programs by actively participating in making our atmosphere pollution-free…although we can each
help combat pollution in our immediate environments…we can do more by working to change
legislation and policy on a larger scale…

…averting the onset of pollution in any area…be it in air or water or on land could be the simplest
preventive solution…

…if there are no pollutants, there will be no pollution…yet, this is easier said than done…

…certain bad habits are entrenched and industrial development as we know it seems to involve an
expectation of pollution…even the most simple preventive approaches are often quite complicated,
expensive, and difficult for a small business to implement…still, there are small changes we can make
on the individual level that make a difference, both in the short and long term…

Ways to Prevent Pollution

…every action or inaction of any person has an effect on the environment—be it good, neutral, or
negative…by becoming aware and doing the right thing, we choose to be part of the solution…

Here are some things you can do:

 Stop Smoking
 Use Eco-Friendly Transportation
 Dispose of Waste Responsibly
 Choose Renewable Sources of Energy
 Promote Conservation as a Consumer
 Avoid Disrupting the Ecosystem
 Make Reducing Pollution a Community Goal

15
University of Antique
College of Teacher Education

GEE 18 (Environmental Conservation)


Van Helen S. Cuaderes
Prof. Zenaida T. Juada
Monalie C. Saylo, PhD
=================================================================================================================

 NASA reports that in the next ten months, the earth will get hotter by four degrees.
 Glaciers are melting at rapid rates and our climate is changing drastically and it's getting
worse.

Being an earth citizen, will you reflect on this?

 We have a moral and spiritual bond to the planet that God made the source of
all living things that our own survival depends upon. Many urban dwellers
have lost their spiritual bond to the earth when they lose a connection to the
natural environment. They can lose their inner peace too.
— Father Shay Cullen
 One person alone cannot save the planet’s biodiversity, but each individual’s
effort to encourage nature’s wealth must not be underestimated.
— United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
 Rather than a problem to be solved, the world is a joyful mystery to be
contemplated with gladness and praise.
— Pope Francis in Laudato

16
University of Antique
College of Teacher Education

GEE 18 (Environmental Conservation)


Van Helen S. Cuaderes
Prof. Zenaida T. Juada
Monalie C. Saylo, PhD
=================================================================================================================

Stopping Pollution Doesn't Have to Be Overwhelming

…the good news is that there is hope…the seeming insurmountability of the situation does not stop
environmental protection advocates from pursuing their goals for a pollution-free earth…

…the daunting size of the problem shouldn't stop you... everyone can help by educating themselves
and doing what they can to adopt good and healthy practices… it is important that we share and help
raise awareness about what we know…

…by doing what you can…educating yourself…and sharing your awareness…you can make a
significant impact…

The pollution of the planet is only an outside reflection of an inner psychic


pollution: millions of unconscious individuals not taking responsibility for their
inner space. [...] Are you polluting the world or cleaning up the mess? You are
responsible for your inner space; nobody else is, just as you are responsible for the
planet. As within, so without. If humans clear inner pollution, then they will also
cease to create outer pollution.

— Eckhart Tolle
17

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