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Learning-Module-in-Envi-Con-chapter-7
Learning-Module-in-Envi-Con-chapter-7
Learning-Module-in-Envi-Con-chapter-7
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.
…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
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…see how the environment can impact our health when the environment is
altered by us through our various activities…
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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.
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Air Pollution
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…this figure
presents how
dangerous air
pollution is…
Water Pollution
Water pollution can be of different types based on the various causes of water pollution.
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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.
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.
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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)
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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.
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This entire planet is our home. We are the only species that
systematically destroy our own habitat.
— Marianne Williamson
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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.
…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…
…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…
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
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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.
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
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…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…
— Eckhart Tolle
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