The term pollution refers to the act of contaminating ones environment by introducing certain hazardous contaminants that disturb

the ecosystem and directly or indirectly affect the living organisms of that ecosystem. Pollution in general is the activity of disturbing the natural system and balance of an environment.

The increase in the pollution over the years by man has caused severe damage to the earths ecosystem. It is responsible for global warming which is leading to the end if all the lives on earth. Over the years there is an extreme increase in the rate of human diseases, and death rate of various animals and plants on earth, and that is all because of the pollution caused by man himself.

There are many types of pollution, but four of them have the most perilous affect on our lives. Following are the four most dangerous types of pollutions and their causes: Air Pollution

Air pollution is perhaps the most common and the most dangerous type of pollution. It involves the direct release of chemicals into the environment. The chemicals then become the part of the air around us that all the living things take in.

The increase in the rate of diseases such as asthma and lung cancer today is due to the increase in the air pollution around us. Air pollution is also a cause of global warming and acid rain. Causes Of Air Pollution

Basically the air pollution is caused by the burning of fuel that directly releases hazardous chemicals into the air.

For example the burning of coal releases sulphur dioxide, a poisonous gas which is responsible for acid rain.

The sources of such chemicals are the large factories, smoke from the vehicles, chimneys and burning of wood. Threat To Polar Animals Due To Global Warming The effects of global warming are playing havoc everywhere - higher temperatures, hurricanes, heavy rains, flooding and droughts have now become more frequent and severe in intensity. Soil Pollution

Soil pollution involves the contamination of soil by the release of harmful substances into the soil. Unlike air pollution, which has a direct affect on human lives, soil pollution causes an indirect damage to humans and other animals. The lives of all the living things depend on three sources: water, light and soil. The plants which are the producers of the food chain take up their nutrients, which are essential for their living, from the soil.

Drying Lakes Due To Global Warming Lakes Dried Or Drying Up

Lakes are fresh water bodies that are enclosed by land from all sides. They are considered to be a short-term water body, and may dry up with changing environmental conditions.

The nutrients taken by the plants are then transferred to the consumers that depend on these plants. Hence a soil consisting of contaminants will not only affect the plants growing on the soil but it will also indirectly harm the entire food chain. Causes Of Soil Pollution

Soil pollution is mainly caused by the release of industrial waste. This waste is directly incorporated into the soil by large industries and factories. Soil pollution is also caused by human acts as mining and deforestation etc. Water Pollution

The 75% of the earths surface is covered with water and more that half of the total population of earths species resides in water.

Moreover, our life greatly depends on water and life without water is impossible. Water pollution not only affects the fish and animals living in the water but also affects the whole food chain by also transferring the contaminants to the consumers depending on these animals. Animals Endangered Due To Pollution 5 Endangered Animals Of The World

The increase of human population over the centuries has caused not one but many damage to Earth. The increase in human population leads directly to the increase in their demand which in turn leads to animal extinction.

Water used from a polluted lake directly contaminates its user. Many of the water creatures are on the verge of extinction due to the dramatic increase in the water pollution. Cause Of Water Pollution

Just like air and soil pollution, water pollution is caused by the direct incorporation of hazardous pollutants.

The sources of these pollutants are yet again the large industries and factories that dispose off their waste in lakes and ponds. Noise Pollution

Unlike other the above mentioned types of pollutions does not involve hazardous chemicals or their incorporation into the environment, rather noise pollution is the increase in the rate of noise in the environment.

Noise is defined as an unpleasant sound that has an adverse affect on the human ear.

Noise can be extremely dangerous. And it is all around us. It penetrates into human mind and controls it.

Too much noise leads to severe psychological illness and badly affects the behavior.

It leads to hypertension, stress, aggression and annoyance. Moreover, it causes depression and forgetfulness. Cause Of Noise Pollution

Noise pollution is caused by the moving vehicles, man made machines and loud music. Other than that noise can be caused by anything, but these three sources are the main reasons for the noise pollution around us. INTRODUCTION

Pollution, contamination of Earth's environment with materials that interfere with human health, the quality of life, or the natural functioning of ecosystems (living organisms and their physical surroundings). Although some environmental pollution is a result of natural causes such as volcanic eruptions, most is caused by human activities. Related Articles Basic Knowledge of Air-Water Heat Pumps Discover more about Jenn Air Water Filtration System Purifying Polluted Tape Water

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Thermal Inversion Smog surrounds the Angel Monument in Mexico City, Mexico, during a thermal inversion. Air pollution increases dramatically when a mass of cold air is trapped below a mass of warmer air. The absence of air circulation prevents pollution near Earth's surface from escaping.

There are two main categories of polluting materials, or pollutants. Biodegradable pollutants are materials, such as sewage, that rapidly decompose by natural processes. These pollutants become a problem when added to the environment faster than they can decompose (see Sewage Disposal). Nondegradable pollutants are materials that either do not decompose or decompose slowly in the natural environment. Once contamination occurs, it is difficult or impossible to remove these pollutants from the environment.

Nondegradable compounds such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and radioactive materials can reach dangerous levels of accumulation as they are passed up the food chain into the bodies of progressively larger animals. For example, molecules of toxic compounds may collect on the surface of aquatic plants without doing much damage to the plants. A small fish that grazes on these plants accumulates a high concentration of the toxin. Larger fish or other carnivores that eat the small fish will accumulate even greater, and possibly life-threatening, concentrations of the compound. This process is known as bioaccumulation.

II IMPACTS OF POLLUTION

Because humans are at the top of the food chain, they are particularly vulnerable to the effects of nondegradable pollutants. This was clearly illustrated in the 1950s and 1960s when residents living near Minamata Bay, Japan, developed nervous disorders, tremors, and paralysis in a mysterious epidemic. More than 400 people died before authorities discovered that a local industry had released mercury into Minamata Bay. This highly toxic element accumulated in the bodies of local fish and eventually in the bodies of people who consumed the fish. More recently research has revealed that many chemical pollutants, such as DDT and PCBs, mimic sex hormones and interfere with the human body's reproductive and developmental functions. These substances are known as endocrine disrupters.

Pollution also has a dramatic effect on natural resources. Ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, coral reefs, and rivers perform many important services for Earth's environment. They enhance water and air quality, provide habitat for plants and animals, and provide food and medicines. Any or all of these ecosystem functions may be impaired or destroyed by pollution. Moreover, because of the complex relationships among the many types of organisms and ecosystems, environmental contamination may have far-reaching consequences that are not immediately obvious or that are difficult to predict. For instance, scientists can only speculate on some of the potential impacts of the depletion of the ozone layer, the protective layer in the atmosphere that shields Earth from the Sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.

Another major effect of pollution is the tremendous cost of pollution cleanup and prevention. The global effort to control emissions of carbon dioxide, a gas produced from the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal or oil, or of other organic materials like wood, is one such example. The cost of maintaining annual national carbon dioxide emissions at 1990 levels is estimated to be 2 percent of the gross domestic product for developed countries. Expenditures to reduce pollution in the United States in 1993 totaled $109 billion: $105.4 billion on reduction, $1.9 billion on regulation, and $1.7 billion on research and

development. Twenty-nine percent of the total cost went toward air pollution, 36 percent to water pollution, and 36 percent to solid waste management.

In addition to its effects on the economy, health, and natural resources, pollution has social implications. Research has shown that low-income populations and minorities do not receive the same protection from environmental contamination as do higher-income communities. Toxic waste incinerators, chemical plants, and solid waste dumps are often located in low-income communities because of a lack of organized, informed community involvement in municipal decision-making processes.

III TYPES OF POLLUTION

Pollution exists in many forms and affects many different aspects of Earth's environment. Point-source pollution comes from specific, localized, and identifiable sources, such as sewage pipelines or industrial smokestacks. Nonpoint-source pollution comes from dispersed or uncontained sources, such as contaminated water runoff from urban areas or automobile emissions.

The effects of these pollutants may be immediate or delayed. Primary effects of pollution occur immediately after contamination occurs, such as the death of marine plants and wildlife after an oil spill at sea. Secondary effects may be delayed or may persist in the environment into the future, perhaps going unnoticed for many years. DDT, a nondegradable compound, seldom poisons birds immediately, but gradually accumulates in their bodies. Birds with high concentrations of this pesticide lay thin-shelled eggs that fail to hatch or produce deformed offspring. These secondary effects, publicized by Rachel Carson in her 1962 book, Silent Spring, threatened the survival of species such as the bald eagle

and peregrine falcon, and aroused public concern over the hidden effects of nondegradable chemical compounds.

A Air Pollution

Brown Smog Over Phoenix, Arizona Smog is caused by industrial and automobile pollution. It is compounded by temperature inversions, which cause the air pollution to be kept in a particular area for extended periods. Continued exposure to smog can result in respiratory problems, eye irritation, and even death.

Human contamination of Earth's atmosphere can take many forms and has existed since humans first began to use fire for agriculture, heating, and cooking. During the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries, however, air pollution became a major problem. As early as 1661 British author and founding member of the British Royal Society John Evelyn reported of London in his treatise Fumifugium, " the weary Traveller, at many Miles distance, sooner smells, than sees the City to which he repairs. This is that pernicious Smoake which fullyes all her Glory, superinducing a sooty Crust or Furr upon all that it lights."

Urban air pollution is commonly known as smog. The dark London smog that Evelyn wrote of is generally a smoky mixture of carbon monoxide and organic compounds from incomplete combustion (burning) of fossil fuels such as coal, and sulfur dioxide from impurities in the fuels. As the smog ages and reacts with oxygen, organic and sulfuric acids condense as droplets, increasing the haze. Smog developed into a major health hazard by the 20th century. In 1948, 19 people died and thousands were sickened by smog in the small U.S. steel-mill town of Donora, Pennsylvania. In 1952, about 4,000 Londoners died of its effects.

A second type of smog, photochemical smog, began reducing air quality over large cities like Los Angeles in the 1930s. This smog is caused by combustion in car, truck, and airplane engines, which produce nitrogen oxides and release hydrocarbons from unburned fuels. Sunlight causes the nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons to combine and turn oxygen into ozone, a chemical agent that attacks rubber, injures plants, and irritates lungs. The hydrocarbons are oxidized into materials that condense and form a visible, pungent haze.

Eventually most pollutants are washed out of the air by rain, snow, fog, or mist, but only after traveling large distances, sometimes across continents. As pollutants build up in the atmosphere, sulfur and nitrogen oxides are converted into acids that mix with rain. This acid rain falls in lakes and on forests, where it can lead to the death of fish and plants, and damage entire ecosystems. Eventually the contaminated lakes and forests may become lifeless. Regions that are downwind of heavily industrialized areas, such as Europe and the eastern United States and Canada, are the hardest hit by acid rain. Acid rain can also affect human health and man-made objects; it is slowly dissolving historic stone statues and building facades in London, Athens, and Rome.

One of the greatest challenges caused by air pollution is global warming, an increase in Earth's temperature due to the buildup of certain atmospheric gases such as carbon dioxide. With the heavy use of fossil fuels in the 20th century, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide have risen dramatically. Carbon dioxide and other gases, known as greenhouse gases, reduce the escape of heat from the planet without blocking radiation coming from the Sun. Because of this greenhouse effect, average global temperatures are expected to rise 1.4 to 5.8 Celsius degrees (2.5 to 10.4 Fahrenheit degrees) by the year 2100. Although this trend appears to be a small change, the increase would make the Earth warmer than it has been in the last 125,000 years, possibly changing climate patterns, affecting crop production, disrupting wildlife distributions, and raising the sea level.

Air pollution can also damage the upper atmospheric region known as the stratosphere. Excessive production of chlorine-containing compounds such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) (compounds formerly used in refrigerators, air conditioners, and in the manufacture of polystyrene products) has depleted the stratospheric ozone layer, creating a hole above Antarctica that lasts for several weeks each year. As a result, exposure to the Sun's harmful rays has damaged aquatic and terrestrial wildlife and threatens human health in high-latitude regions of the northern and southern hemispheres.

B Water Pollution

The demand for fresh water rises continuously as the world's population grows. From 1940 to 1990 withdrawals of fresh water from rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and other sources increased fourfold. Of the water consumed in the United States in 1995, 39 percent was used for irrigation, 39 percent was used for electric power generation, and 12 percent was used for other utilities; industry and mining used 7 percent, and the rest was used for agricultural livestock and commercial purposes.

Sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides are the main causes of water pollution. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that about 37 percent of the country's lakes and estuaries, and 36 percent of its rivers, are too polluted for basic uses such as fishing or swimming during all or part of the year. In developing nations, more than 95 percent of urban sewage is discharged untreated into rivers and bays, creating a major human health hazard.

Polluted River in the United Kingdom The pollution of rivers and streams with chemical contaminants has become one of the most critical environmental problems of the 20th century. Waterborne chemical pollution entering rivers and streams comes from two major sources: point pollution and nonpoint pollution. Point pollution involves those pollution sources from which distinct chemicals can be identified, such as factories, refineries or outfall pipes. Nonpoint pollution involves pollution from sources that cannot be precisely identified, such as runoff from agricultural or mining operations or seepage from septic tanks or sewage drain fields. It is estimated that each year 10 million people die worldwide from drinking contaminated water.

Water runoff, a nonpoint source of pollution, carries fertilizing chemicals such as phosphates and nitrates from agricultural fields and yards into lakes, streams, and rivers. These combine with the phosphates and nitrates from sewage to speed the growth of algae, a type of plantlike organism. The water body may then become choked with decaying algae, which severely depletes the oxygen supply. This process, called eutrophication, can cause the death of fish and other aquatic life. Agricultural runoff may be to blame for the growth of a toxic form of algae called Pfiesteria piscicida, which was responsible for killing large amounts of fish in bodies of water from the Delaware Bay to the Gulf of Mexico in the late 1990s. Runoff also carries toxic pesticides and urban and industrial wastes into lakes and streams. Ads by Google Solid Waste Incinerators For hospital / clinical / medical waste. Worldwide Distribution! www.todaysure.com/waste+incinerator Bioremediation Microbes Matching microbes to applications Microbial screening tools www.mdgbio.com Wet Process Equipment

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Erosion, the wearing away of topsoil by wind and rain, also contributes to water pollution. Soil and silt (a fine sediment) washed from logged hillsides, plowed fields, or construction sites, can clog waterways and kill aquatic vegetation. Even small amounts of silt can eliminate desirable fish species. For example, when logging removes the protective plant cover from hillsides, rain may wash soil and silt into streams, covering the gravel beds that trout or salmon use for spawning.

The marine fisheries supported by ocean ecosystems are an essential source of protein, particularly for people in developing countries. Yet pollution in coastal bays, estuaries, and wetlands threatens fish stocks already depleted by overfishing. In 1989, 260,000 barrels of oil was spilled from the oil tanker Exxon Valdez into Alaska's Prince William Sound, a pristine and rich fishing ground. In 1999 there were 8,539 reported spills in and around U.S. waters, involving 4.4 billion liters (1.2 billion gallons) of oil.

C Soil Pollution

Pest Control or Pollution? Pest control has become a difficult issue for farmers because of its potential environmental impact. Although the insecticide being sprayed on this potato field will eliminate a generation of Colorado potato beetles, it may also contaminate local food and water sources.

Soil is a mixture of mineral, plant, and animal materials that forms during a long process that may take thousands of years. It is necessary for most plant growth and is essential for all agricultural production. Soil pollution is a buildup of toxic

chemical compounds, salts, pathogens (disease-causing organisms), or radioactive materials that can affect plant and animal life.

Unhealthy soil management methods have seriously degraded soil quality, caused soil pollution, and enhanced erosion. Treating the soil with chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides interferes with the natural processes occurring within the soil and destroys useful organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms. For instance, strawberry farmers in California fumigate the soil with methyl bromide to destroy organisms that may harm young strawberry plants. This process indiscriminately kills even beneficial microorganisms and leaves the soil sterile and dependent upon fertilizer to support plant growth. This results in heavy fertilizer use and increases polluted runoff into lakes and streams.

Improper irrigation practices in areas with poorly drained soil may result in salt deposits that inhibit plant growth and may lead to crop failure. In 2000 bc, the ancient Sumerian cities of the southern Tigris-Euphrates Valley in Mesopotamia depended on thriving agriculture. By 1500 bc, these cities had collapsed largely because of crop failure due to high soil salinity. The same soil pollution problem exists today in the Indus Valley in Pakistan, the Nile Valley in Egypt, and the Imperial Valley in California.

D Solid Waste

Components of Municipal Solid Waste A person living in an industrialized nation produces a great variety of solid waste, often a mix of potentially reusable or recyclable items (such as paper and yard waste) and largely nonrecyclable material (such as food waste and many types of plastic). Of the municipal solid waste (the waste collected from residences and businesses) produced in the

United States in 2000, about two-fifths of the paper, metal, and yard waste was recycled, and about one-quarter of the glass was recycled.

Solid wastes are unwanted solid materials such as garbage, paper, plastics and other synthetic materials, metals, and wood. Billions of tons of solid waste are thrown out annually. The United States alone produces about 200 million metric tons of municipal solid waste each year (see Solid Waste Disposal). A typical American generates an average of 2 kg (4 lb) of solid waste each day. Cities in economically developed countries produce far more solid waste per capita than those in developing countries. Moreover, waste from developed countries typically contains a high percentage of synthetic materials that take longer to decompose than the primarily biodegradable waste materials of developing countries.

Overflowing Landfill An average city dweller may produce a ton of refuse in a year, a volume that rapidly overflows local dumps. Cities running out of space for landfill often turn to incinerating their waste or transporting it to other areas, although up to 90 percent of the material might have been recycled.

Areas where wastes are buried, called landfills, are the cheapest and most common disposal method for solid wastes worldwide. But landfills quickly become overfilled and may contaminate air, soil, and water. Incineration, or burning, of waste reduces the volume of solid waste but produces dense ashen wastes (some of which become airborne) that often contain dangerous concentrations of hazardous materials such as heavy metals and toxic compounds. Composting, using natural biological processes to speed the decomposition of organic wastes, is an effective strategy for dealing with organic garbage and produces a material that can be used as a natural fertilizer. Recycling, extracting and reusing certain waste materials, has become an important part of municipal solid waste strategies in developed countries. According to the EPA,

more than one-fourth of the municipal solid waste produced in the United States is now recycled or composted. Recycling also plays a significant, informal role in solid waste management for many Asian countries, such as India, where organized waste-pickers comb streets and dumps for items such as plastics, which they use or resell.

Expanding recycling programs worldwide can help reduce solid waste pollution, but the key to solving severe solid waste problems lies in reducing the amount of waste generated. Waste prevention, or source reduction, such as altering the way products are designed or manufactured to make them easier to reuse, reduces the high costs associated with environmental pollution.

E Hazardous Waste

Toxic Waste in Love Canal Residents of the Love Canal area in Niagara Falls were forced to evacuate when hazardous wastes leaking from a former disposal site threatened their health and homes in the late 1970s. One of the most notorious cases of toxic waste leakage, the crisis received attention on both local and national levels. Investigation spurred by public outrage revealed that many waste disposal sites like Love Canal existed nationwide; New York alone had several hundred. Several states passed stricter regulations on industrial waste disposal and allocated billions of dollars for the cleanup of contaminated areas.

Hazardous wastes are solid, liquid, or gas wastes that may be deadly or harmful to people or the environment and tend to be persistent or nondegradable in nature. Such wastes include toxic chemicals and flammable or radioactive substances, including industrial wastes from chemical plants or nuclear reactors, agricultural wastes such as pesticides and fertilizers, medical wastes, and household hazardous wastes such as toxic paints and solvents.

About 400 million metric tons of hazardous wastes are generated each year. The United States alone produces about 250 million metric tons70 percent from the chemical industry. The use, storage, transportation, and disposal of these substances pose serious environmental and health risks. Even brief exposure to some of these materials can cause cancer, birth defects, nervous system disorders, and death. Large-scale releases of hazardous materials may cause thousands of deaths and contaminate air, water, and soil for many years. The world's worst nuclear reactor accident took place near Chernobyl', Ukraine, in 1986 (see Chernobyl' Accident). The accident killed at least 31 people, forced the evacuation and relocation of more than 200,000 more, and sent a plume of radioactive material into the atmosphere that contaminated areas as far away as Norway and the United Kingdom.

Until the Minamata Bay contamination was discovered in Japan in the 1960s and 1970s, most hazardous wastes were legally dumped in solid waste landfills, buried, or dumped into lakes, rivers, and oceans. Legal regulations now restrict how such materials may be used or disposed, but such laws are difficult to enforce and often contested by industry. It is not uncommon for industrial firms in developed countries to pay poorer countries to accept shipments of solid and hazardous wastes, a practice that has become known as the waste trade. Moreover, cleaning up the careless dumping of the mid-20th century is costing billions of dollars and progressing very slowly, if at all. The United States has an estimated 217,000 hazardous waste dumps that need immediate action. Cleaning them up could take more than 30 years and cost $187 billion.

Hazardous wastes of particular concern are the radioactive wastes from the nuclear power and weapons industries. To date there is no safe method for permanent disposal of old fuel elements from nuclear reactors. Most are kept in storage facilities at the original reactor sites where they were generated. With the

end of the Cold War, nuclear warheads that are decommissioned, or no longer in use, also pose storage and disposal problems.

F Noise Pollution

Sound Intensities Sound intensities are measured in decibels (dB). For example, the intensity at the threshold of hearing is 0 dB, the intensity of whispering is typically about 10 dB, and the intensity of rustling leaves reaches almost 20 dB. Sound intensities are arranged on a logarithmic scale, which means that an increase of 10 dB corresponds to an increase in intensity by a factor of 10. Thus, rustling leaves are about 10 times louder than whispering.

Unwanted sound, or noise, such as that produced by airplanes, traffic, or industrial machinery, is considered a form of pollution. Noise pollution is at its worst in densely populated areas. It can cause hearing loss, stress, high blood pressure, sleep loss, distraction, and lost productivity.

Sounds are produced by objects that vibrate at a rate that the ear can detect. This rate is called frequency and is measured in hertz, or vibrations per second. Most humans can hear sounds between 20 and 20,000 hertz, while dogs can hear highpitched sounds up to 50,000 hertz. While high-frequency sounds tend to be more hazardous and more annoying to hearing than low-frequency sounds, most noise pollution damage is related to the intensity of the sound, or the amount of energy it has. Measured in decibels, noise intensity can range from zero, the quietest sound the human ear can detect, to over 160 decibels. Conversation takes place at around 40 decibels, a subway train is about 80 decibels, and a rock concert is from 80 to 100 decibels. The intensity of a nearby jet taking off is about 110 decibels. The threshold for pain, tissue damage, and potential hearing loss in

humans is 120 decibels. Long-lasting, high-intensity sounds are the most damaging to hearing and produce the most stress in humans.

Solutions to noise pollution include adding insulation and sound-proofing to doors, walls, and ceilings; using ear protection, particularly in industrial working areas; planting vegetation to absorb and screen out noise pollution; and zoning urban areas to maintain a separation between residential areas and zones of excessive noise. Types of Pollution:

1. Air pollution

2. Water Pollution

3. Soil Pollution

4. Radiation Pollution

5. Noise Pollution

Effects of pollutions:

Air Pollution:

1. Sulphur dioxide from industries causes irritation of eyes and acid rain. Carbon monoxide from automobile exhaust causes reduction in and oxygen carrying capacity of blood.

2. Hydrocarbons released from automobile exhaust causes lung cancer.

3. Arsenic from thermal power plants in toxic to plants.

4. Ammonia released from fertilizers, industry causes irritation of mucous membrane, also affects agriculture.

5. Benzene released from automobile exhaust causes lukemia(Blood Cancer) and also causes chomosomal damage.

Water Pollution:

1. Chromium from industries is toxic and especially from tanneries is carcinogenic.

2. Mercury from pesticides is toxic and causes foetal brain damage.

3. Bacteria from sewage cause cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, dysentery.

4. Selenium from pesticides, industries causes cancer.

5. Loss of marine organisms.

6. Toxic chemicals in fish enter food chain and affect human health.

Soil Pollution:

1. Arsenic pollution leads to a loss of appetite and weight, diarrhoea, gastro intestinal disorders, sometimes skin cancer.

2. Mercury from industrial wastes as methyl mercury is more toxic than any other forms of mercury. It causes neurological problems and damages kidney.

Radiation Pollution:

1. Radiations causes cancer, damage the cells, impaired metabolism and death of organisms.

Noise Pollution:

1. Noise level of 80 decibels or more increase tension and changes in breathing patterns. It results in fatigue, hearing loss, changes in blood circulation. 2. Reduce automobile use and emissions 3. Automobiles are one of the largest collective sources of ongoing pollution in the local harbours and watersheds. Driving less can have enormous benefits for the environment, while walking and bicycling can also improve your health. Other options include carpooling, sharing a vehicle and taking the bus. (See "alternative transportation" in the More Information section.) 4. Switching to a more fuel-efficient vehicle can decrease the emissions of your automobile by up to 50% (see More Information). Not only do large vehicles such as SUVs pollute more, in many cases they are not as safe as regular cars (see More Information). While you help the environment, you can also save hundreds of dollars a year on gasoline bills. 5. Keeping your vehicle properly tuned can cut down on air pollution, and prevent oil, gas and other fluids from leaking onto roads, parking lots and driveways, from where they are washed into water bodies. 6. Reduce the area of impervious surfaces around your home and property 7. 8. Roads, parking lots and roofs prevent rainwater from soaking into the ground; instead, it flows into nearby streams and marine areas in unnaturally high volumes, and picks up pollutants along the way. 9. Planners, developers and home owners can use a variety of techniques to limit stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces. Some examples include alternative paving materials, detention ponds or "rain gardens," bioswales, green roofs, and general design principles that seek to mimic the water budget in natural areas. 10.See How Can I Help: reduce impervious surfaces. 11.Reduce the use of chemicals on your lawn and garden 12.Have your soil tested to see if it requires any supplemental nutrients (many areas don't). 13.Use compost instead of synthetic fertilizers (this has the added benefit of reducing landfill waste).

14.Encourage beneficial insects, birds and bats for natural pest control 15.See natural gardening for more tips and information. 16.Reduce the use of toxic chemicals in and around your home 17. The Georgia Strait Alliance - Pollution and Toxics 18.Inspect and maintain your septic system 19.CRD Septic Savvy Kit 20. Reduce boat pollution 21. Make sure your engine is properly tuned and not leaking fluids. 22.Refuel carefully, and have absorbent materials on hand in case of a spill. 23.Use less toxic alternatives for cleaning. 24.See Reducing Boat Pollution for more tips and info. 25.Ways to Reduce Air Pollution 26. 27.We make choices everyday that can help reduce air pollution. Below are a few ideas that you can take to help clean our air. 28. 29.At Home 30.Conserve energy - turn off appliances and lights when you leave the room. 31.Recycle paper, plastic, glass bottles, cardboard, and aluminum cans. (This conserves energy and reduces production emissions.) 32.Keep woodstoves and fireplaces well maintained. You should also consider replacing old wood stoves with EPA-certified models. Visit www.epa.gov/woodstoves. 33.Plant deciduous trees in locations around your home to provide shade in the summer, but to allow light in the winter. 34.Buy green electricity-produced by low-or even zero-pollution facilities. 35.Connect your outdoor lights to a timer or use solar lighting. 36.Wash clothes with warm or cold water instead of hot. 37.Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120F. 38.Use low-VOC or water-based paints, stains, finishes, and paint strippers. 39.Test your home for radon-a dangerous, radioactive gas that is odorless and tasteless. If the test shows elevated levels of radon, the problem can be fixed cost effectively. Visit www.epa.gov/radon.

40.Choose not to smoke in your home, especially if you have children. If you or your visitors must smoke, then smoke outside. Visit www.epa.gov/smokefree. 41. 42.Buy Smart 43.Buy ENERGY STAR products, including energy efficient lighting and appliances. They are environmentally friendly products. For more information, visit www.energystar.gov or call 1-888-STAR-YES. 44.Choose efficient, low-polluting models of vehicles. Visit www.epa.gov/greenvehicles. 45.Choose products that have less packaging and are reusable. 46.Shop with a canvas bag instead of using paper and plastic bags. 47.Buy rechargeable batteries for devices used frequently. 48. 49.Drive Wise 50. 51.Plan your trips. Save gasoline and reduce air pollution. 52.Keep tires properly inflated and aligned. 53.In the summertime, fill gas tank during cooler evening hours to cut down on evaporation. Avoid spilling gas and don't "top off" the tank. Replace gas tank cap tightly. 54.Avoid waiting in long drive-thru lines, for example, at fast-food restaurants or banks. Park your car and go in. 55.When possible, use public transportation, walk, or ride a bike. 56.Get regular engine tune ups and car maintenance checks (especially for the spark plugs). 57.Use an energy-conserving (EC) grade motor oil. 58.Ask your employer to consider flexible work schedules or telecommuting. 59.Report smoking vehicles to your local air agency. 60.Join a carpool or vanpool to get to work. 61. 62.For Your Health

63.Check daily air quality forecasts, which tell how clean or polluted your air is, and the associated health concerns. Visit www.airnow.gov. 64.Remove indoor asthma triggers from your home and avoid outdoor triggers in order to effectively control your asthma. Visit www.epa.gov/asthma to learn more about asthma triggers and ways to avoid them. 65.Minimize your sun exposure. Wear sun block and UV protection sunglasses. To find out about current forecasts of UV where you live, go to www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html. Carbon DioxideSelection Value Fast Delivery Carbon Dioxide Ventilation Monitorswww.airspill.com Cutting down on air pollution is an important step in going green. While transportation is the most obvious generator of air pollution, other aspects of your lifestyle also affect the amount of emissions you create -everything from the products you buy, your behaviors at home and the way you handle household waste. A number of small changes in different areas of your life can make a difference. The big results come when everyone is making such a contribution. Step 1: Save energy around the house. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, saving energy can reduce carbon emissions. Because most energy sources require burning fossil fuels, the less energy you use, the greener you are. Set your appliances and lights on a timer to turn off after a certain period of inactivity. Use compact fluorescent bulbs instead of standard lightbulbs, and use your microwave instead of the oven to heat small items. (See References 3) Step 2: Manage your heating and cooling. Turn your thermostat down in the winter and up in the summer whenever you are at work, sleeping or on vacation. You can also turn your water heater down to 120 degrees to save power. Make sure your insulation is up to the recommended level for your

area, and insulate pipes that pass through unheated spaces. Check to see that your windows and doors are not leaking warm or cool air. To make sure your furnace and air conditioners are running efficiently, perform regular maintenance. (See References 3) Step 3: Cut back on the amount of packaging you purchase and the amount of household waste you produce. The process of manufacturing packaging releases harmful emissions into the atmosphere, so patronize brands that use as little packaging as possible. Recycle everything you can: aluminum, paper, glass, plastic and cardboard are usually easy to recycle. When you are disposing of chemical-based substances like paint, batteries, pesticides or solvents, check with your local waste management office for a safe, ecofriendly method. (See References 3) Step 4: Reduce the amount of time you spend in the car. Carpool or use public transportation whenever you can. For shorter distances, walk or ride your bike to do errands. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, changing to carpooling can save a person over $1,000 per year. If you avoid driving alone only one day every week for a year, you can save hundreds of dollars in expenses, not to mention the wear and tear on your car. When you must drive, refill your gas tank during colder times of the day and avoid spilling gas to prevent evaporation into the atmosphere. (See References 2) Step 5: Improve your fuel economy. According to the EPA, a 1 percent increase in fuel economy equals a 1 percent decrease in carbon dioxide emissions (see References 1). Avoid accelerating quickly, braking hard and driving at high speeds, particularly when in heavy traffic. Remove excess weight from your car and remove unused roof racks or bike carriers, which cause drag. Sponsored Links

Glycol Dehydration UnitsDehydration Regeneration Units Glycol Contactors Reboilerswww.engtechinc.com Energy saving housesMeet 950+ Suppliers In Hong Kong Int'L Lighting Fair 2013. 6-9 Aprwww.hktdc.com Water pollution solutionsDesign sewage treatment plants Urban & Industrial sewage treatmentwww.salher.com Radiation Detection SARANew spectrometric system with improved detection capabilitywww.envinet.com The Worlds Largest Landfill The Pacific Ocean is home to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which also is known as the Worlds Largest Landfill, according to the European Commission. An estimated 3.5 million tons of trash reside in this landfill that are the result of whirling currents in the Pacific Ocean that pull trash and pollution into the ocean. The landfills area is the size of Europe, or 3.45 million kilometers squared -- thats a lot of trash. Pollution Sources Pollution is everyones responsibility. In terms of the Pacific Ocean, as estimated 20 percent of the pollution comes from ships at sea that may dump waste or cargo, either purposefully or accidentally, according to the Public Broadcasting System. Less than 20 percent comes from beachgoers who allow their trash to be swept away at sea (see Reference 3). Other sources include leftovers from storm drainage systems and trash from other countries beside the United States connected to the Pacific Ocean, including China, Japan and Mexico. Effects on Fish Fish and marine life comprise the food chain in the Pacific Ocean, helping to maintain lifes natural balance and keep marine species from becoming extinct. Due to the high amount of plastic in the Pacific Ocean, the fish species also have been affected. Fish ingest an estimated 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic per year in the Pacific Ocean, according to research from the

University of California San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Institute researchers collected 141 fishes of 27 species and found that 9.2 percent of the fish had small bits of plastic debris in their stomachs. Persistent Organic Pollutants In addition to the pollutants in the water, the Pacific Ocean circulates pollutants in the air. Known as persistent organic pollutants or POPs, these toxic chemicals include aldrin, dieldrin, heptachlor and toxaphene (see Reference 2). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has identified 12 POPs that are long-lasting in the environment. Factories or chemicals used in industrial and agricultural applications have produced these POPs (see Reference 2). POPs can be moved through water currents into southeast and central Asia into the Pacific Ocean. Although it covers more than 70% of the surface of the Earth, water is one of the most precious natural resources of our planet. The reason being that about 97% of the total water is salty, and therefore not potable; a further 2% is locked in glaciers and polar ice caps, thus leaving just about 1% of it useful for consumption. Apart from clean drinking water, we also need to keep the waters in the oceans, rivers, and lakes unpolluted because otherwise it harms the very planet we survive on. With human population increasing rapidly water resources all over the world are getting polluted; so much so, that precious and unique organisms and ecosystems are being harmed and are even going extinct at an alarming rate. What Causes Water Pollution? Although certain natural processes may cause some amount of water pollution, anthropogenic effects cause water pollution the most. We need to use water everyday, both in our industries as well as our homes. We get this water from groundwater sources, rivers, and lakes. Most of the water we use - and abuse - finds its way back to one or more of these water bodies.

The used water from agricultural and industrial practices, and household use, all comes together to generate sewage or wastewater. If sewage allowed to flow back into water systems without being treated, it causes pollution. The polluted water bodies harm all life, humans, animal and plants. Water also gets polluted due to surface runoff from industries, agricultural land and urban areas, which flow directly through storm-water drains into water systems without any treatment. The disposal of sewage is a major problem in developing countries where there isn't adequate sanitation in large areas, thus carrying disease causing bacteria and viruses into sources of water. However, developed countries too contribute to water pollution; people often flush pharmaceutical and chemical products down their toilet, adding to the chemical load of wastewater and sewage. Some of the other causes of pollution are oil spillages and dumping in oceans, dumping litter into streams, rivers, and oceans such as cardboard, newspaper, foam, Styrofoam, plastic packaging, aluminum, glass, and so on. Some of these pollutants take a very long time to degrade. For example, foam takes 50 years, Styrofoam takes 80 years, aluminum takes 200 years while plastic packaging can take 400 years! Nuclear waste, atmospheric deposition, and underground storage leakages are some of the other causes of water pollution. What are the Ways to Prevent Water Pollution? While we should see to it that the government is stringent about their policies related to sewage treatment plants and methods, there are many things that we can carry out individually to prevent water pollution. Toxic products like paints, automobile oil, polishes, and cleaning products should be stored and disposed off properly. As a matter of fact, it is better

to use non-toxic, products for the house as far as possible. Also, never dispose off such products by throwing them into your toilet or sink. Dispose off your trash in a proper manner and try and incorporate the recycling habit as far as possible. Non-degradable products like tampons, sanitary napkins, and diapers should not be flushed down the toilet, for these can end up damaging the process of sewage treatment, and usually end up as litter on beaches. Refrain from throwing litter into streams, lakes, rivers, or seas. If you do spot litter on beaches or in water systems, after ascertaining that it is safe, collect them and dispose them off in any nearby waste disposal system. Try using environmentally friendly household products like toiletries, soapbased household cleaning material, and washing powder as far as possible. Try using natural fertilizers and pesticides as far as possible, or if not, do not overuse them or over-water gardens and lawns. This will help in reducing the pollutants that get into water systems due to runoffs. Automobile oil should be re-used as far as possible. Also, it is important to keep your automobile well maintained in order to prevent leakages of toxic fluids like antifreeze and oil. Also, actively conserve water by turning the tap off when you do not need running water, such as while brushing teeth. Apart from preventing water shortages, it lessens the amount of water that needs to be treated. Do not use colored bathing bars. They are known to contribute more to water pollution. Avoid buying packaged water as far as possible. The best policy to adopt is to carry a bottle of water when you step out of the house. You can carry one big bottle per head. This has two advantages: you eliminate your contribution to pollution related to plastic bottles, and you save money! The above steps may seem to insignificant to ever contribute in reducing water pollution. But just imagine: even if 10 families (four members each) follow these steps, we will have almost 50 less plastic bottles contributing to pollution. That is quite a number, don't you think? If we all decide to share the responsibility, we can all come together and make a big difference!

Read more at Buzzle: Recycle Whenever Possible Oftentimes, recycling uses less energy than manufacturing new products, thus reducing fossil fuel emissions, which can ultimately cause land, in addition to air, pollution. For example, recycling aluminum cans uses 96 percent less energy than creating a can from aluminum ore, according to the Clear Air Council. Other pollution reduction measures include decreasing the amount of printing done in businesses and at home. Rather than printing, use online backup or document sharing applications to reduce paper waste. Integrated Pest Management Agriculture is the primary cause of water pollution, which in turn contaminates the land as polluted waters wash over its surface, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The major pollutants are pesticides. To reduce pesticide use, farmers can use the best practices of integrated pest management (IPM). IPM uses non-pesticide methods such as crop rotation to eliminate pests. Crop rotation involves planting crops in alternate years. For example, a farmer may plant corn one year and then in the following year plant soybeans. Pests specific to corn will not infest the soybeans and will die off from lack of food. Pesticide use is eliminated, and land pollution reduced.

Read more: Ways to Reduce Land Pollution | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/list_5978636_ways-reduce-landpollution.html#ixzz2LvlVoT4D Pollution is a major concern " This entire planet is our home. We are the only species that systematically destroy our own habitat."- Marianne Williamson

Pollution prevention is an exceptionally major global concern because of the harmful effects of pollution on the persons health and on the environment. Environmental pollution comes in various forms, such as: air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, etc.. Everyone is a stakeholder as we are all inhabitants of this one and only mother earth. Each person has something to contribute to advance an effective pollution prevention awareness initiatives. Environmental protection is caring for ourselves, loving our children and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come. "If we heal the earth, we heal ourselves." You and I should therefore accept personal responsibility for the success of the environmental protection programs of our respective community by cooperating and actively participating in making the atmosphere pollution free. Help stop pollution today. Although on an individual basis we can help combat pollution in our own immediate environment, efficient control can be best institutionalized through legislation. Thus, most countries have already addressed the issue by passing some form of pollution prevention measures. Averting the onset of pollution in any area, i.e. be it on air, water or land, could be the start and the simplest preventive solution to the problem. This calls for a conscientious effort to adopt good practices or habits by the people, the passage and the proper implementation of appropriate government laws and the strict compliance especially by potential industrial pollutants. If there are no pollutants, there will be no pollution. And yet, this is easier said than done. Certain bad habits are entrenched and industrial development somehow carries with it the concomitant burden of pollution. The cost to business and its commercial ramifications make this rather

simple preventive approach quite complicated and more difficult to implement. Street trash Drinking polluted water Stop global warming Clean earth Happy family Happy family, too! cardinal feasting on a mulberry Source: Paloma De Los Santos onto God's marvelous creations! How can we help? The good news is that there is hope. This seemingly difficult situation does not deter environmental protection advocates to pursue their dream for a more pollution-free earth. Kudos to Greenpeace and all similar organizations all over the world as they bear for us the campaign torch on environmental issues. Everyone can help by self education and by adopting good and healthy practices. It is also important that we help raise awareness about the significance of environmental issues, their dire consequences and what can be done. One person alone cannot save the planets biodiversity, but each individuals effort to encourage natures wealth must not be underestimated.- United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Every action or inaction of any person in regard to her or his surroundings has an effect- be it good, neutral or bad- on the environment. Nature already provides for our needs.Whatever we do to it gets back to us. If we are friends of the earth, it will also be friendly to us. By becoming aware and doing the right action, we choose to be part of the solution. What comes to mind now to serve as reminders include the following:

Stop smoking or at least follow the No Smoking sign. Use unleaded gasoline in your cars. Keep your car properly maintained to keep it in good running condition to avoid smoke emissions. Share a ride or engage in car pooling. Instead of using your cars, choose to walk or ride a bicycle whenever possible. With this eco-friendly practice, you will also be healthier and happier by staying fit. Never use open fires to dispose of wastes. Adopt the 3Rs of solid waste management: reduce, reuse and recycle. Inorganic materials such as metals, glass and plastic; also organic materials like paper, can be reclaimed and recycled. This takes into account that the proven solution to the problem of proper waste management (especially in third world countries) is proper disposal (in waste bins for collection and not in the street where it could fall into drains), waste segregation and collection, and recycling. Start composting brown leaves in your yard and green scraps from your kitchen. It will reduce waste while improving your yard and garden soils. Reconnect with nature. Live green by using green power supplied abundantly and freely by wind and the sun. Hang your laundry to dry to minimize use of gas or electricity from your dryers. Enjoy fresh air from open windows to lessen the use of air conditioning system. Patronize local foods and goods. In this manner, transporting goods and foods prepared with GMOs which uses fuel from conventional energy sources will be minimized. Use eco-friendly or biodegradable materials instead of plastic which are made up of highly toxic substances injurious to your health. Create your green space. Value your garden. Plant more trees and put indoor plants in your homes.They clean the air, provide oxygen and beautify your surrounding. Thus, care for them and by protecting them, especially the big trees around and in the forest, you protect yourself and your family, too. Have a proper waste disposal system especially for toxic wastes

Take very good care of your pets and their wastes. Never throw, run or drain or dispose into the water, air, or land any substance in solid, liquid or gaseous form that shall cause pollution. Do not cause loud noises and unwanted sounds to avoid noise pollution. Do not litter in public places. Anti-litter campaigns can educate the populace. Industries should use fuel with lower sulphur content. Industries should monitor their air emissions regularly and take measures to ensure compliance with the prescribed emission standards. Industries should strictly follow applicable government regulations on pollution control. Organic waste should be dumped in places far from residential areas. Say a big "NO" to GMOs or genetically modified organisms. Genetically engineered crops are not only bad for the environment since they require massive amount of fungicides, pesticides, and herbicides; but GMO altered foods are also health risks and negatively impact farmers' livelihood.

Help stop pollution. Join the Earth Day celebration every April 22nd and consider making it an everyday practice for the rest of your earthly life.

Consider these . . . Breathing is life. We know that we will survive without food for several weeks and without water for few days, but without oxygen, we will die in a matter of minutes. The oxygen, the air we breathe sustains us. So, let us make today and everyday a good day for everyone. Allow the earth to have more clean air. Help control pollution. "You're not going to make me have a bad day. If there's oxygen on earth and I'm breathing, it's going to be a good day." ~Cotton Fitzsimmons "Negative thinking destroys your brain cells and causes global warming." Source: The Scientific Institute of GetOverIt!

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. Fr. Shay Cullen Final thoughts Let me leave you with the following excerpts from Eckhart Tolle's "The Power of Now". ". . . 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." Know more About Earth Day . . . and participate. Check out the link below. About Earth Day Earth Day Celebration, which should be a yearlong and continuous event, is one positive approach to help curb pollution. We are all caretakers of this planet. We can do it . . . together. Related Hubs Light Pollution Light pollution is one of the least known types of pollution, but its effects on human health and the environment can be just as serious as some better-known forms of pollution. Types of Light Pollution ... Environmentally Friendly: Recycled Paper

There are a lot of issues and debates about the logging industry, and their practices. While I might be considered a tree hugger by many, I wont climb up on my soapbox, which is constructed out of 100%... Ways to Stop Global Warming Global warming is the recent increase in the average air and ocean temperature of the Earth as well as its expected continuation. What is so controversial about it is the actual potential for danger and its causes. Even if the emission levels stabili . Grow your own garden. Whether you have a large yard, a small patch of land, or just enough room for a few potted plants growing your own garden can create a tremendous difference. Having fresh fruits and vegetables at your finger tips can not only improve your health, it can also save you money. A packet of seeds only costs a few cents but can produce several times the amount of food than you would expect to pay in a grocery store, and without the added hassle of driving to the store and creating more garbage from the packaging and bags. Spending time each day working in your garden is wonderful exorcise and a great way to get plenty of sunshine. 2. Start composting. For many composting seems disgusting. Often when people think of composting they imagine an open pile of rotting foods, foul odors, and an array of animals digging through it. Modern composting, however, is nothing like that. Today you can buy or create several different kinds of containers and storage devices from small ones that fit under your kitchen sink to large ones that sit in your yard. These containers not only prevent rodents and other animals from creating a mess they also look neater and more attractive than an open heap or pile. Smell is also something that does not have to be a worry. Ideally composting should not have a strong odor, an odor usually is a sign of an imbalance in what you are adding to the mix. Adding more fallen leaves or cut grass can help reduce the smell. Having a compost bin is a great way to get rid of common kitchen scraps without creating more garbage and waste. And once

cultivated you have an excellent source of fertilizer and mulch for plants to grow from. 3. Stop buying chemical cleaners. Check under your sink or in your kitchen cabinets. Are there bottle after bottle of cleaners, degreasers, and disinfectants? Most people think that they need to spend money buying special formulas to clean their house, what they don't think about is what effect those chemicals can have on your health and the environment. Instead of buying more bottles of chemicals and creating more waste try some of the simple cleaner ideas that you can make yourself. Vinegar and baking soda is one of the simplest, most effective, and cheapest cleaning solutions available. You can clean everything from a dirty stove top to a load of laundry with that mixture, and not worry about the effects it could have on your health and home. Lemon juice is another safe and effective cleaner that can remove soap scum and whiten clothes as well as many other uses. 4. Change your light bulbs. Replacing your ordinary light bulbs with low energy bulbs can both save you money and help the environment. These long lasting bulbs reduce your energy bill and do not need to be replaced as often as conventional bulbs. There are a variety of styles available, even low energy holiday lights are being sold. Though the initial price can be higher for these than ordinary bulbs, over time these bulbs can save you up to $50 during the lifetime of a bulb. 5. Recycle. The tried and true method of helping the environment is recycling. Most cities have recycling centers or recycling pick-up available for people. Plastic, glass, paper, even old phonebooks can be recycled and used for other things. Using recycled items can also help the environment and save you money. Old tires and newspapers are used for insulation in homes, paper is recycled into new paper for notebooks and envelopes, even the rubber souls on shoes can come from recycled products. Many stores now offer a wide variety of recycled items, simply look for the

recycled symbol to know if you are buying something that came from recycled products. Some combustion appliances, such as gas ranges and unvented space heaters, discharge combustion products directly into the living area. Combustion byproducts can include strong irritants such as: sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen; unburned fuel; carbon (soot); carbon monoxide; formaldehyde; PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons); and fine suspended particles (smoke). These products are harmful, but the severity of problems they cause depends on their concentrations in the air and how long youre exposed to them. Low levels of carbon monoxide can cause headaches, weakness, dizziness, and nausea; greater concentrations can kill. But before you get alarmed, keep in mind that routine maintenance and some simple precautions, such as a carbon monoxide detector, will minimize the chances that indoor pollution problems will become serious. Problems arise when the chimney or flue becomes blocked, so inspect the chimney at the beginning of each heating season. If the chimney is relatively straight, the inspection can be done by inserting a small mirror in the chimneys clean-out door. Look for a clear path to the top of the chimney. Also, look for rust, holes, or weak spots in the metal flue pipe that connects the appliance to the chimney. These pipes eventually corrode, and if they collapse, the house can rapidly fill with deadly gas. Combustion equipment needs an adequate air supply, so furnace rooms should not be too tightly sealed. If the furnace room has a door, a 1to 2-inch undercut along the bottom can help to provide needed air. Avoid slow-burning, smoldering fires, which produce the largest amount of pollutants. Seasoned wood burns cleaner than green wood.

Also, wood stoves sold after 1990 are required to meet federal emission standards, so they should be more efficient and cleaner-burning. Dont operate a fuel-fired space heater in an enclosed space, such as a closed room. Use the proper fuel in kerosene heaterslow-sulfur, K1 fuel. 1) Bring your own bag when you go grocery shopping. Many grocery stores sell cloth bags, or you can just recycle ones that you already have. You can buy a cloth bag online if you like, here. They are very sturdy, and hold as much as the paper or plastic ones do. You can see an article here about how Ireland has addressed the issue of plastic bags by passing a 15 cent tax on each bag. initiated in 2002, it has eliminated 1 BILLION plastic bags per year. 2) Park your car. Every mile driven in a typical car produces a pound of exhaust waste, in the form of carbon dioxide. This amounts to tons of waste over a year. There is a converter here, that will tell you about how much you can reduce environmental pollution by driving less. There are benefits to not driving as well, whether it is exercise and neighborly interactions when walking or biking; or time to read or talk if carpooling or on the bus. And if you have to use your car (as I feel I have to) combine errands, work and other activities to promote driving less overall. 3) Increase your awareness of electricity use. Turn off appliances and lights when they are not in use. Be particularly aware of cable boxes, video boxes; and to a lesser extent TVs and DVD players. They consume almost as much energy off as they do when they are on! Anytime an appliance is off and there is a light, or clock going (like on a microwave) there is what is called a ghost load. Just unplug it when not in use, or better yet put it on a power strip with an on/off switch. You'll save energy, and cut down on the air pollution that electrical plants - that are often coal powered - create. Click here to find out more about how various household items and activities use energy based on data that you input. The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals

Amazon Price: $7.69 List Price: $17.00 The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals Amazon Price: $13.00 The Omnivore's Dilemma: The Secrets Behind What You Eat, Young Readers Edition Amazon Price: $3.71 List Price: $9.99 In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto Amazon Price: $7.16 List Price: $16.00

4) Eat less meat. The energy required to produce 1 calorie of beef is 18 TIMES more than that required to make a calorie of wheat. It is mindboggling; however, if we examine the water required to produce a pound of beef, it is just over 5200 gallons. The water pollution is one problem that is out of control when it comes to the meat industry. Every meal that replaces meat with vegetables, beans or soy protein, and grains makes a significant dent in the overall environmental picture. One really good source of information here is a book by Michael Pollen called The Omnivores Dilemma. 5) Buy locally. Locally grown food travels at most a couple of hundred miles, and is usually picked the day before, if not the day of, delivery. In contrast, the average piece of produce found on your grocer's counter has traveled 1500 miles! In addition, it often need some refrigeration and packaging to survive the 4 - 7 days it takes before it gets there. And it's not just produce that is made locally; many things you can get at the big box is either being made locally, or in those cases where they aren't, they can often be purchased second hand. A lot of pollution can be avoided by just buying locally whenever possible.

6) Plant a tree. Start a garden! Planting a shade tree can significantly impact heating bills once it reaches maturity. Planting a garden is a joyful activity that cuts down on the energy needed to get vegetables to your table. If you don't have the room for a garden, you can alwaysgrow sprouts in your house or apartment. They are one of the most nutritious and easy to grow foods ever, containing not only essential vitamins and minerals, but also life supporting qualities not readily found in other foods. 7) Reduce. Re-use. Recycle. Yes, it's cliche; but, putting it into action isn't. We don't have to always buy something; and nine times out of ten I find that when I'm confronted with the choice or desire to purchase, that simply breathing for a moment is enough to satisfy me. There are many innovative ways to reduce; one way is to purchase things in bulk, thereby cutting down on packaging and expense. Another is to make certain that all batteries are properly recycled, and then to replace the appliances that use them with corded varieties. Or, in the case of remote controls and other items that don't have cords, to get batteries that can be recharged at home. 8) Join national groups to put pressure on governments and corporations to cut down on their energy consumption. When a law like the one in Ireland is passed, and literally billions of plastic bags are removed from the equation, it dwarfs what the individual can do. Yet, it was individuals who created the law, lobbied for it, and then signed it into action. Here is a site (the NDRC) with environmental petitions to sign and lots of other great information about the environment. And here is another (the EDF). 9) Put less load on your furnace and air conditioner. Either by getting a more efficient model, or by adjusting the thermostat. And while you're adjusting that thermostat, don't forget the ones on your hot water heater (recommended to be set at 120 degrees F.) and the refridgerator. If you want to really make an impact for years to come, you can receive tax credits (in the United States - through 2016 for certain items) for various other types of improvements to your home's energy efficiency. It's worth

looking into, as you'll get money back from the government, and spend less money in the years to come as well. 10) Compost! Even the most diligent cook is going to come across a lot of scraps, ends, peels and bruised produce that can't be prepared. And, often there are bits and pieces of food that don't get eaten, and start to go bad. Starting a compost pile in the back yard is just the thing for them! Easy to take care of, the rewards are numerous. Healthier plants make for less pesticide use; and the compost can be used anywhere, indoors or out. Apartment dwellers may find that their local city has a composting program; or they can get an indoor composting unit. A year has passed, and I've written another article about things you can do to help save the environment. My perspective has changed, and I figured I'd better write about it again. Here's #8 from that list: Increase your awareness of the urgency of the situation. There are many popular authors on the subject. Al Gore, Will Tuttle and Derick Jensen all come to mind. Check out their books from the library. Just as important as the facts and figures presented by these authors is the certainty created in your mind by reading them.