Air pollution From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search

Air pollution from World War II production Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere. The atmosphere is a complex dynamic natural gaseous system that is essential to support life on planet Earth. Stratospheric ozone depletion due to air pollution has long been recognized as a threat to human health as well as to the Earth's ecosystems. Indoor air pollution and urban air quality are listed as two of the world's worst pollution problems in the 2008 Blacksmith Institute World's Worst Polluted Places report

Water pollution From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search

Raw sewage and industrial waste flows across international bordersNew River passes from Mexicali to Calexico, California. Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and groundwater). Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds. Water pollution affects plants and organisms living in these bodies of water. In almost all cases the effect is damaging not only to individual species and populations, but also to the natural biological communities.

Introduction

Millions depend on the polluted Ganges river Water pollution is a major global problem which requires ongoing evaluation and revision of water resource policy at all levels (international down to individual aquifers and wells). It has been suggested that it is the leading worldwide cause of deaths and diseases,[1][2] and that it accounts for the deaths of more than 14,000 people daily.[2] An estimated 700 million Indians have no access to a proper toilet, and 1,000 Indian children die of diarrheal sickness every day.[3] Some 90% of China's cities suffer from some degree of water pollution,[4] and nearly 500 million people lack access to safe drinking water.[5] In addition to the acute problems of water pollution in developing countries, developed countries continue to struggle with pollution problems as well. In the most recent national report on water quality in the United States, 45 percent of assessed stream miles, 47 percent of assessed lake acres, and 32 percent of assessed bay and estuarine square miles were classified as polluted.[6] Water is typically referred to as polluted when it is impaired by anthropogenic contaminants and either does not support a human use, such as drinking water, and/or undergoes a marked shift in its ability to support its constituent biotic communities, such as fish. Natural phenomena such as volcanoes, algae blooms, storms, and earthquakes also cause major changes in water quality and the ecological status of water. [edit] Categories Surface water and groundwater have often been studied and managed as separate resources, although they are interrelated.[7] Surface water seeps through the soil and becomes groundwater. Conversely,

groundwater can also feed surface water sources. Sources of surface water pollution are generally grouped into two categories based on their origin. Noise pollution From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search

A Boeing 747-400 passes close to houses shortly before landing at London Heathrow Airport Noise pollution is excessive, displeasing human, animal, or machine-created environmental noise that disrupts the activity or balance of human or animal life. The word noise may be from the Latin word nauseas, metaphorically meaning disgust or discomfort[1]. The source of most outdoor noise worldwide is mainly construction and transportation systems, including motor vehicle noise, aircraft noise, and rail noise.[2][3] Poor urban planning may give rise to noise pollution, since side-by-side industrial and residential buildings can result in noise pollution in the residential area.

Human health Noise health effects describe problems in both health and behavior. Unwanted sound (noise) can damage physiological and psychological health. Noise pollution can cause annoyance and aggression, hypertension, high stress levels, tinnitus, hearing loss, sleep disturbances, and other harmful effects.[4][5][6][7] Furthermore, stress and hypertension are the leading causes to health problems, whereas tinnitus can lead to forgetfulness, severe depression and at times panic attacks.[5][8] Chronic exposure to noise may cause noise-induced hearing loss. Older males exposed to significant occupational noise demonstrate significantly reduced hearing sensitivity than their non-exposed peers, though differences in hearing sensitivity decrease with time and the two groups are indistinguishable by age 79.[9] A comparison of Maaban tribesmen, who were insignificantly exposed to transportation or industrial noise, to a typical U.S. population showed that chronic exposure to moderately high levels of environmental noise contributes to hearing loss.[4] High noise levels can contribute to cardiovascular effects and exposure to moderately high levels during a single eight hour period causes a statistical rise in blood pressure of five to ten points and an increase in stress[4] and

vasoconstriction leading to the increased blood pressure noted above as well as to increased incidence of coronary artery disease. Noise pollution is also a cause of annoyance. A 2005 study by Spanish researchers found that in urban areas households are willing to pay approximately four Euros per decibel per year for noise reduction.[10] [edit] Wildlife health Noise can have a detrimental effect on animals, increasing the risk of death by changing the delicate balance in predator or prey detection and avoidance, and interfering the use of the sounds in communication especially in relation to reproduction and in navigation. Acoustic overexposure can lead to temporary or permanent loss of hearing.[11] An impact of noise on animal life is the reduction of usable habitat that noisy areas may cause, which in the case of endangered species may be part of the path to extinction. Noise pollution has caused the death of certain species of whales that beached themselves after being exposed to the loud sound of military sonar[12] (see also Marine mammals and sonar). Noise also makes species communicate louder, which is called Lombard vocal response.[13] Scientists and researchers have conducted experiments that show whales' song length is longer when submarine-detectors are on.[14] If creatures do not "speak" loud enough, their voice will be masked by anthropogenic sounds. These unheard voices might be warnings, finding of prey, or preparations of net-bubbling. When one species begins speaking louder, it will mask other species' voice, causing the whole ecosystem to eventually speak louder. European Robins living in urban environments are more likely to sing at night in places with high levels of noise pollution during the day, suggesting that they sing at night because it is quieter, and their message can propagate through the environment more clearly.[15] The same study showed that daytime noise was a stronger predictor of nocturnal singing than night-time light pollution, to which the phenomenon is often attributed. Zebra finches become less faithful to their partners when exposed to traffic noise. This could alter a population's evolutionary trajectory by selecting traits, sapping resources normally devoted to other activities and thus lead to profound genetic and evolutionary consequences.[16] Land Pollution Land pollution is basically about the contamination and degradation of the land surface and soil of the earth, due to misuse. This contamination is caused by a number of factors. Read more about it in the following paragraphs. Pollution is the process that introduces contaminants into the environment, which in turn causes the instability of the ecosystem, including both the physical aspects and the living organisms. There are three types of pollution namely land pollution, air pollution and water pollution. Land pollution basically is about contaminating the land surface of the earth through dumping urban waste matter indiscriminately, dumping of industrial waste, mineral exploitation, and misusing the soil by harmful agricultural practices. Land pollution includes visible litter and waste along with the soil itself being polluted. The soil gets polluted by the chemicals in pesticides and herbicides used for agricultural purposes along with waste matter being littered in urban areas such as roads, parks, and streets. Land Pollution Comprises: Solid Waste and Soil Pollution

Solid Waste Semisolid or solid matter that are created by human or animal activities, and which are disposed because they are hazardous or useless are known as solid waste. Most of the solid wastes, like paper, plastic containers, bottles, cans, and even used cars and electronic goods are not biodegradable, which means they do not get broken down through inorganic or organic processes. Thus, when they accumulate they pose a health threat to people, plus, decaying wastes also attract household pests and result in urban areas becoming unhealthy, dirty, and unsightly places to reside in. Moreover, it also causes damage to terrestrial organisms, while also reducing the uses of the land for other, more useful purposes. Some of the sources of solid waste that cause land pollution are:

Wastes from Agriculture: This comprises waste matter produced by crop, animal manure, and farm residues. Wastes from Mining: Piles of coal refuse and heaps of slag. Wastes from Industries: Industrial waste matter that can cause land pollution can include paints, chemicals, and so on. Solids from Sewage Treatment: Wastes that are left over after sewage has been treated, biomass sludge, and settled solids. Ashes: The residual matter that remains after solid fuels are burned. Garbage: This comprises waste matter from food that are decomposable and other waste matter that are not decomposable such as glass, metal, cloth, plastic, wood, paper, and so on.

Soil Pollution Soil pollution is chiefly caused by chemicals in pesticides, such as poisons that are used to kill agricultural pests like insects and herbicides that are used to get rid of weeds. Hence, soil pollution results from:

Unhealthy methods of soil management. Harmful practices of irrigation methods.

Land pollution is caused by farms because they allow manure to collect, which leaches into the nearby land areas. Chemicals that are used for purposes like sheep dipping also cause serious land pollution as do diesel oil spillages. What are the Consequences of Land Pollution? Land pollution can affect wildlife, plants, and humans in a number of ways, such as:

Cause problems in the respiratory system Cause problems on the skin Lead to birth defects Cause various kinds of cancers

The toxic materials that pollute the soil can get into the human body directly by:

i. ii. iii. iv.

Coming into contact with the skin Being washed into water sources like reservoirs and rivers Eating fruits and vegetables that have been grown in polluted soil Breathing in polluted dust or particles

How can Land Pollution be Prevented?

People should be educated and made aware about the harmful effects of littering Items used for domestic purposes ought to be reused or recycled Personal litter should be disposed properly Organic waste matter should be disposed in areas that are far away from residential places Inorganic matter such as paper, plastic, glass and metals should be reclaimed and then recycled

It has become the need of the hour to protect the earth from the harmful effects of pollution, so that the generations to come will be able to a live a decently healthy life. Every individual will have to take the onus on himself and work towards bettering the environment and keep the earth green and healthy.

Missing boy found dead in KL lake

MALAYSIA - A boy, 2, who was left unattended for several minutes at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa on Wednesday evening, was found drowned in the lake yesterday. Irfan Danish Rosdi was believed to have fallen into the lake unnoticed and drowned while his mother, two elder brothers, uncle, aunt and cousins were 100m away.

His mother, Norazura Ahmad, 27, said Irfan's body was floating in the lake yesterday morning by a jogger. Norazura and her children had come here from Kluang, Johor, for a short vacation on Sunday. Her husband, Rosdi Abdul Raman, remained in Kluang as he was working. They had been staying with a relative in Sentul when they decided to go to the lake. The group went to a gazebo, 100m from the lake, at 6.45pm. While the adults sat around, the five children played near the lake. Norazura realised her son was missing 15 minutes later. "Earlier, I noticed Irfan paying special attention to the lake. He was just staring out at the water," she said at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital mortuary yesterday. "I had to pull him away twice as he was going too near to the lake." The family lodged a police report when they failed to locate him and continued looking for him in the area till about 2am. "I kept hoping someone would find my son safe, but that was dashed when the police contacted me this morning," she said while crying. She described her son as bubbly and active. "He was just learning how to speak." The family took Irfan's body to Kluang for burial yesterday.

ANOTHER TEENAGE GIRL REPORTED MISSING IN PAHANG

KUANTAN, March 21 (Bernama) -- Another 15-year-old girl was reported missing while on the way to purchase a mobile top-up card on Monday. Pahang CID chief SAC T. Narenasagaran said Nornabila Mat Yaacob did not return home after going out with a friend to buy the card in Jerantut. "Police have received a missing person report lodged by the family and will print and distribute photograph of the missing girl to the public to help find her," he told reporters after attending a crime prevention dialogue with residents of Taman Tas here today. Meanwhile, the girl''s mother, Norazlina Osman, 47, when met at her home in

Taman Koperasi, Jerantut, said Nornabila left the house at about 8pm on Monday on a motorcycle with her friend, Norsyazwani Mazlan, 15. "When she did not return at 11.30pm, I contacted Norsyazwani and she said that she had already sent Nornabila home," Norazlina said. -- MORE GIRL-MISSING 2 (LAST) KUANTAN Norazlina said efforts to find her youngest daughter were mounted soon after, but to no avail. She said calls made to her daughter''s mobile phone were also left unanswered. "However, I received a text message from her mobile phone at 8.04am today saying that she is now safe," Norazlina said. Last Sunday, a 15-year-old girl, Siti Nur Fatihah Mahadi, was reported to have been kidnapped in Taman Tas. However, she was later found safe at her male friend''s house in Kampung Merchong near Pekan and admitted that she was not kidnapped, but left on her own free will.

THREE ARRESTED OVER MISSING SERI ALAM GIRL

JOHOR BAHARU, March 5 (Bernama) -- Police arrested two men and a woman in connection with the disappearance of a five-year-old girl from the Seri Delima Flat, Jalan Suria in Bandar Seri Alam here, last Thursday. Johor police chief Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said police arrested the trio, aged between 36 and 40, following a report on the disappearance of the girl, Nurul Nadirah Abdullah, on the same day. "They have been remanded until tomorrow," he told reporters at the Johor

police headquarters here, today. Mohd Mokhtar said police had so far covered 20 locations in their search for the girl but to no avail. Nurul Nadirah had gone out to a grocery shop in the area to buy instant noodles and eggs at about 11am and had not returned ever since. -- MORE POLICE-MISSING 2 (LAST) JOHOR BAHARU Her parents allowed her to go to the shop located at the next block, bringing RM4 along with a note "mi segera dan telur RM2" (instant noodles and RM2 of eggs) but had not returned home after that. In a separate case, Mohd Mokhtar said police had commenced an investigation into the claim by the father of a 15-year-old boy who was injured after falling off his motorcycle, in Sagil, Ledang, allegedly after he was kicked by a police volunteer last Saturday. This followed a report by the boy''s father and the personnel. "The father claims that a friend of his son saw the police volunteer kicking the boy who was not wearing a helmet, while the personnel said that the teenager was injured after their motorcycles collided," he said. The teenager is now being treated at the Melaka Hospital.