Bicol Central Academy

S/Y 2018-2019

Reasearch Paper
in
Pollution
Submitted by:
Frannie Ruth Amparo Z. Borras
G9 Aguinaldo
Submitted to:
Mr. Paul H. Abay
MAPEH Teacher
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction to Pollution 3
Air Pollution 5
Cause and Effects
Water Pollution 7
Cause and Effects
Soil and Land Pollution 9
Cause and Effects
Noise Pollution 10
Cause and Effects
Radioactive Pollution 12
Cause and Effects
Light Pollution 15
Cause and Effects
Thermal Pollution 16
Cause and Effects
Visual Pollution 18
Cause and Effects
Conclusion 19
 INTRODUCTION TO POLLUTION
Everyone has heard the term pollution constantly – either in school or documentaries
or random pamphlets. With the global warming taking center stage and becoming a
prominent issue, pollution has become one of the most important problems that is
currently being tackled at a global level.

Pollution can be defined as the introduction of contaminants to the natural

environment, where the environment is affected negatively by the actions of
humans. Pollution can take any form including chemical substances, heat, light, noise
or energy. To make it easier to distinguish, pollution has been divided into eight
categories by the scientific community.

Environmental pollution is currently the biggest challenge facing the word today.

In the United States 40% of rivers and 46% of lakes are too polluted for fishing,
swimming, and aquatic life. Not surprising though when 1.2 trillion gallons of
untreated storm water, industrial waste, and untreated sewage are being discharge
annually into American waters.

One-third of the topsoil in the world is already degraded, and with the current rate of
soil degradation caused be improper agricultural and industrial practices, and
deforestation, most of the world’s topsoil could be gone within the next 60 years.

The Great Smog in 1952 killed 8000 people in London. This event was caused by a
period of cold weather combined with windless conditions that formed a dense layer
of airborne pollutants, mostly from coal plants, over the city.

There are many sources of pollution and each one has its own effect on the
environment and living organisms. This article will discuss the causes and effects of
the different kinds of pollution.
 Air Pollution is the contamination of
the natural air by mixing it with different pollutants
such as harmful fumes and chemicals. This
contamination can be caused by gases emitted by
vehicles or from burning material or harmful fumes
emitted as a byproduct of industries. The higher the
concentration of air pollutants, the harder it to
remove it effectively through natural cycles. The
higher concentrations also result in breathing
problems for living things. Some effects include
increase in smog, higher rain acidity, crop depletion
from inadequate oxygen, and higher rates of asthma. According to experts, global warming is one
of the biggest side effects of air pollution.

There are two types of air pollutants, primary and secondary. Primary pollutants are emitted directly
from their source, while secondary pollutants are formed when primary pollutants react in the
atmosphere.

CAUSES:

 The burning of fossil fuels for

transportation and electricity
produces both primary and
secondary pollutants and is one
of the biggest sources of air
pollution.
 The fumes from car exhausts
contain dangerous gases and
particulates including
hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides,
and carbon monoxide. These
gases rise into the atmosphere
and react with other atmospheric gases creating even more toxic gases.
 According to The Earth Institute, the heavy use of fertilizer for agriculture is a major
contributor of fine-particulate air pollution, with most of Europe, Russia, China, and the
United States being affected. The level of pollution caused by agricultural activities is thought
to outweigh all other sources of fine-particulate air pollution in these countries.
 Ammonia is the primary air pollutant that comes from agricultural activities. Ammonia enters
the air as a gas from concentrated livestock waste and fields that are over fertilized.
  This gaseous ammonia then
combines with other
pollutants such as nitrogen
oxides and sulfates created
by vehicles and industrial
processes, to create aerosols.
Aerosols are tiny particles that
can penetrate deep into the
lungs and cause heart and
pulmonary disease.
 Other agricultural air
pollutants include pesticides,
herbicides, and fungicides. All
of which also contribute to water pollution.

EFFECTS:

 High levels of air pollution can cause an increased risk of heart attack, wheezing, coughing,
and breathing problems, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. Air pollution can also
cause worsening of existing heart problems, asthma, and other lung complications.
 Like humans, animals can suffer from a number of health problems due to air pollution,
including birth defects, reproductive failure, and diseases.
 Air pollution causes a number of environmental effects in addition to the effects on humans
and animals.
 Acid rain contains high levels of nitric and sulfuric acids that are created by oxides and sulfur
oxides released into the air by the burning of fossil fuels. Acid rain damages trees and
acidifies soils and water bodies, making the water too acidic for fish and other aquatic life.
 Nitrogen oxides released into the air by the burning of fossil fuels also contribute to the
nitrogen responsible for toxic algae blooms.
 The release of man-made compounds including hydrochlorofluorocarbons,
chlorofluorocarbons, and halons formerly used as coolants, foaming agents, pesticides,
solvents, aerosol propellants, and fire-
extinguishers are depleting the ozone.
The ozone layer in the stratosphere
forms a protective layer that reflects
harmful ultraviolet rays back into space
that would otherwise destroy animal
and plant life.
 Water Pollution is
the contamination of the water on
Earth. It includes contamination by
pollutants such as chemical, bacterial or
particulate that reduces the purity of the
water. Oil seepage as well as littering is
one of the most common forms of
pollution. Water pollution occurs in
lakes, oceans, rivers and even
underground reservoirs. Water
pollution is one of the most dangerous
from of pollution as it decreases the
amount of drinkable water that is
available. It can also reduce the amount of water that can be used for irrigation as well as harm the
wildlife that depend on the water.

CAUSES:

 Nutrient pollution is caused by wastewater, sewage, and fertilizers. The high levels of
nutrients in these sources end up in bodies of water and promote algae and weed growth,
which can make the water undrinkable and depleted oxygen causing aquatic organisms to
die.
 Pesticides and herbicides applied to crops and residential areas concentrate in the soil and
are carried to the groundwater by rainwater and runoff. For these reasons anytime
someone drills a well for water it must be checked for pollutants.
 Industrial waste is one of the main causes of water pollution, by creating primary and
secondary pollutants including sulphur, lead and mercury, nitrates and phosphates, and oil
spills.
 In developing countries around 70% of their solid waste is dumped directly into the ocean
or sea. This causes serious problems including the harming and killing of sea creatures,
which ultimately affects humans.

EFFECTS:
The effects of water pollution depend on which chemicals are being dumped where. Bodies of
water that are near urbanized areas tend to be heavily polluted by dumbing of garbage and
chemicals, both legally and illegally, by industrial plants, health centers, and individuals.

By far the biggest consequence of water pollution is the death of aquatic creatures, which can
disrupt the entire food chain. Pollutants such as cadmium, mercury, and lead are eaten by tiny
aquatic organisms that are then eaten by fish and shell fish, becoming more concentrated with
each step up the food chain and causing serious problems in humans and wildlife.
Nutrient pollution can cause toxic algal blooms in drinking water sources that create toxins that kill
fish and other aquatic animals. Direct exposure to this toxic alga causes serious health problems in
humans including neurological effects, respiratory problems, stomach and liver illness, and rashes.

A consequential problem is created when disinfectants used to treat drinking water reach water
polluted with toxic algae, they react creating dioxins. Dioxins are extremely harmful chemical
compounds that have been linked with reproductive and development problems, and even cancer.

Nitrates, caused by fertilizers, also contaminate drinking water and according to the Environmental
Protection Agency, babies who consume water that is high in nitrates can become seriously ill with
blue-baby syndrome, which causes shortness of breath and blue-tinted skin, and can lead to death
if not treated early.
 Soil and Land Pollution, also
known as land pollution is the contamination of
the soil or the land that prevents growth of
natural life, which includes land used for
cultivating, wildlife as well as habitation. Land
pollution is the destruction of land as a result of
human’s activities and the misuse of land
resources. This occurs when humans apply
chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides to
the soil, dispose of waste improperly, and
irresponsibly exploit minerals through mining.

Soil is also polluted through leaking underground septic tanks, sewage systems, the leaching of
harmful substances from landfill, and direct discharge of waste water by industrial plants into rivers
and oceans.

CAUSES:
 non-sustainable farming
practices
 hazardous wastage
 seepage into the soil
 mining
 littering.

EFFECT:

 Soil pollution can result in reduced growth of agriculture as well as poisoning of the land and
nearby water.
 Rain and flooding can bring pollutants from other already polluted lands to soil at other
locations.
 Over-farming and over-grazing by agricultural activities causes the soil to lose its nutrient value
and structure causing soil degradation, another type of soil pollution.
 Landfills can leach harmful substances into the soil and water ways and create very bad smells,
and breeding grounds for rodents that transmit diseases.
 Land and soil pollution has substantial consequences for humans, animals, microorganisms and
aquatic life. Contaminated land and soil can cause various problems on the skin, respiratory
problems, and even different kinds of cancers.
 These toxic substances come into contact with the human body directly through eating fruits
and vegetables that have been grown in polluted soils, being consumed through drinking water
that has been contaminated, direct contact with the skin, and breathing in air polluted with
particles and dust.
Noise Pollution is the loud noises that is created by human activity that disrupts the
standard of living in the affected area. Pollution can stem from things such as traffic, railroads,
concerts, loud music, airplanes, fireworks etc. Any noise that disrupts the ability of a person to
perform can be termed as noise pollution. This can result in temporary or permanent loss of hearing
as well as disturbances to wildlife.

Causes:
1. Industrialization: Most of the industries
use big machines which are capable of
producing large amount of noise. Apart
from that, various equipments like
compressors, generators, exhaust fans,
grinding mills also participate in
producing big noise. Therefore, you must
have seen workers in these factories and
industries wearing ear plugs to minimize
the effect of noise.

2. Poor Urban Planning: In most of the developing countries, poor urban planning also play a vital
role. Congested houses, large families sharing small space, fight over parking, frequent fights over
basic amenities leads to noise pollution which may disrupt the environment of society.

3. Social Events: Noise is at its peak in most of the social events. Whether it is marriage, parties, pub,
disc or place of worship, people normally
flout rules set by the local administration
and create nuisance in the area. People
play songs on full volume and dance till
midnight which makes the condition of
people living nearby pretty worse. In
markets, you can see people selling
clothes via making loud noise to attract
the attention of people.

4. Transportation: Large number of

vehicles on roads, aeroplanes flying over
houses, underground trains produce
heavy noise and people get it difficult to
get accustomed to that. The high noise
leads to a situation wherein a normal person lose the ability to hear properly.

5. Construction Activities: Under construction activities like mining, construction of bridges, dams,
buildings, stations, roads, flyovers take place in almost every part of the world. These construction
activities take place everyday as we need more buildings, bridges to accommodate more people
and to reduce traffic congestion. The down point is that these construction equipments are too
noisy.
6. Household Chores: We people are surrounded by gadgets and use them extensively in our daily
life. Gadgets like TV, mobile , mixer grinder, pressure cooker, vacuum cleaners , washing machine
and dryer, cooler, air conditioners are minor contributors to the amount of noise that is produced
but it affects the quality of life of your neighborhood in a bad way.

While this form of pollution may seem harmless, it in fact has far reaching consequences. The
adverse effects on the health of the environment are quite severe. Not only is the local wildlife
affected by the pollution, humans also face a number of problems due to it.

Effects :
1. Hearing Problems: Any unwanted sound that our ears have not been built to filter can cause
problems within the body. Our ears can take in a certain range of sounds without getting
damaged. Man made noises such as jackhammers, horns, machinery, airplanes and even vehicles
can be too loud for our hearing range. Constant exposure to loud levels of noise can easily result in
the damage of our ear drums and loss of hearing. It also reduces our sensitivity to sounds that our
ears pick up unconsciously to regulate our body’s rhythm.

2. Health Issues: Excessive noise pollution in working areas such as offices, construction sites, bars
and even in our homes can influence psychological health. Studies show that the occurrence of
aggressive behavior, disturbance of sleep, constant stress, fatigue and hypertension can be linked to
excessive noise levels. These in turn can cause more severe and chronic health issues later in life.

3. Sleeping Disorders: Loud noise can certainly hamper your sleeping pattern and may lead to
irritation and uncomfortable situations. Without a good night sleep, it may lead to problems related
to fatigue and your performance may go down in office as well as at home. It is therefore
recommended to take a sound sleep to give your body proper rest.

4. Cardiovascular Issues: Blood pressure levels, cardio-vascular disease and stress related heart
problems are on the rise. Studies suggest that high intensity noise causes high blood pressure and
increases heart beat rate as it disrupts the normal blood flow. Bringing them to a manageable level
depends on our understanding noise pollution and how we tackle it.

5. Trouble Communicating: High decibel noise can put trouble and may not allow two people to
communicate freely. This may lead to misunderstanding and you may get difficult understanding
the other person. Constant sharp noise can give you severe headache and disturb your emotional
balance.

6. Effect on Wildlife: Wildlife faces far more problems than humans because noise pollution since
they are more dependent on sound. Animals develop a better sense of hearing than us since their
survival depends on it. The ill effects of excessive noise begin at home. Pets react more aggressively
in households where there is constant noise.
 Radioactive Pollution
is one of the most dangerous forms of
pollution as it is extremely harmful and
can even result in death. This type of
pollution has risen in the 20th century
with the rise of atomic physics and
nuclear weapons. Radioactive pollution
results in the pollution of the air and
land with radioactive poisoning. It can
happen from leakages or accidents at
nuclear power plants, as well as from
improper disposal of nuclear waste. This
pollution results in birth defects, cancer,
deteriorating of health and even death.

CAUSES:
 Nuclear explosions and detonations of nuclear weapons – probably the highest amounts of
human-induced radiation pollution have been generated in the mid-twentieth century
through various experimental or combat nuclear detonations.
 Defensive weapon production may also release radioactivity from the radioactive materials
handled (usually with elevated health risks). However, unless an accident occurs, the current
standards will not allow the release of any significant amount of radiation.
 Nuclear waste handling and disposal may generate low to medium radiation over a long
period of time.
 Mining of radioactive ores (such as uranium ores) involves the crushing and processing of
radioactive ores and generates radioactive by-products. Mining of other ores may also
generate radioactive
waste (such as mining
of phosphate ores).
 Nuclear accidents –
an already classic
example of such
accident is the nuclear
explosion at a former
Soviet nuclear power
plant in Chernobyl,
that occurred in 1986.
Its effects are still seen
today. Another
example is the 1979
explosion at the Three
Mile Island nuclear-
power generating
plant near Harrisburg, PA, and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster of 2011. The general
problems at nuclear weapons reactors are other examples of this type of sources of radiation
 pollution. Even accidents from handling medical nuclear materials/waste could have
notable health effects on workers.

EFFECTS:
On Animals
► When soil is contaminated by
radioactive substances, the harmful
substances are transferred into the
plants growing on it. It leads to
genetic mutation and affects the
plant's normal functioning. Some
plants may die after such exposure,
while others may develop weak
seeds. Eating any part of the
contaminated plant, primarily fruits,
poses serious health risks. Since
plants are the base of all food chains, their contamination can lead to radioactive deposition all
along the food web. Similarly, when radioactive waste is washed up in a water source, it can affect
the entire aquatic food web.
► Both terrestrial and aquatic radioactive contamination can culminate in human consumption.
Since humans are apex predators, the accumulation of radioactive materials on the last rung of the
food chain would be maximum.

On Human Beings
► The impact of radioactive pollution on human beings can vary from mild to fatal; the magnitude
of the adverse effects largely depends on the level and duration of exposure to radioactivity. Low
levels of localized exposure may only have a superficial effect and cause mild skin irritation. Effects of
long, but low-intensity exposures include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of hair, bruises due to
subcutaneous bleeding etc.
► Long-term exposure or exposure to high amounts of radiation can have far more serious health
effects. Radioactive rays can cause irreparable damage to DNA molecules and can lead to a life-
threatening condition. Prolonged exposure leads to a large number of molecules in the body being
ionized into free radicals. Free radicals promote the growth of cancerous cells, i.e. tumors, in the
body. People with heavy radiation exposure are at a very high risk for cancers.
► The rapidly growing/dividing cells, like those of the skin, bone marrow, intestines, and gonads
are more sensitive towards radioactive emissions. On the other hand, cells that do not undergo
rapid cell division, such as bone cells and nervous cells, aren't damaged so easily.

Skin cancer, lung cancer and thyroid cancer are some of the common types of cancers caused by
radiation.
► The effects of genetic mutation are passed on to the future generations as well. In other words, if
the parents are exposed to nuclear radiation, their child could have severe congenital birth defects,
both physical and mental. This is tragically illustrated in the case of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where
the aftereffects of nuclear radiation were carried on for generations, and thousands of children
were born with physical abnormalities and mental retardation. The radiation also brought about a
spike in cancer; the region still (after more than 65 years) has a much higher rate of cancer and
congenital abnormalities than the rest of Japan.

There is no safe limit for radioactivity, since even the smallest amount has some effect on the body
and holds the potential to be highly dangerous. However, radioactivity can be detected by various
devices, so that preventive measures can be taken. A Geiger counter is a universally used device to
detect radioactivity.

The effects of radioactivity can be nullified based in three ways:

Time: Get out of the contaminated area as fast as you can.

Distance: Get as far as you can from the contaminated area. Radioactive particles owe their
destructive capability to their initial velocity, which enables them to penetrate our skin. The particles
lose velocity over long distances, and thus can't penetrate the skin.
Shielding: Shielding is used in occupations where contact with radioactive substances is common
and cannot be avoided. Lead is majorly used as a radiation shield.
 Light Pollution is the over
illumination of a certain area that is
considered as obtrusive. It is considered
pollution especially when it interferes with
astronomical observation. The most common
way to determine if an area is polluted is to
look at the stars, if you can see them your
area is not so polluted. Pollution includes
large lighted cities, billboards and other
advertising, and nighttime entertainment.

CAUSES:
Light pollution is caused by the
prolonged and excessive use of
artificial lights at night that can cause
health problems in humans and
disrupt natural cycles, including
wildlife activities. Sources of light
pollution include electronic billboards,
night sports grounds, street and car
lights, city parks, public places, airports,
and residential areas.

EFFECTS:
Too much light causes eye strain and stress, harming our eyes and decreasing our quality of life.
Light pollution also causes a decrease in the hormone melatonin that helps us to fall asleep,
resulting in restlessness and fatigue.

Many mammals, insects, birds, and reptiles are photoperiodic meaning their movement, mating,
growth and development, and eating cycles are regulated by natural light patterns. Light pollution
can interfere with these natural behaviors
and cycles, causing a decrease in wildlife
populations.
Thermal pollution is when the temperature increases in a particular area over time.
This heat is often caused by air pollution and the release of carbon gasses in that area that traps
more heat on the Earth. The earth has a natural thermal cycle, but excessive temperatures can
result in long term effects.

Ecological effects
 Warm water

Elevated temperature typically decreases the level of dissolved

oxygen of water, as gases are less soluble in hotter liquids. This
can harm aquatic animals such as fish, amphibians and other
aquatic organisms.

Primary producers (e.g. plants, cyanobacteria) are affected by

warm water because higher water temperature increases plant
growth rates, resulting in a shorter lifespan and species
overpopulation. This can cause an algae bloom which reduces
oxygen levels.

 Cold water

Releases of unnaturally cold water from reservoirs can dramatically change the fish and
macroinvertebrate fauna of rivers, and reduce river productivity. In Australia, where many rivers
have warmer temperature regimes, native fish species have been eliminated, and
macroinvertebrate fauna have been drastically altered. This may be mitigated by designing the dam
to release warmer surface waters instead of the colder water at the bottom of the reservoir.[8]

 Thermal shock

When a power plant first opens or shuts down for repair or other causes, fish and other organisms
adapted to particular temperature range can be killed by the abrupt change in water temperature,
either an increase or decrease, known as "thermal shock".[7]:208[9]:478

CAUSES:
Industrial wastewater

In the United States, about 75 to 82 percent of thermal pollution is generated by power plants.[7]:335
The remainder is from industrial sources such as petroleum refineries, pulp and paper mills,
chemical plants, steel mills and smelters.[10][11] Heated water from these sources may be controlled
with:

 cooling ponds, man-made bodies of water designed for cooling by evaporation, convection,
and radiation
  cooling towers, which transfer waste heat to the atmosphere through evaporation and/or
heat transfer
 cogeneration, a process where waste heat is recycled for domestic and/or industrial heating
purposes.[12]

Some facilities use once-through cooling (OTC) systems which do not reduce temperature as
effectively as the above systems. For example, the Potrero Generating Station in San Francisco
(closed in 2011), used OTC and discharged water to San Francisco Bay approximately 10 °C (20 °F)
above the ambient bay temperature.[13]

Urban runoff

During warm weather, urban

runoff can have significant
thermal impacts on small
streams, as storm water passes
over hot parking lots, roads and
sidewalks. Storm water
management facilities that
absorb runoff or direct it into
groundwater, such as
bioretention systems and
infiltration basins, can reduce
these thermal effects. These and
related systems for managing
runoff are components of an
expanding urban design approach commonly called green infrastructure.[14]

Retention basins (stormwater ponds) tend to be less effective at reducing runoff temperature, as the
water may be heated by the sun before being discharged to a receiving stream.[15]
Visual Pollution Although not a life threatening form of pollution, it can be
considered as unappealing to the eyesight. This form of pollution is when there are obstructions to
views caused by billboards, powerlines, construction areas and even high rises. It does not have
immediate health effects but can have slow effects.

Causes: The primary sources of visual pollution are

 Haze due to dust and air
pollution
 Garbage heaps and
landfills
 Telecommunication and
electric wires and poles
 Signboards
 Barren lands and
deforestation
 Urban Jungle- House
constructed with bad
design
 Smoke spewing
chimneys of factories
 Graffiti

Effects:
1. Accidents:

a. A building that is
made entirely of glass
can reflect sunlight,
which is dangerous for
the people driving by

b. Billboards and
advertisements on
highway roads can
distract drivers and
cause accidents.

2. Depression, Stress and Anxiety due to bad views

3. Loss of tourism income

4. Crime- Studies show lower crime rate in areas with less visual pollution
CONCLUSION:
Environmental pollution is causing a lot of distress not only to humans but also animals, driving
many animal species to endangerment and even extinction.
Hollywood Pollution
Pollution is Not Glamorous
Photo: Caleb Coppola

The transboundary nature of environmental pollution makes it even more difficult to manage – you
cannot build stone walls along the borders of your country or put customs cabins at every point of
entry to regulate its flows into your country.

Everything on our planet is interconnected, and while the nature supplies us with valuable
environmental services without which we cannot exist, we all depend on each other’s actions and
the way we treat natural resources.

It’s widely recognised that we are hugely overspending our current budget of natural resources –
at the existing rates of its exploitation, there is no way for the environment to recover in good time
and continue “performing” well in the future.

Perhaps we should adopt a holistic view of nature – it is not an entity that exists separately from us;
the nature is us, we are an inalienable part of it, and we should care for it in the most appropriate
manner. Only then can we possibly solve the problem of environmental pollution.

Fighting pollution might seem like a daunting task for one person, even doing a little bit often helps.
Reduce water wastage or consuming less light or even not littering can result in reducing pollution
massively.