Midterm Ecol

8/12/2019 Midterm Ecol

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1. The effects of earthquakes on the environment

One of the most frightening and destructive phenomena of nature is a severe earthquake and its

terrible after effects. Earthquakes strike suddenly, violently, and without warning at any time of the

day or night. If an earthquake occurs in a populated area, it may cause many deaths and injuries and

extensive property damage.

2. What Should I Do Before, During, And After An Earthquake?

What to Do Before an Earthquake Make sure you have a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, a battery-powered radio, a flashlight, and

extra batteries at home.

Learn first aid.

Learn how to turn off the gas, water, and electricity.

Make up a plan of where to meet your family after an earthquake.

Don't leave heavy objects on shelves (they'll fall during a quake).

Anchor heavy furniture, cupboards, and appliances to the walls or floor. Learn the earthquake plan at your school or workplace.

What to Do During an Earthquake

Stay calm! If you're indoors, stay inside. If you're outside, stay outside.

If you're indoors, stand against a wall near the center of the building, stand in a doorway, or

crawl under heavy furniture (a desk or table). Stay away from windows and outside doors.

If you're outdoors, stay in the open away from power lines or anything that might fall. Stay

away from buildings (stuff might fall off the building or the building could fall on you).

Don't use matches, candles, or any flame. Broken gas lines and fire don't mix.

If you're in a car, stop the car and stay inside the car until the earthquake stops. Don't use elevators (they'll probably get stuck anyway).

What to Do After an Earthquake

Check yourself and others for injuries. Provide first aid for anyone who needs it.

Check water, gas, and electric lines for damage. If any are damaged, shut off the valves. Check

for the smell of gas. If you smell it, open all the windows and doors, leave immediately, and

report it to the authorities (use someone else's phone).

Turn on the radio. Don't use the phone unless it's an emergency.

Stay out of damaged buildings.


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Be careful around broken glass and debris. Wear boots or sturdy shoes to keep from cutting

your feet.

Be careful of chimneys (they may fall on you).

Stay away from beaches. Tsunamis and seiches sometimes hit after the ground has stopped

shaking.

Stay away from damaged areas.

If you're at school or work, follow the emergency plan or the instructions of the person in

charge. Expect aftershocks.

3. The effects of volcanic eruptions on the environment

Environmental impact of volcanic eruptions

On locations where tectonic plates diverge or converge, volcanoes can be found. A volcanoconsists of a deep magma chamber where magmaaccumulates, pipes that lead to surface vents, and the

vents through which lava is emitted during a volcanic

eruption. Volcanoes are often known to have amountain-like shape

Volcanic eruptions can be extremely damaging to the

environment, particularly because of a number of toxic

gases possibly present in pyroclastic material. It

typically consists mainly of water vapour, but it also

contains carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide gas. Other

gases typically found in volcanic ashes are hydrogen

sulphide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, carbon

monoxide, and volatile metal chlorides.

Carbon dioxide emitted from volcanoes adds to the natural greenhouse effect. Sulphur

dioxides cause environmental problems, because they are converted to sulphuric acid in the

stratosphere; the main cause of acid rain. Furthermore, sulphate aerosols are formed, which

reflect solar radiation and absorb heat, thereby cooling the earth. Sulphate aerosols also take

part in chemical reactions, forming ozone destructive material.

An example of a volcanic eruption that caused substantial environmental damage is the Mount

Pinatubo eruption in the Philippines.


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4. The effects of typhoons and floods on the

environment

Typhoons are characterized by large masses of clouds, which

spiral around a central point, or eye. Infamous for their

destructive powers, typhoons can generate winds of morethan 75 miles/hour and have been known to cause flash

floods with their intensive rainfall. Buildings and infrastructure, trees and other vegetation,

watercraft and water operations, and human and animal life can all be affected.

5. Biological amplification or magnification

Biological Amplification is toxic pollutants

enter the ecosystem that are absorbed orindigested by organisms. Some substances

accumulate in organisms tissue over time.

6. Examples of water pollutants

Causes of water pollution

Industrial waste (Sulphur Asbestos Lead and

Mercury, Nitrates & Phosphates Oils Oil

Pollution by Oil Industries)

Sewage and waste water:Everyday, we cook,

do laundry, flush the toilet, wash our cars, shower and do many things that use water.

Septic Tanks:Every domestic (home) toilet is connected to septic tank usually located outside the

house. Each time poop is flushed down the toilet, it goes into this tank, where the solid part is

separated from the liquid part.


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Ocean and marine dumping: Paper waste, food waste, plastic,

rubber, metallic and aluminum waste. In some countries, there

are deposited into the sea. All these waste types take time to

decompose.

Underground storage and tube leakages: Many liquid

products (petroleum products) are stored in metal and stee

tubes underground. Other sewage systems run in underground

tubes. Overtime, they rust and begin to leak. If that happens,they contaminate the soils and the liquids in them end up in

many nearby water bodies.

Atmospheric: Atmospheric deposition is the pollution of water

bodies caused by air pollution. Each time the air is polluted

with sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, they mix with water

particles in the air and form a toxic substance. This falls as acid

rain to the ground, and gets washed into water bodies. The

result is that, water bodies also get contaminated and this

affects animals and water organisms.

7. Effects of water pollution (on the human body

and on the environment)

Water pollution is very harmful to humans, animals and

water life. The effects can be catastrophic, depending on

the kind of chemicals, concentrations of the pollutants andwhere there are polluted.

Death of aquatic (water) animals: The main problem

caused by water pollution is that it kills life that depends

on these water bodies. Dead fish, crabs, birds and sea

gulls, dolphins, and many other animals often wind up on

beaches, killed by pollutants in their habitat (living

environment).

Disruption of food-chains: Pollution disrupts thenaturalfood chain as well. Pollutants such as lead and

cadmium are eaten by tiny animals. Later, these animals

are consumed by fish and shellfish, and the food chain

continues to be disrupted at all higher levels.
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Diseases: Eventually, humans are affected by

this process as well. People can get diseases

such as hepatitis by eating seafood that has

been poisoned. In many poor nations, there is

always outbreak of cholera and diseases as a

result of poor drinking water treatment from

contaminated waters.

Destruction of ecosystems: Ecosystems (the

interaction of living things in a place, depending on

each other for life) can be severely changed or

destroyed by water pollution. Many areas are now

being affected by careless human pollution, and this

pollution is coming back to hurt humans in many

ways.

8. Prevention of water pollution

Dealing with water pollution is something that everyone (including governments and local councils)

needs to get involved with. We can HELP!

Never throw rubbish away anyhow. Always look for the correct waste bin. If there is none

around, please take it home and put it in your trash can. This includes places like the beach,

riverside and water bodies. Use water wisely. Do not keep the tap running when not in use. Also, you can reduce the amount

of water you use in washing and bathing. If we all do this, we can significantly prevent water

shortages and reduces the amount of dirty water that needs treatment.

Do not throw chemicals, oils, paints and medicines down the sink drain, or the toilet. In many

cities, your local environment office can help with the disposal of medicines and chemicals

Check with your local authorities if there is a chemical disposal plan for local residents.

Buy more environmentally safe cleaning liquids for the use at home and other public places

They are less dangerous to the environment.

If you use chemicals and pesticides for your gardens and farms, be mindful not to overuse

pesticides and fertilizers. This will reduce runoffs of the material into nearby water sources. Start

looking at options ofcomposting and using organic manure instead.

If you live close to a water body, try to plants lots of trees and flowers around your home, so that

when it rains, chemicals from your home does not easily drain into the water.

Governments, local councils and laws

Many governments have very strict laws that help minimize water pollution. These laws are usually

directed to industries, hospitals, schools and market areas on how to dispose, treat and manage sewage.
http://eschooltoday.com/ecosystems/what-is-an-ecosystem.htmlhttp://www.eschooltoday.com/waste-recycling/what-is-composting.htmlhttp://www.eschooltoday.com/waste-recycling/what-is-composting.htmlhttp://eschooltoday.com/ecosystems/what-is-an-ecosystem.html


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There are also lots of organizations and groups that help educate people on the dangers of water

pollution. It is always great to join these groups, because they regularly encourage other members of

their communities to have a better attitude towards water.

9. The sources of land pollution

Land pollution is the deterioration (destruction) of the earths land surfaces, often directly or indirectly

as a result of mans activities and their misuse of land resources. It occurs when waste is not disposed

off properly, or can occur when humans throw chemicals unto the soil in the form of pesticides,

insecticides and fertilizers during agricultural practices. Exploitation of minerals (mining activities) has

also contributed to the destruction of the earths surface.

Some sources of solid and semi-solid pollutants:

Agricultural sources: These include waste matterproduced by crop, animal manure, and farm residues.

They also include the chemical left over of all pesticides,fertilisers and insecticides used for agricultural activities.

Ashes:The residual matter that remains after solid fuelsare burned. When waste is burned in incinerators, twotypes of ashes are produced. Bottom ash is the debrisfrom burnt metal and glass waste. Bottom ash are not bio-degradable. The second type of ash is called fly ash. Thisis the ash that is trapped by filters in the chimney of theincinerators. It is know to be very toxic (poisonous).Every four trucks of waste burnt produces about one truckof ashes that end up in the landfill too. Ashes easily leak

into the soil and water tables causing land and waterpollution.

Mining sources: This includes piles of coal refuse andheaps of slag and underground debris. Mining andforestry activities that clear the land surfaces(clearcutting) and use 'skid trails' often leave leave theland unrestored. The surface is exposed to erosion whichdestroys the quality of the land. Additionally, iron andother chemicals such as copper, mercury and lead frommining practices leach into the soil, polluting it andleaving it exposed to water bodies as well.

Industrial sources: These include paints, chemicals,metals and aluminum, plastics and so on that are producesin the process of manufacturing goods.

Sewage Treatment: Wastes that are left over aftersewage has been treated, biomass sludge, and settledsolids. Some of these are sent directly to landfills whilesother treatment plants burn them to generate electricity.Both end up polluting the environment.

Garbage or waste: These include household or municipalwaste such as glass, metal, cloth, plastic, wood, paper, andso on. Some of these can decay and others cannot. They

are usually collected and sent to landfills where thepollution action begins.


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Construction sources: These include waste like debris, wood, metals and plastics that areproduced from construction activities.

Deforestation: This is when trees are cut down for economic purposes, mining, farming andconstruction. In forests areas, trees absord and reflect about 20% of the intense heat from the sunprotecting and preserving its surface soils. Cutting down trees mean that the land is exposed todirect sunlight and rain, resulting in soil erosions, desertification and land degradation

Chemical And Nuclear Plants: These include chemical waste from chemical industries that aredisposed off into landfills.

Oil Refineries:When crude oil is refined into usable petro, gas or diesel, there are by productsthat end up as waste.

10. Effects of land pollution.

There can be catastrophic consequences of land pollution in relation to humans, animals, water and

soils. The effects are even worse if the garbage is not separated into organic, re-usable and

recyclable waste.

Contaminated lands and environments can:

Cause problems in the human respiratorysystem.

Cause problems on the skin.

Cause various kinds of cancers.

The toxic materials that pollute the soil can

get into the human body directly by:

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.

Dump sites and landfills also come with

serious problems like:

Very bad smell and odour in the town.

Landfills breed rodents like rats, mice and insects, who in-turn transmit diseases.

Landfills in towns do not attract tourists to the town. The town will loose revenue.

Many landfills are always burning and they cause further air pollution.

11. How to prevent land pollution

The best best way to solve problems is to understand it. This means learning about it (like what you aredoing now) is the greatest step forward. Here are a few other tips on how you can help reduce landpollution:


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People should be educated and made aware aboutthe harmful effects of littering. Discuss withfriends and family and talk about it.

Reuse any items that you can. Items like clothing,bottles, wrapping paper and shopping bags can beused over and over again, rather than buying newthings.

The greatest prevention to land pollution is in thethree R's

Reduce Waste, Re-use things and

Recycle things. This is true even for governments.They can also use the three R rule to minimize

the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. After the three 'R's, remember to turn the rest of thegarbge into compost.

Personal litter should be disposed properly. We can separate household waste at home forrecycling. More than half of our household waste could be recycled or re-used but once it ismixed up, it becomes more difficult to separate different components for recycling. This is also

true for waste we make at school or hospitals. Buy biodegradable products.

Store all liquid chemicals and waste in spill-proof containers.

Eat organic foods that are grown without pesticides. Look out for fertilizer or pesticide freeproducts when you go to the market.

Dont use pesticides if you can.

Use a drip tray to collect engine oil.

Buy products that have little packaging.

Dont dump motor oil on the ground.

Governments can also ensure that there are incentives for people to recycle and re-use things.

12. Garbage disposal and collection in San Mateo are becoming a big problem. Ifyou were the Mayor of San Mateo, how would you solve this problem?

If I were the city mayor, I would implement a fiercer PROPER WASTE

MANAGEMENT DISPOSAL ACT. An act in which every house must conduct their

own segregation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials otherwise their

garbage will not be collected. The local government should provide at least 2 garbage

bin for every family and each labelled with BIO/NABUBULOK and NON-BIO/DI

NABUBULOK. In this way, garbage collectors will be commanded that they will collect

only those bins owned by the municipality. I will also implement a two-day in a week

collection of garbage so that it could be easily handled in a very systematic way. In

addition to that, landfills will be manifested with a great maintenance and a highly

controlled human plus a technologically balanced labor of work.


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13. What is Noise Pollution?

Soundis essential to our daily lives, but noiseis not.

Noise is generally used as an unwanted sound, or

sound which produces unpleasant effects and

discomfort on the ears.

Generally, noise is produced by householdgadgets, big trucks, vehicles and motorbikes on the

road, jet planes and helicopters hovering over cites

loud speakers etc.

Noise (or sound) is measured in the units of decibels

and is denoted by the dB. Noise which is more than 115 dB is tolerant. The industrial limit of sound in

the industries must be 75 dB according to the World Health Organization.

Noise is considered as environmental pollution, even though it is thought to have less damage on

humans than water, air or land pollution. But people who are affected by severe noise pollution knowthat it is a massive issue that needs attention.

Sources:

Household sources:Gadgets like food mixer, grinder, vacuum cleaner, washing machine and dryer,

cooler, air conditioners, etc. can be very noisy and injurious to health.

Social events:Places of worship, discos and gigs, parties and other social events also create a lot of

noise for the people living in that area. In many market areas, people sell with loud speakers, others

shout out offers and try to get customers to buy their goods

Commercial and industrial activities: Printing presses, manufacturing industries, construction sites,

contribute to noise pollutions in large cities. In many industries, it is a requirement that people always

wear earplugs to minimize their exposure to heavy noise. People who work with lawn mowers, tractors

and noisy equipment are also required to wear noise-proof gadgets.

Transportation:Think of aero planes flying over houses close to busy airports, over ground and

underground trains, vehicles on roadthese are constantly making a lot of noise and people always

struggle to cope with them.

14. Effects of noise pollutionGenerally, problems caused by noise pollution include stress

related illnesses, speech interference, hearing loss, sleep

disruption, and lost productivity. Most importantly, there are two

major effects we can look at:

Hearing: The immediate and acute effect of noise

pollution to a person, over a period of time, is impairment

of hearing. Prolonged exposure to impulsive noise to a

person will damage their eardrum, which may result in a

permanent hearing.


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Effects on general health:Health effects of noise

include anxiety and stress reaction and in extreme

cases fright. The physiological manifestations are

headaches, irritability and nervousness, feeling of

fatigue and decreases work efficiency. For

example, being pounded by the siren of fire

fighters, police or ambulance in your city all night

everyday leave people (especially elderly people)

stresses and tired in the morning.

It is worth noting that these effects may not sound troubling, but the truth is, with time, the

consequences can be very worrying.

15. Noise pollution prevention and control tips

Construction of soundproof rooms for noisy machines in industrial and manufacturinginstallations must be encouraged. This is also important for residential buildingnoisy machinesshould be installed far from sleeping and living rooms, like in a basement or garage.

Use of horns with jarring sounds, motorbikes with damaged exhaust pipes, noisy trucks to bebanned.

Noise producing industries, airports, bus and transport terminals and railway stations to sightedfar from where living places.

Community law enforcers should check the misuse of loudspeakers, worshipers, outdoor partiesand discos, as well as public announcements systems.

Community laws must silence zones near schools / colleges, hospitals etc.

Vegetation (trees) along roads and in residential areas is a good way to reduce noise pollution asthey absorb sound.

16. What are the types of ionizing radiation? Describe each.

The three types of radiation were given the names alpha (a), beta (b), and gamma (g), in order ofincreasing ability to penetrate through material. These were collectively called ionizing radiationbecause of their ability to strip one or more electrons away from atoms in whatever material they passthrough. Recall that atoms that have lost one or more electrons are called ions.

Alpha, beta and gamma: Radioactive atoms give out ionisingradiations. However, it turns out that there are three distinct types

of radiation, each with very different properties. We call theseradiations alpha (a), beta (b) and gamma (g). The reason that theyhave very different properties is because the radiation is made upof something different each time.

What are the radiations made of?

Alpha and beta radiations are streams of particles, whereasgamma radiation is part of the electromagnetic spectrum.


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Ionising alphaAlpha particles are the same as the nuclei of helium. This means that they have a (relatively)

large mass. The atomic number of helium is 2 so an alpha particle carries a double positive charge.Alpha particles dont travel very fast because they have such a large mass. This means that they tendto collide with plenty of other atoms. Therefore, they cause a lot of ionisation by pulling electrons offthe atoms. All these collisions mean that they lose energy quickly, so they have a short range in air andthey are easily stopped by anything solideven a piece of paper will stop alpha radiation.

Fast beta

Beta radiation is a stream of fast moving electrons. Theseparticles have very little mass (about 7000 times lighter than analpha particle) and travel close to the speed of light (300,000 km/s).They tend to pass through the air and solid matter without manycollisions with other atoms. So beta radiation is only weaklyionising. However, it means that it has a long range in air and willpass through paper, and thin sheets of aluminium and steel.However, it is stopped by lead or thick pieces of other metals.

Penetrating gamma

Gamma radiation is at the high frequency end of theelectromagnetic spectrum. It has a very short wavelength (much lessthan the radius of an atom) and will pass through atoms with verylittle chance of being deflected or absorbed. It has an extremely longrange in air and will get through thin samples of most materialswithout any noticeable decrease in intensity. However, its intensity isreduced by lead or very thick pieces of other metals. The thicker thesample, the greater the reduction in intensity.

17. What are the sources of radiation? Give examples.

We live in a radioactive world. There are many natural sources of radiation which have been

present since the earth was formed. In the last century, we have added somewhat to this natural

background radiation with some artificial sources. It may surprise you to know that for an average

person, the naturally occurring sources contribute about four to five times as much to your exposure

as the human-made sources.

We can classify radiation as natural or artificial according to its origin. Natural sourcesinclude

cosmic rays, gamma rays from the Earth, radon decay products in the air, and various radionuclides

found naturally in food and drink.

Artificial sources include medical X rays, fallout from the testing of nuclear weapons in the

atmosphere, discharges of radioactive waste from the nuclear industry, industrial gamma rays, and

miscellaneous items such as consumer products.


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18. The possible effects of radiation on the human body

(1) Hair: The losing of hair quickly and in clumps occurs with radiationexposure at 200 rems or higher.

(2) Brain: Since brain cells do not reproduce, they won't be damageddirectly unless the exposure is 5,000 rems or greater. Like the heart,radiation kills nerve cells and small blood vessels, and can cause seizuresand immediate death.

(3) Thyroid: The certain body parts are more specifically affected byexposure to different types of radiation sources. The thyroid gland issusceptible to radioactive iodine. In sufficient amounts, radioactive iodinecan destroy all or part of the thyroid. By taking potassium iodide, one canreduce the effects of exposure.

(4) Blood System: When a person is exposed to around 100 rems, theblood's lymphocyte cell count will be reduced, leaving the victim moresusceptible to infection. This is often refered to as mild radiation sickness.Early symptoms of radiation sickness mimic those of flu and may go unnoticed unless a blood count isdone.According to data from Hiroshima and Nagaski, show that symptoms may persist for up to 10years and may also have an increased long-term risk for leukemia and lymphoma.

(5) Heart:Intense exposure to radioactive material at 1,000 to 5,000 rems would do immediate damageto small blood vessels and probably cause heart failure and death directly.

(6) Gastrointestinal Tract:Radiation damage to the intestinal tract lining will cause nausea, bloodyvomiting and diarrhea. This is occurs when the victim's exposure is 200 rems or more. The radiation willbegin to destroy the cells in the body that divide rapidly. These including blood, GI tract, reproductiveand hair cells, and harms their DNA and RNA of surviving cells.

(7) Reproductive Tract:Because reproductive tract cells divide rapidly, these areas of the body can bedamaged at rem levels as low as 200. Long-term, some radiation sickness victims will become sterile.

19. How can the hazards of radiation be minimized?

In order to minimize the potential risks of biological effects associated with radiation, dose limits and

guidelines have been established. Even though there are dose limits and administrative control levels, we

strive to keep our radiation dose well below these. The ALARA program and associated work practicesfurther reduces risks to workers by keeping doses well below the limits.

ALARA CONCEPTS

ALARA stands for As Low As Reasonably Achievable.

The ALARA concept is an integral part of all activities that involve the use of radiation or radioactive

materials. This includes the design, construction and operations of existing and future facilities here at

TJNAF. This concept includes reducing both internal and external exposure to ionizing radiation.


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20. What are the pros and cons of eating "natural" foods and foods that contain

chemical additives?

Humans have probably always known of ways to protect themselves from annoying creatures,

but our war against pests entered a new phase with the invention of synthetic organic chemicals such

as DDT. These chemicals have brought several important benefits, including increased crop

production and control of disease-causing organisms. Indiscriminate and profligate pesticide use also

has caused problems, such as killing non-target species. Often highly persistent and mobile in theenvironment, many pesticides move through air, water, and soil and bioaccumulate or bioconcentrate

in food chains causing serious ecological and human health problems

Regulating pesticide use is a controversial subject. Many people fear that we are exposed to far

too many dangerous chemicals. Industry claims that it could not do business without these materials

The Delaney Clause, an amendment to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, prohibits wilful

addition of any known carcinogen to foods, drugs or cosmetics. Although noble in intention, this

amendment has become difficult to enforce as we find that many commonly used materials are

carcinogens. Should we weaken the law and allow some carcinogens as long as the risk is

negligible?

Many of the procedures and approaches suggested for agriculture and industry also work at home

to protect us from pests and toxic chemical alike. By using a little common sense, we can have a

healthier diet, lifestyle and environment.

21. Is an analgesic a pain killer or a germ fighter? Explain.

An analgesic is any member of the group of drugs used to achieve analgesia, relief from pain. The word

analgesic derives from Greek - ("without")

Commonly known as painkillers, analgesic drugs act in various ways on the peripheral and central

nervous systems. They are distinct from anesthetics, which reversibly eliminate sensation, and include

paracetamol (known in the US as acetaminophen or simply APAP), the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory

drugs (NSAIDs) such as the salicylates, and opioid drugs such as morphine and opium.

Therefore, analgesic is a pain killer not a germ fighter.

22. Many consumer products are almost identical in chemical composition but are sold

under different brand names and at varying prices. Do you think these products should

be identified by their chemical (generic) names or their trade names? Why?

It is very logical to say that it should be identified by their chemical or generic names primarily

because these chemicals are commonly used in drugs, foods and cosmetics. It has to be identified that

way in order for the people to be aware and informed that the components of what theyre taking are

standardly safe and approved by the FDA. We often argue that medicines that are sold cheaper are

somewhat questionable in quality and competence but the fact is, theyre being sold under a new

brand name yet the same chemical (generic) name. Therefore, their components are also the same. It

is very important to understand this because; this is a matter of Intake. Of course we dont want to

be stupid whenever taking drugs.


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23. Differentiate between an active and a passive smoker.

Active smoking is the inhaling of smoke by the smoker himself. As the name suggests, active

smoking means that the person is actively lighting up a cigarette and smoking it. The negative health

aspects associated with cigarette smoke are obviously in line with this type smoking. But here, the

process of smoking has a greater psychological impact due to the cigarette, which creates an oral

fixation. In addition, the staining of fingers and the oropharynx due to nicotine is more with active

smoking. The hot air and the heated particles can scorch the epithelium causing more infections in theupper respiratory tract.

Passive smokingis the inhaling of smoke by the non-smokers in some smoke-filled places. Passive

smoking, also known as second hand smoking or environmental tobacco smoke, is created through

the exhaled particles of an active smoker. This is also associated with similar conditions as mentioned

above but some are to a lesser aspect. There is no psychological dependence, but there can be a

chemical dependence created by it. There will be no staining due to nicotine, and the scorching of the

oropharynx is also absent.

24. What are the effects of alcohol on the human body?

Drinking too muchon a single occasion or over time can take a serious toll on your health

Heres how alcohol can affect your body:

Brain:Alcohol interferes with the brains communication pathways, and can affect the way the brain

looks and works. These disruptions can change mood and behavior, and make it harder to think

clearly and move with coordination.

Heart:Drinking a lot over a long time or too much on a single occasion can damage the heart

causing problems including:

CardiomyopathyStretching and drooping of heart muscle

ArrhythmiasIrregular heart beat

Stroke

High blood pressure

Research also shows that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol may protect healthy adults

from developing coronary heart disease.

Liver:Heavy drinking takes a toll on the liver, and can lead to a variety of problems and liver

inflammations including: Steatosis, or fatty liver, Alcoholic hepatitis, Fibrosis, Cirrhosis

Pancreas: Alcohol causes the pancreas to produce toxic substances that can eventually lead to

pancreatitis, a dangerous inflammation and swelling of the blood vessels in the pancreas that

prevents proper digestion.

Cancer:

Drinking too much alcohol can increase your risk of developing certain cancers, including cancers of

the: Mouth, Esophagus, Throat, Liver, Breast


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Immune System:

Drinking too much can weaken your immune system, making your body a much easier target for

disease. Chronic drinkers are more liable to contract diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis than

people who do not drink too much. Drinking a lot on a single occasion slows your bodys ability to

ward off infectionseven up to 24 hours after getting drunk.

25. Describe some environmental episodes and their effects on the environment.

Chernobyl: could it happen here?

In the early morning hours of April 26, 1986, residents of the Ukrainian Village of Pripyat saw a

spectacular and terrifying sight. A glowing fountain of molten nuclear fuel and burning graphite

was spewing into the dark sky through a gaping hole in the roof of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power

Plant only a few kilometres away. Although officials assured them that there was nothing to worry

about in this rapid fuel relocation, the villagers knew that something was terribly wrong. They

were witnessing the worst possible nuclear fuel and rupture of the containment facilities, releasing

enormous amounts of radioactivity into the environment.

Development at what cost?

Thirty years ago, the island nation of Taiwan was among the worlds poorer countries with an

annual net income of about $400 per person. Rapid industrialization has brought remarkable

economic growth averaging nearly 10 percent per year over the past three decades. By 1996,

Taiwan is the expected to have a per capita income of more than $14,000 per year, making it one of

the 20 richest countries in the world. Many Taiwanese now have a material lifestyle comparable to

the average American or European. This spectacular growth has not been without costs, however

Air Pollution in Taipei, the capital city, exceeds health standards 55 days each year, and the

multitude of new automobiles, motorcycles and trucks causes horrendous traffic jams nearly all thetime. Cancer has become the leading cause of death in Taiwan, perhaps because of the noxious

fumes emitted by the numerous petrochemical plants and plastic factories.

26. What is air pollution?

Air pollution occurs when gases, dust particles, fumes (or

smoke) or odour are introduced into the atmosphere in a

way that makes it harmful to humans, animals and plant.

This is because the air becomes dirty (contaminated or

unclean).

What causes air pollution?

Air pollution can result from both human and natural actions. Natural events that pollute the air

include forest fires, volcanic eruptions, wind erosion, pollen dispersal, evaporation of organic

compounds and natural radioactivity. Pollution from natural occurrences are not very often.

1. Emissions from industries and manufacturing activities

The long tubes (called chimneys) erected high into the air, with lots of smoke and fumes coming out of

it. Waste incinerators, manufacturing industries and power plants emit high levels of carbon monoxide,


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organic compounds, and chemicals into the air. This

happens almost everywhere that people live

Petroleum refineries also release lots of hydrocarbons

into the air.

2. Burning Fossil Fuels

After the industrial age, transportation has become akey part of our lives. Cars and heavy duty trucks

trains, shipping vessels and airplanes all burn lots of

fossil fuels to work. Emissions from automobile

engines contain both primary and secondary

pollutants. This is a major cause of pollution, and one that is very difficult to manage. This is because

humans rely heavily on vehicles and engines for transporting people, good and services. Fumes from car

exhauts contain dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbons and

particulates. On their own, they cause great harm to people who breath them. Additionally, they react

with environmental gases to create further toxic

gases.

27. What is the greenhouse effect? acid

rain?

How does the Greenhouse Effect happen?

1. The earths atmosphere is all around us.It is

the air that we breathe.

2. Sunlight enters the Earths

atmosphere, passing through the blanket ofgreenhouse gases.

3. As it reaches the earths surface, the landand water absorbs the sunlights energy.

4. Once absorbed, the energy is sent back into the atmosphere in the form of infra-red rays.

5. Some of the energy passes back into space, but much of it remains trapped in the atmosphere by the

greenhouse gases, causing our globe (earth) to warm up.

6. This warming is what we call Global Warming, and it is caused by the greenhouse effect.

The greenhouse effectis important. Without the greenhouse effect, the earth would not be warm

enough for humans to live. But if the greenhouse effect becomes stronger, it could make the earth

warmer than usual. Even a little extra warming of the earth may cause problems for humans, plantsand animals.

Acid rain- normal rain or snow is slightly acidic. It has a ph (the measure of acidity) of about 5.6.

Precipitation with a ph less than 5.6 is considered acid rain. Acid rain can have a ph as low as 4.0 or

even lower. Thats more than 15 times the acidity of normal rain.

Acid rain can be controlled in several ways. Adding lime to streams and lakes temporarily lowers the

acidity of the water. Cleaner burning fuels produced less acid-causing air pollution. Burning less fuel

and using fuels more efficiently also helps. Putting emission-control devices on smokestacks, chimneys

and car exhausts also lowers the amount of acid-causing pollution that gets into the air.


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28. What are the effects of air pollution on the human body? on the environment?

What are the effects of air pollution?

Acidification:Chemical reactions involving air pollutants can create acidic compounds which can cause

harm to vegetation and buildings. Sometimes, when an air pollutant, such as sulfuric acid combines with

the water droplets that make up clouds, the water droplets become acidic, forming acid rain. When acid

rain falls over an area, it can kill trees and harm animals, fish, and other wildlife.

Acid rain destroys the leaves of plants.When acid rain

infiltrates into soils, it changes the chemistry of the soil

making it unfit for many living things that rely on soil as a

habitat or for nutrition. Acid rain also changes the

chemistry of the lakes and streams that the rainwater flows

into, harming fish and other aquatic life.

Eutrophication: Rain can carry and deposit the Nitrogen

in some pollutants on rivers and soils. This will adversely affect the nutrients in the soil and water

bodies. This can result in algae growth in lakes and water bodies, and make conditions for other living

organism harmful.

Ground-level ozone: Chemical reactions involving air pollutants create a poisonous gas ozone (O3)

Gas Ozone can affect peoples health and can damage vegetation types and some animal life too.

Particulate matter: Air pollutants can be in the form of particulate matter which can be very harmful to

our health. The level of effect usually depends on the length of time of exposure, as well the kind and

concentration of chemicals and particles exposed to.

Short-term effectsinclude irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, and upper respiratory infections such

as bronchitis and pneumonia. Others include headaches, nausea, and allergic reactions. Short-term air

pollution can aggravate the medical conditions of individuals with asthma and emphysema.

Long-term health effects can include chronic respiratory disease, lung cancer, heart disease, and even

damage to the brain, nerves, liver, or kidneys. Continual exposure to air pollution affects the lungs of

growing children and may aggravate or complicate medical conditions in the elderly.

29. Air pollution prevention, monitoring and solution.

Solution efforts on pollution is always a big problem. This is why prevention interventions are

always a better way of controlling air pollution. These prevention methods can either come from

government (laws) or by individual actions. In many big cities, monitoring equipment have been

installed at many points in the city. Authorities read them regularly to check the quality of air.

A. Government (or community) level prevention

Governments throughout the world have already taken action against air pollution by

introducing green energy. Some governments are investing in wind energy and solar

energy, as well as other renewable energy, to minimize burning of fossil fuels, which cause

heavy air pollution.


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Pollutants factsGovernments are also forcing companies to be more responsible with their

manufacturing activities, so that even though they still cause pollution, they are a lot

controlled.

Companies are also building more energy efficient cars, which pollute less than before.

B. Individual Level Prevention

Encourage your family to use the bus, train or bike when commuting. If we all do this,

there will be less cars on road and less fumes.

Use energy (light, water, boiler, kettle and fire woods) wisely. This is because lots of fossil

fuels are burned to generate electricity, and so if we can cut down the use, we will also cut

down the amount of pollution we create.

Recycle and re-use things. This will minimize the dependence of producing new things.

Remember manufacturing industries create a lot of pollution, so if we can re-use things like

shopping plastic bags, clothing, paper and bottles, it can help.

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