Environmental Health

Water Pollution • Water pollution is a major global problem. It has been

suggested that it is the leading worldwide cause of deaths and diseases, and that it accounts for the deaths of more than 14,000 people daily.

• There are 3 classes of water pollutants: – Disease-causing agents-bacteria, viruses, protozoa and parasitic

worms that enter sewage systems and untreated waste.– Oxygen-demanding wastes- wastes that can be decomposed by

oxygen-requiring bacteria. Large populations of decomposing bacteria converts waste and depletes oxygen levels in the water. Cause s organisms in the water, such as fish, to die.

– Water-Soluble Inorganic Pollutants-such as acids, salts and toxic metals. Large quantities will make water unfit to drink and will cause the death of aquatic lif

Water Pollution

Littering causes the death of aquatic animals because it takes toolong for the waste to degrade.

– Foams take fifty years before it eventually degrade– Aluminum takes two hundred years before it totally degrade– Plastic packaging takes four hundred years before it totally degrade– Newspaper and cardboard takes two to six weeks before it finally degrades

Water Pollution

• People who regularly consume a lot of fish will have larger levels of toxic chemicals and studies show that toxic chemical can lead to reproductive problems, cancer, and neurological disorders

• The world's six billion people are appropriating 54 percent of all the accessible freshwater contained in rivers, lakes and underground aquifers.

o Recycling is the process of re-forming or breaking down a waste product so that it can be used again.

o The internationally recognized symbol for recycling includes three arrows moving in a triangle. Each arrow represents a different part of the recycling process, from collection to re-manufacture to resale.

Recycle!

o A used aluminum can is recycled and back on the grocery shelf as a new can, in as little as 60 days.

o Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours -- or the equivalent of a half a gallon of gasoline.

o To produce each week's Sunday newspapers, 500,000 trees must be cut down.

o The average American uses seven trees a year in paper, wood, and other products made from trees. This amounts to about 2,000,000,000 trees per year!

o Americans use 2,500,000 plastic bottles every hour! Most of them are thrown away!

o A modern glass bottle would take 4000 years or more to decompose -- and even longer if it's in the landfill.

Recycling Facts!

Here is a list of things you can recycle and reuse!

• Acid Batteries • Aluminum Cans • Building Materials • Cardboard • Chemicals • Electronic equipment • Glass (particularly bottles and jars) • Lead • Magazines • Metal • Newspaper

• Oil • Paint • Paper • Plastic Bags • Plastic Bottles • Steel Cans • Tires • White Goods (Appliances) • Wood • Writing/Copy Paper • Yard Waste

You can help by practicing the 3 R’s!

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!!

Air Pollution

Bad Gases that are released into the air• Carbon monoxide- mainly released by cars and

other vehicles• Nitrogen oxides- released into the air from car,

trucks, and power stations• Hydrocarbons- produced when gasoline is not fully

burnt• Particulates- small particles, like soot, dust and

fumes caused by vehicles, factories and smoke from burning coal

Air Pollution inside Homes• Smoking cigarettes• Poison in the air can cause heart problems,

lung cancer and other lung diseases• If a women is pregnant her baby might be

smaller of become ill• Fresh Paint• The fumes from painting inside can become

hazardous if not well ventilating • Burning of coal and gas• Coal and gas are sometimes used in heaters,

stoves and ovens.

Cars and Air Pollution

• Cars and trucks releases petrol(gasoline) and diesel• Petrol and diesel are bad gases and poison the

air• A way to help pollution caused by vehicles is to

car pool, walk, or ride a bike whenever possible