Greenhouse Gases | Greenhouse Effect | Impact of greenhouse gases on environment

Introduction: 

The term “greenhouse” was first used by Nils Gustaf Ekholm (Swedish meteorologist) in 1901. Greenhouse gases are surrounding the earth's atmosphere to prevent the loss of heat into outer space. These gases are essential to sustain life on earth.

The abundance of Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to anthropogenic activities are dangerous to life on earth:

The global community is facing the issue of increased concentration of greenhouse gases which have ultimate repercussions on human life and our natural climate.

Greenhouse Gases: CO2, CH4, N2O, Water vapors, etc

The UN climate conference of Paris agreed by I95 countries to reduce the emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. The aim was to limit the global temperature below 2 ºC (relative to pre-industrial climate). According to Climatologists the increased concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to human activities (burning of fossil fuel and deforestation) is warming the planet earth. These gases act in a glass of a greenhouse which allows the sunlight to enter and prevent the heat from escaping. The rise in atmospheric temperature is directly related to an increase in anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases. Water vapors, Methane, Carbon dioxide, Nitrous oxides, Ozone, and Chlorofluorocarbon are the most abundant greenhouse gases in the atmosphere whereas Chlorofluorocarbon is artificial gas. It is not found naturally in the environment. The percentage contribution of greenhouse gases includes water vapors (36-70%), carbon dioxide (9-26%), Methane (4-9%), Ozone (3-7%).

Impact of Greenhouse Gases on Environment: 

• Impact on human life
• Global Warming
• Sea level rise
• Economic Impact
• Impact on Agriculture
• Effects on Aquatic system
• Effects on Hydrological Cycle

Control Measure of Greenhouse Gases:

• Financing low carbon energy
• Clean development mechanism
• Green energy portfolio standard

Following initiatives are mandatory to reduce the effects of greenhouse gases:

• Conservation of energy
• Use of renewable energy
• Reforestation
• Methane gas recovery from solid waste
• Banning of CFC production
• National standards of pollutants
• International conferences and seminars

Ocean Acidification | Ocean carbon sink | Causes of Ocean Acidification

What is Ocean Acidification?

Ocean acidification occurs due to the change in ocean chemistry which happens due to the uptake of atmospheric chemicals like carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen. The anthropogenic release of carbon dioxide (CO2) is the dominant cause of ocean acidification while in several coastal areas, sulfur and nitrogen are also significant.

The ocean is a sink of Carbon:

The ocean absorbs atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2).
Carbon capture and storage is called carbon sequestration.
Oceans capture and store carbon from the atmosphere.

Causes of Ocean Acidification:

For the past 200 years, the rapid increase in anthropogenic atmospheric CO2, which directly leads to decreasing ocean pH through an air-sea gas exchange, has been and continues due to the following reasons.
The rapid increase in atmospheric CO2 in the past 200 years due to anthropogenic activities is the leading factor in decreasing ocean pH due to air and sea gas exchange. The primary causes of ocean acidification are as follows.

• Combustion of fossil fuel
• Cutting of forest (Deforestation)
• Industrialization
• Production of cement
• Land-use changes                                                                                           

How carbon dioxide (CO2) is the main cause of ocean acidification?  (Chemical reaction)

When CO2 dissolves in seawater, carbonic acid is produced via the reaction:

In seawater CO2 dissolves and form carbonic acid through the reaction below:

CO2 + H2O.................................  H2CO3

The carbonic acid splits in seawater and releases hydrogen ions and bicarbonate:

H2CO3......................................H+ + HCO3-

The increased concentration of hydrogen ions in seawater increases acidity in oceans. 

The result of the release of hydrogen ions in seawater is that it reacts with any carbonate ion and forms bicarbonate.

H⁺+ CO ₃^2--.................................H2CO3-

The above phenomena remove carbonate ions from seawater and it creates difficulty for aquatic organisms to form calcium carbonate (CaCO3) which is necessary for their shell formation.

How aquatic life affected by ocean acidification? 

The ocean acidification affects some species of microscopic algae and calcifying plankton which are the base of marine chain and food for larger organisms i.e. fish and whales. The equilibrium chemical condition and pH level are important to build calcium-based shells and other structures for many seawater organisms like clams, mussels, sea urchins, microscopic plankton, etc. Ocean acidification affects their growth, reproduction, and survival in such a particular environment.

 

Conclusion:

The ocean acidification will diminish the ocean's capability to capture and store atmospheric carbon and it will severely affect marine life. If concrete steps will not take to curb ocean acidification then its repercussions will be felt by the global economy by disrupting the food chain. 

Groundwater Pollution

The earth’s 97.5% water is saline and only 2.5% is fresh water and 68.9% of the freshwater is locked in ice caps and glaciers and 29.9% of fresh water is found on the sub-surface. In developed countries, 95% population having access to safe drinking water and 90% population has sufficient sanitation facilities.  Almost 50% of the groundwater used in cities is obtaining from wells, boreholes, and springs. One fifty million population of Latin Americans and greater than 1000 million Asian are depending on groundwater. Groundwater contamination is a very noteworthy environmental concern of the time. Regardless of its importance, groundwater resource is not properly managing. There are various probable sources of groundwater pollution in cities including point, non-point, and linear sources. Point sources include industrial effluents, domestic sewage, and storm overflow, non-point sources include construction work, agriculture activities, and atmospheric deposition and linear sources are roads and sewer system. The groundwater contamination can be resulting from leakage of sewage. Anthropogenic activities such as agriculture, industrial, and municipality are responsible for discharging and recharging contaminants into groundwater. The groundwater quality deterioration resulting from leachate percolation mainly occurs during the monsoon season and escalating the diseases related to groundwater contamination. Groundwater contamination occurs mostly in the vicinity of landfill and municipal waste disposal sites and increasing the chances of percolation in aquifers. The presence of emerging organic pollutants can be well examined and analyzed in wastewater and surface water as compared to groundwater. Emerging organic pollutant's major source is wastewater whereas surface water carries its maximum load. Approximately 2.3 billion population across the world is suffering from diseases related to polluted water. Worldwide, approximately polluted drinking water and insufficient sanitation kill 1.6 million children below the age of five years, and 84% of them are residing in villages. Water contamination is the foremost health and environmental issue in Pakistan. The main sources of groundwater pollution in Pakistan are the discharging of waste effluents into water bodies by many industrial units including textile, fertilizers, pesticides, steel, dying chemicals, cement, leather, etc. In Pakistan 20-40 % of hospital beds are occupied by patients with waterborne diseases like diarrhea, hepatitis, typhoid, dysentery, cholera, etc.  One-third of all deaths occur across the country owing to waterborne diseases. Heavy metals present in drinking water can damage vital organs i.e. kidney, liver, and central nervous system. They also cause abnormality in blood composition. There is a dire need to cope with the issue by responsible authorities to protect the health of citizens.

Effects of Acid Rain on Plants | Effects of Acid Rain on Aquatic Life | Effects of Acid Rain on Human Health | Effects of Acid Rain on Soil | Effects of Acid Rain on Buildings

Effect on Plants:

An acid rain damage plant leaves (Necrosis). It leaches the minerals or nutrients from the soil through surface runoff and affects the growth and development of crops and forests.

    Harmful Effects on Aquatic Life:

• Acid rain increases acidity in water bodies
• It stops the hatching of fish eggs
• It changes the population ratio of fish
• It affects the ecosystem

Effects on Human Health:

Acid rain can cause Asthma and Bronchitis disease. In the atmosphere, both SO2 and NOx react to form fine sulfate and nitrate particles that can be inhaled into the lungs.

Effects on Soil:

Acid rain affects the chemistry of soil and the availability of minerals in the soil. Nutrients availability has a strong relation with soil pH. When the pH of water decreases metals solubility decreases. Acid rain leaches the mineral ions through surface runoff or it pushes deeper into the soil and finally plants roots cannot get minerals from deeper horizons of soil which affects their growth.

Effects on the Built Environment:

Calcium carbonate is the major component of marble and it easily reacts with sulfuric acid (transported by acid rains) and forms calcium sulfate according to the reaction:

CaCO₃ + H₂SO₄ → CaSO₄ + CO₂ + H₂O

Calcium sulfate (CaSO₄) is a thousandfold more soluble in water than Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) due to which it is easily washed out by the rain.

    Fig: Material removal from the artifact surfaces erases its characters.

Conclusion:

Acid Rain is a very serious and dangerous issue facing the modern world. To cope with acid rain there is a dire need to reduce gaseous emissions (burning of fossil fuel), find alternative sources of energy, protect the resources and restore the damage done by acid rain.

 

Acid Rain | Acid Rain Definition | How is acid rain formed?

Acid Rain Definition:

Acid rain is any form of precipitation that is unusually acidic (elevated level of hydrogen ions) due to anthropogenic gaseous emissions in the atmosphere. Acid rain contains acidic components such as sulfuric acid and nitric acid.

Brief History of Acid Rain:

The term acid rain was coined by Robert Angus Smith (Scottish pharmacist) in Manchester, England in 1872. He noticed a high level of acidifying rain falling over the industrial area of England as compared to less polluted areas near the coast. Little attention was given to his work until the 1950s when biologists observed the decline of fish population in the lakes of southern Norway and finally traced the problem of acid rain. Similar findings were also noticed in the 1960s in North America. These findings spurred intense research to understand the origin of the acid rain phenomena.

Measuring Acid Rain: (How it can be determined if rain is acid rain)

Acid rain is measured on a pH scale. Acid rain is one of the most serious environmental problems that emerged due to air pollution. Normal or unpolluted rainfall has a pH of 5.6 because carbon dioxide and water in the air react together to form carbonic acid, a weak acid.

CO2 + H2O............   H2CO3 (carbonic acid).

The term acid rain is applied to any type of precipitation with a pH level below 5.

Acid Rain Formation: 

Acid rain is the consequence of air pollution. When moisture of air reacts with oxides of carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen in the atmosphere to produce a mixture of carbonic, sulfuric, and nitric acids.

                   

  

Causes and Sources of Acid Rain:

• Anthropogenic activities are the main cause of acid rain which includes the burning of fossil fuel.
• The emission of gases from automobiles.
• Burning of coal from Power plant 
• The emission of gases from industries
• Both Sulfur dioxide and Nitrogen dioxide are the major sources of acid rain formation.

Dry and Wet Deposition:

Wet deposition refers to fog,  acid rain, and snow. Wet deposition of acid rain affects a variety of plants and animals. Dry deposition refers to acidic gases and particles. Almost half of the acidity in the atmosphere falls back to the ground through dry deposition.

Effects of Noise Pollution | Effects of noise pollution on human health

The effects of noise pollution depend on the susceptibility of the individual, nature of the noise, and duration of exposure.
The impact of noise on human health can be classified into the following categories.

1- Auditory Health Effects
2- Non-auditory Health Effects

1- Auditory Health Effects:

Noise pollution causes hearing loss: Hearing loss results from prolonged exposure to high noise levels.
Reduced hearing sensitivity: Exposure to occupational noise can significantly reduce hearing sensitivity.

2- Non-auditory Health Effects:

Non-auditory health effects of noise pollution are as following:

1- Mental Health Effects
2- Sleep Disturbances
3- Hypertension
4- Low Performance
5- Cardiovascular and Physiological Effects

1- Mental Health Effects:

 Noise in the industry can be a direct cause of general health problems. It can create conditions of psychological stress, which can in turn cause physiological stress reactions.

2- Sleep Disturbances:

It has been found that more sleeping medicines are consumed by people living in noisy areas than in quieter areas.

3- Hypertension:

Prolonged exposure to high-intensity industrial noise increases the risk of hypertension.

4- Low Performance:

Workers in the industry with high noise levels show slightly lower productivity than those in departments with lower noise exposure.

5- Cardiovascular and Physiological Effects:

High levels of noise are associated with a high risk of physiological changes such as hypertension, increased levels of heartbeat rate.

Aircraft noise exposure was related to more medical treatment for heart trouble and hypertension.

 

Soil Pollution Effects | Soil pollution impact on human health | Effects of soil pollution on plants

The effects of soil pollution can be categorized into the following types.

1) Effects on Human Health
2) Effects on Growth of Plant
3) Decreased Soil Fertility
4) Toxic Gases
5) Changes in Soil Structure

1) Effects on Human Health:

Soil pollution can have several of harmful effects on human health. The harmful effects of soil pollution may come from direct contact with polluted soil or from contact with other resources, such as water, that have come in direct contact with the polluted soil. Plants that are grown in polluted soil continuously absorb the pollutants. Animals who eat these plants take on all the pollutants that plants have accumulated. Humans who eat vegetables and animals that have accumulated large amounts of soil pollutants may be poisoned.

2- Effects on Growth of Plant:

Most plants are unable to adapt when the chemistry of the soil changes so radically in a short period. The fertility slowly diminishes, making land unsuitable for agriculture and any local vegetation to survive. Unlike deserts, which are suitable for its native vegetation, such land cannot support most forms of life.

3- Decreased Soil Fertility:

The toxic chemicals present in the soil can decrease soil fertility and therefore decreases soil yield. The contaminated soil used to produce fruits and vegetables lacks quality nutrients and may contain some poisonous substances to cause serious health problems in people consuming them. 

4- Toxic Gases:

The emission of toxic gases from landfills pollutes the environment and causes serious effects on the health of many people. The unpleasant smell causes inconvenience to many people.

5- Changes in Soil Structure:

The death of many soil organisms (e.g. earthworms, bacteria, and fungi) can lead to alteration in soil structure. 

Several ways have been suggested to curb the rate of soil pollution:

Industries have been given regulations for the disposal of hazardous waste, which aim at minimizing the areas that become polluted. The organic method of farming is being supported, which does not use chemicals, pesticides, and fertilizers. The use of plants that can remove pollutants from the soil is being encouraged.

Air Pollution | Effects of Air Pollution: Effects of air pollution on human health | Effects of air pollution on plants | Effects of air pollution on environment

The effects of air pollution can be categorized into the following types.   

1) Impacts on Human Health

2) Impacts on Animals

3) Impacts on Plants

4) Impacts on Environment

1) Impact on Human Health:

  

2- Impacts on Animals:

• Acid rain can harm fish and other wildlife.
• Chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs) depletes ozone layer. As a result, ultraviolet radiations can penetrate through the atmosphere and cause skin cancer, and damages plants and wildlife.
• Ozone molecules in the troposphere cause damaging effects on the lung tissues of animals.

3. Impacts on Plants:

• A higher level of sulfur dioxide is harmful to plants and kills leaf tissues.
• Nitrogen oxides cause the breakdown of plant tissues.
• Peroxyacetyl nitrates  (PANs) have the highest toxicity to plants and attack younger leaves of plants.
• Acid rain causes direct and indirect phytotoxicity to plants.
• Acid rain causes depletion of nutrients cations (e.g. calcium and magnesium) from the soil. This results in reduced soil fertility and poor plant growth.

4. Impacts on Environment:

Particulate matter causes reduction and distortion of visibility. Smog causes damage to the materials and reduces visibility. Air pollutants react with one another and create acidic compounds. These compounds cause adverse effects on buildings and vegetation.

• Greenhouse gases are the causes of climate change and global warming.
• Some air pollutants (e.g. CFCs) cause ozone depletion
• Acid rain causes corrosion of exposed structures, equipment, ornamental material, etc.

Water Pollution | Impacts on Human Health | Impacts on Aquatic Life | Impact on Soil | Water Pollution Facts

1) Impacts on Human Health:

• Microbial contamination in water bodies causes diseases like cholera, dysentery, diarrhea, polio, typhoid, hepatitis, etc.
• Heavy metals in drinking water can affect vital organs such as the kidney, liver, and nervous system.
• Nitrates in drinking water cause blue baby syndrome in infants. It is a disease in which the blood cannot properly carry oxygen and the infant die. (decreased oxygen-carrying capacity of hemoglobin in babies leading to death)

 

2. Impacts on Aquatic Life:

• Higher levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in agricultural run-off cause excessive growth of algae (Eutrophication). This process may result in oxygen depletion of the water body. 
• The algae and other organisms eventually die off and bacteria may consume all the oxygen from the water during the decomposition of algae. This causes the death of fish in such water bodies due to low oxygen levels.
• Pesticides affect aquatic life in the following ways.
• Aquatic microorganisms are affected.
• Decline of Amphibians
• Fishkill

3. Impact on Soil:

• Untreated wastewater can adversely affect the soil system.
• Water pollution can contaminate the soil with heavy metals and other pollutants.
• Heavy metals affect the microbial activity in the soil.
• Heavy metals affect the crop plants growing in the contaminated soil.

Water Pollution in Pakistan and its Impacts on Public Health,

Facts and Figures:

§  In Pakistan, 30% of all diseases and 40% of all deaths are due to poor

water quality. 

§  Among 122 nations of the world, Pakistan’s position is 80^th concerning

drinking water quality. Sixty-four percent of bacterial contamination was

reported in the northern region of the country.

§  Every year around (250000) children in Pakistan die due to contaminated water.

§  In Pakistan 20-40 % of hospital beds are occupied by patients with

  waterborne diseases like diarrhea, hepatitis, typhoid, dysentery, cholera, 

  etc. One-third of all deaths occur across the country owing to waterborne diseases.

Water Pollution and Health Impacts across the World:

§  According to the world health organization (WHO), 80% of diseases

  are waterborne.

§  Worldwide, approximately polluted drinking water and insufficient

sanitation kill 1.6 million children below the age of 5 each year, 84%

of them are residing in villages.