CUE - Enviromental Issues Flashcards
How does atmospheric pollution vary in urban areas? (HICs)
Reliance on fossil fuels decreasing
Use of less polluting energy sources increasing
Air qualitiy in many cities has improved since 1950 as a result
Car ownership increasing congestion
In many HICs there are strategies to limit air pollution eg) “green” modes of transport
How does atmospheric pollution vary in urban areas? (NEEs/LICs)
Many still rely heavily on fossil fuels to meet their energy needs
Increases in industrial activity and car ownership, with a lack of regulation of emissions, mean atmospheric pollution is often severe
In many there has been some progress towards reducing urban air pollution eg) most have phased out lead petrol but progress is slow and health implications are servere.
What are the causes of air pollution?
release of particles and noxious (harmful) gases into the atmosphere - can have a negative effect on human helath
2014, World Health Organisation (WHO) found urban air pollution was 2.5 higher than the recommended levels in about half the urban populations being monitored.
This puts people at risk of serious long-term health problems eg) respiratory illnesses
9 400 Londoners died prematurely from air pollutants in 2010, mainly from exposure to nitrogen dioxide and fine PM2.5 particles
Human activity produces pollutants but it is primarily the weather that determines what will happen once they are released into the air.
During wet or windy conditions, pollution concentrations remain low, either blown or washed away.
During periods of still, hot (anticyclonic) weather, pollution can build up to harmful amounts,
called “pollution episodes”.
What is water pollution?
the contamination of water bodies or sources including rivers, lakes, oceans,
aquifers and groundwater.
What are the causes of water pollution?
when pollutants are directly or indirectly discharged into water without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds.
High population density in cities produce a lot of waste - includes, wastewater and
sewage, oil and metals on road surfaces from cars. pollutants can enter
watercourses e.g. if sewers are inadequate or in runoff when it rains.
Many cities have a high concentration of factories, which may discharge industrial waste into watercourses.
Point source pollution is directly discharged into watercourses.
Non-point source pollution is the result of precipitation run-off from a wide range of sources eg) fertilizers and pesticides from agriculture, and chemicals and toxins from urban settlements.
These pollutants are difficult to regulate.
Water pollution can cause damage to ecosystems, and contaminated drinking water can cause health problems e.g. dysentery and cholera.
What is remediation?
the removal of pollution or contaminants from watercourses which have become polluted.
How can water pollution be managed?
through laws to stop discharge of untreated waste from industries and provision of plants to treat wastewater.
Strategies eg) catchment management and SUDs can also help.
HICs - strict regulations about discharge of untreated water and water quality is
monitored.
However, litter dropped in or around water and pollutants in surface runoff still
cause pollution.
In many LICs and NEEs - few regulations and inadequate provision of treatment facilities.
This means that untreated industrial waste and sewage often enter watercourses and water pollution is common.
