Monday, July 26, 2010

Pollution control

Pollution control is a term used in environmental management. It means the control of emissions and effluents into air, water or soil. Without pollution control, the waste products from consumption, heating, agriculture, mining, manufacturing, transportation and other human activities, whether they accumulate or disperse, will degrade the environment. In the hierarchy of controls, pollution prevention and waste minimization are more desirable than pollution control.
Practices


  • recycling


Pollution control devices



    Dust collection systems
  • Baghouses
  • Cyclones
  • Electrostatic precipitators
    Scrubbers
  • Baffle spray scrubber
  • Cyclonic spray scrubber
  • Ejector venturi scrubber
  • Mechanically aided scrubber
  • Spray tower
  • Wet scrubber
    Sewage treatment
  • Activated sludge biotreaters
  • API oil-water separators
  • Biofilters
  • Dissolved air flotation (DAF)
  • Powdered activated carbon treatment
  • Sedimentation (water treatment)
   Vapor recovery systems

Environmental health information

The Toxicology and Environmental Health Information Program (TEHIP) at the United States National Library of Medicine (NLM) maintains a comprehensive toxicology and environmental health web site that includes access to resources produced by TEHIP and by other government agencies and organizations. This web site includes links to databases, bibliographies, tutorials, and other scientific and consumer-oriented resources. TEHIP also is responsible for the Toxicology Data Network (TOXNET) an integrated system of toxicology and environmental health databases that are available free of charge on the web.

Pollution Effects Human health

Adverse air quality can kill many organisms including humans. Ozone pollution can cause respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, throat inflammation, chest pain, and congestion. Water pollution causes approximately 14,000 deaths per day, mostly due to contamination of drinking water by untreated sewage in developing countries. An estimated 700 million Indians have no access to a proper toilet, and 1,000 Indian children die of diarrhoeal sickness every day. Nearly 500 million Chinese lack access to safe drinking water. 656,000 people die prematurely each year in China because of air pollution. In India, air pollution is believed to cause 527,700 fatalities a year. Studies have estimated that the number of people killed annually in the US could be over 50,000.
Oil spills can cause skin irritations and rashes. Noise pollution induces hearing loss, high blood pressure, stress, and sleep disturbance. Mercury has been linked to developmental deficits in children and neurologic symptoms. Older people are majorly exposed to diseases induced by air pollution. Those with heart or lung disorders are under additional risk. Children and infants are also at serious risk. Lead and other heavy metals have been shown to cause neurological problems. Chemical and radioactive substances can cause cancer and as well as birth defects.

How to Prevent Land Pollution


The best way to prevent land pollution is to recycle. Here are a few other ways you can reduce land pollution:
  • Reuse any items that you can
  • Buy biodegradable products
  • Store all liquid chemicals and waste in spill-proof containers
  • Eat organic foods that are grown without pesticides
  • Don’t use pesticides
  • Use a drip tray to collect engine oil
  • Buy products that have little packaging
  • Don’t dump motor oil on the ground

How to Prevent Water Pollution


The best way to prevent water pollution is to not throw trash and other harmful chemicals into our water supplies. Here are a few more ways you can prevent water pollution:
  • Wash your car far away from any stormwater drains
  • Don’t throw trash, chemicals or solvents into sewer drains
  • Inspect your septic system every 3-5 years
  • Avoid using pesticides and fertilizers that can run off into water systems
  • Sweep your driveway instead of hosing it down
  • Always pump your waste-holding tanks on your boat
  • Use non-toxic cleaning materials
  • Clean up oil and other liquid spills with kitty litter and sweet them up
  • Don’t wash paint brushes in the sink

How to Prevent Air Pollution


The number one way to prevent air pollution is to walk or bike more and drive less. This will prevent fossil fuels from polluting the air. Here are some other ways to prevent air pollution:
  • Don’t smoke
  • Keep your car maintenance up-to-date
  • If you have to drive, do your errands at one time
  • Don’t buy products that come in aerosol spray cans
  • Avoid using lighter fluid when barbecuing outside
  • When you drive accelerate slowly and use cruise control
  • Always replace your car’s air filter
  • Use a push or electric lawnmower rather than a gas-powered one
  • Don’t use harsh chemical cleaners that can emit fumes
  • Inspect your gas appliances and heaters regularly

Land pollution





Land pollution is pollution of the Earth’s natural land surface by industrial, commercial, domestic and agricultural activities.
What are the sources of land pollution?
Some of the main contributors to land pollution are:
  • Chemical and nuclear plants
  • Industrial factories
  • Oil refineries
  • Human sewage
  • Oil and antifreeze leaking from cars
  • Mining
  • Littering
  • Overcrowded landfills
  • Deforestation
  • Construction debris
Facts about Land Pollution
Here are a few facts about land pollution:
  • Every year one American produces over 3285 pounds of hazardous waste
  • Land pollution causes us to lose 24 billion tons of top soil every year
  • Americans generate 30 billion foam cups, 220 million tires and 1.8 billion disposable diapers every year
  • We throw away enough trash every day to fill 63,000 garbage trucks
  • Every day Americans throw away 1 million bushels of litter out their car window
  • Over 80% of items in landfills can be recycled, but they’re not

Water pollution







Water pollution is the introduction of chemical, biological and physical matter into large bodies of water that degrade the quality of life that lives in it and consumes it.
What are the sources of water pollution?
Some of the main contributors to water pollution are:
  • Factories
  • Refineries
  • Waste treatment facilities
  • Mining
  • Pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers
  • Human sewage
  • Oil spills
  • Failing septic systems
  • Soap from washing your car
  • Oil and antifreeze leaking from cars
  • Household chemicals
  • Animal waste
Facts about Water Pollution
Here are a few facts about water pollution:
  • Over two-thirds of U.S. estuaries and bays are severely degraded because of nitrogen and phosphorous pollution
  • Every year almost 25% of U.S. beaches are closed at least once because of water pollution
  • Over 73 different kinds of pesticides have been found in the groundwater that we eventually use to drink
  • 1.2 trillion gallons of sewage, stormwater and industrial waste are discharged into U.S. waters every year
  • 40% of U.S. rivers are too polluted for aquatic life to survive
  • Americans use over 2.2 billion pounds of pesticides every year, which eventually washes into our rivers and lakes

Air pollution



Air pollution is the accumulation of hazardous substances into the atmosphere that danger human life and other living matter.
What are the sources of air pollution?
Some of the main contributors to air pollution are:
  • Automobile emissions
  • Tobacco smoke
  • Combustion of coal
  • Acid rain
  • Noise pollution from cars and construction
  • Power plants
  • Manufacturing buildings
  • Large ships
  • Paint fumes
  • Aerosol sprays
  • Wildfires
  • Nuclear weapons
Facts about Air Pollution
Here are a few facts about air pollution:
  • Almost 232 million different types of vehicles are driven by U.S. citizens every day, adding greenhouse gases into the air
  • U.S. vehicle emissions contribute 45% to global warming
  • The average adult consumes 3,000 gallons of polluted air every day
  • Vehicle exhaust contributes to 60% of carbon monoxide emissions in the U.S. and up to 95% in large cities
  • Every year 335,000 Americans die of lung cancer, which is a direct result of air pollution

    What is pollution?



    Pollution is when water, air or land becomes very dirty. Pollution can come in 4 different types effecting different types of areas in the world. Air pollution effects the air, water pollution effects the water and marine life, land pollution effects the land destroying life and the enviroment and there is also noise pollution that can effect our hearing.We all contribute to pollution in some way or another. Whether it be with a large amount or small amount we can still cause major damage to our health and the enviroment. Although we all contribute to help stop the increase of pollution. Very little people realize that pollution is very harmful because they don't think of the enviroment, themselves and other people and what it can do.Pollution is an important factor to our lives. It involves our society and all other animals. Pollution is gradually destroying our planet and is gradually killing ourselves too. Like air pollution, smog and acid rain is a killer to all of us. It destroys marine life, our own health and destroys historical monuments and statues.

    Pollution







                                   Every year in the U.S. factories release over 3 million tons of toxic chemicals into the land, air and water. This hazardous waste causes us to lose over 15 million acres of land every year, it leads to respiratory complications and other health problems and it makes our rivers and lakes too polluted for us to swim in and drink.
    But factories are only part of the problem of pollution. Pollution is caused by industrial and commercial waste, agriculture practices, everyday human activities and most notably, modes of transportation. No matter where you go and what you do, there are remnants of pollution.