2.6 Biosphere level Whole living layer around the globe Includes abiotic features The biosphere is an entire realm in which organisms live – the water.
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2.6 Biosphere level• Whole living layer around the globe
• Includes abiotic features
•The biosphere is an entire realm in which organisms live – the water of the earth, surface rocks, soils, sediments of its crust and the lower region of surrounding air (Starr & Taggart 1989), biosphere have three component entities: lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere
http://people.hofstra.edu/geotrans/eng/ch8en/conc8en/envisys.html
2.6.1 Climate and the Biosphere
• The biosphere has a collection of ecosystems that range in size and mix of biotic and abiotic components. These different types of ecosystems are influenced profoundly by climate. Climate refers to the prevailing weather conditions including temperature, humidity, wind velocity, degree of cloud cover and rainfall.
• An important question would be, what shapes or influence climate? The answer lies within four important factors amongst many which have an influence. These include and not limited to:
Variations in the amount of incoming solar radiation The tilting of the earth and its daily rotation on its axis as it circulates the sun Global distribution of continents and oceans and; Topographic features (landscapes and its elevation)• Interplay among these factors produce prevailing winds and water current which
influences global weather patterns. Global weather patterns or climate, in turn, affect the soil, relative humidity, temperature which also in turn determines abundance and distribution of organism in the biosphere
Climate and the biosphere continues…
• Climate is dependent on the sun. Near the equator, the sun rays strike the earth almost vertically giving tropical regions much more of the suns energy – for which ecosystems depends on – than it is enjoyed by other regions outside the tropics which receive oblique rays.
• Because of the tilt of the sun on its axis – in non-tropical areas – seasons will vary at different time of the year.
• This is why when it is summer in the southern hemisphere; it is always winter in the northern hemisphere.
• The sun is also responsible for the general temperature.• Higher or optimum temperatures allow organisms to grow faster.• Climate and the biosphere is characterised amongst other factors by
air circulation, ocean currents and effects of topography.
2.6.1.1 Air circulation
• Air is heated more at the equator than the poles. At the equator - the onset of patterns of air circulation – warm equatorial air rises and moves northwards and southwards towards the poles.
• At the equator, land gives off the absorbed heat from the sun to the air which rises; creating low atmospheric pressure.
• The rotation of the earth on its axis from east to west prevents the air to move directly from equator straight to the poles.
• The greatest amount of rain is near the equator. This is the reason why you find forests at and around the equatorial line.
• The greatest deserts in Africa, Australia and Americas are found at these latitudes due to the influence of the amount of rain fall.
2.6.1.2 Ocean currents
• Ocean plays a major in redistributing heat in the biosphere.• Water tends to be warmer at the equator and much cooler at the poles because of
the uneven distribution of sun rays as it was previously indicated.• Gyres move warm water at the equator to the north and south and vice-versa
creating what has been recently termed global conveyer belt.• Check the video from YouTube called “inconvenient truth” for more info
2.6.1.3 Effects of Topography
• Regional climates are influenced by more than patterns of sunlight, atmospheric and oceanic circulations and rainfall.
• They are also influenced by the distribution of mountains, valleys and other topographical features.
• Mountains are one feature that greatly affects the climate.• Air particularly warm air from the sea is blown and ascends as a result of the
influence of the mountain which cools as it rises; thus realising moisture in the form of rain.
• This happens especially on the side of the mountain called the windward side (side from which the wind is blowing)
• It receives more rainfall than the other side referred to as the leeward side (direction not facing the wind).
• On this side, the air descends and pick up moisture but release no precipitation as most of its have been shed on the windward side.
• The result of this phenomenon (rain-shadow effect) is the creation of an arid region which is clearly distinct from the windward side.
2.6.2 Biomes of South Africa
Biomes of South Africa continues….
• A biome is a largest biogeographical unit of the biosphere. This term was initially used to refer to terrestrial communities but it can also apply to aquatic communities for instance wetland.
• A biome is characterised by a unique composition of both plants and animals accustomed to live under certain environmental conditions for which climate has an overriding influence
• Patterns of biomes distribution is related to temperature and moisture• This is the reason why desert biomes as compared to tropical rainforest have
the least amount of annual precipitation• South Africa comprise of about seven biomes in total which include the
Forest, Fynbos, Grassland, Nama Karoo, Savanna, Succulent Karoo and a Thicket.
• ADDITIONAL NOTES ON THE BIOMES CHECK BLACKBOARD FOR SELF STUDY
Chapter 2 Environmental Health & Pollution
• Environmental Health is the field of science that studies how the environment influences human health and disease.
• Environment means things in the natural environment like air, water and soil, and also all the physical, chemical, biological and social features of our surroundings.
• The ‘man-made’ or ‘built’ environment includes physical structures where people live and work such as homes, offices, schools, farms and factories as well as community systems such as roads and transportation systems, land use practices and waste management. Consequences of human alteration to the natural environment, such as air pollution are parts of the man-made environment
• The social environment encompasses lifestyle factors like diet and exercise, socioeconomic status, and other societal influences that may affect health.
• Proper environment management is the key to avoiding the quarter of all preventable illness which are directly caused by environmental factors. Influences our health in many ways through exposures to physical, chemical and biological risk factors.
Types of Pollution Air pollution Water pollution Land pollution and solid waste Sound/Noise pollution
Pollution – Definition
Any undesirable change in physical , chemical or biological characteristics of air , land , water
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into an environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms.
Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat, or light. ...
AIR POLLUTION
Sources
Combustion of fuel (natural gas, petroleum, coal and
wood)
Industrial process
Natural process (Volcanic)
Air Pollutants and its impact on human health
Particulate MatterDust and smoke particles cause irritation of the respiratory tract and produce bronchitis, asthma and lung diseases.
Dust and smoke function as nuclei for condensation of water vapors and produce smog which attract chemicals like SO2, H2S, NO2,etc. Smog not only reduce visibility but is also harmful due to its contained chemicals.
SMOG
Smog is the combination of smoke and fog. It is a man made air pollutant in urban areas. The term smog was coined by H.A.Des Voeux
Types of Smog
Photochemical Smog
Industrial Smog
Industrial smog
The gray air in industrial cities in cold winter areas, caused from burning fossil fuel.
Industrial smog is in the forms of dust, smoke, soot, ashes, asbestos, oil, lead, heavy metals, and sulfur oxides.
In 1952, industrial smog held in place by a thermal inversion caused the 4,000 deaths in London.
Industrial Smog –“London” Smog“London” smog:fogsoot particlessulfur dioxidetarThis forms a highly acidic mist.Some incidents of deaths associated with sulfurous smog:1930 Meuse Valley, Belgium 631948 Donora, Pennsylvania 201952 London (5 days) 40001962 London 700These deaths lead to a reduction in coal consumption and an increasein alternative fuels, such as gasoline...
DUSTS (Pneumoconiosis) Inorganic Dust Coal Dust - Anthracosis Silica - Silicosis Asbestos - Asbestosis Iron - SiderosisOrganic Dusts Cane Fiber - Bagassosis (Bronchi gets affected)
Cotton dust - Byssinosis (In Textile industries) Tobacco - Tobaccosis, Lung Cancer Grain Dust - Farmer’s Lungs
Coal Dust - Anthracosis
Silica - Silicosis
Asbestos - Asbestosis
Iron- Siderosis
The iris has the " rusty " appearance that results from siderosis.
Pneumoconiosis
A disease of the lungs characterized byfibrosis and caused by the chronicinhalation of mineral dusts, especially silicaand asbestos. When Insoluble Inorganic Material (likesilica and asbestos) enters the lungs, they stay in the lungs and cause inflammation and disease
Oxides of Nitrogen - Brochiolitis
They cause eye irritation and respiratory trouble.
They have mutagenic properties
Ozone - Broncho constriction
Hydrocarbons – Lung Cancer
Sulphur dioxide – COPD,Asthma
COPD - diseases of the lungs in which the airways become narrowed
Grain Dust-Farmer’s Lungs
Carbon Monoxide It is formed by incomplete combustion of carbon fuels in various industries , motor vehicles, hearths,etc.
It causes impairment of judgment and vision, headache and dizziness.
Sulphur Dioxide It is produced in large quantity during smelting of
metallic ores.
It causes trachial irritation, cough, bronchial spasms.
Chlorine It is present in volcanic eruptions and emitted in processes involving use of chlorinated chemicals.
It causes eye and respiratory ailments.
Chlorine rising up in the atmosphere poses danger to ozone layer.
Water Facts
Only about 3% of surface water is fresh water
One-fifth of the world population lack access to clean drinking water
Over 2.6 billion people do not have adequate toilets, sewers or latrines
Water-borne Diseases :
o Affect four billion people every
year
o Kill five million people including
6000 children every year
WATER POLLUTION
oo More than 2 million children are killed by
diarrhoeal diseases each year
o Earth’s oceans are the most important carbon
sink on the planet along with rain forests
o Demand for water will double in next 30 years
o Floods are most frequent disaster worldwide
World Water Demand/Year
1940 1000 km3
1990 4130 km3
2000 5000 km3
2002 6650 km3
2020 9000 km3
WATER POLLUTION
Sources and impacts
Domestic wastes and sewage -- Sewage of municipalities, boats, ships, etc.
It causes depletion of oxygen
It produce foul odour and makes the water oily and brownish.
Increase the sludge which make the water unfit for recreational and industrial use,
It induces the growth of algal blooms.
Surface Run-off -- The pollutants present on the surface of land and fertilizers are washed down into water bodies.
The nitrites enter the blood and combine with hemoglobin to form methaemoglobin. The latter is unable to transport oxygen and gives rise to disease called as methaemoglobinaemia. Infants are the most affected, showing signs of blueness around the mouth, hands and feet, having trouble breathing as well as vomiting and diarrhoea.
Industrial Effluents– They are industrial wastes which are either dumped in the soil or are allowed to pass into water bodies. The effluents contains heavy metals, cyanides, thicynates, chromates, acids, alkalies, organic solvent,etc.
Mercury sources ; Coal, smelting of ores, paper/paint industry
Mercury causes Minamata disease.
Minamata disease is the name given to mercury toxicosis (poisoning) that developed in people who ate contaminated sea food taken from Minamata Bay
The disease results in crippling deformity
Sources of lead pollution
Paints, smelters, chemical and pesticide industries, petrochemicals.
Lead poisoning (also known as plumbism, colica pictonium, saturnism, painter's colic) is a medical condition caused by increased levels of the heavy metal lead in the body.
Lead interferes with a variety of
body processes and is toxic to
many organs and tissues
including the heart, bones,
intestines, kidneys, reproductive
and nervous systems.
Cadmium causes renal damage, emphysema and hypertension and Itai-Itai diseases.
Cadmium Pollution Sources ;
Smelting and refining of metals, or from the air in plants
that make cadmium products such as batteries, coatings,
or plastics .Cigarettes are also a significant source of
cadmium exposure Cadmium is used in industry as a
protective coat for iron, copper and steel Ex; telephone
wires. Paint pigments
Effects Effects seen on liver and kidney mainly.
Organs of toxicity:- Central Nervous System, Kidney .
One of the main effects of cadmium poisoning is weak and brittle bones. Spinal and leg pain is common, and a waddling gait often develops due to bone deformities caused by the cadmium. The pain eventually becomes debilitating, with fractures becoming more common as the bone weakens. Other complications include coughing, anemia, and kidney failure, leading to death
Symptoms
Amoebiasis, sometimes spelt amebiasis, is one of those common diseases, caused by a parasite which infects the bowel casing a type of gastroenteritis infection.
This disease generally occurs in young to middle aged adults who ingest contaminated food or water containing the Entamoeba histolytica microorganism
Amoebiasis
Giardiasis Giardiasis (gee-ar-die-a-sis with a soft "G") is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the parasite, Giardia lamblia The most common manifestations of giardiasis are diarrhoea and abdominal pain, particularly cramping; however, diarrhea is not invariable and occurs in 60% to 90% of patients
The consequence of two bomb blasts over Hiroshima and Nagasaki (JAPAN) still send waves of tremor in us. Innumerable persons died. The survivors not only suffered themselves but also passed to their offspring malignant growth , cancer, congenital deformities, mental retardation, etc.
Nuclear pollution– The source of nuclear pollution are weapon testing, atomic power plants, recycling plants, nuclear wastes, etc.
It causes blood and bone cancer
It disrupts normal functioning of thyroid, and consequently produces abnormal growth and metabolism
Pesticides– They are discharged to the water body through the agricultural run-off.
Chlorinated Hydrocarbon, organo pesticides and inorganic pesticides are poisonous and causes sweating, salivation, nausea, vomiting , diarrhoea and muscular tremors for the people
Chromium has carcinogenic properties.
Nickel can cause damage to liver and kidney.
Arsenic can cause hyper-pigmentation, Keratosis and black foot disease
Fluoride Pollution
96 % of fluoride is found in bones and teeth. Fluorine is essential for the normal mineralization of bones and formation of dental enamel.
Water resources near granitic rocks containing more than 2.5 ppm cause Fluorosis The cause of this diseases mainly due to consumption of high quantity of fluoride through water, food, cosmetic like fluoridated tooth paste, drugs and inhaling air contaminated with fluoride in industrial environment.
Fluorosis was first detected in India among cattle by the farmers of Andhra pradesh State during early 1930. The farmers noticed the inability of the bullocks to walk due to painfull and stiff joints.This endemic fluorosis had been identified in total 15 state of the Indian union.
Fluorosis is a clinical condition recognized by Shrott in 1937 .
NOISE POLLUTION
The term noise is applied to the sound that cause irritation on hearing of healthy human being.
Sources
Transport noise--- Originates from road traffic (vehicular), air craft and rail traffic.
Industrial noise--- It produced by presses; punch and stamp machine, pneumatic drills, milling machines, cutter and routers, dust extractors. etc.
Domestic noise--- It is generated from domestic appliance like washing machines, spin dryers, food mixer, sink waste grinder and vacuum cleaner.
Effects Of Noise Pollution
Hearing damage from noise exposure
Pathological and Physiological disorders
The impact of noise may cause permanent
hearing loss due to the exposure to noise
levels exceeding 90 dB
SOLID WASTE Urban India produces 1,20,000 tons of MSW/Day.
Per capita waste generation in major cities of India ranges from 0.8 kg to 1.0 kg per day.
Of the MSW collected; 94% is dumped on land and 5% is composed.
23 metrocities generates 30,000 tons of SW/Day.
Class-I cities generate 50,000 tons of solid waste per day
Karnataka State generates 3553.97 tons/Day , disposes 2848.05 tons/Day and the remaining is un collected wastes.
Sources
Municipal Wastes
Agricultural Wastes And Sewage Sludge
Industrial Wastes and Mining Wastes
Bio-Medical Wastes
E-Wastes
Radioactive Wastes
Effects of Solid Wastes
Pollute ground water
Waste becomes storehouses for pathogens
Bag pickers affected by skin diseases, respiratory tract
infections, stomach infections, eye irritation, etc.
Dumping helps the breeding of mosquitoes
Burning releases furans (Chlorinated Carbons) which
reduces the fertility of human.
Hazardous substances include mercury, chromium, etc
– Bioaccumulation
Accumulation of copper in soil inhibit plant growth.
HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT
Sustainable Development
Solid wasteManagement
World Conservation
strategy
EnvironmentalLaws
Hazards mitigation
Energyconservation
Rain water HarvestingBiodiversity
conservation
Pollution control
Water Resources
What are the
solutions to all these problems?
Let Us Together Build a World In Which Every Person Has
Hygienic Environment
And Lives in
SanitationSafe Adequate water
THANK YOU ALL
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