What are the consequences of environmental waste pollution. State of the environment, its pollution and its consequences
Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation
Irkutsk State University
Faculty of Social Sciences
Department of Social Philosophy and Sociology.
Essay
Environmental pollution: demographic and somatic consequences.
Performed:
student of group 15142
Yakovleva Larisa Yurievna
Checked:
Senior Lecturer
Goltsova E. V.
Irkutsk 2003
Plan:
1.Introduction 3
2.Environmental pollution. 4
2.1 Biosphere pollution 4
2.2 Air pollution 5
2.3 Pollution of natural waters 9
2.4 The problem of ocean pollution 12
2.5 Soil pollution. 15
3. Somatic and demographic consequences
environmental pollution. 17
3.1 Change in the gene pool. 17
3.2 Ecology and human health. 18
3.3 Demographics and environmental pollution. 24
4. Conclusion. 27
5.Literature. 28
1. Introduction.
At all stages of development, man influenced the nature around him, used its wealth, adapted it for himself, modified it... And if in the early stages the influence was insignificant and focal, then with the development of science and technology it increased to terrifying limits.
There are several areas of anthropogenic impact that worsen the environmental situation on the planet.
The most widespread and dangerous is chemical pollution of the natural environment (changes in its natural environment - chemical substances, as well as the penetration into the natural environment, into its individual spheres, of chemical substances that were not previously present).
The accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is also progressing. Environmentalists are also concerned about the ongoing pollution of the World Ocean with oil and petroleum products, which has already reached 1/5 of its total surface. There is no doubt about the importance of chemical contamination of the soil with pesticides and its increased acidity, leading to the collapse of the ecosystem.
But in nature, all processes are interconnected, and ultimately, man’s barbaric attitude towards nature is destructive for himself. Due to the deterioration of the environmental situation, the incidence rate increases, a person’s well-being and quality of life deteriorate, life expectancy decreases, and mortality increases...
Recently, the number of cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, and tumors has increased sharply.
The purpose of the abstract: to consider the main types of anthropogenic environmental pollution, their impact on the environmental situation and the consequences of these impacts on human health and the demographic situation in the world.
2. Pollution
2.1 Pollution of the biosphere.
In the words of the outstanding Russian scientist V.I. Vernandsky, the biosphere is “the region of existence of living matter,” the shell of the Earth in which the total activity of living organisms manifests itself as a geochemical factor on a planetary scale.
Radioactive contamination of the biosphere.
The problem of radioactive contamination arose in 1945 after the explosion of atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Nuclear weapons tests carried out in the atmosphere have caused global radioactive contamination. Radioactive contamination has a significant difference from others. Radioactive nuclides are nuclei of unstable chemical elements that emit charged particles and short-wave electromagnetic radiation. It is these particles and radiation that enter the human body that destroy cells, as a result of which various diseases can arise, including radiation. When an atomic bomb explodes, very strong ionizing radiation is generated; radioactive particles are scattered over long distances, contaminating the soil, water bodies, and living organisms. Many radioactive isotopes have long half-lives, remaining dangerous throughout their existence. All these isotopes are included in the cycle of substances, enter living organisms and have a detrimental effect on cells. Strontium is very dangerous due to its proximity to calcium. Accumulating in the bones of the skeleton, it serves as a constant source of radiation to the body. Radioactive cesium (137 Cs) is similar to potassium and is abundant in the muscles of affected animals. Studies have shown that the body of Alaskan Eskimos, who eat reindeer meat, contains significant amounts of cesium 137. Negligence in the storage and transportation of radiation elements leads to serious radiation contamination.
During a nuclear explosion, a huge amount of fine dust is formed, which remains in the atmosphere for a long time and absorbs a significant part of solar radiation. Scientists' calculations show that even with limited, local use of nuclear weapons, the resulting dust will block most of the solar radiation. There will be a long-term cooling (“nuclear winter”), which will inevitably lead to the death of all life on Earth.
2.2 Air pollution
The atmosphere is the outer shell of the biosphere, its mass is insignificant - only one millionth of the Earth's mass, but its role in all natural processes is enormous.
Pollution is the process of introducing into the air or the formation in it of physical agents, chemicals or organisms that adversely affect the living environment or cause damage to material values. In a certain sense, the removal of individual gas ingredients (in particular, oxygen) from the air by large technological facilities can also be considered pollution. And the point is not only that gases, dust, sulfur, lead and other substances entering the atmosphere are dangerous for the human body - they adversely affect the cycles of many components on Earth. Pollutants and toxic substances are transported over long distances, fall with precipitation into the soil, surface and underground waters, and oceans, poison the environment, and negatively affect the production of plant mass.
According to scientists, every year in the world as a result of human activity, 25.5 billion tons of carbon oxides, 190 million tons of sulfur oxides, 65 million tons of nitrogen oxides, 1.4 million tons of freons, organic lead compounds, hydrocarbons, including carcinogenic, large amounts of solid particles (dust, soot, soot) .
Chemical pollution of the atmosphere.
In recent years, air pollution with dust and various gases emitted by industrial enterprises has increased significantly. Increasing economic activity increases air pollution. Metallurgical and chemical enterprises and thermal power plants pollute the atmosphere with sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen sulfide, halogens and their compounds. Another serious source of air pollution is motor transport. According to some estimates, 1 thousand cars a day emit exhaust fumes in B. 3.2 T carbon monoxide, from 200 to 400 kg of other products of incomplete combustion of fuel, 50-150 kg nitrogen compounds. The main harmful impurities of pyrogenic origin are the following:
1. Carbon monoxide. It is produced by incomplete combustion of carbonaceous substances. It enters the air as a result of the combustion of solid waste, exhaust gases and emissions from industrial enterprises.
2. Sulfur dioxide. Released during the combustion of sulfur-containing fuel or processing of sulfur ores
3. Sulfuric anhydride. Formed by the oxidation of sulfur dioxide. The final product of the reaction is an aerosol or solution of sulfuric acid in rainwater, which acidifies the soil and aggravates diseases of the human respiratory tract. Pyrometallurgical enterprises of non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgy, as well as thermal power plants, annually emit tens of millions of tons of sulfuric anhydride into the atmosphere.
4. Hydrogen sulfide and carbon disulfide. They enter the atmosphere separately or together with other sulfur compounds. The main sources of emissions are enterprises producing artificial fiber, sugar, coke plants, oil refineries, and oil fields.
5. Nitrogen oxides. The main sources of emissions are enterprises producing nitrogen fertilizers, nitric acid and nitrates, aniline dyes, nitro compounds, viscose silk, and celluloid.
6. Fluorine compounds. Sources of pollution are enterprises producing aluminum, enamels, glass, ceramics, steel, and phosphate fertilizers. Fluorine-containing substances enter the atmosphere in the form of gaseous compounds - hydrogen fluoride or sodium and calcium fluoride dust. The compounds are characterized by a toxic effect.
7. Chlorine compounds. They enter the atmosphere from chemical plants producing hydrochloric acid, chlorine-containing pesticides, organic dyes, hydrolytic alcohol, bleach, and soda.
Carcinogens- (from Lat. cancer - cancer and...gene), chemical substances, the effect of which on the body under certain conditions causes cancer and other tumors. Substances with carcinogenic properties include chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons, vinyl chloride, and especially polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The main anthropogenic sources of PAHs in the environment are the pyrolysis of organic substances during the combustion of various materials, wood and fuels
Aerosol air pollution
Aerosols- dispersed systems consisting of liquid or solid particles suspended in a gaseous medium. In some cases, solid components of aerosols are especially dangerous for organisms and cause specific diseases in people. In the atmosphere, aerosol pollution is perceived as smoke, fog, haze or haze. A significant portion of aerosols are formed in the atmosphere through the interaction of solid and liquid particles with each other or with water vapor. A large number of dust particles are also formed during human production activities.
Information about some sources of industrial dust is given below:
Manufacturing process.
Dust emissions, million tons/year
1. Coal combustion 93,600
2. Iron smelting 20.210
3. Copper smelting (without purification) 6,230
4. Zinc smelting 0.180
5. Tin smelting (without purification) 0.004
6. Lead smelting 0.130
7. Cement production 53,370
The main sources of artificial aerosol air pollution are thermal power plants that consume high-ash coal, washing plants, metallurgical, cement, magnesite and soot factories. Constant sources of aerosol pollution are industrial dumps - artificial embankments made of redeposited material, mainly overburden. Massive blasting operations serve as a source of dust and toxic gases.
Under certain weather conditions, particularly large accumulations of harmful gaseous and aerosol impurities may form in the ground layer of air.
This usually occurs in cases where there is an inversion in the air layer directly above the sources of gas and dust emission - the location of a layer of colder air under warmer air, which prevents air masses and delays the upward transfer of impurities. As a result, harmful emissions are concentrated under the inversion layer, their content near the ground increases sharply, which becomes one of the reasons for the formation of photochemical fog, previously unknown in nature.
Over large cities, the atmosphere contains 10 times more aerosols and 25 times more gases
Photochemical fog (smog)
Air pollution has exceeded all permissible limits. The concentration of substances harmful to health in the air exceeds medical standards in many cities by tens of times.
Smog (English smog, from smoke - smoke and fog - fog), an aerosol consisting of smoke, fog and dust. Occurs in the atmosphere of industrial cities from particles of soot, ash, and products of dry distillation of fuel; in a humid atmosphere also contains droplets of liquid. In hot, dry weather it appears as a yellowish veil.
Smogi- a common phenomenon over London, Paris, Los Angeles, New York and other cities in Europe and America. Due to their physiological effects on the human body, they are extremely dangerous for the respiratory and circulatory systems and often cause premature death in urban residents with poor health.
2.3 Pollution of natural waters
Water is the most common inorganic compound on the planet, the basis of all life processes, the source of oxygen in the main driving process on Earth - photosynthesis.
Chemical pollution of natural waters.
On a global scale, oil and petroleum products are the main pollutants of the hydrosphere. Among other industrial products, a special place is occupied by their negative impact on the aquatic environment. detergents- very toxic synthetic detergents. They are difficult to clean, and yet at least half of the initial amount ends up in water bodies. Detergents often form layers of foam in reservoirs, the thickness of which at sluices and thresholds reaches 1 m or more.
“Insidious” industrial wastes that pollute water are heavy metals: mercury, lead, zinc, copper, chromium, tin and others, as well as radioactive elements. Mercury (methylmercury fractions) poses a particular danger to the aquatic environment.
Inorganic pollution
The main inorganic (mineral) pollutants of fresh and sea waters are a variety of chemical compounds that are toxic to the inhabitants of the aquatic environment. These are compounds of arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium, copper, fluorine. Most of them end up in water as a result of human activity. Dangerous pollutants of the aquatic environment include inorganic acids and bases, which determine a wide pH range of industrial wastewater (11.0 - 11.0). Among the main sources of hydrosphere pollution with minerals and nutrients, food industry enterprises and agriculture should be mentioned. Mercury pollution significantly reduces the primary production of marine ecosystems, suppressing the development of phytoplankton. Waste containing mercury usually accumulates in the bottom sediments of bays or river estuaries. Its further migration is accompanied by the accumulation of methyl mercury and its inclusion in the trophic chains of aquatic organisms. Thus, Minamata disease, first discovered by Japanese scientists in people who ate fish caught in Minamata Bay, into which industrial wastewater containing technogenic mercury was uncontrolled, became notorious.
Organic pollution.
Among the soluble substances introduced into the ocean from land, not only mineral and biogenic elements, but also organic residues are of great importance for the inhabitants of the aquatic environment. Wastewater containing suspensions of organic origin or dissolved organic matter has a detrimental effect on the condition of water bodies. As they settle, the suspensions flood the bottom and delay the development or completely stop the vital activity of these microorganisms involved in the process of self-purification of water. When these sediments rot, harmful compounds and toxic substances, such as hydrogen sulfide, can be formed, which lead to the contamination of all water in the river. The presence of suspensions also makes it difficult for light to penetrate deep into the water and slows down the processes of photosynthesis. One of the main sanitary requirements for water quality is the content of the required amount of oxygen in it. All contaminants that in one way or another contribute to a decrease in the oxygen content in water have a harmful effect. Surfactants - fats, oils, lubricants - form a film on the surface of the water that prevents gas exchange between water and the atmosphere, which reduces the degree of oxygen saturation of the water. A significant volume of organic substances, most of which are not characteristic of natural waters, is discharged into rivers along with industrial and domestic wastewater.
Amount of pollutants in the global runoff, million tons/year:
1. Petroleum products 26,563
2. Phenols 0.460
3. Industrial waste
synthetic fibers 5,500
4. Plant organic residues 0.170
5. Total 33,273
Due to the rapid pace of urbanization and the somewhat slow construction of treatment facilities or their unsatisfactory operation, water basins and soil are polluted by household waste. Household waste is dangerous not only because it is a source of certain human diseases (typhoid fever, dysentery, cholera), but also because it requires a lot of oxygen to decompose.
2.4 The problem of ocean pollution
Oil and petroleum products
Oil is a viscous oily liquid that is dark brown in color and weakly fluorescent.
Oil and petroleum products are the most common pollutants in the World Ocean. By the early 1980s, about 10.23% of global oil production entered the ocean annually. The greatest oil losses are associated with its transportation from production areas. Emergency situations involving tankers draining washing and ballast water overboard - all this causes the presence of permanent fields of pollution along sea routes.
The oil film changes the composition of the spectrum and the intensity of light penetration into water. The light transmittance of thin films of crude oil is 1-10% (280 nm), 60-70% (400 nm). A film with a thickness of 130-40 microns completely absorbs infrared radiation. When mixed with water, oil forms two types of emulsion: direct "oil in water" and reverse "water in oil". When volatile fractions are removed, oil forms viscous inverse emulsions that can remain on the surface, be transported by the current, washed ashore and settle to the bottom.
Synthetic surfactants.
Detergents (surfactants) belong to a large group of substances that reduce the surface tension of water. They are part of synthetic detergents (SDCs), widely used in everyday life and industry. Together with wastewater, surfactants enter continental waters and the marine environment. The most common surfactants are anionic substances. They account for more than 50% of all surfactants produced in the world. The presence of surfactants in industrial wastewater is associated with their use in processes such as flotation concentration of ores, separation of chemical technology products, production of polymers, improving conditions for drilling oil and gas wells, and combating equipment corrosion. In agriculture, surfactants are used as part of pesticides.
Heavy metals.
Heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium, zinc, copper, arsenic) are common and highly toxic pollutants. They are widely used in various industrial processes, therefore, despite treatment measures, the content of heavy metal compounds in industrial wastewater is quite high. Large masses of these compounds enter the ocean through the atmosphere. For marine biocenoses, the most dangerous are mercury, lead and cadmium. Mercury is transported to the ocean by continental runoff and through the atmosphere. About half of the annual industrial production of this metal ends up in the ocean through various routes. Contamination of seafood has repeatedly led to mercury poisoning of coastal populations. Lead is a typical trace element found in all components of the environment: rocks, soils, natural waters, atmosphere, living organisms. Finally, lead is actively dissipated into the environment during human economic activity. These are emissions from industrial and domestic wastewater, from smoke and dust from industrial enterprises, and from exhaust gases from internal combustion engines. The migration flow of lead from the continent to the ocean occurs not only with river runoff, but also through the atmosphere.
Dumping of waste into the sea for the purpose of disposal (dumping).
Many countries with access to the sea carry out marine disposal of various materials and substances, in particular dredging soil, drilling slag, industrial waste, construction waste, solid waste, explosives and chemicals, and radioactive waste. The volume of burials amounted to about 10% of the total mass of pollutants entering the World Ocean. The basis for dumping at sea is the ability of the marine environment to process large quantities of organic and inorganic substances without much damage to the water. However, this ability is not unlimited. Therefore, dumping is seen as a forced measure, a temporary tribute from society to the imperfection of technology. The discharge of dumping materials to the bottom and prolonged increased turbidity of the added water leads to the death of sedentary benthos from suffocation. In surviving fish, mollusks and crustaceans, their growth rate is reduced due to deteriorating feeding and breathing conditions. The species composition of a given community often changes.
Thermal pollution.
Thermal pollution of the surface of reservoirs and coastal marine areas occurs as a result of the discharge of heated wastewater by power plants and some industrial production. The discharge of heated water in many cases causes an increase in water temperature in reservoirs by 6-8 degrees Celsius. The solubility of oxygen decreases, and its consumption increases, since with increasing temperature the activity of aerobic bacteria decomposing organic matter increases. The species diversity of phytoplankton and the entire algal flora is increasing.
Based on the generalization of the material, we can conclude that the effects of anthropogenic impact on the aquatic environment manifest themselves at the individual and population-biocenotic levels, and the long-term effect of pollutants leads to a simplification of the ecosystem.
2.5 Soil pollution.
The Earth's soil cover is the most important component of the Earth's biosphere. It is the soil shell that determines many of the processes occurring in the biosphere.
The most important importance of soils is the accumulation of organic matter, various chemical elements, and energy. Soil cover functions as a biological absorber, destroyer and neutralizer of various pollutants.
Soil contamination with mercury (with pesticides and waste from industrial enterprises), lead (from lead smelting and from vehicles), iron, copper, zinc, manganese, nickel, aluminum and other metals (near large centers of ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy), radioactive elements ( as a result of precipitation from atomic explosions or during the removal of liquid and solid waste from industrial enterprises, nuclear power plants or research institutes related to the study and use of atomic energy), persistent organic compounds used as pesticides. They accumulate in soil and water and, most importantly, are included in ecological food chains: they pass from soil and water to plants, animals, and ultimately enter the human body with food. Inept and uncontrolled use of any fertilizers and pesticides leads to disruption of the cycle of substances in the biosphere.
Pesticides
Pesticides (from Latin pestis - infection and caedo - kill) (pesticides), chemical preparations for controlling weeds (herbicides), pests (insecticides, acaricides, zoocides, etc.), diseases (fungicides, bactericides, etc.) of cultivated plants . The group of pesticides includes defoliants, desiccants, and plant growth regulators. Most pesticides are synthetic organic substances. With the systematic use of persistent, highly toxic pesticides, especially in excessive doses, pollution of the environment is observed, which leads to the destruction of beneficial insects, birds, fish, animals, as well as poisoning of people directly with pesticides or products in which they can accumulate.
In agriculture, there has long been a problem of transition from chemical (polluting) to biological (environmentally friendly) methods of pest control. The use of pesticides is regulated by law in all countries.
3. Somatic and demographic consequences of environmental pollution.
Environmental changes resulting from human activities have impacts on human populations that are largely harmful, leading to increased morbidity and reduced life expectancy. Impacts that do not seem to lead to premature death often reduce quality of life, but the deeper problem is the subtle gradual change in the foundation that is becoming global in scope.
3.1 Change in the gene pool.
The gene pool is usually defined as the set of genes present in individuals of a given population, group of populations or species, within which they are characterized by a certain frequency of occurrence.
The impact on the gene pool is most often discussed in connection with radiation pollution. At the same time, the action of natural factors of change in the gene pool continues - mutations, genetic drift and natural selection. Pollution affects each of them.
Mutagenesis factors. These physical influences, in addition to ionizing radiation, may include electromagnetic fields. For example, an increase in the incidence of leukemia has been established in people living for a long time near high-voltage power lines. Of the hundreds of thousands of various chemical compounds entering the environment in the form of household and industrial pollution, about 20% are genotoxic.
Mutational changes reduce the viability of the organism by 1-2 times the rate of gametic mutagenesis. Along with the direct carcinogenic effect - mutations, mutations that disrupt the influence of cell clones in the process of their growth and transformation, there is a violation of the control functions of the hormonal and immune systems, against the background of which the risk of malignant neoplasms of both chemotoxic and viral etiology increases. Mutagenesis, which accompanies the integration of a viral particle into the cellular genome, can also increase as a result of the body's immune deficiency, the emergence of new strains of viruses, or both.
3.2 Ecology and human health.
Chemical pollution of the environment and human health.
It is almost impossible to find a place on the globe where pollutants are not present in varying concentrations. Even in the ice of Antarctica, where there are no industrial productions and people live only at small scientific stations, scientists have discovered various toxic (poisonous) substances from modern industries. They are brought here by atmospheric currents from other continents.
Substances that pollute the natural environment are very diverse. Depending on their nature, concentration, and time of action on the human body, they can cause various adverse effects. Short-term exposure to small concentrations of such substances can cause dizziness, nausea, sore throat, and cough. The entry of large concentrations of toxic substances into the human body can lead to loss of consciousness, acute poisoning and even death. An example of such an action could be smog that forms in large cities in calm weather, or emergency releases of toxic substances into the atmosphere by industrial enterprises.
The body's reactions to pollution depend on individual characteristics: age, gender, health status. As a rule, children, elderly and sick people are more vulnerable.
When the body systematically or periodically receives relatively small amounts of toxic substances, chronic poisoning occurs.
Signs of chronic poisoning are a violation of normal behavior, habits, as well as neuropsychological abnormalities: rapid fatigue or a feeling of constant fatigue, drowsiness or, conversely, insomnia, apathy, decreased attention, absent-mindedness, forgetfulness, severe mood swings.
In chronic poisoning, the same substances in different people can cause different damage to the kidneys, hematopoietic organs, nervous system, and liver.
Highly biologically active chemical compounds can cause long-term effects on human health: chronic inflammatory diseases of various organs, changes in the nervous system, effects on the intrauterine development of the fetus, leading to various abnormalities in newborns.
Polluted air mostly irritates the respiratory tract, causing bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma.
Certain pollutants cause specific symptoms of poisoning. For example, chronic poisoning phosphorus initially manifests itself as pain in the gastrointestinal tract and yellowing of the skin. These symptoms are accompanied by loss of appetite and slow metabolism. In the future, phosphorus poisoning leads to deformation of bones, which become increasingly fragile. The body's resistance as a whole decreases.
Doctors have established a direct connection between the increase in the number of people suffering from allergies, bronchial asthma, cancer, and the deterioration of the environmental situation in this region. It has been reliably established that industrial wastes such as chromium, nickel, beryllium, asbestos, and many pesticides are carcinogens, that is, they cause cancer. Even in the last century, cancer in children was almost unknown, but now it is becoming more and more common. As a result of pollution, new, previously unknown diseases appear. Their causes can be very difficult to establish.
The relationship between reducing air pollution levels and
reduction of morbidity.
How does lead affect humans?
In terms of the degree of impact on living organisms, lead is classified as a highly hazardous substance along with arsenic, cadmium, mercury, selenium, zinc, fluorine and benzo(a)pyrene (GOST 17.4.1.02-83).
The majority of lead enters the human body through food (from 40 to 70% in different countries and in different age groups), as well as through drinking water, atmospheric air, smoking, and accidental ingestion of pieces of lead-containing paint or lead-contaminated soil into the esophagus. . According to official statistics, lead ranks first among occupational intoxications. Thus, in 1994, among all acute and chronic occupational poisonings, the share of lead intoxication was 11.7%. The number of victims was 7.5 people. per 10,000 workers, of which 3.54 are disabled. The share of lead intoxication in the structure of occupational poisonings diagnosed in Russia increased from 9.4% in 1991 to 11.6% in 1995.
Among workers affected by lead exposure, about 40% are women. For women, lead is especially dangerous, since this element has the ability to penetrate the placenta and accumulate in breast milk. WHO notes the possible risk of spontaneous abortions when the lead concentration in the blood of pregnant workers is 30 μg/dL and an increase in the number of chromosomal aberrations in workers when the lead level in the blood is over 80 μg/dL.
In young children, changes in psychomotor reactions are associated with an increased intake of lead into the body when licking fingers and toys that have been on contaminated soil. School-age children are characterized by changes in IQ scores. The influence of lead is also manifested in changes in motor activity, coordination of movements, time of visual and auditory motor reaction, auditory perception and memory. These changes in the psychoneurological status of the child are also possible at an older age, which is reflected in difficulties in learning and entering higher educational institutions. With prolonged exposure to lead, nephrological effects also occur.
Exposure to lead causes certain changes in the cardiovascular system. The pathogenesis of heart damage due to lead exposure is associated with damage to mitochondria, in particular with inhibition of the absorption of calcium ions.
Radioactive contamination and human health.
Radiation by its very nature is harmful to life. Small doses of radiation can “trigger” an incompletely established chain of events leading to cancer or genetic damage. At high doses, radiation can destroy cells, damage organ tissue and cause rapid death of the body.
Any type of ionizing radiation causes biological changes in the body, both during external (the source is outside the body) and internal irradiation (radioactive substances, i.e. particles, enter the body with food, through the respiratory system).
A single exposure to radiation causes biological damage that depends on the total absorbed dose. So, at a dose of up to 0.25 Gy, there are no visible violations, but already at 4 - 5 Gy, deaths account for 50% of the total number of victims, and at 6 Gy or more - 100% of victims. (Here: Gr - gray).
The main mechanism of action is associated with the processes of ionization of atoms and molecules of living matter, in particular water molecules contained in cells. It is they who are subject to intense destruction. The changes caused can be reversible or irreversible and occur in the chronic form of radiation sickness.
Thus, in areas exposed to radioactive contamination as a result of the Chernobyl disaster, the incidence of disease among the population, especially children, increased many times.
Biological pollution and human diseases
In addition to chemical pollutants, there are also biological pollutants in the natural environment that cause various diseases in humans. These are pathogenic microorganisms, viruses, helminths, and protozoa. They can be found in the atmosphere, water, soil, and in the body of other living organisms, including the person himself.
The most dangerous pathogens are infectious diseases. They have different stability in the environment. Some are able to live outside the human body for only a few hours; being in the air, in water, on various objects, they quickly die. Others can live in the environment from a few days to several years. For others, the environment is their natural habitat. For others, other organisms, such as wild animals, provide a place for conservation and reproduction.
Often the source of infection is the soil, in which pathogens of tetanus, botulism, gas gangrene, and some fungal diseases constantly live. They can enter the human body if the skin is damaged, with unwashed food, or if hygiene rules are violated.
Pathogenic microorganisms can penetrate groundwater and cause infectious diseases in humans. Therefore, water from artesian wells, wells, and springs must be boiled before drinking.
Open water sources are especially polluted: rivers, lakes, ponds. There are numerous cases where contaminated water sources have caused epidemics of cholera, typhoid fever, and dysentery.
3.3 Demographics and environmental pollution.
Health depends 20-30% on the state of the environment. pollution, as a rule, leads to an increase in diseases of the cardiovascular system and internal organs; tumor processes, etc., which in turn leads to an increase in mortality.
Respiratory diseases.
Air pollution leads to an increase in respiratory diseases. In Russia, mortality from respiratory diseases has generally decreased over the past 30 years. True, the decline in lu is relatively slow and became more pronounced only in the 80s. The improvements can be attributed to a decrease in air pollution due to a sharp decline in industrial activity. Favorable changes are clearly observed for acute respiratory diseases of infectious etiology, such as influenza and pneumonia. The situation with chronic diseases, for example, chronic bronchitis or asthma, is less stable.
Tumor neoplasms.
The rapid development of technology and agriculture has led to an increase in the level of chemical contamination of the soil. There are many chemicals that are used in growing crops. They penetrate the soil. According to the International Committee for Environmental Protection, herbicides, nitrates, bacteria and pesticides are the most common pollutants used in this industry. Food can also be contaminated by them.
Water pollution
Water pollution can result from various reasons. It is often associated with soil contamination due to the large amount of chemicals used to treat fields. Runoff from livestock farms, industries, and pastures also contributes to this type of pollution.
Another source of water pollution is oil spills and emissions from watercraft such as boats and jet skis. According to the World Society for the Protection of Animals, this water pollution can be very harmful to all aquatic life. Plants and fish may suffer from a lack of oxygen in the water and food as a result of the formation of a greasy film on the surface of the reservoir.
Fishing is the main source of income for many countries, and chemical pollution can threaten the existence of this economic sector. In some cases, eating contaminated fish can cause irreparable harm to people, causing both various skin diseases and poisoning of the body as a whole.
Air pollution
Air pollution is perhaps the most common type of chemical pollution. International environmental organizations are discussing various ways of possible protection against it. Air quality is continuously deteriorating due to the operation of thousands of factories around the world.
Cars and airplanes also create emissions that can pollute the air. When an internal combustion engine runs, it produces carbon dioxide because most vehicle models use oil as fuel. Although plants and other living things also produce carbon dioxide, the amount of gas they emit is much less compared to man-made pollution. This causes much less harm to the atmosphere. A National Geographic article notes that volcanic eruptions and gases released from swamps also contribute to air pollution. The consequences of air pollution also affect the deterioration of general human health and can cause various diseases, both professional and among ordinary civilians living near the source of pollution.
Methods for cleaning up contamination
Cleaning up environmental contamination can take a long time. It is also quite complex and expensive. The choice of method and the technical means used in the process depend on the type of chemical and the size of the affected area.
Prevention
Prevention is the best way to protect against chemical contamination. The Environmental Protection Society actively works with businesses to help reduce gas emissions and dispose of hazardous chemicals. International agreements are also concluded at the government level, which oblige official authorities to monitor compliance with standards for the protection of the ecosystem.
In the process of its development, humanity is constantly faced with environmental pollution.
Despite the fact that the improvement of technology improves the quality of our lives, such rapid progress inevitably leads to noise, light, biological and even radioactive pollution.
As a result, with increasing living comfort, a person worsens the quality of his own health. This is why environmental protection is so important.
Physical pollution of the environment
This concept is quite voluminous and therefore it is divided into several subspecies, each of which characterizes a particular physical phenomenon.
Any pollution of the natural environment in which humans participate is called anthropogenic.
Anthropogenic impact suppresses nature's ability to renew itself.
Thermal
It occurs for various reasons, and the source of this type of pollution can be:
- underground construction;
- laying communications;
- activity of some types of microorganisms.
These factors can significantly increase the temperature of the soil, which releases heat into the environment; as a result, the temperature of the environment also changes. In addition, any petrochemical enterprise where production waste is constantly burned can be a serious source of thermal pollution.
As a result of thermal pollution in large industrial cities, the average temperature changes, and this affects water bodies. Due to thermal pollution in water bodies, some species of flora and fauna disappear and others appear in their place, fish spawning conditions are disrupted, and the amount of oxygen in the water decreases. An example would be .
Light
At first glance, this type of pollution seems completely harmless, since, in fact, light pollution is a violation of the natural light of the environment.
However, experts say the opposite, and as a result of light pollution, water bodies suffer the most.
The turbidity of the water changes in them, and artificial light blocks the possibility of access to the depth of natural light. As a result, the conditions for photosynthesis of plants in water bodies change. 
There are four main sources of light pollution:
- illumination of the night sky in cities;
- deliberately pointing light in the wrong direction;
- lighting directed to the sky;
- a cluster of bright, unsystematic redundant illuminations.
Noise
The main components of noise pollution are excessively loud noises and sounds that have an extremely harmful effect on the human body, therefore noise pollution is considered one of the most dangerous for humanity. Excessively loud sounds, which include sounds with a noise level above 130 decibels, can lead to consequences such as: 
- diseases of the hearing aid;
- nervous disorders (including shock reactions);
- mental disorders;
- visual impairment and disturbances in the functioning of the vestibular apparatus (this is especially true for people who work in noisy industries).
Vibration
As is known, very strong vibrations negatively affect surrounding buildings and structures: such vibrations and vibrations can cause uneven settlement of foundations and entire buildings, which can subsequently lead to their deformation, as well as partial or complete destruction.
Such vibrations and oscillations of different frequencies are called vibration pollution of the environment, but it is dangerous not only due to its impact on buildings and structures, but also due to its negative impact on the human body. At the same time, vibration pollution not only causes irritation and interferes with rest or work, but can also have a serious impact on health.
Particularly susceptible to vibration pollution are areas where the following objects are located:
- compressor and pumping stations;
- vibration platforms;
- turbines of diesel power plants;
- cooling towers (devices for cooling large volumes of water).
Electromagnetic
Electromagnetic pollution arises as a result of the operation of power devices, electronics and radio equipment, while ordinary household electrical appliances have nothing to do with this.
We are talking about radar stations, electric vehicles, high-voltage power lines and television stations.
These objects create electromagnetic fields that cause field strength, and in the area of increased field strength, a person may experience problems such as irritation, fatigue, insomnia, persistent headaches and nervous system disorders.
Ionizing
Ionizing radiation is divided into three types:
- Gamma radiation.
- Beta radiation.
- Alpha radiation.
All three species pose a huge danger to living organisms. Under the influence of such radiation, changes occur in the body at the molecular level. Depending on the strength of the radiation, irreversible changes occur in the cell nuclei, disrupting the normal functioning of the cells.
Just half a century ago, ionizing radiation was not considered particularly dangerous; only deposits of uranium ores, radioactive shale and crystalline rocks were considered serious sources; the sun was and remains a serious source of ionizing radiation.
Currently, there are a large number of sources of ionizing radiation created by man: these are nuclear reactors, particle accelerators, artificial radionuclides.This type of pollution is also called
Mechanical
One of the most insidious types of environmental pollution is mechanical pollution. It would seem that there is nothing irreversible or dangerous about it: the release of dust into the atmosphere, siltation of water bodies with soil, and waste dumps. In fact, the danger is not so much the phenomenon of mechanical pollution itself, but its scale. It is precisely because of this enormous scale that in recent years various environmental problems have increasingly arisen, the elimination of which sometimes requires huge financial costs.
Biological
Experts divide this type of pollution into bacterial and organic.
In the first case, pathogenic microorganisms are to blame, which contribute to the spread of many diseases, but sources of organic environmental pollution can be pollution of water bodies, waste discharges, and neglect of sewerage cleaning measures.
Bacterial contamination is the most dangerous for humans, since it produces many pathogens of serious infectious diseases.
Geological
Geological pollution is mainly caused by the actions of man himself: as a result of some types of activities, landslides or landslides, flooding, subsidence of the earth's surface, and drainage of territories can form. The main reasons why this happens:
- mining;
- construction;
- vibration impact of transport;
- impact of waste and sewage water on the soil.
Chemical
This is another serious type of pollution that occurs due to the release of various pollutants, and these pollutants can range from heavy metals to synthetic and organic compounds.
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Anthropogenic impact greatly alters natural processes. The global consequences of pollution are the greenhouse effect, destruction of the ozone layer, disruption of natural cycles, and acidic precipitation.
Greenhouse effect and global warming.
The greenhouse effect is an increase in the average temperature of the atmosphere as a result of an increase in the concentration of “greenhouse gases” (carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, etc.) that interfere with the normal heat exchange of the Earth.
The cause of the greenhouse effect is the release of large quantities of “greenhouse gases” into the atmosphere. Containing large quantities of nitrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere, they almost do not retain thermal radiation emanating from the heated surface of the Earth. But “greenhouse gases” - water vapor and carbon dioxide - retain 84% of this radiation. The most important greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide (CO2). The increase in its content in the atmosphere began in the 19th century and continues to this day. Over the past 100 years, the CO2 content in the atmosphere has increased by 25%. Over the same period, the methane content doubled. Billions of tons of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere each year as a result of fuel combustion (in transport engines, during energy production). Methane enters the atmosphere during natural gas production, as a result of the decomposition of organic remains. An atmosphere saturated with greenhouse gases, like a glass roof in a greenhouse, allows the sun's rays to pass through, but does not allow heat to escape, trapping the Earth's thermal radiation. At the same time, the average ambient temperature increases. An increase in temperature leads to a decrease in the solubility of CO2 in the World Ocean, which causes the appearance of new portions of gas in the atmosphere.
A consequence of the heating of the atmosphere is the melting of glaciers and the expansion of water, which leads to an increase in the level of the World Ocean. The ice of Antarctica is already rapidly melting. Over the past decades, the thickness of ice in the Arctic Ocean has decreased by 40%. By 2030-2050, at the current production rates, there should be an increase in temperature by 1.5-4.5 C, which will cause a rise in the level of the World Ocean by 50-100 cm, and by the end of the century - by 2 m.
Rising sea levels mean the flooding of vast coastal areas, the disappearance of small islands, and swamping of lands in many areas. This will be a serious blow to the global economy, since most of the world's population lives near oceans and seas.
Another consequence of climate warming will be severe hurricanes, droughts, monsoon rains, and forest fires. There is an assumption that a sharp increase in temperature could change global ocean circulation, resulting in the rapid onset of the next Ice Age (that is, rapid global cooling).
Even a very small climate change, within 1-2 C, leads to droughts in some areas, expansion of deserts, and increased precipitation and floods in other areas. Over the past 50 years, the total area of deserts has increased by approximately 9 million km2 - an area equal in size to half of South America. With climate change, the normal cycle of seasons is disrupted, biological rhythms change, which leads to the death of many organisms.
At the environmental conference in Rio de Janeiro, the UN climate change convention was adopted, according to which 25 developed and emerging economies must undertake the following obligations: return to greenhouse gas emissions, provide financial resources and safe technologies to others countries, etc.
Destruction of the ozone layer.
Another global consequence of pollution is the destruction of the ozone layer, which protects the biosphere from powerful cosmic radiation. Ozone holes were first discovered in 1975 over Antarctica. Currently, there is depletion of the ozone layer over many areas of the globe. The ozone layer over Antarctica has decreased by 40% over the past few decades, and over the North Pole by 10%.
Many “holes” have appeared in the protective ozone layer. Ozone holes have also been discovered over Russia, especially over its cold part - Siberia.
A decrease in the amount of ozone in the atmosphere affects the planet's climate and human health. Ultraviolet radiation penetrating through the ozone hole has sufficient energy to destroy most organic compounds in a living cell. In areas with low ozone levels, there is an increase in the incidence of eye diseases, suppression of the immune system, and an increase in the number of cancers. Thus, American scientists have found that a decrease in the ozone layer by 1% leads to an increase in ultraviolet radiation by 2% and, as a result, an increase in cases of skin cancer by 2.5%. Under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, plants gradually lose their ability to photosynthesize. This has a particularly strong effect on the photosynthetics of the ocean - small plankton, which is the food of most fish. The death of plankton disrupts all trophic chains in aquatic systems, which inevitably leads to degradation of the biosphere.
The reason for the appearance of ozone holes is the destruction of ozone upon contact with certain pollutants (chlorofluorocarbons - freons, nitrogen oxides), as well as nuclear weapons testing. Freons are used in large quantities as refrigerants in refrigerators, as solvents, and as dispensers in aerosol cans. These light gases rise to the upper layers of the atmosphere, where they are destroyed, releasing very active chlorine and bromine radicals that interact with ozone. In addition to destroying ozone, freons also enhance the greenhouse effect, playing a double negative role in the atmosphere.
The production of freons in the world is very large. The USA alone produces 800-900 thousand tons per year - half of the total amount.
Acid precipitation over large areas.
The main cause of acid rain is the release of sulfur and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere, which form acids when interacting with water. Gaseous substances are carried by air currents over long distances. As a result, in many areas, sediments become acidic (pH = 5-6; precipitation with pH = 2-3 has also been recorded). The consequence of this is acidification of soils and water bodies over large areas, death of aquatic organisms, suppression of vegetation and degradation of natural ecosystems. Nutrients are washed out of the soil, as well as toxic compounds, which return to living organisms. As a result of acid rainfall, forests are dying all over the world. Under the influence of acidic compounds, buildings and structures are destroyed, bridges and various metal structures are corroded, and human health is harmed.
Smog formation over industrial centers.
Smog is a mixture of smoke, fog and dust that creates a toxic haze over the city. There are two main types of smog: winter (London type) and summer (Los Angeles type).
Winter (London) smog forms over large industrial centers in winter, in the absence of wind. At the same time, the concentration of pollutants reaches large values, which leads to a deterioration in people's health.
In 1952, as a result of the formation of this type of smog over London, more than 4 thousand people died in the city between December 3 and 9, and approximately 10 thousand were hospitalized. Later, a similar type of smog was observed over other cities. Only wind can dissipate smog; reducing the concentration of pollutants helps to reduce their emissions.
Summer (Los Angeles) smog is also called photochemical smog. It occurs in summer as a result of intense exposure to solar radiation on air saturated with automobile emissions. When exposed to solar energy, some pollutants (such as nitrogen oxides) produce highly toxic substances that irritate the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and eyes. This smog is typical for cities located in lowlands.
Environmental pollution is a global problem of our time, which is regularly discussed in the news and in scientific circles. Many international organizations have been created to combat the deterioration of natural conditions. Scientists have long been sounding the alarm about the inevitability of an environmental disaster in the very near future.
At the moment, a lot is known about environmental pollution - a large number of scientific papers and books have been written, numerous studies have been conducted. But humanity has made very little progress in solving the problem. Pollution of nature still remains an important and pressing issue, the postponement of which can turn tragic.
History of biosphere pollution
Due to the intensive industrialization of society, environmental pollution has become particularly acute in recent decades. However, despite this fact, natural pollution is one of the oldest problems in human history. Even in the primitive era, people began to barbarously destroy forests, exterminate animals and change the landscape of the earth to expand their territory of residence and obtain valuable resources.
Even then, this led to climate change and other environmental problems. The growth of the planet's population and the progress of civilizations was accompanied by increased mining, drainage of water bodies, as well as chemical pollution of the biosphere. The Industrial Revolution marked not only a new era in social order, but also a new wave of pollution.
With the development of science and technology, scientists have received tools with which an accurate and detailed analysis of the ecological state of the planet has become possible. Weather reports, monitoring of the chemical composition of air, water and soil, satellite data, as well as ubiquitous smoking pipes and oil spills on the water indicate that the problem is rapidly worsening with the expansion of the technosphere. It is not for nothing that the emergence of man is called the main environmental disaster.
Classification of nature pollution
There are several classifications of natural pollution based on their source, direction, and other factors.
So, the following types of environmental pollution are distinguished:
- Biological – the source of pollution is living organisms; it can occur due to natural causes or as a result of anthropogenic activities.
- Physical – leads to changes in the corresponding characteristics of the environment. Physical pollution includes thermal, radiation, noise and others.
- Chemical – an increase in the content of substances or their penetration into the environment. Leads to a change in the normal chemical composition of resources.
- Mechanical – pollution of the biosphere with garbage.
In reality, one type of pollution may be accompanied by another or several at once.
The gaseous shell of the planet is an integral participant in natural processes, determines the thermal background and climate of the Earth, protects against harmful cosmic radiation, and influences relief formation.
The composition of the atmosphere has changed throughout the historical development of the planet. The current situation is such that part of the volume of the gas shell is determined by human economic activity. The composition of the air is heterogeneous and differs depending on the geographical location - in industrial areas and large cities there is a high level of harmful impurities.
The main sources of chemical pollution of the atmosphere:
- chemical plants;
- enterprises of the fuel and energy complex;
- transport.
These pollutants cause the presence of heavy metals in the atmosphere, such as lead, mercury, chromium, and copper. They are permanent components of air in industrial areas.
Modern power plants emit hundreds of tons of carbon dioxide, as well as soot, dust and ash, into the atmosphere every day.
The increase in the number of cars in populated areas has led to an increase in the concentration of a number of harmful gases in the air, which are part of car exhaust. Anti-knock additives added to transportation fuels release large quantities of lead. Cars produce dust and ash, which pollute not only the air, but also the soil, settling on the ground.
The atmosphere is also polluted by very toxic gases emitted by the chemical industry. Waste from chemical plants, for example, nitrogen and sulfur oxides, causes acid rain and can react with components of the biosphere to form other dangerous derivatives.
As a result of human activity, forest fires regularly occur, during which colossal amounts of carbon dioxide are released.
Soil is a thin layer of the lithosphere, formed as a result of natural factors, in which most of the exchange processes between living and nonliving systems take place.
Due to the extraction of natural resources, mining operations, the construction of buildings, roads and airfields, large areas of soil are destroyed.
Irrational human economic activity has caused the degradation of the fertile layer of the earth. Its natural chemical composition changes and mechanical contamination occurs. Intensive agricultural development leads to significant land loss. Frequent plowing makes them vulnerable to flooding, salinity and wind, which causes soil erosion.
The abundant use of fertilizers, insecticides and chemical poisons to destroy pests and clear weeds leads to the release of toxic compounds that are unnatural for it into the soil. As a result of anthropogenic activities, chemical pollution of lands with heavy metals and their derivatives occurs. The main harmful element is lead, as well as its compounds. When processing lead ores, about 30 kilograms of metal are released from every ton. Car exhaust containing large amounts of this metal settles in the soil, poisoning the organisms living in it. Liquid waste discharges from mines contaminate the ground with zinc, copper and other metals.
Power plants, radioactive fallout from nuclear explosions, and research centers for the study of atomic energy cause radioactive isotopes to enter the soil, which then enter the human body with food.
Metal reserves concentrated in the bowels of the earth are dissipated as a consequence of human production activity. Then they concentrate in the top layer of soil. In ancient times, man used 18 elements found in the earth's crust, and today - all of them are known.
Today, the water shell of the earth is much more polluted than one can imagine. Oil slicks and bottles floating on the surface are just what can be seen. A significant part of pollutants is in a dissolved state.
Water spoilage can occur naturally. As a result of mudflows and floods, magnesium is washed out of the continental soil, which enters water bodies and harms fish. As a result of chemical transformations, aluminum penetrates into fresh waters. But natural pollution makes up a negligibly small proportion compared to anthropogenic pollution. Due to human fault, the following gets into the water:
- surfactants;
- pesticides;
- phosphates, nitrates and other salts;
- medicines;
- petroleum products;
- radioactive isotopes.
Sources of these pollutants include farms, fisheries, oil platforms, power plants, chemical plants, and sewage.
Acid rain, which is also the result of human activity, dissolves the soil and washes away heavy metals.
In addition to chemical pollution of water, there is physical, namely thermal. The largest use of water is in the production of electricity. Thermal stations use it to cool turbines, and the heated waste liquid is discharged into reservoirs.
Mechanical deterioration of water quality due to household waste in populated areas leads to a reduction in the habitats of living beings. Some species are dying.
Polluted water is the main cause of most diseases. As a result of liquid poisoning, many living beings die, the ocean ecosystem suffers, and the normal course of natural processes is disrupted. The pollutants ultimately enter the human body.
Anti-pollution
To avoid environmental disaster, combating physical pollution must be a top priority. The problem must be solved at the international level, because nature has no state borders. To prevent pollution, it is necessary to impose sanctions on enterprises that discharge waste into the environment, and impose large fines for placing waste in the wrong place. Incentives to comply with environmental safety standards can also be achieved through financial methods. This approach has proven effective in some countries.
A promising direction to combat pollution is the use of alternative energy sources. The use of solar panels, hydrogen fuel and other energy-saving technologies will reduce the emission of toxic compounds into the atmosphere.
Other methods of combating pollution include:
- construction of treatment facilities;
- creation of national parks and reserves;
- increasing the amount of green space;
- population control in third world countries;
- attracting public attention to the problem.
Environmental pollution is a large-scale global problem, which can only be solved with the active participation of everyone who calls planet Earth home, otherwise an environmental disaster will be inevitable.