Archive for October, 2008

Pharmaceutical are not known for handing out their medications, especially those that make good money for them, for free. However, in recent years, that’s exactly what has been happening, in very small doses, in most major North American cities. These and other drugs, including hormones, over-the-counter medications and water soluble vitamins turn up in water supplies in increasingly large amounts.

Though there are no thresholds for exposure, there is also (as of the late ‘aughts) no way to filter them out. The molecules in question are simply far too small to be pulled out that way. Furthermore, since there are no regulations regarding these substances, municipal water treatment systems are not compelled to innovate a way to deal with the problem, if they even see it as a problem.

Most people see it as a problem. In fact, until these stories broke, most were unaware that sewage was recycled into drinking water. This has been safely done many times over for the last several decades all over the arid parts of North America.
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Water pollution has become a big problem is America and other countries around the world. Even though there are strong laws that have been set up as water pollution solutions to help prevent further pollution from taking place, there is still a lot of work to be done. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approximately 40% of lakes, rivers and streams are not safe to fish in or swim in due to water pollution. There are many laws in place that offer water pollution solutions but they are not always effectively enforced. One very simple way to have more effective water pollution solutions would be to enforce the rules that are already in place.

Additional water pollution solutions involve reducing nutrient and pesticide pollution by encouraging smarter agricultural practices and using biodynamic farming, no-till planting and settling ponds to reduce the amount of runoff that enters into the ground water and flows into the streams. Another one of the water pollution solutions that may be very effective along these same lines would be to reduce household runoff of pesticides and fertilizers by using less of these chemicals or stopping their use altogether.

There are many other water pollution solutions that may be put into effect including:
• Reestablishing wetlands to act as a buffer zone to runoff and to assist in filtering pollutants
• Drive less to reduce the amount of air pollution being emitted into the environment and minimize the amount of nitrogen deposition.
• Improve the sewage treatment system to stop the leaks in the pipes.
• Conserve water
• Improve storm water management.
• Monitor watershed
• Stop deforestation to soak up the rain water and prevent runoff from occurring.

Individuals can do a lot to help with the water pollution problems and to aid in the water pollution solutions. Buy organic food and “green” household cleaners and personal care items to prevent the run off of chemical into the ground water. Eliminate as many pharmaceuticals as possible and stay away from meats that are raised using hormones and drugs. It is also important to properly dispose of any old paints and varnishes. Another way to implement water pollution solutions is to use less plastics and plastic products and not to litter. Water pollution solutions are very affordable to put into effect. The United States research Council has estimated that to do an initial clean-up of all the contaminated groundwater in over 300,000 sites across the United States it would cost $1 trillion dollars over the course of thirty years. That would average out to around 33 cents per person per day.

BLOOMINGTON — Kristian Gustavson has a special connection to water. The 23-year-old, who spent his early days and summers in Bloomington, became a lifeguard and a swim instructor in high school.

Introduction

Education is extremely critical to the success of any new endeavor or project in an organization or community, especially the one which is related to an uphill task associated with the development of the particular region in question. Environmental education is one such aspect which has gained immense popularity in the last few years owing to the rapid industrial progress and advancement which has brought along a series of potential fallouts and negative impacts.

Subjects such as environmental education are successfully instructed through a series of teaching initiatives undertaken through practical study, research and training, undertaken by the faculty members as well as experts on the subject.

The Avenues

Towards this very objective, there are a vast number of choices available of enrolling in an environmental and education training center, present all over the world and offering state-of-the-art training and facilities for the purpose of ensuring adequate environmental education.

Such workshops and training centers have ongoing teaching modules that are aimed at imparting the essential environmental education to the faculty members or teachers in various institutions. Apart from the regular teaching modules at any particular environmental and education training center, there is also an option of enrolling for special events that focus particularly on a specific topic associated with environment education.

A few examples of such topics include disease-causing contaminating, diagnostic tools of pathology, disease mitigation and management, aquatic habitat restoration and many more of the like. Other examples of initiatives taken by the authorities at such an environmental and education training center include understanding the environment through conceptual diagrams and carried forward assessments through producing ecosystem health report cards in order to build community knowledge.

To add to their credibility and validity of training programmes, every particular environmental and education training center of repute will have well-established links with a vast range of industries and industry associations, both at the national as well as international level. Such clients could hail from a vast range of industries such as mining, waster, petroleum, power industries and metal industries.

An environmental and education training center is also likely to work in close coordination with both, the state and federal environmental agencies, who are also involved in projects towards the objective of environmental protection and spread of awareness and training for the purpose.

The primary objective of each of such an environmental and education training center remains to ensure maximum environmental safety and minimum damage to the natural resources. This is essentially achieved by imparting adequate education, training and providing practical training to the individuals involved in the relevant projects.

There are many different types of diesel cars, trucks and sports utility vehicles on the road, however there are an equal number of off-road vehicles, recreational vehicles, motors, generators and heavy equipment that operates using diesel fuel. Managing diesel emissions control programs is a major part of most environmental agencies as often these huge motors produce more than their fair share of the emissions that cause smog, pollution, greenhouse gases and environmental damage.

Diesel emissions control in major centers has become very focused on developing newer, cleaner burning and low-sulfur content diesel fuels. One of the many options is to use bio-diesel, a product that can be made through recycling and refining different types of oils, including old used cooking oil. Restaurants and food production facilities now dump thousands of gallons of this oil a day, so using it as a recyclable and environmentally friendly part of a diesel emissions control program makes sense as well as saves money.

Other major centers have looked at providing grants and incentives for programs that decrease the idling time of diesel motors to provide a voluntary but effective diesel emissions control option. This can include programs that limit the hours of operation of diesel motors, especially those used in construction. Owners and operators are rewarded for efficiently using the diesel engine while it is running, and avoiding additional idling time where exhaust is being produced but the equipment is just sitting. New routes for buses and trains that decrease time spent sitting at stops can also really cut down on emissions with just a bit of a change to passengers and commuters.

Keeping the diesel motor running in top condition and upgrading valves and seals throughout the system can also help in diesel emissions control both on a small and large scale. Some states such as Texas and California offer grant incentive programs for owners and operators of heavy diesel vehicles or motors that want to upgrade their engines to provide more fuel efficiency. These programs are typically voluntary and are done on an application basis. However there are also programs in place where drivers can report vehicles, both diesel and gas burning, which are obviously polluting the environment. Once a vehicle has been reported the owner will need to have the vehicle inspected and brought up to acceptable standards in order to pass an inspection. In some areas where these programs are in place grants and vouchers are available if the vehicle does not pass the inspection and the owner can demonstrate that he or she needs financial assistance to repair the vehicle.

Associated Press - October 28, 2008 12:14 PM ET POCATELLO, Idaho (AP) - Pocatello city leaders are considering four new ordinances designed to help decrease pollution in the Portneuf…

As time goes on, what used to work in the pollution department is becoming outdated and not quite as efficient. New pollution control efforts have recently tightened up their standards in order to remove higher amounts of pollution from overly-populated cities and countries that are now surrounded by acid rain, smog, toxic contamination, potential health risks, and increases in cancer and respiratory illnesses—all which are contributing to global warming. Recent changes in new pollution control efforts are the results of a previous national pollution and greenhouse gas emissions overview.

The numbers showed high nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, in addition to greenhouse gases—all part of the focus of the Clean Air Act—while in Canada they are regulated as toxic substances under the Canada Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), who also regulates toxic chemicals such as mercury and lead. Numbers in Canada were increasingly high with the latest survey, with the CEPA stepping up to bat this year with new developments for reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants under their new plan, “Turning the Corner Plan.” This new regime in Canada is considered the absolute toughest regulatory in the world to reduce greenhouse gases to 20% by 2050, requiring action by all areas—Canada’s federal government, provinces, industry, municipalities, and the average Canadian citizens.

Two key components of the Canada’s new plan are the “Credit for Early Action Program” and the “Offset System,” with the plan’s regulations to be finalized by 2009 and coming into play by January 1, 2010. Additionally, the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOC) will be regulated in specific products, with VOCs considered a precursor pollutant that contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone and particulate matter—both primary ingredients of smog. This plan had begun on October 21, 2006, with a Notice of Intent which allowed them to develop an approach that would regulate air pollutant emissions and industrial greenhouse gases. On April 26, 2007, they unveiled their “Turning the Corner” plan to do as such, in addition to outlining regulatory measures: (1) to reduce emissions from the transportation sector, (2) actions on consumer and commercial products, and (3) actions to improve indoor air quality.

On the other side of the coin is the rapidly developing air pollution from East Asia, containing large amounts of brown carbon particles with no atmospheric models that can incorporate its effects. The only types of climate models being used presently are organic carbon and black carbon, that which arises from the burning of biomass or fossil fuels. Meanwhile, black carbon absorbs light and warms the atmosphere while organic carbon absorbs light and has no warming effect, absorbing at a negligible level.

All types of environmental degradation share a common root. In the case of erosion, one might be surprised how various types of pollution lead to erosion and visa-versa.

In this difficult cycle, these depletion-prone soils are unable to support more than the barest minimum of plant life. Due to subsequent erosion nearby forest are being opening up new forest lands to “agriculture.” Often this is in conjunction with very regular tillage and pesticides, causing the soil to be less able to stay put, making it far more mobile and liable to run-off with the first rainstorm.

The soils that are runoff into streams as silt often mixes with soils that are heavily contaminated with heavy metals, dioxins and PCBs, to name just a few major contaminants that make these eroded soils unsuitable to be reapplied to soils. As pollution falls from the sky, soil surfaces must sometimes be scraped away and treated, if treatment is even possible.

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An Attleboro manufacturer will pay $2.3 million to settle allegations it broke state pollution laws in the second largest environmental protection settlement in Massachusetts history, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office announced Tuesday.

Noise pollution is often forgotten in the many efforts to prevent pollution. This is not because it is not as important, but it is something that many simply do not think about.

Noise pollution may not cause as many major health issues as other forms of pollution and its effects are not always visible, but it does have some serious effects. Prevention of noise pollution helps to ensure that peace and quiet is possible for everyone and the benefits of that are priceless for people suffering from noise pollution.

Technology’s Role

Technology’s role in the prevention of noise pollution is great. Through technology much can be done to curb the sources of noise pollution.

Some things technology has been able to do for the prevention of noise pollution include constructing noise barriers which allow for a blocking of noise. Creating new traffic patterns to route noisy traffic out of populated areas is another thing technology has done for the prevention of noise pollution.

Other methods of noise pollution prevention through technology include building designs to contain noise, the creation of quieter engines in vehicles and new technologies to make industrial operations quieter.

Governmental Standards

The government helps to ensure the prevention of noise pollution through the creation of regulations and laws. This is done at all levels of the government.

Most cities have noise ordinances that stipulate loud noises and nuisances. This includes the use of construction equipment being limited to certain hours and regulations on car stereo systems.

OSHA which is a major regulating power for businesses helps to protect workers from noise pollution through regulations about safety equipment use. This included wearing hearing protection while engaging in certain jobs. Businesses are required to follow all rules set by OSHA or risk being fined.

Importance in Prevention of Noise Pollution

Noise pollution prevention is important to protect everyone. Noise is an aggravation, but more than that it can lead many problems for a person exposed to it.

People who are exposed to noise pollution may experience aggression, panic attacks, high blood pressure, hearing loss and high stress levels. Noise is a trigger to these problems and when the noise is loud and constant it can take a toll on a person.

Noise pollution may not be as far reached as other types of pollution but that does not make it any less important. People still suffer from noise pollution and it is time that noise stops being just a nuisance and is taken as a serious problem. It must be addressed and controlled or prevented.