Archive for April, 2009

The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 was a major effort to help in making this a cleaner world in which to live. This act carries a lot of weight and has had a great impact on the way people think about pollution.

The Pollution Prevention Act helped in many ways to bring to light the concerns about pollution and the reasons for a need to prevent pollution. Most people find it hard to thin on a global scale about the effects of pollution and without legislation like the Pollution Prevention Act many would not even think twice about what their actions are doing to the planet.

Reason for the Act

The Pollution Prevention Act was established to help fight the problem of pollution. The act helped to create regulations that would stop or reduce pollution. Additionally, the act established standards for such things as automobile emissions and industrial actions, which are two of the largest causes of pollution.

The impact of the Pollution Prevention Act has been great. This act changed many ways of thinking and really brought the problem of pollution to the forefront where the general public was able to recognize it.

Policies Established by the Act

The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 mandates the prevention and reduction of pollution though a hierarchy of pollution handling. The first and most desirable method of pollution control is the elimination of polluting sources. If sources can not be eliminated then it goes into the next stages.

The next stage of the hierarchy is recycling of unpreventable pollution. If recycling s not an option then the next stage is for environmentally safe handling of pollution and proper disposal.

The Pollution Prevention Act also provides for increased energy efficiency and the protection of natural resources. The point of these actions is to help reduce the pollution that is caused through current energy measures and to help maintain the environment at a healthy and safe state.

Preventing Pollution under the Act

Preventing pollution under the act is done through several means. One of the main things the act introduced was the creation of new technology that allows for a reduction of pollution in some of the major sectors where pollution comes from, such as transportation and industrial.

The creation of new technology has been very successful in producing a number of new products that are efficient and effective. This has helped in introducing them on an affordable and large scale basis.

The act also has helped make regulating businesses much easier. The standards of regulation and the laws regarding pollution and the industrial sector have been streamlined to make it easier to regulate them and easier for the businesses to follow.

Overall, the act has helped to educate people about pollution and teach about the harms that it does. More people have an understanding about why pollution is such a threat now than they had before the act was created.

Much of air pollution comes from humans introducing into the air, chemicals, particles, or even biological matter that causes harm to living organisms. Found in the air are many foreign substances that can impair the health of humans, other animals, and plants, and we call these substances air pollutants. Air pollution is caused when, either these substances are released as a direct result of a process, or when pollutants are caused by interaction with another pollutant in the air. These types are referred to as primary and secondary pollutants and they are both very bad news for your health. An example of primary air pollution is when a car is running, and as a result of this process produces exhaust, which releases carbon monoxide. It can also be caused by an erupting volcano releasing ash into the air. Even something you think of as normal, like ash, is considered a pollutant. Interestingly the ash produced from a barbecue grill or a chimney, is also considered air pollution. However when the pollutants do not arise from doing something, and instead come from interacting with other pollutants in the air to form a new substance, this is a secondary source of air pollution.

Air pollution is a serous cause for concern, especially when it comes to your health. This terrible problem is getting worse every day because the source for air pollution is things we do each day, like manufacturing things, and driving to work. If pollution continues going as it the current rate we will see severe health problems for us, and even the next generations, and this is a very scary thought. Air pollution can cause respiratory disease and even death. Although we usually think of big nasty factories as our worst enemy, some of the most awful sources of air pollution are the types that are moving, like automobiles. For this reason many people who have a very long way to commute to work, use things like car pools. Car pools help to keep some extra pollution for getting into the air, so the more people not driving each day, the better. Little steps like this one, done by everyone, would drastically reduce the amounts of pollutants released into our air each day. Everyone has dreams of breathing pollution free air and getting rid of the bad effects that the pollutants can cause like respiratory disease. If we ever want to see this day, we must all work together to make our air a little cleaner each and every day.

The Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) is associated with many different ways to control air pollution, due to the large amount of air pollutants which affect the world—in America alone over 30 million people are diagnosed with asthma, affecting on a daily level air pollution. Their agency develops technical policies and national programs, providing answers and solutions in order to assist the people on earth to prevent air pollution and energy efficiency. The quality of air in both indoor and outdoor settings play a big part in their programs to better control air pollution, with additional areas of industrial air pollution, radon, acid rain, vehicle and engine pollution, climate changes, radiation protection, and stratospheric ozone depletion.

Air pollution plays a big role in the lives of global citizens as the majority drives some form of vehicle which requires fuel, and their homes have some form of heat or coolants. Major manufacturing chemicals are used at home or at work in a wide variety of ways, in some form or another. What most of us do not realize is that serious air pollutants also come from something as simple as putting gas in our car on the way to the grocery store; painting our front porch, or taking clothes to the dry cleaner. Every step of the way causes air pollution of some form or another. Ways to control air pollution are developed with all of this in mind by the OAR on a daily basis.

Small amounts may not harm us, but large concentrations will kill us—and the control of air pollution does not seem to keep up with the high demands of society. Large cities with excessive populations require more and more vehicles, industrial jobs, commercial operations—all concluding that more pollution is affecting our planet. Each adult will consume 3,000 gallons of air per day, with children consuming even more per pound per body weight. More simply put, children are more susceptible to air pollution of some type which in a healthy child will cause breathing difficulties, irritated throats, and eye problems.

Air pollutants can also remain in the environment for extended periods of time, especially those that form toxic compounds and urban smog. They can also be carried by the wind for hundreds of miles from where they originated—in areas where people live on both ends—exposed to small toxic particles and urban smog. To successfully control air pollution would require the dedication of every person on our planet, as long-term exposure exposes everyone to air pollutants, causing cancer, immune damage, damage to neurological systems, in addition to those of the reproductive and respiratory systems which eventually may lead to death. We are affected by our surroundings—near and far—regardless how we live our own lives. What we need to remember is that we can live only moments without air, unlike food and water. Most of us realize that air pollution damages animal life, lakes, crops, trees, and the natural environment – but few fully realize that our own life is also in danger because of it, or even to what extent we will suffer.

The federal government was given the authority to clean up our country’s air pollution in 1970, when the Environmental Protection Agency was formed, passing the Clean Air Act. From that moment on, a huge variety of agencies have formed to reduce air pollution levels across America. And it is a start but they cannot do it alone.

When people think of air pollution, they most often associate it with the sort of dirty discharge that can be readily seen coming from the smokestacks of coal-fired plants or even the particulate matter that is emitted from automotive tailpipes. However, the most common and potentially dangerous gases that threaten life on Earth are actually greenhouse gases.

Carbon dioxide and methane, together, account for about 30% of the “greenhouse effect” that, at levels that had been steady since the end of the last ice age, keeps the Earth at the relatively comfortable temperatures that more life enjoys. However, while the levels of water vapor (which actually account for most of the greenhouse effect) have remained relatively stable, the amount of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere has sky-rocketed, due largely to the burning of fossil fuels and the massive increase in the number of ruminant animals used for meat production.
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There are people who enjoy the ocean on a regular basis and the ocean is home to many species of plant and animal life, but did you realize how badly our oceans are treated? We are disbelieved in thinking that once something is thrown or spilled into the ocean then the waves will just take it away; however that something has to go somewhere and unfortunately, it takes it toll and many times that toll comes right back to us.

Ocean Pollutants

There are many contributing factors to this form of water pollution and most of them lead back to man. We are truly our own worst enemy. A few examples of possible causes include:

• Dumping – Illegal dumping of raw sewage, landfill wastes; chemicals and other toxins are a major cause. Some get dumped into their local rivers but most rivers lead into the ocean and damage is done all the way on its journey.
• Leakage – Chemicals that have leaked into the groundwater may adhere to particles, those particles will travel down river, get dumped into the ocean, the particles are ingested by fish and the fish get ill and may die. The contaminated fish are also eaten by man and man gets ill.
• Agriculture – Farming and slaughterhouses create vast amounts of manure and other wastes. A lot of this waste is dumped into the waterways or oceans because it needs to go somewhere. This waste is highly concentrated with toxins that can potentially lead to dead zones in the sea. A dead zone is the total depletion of all plant and animal life.
• Spills – Oil tankers, fuel tankers, and other barges that flood our oceans are responsible for many deaths. An oil spill wreaks major havoc in the ocean. The water is contaminated, the fish, the plants, mammals in the vicinity get coated and then suffocate from exposure. The area is forever changed and much of the damage is irreversible.

Sea Solutions

It is hard to imagine that such a prodigious area can be affected by pollution, but it is true and ocean pollution is very real. The ocean has been undergoing changes since man started creating waste and using the sea as its virtual dumping ground. There have many species of fish and plant life that are now extinct due to this behavior. One has to wonder how it can all stop and what can the common man do to help. A few suggestions include

• Reduction – Reduce the amount of waste you use so that the landfills are not overburdened and that overflow does not result in ocean pollution.
• Frugal – Be frugal with the amount of fuel you use in your automobile and home. If the demand is lower then the transportation risks are lowered, thus the risk of ocean pollution is lowered.
• Government – Become knowledgeable with your community’s dumping policies and vote on nation-wide rules that demand stricter policies that are in favor of our environment and focused on reducing all pollution, including ocean pollution.

The ocean is a beautiful place to enjoy. It is home to a population of living organisms that are vital to our lives. Ocean pollution is a serious problem and should not be cast out with the next wave.

Installing a conventional forced air type of air conditioning system is typically done by professional installers that have been trained and are certified as HVAC technicians. There is always the option to do your own air conditioning installation, or at least do some of the advanced preparation to help keep costs down and make the installation smooth. Also if you know a bit about air conditioning installation it will better help you understand any questions or comments your contractor may make, as well as any changes to the plans or blueprint he or she may be requesting.

There are several different “do it yourself” air conditioning installation programs offered through the internet, some which are very valuable and others that offer just the very basic steps for installation. It is important to keep in mind than incorrectly doing your air conditioning installation can end up costing you more money in the long run, so be sure to clarify any questions and completely understand the process before you start.

The first step in completing your air conditioning installation process is to completely read through the manufacturers manual. You will need to be trained and certified in handling the refrigerant or coolant or you will need to contract with someone to do this step. In addition if you are not an electrician it is always best to have a professional complete this step so you don’t end up wasting time and money later when the building is inspected. If you need to acquire any permits be sure to do so prior to starting the air conditioning installation.

Make sure that you have all the necessary supplies before starting the project. This includes tools, the air conditioning unit itself, ducts and hangers and other equipment or supplies needed as per the manufacturers instructions and your own particular building. The next step is to locate the outdoor part of the unit on level ground, ideally in a shady spot, close to the home and at least three feet from an electric or gas meter as per building codes in your area. Have a concrete pad to position the unit on and fasten as required. A small hole is then drilled through the wall to allow electrical wires pipes from the internal to external units.

Place the internal unit in the plenum above the furnace as per the manufacturers instructions. Attached the suction line that will carry the moisture between the inside unit and the condenser on the outside. At this point the high voltage connects need to be made by a professional electrician. There are also low voltage wires that will need to be connected, these can be done by the electrician or by the homeowner as per the air conditioning installation instructions provided.

Introduction

The rapid pace of advancement of the modern industry has brought in its fold an umpteen number of changes and development which are also accompanied by the due amount of fallouts. As is the law of nature, every expansion requires readjustment and resettlements. The same is reflected in the fast progressing world in terms of extensive physical expansions, including construction and renovation of existing structures.

However, every type of a construction project, whether commercial or domestic are accompanied by enormous heaps of construction waste, causing problems of huge proportions ranging from mere inconvenience to environmental problem and even a major hazard in the long run.

The Concept – Essential Value

As a concept, construction waste management has a critical importance in terms of conservation of resources and harnessing maximum energy for production and development.

To begin with, an effective construction waste management program has a long-term effect in reducing costs to a considerable extent. It is an important fact that the recycling, reusing and salvaging construction waste can always save a lot of financial resources. In fact, an increasing number of contractors are now making changes in they operations and practice in order to take advantage of reduced waste disposal costs and revenues that are derived from recycle and reuse of such materials.

Another important benefit of the process of construction waste management is the marketing edge it gives c contractor over its competitors. In the era of environmental awareness and minimization of wastage of resources, service providers following desirable construction waste management practices are likely to enjoy a greater goodwill and credibility in the industry.

Following appropriate construction waste management practices also leads to enormous environmental benefits, such as reducing the dependence on natural resources such as trees, oil and minerals. However, the greatest benefit associated with construction waste management in this context is the reduction in pollution.

In addition to the above, ethically planned and implemented construction waste management services can go a long way in helping the economy through creation of jobs related to salvaging and recycling of resources. In some situations, a large number of charitable organizations planning any of such projects can even use the construction waste picked up from the sites.
In order to plan an effective construction waste management service, it is first important to analyze and decide on a few crucial factors. The most important amongst these factors are the analysis of the nature of the construction waste as against the results expected from the entire process of recycling, along with the elementary plan of the contractor in context of waste management.

Marine biodiversity is the variability of life in marine ecosystems. Marine ecosystems include oceans, salt marshes, estuaries, lagoons, coral reefs, shores, and some of the tropical ecosystems (like mangrove forests). They are part of a larger, world ecosystem, and are characterized by having a much greater salinity level than fresh waters.

Even though marine ecosystems are teeming with life, the species diversity is much lower than that of other ecosystems. Only about 230,000 species have been identified, and that number includes both plants and animals.

Much of marine biodiversity resides in ecosystems based around coral reefs and/or areas of underwater tectonic activity. They hold over a quarter of the world’s marine species. One third of the coral species are currently threatened with extinction. This is a rise over the last decade from less than two percent. Unfortunately, coral reefs all over are dying due to many forms of damage, all originating from one source: human beings. Snorkeling, commercial fishing and overfishing, fuel leaks from both commercial and recreational boats all contribute to the damage or outright destruction of both the coral reefs and marine biodiversity in general. Climate change can also affect coral reefs, the rising temperatures making them reject the algal growths that help the process of photosynthesis. 1998, one of the warmest years, saw mass die-offs of coral reefs all over the world.

Given that life originated in the sea, it is not surprising that there are fourteen endemic animal phyla in the sea, as opposed to the one phylum endemic to land. The situation is much different for plants, however. Almost all algae type plants can appear in both marine and fresh water, with the higher classes of plants only growing on land. The diversity of life-history strategies in marine organisms has proven to be remarkable to the point where scientists are expecting that the total of genetic resources and physiological marine biodiversity will be much greater than that of land organisms.

Without marine biodiversity, humankind would suffer greatly since marine organisms are crucial to almost all biogeochemical processes of the biosphere. They also help provide a variety of products and services essential to man’s survival and well-being. Without marine biodiversity the production of food, ingredients for biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, and even the composition of some parts of land would be either severely diminished or depleted altogether.

For all of the above reasons, as well as for the fascination and great beauty it provides, marine biodiversity is one of our greatest treasures and must be protected and shepherded accordingly.

We all know about environmental pollution: pollution and its costs, pollution and its causes, and pollution and its terrible effects. We know that environmental pollution (pollution of the air, in particular) causes the death of one in five people around the world every year, according to data gathered by the World Health Organization in partnership with the World Bank. And we know that environmental pollution has slowly made our world less populated with animal species, less safe for ourselves and our children, and less enjoyable for everyone in almost every way. How could this situation get any worse?

The answer: by recognizing a new kind of environmental pollution: pollution of the mind.

Pollution of the mind isn’t just what happens when you watch too much TV or read too many comic books at a vulnerable age. Rather, pollution of the mind is a concept discovered by researchers working with the effects of advertising on the public consciousness. The idea is that by placing offensive billboards in unavoidably conspicuous locations within a city or by filling the air with exhortations to buy new products, advertisers are effectively polluting the “mental space” of people in large urban areas.

Environmental pollution–pollution of whatever form–essentially means any damaging product, industrial or otherwise, that makes the world less safe and less pleasant to be in. We can argue that both of these qualities are present in pollution of the mind. Advertising is certainly an industrial product, for the most part, and it certainly makes the world less pleasant–unless you’re the type who finds it pleasant to be manipulated by major corporations into spending money you don’t have on products you don’t even enjoy, of course. And advertising can also make the world demonstrably less safe by stunting people’s critical thinking and diminishing the capacity for understanding and for empathy. Manipulating the population into buying products and manipulating the population into, say, starting, supporting, and fighting an endless land war are not as different, in the end, as one might assume.

Because of the problems inherent in this new form of environmental pollution–pollution of the mind–several grass-roots groups are starting to advocate taxing the use of the public’s “mental space”, much as corporations are taxed (at least in theory) for misusing the public’s air and water. This may be a double-edged sword, however, as some critics–notably Joseph Hale, a commentator from the environmental battlegrounds of Texas–have pointed out. To advocate the taxation of “mental space” is to invite the government into our very minds–the one place that, historically, the government has been kept out of.

Whatever the solution, however, it’s clear that for this newest form of environmental pollution–pollution of the mind–some solution is necessary. Once we can think clearly, we can begin working diligently on finding a solution to everything else.

Water is one of the Earths most precious resources and preserving the lakes, rivers, streams, oceans and wetlands is very important. The quality of a person’s life is directly related to the quality of their water. Many diseases and sicknesses that people suffer from are a direct result of consuming contaminated waters. In third world countries hundreds of thousands of children die each year as a result of polluted waters. In the United States it has been estimated that 40% of the lakes, rivers and streams are too polluted to fish in or swim in. Prevention of water pollution must be high on the list of priorities concerning environmental issues. Prevention of water pollution is actually easier than may be expected and can be accomplished in surprising ways.

One of the keys to the prevention of water pollution is to take better care as to what is put on the ground. Anything that ends up on the ground can end up in the water supply as a result of run off. One of the ways that pollutants get into the water sources is through everyday activities such as washing a car in the driveway. When a car is washed in a driveway the soapy water runs down the pavement possibly picking up other pollutants such as oils and gasoline and carries them all into the storm drains and gutters. From there the untreated murky, soapy water runs directly into the nearby streams, rivers and lakes carrying the soap, oils, grease and other toxins with them. A good way to ensure the prevention of water pollution while still maintaining a clean car would be to use a commercial car washing facility that is equipped to deal with the outflow of dirty water. If you must wash your car at home a better solution is to do so on the grass or on a gravel surface where the grass and rocks can act as a filter of sorts. Even the tiniest bit of pollutant can affect a large amount of water. One gallon of used motor oil dumped into the water supply can render one million gallons of water undrinkable. Another technique helpful for the prevention of water pollution is to properly dispose of used anti-freeze, paints, oils and other toxic chemicals. These substances should never be dumped down drains or toilets. Some business actually collect used oils providing a good place to safely dispose of these hazardous materials.

Other ways to prevent water pollution include using natural household cleaners that are environmentally friendly and reducing or eliminating the use of fertilizers and pesticides which contribute to the pollution of the water supply.