Archive for July, 2009

The sector of the population known in conservative circles as “alarmists” (read: anyone who considers environmental pollution to be a serious topic) have long speculated gloomily about the link between agricultural chemicals and environmental pollution. It stands to reason, they assert, that agricultural chemicals and environmental pollution be linked. The agricultural chemicals most often linked to environmental pollution include veterinary medicines, pesticides, non-organic fertilizers, and other chemicals designed to eradicate disease in crops and animals on American farms. Since these chemicals are responsible essentially for poisoning forms of life (yes, Virginia, diseases are forms of life too), it stands to reason, “alarmists” say, that we should be concerned about runoff from the application of agricultural chemicals entering our groundwater, streams, and soil.

Conservatives wouldn’t even bother to debate on some points. Even since the publication of Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring”, it’s been well known that pesticides in the environment–DDT in particular–are responsible for the massive die-offs of birds in regions of America that depend on agriculture for survival. And it’s equally well-known that veterinary hormones and other chemicals used in agriculture have harmful effects on human beings upon direct exposure.

The point of debate isn’t that there’s a link between agricultural chemicals and environmental pollution. The point of debate is that we should be troubled by that link, and by the dependence on agricultural chemicals found in many factory and smaller farms. Sure, these chemicals hurt us, say the conservatives. But they can’t be hurting us all that badly. The link between agricultural chemicals and environmental pollution is there, but it’s nothing to worry about.

What we needed in order to resolve the debate was a good method of quantifying the amount of damage agricultural chemicals were doing and the amount of environmental pollution they were creating. Now, thanks to researchers at the US Geological Survey and Colorado State University at Pueblo, we have that method: earthworms.

These researchers collected soil samples from three fields. One field had been treated with biosolid fertilizers. One had been treated with pig manure. The third, the control field, hadn’t been treated with fertilizer in seven years. The researchers extracted earthworms from the soil samples and tested them for traces of 77 known dangerous chemicals used in agriculture.

They expected to find traces of these chemicals in the biosolid and pig manure fields, and they did: some 20 dangerous chemicals in each. The surprise came when they tested the control field, the one that hadn’t been exposed to chemicals in years. Seven dangerous chemicals were found infesting the bodies of the earthworms.

There is a link between agricultural chemicals and environmental pollution–even in places where agricultural chemicals aren’t directly applied to the environment.

So we must ask: when is it proper for an alarmist to start raising an alarm?

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.

Though it was realized by scientists in the early 1970s that chlorofluorocarbons posed a massive potential threat to the ozone layer that protects the Earth (and it’s inhabitants) from DNA-damaging solar radiation, action was not taken on an international scale until for nearly 20 years. CFCs were, when they were invented in the 1930s, supposed to be a safe alternative to the refrigerants that were commonly used at the time.

During the 70 or so years that CFCs were manufactured in large quantities, they turned up in far more than air conditioners and refrigerators. For instance, they were the main propellant in aerosol cans for decades. They are a very common ingredient in fire extinguishers, though most older fire extinguishers have been emptied and refilled by the late ‘aughts. Even after the international ban on these chemicals that was brought about by the Montreal Protocols, CFCs and other “chloroalkanes” are still used in airplane fire suppression systems.
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The emissions control systems of your car include but are not limited to the following systems and system parts: The evaporative control system, which includes the PCV valve, the vacuum reservoir, the vacuum lines, the intake system, the vapor canister, the vapor restrictor, the purge control valve and the pressure/vacuum relief filler cap. The exhaust system includes the EGR valve, oxygen sensors, the air injection system, the catalytic converter, the muffler and tailpipe. Monitoring, adjusting and controlling all of these systems and system parts is the ECM (Electronic Control Module).
In most states if one of your emissions control systems malfunctions you will not be in accordance with the emissions control laws. If any of your emissions control systems do malfunction, you must schedule an appointment as soon as possible to have your emissions control systems diagnosed for problems. After a license repair professional at a licensed repair facility has diagnosed the reason for any malfunctions, you must then schedule an appointment for the repair of your emissions control systems.
Why would you not want your emissions control systems all working properly? If your emissions control systems are not operating within manufacturer recommended specifications you will be polluting the atmosphere you live, work and play in, adding to pollution and global warming and contributing to the destruction of the Earth. You also will not be in accordance to local, state and federal laws and regulations governing emissions control systems on business personal and commercial automobiles in the United States of America.
If your emissions control systems are all functioning properly you will be in accordance with local, state and federal laws and regulations, you will not be a contributor to pollution and global warming and you will know that you are doing everything you can to assist in stopping the destruction of the Earth.
As you can see, it is crucial to maintain your car’s emissions control systems at all times and keep them in operational condition within the manufacturer’s recommended specifications.
In summary you now have a brief description of what emissions control systems are on your car, why they are on your car and the importance of maintaining the emissions control systems on your. When you do not maintain these systems on your car, you are contributing to pollution and global warming along with breaking many local, state and federal laws and regulations. When you break these laws and regulations governing emissions control you are positioning yourself for possible local, state and federal penalties and fines.

Noise pollution may sound like a term that a parent comes up with in regards to popular music heard on the radio, but it is actually a form of pollution that has come increasingly known and the affects are linked to stress disorders. How does one define noise pollution? Well, quite simply it is excessive noise, at different volumes, that disrupts, distracts, or diminishes the regular functioning of an environment.

Noise Pollution Culprits

There are quite a few alarming causes of noise pollution and many of these everyone may come in contact with on a daily basis. A few of these may include such factors, like:

• Airplanes – Those who live near the airports or in the flight path of heavy airline traffic have exposure to noise pollution. Increased heart disease, high blood pressure, hearing loss and stress disorders have been linked to this type of pollution.
• Cars – We have all sat in traffic and you can almost feel your blood pressure rise as you sit there just waiting for it to move. The horns blaring can be grating on the nerves. However, the everyday car noise driving by your house or place of business can be a cause of noise pollution.
• Workplace noise – You do not have to work in a loud factory to experience this type of noise pollution. Offices trying to run more efficiently by creating cubicle offices to cram their employees into a smaller space are also creators of this increasing type of pollution. Telephones ringing, typing of keyboards, copy machines, chatting, finger tapping, and other annoyances are all contributors.
• Home sweet home – Think about all the modern day conveniences that cause noise. Now have several of them running at once, add people noise, and outdoor noise of lawn mowers, etc and you have a recipe for noise pollution stress. Children who grow up in these environments have been known to get ill easier, have greater stress, and do poorly in school.

How To Quiet It Down

How do we make it all stop? After all, we all can’t just pick up and move to the quiet country and not be exposed to any noise. However, there are certain things that a person can do to lessen the exposure or combat the effect of noise pollution. A couple examples include:

• Stress release – Part of noise pollution’s toll is due to the body’s reaction to the stress it may cause. One can alleviate stress by practicing things like yoga, deep breathing exercises, or meditation.
• Noise reduction – Making changes to reduce the noise will help immensely. Buying double-paned windows, turning the television off at home, discussing tactics in the workplace, and if need be changing your job or housing environment are all ways to reduce exposure to noise pollution.

Noise pollution is just one type of pollution that we are exposed to everyday. However, it is one that is easier controlled in one’s own environment. Taking a step back and evaluating what changes can be made will make a big difference in your life. It is time we stopped unnecessary noise and live a more peaceful life.

Emissions control is the attempt to control, limit, reduce or even completely remove the pollutants that we, as humans release into the earth’s atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels such as gasoline. If you do not wish to destroy the earth with pollutants from your personal car then you will want to read the following because the pollutants that we introduce into the earth’s atmosphere can and will destroy the earth over a period in time.

The burning of gasoline to power the engine that drives your car down the road releases multiple pollutants, also known as emissions into the earth’s atmosphere. When we speak about emissions control, we are normally referring to the gasses emitted from various systems on your personal automobile.

For example, one type of emissions control is the control of the amount of exhaust gasses that we allow our car to emit into the atmosphere. The emissions control systems that we use to control the exhaust gasses released by our cars are the catalytic converter, EGR (Exhaust Gas Return) valve and the muffler. First in line is the EGR valve, which recycles exhaust gasses with a high fuel content back through the engines intake system to be burned. Next, the catalytic converter is used to catalyze the hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide in the exhaust released by the engine through the exhaust system. Platinum and palladium in honeycomb or pellet form is used to catalyze these gases as they pass through the catalytic converter. These gasses are catalyzed by the catalytic converter into carbon dioxide and H2O (water). Last, but definitely not least is your cars muffler. Although, the muffler is as by name used to quiet the noise pollution from your car, it is also the last chance for as much of the gasses not catalyzed into carbon monoxide and H2O in the catalytic converter to be removed or condensed.

Other emissions control systems on your car include the PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) valve, evaporative emissions control and air injection systems. The PCV valve recycles the combustible vapors emitted from the crankcase through the intake system. The evaporative emissions control system recycles the combustible vapors emitted from the fuel in the fuel tank through the intake system. The air injection system is used to add oxygen from the atmosphere into the exhaust system to help your car to burn the emissions gasses created by your car’s engine. To summarize these emissions control systems all help in their own way to control the pollutant gasses released by your car.

In most areas, but especially in the southern climates, air conditioning is a definite must. Not only is it essential for general comfort, but in the very southern states it is also a health benefit as temperatures reach into the hundred plus degrees during the long summer months. Air conditioning in these areas is a key factor in resale values of properties and many residences without central air conditioning will be devalued on the market, regardless of the size, condition or architecture of the house.

There are two basic types of air conditioning, central air, which means that the cold air is blown through the house from a central cooling unit, typically located outside of the house. There are options within central air conditioning systems including conventional systems, also known as forced air and high velocity air cooling systems. There is some difference in price between these two systems but both are designed to effectively maintain a reasonable temperature in the house. These systems work on thermostats, just like the furnace does in the winter. Air conditioning systems of this type may be coupled with humidity control systems that work to adjust the amount of moisture in the air during the hot summer months. In dry climates additional humidity may be added to the cooled air and in humid climates dehumidifiers are used in conjunction with air conditioning systems to ensure a comfortable room temperature and humidity level. Although either forced air or high velocity air cooling systems are the most expensive to install and maintain, they also add the most value to your home or residence.

Another option for cooling your home is to use window units. These are small, semi-portable systems that are installed in the bottom section of a window and draw air through the system cooling the temperature and blowing it into the room. The condensation is drained outside from the back of the unit as is the heat vented out of the room. These small window type air conditioning units are effective for small rooms but typically are not powerful enough to maintain a consistent temperature in a larger room or throughout more than one room. For older homes or homes that currently don’t have the ductwork and space needed to install a conventional or whole house air conditioner, these window units may be all that is required. Since they are not a permanent fixture in the house they may or may not be included in the sale, however they also don’t add any value to the house.

The United States’ version of EPA pollution control in India is the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), developed in 1974 under the Water Act under the Control and Prevention of Pollution—later on additionally entrusted with the 1981 Air Act under the Control and Prevention of Pollution’s powers and functions. The purpose of the Central Pollution Control Board is to serve as a field formation, also providing technical service to the Ministry of Environment and Forests under two provisions:

• The Central Pollution Control Board will promote cleanliness of steams and wells through prevention, control and abatement of water pollution in different State areas
• The Central Pollution Control Board will improve air quality and prevent, control and abate air pollution in India

The Central Pollution Control Board supplies New Delhi with an automatic monitoring station at ITO Intersection, with Air Quality updated every two weeks and with regular monitoring of: Sulphur Dioxide (SO2); Resirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM); Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2); Carbon Monoxide (CO); Ozone (O3); and Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM). On the Central Pollution Control Board website is a real time pollution monitor in Delhi (check it out at: http://www.cpcb.nic.in/Introduction.php) which programs four different locations of pollutants in different area, available in one hour, eight hour and 24 hour increments for studies saying which pollutant is bad and its measurements.

The Central Pollution Control Board provides two functions to its country—under the National Level and as State Boards for the Union Territories—responsible for implementing legislations relating to the prevention and control of environmental air and water pollution. Whenever an industry is began in India, it first is cleared from an environmental angle—reviewing its pollution potential and environmental impact through the State Pollution Control Boards and the State Environmental Committees or Site Clearance Committees.

Yet the new industry, even though it is cleared of pollution through standards set up by the Central Pollution Control Board, will still cause a certain amount of allowable tolerable levels of discharge/emission pollutants. These levels are based on two things: technological and economic feasibility, as the appropriate or inappropriate site may be using pollution control equipment not operating at its peak efficiency, realistically implying a higher risk of pollution than usual. Additionally, data for air quality cannot be read accurately when it is raining based on the last readings in February 13-14 of 2007. The Central Pollution Control Board utilizes special monitoring data, such as the Ambient Air and Noise Pollution Levels and Noise Monitoring Data.

Additional monitoring of by the Central Pollution Control Board is a nation-wide program of ambient air quality monitoring, referred to as the “National Air Quality Monitoring Program (NAMP). This network involves 342 stations that operate over 127 cities and towns, 26 states, and 4 Union Territories of India with an agenda of determining the status and trends of ambient air quality, preventing violation of ambient air quality standards. The monitoring system of water pollution under the Central Pollution Control Board involves collaboration with the SPCBs/PCCs, which established a large network of 1019 water quality monitoring stations in 27 states and 6 Union Territories. Done on a monthly or quarterly basis, it covers three creeks, 200 rivers, 13 canals, five tanks, 60 lakes, 17 drains, three ponds, and 321 groundwater stations.

It may seem counter-intuitive that aluminum could be such an environmentally friendly substance, but when recycled, as much as 95% of the energy spent on “virgin ore” is saved. This is significant. Not only is less energy used to get it, but less polluting substances are expelled while processing the ore. Less energy is required to melt recycled aluminum chips.

A significant portion of the aluminum cans are recycled, but even with these benefits, it remains cheaper for aluminum manufacturers in some areas to use new ore due to the high cost of sorting and treating the cans prior to the actual processing operations.

For the post-consumer aluminum that is recycled, it’s shredded into little bits and treated to remove inks that make recycling difficult. About 15% of the weight of the aluminum is lost in the process as ash, but the remaining portion can be processed like that indefinitely without degradation in any of its properties.
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The technology that brought nighttime illumination to the whole world, didn’t change much for about a century. And, it turns out, that’s a problematic thing. Not only do the filaments burn out quickly, leaving glass and metal that is not recyclable, but they emit far more heat than light, using a great deal of electricity. With the advent of a long lasting compact fluorescent bulb in the 1990s, it became easy for consumers to change out these bulbs and use anywhere from half to one tenth the amount of power for the same amount of light.

In the ‘aughts, governments all over the world have seized upon the light bulb as an inherently wasteful technology that needlessly uses vast amounts of electricity – electricity that is emits carbon dioxide and all the other air pollutants that increase dependence upon fossil fuels. Replacing these bulbs can go a long way in helping nations meet their environmental treaty obligations. They also last longer and produce far less dangerous waste.
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