Archive for November, 2009

The grassland ecosystem covers the flora, fauna and ground conditions with in the parameters of a grassland. From the climatic conditions to the members and relationships in the food chain, the grassland ecosystem is dependant on the major resources available. In the grassland ecosystem the proportion of flora, including the varieties of trees, grasses, fungi and flowers will effect the way in which fauna exist.

The fauna in a grassland ecosystem will include the minute and the massive. The grassland ecosystem offers shelter and living conditions to insects, birds, arachnids and mammals, from the tiny bush mouse to the largest mammal, lizard or predator.
In the grassland ecosystem the smallest creatures and plants are still important to the structure of the environment. From the smallest gnat to the largest predator, the relationship between the food chain is vital to the balance of the ecosystem. In the way that grass feeds cattle so too do smaller creatures become food for larger. Even the plants of the grassland will become fodder for larger herbivores or small creatures. The grassland ecosystem is balanced by the resources available. The number of trees, fungi, grass or flowers will be, maintained by the number of animals or insects using them for their lifestyle or food sources. If the number of predators in the grassland ecosystem should alter, then the food chain would be unbalanced right down to the fundamental level. Even a slight alteration in the grassland ecosystem, due to floods or drought or human intervention, can lead to the destruction of the grassland ecosystem itself.

The grassland ecosystem is reliant on the balance being maintained, between growth and decay. While rotting grass, carcasses and mulch can offer sustenance to some creatures, the death of a plant is still part of the grassland ecosystem. The mulch provides the ideal place for germination of other seeds. All this is part of the balance of the grassland ecosystem.

The grassland ecosystem includes the life cycle of the larger animals too. Their living, reproducing, hunting and dying all effect the way the grassland ecosystem achieves balance. Any variation to the numbers of creatures within the grassland ecosystem could change the fragile balance drastically. To few predators could mean an over production of smaller herbivores. This would lead to a loss of plant life within the grassland ecosystem. Once the balance is lost, it can be impossible to regain.

The delicate balance of the grassland ecosystem is vital to the health and vitality of the grassland itself. From climate conditions, water quality and quantity, to human intervention, or exploitation, the grassland ecosystem is prone to influences that can alter it forever.

The evaporative emissions control system for an automobile is attached to the fuel tank. Usually hidden inside one of the rear wheel wells or in a cavity of the body design near the fuel tank the evaporative emissions control system plays an important role in emissions control.

Over time, as fuel sits in the fuel tank of your car the process of evaporation loses combustible gas vapors from the liquid fuel. Without a proper system to trap and store these gas vapors, they are emitted into the atmosphere where they are considered a dangerous pollutant. The evaporative emissions control system is the system that traps and stores these combustible gas vapors to be reintroduced through the intake system later.

The evaporative emissions control system consists of six basic parts. The six basic parts that I am referring to are intake system, fuel tank, vapor canister, vapor restriction, purge control valve and the pressure/vacuum relief filler cap.

Here is a simple overview of the evaporative emissions control system of your car: As the liquid fuel in the fuel tank evaporates, it is restricted to the fuel tank until the fuel tank has reached a predetermined internal pressure. When the predetermined internal pressure is reached or exceeded the vapor restriction will then allow the combustible gas vapor to pass through a line attached from the fuel tank to the vapor canister. There are three types of purge control systems, throttle body position, vacuum valve modulated flow or ECM (Electronic Control Module) activated solenoid valve. Depending on which one of these three types of purge control systems your vehicle is equipped with, when the engine has reached or exceeded idle speed the vapor canisters purge control valve will open up from applied vacuum pressure. This will allow all or some of the combustible vapors to be released from the vapor canister into the intake system. When either your engine has used up the fuel in the fuel tank or it has evaporated away, you will need to open the pressure/vacuum relief filler cap and replenish the fuel in the fuel tank at a nearby gas station.

As the fuel is burned, there are four other standard emissions control systems on U.S. built cars. The other four standard emissions control systems are the catalytic converter, the PCV valve, the EGR valve and the air injection system.

If you are not sure if your evaporative emissions control system of your car is functioning properly or within manufacturer recommended specifications you must have the evaporative emissions control system diagnosed as soon as possible.

In New York State, Nassau county emissions reduction programs are being designed and implemented to decrease the amount of carbon and other harmful emissions produced by diesel motors used in any type of city or county vehicles and transportation systems. The Nassau county emissions reduction plan has been developed in conjunction with other counties such as Suffolk, Rockland, Westchester and New York City to make this one of the more comprehensive programs throughout the area.

The goals of the Nassau county emissions reduction program are to bring all their equipment up to current upgrades or replace, retire or repair any existing equipment that does not meet standards with regards to operating efficiency. Not only does the program just deal with upgrading the current infastructure of the transportation and government vehicle systems, it is also designed to encourage the development of newer, more efficient transportation and fuel use systems, help with the development of more efficient types of fuels and motors as well as reduce engine idling and pollution generation throughout the counties and cities involved in the project.

One of the many ways that the Nassau county emissions reduction program is helping the environment is to provide funding in the form of grants and financial support to areas that are striving to reduce the amount of emissions from diesel motors within their area. Besides just financial support, the commission overseeing the program is also involved in matching technical support with counties and areas that want to reduce their emissions and use different types of engines, fuels and systems.

The New York State Department of Transportation as well as the Federal Highways Administration are both on board with the programs and goals of the Nassau county emissions reduction program and are actively supporting the goals outlined in the agreement. Through funding programs and incentives these agencies are working to encourage the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) cars and busses that produce almost no emissions, making them on of the best options for government transportation programs. Currently the county owns 320 CNG buses and 20 compressed natural gas cars, with another 20 on the way. Additionally the county has moved to using a very low-sulfur bio-diesel fuel that will be used exclusively in non-emergency diesel vehicles within the county. The impact of these changes on the emissions within Nassau county is huge, providing a great and positive impact on the people and the environment in the area.

The goals of the Nassau county emissions reduction program is to continue to look for new and innovative ways to advance the use of low emissions fuels, to upgrade transportation to more fuel efficient and “green” fuels as well as make the government the leader in policy in this area.

Pollution, environmental or not, poisons not only the world we live in but the food we eat. We all know that smog and other air pollution issues shorten the human lifespan and promote the development of respiratory diseases and bacterial infections. And we all know that water pollution/environmental damage leads to the breeding of malaria-infested mosquitoes and the spread of lethal illness. But what we sometimes forget is that these diseases don’t only shorten the human lifespan and poison and infect humans. All life suffers from pollution and environmental damage from humans on down the food chain. One might say that the chickens are coming home to roost–except there are no more chickens, nor is there anything else safe to eat at all.

That was what was on the mind of Ron Fink, the president and CEO of RGF Food Safety Systems, when he initially patented his food processing technology in 1997. For six years, RGF was the industry leader in treating food supplies in order to remove bacterial infections and to reverse, to some extent, the damage caused by pollution and environmental issues. A court case and a non-competition agreement in 2003 forced RGF out of the market for years more–leaving the patented technology out of food warehouses and making our food supply slowly less safe.

Now, in 2008, RGF is back with a vengeance. Its legal issues are cleared and it can continue its mission of fighting pollution and environmental hazards in the nation’s food supply.

RGF’s technology works on ozone-friendly ultraviolet principles, helping not only to keep food free of disease, but to help prevent the underlying pollution/environmental related causes of food-borne disease in the first place. RGF also provides companies with technical training in order to help them learn to operate their plants according to environmentally sound principles, from non-chemical air treatments in the food processing plants to “green” wastewater recycling.

In addition to its food processing work, RGF also implements a series of “EnviroVision” plans for various businesses, offering consulting work and implementation advice for a variety of patented food, air, and water purification technologies.

RGF is big business, yes, with clients around the world. But it’s rare to see an example of big business with a conscience: a firm that doesn’t exploit its workers or its planet, but that takes upon itself the responsibility of helping to keep the food supply clean and to fight the pollution/environmental degradation issues that increasingly plague our post-industrial society. It’s hard to imagine any factory farm-style corporation doing the same.

Since the days of cavemen building fires in poor ventilated caves, the effects of air pollution have been a fact of life. Unfortunately, that fact of life has become a major pollution issue that needs to be dealt with. Increased industrialization, building, and population have caused the levels of air pollution to go soaring. The effects of air pollution are not good and have harmed many species and continue to be the main reason for many diseases and even death.

Reasons for Pollution

Air pollutants stem from many sources and are made up of many types of molecules. A few contributing components include:

• Carbon Dioxide – Burning fossil fuels, such as gasoline
• Nitrogen Dioxide – Burning biomasses and fossil fuels
• Nitrous Oxide – From nitrogen based fertilizers
• Sulfur Dioxide – Combustion of sulfur-based fuels, such as oil
• Chlorofluorocarbons – Or Freon come from refrigerants, aerosol cans, and the burning of plastics
• Smog – A combination of gases that are released with the burning of fuels from industries, transportation devices, and fires

Indoors And Out

There is no escaping the effects air pollution and they are all negative. It is true that those who live in and around cities are increasingly exposed, due to the amount of industry, autos on the roadways, and population. However, those who live on farms are subjected to exhaust from farm equipment, fertilizers, and animal waste that contain chemicals. Some may think that they are safe if they are in the confines of their own home but that is not true. There are air pollutants inside that are just as dangerous. Poor ventilation of heating and cooling systems, household chemicals, fibers, and more contribute to air pollutants.

What Happens As The Result

The damage done by air pollution touches many organisms and many are not directly exposed. The effects of air pollution can travel in the atmosphere for days, therefore spreading across the miles from its original source. The results can vary, but some examples include:

• Plant life – Plants clean the air of carbon dioxide, but with deforestation comes fewer plants to do so. Plants will also absorb the toxic levels of carbon dioxide, which will lessen their protective waxy coating. This coating is vital for water and food storage, so without this then disease and pests are more likely to attack and the plant will die.
• Health – The lungs need oxygen to survive and that oxygen is carried through the blood stream to the heart and then pumped to the other organs throughout the body. Many illness are linked to air pollution, such as: common cold, croup, asthma, bronchitis, COPD, lung cancer, heart failure, coronary disease, and much more.

The effects of air pollution are not a new problem, but it seems to get worse and not better. The governments have gotten better regulating and fining the big industries, but it is hard to regulate air pollution on the personal level. It is our responsibility to regulate and decrease our use of air pollutants or else we will not live in our world as we have grown accustomed to.

You and your children could be at risk when breathing in polluted air. There are two types of, effects of air pollution, and they are long term, and short term effects. Just how badly each person is harmed by pollution will depend on the duration of exposure, as well as the amount they were exposed to during that time. These together, are referred to as the total exposure to the pollution. Elderly people, as well as children usually are more harmed by the effects of air pollution, than a healthy adult. It is also dangerous for people with asthma or lung disease to be exposed to air pollution. People know that pollution is harmful and could even kill you, but the benefits we get from activities causing pollution, often outweigh the potential harm, in our minds. It is not until we have felt the effects of air pollution personally that we begin to be concerned with fixing the problem.

The short term effects of air pollution have probably harmed you already without you realizing it. Some of the short term effects include irritation to the nose, throat, and eyes. Some more serious effects include things like bronchitis, respiratory infections, and even pneumonia. You might have gotten these problems from air pollution and didn’t even realize it. You probably only think the effects of air pollution include the long term effects like lung cancer, and respiratory disease. So then you might have never realized, that the last time you had a respiratory infection, you were being harmed by air pollution. Although the long term effects of air pollution are much more serious you are being harmed by air pollution every time you breathe in something you shouldn’t. When the long term effects start to harm you, it is much too late to start thinking about how to cut back on air pollution. These terrible problems include lung cancer, chronic respiratory disease, heart disease, and organ damage. The organ damage can happen to your lungs, brain, nerves, kidneys, and liver. One very preventable way of polluting the air includes smoking cigarettes. Many people die each year, before their time, because of smoking cigarettes. When someone smokes around children, they can damage their lungs even before they are fully developed. Smoking and other air pollution can harm the elderly, and irritate their already present medical conditions. All of the human related sources of air pollution can be prevented, if we all keep trying to find ways to do what we need to do, without polluting the air we breathe.

Dog waste composting, although seldom heard of in the past, is becoming quite common today, especially for those with multiple dogs. Over 270 pounds of waste is produced each year from the average dog or an average of ¾ of a pound per day. Dog waste on your front or back lawn not only looks unattractive but can cast an unpleasant odor in your entire yard. If dog waste is not tended to, it not only is unpleasant but makes for a very unsanitary living space for the dog and can transmit infectious diseases and parasites.

Composting the dog waste is not only an inexpensive way of getting rid of the dog waste but is also very simple. Dog waste composting also helps the environment by lessening the amount of waste that needs to go into landfills. It also produces a high quality soil additive as well as improving the fertility and physical condition of the soil. Dog compost can be used as a soil additive for lawns, flower beds or as a mulch material. It should not be used for vegetable gardens or crops used for human consumption.

Bins for dog waste composting are being seen more and more in urban areas or on beaches. They’re basically simple to use and can be made in your backyard. You can use an old garbage can or large plastic pail. A garbage can works well because it has a cover. Cut out the bottom of the can and drill holes in the sides for ventilation. The next step is digging a hole in the ground large enough for you to place the entire can inside. Put some gravel or rocks on the bottom of the hole for drainage. Place the garbage can in the hole. If you’ve put in enough rocks, the garbage can should be just a little bit above the soil level.

Put the lid on the can and label the can. The reason for the labeling is so it’s not mistaken for something other than what it is and to alert children so they’ll stay away from it. As soon as you find some dog waste, put it in the can. You’ll need to purchase some septic tank starter to sprinkle on top of this waste. Then add some water to the mix. The septic tank starter is non-caustic and will promote the growth of natural bacteria. It will begin to work on the waste within 48 hours. After this time you can add dog waste to it regularly. It will begin to biodegrade and flow into the ground and subsoil.

If you find that this doesn’t take very long to fill, you can also move the can and start another pile in a different location. Your visitors will love that your lawn is no longer filled with dog waste and you’ll be helping the environment at the same time.

An aquatic ecosystem is where there is more salt water than fresh water involved in the balance of the landscape. Other aquatic ecosystems are fresh water lakes, rivers and estuaries. The aquatic ecosystem includes all life forms and land forms that might occur in each location.

Aquatic ecosystem topography can include tidal zones, coral reefs, river mouths, estuaries and reefs where salt water is predominant. The life forms that live in the aquatic ecosystem will be adapted to life in a salty environment.

Even tropical aquatic ecosystems will have similar conditions as underlying criteria for classification. The levels of salt water will effect the life forms able to exist in the symbiotic relationships needed between aquatic ecosystem and sustainable life.

In studies of an aquatic ecosystem, the predatory nature of some forms of life will mark the food chain of the particular area. In the aquatic ecosystem the food chain begins with the largest predatory mammals and fish and will continue down through the strata of life forms to the smallest poly and coral life. Seals, whales and dolphins exist in an aquatic ecosystem. They make the top of the food chain with fish such as sharks and large predators like turtles and sting rays.

Further down the food chain in an aquatic ecosystem are the smaller fish and crustaceans. It is the way that these creatures exist among the plant life and coral formations that make up the unique relationships in the aquatic ecosystem. Without plant life or plankton the larger species could not exist. Without the tides, the currents and the sand bars or rock reefs the plants could not exist. Without the movement of schools of fish, jelly fish, rays, eels and turtles, the levels of life would not remain in balance.

The impact of human activity on an aquatic ecosystem may not at first be discernable, but study would give an idea of how man has changed the balance of life in any aquatic ecosystem. Not only through the act of fishing, does human activity impact on the aquatic ecosystem, but activities such as fertilization of crops can affect the delicate balance in the aquatic environment. Toxins washing into the tidal zones, plastics floating through an aquatic ecosystem, long lines, waste material and oil spills can all damage a fragile aquatic ecosystem.

Taking care of an aquatic ecosystem, whether it is in tropical waters or in the Arctic or Antarctic oceans will mean the survival of thousands of individual species. There is no aquatic ecosystem that exists without being impacted by what happens in other parts of the globe. The aquatic ecosystem is vital to the health and welfare of all life forms that pass through it.

For many years, the use of phosphates in laundry detergents was responsible for making clothes appear far more “white” than they really were. Large ad campaigns throughout the second half of the 20th century re-enforced the notion that whiter laundry was cleaner laundry. In fact, this supposedly cleaner laundry was impregnated with chemical additives during the wash process in an effort to fool consumers with an optical illusion.

Since phosphates are not a direct threat to human health, this wouldn’t be of concern except that it also happens to be a fertilizer – one that is most often lacking for the growth of algae, seaweeds and other lower level marine plant life. This causes algal blooms that in turn lower the oxygen content of waters, kill fish and encourage dangerous organisms to spread though the weakened marine populations, sometimes becoming a major threat to human health and welfare.

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What is environmental pollution? One thousand years ago, the question wouldn’t have even made sense. The very concept that human beings could be killing the planet by trying to make it easier for themselves to survive wouldn’t have made sense. But in our modern world, the question “What is environmental pollution?” not only makes sense–it makes too much sense. And in many ways it’s a question that doesn’t need to be answered. We all know too well what environmental pollution is and what the consequences are of ignoring it.

The first real record in the Western world of a concept of environmental pollution came in during the reign of Edward I of England, who banned the burning of sea-coal in the late thirteenth century. Medieval Arab scholars discussed issues related to environmental quality and environmental protection from the ninth century forward, which makes some sense considering the delicate balance of the ecosystem necessary to maintain a nomadic hunter/gatherer lifestyle. (Anyone who’s read “Changes In The Land” is familiar with the environmental awareness among the American Indians–one of the major reasons the arrival of the Europeans was so disastrous for that group is the fact that European development destroyed many of the native ecosystems of the Indians, making it impossible for them to maintain their non-agricultural lifestyle.) But other than these glimpses, there was no concept of contamination–no answer to the question “What is environmental pollution.”

The real concept of environmental pollution started to emerge at the same time as factories emerged in Western Europe. Suddenly the consequences of taking full advantage of the earth became real and obvious as the air around London darkened and thickened and the water in the Thames slowly changed to poison. Environmental pollution entered the legal sphere fully in the late nineteenth century when major American industrial centers like Chicago and Cincinnati passed some of the first clean air laws, with mixed results. Yet these was still a sense that environmental pollution was mythical and the concern over it alarmism. After all, humans had exploited the land for millennia with no ill effects–why should trouble start now? Never mind that for millennia humans hadn’t had the power to damage the land that they do today–without an answer for the question “What is environmental pollution?”, there was no possibility of addressing the critics.

Today, as we said, there’s almost no need to ask the question. Everyone knows the answer to the question: “What is environmental pollution?” Environmental pollution is the sting in our nose when we breathe, the years taken off of our life when we drink the water, the feeling of doom we get when we look at the rising price of dwindling oil supplies. We know what environmental pollution is–and we know that at last, we need to do something about it.