Archive for December, 2009

Introduction

The elementary law of demand and supply has always influenced the innovations and developments that might take place in the sector of industrial growth. The consumer behavior and changing trends of production go a far way in determining the evolution of new concepts and entrepreneurship skills that might evolve over a course of time.

Such influencing factors have led to the emergence of all new sectors of industry in the last few years, the establishment of the flourishing waste management industry being one of the most prominent advancements in the field.

The Services

A vast series of waste management companies abound in the industrial world today, especially in the organized urban sector. The need for conservation of energy and the fact that the world is facing a critical shortage of natural resources that are fast depleting has led to the development of new technologies followed by such waste management companies involved in this process.

To begin with, the first and one of the most important roles played by the waste management companies is the identification and analysis of a particular organization’s requirement. For instance, the waste management service provider in question is first required to analyze and identify the kind of waste being dealt with, along with the kind of treatment processes that might be required.

Most of the waste management companies provide special expertise in the field of treatment of hazardous and toxic waste such as hospital waste, which requires special treatment owing to its dangerous nature. In addition, the choice of the typical disposal method to be chosen also depends on the type of waste material being dealt with.

The next most important role being played by the waste management companies is to work in line with the goals of the organization and in specific relevance to its objectives regarding waste management. A company who is especially committed to the cause of environmental safety will devote a greater number of resources and expertise to the cause of waste management, instead of just regarding it as another procedure to be carried out within the organization.

Well-structured and organized waste management companies have a specific action plan in which they take up the procedure of waste management through all the essential steps of the process, including analysis, disposal, recycling and reuse. Such companies constantly endeavor to develop newer technologies and concepts to help the industrial world combat the alarming situation created by the enormous environmental hazards related to excessive production of waste material and undesirable methods of handling the same.

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.

Having a central air conditioning system is almost a necessity in some of the hotter climates but it is also a good option in more central and even northern areas where summer temperatures get above 80 degrees. Maintaining a consistent temperature in your house adds both to the comfort level as well as to the resale value and even the life of your home. Houses that are kept between temperatures of 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit consistently throughout the year have less cracking, moving and buckling of wood within the house.

Keeping your central air conditioning system functioning is important in maintaining the temperature in the house. There are some general tips for upkeep on a central air conditioning system that are simple and easy to do, however if you have purchased a maintenance contract as part of the installation package of a new system this may be done for you for the period listed in the contract. By correctly maintaining your system you can be assured that it will work longer as well as more efficiently, costing you less in both repair and power bills even as the unit ages.

All central air conditioning units have two separate and different components that are equally important in the functioning and efficiency of the system. The part that is outside is the condenser unit and while it is a sealed unit, it does tend to collect debris, dirt and organic material. Keeping the condenser clean and free from these items will help with air movement across the condenser coils, making the unit work more efficiently. Some of the basic maintenance that should be done before using the unit for the first time in the spring or summer include cutting down all weeds, grass or bushes that may be drawn into the unit by the fan or may stop the flow of air to the fan. In addition commercial condenser coil should be used to clean the coil prior to the first use. The fins, the small aluminum pieces around the unit, need to be carefully cleaned with a soft brush or a special fin cleaner. Don’t use water as this can cause the debris to turn into mud and may damage or bend the soft metal the fins are made of.

The evaporator unit in the central air conditioning system is in the house, typically in the main furnace duct just above the furnace in what is know as the plenum. If the plenum is solid, the system will have to be serviced by an A/C technician, but if it is removable the homeowner can do some basic maintenance themselves. Clean the unit with a cleaning brush, don’t use a cloth that can catch on parts and possibly cause damage. In addition clean the drain pan located below the evaporator. In humid climates where a lot of water will sit in the tray, check to make sure the drain (weep hole) in the tray is clear and add one tablespoon of bleach to prevent the growth of mold and fungus.

Just like any type of evap emissions control system, then Kia Sportage evaporative emissions control system works to prevent gasoline vapors from being released or vented into the air. This can happen when a vehicle is parked in a hot area and the low vaporization point of the fuel is reached just by having the vehicle in the sun. The evap emissions control system, Kia Sportage sports utility vehicle or any other type of vehicle, works as a closed system, trapping the vapors in a canister and allowing them to be burned in the combustion chamber of the engine once the vehicle is started. The evap emissions control system, Kia Sportage and other Kia models, can have several different issues that cause the in dash “check engine” light to appear so owners need to be aware of what issues can potentially cause the problem.

Since the in-dash light system, controlled by the on-board diagnostic computer or OBD ll system, can be triggered by the evap emissions control system, Kia Sportage drivers need to be aware of the issues that can cause the light to come one. Sometimes the “check engine” light can come on for reasons that can be remedied by the owner or driver, while other times the light can be a very serious issue that needs to be corrected immediately by a certified Kia technician to prevent further costly damage to the car’s engine or exhaust system. The evap emissions control system, Kia Sportage models, is hooked up to a diagnostic computer which downloads the information from the vehicle’s OBD ll system, allowing the technician to access the information on the emissions control systems and diagnose the malfunction or problem. This is done through a series of codes that the technician’s computer generates that correspond to malfunctions within the system.

Some of the common evap emissions control system Kia Sportage codes and common problems include:

PO455 – Evap emissions control system leak (large) – this is a serious problem that can be both costly to repair as well as can cause the vehicle to stop running or become unable to start. If the engine light comes on with this code it is critical to get the vehicle into a certified Kia technician for repair.

Loose gap cap – when the gas cap is not tightened as per the owner’s manual, it is possible that the emissions system will generate an error code and a “check engine” light will be visible on the dash. This is typically corrected once the gas cap is removed, tightened correctly and the Kia is driven through the required number of drive cycles without another incorrect reading. Typically if this reading is found when you take the vehicle to a technician there is no charge and the engine light is simply reset provided the gas cap is not damaged and the seal around the opening to the gas tank is intact.

PO452 – Evap control pres sensor low – this can be caused by a loose gas cap as well but is more likely a problem with a hose that has come loose or a pressure control circuit that is malfunctioning. A Kia technician would need to test the system to find out where the problem is with the pressure in the system.

You may think that pollution is not your problem because you do not litter, you think your automobile meets the EPA’s requirements, and besides you may not live in one of the cities they list as the worst polluted area. However, pollution rears its ugly head in many forms and everyone is affected. There are things that everyone can do to help clean up and prevent pollution.

How Many Kinds Could There Be?

Pollution does come in many forms and some may even sound newfound, but all are important to take notice of. A few examples may be:

• Litter - Litter can be found on the side of the road, in an old lot and in waterways, as well. Litter may start with the simple carelessness of a person throwing out that one soda can or cigarette butt, however those “simple” acts cause toxins to be emitted into the air, groundwater, and soil.
• Water Pollution – We may stop and think of the seriousness of water pollution when we hear of a major spill, but our everyday actions may be contributing to this pollution issue. Poor septic tanks and phosphate-induced cleaning agents are contributors too.
• Air Pollution – Everyone contributes to air pollution; on some levels it is hard not to because every action has a reaction and that reaction releases chemicals. Due to major fines and bad press, some companies have gotten better at monitoring their output. Car manufacturers include emission systems, but we use our cars at record-breaking levels. It comes down to the balance of good air produced by Mother Nature to bad air produced by human usage.
• Light Pollution - Who would have ever thought that pollution comes in the form of light? But extended exposure brings a breakdown of melatonin in the body and the energy it takes to produce that light wastes precious energy.

Are We A Lost Cause?

One may think that we have done so much damage that there is no turning back or maybe it is to be another person’s problem. Well, we are all in it together and since together we are a part of creating the problem then together we can be a part of the solution. A few suggestions could be:
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Reduce the amount of waste your household makes by buying smartly. Reuse items purchased for one reason into something else. Recycle all the plastic, glass, paper, and other items instead of throwing them away.
• Caustic Chemicals - Look in your cabinets and see the plethora of everyday chemicals and find environmentally friendly alternatives.
• Hoof It - Cutting down the use of your automobile would do at least two things: cut down on emissions released and give you exercise.

Pollution is not a new problem, pollution is not the other person’s responsibility, pollution does affect you and those around you, and pollution can be controlled. Are you going to be a part of the solution?

One of the most powerful air pollutants is the naturally occurring organic gas, methane. It is a far better greenhouse gas than carbon and is now found in the atmosphere at concentrations of more than 150% over pre-industrial levels.

When people put organic matter in the regular waste stream, these coffee grounds and sandwich crusts are acted upon by decomposing microorganisms, with methane being a common by-product. This is why garbage dumps must be equipped with release valves. Otherwise, they’d literally explode from the pressure.

One way to avoid the bulk and threat of such waste is to keep your own compost pile. These are not difficult to keep, even if entire books can be written on the finer points. Nor do they need to smell bad. Many cities are now separately collecting organic wastes as part of municipal compost programs, many of which are then used as fertilizer for city and park lands.
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It is true that our Earth is covered with a large percentage of water, but the fact is that most of it has been contaminated with some form of water pollution. It is an unavoidable need to stop this path of destruction, in order to maintain life, as we know it on our planet. The causes of water pollution are many, but they can be brought under control.

Different Types Of Water Pollution

Water pollution is best defined as any change, biological, chemical, physical or otherwise in the quality of water. This change has harmful effects on any living organism that uses, lives in, or drinks the water. There are different types and causes of water pollution, including:

• Disease causing – These means, such as bacteria, parasitic worms, and viruses enter the sewage systems and untreated wastes. Illegal dumping of raw sewage is a main factor.
• Oxygen demanding – There are certain bacteria that require oxygen to decompose. An excess of these bacteria enter the water and deplete the oxygen levels during their decomposing process, thus robbing the needed oxygen for life of the organisms that make the water their home.
• Inorganic Pollutants – These water-soluble agents, like acids, salts, and toxic metals make the water unfit to drink and cause harm to the aquatic life.
• Phosphates and Nitrates – These are also water-soluble and cause excessive growth of algae and plants. The excess growth of these organisms deprives the oxygen levels.
• Organic Compounds – Oil, plastics, and pesticides are compounds that are unhealthy for all living organisms.
• Radioactive – These water-soluble compounds are a main cause of birth defects, cancers, and other genetic damages. Illegal dumping is the main reason for this.

How Does It All Happen?

Water pollutants are carried two different ways, effectively creating two fundamental causes of water pollution. There can be a “point source,” which occurs when these harmful substances are entered directly. An example would be a pipe from an industrial facility dumps directly into a waterway. “Nonpoint sources” are when pollutants are delivered indirectly through environmental change. An example of this would be when fertilizers or pesticides are carried through runoff into the waterways.

Some of the point source and nonpoint source causes of water pollution are:

• Pesticides – Farming and local mosquito spraying enters the runoff in watering and rain
• Fertilizers – General use and commercial use
• Gas, oil, and additives – Accidental spills, runoff, and illegal dumping
• Mining – Strip mining will create major erosion and the chemical filled sediments enter the waterways
• Sediment – Poor construction methods also create erosion
• Industrial and chemical wastes – Illegal dumping and monitored dumping
• Plastics – Barges of trash dumped offshore are filled with plastics that reek havoc on organisms in the water and the waterfronts
• Household cleaners, personal products and pharmaceutical – The remainders that go down the drain enter our sewage systems, and the containers get dumped. Pharmaceutical and hospital wastes end up in our oceans and wash ashore
• Sewage – Illegal dumping of raw sewage occurs and poorly treated wastes reenter our waterways
• Air pollution – Particles from the air drop into the water adding to the nightmare
• Temperature – The use of water for cooling purposes in industry and then dumped back into the water before it has a chance to cool creates a variety of issues

Water pollution does not stem from one cause, nor is there one type. Whatever the form it takes, it affects all the living organisms that live in the water, drink the water, or are near the waterways. It is time to stop the act of waste, abuse, and misuse of our most precious resource, and minimize the impact of the causes of water pollution.

Indoor air pollution may not sound too serious, but it does contribute to some terrible diseases like, asthma, respiratory infections, and even lung cancer. You need to be very concerned with pollution indoors because lung disease, every year, claims 335,000 American lives. People constantly warn you of the harmful effects of giant factories, and exhaust from motor vehicles; however they do not often enough discuss the dangers of indoor air pollution. In addition to causing chronic lung problems, poor indoor air quality can cause headaches, nasal congestion, nausea, and dry eyes. It is especially dangerous for someone who already suffers from lung problems, to be exposed to indoor air pollution on a regular basis. You may never suspect it, but the quality of air in your home could easily be polluted by many biological pollutants. Many people get sick and miss days of school and work, when their illness could be prevented by keeping up with good quality air, in the home. You could have a number of biological pollutants in your air such as, bacteria, molds, pollen, viruses, dust mites, and even pet dander. There are many ways to keep things like mold out of your home, and the sooner you learn of these the better your life will be.

To help prevent the growth of various molds, in your home, you need to keep the humidity levels of bathrooms, kitchens, and basements low. This can be done by keeping good air flow in the rooms, and keeping them clean regularly. If your basement is high in humidity, you might need to buy a dehumidifier to keep it from turning into a mold factory. A major cause of indoor air pollution is cigarette smoke. It is especially terrible if a person smokes around non smokers like their children. Environmental tobacco smoke is known to cause 3,000 lung cancer deaths and at least 30,000 deaths from heart disease each year, in non smokers. Another cause of indoor air pollution, that can even cause death, is carbon monoxide. There are many appliances in the home that use gas or wood as fuel, including heating systems, which can release carbon monoxide into your home. This is a serious problem because carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that stops oxygen from getting to vital parts of the body. In mild cases it can cause dizziness, confusion, headache, and fatigue; however when inhaled in high doses it will cause death. You can get detectors for carbon monoxide which is the only way to know it is in your air. The best defense for indoor air pollution is research, combined with common sense choices.

Electrical pollution is causing a large area of concern within some of the private sectors, a term that is referred to many as “dirty power” but has no scientific basis for it in engineering or electrical science. A loose term, it describes several types of electrical phenomena—stray voltages, electric and magnetic fields, earth currents, and transients and high frequency noise—while making the person inside the home very ill. Normal clean electricity enters the home at 60 Hz, while electrical pollution is referred to as 60 Hz of electricity polluted with high frequency signals—or “dirty” power—flowing through the wires and through Earth. Understanding how to control electrical pollution is best understand by looking at both sides of the picture.

Electrical data can be measured by very sophisticated measuring devices, but it can be misunderstood by many which adds to the fear of being exposed to “electrical pollution”. Yet there actually are many normal incidents of naturally occurring electrical phenomena which actually do arise from the use of everyday electricity, with many misused terms still being used. The high frequency noise labeled by many as part of the electrical pollution, the phrase “how to control electrical pollution” is considered by those who work in the field as looking at certain sources of electrical pollution, addressed at the source through local action.

Professionals in the field looks at electrical pollution caused by cell towers, with a Wisconsin county passing an ordinance in reference to it requiring compliance with the IEEE-519. In Europe, harmonic filers are required on non-linear and time-varying loads but not in the United States. In the United States, “how to control electrical pollutions” is not even recognized.

A huge worry for those involved with learning how to control electrical pollution is the high frequency noises on the wires. Created by the end user of whichever devise is involved, the noise is actually small compared to that in our homes of 120 volts at our lamp wall outlet. The source of high frequency nose and the transient sources is the end user. How to control electrical pollution involves some form of electrical knowledge, recognizing that the transmitted noise cannot be heard too far away from its source due to its design. This same noise is known as “white noise” on the television screen or fuzzy buzzing within our communications systems.

Electrical pollution is associated with illness or not feeling well, but there is no proven link between electrical pollutions or human disease—chronic fatigue syndrome, weakness, headache, nervousness, and fibromyalgia—and no scientific evidence to prove such a relationship exists. How to control electrical pollution requires being totally objective on both sides, and if we worry too much about something or someone or electrical pollution, we will make ourself sick

Sadly, there is no one solution to the loss of biodiversity. And, even if such a solution existed, the adversarial nature of the relationships between governments, businesses, and environmentalists would probably keep it from being implemented.

Any solution to the loss of biodiversity must take multiple factors into account: How will this solution affect the animals of the region? The plant life? Humans? The region itself? Plants, animals, humans and the earth itself are intertwined in a number of complicated ecosystems, dependent on each other for survival. So far, thirty-four separate biodiversity hotspots have been identified, each with its own particular ecosystem, problems, and needs.

In addition to no one solution to the loss of biodiversity being a good fit for every biodiversity hotspot, there is the additional problem of convincing the local population of that area that preventing such loss is desirable. In many of these areas, day-to-day survival is an issue, and convincing the local government to consider what are clearly expensive, and long-term solutions to an immediate problem is almost impossible. Further, globalization has created the monster of one area being used to feed the demands of other continents and their peoples. Pesticides that are deemed to dangerous for use in the West are shipped to other continents further weakening the ecosystems there.

Governments need to start addressing issues such as climate change, water pollution, melting polar ice caps, and the rapidly escalating extinction of various species for any real advances toward a solution to the loss of biodiversity to be made. They can also stop the destruction of forest land through road building, to which governments usually add a colonization policy and/or concede large tracts of the deforested land to corporations for mineral extraction. The destruction of much of the Amazon rain forest and its indigenous species of plants, animals, and humans was accomplished by just such government actions.

One step toward a solution to the loss of biodiversity is education. There are many small steps that, in and of themselves, seem far too simple to work but which, if practiced by everyone, would go a long way toward solving some of the problems. Walking or bicycling instead of driving, using reusable carry-alls instead of plastic grocery bags, limiting the issuance of hunting and fishing licenses, using energy-efficient appliances, cutting down our dependence on fossil fuels are part of a solution to biodiversity that almost anyone can put into practice easily.

If we are ever to find a permanent, workable solution to the loss of biodiversity, we must give up our private agendas, and work together, putting the well-being of the whole race and, indeed, the whole planet ahead of any lesser goals.