Message about environmental pollution. Consequences of environmental pollution

The main sources of environmental pollution are artificial and man-made. Speaking facts, here are just some of the consequences of a thoughtless attitude towards nature:

Thermal pollution of the environment and harmful gases from cars have led to the fact that about 250 thousand people in Europe alone die annually from diseases associated with this phenomenon;
Every year, about 11 million hectares of tropical forests are cut down on Earth, while the rate of reforestation is ten times lower;
9 million tons of waste is dumped annually into the Pacific Ocean, and more than 30 million tons into the Atlantic;
For 40 years, the amount of drinking water per capita on the planet has decreased by 60%;
Discarded glass will take 1000 years to decompose, plastics 500 years.

Consequences of an oil spill

In recent years, environmental pollution is only gaining momentum, and many scientists around the world have begun to turn to this problem. Until recently, nothing like this was observed, since the level of consumption of goods by the population of the entire planet was at a low level. But with the constant increase in the standard of living, the purchasing power of people, the construction of more and more dangerous industries, the issue of preserving nature began to manifest itself more and more acutely.

Today, the problem of environmental pollution is an edge - a person negatively affects the whole world in many areas and there are no unambiguous solutions for this situation yet. In progressive countries they are already trying to fight this by creating advanced waste processing plants, but in most countries they have not yet reached this level of culture.

Interesting fact. One passenger car produces in a year the amount of carbon dioxide that is equal to its own weight. This gas contains about 300 substances hazardous to people and nature.

Environmental pollution - what does it mean

Due to deforestation, many animals lose their homes and die out - like this koala

Under the pollution of nature, it is customary to understand such human behavior, as a result of which dangerous and harmful substances and materials, chemical compounds and biological agents are introduced into nature. The consequences of environmental pollution affect not only the properties of soil, water, vegetation, air quality, but can also affect a lot of other factors, including the overall quality of life of people.

The release of hazardous substances into nature can occur in natural, artificial or anthropogenic ways. Examples of the first option include volcanic eruptions, when dust and magma cover the earth, destroying all life, disruption of the population of any animals in a certain area, which leads to problems in the existing food chain, increased solar activity, provoking droughts and similar phenomena.

Artificial ways of negative impact on the environment are inextricably linked with humans: the ever-growing number of hazardous industries, the accumulation of non-recyclable garbage and household waste, vehicle emissions, deforestation and urbanization. It is even difficult to enumerate all the negative factors that affect the normal state of nature as a result of human actions.

Classification of types of environmental pollution

Penguin caught in dirty water after oil spill

In addition to the above division into artificial and natural, types of environmental pollution are also divided into the following categories:

Violation of normal biocenosis or biological impact. Occurs as a result of uncontrolled catching or hunting of certain types of animals, the negative impact on animals by anthropogenic activities. Uncontrolled activity of hunters and fishermen, poachers leads to forced or spontaneous migration of a large number of animals to other habitats, etc. As a result of such processes, the normal biocenosis is disrupted, which sometimes provokes catastrophic problems. This also includes cutting down forests, drying up rivers or changing their course, the development of huge quarries, large forest and steppe fires;
Mechanical, implying the release into nature of a huge amount of garbage obtained as a result of human activity, which negatively affects both the inhabitants of the region and the physico-chemical structure and properties of soil, groundwater, etc.;
Physical pollution of the environment is a complex of impact factors, as a result of which some physical parameters change: its temperature, the level of radioactive, light, noise state. This includes electromagnetic effects from satellites, antennas;
Chemical negative impact, which manifests itself in a change in the normal chemical composition in the earth, water, air, which provokes destructive processes in it and deprives organisms of normal habitual conditions for their life.

Interesting fact. Due to excessive electromagnetic radiation in some developed countries, the number of insects has dramatically changed. The negative impact of electromagnetic radiation on bees, which prefer to migrate to places cleaner from radiation, has been noticed.

Environmental tax payment

Many countries, especially in the civilized world, have come to the conclusion that companies must pay certain taxes for environmental pollution by their activities. The money collected in this way is used to combat the consequences of the problem in one area or another, for example, in the country's water management.

Pollution of the environment occurs everywhere, so it is reasonable for the state to develop a unified approach and a common tax in this matter. However, at the moment there is still no clear definition of the environmental tax.

Usually, the interaction between the government and the owners of hazardous production goes like this: the facility checks for compliance with environmental safety standards and, in case of exceeding the established standards, undertakes to pay a certain tax, for example, on each ton of hazardous substances generated.

Therefore, it is worth talking rather not about some kind of tax common to the entire state, but about various kinds of payments from the manufacturer to the state in the event that an object generates harmful substances. Let's take a closer look at the situations in which this happens.

What taxes are related to environmental taxes?

Transport tax. In 2016, it must be paid if it is proven that the vehicle is harmful to the environment.
Mining tax. For example, in the extraction of natural resources, including coal and oil, which are among the exhaustible.
Water tax. Paid in Russia for introducing an imbalance into the environment when using water resources.
Fee for the exploitation of aquatic biological resources in Russia, objects of the animal world. This tax is paid if the damage to nature is caused as a result of hunting or other types of catching animals.
Land.

How does all this affect the human body?

Wave with debris on the island of Java - the most populous island of the planet

Many people treat the issue under consideration rather superficially and do not take any action to protect the environment from pollution, believing that the problem does not concern them. In fact, this is a completely wrong and unconscious approach.

The result of a changed environment affects a person very strongly, since he is an inextricable part of nature. It is possible to single out the most important areas that, due to the negative influence of man, have undergone changes that are dangerous:

Climate. The constant increase in temperature, the melting of glaciers, the change in some global currents in the world's oceans, the presence of dangerous chemical compounds in the air - this is only a small part of what everyone faces. Even the most minimal changes in climate: temperature, pressure, precipitation or strong gusts of wind can bring with them a lot of problems of a very different nature: from exacerbated rheumatism to destroyed crops, drought and hunger strike (see);

Biological and chemical factors. Harmful substances enter the soil, penetrate into groundwater, into the air in the form of vapors, are absorbed into plants, which animals and people then feed on. Dangerous chemicals, even in small concentrations, can provoke allergies, coughs, diseases, rashes on the body, and even mutations. In chronic poisoning, a person becomes weaker and more tired;

Nutrition also has a strong effect on human health. Cultures grown on impure land, saturated with a large amount of chemical fertilizers and poisons, lose many of their positive properties, becoming a real poison. Bad food causes obesity, loss of taste and appetite, lack of essential vitamins and minerals in the body.

Environmental pollution, as defined above, can have a very negative impact on the health of millions of people.

Genetic danger

Mutations among animals caused by environmental change

One of the most important nuances of the issue under consideration is the so-called genetic danger. It lies in the fact that under the influence of harmful chemicals, various mutations can accumulate in the body, which can provoke cancerous tumors and introduce serious defects into future generations, sometimes even incompatible with life.

The manifestation of mutations and changes in the body and its descendants does not appear immediately. This may take years or decades. That is why eating GMO food, being exposed to radiation and strong radiation, smoking, which also causes cell mutations, manifests itself in the form of the same cancer and other pathologies not immediately, but after 10-20 years.

Fighting a problem

Waste recycling plant Spittelau in Vienna, Austria

Anthropogenic pollution of the environment, the causes and consequences of which have already been discussed in general terms, is a serious concern for many thinking people around the world. It is enough to visit at least once on which there is no end in sight to understand that the situation is going too far and it is necessary not to hide it in abandoned quarries, but to radically solve it.

Since nature has no boundaries, the fight against the problem of its pollution is international. There are now many organizations around the world that are trying to influence manufacturers, governments and people in order to educate them in a more conscious attitude towards nature and their actions. In some countries, green energy sources are being actively promoted, popular car companies are starting to produce electric cars that should replace gasoline and diesel engines.

Important components of the struggle for the conservation of nature:

Promotion of abandoning the consumer lifestyle and the constant purchase of things that can be completely abandoned and which will quickly end up in the nearest garbage dump;

Construction of waste processing plants capable of producing new materials from recycled materials, which will be re-used in production;

Garbage sorting. In cultural countries, this issue has already been practically resolved and people throw different types of garbage into different containers. This simplifies the process of their disposal and recycling.

One of the serious causes of environmental pollution is the irresponsible attitude of the inhabitants to the problem and their unwillingness to understand these issues.

How to prevent the problem

The fight against environmental pollution is a complex task that must be solved in the following complex:

Bringing the issue to the attention of governments of all countries;
Enlightenment of the masses in order to educate them in consciousness in this matter;
Impact on manufacturers and their control. All this should be regulated by thoughtful and rigid legislation;
Prevention of environmental pollution should also be accompanied by the creation of a full-fledged infrastructure for the removal, disposal and processing of waste.

Only all these points together can produce a positive effect and reverse the current negative trend, make our world cleaner.

General consequences of nature pollution

Garbage-filled territories of Bangladesh

At the moment, the consequences of the constant increase in consumption, the development of the industry and the corresponding amount of waste and garbage are already quite tangible, and this applies to the whole world. Suffice it to recall the recently erupted "garbage" riots in the suburbs of Moscow, when people began to massively complain about the terrible smell from the landfill next to their homes, the deterioration of air and water quality.

Interesting fact. About 40 million Russians living in cities live in conditions of 10 times the level of air pollution exceeding what is prescribed by sanitary standards.

As a conclusion, it is worth noting that the environmental consequences of environmental pollution are catastrophic for every person on Earth. But only a conscious approach to the problem can change something.

The main factors of environmental pollution depend on the person, so if all people unite to solve this problem, then you can be sure that a solution will be found. The matter remains for small things - for the strong-willed decision of the authorities of all countries to start moving in this direction.

Stopping pollution is essential to save our planet and to ensure the health and well-being of people. The air and water are poisoned with dangerous chemicals, and if nothing is done, the Earth will lose its beauty and diversity. This article will tell you some of the ways you can do your part to stop pollution.

Steps

Vehicle selection

If possible, walk or ride a bike. Ditching your car for short trips is a great way to improve the environment. If you don't have much distance to go and the weather is nice, go for a walk or bike. So you will not only help stop environmental pollution, but also get useful physical activity.

Use public transport. Traveling by bus or subway will help reduce your carbon footprint because you won't be using your own car. If public transport works well where you live, use it. This will allow you to take your mind off the road and read or just relax.

Combine trips. Daily trips by private car have a negative impact on the environment. Therefore, when you need to travel for several things, try to combine your trips into one. It will also save you money, as starting a cold engine uses 20% more fuel than driving a car.

Get your vehicle serviced regularly to ensure that the engine and components are working properly. Keeping your vehicle in excellent condition will reduce your carbon footprint and also help prevent other vehicle problems.

Change oil every 3 months or every 5000 km.
Maintain the recommended tire pressure.
Change air, oil and fuel filters regularly.

Drive carefully because dangerous driving style contributes to environmental pollution. Driving safely will also save you money by reducing your fuel consumption.
- Accelerate gradually, lightly pressing on the gas pedal.
- Do not exceed the permitted speed.
- Maintain a constant speed (try using cruise control if you have one).
- Get ready to slow down.
Buy a hybrid car or an electric car. Electric vehicles run entirely on electricity, so they don't produce any emissions. A hybrid car has an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. Both electric and hybrid vehicles help reduce pollution. Although a hybrid car uses gasoline, such cars save fuel and produce fewer emissions (compared to conventional cars).
- Keep in mind that electric and hybrid vehicles are more expensive than most conventional vehicles.
Choice of food
1. Buy local produce whenever possible. Transporting food around the country and around the world consumes a significant amount of fuel, which leads to air pollution. Therefore, buy products made locally and grown on nearby farms, and not food that is brought in from other regions. If a farmer or gardener sells their own produce, ask how they grow it to learn about their efforts to prevent pollution.
  - Go to the farmers' market to interact with the direct food producers.
  - Find products made or grown locally at a nearby store.
  - In large grocery stores, look for products made in your area.
2. Limit or eliminate the consumption of animal products made in large factories. This refers to meat, milk, cheese and eggs. Such enterprises greatly pollute the environment - the waste of some of them is comparable to the waste of a small city. To do your part in protecting the environment, do not buy or eat food from animal sources produced by large enterprises.
  - If you cannot give up animal products, reduce your consumption of them, for example, to 1-2 times a week.
  - If you want to do even more to help keep the environment clean, consider becoming a vegetarian or vegan.
3. Eat organically grown fruits and vegetables. Such products are grown by farmers using production methods that do not harm the environment. For example, such farmers do not use chemical pesticides that pollute groundwater. By buying organically grown fruits and vegetables, you are contributing to the development of sustainable farming practices.
  - Look for fruits, vegetables, and other products labeled Organic.
4. Grow your own fruits and vegetables. Set up a garden or garden on your own plot, and you will contribute to the protection of the environment. Plants and trees convert carbon into oxygen, which reduces the amount of polluted air. Moreover, the fruits and vegetables you grow will replace the products from the store, which require a lot of fuel to transport.
  - If you are unfamiliar with gardening, start small. Start by planting some tomatoes, lettuce, and cucumbers in your yard. With the acquisition of experience and skills, gradually expand the area of \u200b\u200byour garden.
Choice of energy source
1. When leaving the room, turn off the lights and electrical appliances. To save more energy, you can unplug electrical appliances from the outlet. Or connect all electrical appliances to the surge protector so that when it is turned off, all electrical appliances are turned off at once.
  
  Make small changes that will result in significant energy savings. It is recommended to do the following:
  
  If you have the ability to control the temperature in the room, set the thermostat to 25°C during the warm season and 20°C during the cold season. You will save energy if you properly regulate your heating and air conditioning system.
  
  Improve the insulation of your home. To do this, caulk the gaps around the window frames or replace the old frames with new ones. In winter, you can use special tools. If you have old-style frames, and not double-glazed windows, they can be sealed for the winter so that the heat does not leave your house.
  
  Think about alternative energy sources. If you live in your own home or are planning to build one, consider installing solar panels or a wind turbine.
  
  Consider switching to a different energy source. This means switching from a non-renewable source (such as gas) to a renewable source (electricity). Let's say if you're designing your own home, consider installing an electric boiler instead of a gas one. In a city apartment, you can replace a stove with a gas oven with a stove with an electric one, if the electrical wiring allows.
Recycle, reuse and reduce waste
1. Recycle everything that can be recycled. If possible, do not buy products that do not have a triangle with arrows on their packaging, which indicates that these products can be recycled. Also avoid products made from several different materials (these products are difficult to recycle).
  - Find out if your waste collection company offers recycling services. If not, there may be special centers in your city where you can take recyclable waste. Find out on the Internet where you can donate, for example, waste paper or plastic bottles.
2. Buy products made from recycled materials. In this way, you will help reduce the demand for new materials that pollute the environment.
  - Look for products labeled "Made from recycled materials."
  - Products made from recycled materials often carry percentages indicating the amount of recycled material from the total raw material. Look for items with high percentages.
Preventing chemicals from entering the water supply
1. Use fewer chemicals. The chemicals we use in cleaning, hygienic care, and car washing are washed down the drain, but often end up in the water supply. Such chemicals are harmful not only to plants and animals that make up the ecosystem of our planet, but also to humans. If possible, use natural analogues of chemicals.
  - For example, to clean a bathroom, you can make a solution of vinegar and water or baking soda, salt and water. These natural ingredients are great cleaners, but they don't contaminate the water when flushed down the drain.
  - Try making your own laundry detergent and dishwashing detergent. If you don't have time, buy a cleanser made from natural ingredients.
  - If you can't find a natural alternative, use chemicals as little as possible.
2. Do not use pesticides and herbicides. These chemicals are sprayed above the ground and enter the groundwater when it rains. Pesticides and herbicides protect crops from pests, but they harm the environment by seeping into the groundwater that people and animals need to survive.
3. Do not flush medicines down the drain. Disinfection systems cannot completely remove the residues of medical products from the water, which negatively affects every person who drinks such water. Each medicine has specific disposal instructions. If you need to throw away medicines, figure out how to do it right (don't flush medicines down the drain!).
  - Some medicines are recommended to be rinsed off so that they do not fall into the hands of a certain category of people (for example, children). But remember that this is an exception to the rule.

POLLUTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT, the impact on the biosphere, which poses a danger to representatives of wildlife and the sustainable existence of ecosystems. Distinguish between natural pollution caused by natural causes (for example, volcanic activity), and anthropogenic, associated with human activities. Almost all types of economic activity entail some form of pollution. It is accompanied by an increase in the level of substances harmful to organisms, the appearance of new chemical compounds, particles and foreign materials that are toxic or not capable of being utilized in the biosphere, an excessive increase in temperature (thermal pollution), noise (noise pollution), electromagnetic radiation, radioactivity (radioactive pollution ) and other environmental changes. Every year, more than 100 billion tons of various rocks are extracted from the bowels of the Earth. When burning about 1 billion tons of standard fuel (including gasoline), biogeochemical cycles include not only additional masses of carbon and nitrogen oxides, sulfur compounds, but also large amounts of such elements hazardous to organisms as mercury, lead, arsenic, etc. in the industrial and agricultural production of heavy metals significantly exceeds those quantities that were in the biospheric cycle for the entire previous history of mankind. Up to 67% of the heat generated by power plants enters the biosphere. By the 21st century, about 12 million compounds not previously found in nature have been synthesized in the world, of which about 100 thousand are widely distributed in the environment (for example, chlorine-containing pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls). Environmental pollution is so great that the natural processes of the circulation of substances in nature and the diluting ability of the atmosphere and hydrosphere are not able to neutralize its harmful effects. The natural systems and connections in the biosphere that have developed in the course of a long evolution are disrupted, and the ability of natural complexes to self-regulate is undermined. Ecological disturbances are manifested in a reduction in the number and species diversity of organisms, in a decrease in biological productivity, and degradation of ecosystems. Along with this, there is an uncontrolled reproduction of organisms that easily develop stable forms (some insects, microorganisms). And although in a number of developed countries the volume of emissions and discharges of pollutants into the environment has decreased by the 21st century, in general, pollution of the biosphere is increasing, including due to global (spread throughout the globe) and persistent (persistent, persisting for many decades). ) pollutants. The direct objects of pollution are the atmosphere, water bodies and soils.

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Air pollution. Combustion of oil, natural gas, coal, wood and organic waste are the main sources of pollution by sulfur compounds (SO2, SO3, H2S), nitrogen oxides (NO, NO2, N2O) and carbon (CO, CO2), aerosols, dust, fumes and heavy metals. Significant amounts of methane are released during the extraction of fossil fuels, during the combustion of various organic substances, etc. The concentration of CO2 over the past 200 years has increased by more than 1.3 times, nitrogen oxides - by almost 1.9 times, methane - by more than 3 times ( major increase after 1950). Anthropogenic emissions of CO2 (an annual increase of 0.2%, in 2005 exceeded 28 billion tons) and some other gases, including methane, N2O, fluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), ozone, create a “greenhouse effect” in the atmosphere and can lead to to climate change on the planet. About 60% of sulfur entering the atmosphere is of anthropogenic origin (fuel combustion, production of sulfuric acid, copper, zinc, etc.). Oxides of sulfur, nitrogen and carbon interact with atmospheric water vapor, which causes acid rain, which has become a serious environmental problem in Europe, North America, and China. Emissions into the atmosphere of chlorofluorocarbons (see Freons) and a number of other substances lead to the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer, which protects all life from harsh UV radiation. At the beginning of the 21st century, the appearance of an "ozone hole" over the Antarctic was recorded (area 28 million km2; 3.9 million km2 more than in 2005). It also captures the southern tip of South America, the Falkland Islands, New Zealand, part of Australia. The appearance of the "ozone hole" is associated with an increase in the incidence of skin cancer and cataracts. An increase in the intensity of UV radiation is noted in the middle latitudes of the Northern and Southern hemispheres of the Earth and in the Arctic. Since the 1990s, forest fires have contributed significantly to atmospheric pollution.

In Russia, more than 60 million people live in conditions of high (up to 10 MPC) and very high (more than 10 MPC) air pollution. About 50% of all harmful substances and up to 70% of the total volume of greenhouse gases enter the atmosphere from enterprises of the fuel and energy complex (FEC). During the period from 1999 to 2003, the number of cities in which the maximum concentration of pollutants is ten times higher than the MPC increased from 32 to 48; the main pollutants are lead, benzopyrene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, manganese compounds, NO2, H2S, sulfur, and dust. In 2001-04, transboundary fallouts of sulfur and nitrogen compounds, as well as cadmium, lead and mercury (mainly from Poland, Ukraine, Germany) made an additional contribution to environmental pollution, which exceeded the inputs from Russian sources.

Pollution of fresh waters. The development of industry, urbanization and the intensification of agriculture in the 20th century led to a significant deterioration in the quality of water in surface continental water bodies and a significant part of groundwater. At the beginning of the century, salinization (mineralization) prevailed, in the 1920s - pollution with metal compounds, in the 1930s - with organic substances, in the 1940s, intensive eutrophication of water bodies began; in the 1950s - contamination with radionuclides, after the 1960s - acidification. The main pollutants are agricultural, industrial and domestic effluents, with which nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium, copper, fluorine and chlorine compounds, as well as hydrocarbons enter water bodies. Large-scale treatment of industrial wastewater began to be carried out in most countries only in the 2nd half of the 20th century. In Western Europe, more than 95% of wastewater is treated; in developing countries - about 30% (China plans to treat 50% of wastewater by 2010). The most efficient treatment facilities remove up to 94% of phosphorus-containing and up to 40% of nitrogen-containing compounds. Pollution of water bodies with agricultural effluents is primarily due to the presence of various fertilizers and pesticides in them (up to 100 million tons are used annually, up to 300 kg per 1 hectare of agricultural land; up to 15% of them are washed out). In addition, they contain persistent organic compounds, including chlorine-containing pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and dioxins. The supply of nitrogen and phosphorus is accompanied by the intensive development of aquatic plants and oxygen deficiency in water bodies and, as a result, a significant disruption of aquatic ecosystems. About 10% of freshwater pollution in the world comes from municipal wastewater. In general, more than 1.5 thousand km3 of wastewater is annually discharged into inland waters, the dilution of which takes about 30% of the total river flow, which is about 46 thousand km3. A significant part of pollutants enters natural waters from the atmosphere, with rain and melt water. In the United States, for example, in the 1980s, up to 96% of polychlorinated biphenyls, 90% of nitrogen and 75% of phosphorus, most of the pesticides, entered water bodies in this way.

By the beginning of the 21st century, more than half of the world's major rivers were heavily polluted, and their ecosystems were degrading. In the bottom sediments of rivers and especially reservoirs, heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants accumulate. At the end of the 20th century, 3 million people died each year from diseases associated with contaminated drinking water sources in Africa alone.

In many regions of Russia, pollution of surface water bodies with oil products, compounds of copper, manganese, iron, nitrogen, phenol and other organic substances exceeds the MPC level tenfold. About 20% of polluted wastewater comes from fuel and energy companies. There are frequent cases of high pollution with mercury, lead, sulfides, hydrogen sulfide, pesticides, lignin, formaldehyde. In 2005, more than 36% of the wastewater discharged was polluted above the permissible limits. By 2005, environmental degradation affected the ecosystems of 26% of lakes and rivers. At the bottom of the Volga and other reservoirs, tens of millions of tons of salts of heavy metals and other substances hazardous to organisms have accumulated, which has turned these reservoirs into uncontrolled burial sites for toxic waste. In 2005, almost 30% of surface water bodies used for drinking water supply did not meet hygienic standards, more than 25% of water samples did not meet microbiological standards.

Pollution of the oceans within the coastal zone is determined mainly by the discharge of industrial and municipal waste, runoff from agricultural land, pollution from transport and oil and gas production. In the coastal parts of the Gulf of Mexico, for example, the concentration of nitrogen compounds, which had remained unchanged since the beginning of the 20th century, increased 2.5 times after 1960 as a result of inputs from the Mississippi River. 300-380 million tons of organic matter are carried into the ocean per year. The dumping of various wastes (dumping) into the seas is still widely practiced (at the end of the 20th century, up to 17 tons per 1 km2 of the ocean). After the 1970s, untreated municipal effluent receipts increased dramatically (for example, in the Caribbean they account for up to 90% of effluents). Coastal pollution is projected to increase as a share of atmospheric deposition due to the increase in the number of vehicles and the development of industry. Every year, more than 1 million tons of lead, 20 thousand tons of cadmium, 10 thousand tons of mercury and the same amount of lead and about 40 thousand tons of mercury from the atmosphere enter the ocean with river runoff.

More than 10 million tons of oil enters the ocean every year (mostly carried by rivers). Up to 5% of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans are constantly covered with an oil slick. During Desert Storm (1991), accidental oil spills into the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea exceeded 6 million tons. As a result of global transport, persistent organochlorine pesticides are found in hazardous quantities in mammals and birds in Antarctica and the Arctic. Radiochemical production facilities in France, Great Britain, the USSR (Russia) and the USA have polluted the North Atlantic, the Arctic Ocean, and the Eastern Pacific Ocean with long-lived radionuclides. At the bottom of the oceans are about 60 lost atomic bombs, as well as containers with radioactive waste and reactors with spent nuclear fuel. Tens of thousands of tons of chemical munitions were flooded after the Great Patriotic War in the Baltic, White, Barents, Kara, Okhotsk and Japan seas. A serious threat is the pollution of the ocean with poorly decomposing synthetic debris. Every year, more than 2 million birds, marine mammals and turtles die as a result of ingesting plastic debris and getting entangled in abandoned nets.

In the last 30 years, eutrophication of marine water bodies (for example, the Black, Azov and Baltic Seas) has been observed, leading, in particular, to an increase in the intensity of reproduction of phytoplankton, including toxic ones (the so-called red tides). For some seas, biological pollution is catastrophic, associated with the introduction of alien species, which enter mainly with the ballast water of ships. For example, the appearance of the comb jelly Mnemiopsis in the Sea of Azov and the rapana in the Black Sea is accompanied by the displacement of the native fauna.

In the internal and marginal seas of the Russian Federation, for some types of pollutants, MPCs are consistently exceeded by 3-5 times. The most polluted include Peter the Great Bay (Sea of Japan), the northern part of the Caspian Sea, the Sea of Azov, and the Neva Bay (Baltic Sea). In the 1990s, the annual removal of oil products by rivers was (thousand tons): the Ob - up to 600, the Yenisei - up to 360, the Volga - up to 82, the Lena - up to 50.

Land and soil pollution. By the end of the 20th century, 2.4 million km2 of land had been degraded due to chemical pollution (12% of the total land area degraded by anthropogenic factors). More than 150 thousand tons of copper, 120 thousand tons of zinc, about 90 thousand tons of lead, 12 thousand tons of nickel, 1.5 thousand tons of molybdenum, about 800 tons of cobalt annually fell on the soil surface only from metallurgical enterprises. In the production of 1 g of blister copper, for example, 2 tons of waste are generated, which in the form of fine particles fall on the earth's surface from the atmosphere (contain up to 15% copper, 60% iron oxides and 4% arsenic, mercury, zinc and lead). Engineering and chemical industries pollute the surrounding areas with tens of thousands of tons of lead, copper, chromium, iron, phosphorus, manganese and nickel. During the mining and enrichment of uranium, billions of tons of low-level radioactive waste spread over thousands of km2 in North and Central Asia, Central and South Africa, Australia, and North America. Technogenic industrial wastelands are being formed around large enterprises in many countries. Acid precipitation causes soil acidification over millions of km2.

About 20 million tons of chemical fertilizers and pesticides are applied to the fields of the world every year, a significant part of which is not absorbed, does not break down and causes large-scale soil pollution. Soils on tens of millions of km2 are saline as a result of artificial irrigation (only in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Peru - more than 18 million hectares).

Modern cities pollute (landfills, sewage treatment plants, etc.) the territory exceeding their own by 5-7 times. On average, in developed countries there are about 200-300 kg of waste per person per year. As a rule, in countries with a low standard of living, more waste is generated. According to expert estimates, the volume of municipal waste buried in landfills in the world increased until the 1990s, then began to decrease due to their recycling (in Western Europe about 80%, in the USA up to 34%, in South Africa 31% of municipal waste is recycled). ). At the same time, the areas of land occupied by wastewater treatment facilities (silt ponds, irrigation fields) are growing. By the beginning of the 21st century, the export of toxic waste from developed countries became a serious problem: up to 30% of hazardous waste in Western Europe at the end of the 20th century was buried in the territories of other states.

Technogenic pollution of soils around large thermal power plants (especially coal-fired and shale-fired) can be traced over an area of several thousand km2 (they include compounds of cadmium, cobalt, arsenic, lithium, strontium, vanadium, as well as radioactive uranium). Thousands of km2 are occupied by ash and slag dumps. The territories around nuclear power plants and other nuclear enterprises are polluted with radionuclides of cesium, strontium, cobalt, etc. Testing of atomic weapons in the atmosphere (until 1963) led to global stable contamination of soils with cesium, strontium and plutonium. More than 250,000 tons of lead per year enters the soil surface with vehicle exhaust gases. Soil is especially dangerously polluted at a distance of up to 500 m from major highways.

In Russia, over 30% of solid waste comes from fuel and energy companies. More than 11% of the territories of residential areas in 2005 were heavily polluted with compounds of heavy metals and fluorine, 16.5% of soils in these areas are subject to microbiological contamination. At the same time, no more than 5% of the generated waste is recycled, the rest are a source of constant pollution, many solid waste landfills do not meet sanitary standards. Only in Moscow and the Moscow region in 2005, about 3,000 illegal dumps were identified. More than 47 thousand km2 (mainly Altai, Yakutia, Arkhangelsk region) are contaminated with tens of thousands of tons of rocket metal structures and rocket fuel components as a result of rocket and space programs. In an unsatisfactory condition are the places of storage of prohibited and unsuitable pesticides (for 2005 more than 24 thousand tons), as well as earlier burials of these substances. In all areas of production, transportation, distribution and processing of oil, soil pollution with oil products and drill cuttings is significant (about 1.8% of the territory of the Russian Federation). During production and transportation (including due to ruptures and leaks from pipelines), about 10 million tons of oil are lost annually.

Environmental Protection. Measures aimed at protecting against environmental pollution are part of the problem of nature protection. They come down mainly to legislative restrictions and a system of fines. The global nature of environmental pollution enhances the role of international agreements and conventions to prevent pollution. Various countries of the world are making efforts to reduce and prevent pollution, for which dozens of international and hundreds of regional agreements and conventions are concluded. Among them: the Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (1972); Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area (1974); Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (1979); Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (1985); Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987); Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (1989); Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (1991); United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992); Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (1992); Convention for the Protection of the Black Sea from Pollution (1992); Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (2001).

See also the articles Biosphere, Environmental monitoring and the article The state and protection of the environment in the volume "Russia".

Lit.: Tinsley I. Behavior of chemical pollutants in the environment. M., 1982; Global Environment Outlook: Overview of Environmental Change: Yearbook. Nairobi, 2000-2007; Targulyan O. Yu. Dark pages of "black gold". Environmental aspects of the activities of oil companies in Russia. M., 2002; Protecting Europe's Environment: The Third Assessment. Luxembourg, 2004; On the state and use of water resources of the Russian Federation in 2003: State report. M., 2004; On the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the Russian Federation in 2005: State report. M., 2006; Review of environmental pollution in the Russian Federation for 2005: State report. M., 2006; On the state of the natural environment of the Russian Federation in 2005: State report. M., 2006; Yablokov A. V. Russia: the health of nature and man. M., 2007.

V. F. Menshchikov, A. V. Yablokov.

Back to Pollution

Environmental pollution is a prerequisite for an ecological catastrophe that inevitably awaits both us and the entire planet, if all measures are not taken to prevent a negative impact on nature, causing a change in its properties and capabilities.

Being inextricably linked with his environment, a person, one way or another, influences it, and every year this influence becomes more significant and, accordingly, more tangible.

Focusing on the most common problems, the following causes of environmental pollution can be distinguished:

1. Chemical impact, manifested in the release of toxic compounds into the environment. It would seem that today almost every production is aimed at cleanliness and wastelessness. However, in reality, the concentration of chemicals emitted by industrial enterprises, oil refineries, boiler houses is so high that it has become a global problem.

To prevent the deterioration of the already serious state of affairs, it is necessary to carry out a number of measures aimed at reducing chemical emissions into the atmosphere, water resources, and soil. Among them are the improvement of treatment facilities, the use of low-sulfur fuel, work with environmentally friendly raw materials;

I would like to think that our site also helps to reduce the chemical impact on the environment.

For example, if we recycle a battery instead of throwing it away, we save 20 square meters. meters of soil without chemical contamination. The same is true when disposing of mercury lamps, thermometers or used oils.

2. Biological Impact - The testing of biotechnologies, the latest research carried out at the gene level, can produce amazing results in one direction and at the same time cause serious harm to the environment. The slightest violation of safety requirements can cause the release of pathogenic microorganisms.

Strict observance of protection measures, the use of closed water supply systems, high-quality cleaning of waste and garbage at processing plants will minimize the risk of infection;

3. Radioactive exposure is one of the most dangerous types of infection. Even a simple layman understands that such an impact is comparable to an irreparable catastrophe, after which there may be nothing alive on the planet.

An increase in the background radiation becomes a consequence of nuclear tests, explosions, the use of specialized equipment, reactions, with the use of radioactive substances.

The best solution to this problem may be to abandon the use of nuclear energy. However, given the impossibility of its implementation, timely decontamination work, as well as preventive measures to prevent accidents, can partly help.

Rational use of natural resources is the best possible solution.

Environmentalists are sounding the alarm. Measures aimed at protecting the environment must be taken immediately.

Realizing that the economic component is becoming one of the most important for the manufacturer, in any case, one should focus on the choice of technologies that eliminate the risk of negative impact on nature. The opening of protected areas and nature reserves can help improve nature.

Environmental impact
environmental protection
Environmental monitoring
Environmental monitoring
Environmental assessment
Ecological crisis
Environmental problems

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Abstract: Environmental pollution is a global problem

Plan

I Introduction

II. Environmental pollution is a global problem:

1) Causes of pollution

2) Water pollution

3) Air pollution

4) Soil pollution

III. Conclusion

Bibliography

I Introduction

A person who lived in the 20th century found himself in a society that is burdened with many dilemmas that accompany its socio-economic development. The military struggle all over the world, which has already subsided in our time, problems with resettlement, food, health care, the problem of electricity, etc. The situation is not alleviated by the problems of deforestation (25 ha/min), desertification of land (46 ha/min), growth of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and so on. Society has faced a severe crisis and it can be concluded that its foundations are the positions of relations between society and nature, developed during the transition to a producing economy.

The interaction of society and nature is realized objectively: people are part of nature, and nature is part of its economy through natural resources. At the same time, the dualism of man predetermines the substantial difference between society and nature and becomes a precondition for contradictions between them. With the advent of mental abilities, a person subordinated his upbringing to the tasks that form him as a person. The scientific and technological revolution has opened the veil on opportunities that satisfy the interests and needs of people, and at the same time, the load on natural systems has increased thousands of times. The lack of restrictions on the full use of natural resources has led to an irreversible deterioration in the quality of the environment. Cutting down forests, testing atomic bombs, subordinating everything to electricity - the world, as it may be inappropriate to say, began to resemble a greenhouse in which plants and living beings develop, but with difficulty, which are not helped, but on the contrary, seem to put up barriers, air and not completely drinkable water.

As it turned out, they became incompatible with each other: a fruitful environment and high economic growth. This situation is the root of the global environmental problem.

II. Environmental pollution as a global problem

1) Causes of pollution

In fact, the main reasons for the unviability of the environment are not so many. It has long been clear that people consider themselves right to solve problems of world magnitude, trying not to spoil nature, but at the same time, of course, who has what goals, to fill their pocket well. Such an approach to the problem, already global, will lead to the destruction of all life. What can we say about global warming, which is the outcome of the human factor. Mankind seems to ignore the "hints" of nature, believing that it has superiority over the current situation.

Meanwhile, human technology is increasingly upsetting the balance in the environment.

Along with the growth of the population on the planet, the pressure on the natural environment also increases. The types of pollutants are also becoming more diverse. After all, man is progressing. More and more original chemicals are being invented that do not have the best effect on the biosphere. Considerable damage is caused to water resources by the food, petrochemical, and woodworking industries. Various slags, ashes stored on the surface of the earth cause irreversible harm to the atmosphere.

The inexpedient use of natural resources - mineral resources - will soon become a shortage. After all, they belong to the exhaustible types of natural resources. Such an outcome occurs during extraction, enrichment, transportation, processing. As a result, huge volumes of rock masses disturb the balance of the surface of the lithosphere. Under their weight, the earth sinks or swells, which can lead to disruption of the groundwater regime and swamping of large areas.

And one more reason for the gradual destruction of life on Earth. Demographic crisis - many countries with a capitalist market economy are interested in increasing the population, rather in the growth of the labor force. With the increase of the human factor, the latest technologies will open up, which will either further destroy existence on the planet, or more intelligent inventions will be developed.

2) Water pollution

Water is the most common inorganic compound on earth. It contains gas and salt compounds, as well as solid elements.

Most of the water is found in the seas and oceans. Fresh water - only 3%. A large proportion of fresh water (86%) is collected in the ice of the polar zones and glaciers.

Water bodies are threatened to a greater extent - petroleum oils, wastewater from the pulp and paper industry, and wastewater from various chemical plants adversely affects the development of aquatic organisms. All this contributes to a change in color, smell, taste, which is very necessary for the normal development of all living pure water. Harmful waste aggravating the existence of fish in water bodies is emitted from wood waste. As a result of this: caviar, invertebrates and other species of inhabitants of the aquatic environment die. Also, sewers and laundries cannot be left without attention. With the increase in human ingenuity, as if to improve life, various detergents are produced, which does not have a beneficial effect on water resources. As a result of the nuclear industry, water bodies are radioactively polluted, which causes irreparable harm to health. Scientific studies of methods for neutralizing radioactive contamination are in demand.

Wastewater pollution can be divided into two groups: mineral and organic, as well as biological and bacterial.

Mineral pollution is the wastewater of metallurgical enterprises, as well as enterprises engaged in mechanical engineering.

Fecal-economic wastewater - organic water pollution. Their origin is obtained with the participation of a living factor. City waters, waste paper and pulp, brewing, leather and other industries.

Live microorganisms - components of bacterial and biological pollution: helminth eggs, yeast and mold fungi, small algae and bacteria. Pollution in the majority contains about 40% mineral substances and 57% organic.

Water pollution can be characterized by several features:

floating substances on the surface of the water;

modification of the physical qualities of water;

modification of the chemical formula of water

transformation of the types and number of bacteria and the emergence of pathogenic microbes.

Under the influence of solar radiation and self-purification, water is able to renew its useful properties. Bacteria, fungi and algae help in self-purification. Developments are also available in industry - mainly workshop and general plant facilities for wastewater treatment.

3) Air pollution

Atmosphere - the air shell of the Earth. The quality of the atmosphere implies the totality of its properties, reflecting the level of impact of physical, chemical and biological factors on people, flora and fauna. With the formation of civilization, anthropogenic sources increasingly dominate air pollution.

Pollution of the atmosphere with impurities is a global problem, because air masses are an intermediary in the pollution of other natural objects, contributing to the spread of harmful masses over impressive distances.

The growth of the population of the Earth and the rate of its multiplication are the determining factors in the growth of the intensity of pollution of all geospheres of the Earth, as well as the atmosphere. In cities, the maximum air pollution is noted, where typical pollutants are dust, gas masses, etc.

Chemical impurities that pollute the air:

1) natural impurities determined by natural processes;

2) arising from the economic activity of mankind, anthropogenic.

In areas of active life of people, more stable pollution with increased concentrations appears. Their growth and formation rates are much higher than average. These are aerosols, metals, synthetic compounds.

Various impurities enter the atmosphere in the form of gases, vapors, liquid and solid particles, such as: carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides, ozone, hydrocarbons, lead compounds, carbon dioxide (CO2), freons.

The source of air pollution with dust is also the production of cement and other building materials.

Hazardous circumstances are radioactive dusts.

4) Soil pollution

Soil is a natural formation that has a number of properties of animate and inanimate nature. The depth does not exceed 20-30 cm, on chernozems it can reach about 100 cm.

The soil is in organic matter, mineral compounds, living organisms; Every soil has its own genotype.

Humus is the main and indispensable condition for the soil's cereal content; it is a complex organo-mineral complex. Under conditions of the best farming, in natural conditions, a positive balance of humus is maintained.

The value of soils is determined by buffering, humus content, biological, agrochemical, agrophysical indicators.

The totality of natural and anthropogenic processes that lead to soil modification is called degradation, the quantity and quality also change, the fertile and economic significance of lands decreases. Soil fertility is sufficiently reduced (over the past 30-35 years, the humus content in the soils of non-chernozem Russia has decreased by 35%). Due to the annual emissions into the atmosphere of Russia, which are approximately equal to 50 million tons, the Earth is polluted and deteriorated.

The human factor negatively affects land resources, so it is necessary to take appropriate measures for the appropriate use of soils.

The state must protect the land, developing measures that would prevent the destruction and pollution, depletion of land resources.

In case of pollution of water and atmosphere, emergency measures are taken to clean up emissions. By the way water resources are able to self-repair, the environment is more or less stabilized.

With land resources, everything is much more complicated. With the constant intake of harmful substances into the soil, it is not able to renew fertility. And then the already polluted soil itself becomes harmful to water and agricultural products.

Several pathways for contaminants to enter the soil:

A) With precipitation, gases enter the soil - oxides of sulfur and nitrogen, appearing in the atmosphere as a result of the operation of enterprises, diverging in atmospheric moisture.

B) In dry weather, solid and liquid compounds usually settle in the form of dust and aerosols.

C) In dry weather, gases are absorbed by the earth, especially damp.

D) Through the stomata, various harmful compounds are absorbed by the leaves. When the leaves fall, these compounds enter the soil.

Chemicals, as is customary - pesticides, are used in agriculture to protect plants from pests, ailments, weeds. The economic efficiency of pesticides has been proven. But, as a result of the toxicity of pesticides, the huge scale of their use (in the world - 2 million tons / year), the danger of their impact on the environment is growing.

III. Conclusion

In the 21st century, the civilization of the whole world has entered a stage of development, where in the first place are the problems of survival and self-preservation of both humanity and the environment, and the rational use of natural resources. This stage of the formation of mankind revealed the tasks activated by the multiplication of the Earth's population, the irrational use of natural resources. Such objections slow down the further development of the scientific and technological progress of mankind. Therefore, the most important condition for the formation of mankind is to take care of nature.

Bibliography

1. Akimova T.A., Khaskin V.V. Ecology. M.: UNITI, 1998.

2. Danilov-Danilyan V. I., Losev K. S. Ecological challenge and sustainable development. Moscow: Progress-Tradition, 2000.

3. Konstantinov V. M. Protection of nature. M.: Publishing Center "Academy", 2000.

4. Moiseev N. N. Man and the noosphere. M.: Mol. guard, 1990.

5. Orlov D.S. Ecology and protection of the biosphere in case of chemical pollution: Proc. allowance / Orlov D.S., Sadovnikova L.K., Lozanovskaya I.N. Moscow: Higher school, 2002.

6. Petrov K.M. General ecology. Interaction of society and nature. St. Petersburg: Chemistry, 1997.

7. Nature management: Prob. textbook for 10-11 cells. profile schools/N. F. Vinokurova, G. S. Kamerilova, V. V. Nikolina et al. M.: Enlightenment, 1995.

8. Nature management: Textbook. Under the editorship of prof. E.A. Arustamov. M .: Publishing House "Dashkov and K", 2000.

9. Sitarov V. A., Pustovoitov V. V. Social ecology. M.: Publishing Center "Academy", 2000.

10. Khotuntsev Yu.L. Ecology and environmental safety: Proc. allowance. M.: ACADEMA, 2002.

ANTHROPOGENIC POLLUTION: CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES

Environmental pollution- undesirable change in its properties as a result of anthropogenic intake of various substances and compounds. It leads or may lead in the future to a harmful effect on the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, flora and fauna, buildings, structures, materials, and on the person himself. It suppresses the ability of nature to self-repair its properties.

Human pollution has a long history. Even the inhabitants of Ancient Rome complained about the pollution of the waters of the Tiber River. The inhabitants of Athens and Ancient Greece were worried about the pollution of the waters of the port of Piraeus. Already in the Middle Ages, laws on environmental protection appeared.

The main source of pollution is the return to nature of that huge mass of waste that is formed in the process of production and consumption of human society. Already in 1970 they amounted to 40 billion tons, and by the end of the 20th century. increased to 100 billion tons.

A distinction must be made between quantitative and qualitative pollution.

Quantitative environmental pollution arises as a result of the return to it of those substances and compounds that occur in nature in a natural state, but in much smaller quantities (for example, these are compounds of iron and other metals).

Qualitative environmental pollution due to the entry into it of substances and compounds unknown to nature, created primarily by the industry of organic synthesis.

Pollution of the lithosphere (soil cover) occurs as a result of industrial, construction and agricultural activities. At the same time, metals and their compounds, fertilizers, pesticides, and radioactive substances act as the main pollutants, the concentration of which leads to a change in the chemical composition of soils. The problem of accumulation of household waste is also becoming more and more complex; It is no coincidence that in the West, in relation to our time, the term "garbage civilization" is sometimes used.

And this is not to mention the complete destruction of the soil cover as a result, first of all, of open-pit mining, the depth of which - including in Russia - sometimes reaches 500 m or even more. The so-called badlands ("bad lands"), which have completely or almost completely lost their productivity, occupy already 1% of the land surface.

Pollution of the hydrosphere occurs primarily as a result of the discharge of industrial, agricultural and domestic wastewater into rivers, lakes and seas. By the end of the 90s. the total world volume of wastewater has approached 5 thousand km3 per year, or 25% of the "water ration" of the Earth. But since these waters require on average 10 times more pure water to dilute, they actually pollute a much larger volume of channel water. It is not difficult to guess that this, and not only the growth of direct water intake, is the main reason for the aggravation of the problem of fresh water.

Many rivers are heavily polluted - the Rhine, Danube, Seine, Thames, Tiber, Mississippi. Ohio, Volga, Dnieper, Don, Dniester. Nile, Ganges, etc. The pollution of the World Ocean is also growing, the "health" of which is threatened simultaneously from the coast, from the surface, from the bottom, from rivers and the atmosphere. Every year, a huge amount of waste enters the ocean. The most polluted are the inland and marginal seas - the Mediterranean, Northern, Irish, Baltic, Black, Azov, inland Japanese, Javanese, Caribbean, as well as the Biscay, Persian, Mexican and Guinean bays.

The Mediterranean Sea is the largest inland sea on Earth, the cradle of several great civilizations. 18 countries are located on its shores, 130 million people live, 260 ports are located. In addition, the Mediterranean Sea is one of the main areas of world shipping: it simultaneously hosts 2.5 thousand long-distance ships and 5 thousand coastal ships. 300-350 million tons of oil pass through its routes annually. As a result, this sea in the 60-70s. almost turned into the main "garbage pit" of Europe.

Pollution affected not only the inland seas, but also the central parts of the oceans. The threat to deep-sea basins is growing: there have been cases of burial of toxic substances and radioactive materials in them.

But oil pollution poses a particular danger to the Ocean. As a result of oil leakage during its production, transportation and processing, from 3 to 10 million tons of oil and oil products annually enter the World Ocean (according to various sources). Space images show that already about 1/3 of its entire surface is covered with an oily film, which reduces evaporation, inhibits the development of plankton, and limits the interaction of the Ocean with the atmosphere. The Atlantic Ocean is the most oil polluted. The movement of surface water in the ocean leads to the spread of pollution over long distances.

Atmospheric pollution occurs as a result of the work of industry, transport, as well as various furnaces, which together annually throw billions of tons of solid and gaseous particles into the wind. The main air pollutants are carbon monoxide (CO) and sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), which are formed primarily during the combustion of mineral fuels, as well as oxides of sulfur, nitrogen, phosphorus, lead, mercury, aluminum and other metals.

Sulfur dioxide is the main source of so-called acid rain, which is especially widespread in Europe and North America. Acid precipitation reduces crop yields, destroys forests and other vegetation, destroys life in river reservoirs, destroys buildings, and adversely affects human health.

In Scandinavia, which receives acid rain mainly from Great Britain and Germany, life has died in 20 thousand lakes, salmon, trout and other fish have disappeared in them. In many countries of Western Europe, there is a catastrophic loss of forests. The same destruction of forests began in Russia. The effects of acid precipitation can not withstand not only living organisms, but also stone.

A particular problem is the increase in emissions of carbon dioxide (СО2) into the atmosphere. If in the middle of the XX century. worldwide CO 2 emission was about 6 billion tons, then at the end of the century it exceeded 25 billion tons. The main responsibility for these emissions lies with the economically developed countries of the northern hemisphere. But recently, carbon emissions have also increased significantly in some developing countries due to the development of industry and especially energy. You know that such emissions threaten humanity with the so-called greenhouse effect and global warming. And the growing emission of chlorofluorocarbons (freons) has already led to the formation of huge "ozone holes" and the partial destruction of the "ozone barrier". The accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986 indicates that cases of radioactive contamination of the atmosphere also cannot be completely ruled out.

SOLVING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS: THREE MAIN WAYS.

But humanity not only litters its "nest". It has developed ways to protect the environment and has already begun to implement them.

The first way is to create various kinds of treatment facilities, the use of low-sulphur fuel, the destruction and processing of waste, the construction of chimneys 200-300 m or more high, land reclamation, etc. However, even the most modern facilities do not provide complete purification. And ultra-high chimneys, reducing the concentration of harmful substances in a given place, contribute to the spread of dust pollution and acid rain over much larger areas: a 250 m high chimney increases the dispersion radius to 75 km.

The second way is to develop and apply a fundamentally new environmental ("clean") production technology, in the transition to low-waste and waste-free production processes. Thus, the transition from direct-flow (river-enterprise-river) water supply to circulation, and even more so to "dry" technology, can first ensure a partial, and then a complete cessation of wastewater discharge into rivers and reservoirs.

This path is the main one, because it not only reduces, but prevents environmental pollution. But it requires huge expenditures, unsustainable for many countries.

The third way is in a deeply thought out, most rational distribution of the so-called "dirty" industries that have a negative impact on the state of the environment. Among the "dirty" industries, first of all, are the chemical and petrochemical, metallurgical, pulp and paper industries, thermal power engineering, and the production of building materials. When locating such enterprises, geographical expertise is especially necessary.

Another way is to reuse raw materials. In developed countries, the reserves of secondary raw materials are equal to the explored geological ones. The centers for the procurement of recyclable materials are the old industrial regions of Foreign Europe, the USA, Japan, and the European part of Russia.

Table 14. The share of waste paper in the production of paper and cardboard in the late 80s, in%.

ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY.

The plunder of natural resources and the growth of environmental pollution have become an obstacle not only to the further development of production. Often they threaten the very lives of people. So back in the 70's and 80's. most of the economically developed countries of the world began to carry out a variety of environmental activities, to conduct environmental policy. Strict environmental laws were enacted, long-term programs for improving the environment were developed, systems of fines (polluter pays) were introduced, special ministries and other state bodies were created. At the same time, a mass movement of the public in defense of the environment began. In many countries, the "Green" parties appeared and achieved considerable influence, various public organizations, for example, Greenpeace, arose.

As a result, in the 80-90s. environmental pollution in a number of economically developed countries has begun to gradually decrease, although in most developing countries and in some countries with economies in transition, including Russia, it still remains threatening.

Domestic scientists-geographers distinguish 16 critical ecological regions on the territory of Russia, which together occupy 15% of the country's territory. Industrial and urban agglomerations predominate among them, but there are also agricultural and recreational areas.

In our time, the measures taken by individual countries are not enough to carry out environmental protection activities, the implementation of environmental policy. The efforts of the entire world community are needed, which are coordinated by the UN and other international organizations. In 1972, the first UN Conference on the Environment was held in Stockholm, the day of its opening - June 5 - was declared World Environment Day. Subsequently, an important document "The World Strategy for Conservation of Nature" was adopted, which contained a detailed program of action for all countries. Another similar conference took place in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro. It adopted "Agenda for the 21st Century" and other major documents. There is a special body in the UN system - the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), which coordinates the work carried out in different countries, generalizes world experience. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the International Geographical Union (IGU) and other organizations actively participate in environmental activities. In the 80-90s. international agreements were concluded to reduce carbon emissions, freons, and many others. Some of the measures being taken have clear geographic implications.

In the late 90s. there are already about 10 thousand protected natural areas (PAs) in the world. Most of them are in the USA, Australia, Canada, China, India. The total number of national parks is approaching 2 thousand, and biosphere reserves - to 350.

Since 1972, the UNESCO Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage has been in force. In 1998, the World Heritage List, which is updated annually, included 552 sites - including 418 cultural, 114 natural and 20 cultural and natural. Most of these facilities are in Italy and Spain (26 each), France (23), India (21), Germany and China (19 each), the USA (18), the UK and Mexico (17 each). There are 12 of them in Russia so far.

And yet, each of you, the citizens of the coming 21st century, should always remember the conclusion reached at the Rio-92 Conference: "Planet Earth is in such danger as it has never been before."

GEOGRAPHICAL RESOURCES AND GEOECOLOGY

In geographical science, two interrelated directions have recently taken shape - resource science and geoecological.

Geographic resource science studies the distribution and structure of certain types of natural resources and their complexes, issues of their protection, reproduction, economic evaluation, rational use and resource availability.

Scientists representing this area have developed various classifications of natural resources, proposed concepts natural resource potential , resource cycles, territorial combination of natural resources, natural-technical (geotechnical) systems and others. They also participate in the compilation of inventories of natural resources, their economic evaluation.

Natural resource potential (NRP) of the territory- this is the totality of its natural resources that can be used in economic activities, taking into account scientific and technological progress. The PRP is characterized by two main indicators - size and structure, which includes mineral resources, land, water and other private potentials.

resource cycle allows you to trace the successive stages of the cycle of natural resources: identification, extraction, processing, consumption, return of waste back to the environment. Examples of resource cycles are: the cycle of energy resources and energy, the cycle of metal resources and metals, the cycle of forest resources and timber products.

geoecology from a geographical point of view, studies the processes and phenomena that occur in the natural environment as a result of anthropogenic interference in it. The concepts of geoecology include, for example, the concept monitoring
Basic concepts: geographic (environment) environment, ore and non-metallic minerals, ore belts, pools of minerals; structure of the world land fund, southern and northern forest belts, forest cover; hydropower potential; shelf, alternative energy sources; resource availability, natural resource potential (NRP), territorial combination of natural resources (RTSR), areas of new development, secondary resources; environmental pollution, environmental policy.

Skills: be able to characterize the natural resources of the country (region) according to the plan; use various methods of economic evaluation of natural resources; characterize the natural prerequisites for the development of industry and agriculture of the country (region) according to the plan; give a brief description of the location of the main types of natural resources, single out the countries "leaders" and "outsiders" in terms of availability of one or another type of natural resources; give examples of countries that do not have rich natural resources, but have reached a high level of economic development and vice versa; give examples of rational and irrational use of resources.

Environmental pollution. Report World around. Grade 3

In the course of human activities, a lot of waste is generated that pollutes the environment. This is factory smoke that pollutes the atmosphere, wastewater from factories, institutions and houses, polluting rivers and seas, and much more. There is so much car exhaust in the atmosphere of large cities that it is difficult for people and animals to breathe.

Air pollution control

Now people are beginning to understand the harm they are doing to the environment and to themselves. In order to reduce the emission of harmful gases into the air, special filters and chemical converters (catalysts) were invented. Researchers are thinking about creating new, even more modern options for protecting the atmosphere, but so far this is not enough.

Water pollution

Liquid household and industrial wastes pollute rivers. Harmful and poisonous substances absorb oxygen from the water, which is fatal for all river inhabitants.

If environmental pollution continues at the same rate, then by the middle of the next century, about half of all plant and animal species on Earth may disappear.

Together with factory smoke, chemical compounds are released into the air. Which leads to acid rain. It poisons the soil and destroys trees.

Factories create a huge amount of waste. Cutting down trees leads to the destruction of forests and all their inhabitants. Liquid waste is dumped into rivers. And solid ones are brought to landfills, reaching enormous sizes. Exhaust gases from cars make the air harmful to breathe.

Protection of Nature

Many animals and plants on Earth are on the verge of extinction. Their habitat was destroyed by pollution, predatory deforestation or something else. Some animals with valuable fur fell victim to immoderate hunting. To save the remaining living creatures, urgent environmental measures must be taken.

National parks

The last orchid

Some wild plants are so rare that they need special protection. So one of the species of orchids today remains only in Yorkshire (in England) and its exact location is carefully hidden.

save the pandas

Deserted seas

For thousands of years, the sea has fed man. But today, modern fishing boats catch more fish than it has time to reappear. Even those species that used to be so abundant (for example, cod) are on the verge of complete destruction.

saving trees

Forests are cut down to obtain timber and release land for arable land and buildings. As a result, some forests were lost forever. But today, large-scale work is underway to grow new forests specially designed to meet human economic needs.

We can also contribute to the protection of nature. By collecting waste paper, we save trees from being cut down. In our city in spring and autumn, various events are held. For example, cleaning the Sura embankment and the streets of the city from garbage, planting trees. All this allows us to keep our city clean and beautiful.