SS7G10 The student will discuss environmental issues across Southern and Eastern Asia. a. Describe the causes and effects of pollution on the Yangtze and Ganges Rivers. b. Describe the causes and effects of air pollution and flooding in India and China.

What is pollution? Pollution is the introduction of a contaminant into the environment. ( Types of pollution include:  Water  Air  Soil ( environmental/articles/15650.aspx) environmental/articles/15650.aspx

Air Pollution in India Causes –  Transportation  Industry  Household pollution  Coal power stations  Large population Effects –  Death (over 2million/year)  Lung cancer  Lung infections  chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

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Air Pollution in China Causes –  Rapid economic growth  Burning coal  Population growth  Transportation Effects –  Respiratory disease  Lung cancer  Asthma  Brown cloud  Acid rain renewables/schwartz/index.html?cid=PS_01_46_06_00_00_02_01

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Air pollution in China One of the worst cases of air pollution took place in South Asia during August A blanket of pollutants nicknamed, "the Brown Cloud" smothered large parts of the region, causing severe problems for the people there.

Asian Brown Cloud  Extends over South, Southeast and East Asia  Haze hovers about 4 miles above the surface of the earth & can travel halfway around the globe in less than a week  75% of the cloud is man-made: forest fires, inefficient cooking fuels (woodstoves), factories, cars

Consequences  15% reduction of solar radiation  Altered monsoon patterns  Less rain in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan  More rain and flooding in other areas  Reduction in photosynthesis (drop in agricultural activity  Damages plants  Causes respiratory ailments

Flooding in India and China Causes –  Typhoons  Monsoons  Tropical Storms  Urban development  Human Oversight Effects –  Damage to property  Loss of property  Diseases  Death  Economic toll  Landslides

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Pollution of the Yangtze River Causes include –  Sewage runoff  Industrial runoff  Agricultural runoff ( er/freshwater_problems/river_decline/10_rivers_risk/yan gtze/yangtze_threats/) er/freshwater_problems/river_decline/10_rivers_risk/yan gtze/yangtze_threats/ ure/Pgen.htm

Pollution of the Yangtze River Effects include –  Dead zones (nothing will grow)  Lack of drinkable water  Deformities in animals  Multiple health issues ( mid=391#3301) mid=391# in-china/ 4/china-attacks-water-pollution-and- plans-massive-investments

Will the completion of the Three Gorges Dam on the upper Yangtze River help with flooding?

Facts about the Three Gorges Dam “Future Wonder of the World”  Will be the world’s largest hydroelectric dam  Will be more than 1 mile long  Will be almost 600 feet tall  Will cost about 24 billion dollars  20 years to construct!!

The Three Gorges Dam  Will generate electricity- clean & inexpensive  A renewable energy source  Will control flooding  Can store river water in case of a drought  Will improve transportation  Requires the flooding of entire valleys & scenic areas  Disrupts natural seasonal changes in the river  Ecosystems can be destroyed  Natural flooding cleans out silt  Will stop silt that washes downstream provides fertile soil Pros: Cons:

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Pollution of the Ganges River Causes include –  Industrial runoff  Human waste  Human pollution (trash)  Bodies ( Pollution.html) Pollution.html Most-Polluted-Sacred-River- Ganges-Causes-Concern htm com/polusi/2012/06/28/d i-india-air-sungai-gangga- suci-tapi-kotor html

Pollution of the Ganges Effects include –  Health issues  Death  Lack of drinkable water  Negative impact on economy River.html