5.1 Nature of pollution

Pollution The contamination of air, water, or soil by substances that are harmful to living organisms. Pollution can occur naturally,(ex. through volcanic eruptions), or unnaturally (ex. the spilling of oil and disposal or industrial waste) Two Types of Pollution: Point source pollution and non-point source

Point Source Pollution Point source: Pollution that can be traced back to a single origin or source (ex. sewage treatment plant discharge). Point source pollution has a localized impact is easier to manage. Can be challenging because it is more scattered and can be very numerous

Non-Point Source Pollution Non-point source: Pollution which cannot be traced back to a single origin or source (ex. storm water runoff, water runoff from urban areas and failed septic systems). More difficult to identify and manage Hard to assign responsibility

Point source or non-point source?

Sources of Pollution Fossil fuels - release greenhouse gases, can contribute to respiratory problems and acid rain Domestic waste - food waste, sewage, rubbish (glass, plastics, paper, wood, metals) Industrial waste - heavy metals, heat (in air and/or water), acids Agricultural waste - fertilizers, animal waste, and pesticides contaminate water sources

Non-point source pollution

Sources of Pollution Combustion of Fossil Fuels Domestic Industrial Waste Agriculture Systems

The Era of Fossil Fuels Fossil fuels: petroleum, natural gas and coal Currently 90% of current US energy from fossil fuels Expected oil production peak: Consumption of energy currently increasing Projected world oil production will be exhausted by 2100 Produces significant and diverse pollution problems Greenhouse gases Gaseous sulfur and nitrogen oxides Land-based disturbances

What is crude oil? Crude oil is a liquid mixture of thousands of organic chemicals found underground. Result of decaying organic matter over thousands of years (fossil fuel) Found all over the world and varies tremendously in its density, sulfur and metals content

Oil Refinery and the BP oil rig

The Refinery

World oil reserves

Coal Coal provides 25% of world’s commercial energy; 22% of U.S. energy Advantages: Worlds most abundant fossil fuel Cheap Disadvantages: Dangerous to mine, Harms land, water and air Causes smog, acid rain and global warming

World Coal Reserves

Health impacts 131 million Americans live in areas with smog pollution Over 45,000 lives are cut short by air pollution It is estimated that every year 60,000 children may be born at significantly increased risk of neurological defects due to mothers eating mercury contaminated fish.

Mercury Contamination

Oil Spills 31,000 gallons of spilled oil into waterways each day Between 1973 and 1993 there were 200,000 oil spills in the U.S. waters spilling more than 230 million gallons of oil

Land Destruction Mountaintop removal in west Virginia (for coal) Tens of thousands of coal bed methane wells in Powder river basin in Wyoming.

Global Warming Only 4% of world population produces 25% of the carbon dioxide pollution Projected that the Earth’s surface temperature will increase between 2.5 and 10.4 degrees F by 2100 if no major efforts are taken to reduce carbon emissions