CHEMISTEY SOLVING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

Contents
1. Introduction 2. Types 2.1 Acid Rain 2.2 Air Pollution 2.3 Global Warming 2.4 Water Pollution 2.5 Radioactive Pollution 2.6 2.7 2.8 Soil Pollution Thermal pollution Noise Pollution

3. Conclusion 4. References

1. INTRODUCTION:
Environmental problems are the negative effects on the sustainability of the environmental quality necessary for the well being of the organisms living in it. These problems directly or indirectly affect the natural environment or ecology. Some of environmental problems are caused by nature but most of them are manmade.

2. TYPES:
A variety of environmental problems now affect our entire world. Every environmental problem has causes, numerous effects, and most importantly, a solution. Some of the largest problems now affecting the world are 1. Acid Rain 2. Air Pollution 3.Global Warming 4.Water Pollution 5.Radioactive Pollution 6.Soil Pollution 7.Thermal Pollution 8.Noise Pollution

2.1. ACID RAIN

Acid rain occurs when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react in the atmosphere with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form various acidic compounds. Sunlight increases the rate of most of these reactions. Most sulfur dioxide comes from power plants that use coal as their fuel. Automobiles produce about half of the world's nitrogen oxide. As the number of automobiles in use increases, so does the amount of acid rain. Acid rain causes acidification of lakes and streams and contributes to damage of trees

at high elevations and many sensitive forest soils. In addition, acid rain accelerates the decay of building materials and paints, including irreplaceable buildings, statues, and sculptures that are part of a nation's cultural heritage. Solutions: 1Use coal with low sulfur content, they can remove the sulfur from smoke their plants release, and they can limit processes known to generate high levels of acid rain. 2Use fuel that causes less pollution for automobiles.

2.2. AIR POLLUTION:

Air pollution includes all contaminants found in the atmosphere. These dangerous substances can be either in the form of gases or particles. There are many different chemical substances that contribute to air pollution. These chemicals come from a variety of sources. Among the many types of air pollutants are nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxides, and organic compounds that can evaporate and enter the atmosphere. Air pollution is responsible for major health effects. Solutions: 1Increase fuel efficiency, conversion to cleaner fuels such as bioethanol, biodiesel, or conversion to electric vehicles. 2Use of effective garbage control systems.

2.3. GLOBAL WARMING:

A gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, CFCs, and other pollutants. If temperatures do indeed rise significantly, the most important result would be that some portion of the polar icecaps would melt, raising global sea levels. Solutions: 1Improvements to energy efficiency and vehicle fuel economy, increases in wind and solar power, hydrogen produced from renewable sources, bio fuels, natural gas, and nuclear power. There is also the potential to capture the carbon dioxide emitted from fossil fuels and store it underground, this process is called "carbon sequestration."

2.4. WATER POLLUTION:

Presence of substances in water that can harm living organisms or interfere with beneficial uses of water. Pollution can be caused by humans, other animals, or natural processes, such as red tide algae blooms or toxic metals leaching from soil. Solutions: 2Industries may not dump the hazardous waste in rivers or other water sources. 3Antifreeze, motor oil, greases and other chemicals that are involved in the operation of many automobiles are potential water pollutants. Proper maintenance of your existing vehicle and proper disposal of any waste can help your automobile have less of a negative impact also. 4Choosing organic options can help to reduce the amount of water pollution. These items are grown without the use of chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides,and so on).

2.5.

RADIOACTIVE POLLUTION

Radioactive pollution is one of the types of pollution that is rare but extremly determinal, even deadly, when it occurs. Because of its intensity and the difficulty of reversing damage , there arew strictgovernment regulations to contro radioactive pollution.

Solution:
Dry cask storage typically involves taking waste from a spent fuel pool and sealing it (along with an inert gas) in a steel cylinder, which is placed in a concrete cylinder which acts as a radiation shield. It is a relatively inexpensive method which can be done at a central facility or adjacent to the source reactor. The waste can be easily retrieved for reprocessing.

2.6. SOIL POLLUTION

Soil pollution is contamination of soil that provides natural growth and balance in the land whether it is used for cutivation, habitation or a wildlife preserve. Some soil pollution, such as the creation of landfills, is deiberate, while much more is accidental and can have wildspread effects.

Solution:
1.Indiscriminate use of fertilizers 2 .Indiscriminate use of pesticides, insecticides and herbicides 3 .Dumping of large quantities of solid waste 4 .Deforestation and soil erosion

2.7. THERMAL POLLUTION

It is excess heat that creates undesireable effects over long period of time. The earth has a natural thermal cycle, but excessive temperature increases can be considered a rare type of pollution with long time effects. Many types of thermal pollution are confined to areas near this source, but multiple sources can have wider impacts over a greater geographic area.

Solution:
1. By altering environment of watercourse: Road building , logging, poundments, diverting flows for irrigation. 2. Adding or removing heat.

2.8. NOISE POLLUTION

Noise pollution desires to undesirable evels of noises caused by human activity that disrupt the standard of living in the affected area. Noise pollution can come from:1. 2. 3. 4. Traffic Airports Railroads Construction or Demolition

Solution:
Sound Seal: Sound Seal offers a comprehensive range of acoustical-insulation products for homes, recording studios and industrial spaces. Barriers, curtains, baffles, and architectural solutions. Quiet Solution: Quiet Solution is a manufacturer of soundproof materials including drywall, wood, automotive coatings, viscoelastic damping glue, ship coating, and windows. Green Glue: Green Glue is a visco-elastic compound that help dampen noise. When applied between two sheets of common drywall or subflooring, the material raises the damping (dissipation of sound over time or distance) of structures in which it is included. Acoustical Solutions: Acoustical Solutions, Inc. offers soundproofing and noise control products for industrial noise control and residential sound reduction. They have broad range of products with solutions for every type of noise problem.

2.9. OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS:

1Hazardous wastes 2Oil spill 3Smog 4Volcano eruptions 5Ozone depletion 6Illegal logging 7Using of dynamites 8Burning of plastics

3. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

The environment is a vast and largely growing issue. Whether negligently or intentionally, human activities have caused the deterioration of the natural environment and the extinction of many species. Pollutants are a hazard to every living creature and human on the earth. The potential to cause serious climate changes and deplete our resources may alter society. These effects are expected to worsen by the end of the twenty-first century when the earth is expected to have a approximately thirty billion people. It is overwhelming to think of all the many issues facing our world, but there are many thousands of people and organizations attempting to resolve these problems and are achieving some measure of success along the way.

4. REFERENCES:
1Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet by Bill McKibben. 2Ecology: Concepts and Applications w/Online Learning Center Password Card by Manuel C. Molles. 3http://www.oppapers.com/Environmental-Issues/129739