Environmental Injustice Environmental Injustice QuestionsQuestions

Why should the general public be informed Why should the general public be informed about local hazardous waste sites? What role about local hazardous waste sites? What role should the government play?should the government play?

What federal, state and local agencies exist to What federal, state and local agencies exist to protect the environment and human health?protect the environment and human health?

What strategies can community members use What strategies can community members use to address environmental injustices?to address environmental injustices?

How might youth be affected by environmental How might youth be affected by environmental injustices?injustices?

General Types of General Types of Water PollutionWater Pollution

Water Quality NotesWater Quality Notes

WATER POLLUTION: WATER POLLUTION: SOURCES, TYPES, AND SOURCES, TYPES, AND EFFECTSEFFECTS

Water pollutionWater pollution is any chemical, biological, is any chemical, biological, or physical change in water quality that has or physical change in water quality that has a harmful effect on living organisms or a harmful effect on living organisms or makes water unsuitable for desired uses.makes water unsuitable for desired uses. Point sourcePoint source: specific location (drain pipes, : specific location (drain pipes,

ditches, sewer lines).ditches, sewer lines). Nonpoint sourceNonpoint source: cannot be traced to a single : cannot be traced to a single

site of discharge (atmospheric deposition, site of discharge (atmospheric deposition, agricultural / industrial / residential runoff) agricultural / industrial / residential runoff)

Point Source PollutionPoint Source Pollution

Water pollution that can be Water pollution that can be traced to a specific spot (such traced to a specific spot (such as a factory or sewage as a factory or sewage treatment plant) because it is treatment plant) because it is discharged into the discharged into the environment through pipes, environment through pipes, sewers or ditches.sewers or ditches.

Non-Point Source PollutionNon-Point Source Pollution

Pollutants that enter bodies of Pollutants that enter bodies of water over large areas rather water over large areas rather than being concentrated at a than being concentrated at a single point of entry. single point of entry.

Ex) Agricultural fertilizer runoff Ex) Agricultural fertilizer runoff and sediments from and sediments from construction.construction.

AgricultureAgricultureFertilizers, animal wastes, Fertilizers, animal wastes,

etc.etc.

Sources of PollutionSources of Pollution

Sewage, fertilizers, Sewage, fertilizers, dumping into drainage dumping into drainage ditches, etc.ditches, etc.

Municipal WasteMunicipal Waste

Industrial WasteIndustrial WasteChemicals left over from Chemicals left over from manufacturing, waste products, manufacturing, waste products, etc.etc.

DefinitionDefinition Excessive amounts of Excessive amounts of

suspended soil particles that suspended soil particles that eventually settle out and eventually settle out and accumulate on the bottom of a accumulate on the bottom of a body of water.body of water.

Sediment PollutionSediment Pollution

CausesCauses

Erosion of agricultural landsErosion of agricultural lands forest soils exposed by loggingforest soils exposed by logging degraded stream banksdegraded stream banks overgrazed rangelandsovergrazed rangelands strip minesstrip mines construction.construction.

Environmental EffectsEnvironmental Effects Reduces light Reduces light

penetrationpenetration Covering Covering

aquatic aquatic organismsorganisms

Bringing Bringing insoluble insoluble toxic toxic pollutants pollutants into the into the waterwater

Filling in Filling in waterways. waterways.

Health EffectsHealth Effects

Sediments adversely affect water Sediments adversely affect water quality by carrying toxic chemicals. quality by carrying toxic chemicals.

The sediment particles provide The sediment particles provide surface area to which some surface area to which some insoluble, toxic compounds adhere insoluble, toxic compounds adhere (toxic chemicals)(toxic chemicals)

Disease-causing agents can also Disease-causing agents can also be transported into water via be transported into water via sediments.sediments.

SewageSewage

CausesCauses Release of Release of

waste water waste water from drains or from drains or sewers (toilets, sewers (toilets, washing washing machines, and machines, and showers) and showers) and include human include human wastes, soaps wastes, soaps and detergents.and detergents.

Environmental EffectsEnvironmental Effects

Enrichment – the Enrichment – the fertilization of a body of fertilization of a body of waterwater

Presence of high levels of Presence of high levels of plants and algal nutrients plants and algal nutrients like nitrogen (N) and like nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)phosphorus (P)

Health EffectsHealth Effects

Oxygen – less dissolved Oxygen – less dissolved oxygen for the fish, etc., oxygen for the fish, etc., and then they dieand then they die

Sewage carries disease-Sewage carries disease-causing agents.causing agents.

DefinitionDefinitionInfectious organisms that Infectious organisms that

cause disease.cause disease.

Disease-Causing AgentsDisease-Causing Agents

Environmental EffectsEnvironmental Effects Municipal wastewater contains Municipal wastewater contains

bacteria, viruses, protozoa, parasitic bacteria, viruses, protozoa, parasitic worms, and other infectious agents worms, and other infectious agents that cause human or animal that cause human or animal diseases.diseases.

CausesCausesComes from the wastes of Comes from the wastes of infected individuals.infected individuals.

Health EffectsHealth Effects

Typhoid, cholera, bacterial Typhoid, cholera, bacterial dysentery, polio and infectious dysentery, polio and infectious hepatitis are some of the more hepatitis are some of the more common bacteria or viruses common bacteria or viruses that are transmitted through that are transmitted through contaminated food and water.contaminated food and water.

Major Water Pollutants Major Water Pollutants and Their Effectsand Their Effects

Water quality and dissolved oxygen (DO) Water quality and dissolved oxygen (DO) content in parts per million (ppm) at 20content in parts per million (ppm) at 20°C.°C. Only a few fish species can survive in water Only a few fish species can survive in water

less than 4ppm at less than 4ppm at 2020°C.°C.

Chemicals such as nitrogen and Chemicals such as nitrogen and phosphorus that stimulate the growth of phosphorus that stimulate the growth of plants and algae. plants and algae.

Inorganic Plant and Algal NutrientsInorganic Plant and Algal Nutrients

CausesCauses Nitrates and phosphates come Nitrates and phosphates come

from sources such as human from sources such as human and animal wastes, plant and animal wastes, plant residues, atmospheric residues, atmospheric deposition and residential land.deposition and residential land.

Environmental EffectsEnvironmental Effects Encourage excessive growth of Encourage excessive growth of

algal and aquatic plants. algal and aquatic plants.

CausesCauses Chemicals that contain carbon Chemicals that contain carbon

atoms. atoms. Synthetic chemicals that are Synthetic chemicals that are

produced by human activitiesproduced by human activities pesticides, solvents, industrial pesticides, solvents, industrial

chemicals and plastics, and seepage chemicals and plastics, and seepage from landfills.from landfills.

Organic CompoundsOrganic Compounds

Health EffectsHealth Effects

Hundreds of synthetic organic Hundreds of synthetic organic compounds are toxic and some compounds are toxic and some of these have been shown to of these have been shown to cause cancer or birth defects.cause cancer or birth defects.

Pollutes streams and Pollutes streams and groundwater.groundwater.

Environmental EffectsEnvironmental Effects

Inorganic Inorganic CompoundsCompounds

CausesCauses

Contain elements other than Contain elements other than carbon.carbon.

Examples include acids, salts, and Examples include acids, salts, and heavy metals. heavy metals.

From sources such as industries, From sources such as industries, mines, irrigation runoff, oil drilling mines, irrigation runoff, oil drilling and urban runoff from storm and urban runoff from storm sewers.sewers.

Environmental EffectsEnvironmental Effects

Some of Some of these these inorganic inorganic pollutants pollutants are are toxic to toxic to aquatic aquatic organisms.organisms.

Health EffectsHealth Effects Lead and mercury are poisonous. Lead and mercury are poisonous. Mercury exposure Mercury exposure

Mental retardations, cerebral palsy, and Mental retardations, cerebral palsy, and developing delays, causes kidney developing delays, causes kidney disorders and several damage the nervous disorders and several damage the nervous and cardiovascular systems.and cardiovascular systems.

Low levels of mercury in the brain cause Low levels of mercury in the brain cause neurological problems such as neurological problems such as headache, headache, depression, and quarrelsome depression, and quarrelsome behavior.behavior.

Radioactive SubstancesRadioactive Substances

Contains atoms of unstable Contains atoms of unstable isotopes that spontaneously emit isotopes that spontaneously emit radiationradiation

CausesCauses

Get into water mining and Get into water mining and processing of radioactive processing of radioactive minerals such as uranium and minerals such as uranium and thorium. thorium.

Nuclear weapons industry uses Nuclear weapons industry uses the largest amounts.the largest amounts.

Medical and scientific research Medical and scientific research facilitiesfacilities

Health EffectsHealth Effects

Mutations, birth defects, mental Mutations, birth defects, mental retardation, genetic disease, retardation, genetic disease, leukemia, cancer (breast, bone, leukemia, cancer (breast, bone, thyroid, skin, lung), burns, thyroid, skin, lung), burns, cataracts, male sterility.cataracts, male sterility.

Pollutes air, water and soil.Pollutes air, water and soil.

Environmental EffectsEnvironmental Effects

CausesCausesWhen heated water When heated water

produced during certain produced during certain industrial processes is industrial processes is released into waterways.released into waterways.

Thermal PollutionThermal Pollution

Environmental EffectsEnvironmental Effects

Decomposition of wastes Decomposition of wastes occurs faster, depleting the occurs faster, depleting the water of oxygen; this affects water of oxygen; this affects aquatic life.aquatic life.

Typically affects animals, not Typically affects animals, not humans.humans.

Health EffectsHealth Effects

EutrophicationEutrophication EutrophicationEutrophication: the natural nutrient : the natural nutrient

enrichment of a shallow lake, estuary or slow enrichment of a shallow lake, estuary or slow moving stream, mostly from runoff of plant moving stream, mostly from runoff of plant nutrients from the surrounding land.nutrients from the surrounding land.

Cultural eutrophicationCultural eutrophication: human activities : human activities accelerate the input of plant nutrients (mostly accelerate the input of plant nutrients (mostly nitrate- and phosphate-containing effluents) to nitrate- and phosphate-containing effluents) to a lake.a lake. 85% of large lakes near major population centers in 85% of large lakes near major population centers in

the U.S. have some degree of cultural the U.S. have some degree of cultural eutrophication.eutrophication.

EutrophicationEutrophication

Gets into our water supply from Gets into our water supply from runoff, etc.runoff, etc.Not normally in the waterNot normally in the water Considered to be pollutionConsidered to be pollution

Relation to PollutionRelation to Pollution

Cause/EffectCause/Effect

CAUSE: Fertilizers, erosion, sewage, CAUSE: Fertilizers, erosion, sewage, etc. get into water and the effect is etc. get into water and the effect is high photosynthetic productivity. high photosynthetic productivity.

EFFECT: Water is cloudy because of EFFECT: Water is cloudy because of the algae and cyanobacteria that are the algae and cyanobacteria that are supported by the nutrients.supported by the nutrients.

Environmental JusticeEnvironmental Justice

““The fair treatment and meaningful The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or in of race, color, national origin, or in income with respect to the income with respect to the development, implementation, and development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies.”regulations and policies.” EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)

POLLUTION OF FRESHWATER POLLUTION OF FRESHWATER STREAMSSTREAMS

Flowing streams Flowing streams can recover from a can recover from a moderate level of degradable water moderate level of degradable water pollutantspollutants if they are not overloaded and if they are not overloaded and their flows are not reduced.their flows are not reduced.

In a flowing stream, the breakdown of In a flowing stream, the breakdown of degradable wastes by bacteria depletes degradable wastes by bacteria depletes DO and creates an DO and creates an oxygen sag curveoxygen sag curve..

This This reduces or eliminates populations of reduces or eliminates populations of organisms with high oxygen organisms with high oxygen requirements.requirements.

Oxygen Sag CurveOxygen Sag Curve

POLLUTION OF FRESHWATER POLLUTION OF FRESHWATER STREAMSSTREAMS

Most Most developeddeveloped countries have sharply countries have sharply reduced point-source pollution but reduced point-source pollution but toxic chemicals and pollution from toxic chemicals and pollution from nonpoint sourcesnonpoint sources are still a problem. are still a problem.

Stream pollution from Stream pollution from discharges of discharges of untreated sewage and industrial untreated sewage and industrial wastes wastes is a major problem in is a major problem in developingdeveloping countries. countries.

Global Outlook: Stream Global Outlook: Stream Pollution in Developing Pollution in Developing CountriesCountries

Water in many of Water in many of central China's central China's rivers are rivers are greenish black greenish black from uncontrolled from uncontrolled pollution by pollution by thousands of thousands of factories.factories.

Case Study: IndiaCase Study: India’’s Ganges s Ganges River: Religion, Poverty, and River: Religion, Poverty, and HealthHealth

Religious beliefs, cultural traditions, poverty, Religious beliefs, cultural traditions, poverty, and a large population interact to cause severe and a large population interact to cause severe pollution of the Ganges River in India.pollution of the Ganges River in India. Very little of the sewage is treated.Very little of the sewage is treated. Hindu believe in cremating the dead to free the soul Hindu believe in cremating the dead to free the soul

and throwing the ashes in the holy Ganges.and throwing the ashes in the holy Ganges. Some are too poor to afford the wood to fully cremate.Some are too poor to afford the wood to fully cremate. Decomposing bodies promote disease and depletes DO.Decomposing bodies promote disease and depletes DO.

Case Study: IndiaCase Study: India’’s Ganges s Ganges River: Religion, Poverty, and River: Religion, Poverty, and HealthHealth

Daily, more than Daily, more than 1 million Hindus 1 million Hindus in India bathe, in India bathe, drink from, or drink from, or carry out religious carry out religious ceremonies in the ceremonies in the highly polluted highly polluted Ganges River.Ganges River.

POLLUTION OF POLLUTION OF FRESHWATER LAKESFRESHWATER LAKES

Dilution of pollutants in lakes is Dilution of pollutants in lakes is lessless effective effective than in most streams because most lake than in most streams because most lake water is water is not mixed well and has little flownot mixed well and has little flow.. Lakes and reservoirs are often Lakes and reservoirs are often stratified stratified

(layers!)and undergo little mixing.(layers!)and undergo little mixing. Low flow makes them susceptible to Low flow makes them susceptible to runoffrunoff..

Various human activities can overload lakes Various human activities can overload lakes with plant nutrients, which decrease DO and with plant nutrients, which decrease DO and kill some aquatic specieskill some aquatic species EutrophicationEutrophication!!

POLLUTION OF GROUNDWATERPOLLUTION OF GROUNDWATER

Can take hundreds to thousands of years Can take hundreds to thousands of years for contaminated groundwater to for contaminated groundwater to cleanse itself of degradable wastecleanse itself of degradable waste

Non-degradable wastes: Non-degradable wastes: Lead, arsenic, fluorideLead, arsenic, fluoride Present in water permanentlyPresent in water permanently

Slowly degradable wastes:Slowly degradable wastes: DDTDDT Present for decadesPresent for decades

POLLUTION OF GROUNDWATERPOLLUTION OF GROUNDWATER

Leaks from a number of sources have Leaks from a number of sources have contaminated groundwater in parts of the contaminated groundwater in parts of the world.world. According the the EPA, one or more organic According the the EPA, one or more organic

chemicals contaminate about 45% of chemicals contaminate about 45% of municipalmunicipal groundwater supplies.groundwater supplies.

By 2003, the EPA had completed the cleanup of By 2003, the EPA had completed the cleanup of 297,000 of 436,000 underground tanks leaking 297,000 of 436,000 underground tanks leaking gasoline, diesel fuel, home heating oil, or toxic gasoline, diesel fuel, home heating oil, or toxic solvents.solvents.

Case Study: Arsenic in Case Study: Arsenic in Groundwater - a Natural Groundwater - a Natural ThreatThreat

Toxic Arsenic (Toxic Arsenic (AsAs) can naturally occur at high ) can naturally occur at high levels in soil and rocks.levels in soil and rocks.

Drilling into aquifers can release Drilling into aquifers can release AsAs into drinking into drinking water supplies.water supplies.

According to WHO, more than 112 million people According to WHO, more than 112 million people are drinking water with are drinking water with AsAs levels 5-100 times the levels 5-100 times the 10 ppb standard.10 ppb standard. Mostly in Bangladesh, China, and West Bengal, India.Mostly in Bangladesh, China, and West Bengal, India.