Introduction of Environmental Pollution

Pollutant

A substance introduced into the environment that harmfully affects the usefulness of a resource (e.g., water)

Deepwater Oil Spill

BP Oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. Largest oil spill in US history (~5 million barrels). Estimated damage $17.2 billion

Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster

Because of reactor explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power (1986)

Amazon degradation

Due to oil operations, around 400 million barrels of toxic oil waste were discharged into watersheds over 30 years

Water pollution

Happens when harmful substances (chemicals or bacteria) contaminate a river, lake, ocean, or other body of water

Amazon Wildfires

Increasing number of wildfires in Brazil causing deforestation

Air pollution

Main environmental health problem; it is important to limit greenhouse gases; burning fossil fuels releases major CO2

Minimata disease

Minamata disease leads to paralysis/death, broke out in 1956 and 1965 after the Chisso Corporation released mercury into the water

What is pollution?

Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment

Why does pollution happen?

Processes are not 100% efficient • Natural or human processes produce pollution and waste • Lack of prevention, carelessness, unwillingness to invest in good technology

Land pollution

caused by improper disposal of hazardous materials

Ecosystem Services

the processes by which life-supporting resources such as clean water, timber, fisheries, and agricultural crops are produced