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