NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Contaminants

Pollution is the release of harmful environmental contaminants, or the substances so released. Generally the process needs to result from human activity to be regarded as pollution. Even relatively benign products of human activity are liable to be regarded as pollution, if they precipitate negative effects later on. The nitrogen oxides produced by industry are often referred to as pollution, for example, although the substances themselves are not harmful. In fact, it is solar energy (sunlight) that converts these compounds to smog. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... The Lachine Canal in 1920 The Lachine Canal is a canal passing through the southwestern part of the Island of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, through the boroughs of Lachine on land originally granted by the King of France to the Sulpician Order. ... {{Canadian City/Disable Field={{{Disable Motto Link}}}}} Motto: Concordia Salus (Salvation through harmony) Ville de Montréal, Québec, Canada Location. ... water pollution, from epa. ... water pollution, from epa. ... I, the creator of this image, hereby release it into the public domain. ... I, the creator of this image, hereby release it into the public domain. ... An environment is a complex of external factors that acts on a system and determines its course and form of existence. ... Nitrogen has six different oxides: Nitric oxide (NO) Nitrous oxide (N2O) Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) Dinitrogen trioxide (N2O3) Dinitrogen tetroxide (N2O4) Dinitrogen pentoxide (N2O5) The term nitrogen oxide is imprecise and can be used to refer to any of these or to a mixture of them. ... For the rock band named Smog, see Smog (band). ...

Pollution can take two major forms: local pollution and global pollution. In the past, only local pollution was thought to be a problem. For example, coal burning produces smoke, which in sufficient concentrations can be a health hazard. One slogan, taught in schools, was "The solution to pollution is dilution". The theory was that sufficiently diluted pollution could cause no damage. In recent decades, awareness has been rising that some forms of pollution pose a global problem. For example, human activity (primarily nuclear testing) has significantly raised the levels of background radiation all over the world, which may lead to human health problems. Awareness of both kinds of pollution, among other things, has led to the environmentalism movement, which seeks to limit the human impact on the environment. Coal is a fossil fuel extracted from the ground either by underground mining, open-pit mining or strip mining. ... Smoke is a suspension in air of small particles resulting from incomplete combustion of a fuel. ... A nuclear test explosion is an experiment involving the detonation of a nuclear weapon. ... Background radiation is (usually) the level of ionizing radiation measured at a point on or near the Earths surface where no local human activity has produced additional radiation. ... Environmentalism is activism aimed at improving the environment, particularly nature. ...

Whether something is pollution can depend on context. Blooms of algae and the resultant eutrophication of lakes and coastal ocean is considered pollution when it is fueled by nutrients from industrial, agricultural, or residential runoff. The algae (singular is alga) comprise several different groups of living things that produce energy through photosynthesis. ... Eutrophication is apparent as increased turbidity in the northern part of the Caspian Sea, imaged from orbit. ...

Carbon dioxide emissions are sometimes referred to as pollution, on the basis that these emissions have led, or are leading, to raised levels of the gas in the atmosphere and, furthermore, to harmful changes in the Earth's climate. Such claims are strongly disputed, particularly by political conservatives in Western countries and most strongly in the United States. Due to this controversy, in many contexts carbon dioxide from such sources are labelled neutrally as "emissions." See global warming for a very extensive discussion of this topic. Carbon dioxide is an atmospheric gas composed of one carbon and two oxygen atoms. ... Global mean surface temperatures 1856-2004 Global warming is a term used to describe an increase over time of the average temperature of Earths atmosphere and oceans. ...

Traditional forms of pollution include air pollution, water pollution, and radioactive contamination while a broader interpretation of the word has led to the ideas of ship pollution, light pollution and noise pollution. This power plant in New Mexico releases sulfur dioxide and particulate matter into the air. ... Water pollution has many sources and characteristics. ... The radiation warning symbol (trefoil). ... Ships can pollute the waterways and oceans in many ways. ... Light pollution (also known as photopollution, luminous pollution) is excess or obtrusive light created by humans. ... Car stereo advertisement. ...

Serious pollution sources include chemical plants, oil refineries, nuclear waste dumps, regular garbage dumps (many toxic substances are illegally dumped there), incinerators, PVC factories, car factories, plastics factories, corporate animal farms creating huge amounts of animal waste. Some sources of pollution, such as nuclear power plants or oil tankers, can release very severe pollution when accidents occur. Some of the more common contaminants are: chlorinated hydrocarbons (CFH), heavy metals like lead (in lead paint and until recently in gasoline), cadmium (in rechargeable batteries), chromium, zinc, arsenic and benzene. View of the Shell/Valero Martinez oil refinery An oil refinery is an industrial process plant where crude oil is processed and refined into useful petroleum products. ... A Russian fissile material storage facility Radioactive waste is waste material containing radioactive chemical elements which does not have a practical purpose. ... Vinyl siding Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a widely-used plastic. ... Nuclear power is power generated from a nuclear reaction. ... A tanker is usually a vehicle carrying large amounts of liquid fuel. ... General Name, Symbol, Number chlorine, Cl, 17 Series halogens Group, Period, Block 17 (VIIA), 3, p Density, Hardness 3. ... In chemistry, a hydrocarbon is a group of chemical compounds consisting only of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H). ... For other meanings, see heavy metal The term heavy metal may have various more general or more specific meanings. ... General Name, Symbol, Number Lead, Pb, 82 Chemical series Poor metals Group, Period, Block 14(IVA), 6 , p Density, Hardness 11340 kg/m3, 1. ... For information on the U.S. borough, see Paint, Pennsylvania. ... Petrol (gasoline in the United States and Canada) is a petroleum-derived liquid mixture consisting primarily of hydrocarbons, used as fuel in internal combustion engines. ... General Name, Symbol, Number Cadmium, Cd, 48 Chemical series Transition metals Group, Period, Block 12, 5, d Density, Hardness 8650 kg/m3, 2 Appearance Silvery gray metallic Atomic properties Atomic weight 112. ... The nickel-cadmium battery (commonly abbreviated NiCd or NiCad) is a popular type of rechargeable battery for portable electronics and toys using the metals nickel and cadmium as the active chemicals. ... General Name, Symbol, Number chromium, Cr, 24 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 6 (VIB), 4, d Appearance silvery metallic Atomic properties Atomic weight 51. ... General Name, Symbol, Number zinc, Zn, 30 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 12, 4, d Density, Hardness 7140 kg/m3, 2. ... General Name, Symbol, Number arsenic, As, 33 Series metalloids Group, Period, Block 15 (VA), 4, p Density, Hardness 5727 kg/m3, 3. ... Benzene, C6H6, PhH, or benzol is a colorless and flammable liquid with a pleasant, sweet smell. ...

Pollutants are thought to play a part in a variety of maladies, including: cancer, lupus, immune diseases, allergies, and asthma. Some illnesses are named in relation with certain pollutants: for example, Minamata disease caused by mercury compounds. When normal cells are damaged or old they undergo apoptosis; cancer cells, however, avoid apoptosis. ... Lupus erythematosus (also known as systemic lupus erythematosus - SLE) is an autoimmune disorder in which antibodies are created against the patients own DNA. It classically presents with a butterfly-shaped malar rash, causing a wolf-like appearance (Lupus is Latin for wolf). ... The immune system is the collection of organs and tissues involved in the adaptive defense of a body against foreign biological material. ... This article needs cleanup. ... Minamata disease is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning. ... General Name, Symbol, Number Mercury, Hg, 80 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 12 (IIB), 6, d Density, Hardness liquid 13. ...

Regulation and Monitoring

United States

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was supposed to establish "acceptable" levels of exposure to contaminants. One of the ratings chemicals are given are carcinogenicity, or how likely they are to cause cancer. Levels range from, not carcinogenic, likely carcinogen, known carcinogen, and unknown. But scientists are finding out that most of these levels are far too high and people should be exposed less to them. The CalEPA Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has a list of more reasonable levels. (OEHHA (http://www.oehha.ca.gov/prop65/prop65_list/Newlist.html)). The U.S. has a maximum fine of US$25,000 for dumping toxic waste. However, many large manufacturers plead guilty, as they can easily afford this relatively small fine. The mission of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is to protect human health and to safeguard the natural environment: air, water, and land. ... In pathology, a carcinogen is any substance or agent that promotes cancer. ... When normal cells are damaged or old they undergo apoptosis; cancer cells, however, avoid apoptosis. ... Wikiquote has quotations relating to: United States Wikinews has news related to this article: United States United States government Official website of the United States government - Gateway to governmental sites White House - Official site of the US President Senate. ... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ... Landfill can also refer to Land reclamation. ... Toxic waste is a waste which is toxic. ...

See also

Dutch Standard reference values for environmental investigation, clean up and remediation. ... Earth flag Earth Day is a name used by two different observances held annually in the (northern) spring, both intended to inspire awareness of and appreciation for the planets fragile environment. ... Energy development is the ongoing effort to provide abundant and accessible energy, through knowledge, skills and constructions. ... Increasing CO2 levels Greenhouse gases (GHG) are gaseous components of the atmosphere that contribute to the greenhouse effect. ... Pollutants are substances which directly or indirectly damage us or the environment. ... Nodding donkey pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario, 2001 Petroleum (from Greek petra – rock and oleum – oil), crude oil, sometimes colloquially called black gold, is a thick, dark brown or greenish flammable liquid, which exists in the upper strata of some areas of the Earths crust. ... The radiation warning symbol (trefoil). ... Remediation is the removal of pollution or contaminants from land (including sediments in waterways) for the general protection of the environment or, quite commonly, from a brownfield site so that it can be reused. ... Renewable energy (sources) or RES capture their energy from existing flows of energy, from on-going natural processes, such as sunshine, wind, flowing water, biological processes, and geothermal heat flows. ... Renewable energy (sources) or RES includes all sources of energy that are captured from on-going natural processes, such as solar power, wind power, water flow in streams (hydro power), biomass, biodiesel and geothermal heat flows. ... Toxicology (from the Greek words toxicon and logos) is the study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms. ... Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic chemical compounds that have high enough vapour pressures under normal conditions to significantly vaporize and enter the atmosphere. ... The Whole Earth Catalog was a catalog published twice a year from 1968 to 1972 (and occasionally thereafter, until 1998) for the purposes of providing education and access to tools for one to find his own inspiration, shape his own environment, and share his adventure with whoever is interested. ... World Ocean Day began on 8 June 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro , Brazil. ...

External links

Categories: Waste | Pollution | Environmental engineering | Environmental chemistry View of the Hudson in the 1880s showing Jersey City The Hudson River, called Muh-he-kun-ne-tuk in Mahican, is a river running mainly through New York State but partly forming the boundary between the states of New York and New Jersey. ... Waste inside a Trash can Waste is unwanted or undesired material left over after the completion of a process. ... Compost is the decomposed remnants of organic materials (those with plant and animal origins). ... A dustbin is a container used to store refuse, can be made out of metal or plastic¹. Indoor bins are traditionally kept in the kitchen² to dispose of culinary excess such as fruit peelings or food packets, although there are also wastepaper baskets (sometimes called circular files) which are used... The term e-waste is applied to all waste from or caused by electronics, which is often toxic waste. ... A garbage truck, known as a dustcart or dustbin wagon in the United Kingdom, is a truck specially designed to haul waste to landfills and other recycling / disposal facilities. ... Greywater is wastewater generated by household processes such as washing dishes, laundry and bathing. ... Incineration is the process of destroying something through fire. ... A modern landfill operation. ... A Russian fissile material storage facility Radioactive waste is waste material containing radioactive chemical elements which does not have a practical purpose. ... The international symbol for recycling. ... Sewage is domestic, municipal, or industrial liquid waste products. ... A scrapyard Scrap is a term used to describe the recycling of metal. ... Sewage treatment is the process that removes the majority of the contaminants from waste-water or sewage and produces both a liquid effluent suitable for disposal to the natural environment and a sludge. ... Toxic waste is a waste which is toxic. ... Waste management is literally the process of managing waste materials (normally those produced as a result of human activities). ...