IB Environmental Systems and Societies

1. Topic 5
Pollution Management
5.1 Nature of Pollution

2. Pollution
• ‘The contamination of the Earth and atmosphere
to such an extent that normal environmental
processes are adversely affected. Polluted
elements are disagreeable, toxic, harmful and/or
objectionable.’
• It may be:
–
–
–
–
Natural (e.g. volcanoes)
Anthropogenic (e.g. release of sewage)
Deliberate or accidental
May harm the quality of air, water or soil

3. Point Source Pollution
• Discrete sources of pollution which can be
pinpointed on a map
• May be more easily treated and managed, but
may be have a huge impact on the local
environment
– Chernobyl disaster, 1986
– Bhopal disaster
– A single sewage outfall

4. Non-point Source Pollution
• Dispersed sources of pollution
• Not possible to pinpoint a single origin
• Not easily managed
– Car pollution in a city
– Numerous industries in a single area

5. Major Sources of Pollution
domestic and
commercial waste
(9%)
demolition and
construction waste
(8%)
sewage sludge (8%)
mining and quarrying
(27%)
dredging waste
(11%)
industrial waste
(17%)
agricultural waste
(20%)

6. Effects of Pollution
•
•
•
•
Death in serious cases
Decreased level of public health
Reduced water quality and availability
Reduced soil quality
It is important that sources of pollution are tackled rather than the symptoms
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyckJOd9A
es&list=PL51D60810437D8150