Air Pollution And How It Affects Plants

And Animals Essay, Research Paper

Air, like water is essential for life. Air pollution, like water pollution is a problem that

threatens us all. We are all aware that air and water are the most precious of all our

natural resources. We need clean air and accessible water to carry on normal life

functions. In past generations, the amounts of fuels burned in home and industry have

greatly increased. This increased burning has also increased the amount of impurities

discharged into the air. And since a pollutant is an impurity, we cannot have clean air as

long as it is being bombarded with impurities.

Ever since man discovered how to use fire, he has been polluting the atmosphere.

Man being able to burn thing provides us with power but, when we burn things we

contribute much waste to the atmosphere. Ancient Romans complained of odor and soot

deposits on clothing and crops due to coal burning, wood burning and oil lamp usage.

During the middle ages and the colonial periods complaints have also been reported of

soot deposits were registered as a result of burning fuels. With the beginning of the

Industrial Revolution an increase in the amount of fuels burned to run the factories and

heat homes. Not until recently has air pollution been considered a serious threat to our

environment. Air pollution is treating to our environment for two main reasons 1) the

rapid growth of the earth s population 2) the expansion of our technological activities.

The same growth has created various new waste products harmful to heath and

detrimental to the growth of living things.

What exactly air pollution. Air pollution is a substance in our atmosphere

consisting of man-made contaminants that may be harmful to humans, plants, animal life

or property. Air pollution is made up of gaseous materials that make up more then 90%

of the total air pollution. Some of these gaseous materials include; carbon monoxide

(CO), hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides (see pie charts for source of these gaseous

materials in the atmosphere).Suspended particles make up the other less then 10% of the

total air pollution.

All the major air pollution incidences effect animals, primarily zoo or domestic

animals . Dogs exhibit the same symptoms of respiratory disease as do humans. The

oxides and fluorides are known to be highly toxic to animals. Animals appear to be

tougher than man, when exposed to air borne contaminants, but there is evidence of the

deterioration of livestock When exposed to photochemical smog. Studies conducted in

large urban zoos show that wolves and lions developed a susceptibility to lung cancer.

Fluorides have been know to cause crippling skeletal defects in cattle. Many instances of

fluoride poisoning in livestock have been reported and documented.

Water is polluted if it is not suitable for its first intended uses for example,

agricultural and industrial uses, recreation, propagation of fish and wildlife and domestic

water supply. The natural purification process use oxygen to break down natural

contaminants. Excessive amounts of organic matter will cause a decomposition process

which will be without oxygen. This decomposition without oxygen produces hydrogen

sulfide, a bad smelling gas.

There are about eight categories of pollutants that may affect the aquatic life of a

community. They are heat, sediments, radioactive substances, synthetic organic

chemicals, plant nutrients, sewage and disease causing organisms and inorganic

substances. Heat can reduce the capacity of water to absorb oxygen. Increased water

temperature, caused by the introduction of water from a power generating plant or other

industries may upset the ecological balance. When heated water is returned to a stream, it

can raise the temperature of the cooler water a few degrees. This slight temperature

change is enough to be lethal to many aquatic animals that are used to a specific

temperature. Increasing water temperature also makes aquatic plants and animals grow

faster. It also speeds up the use of food, rate of gas exchange and heartbeat in animals.

The organisms grow faster, but do not grow as large or live as long as normally in cooler

water. Many aquatic animals will not reproduce if the temperature is raised even a few

degrees. Studies show that water temperature above 30.C decreases the number of

diatoms and increases the number of blue-green algae. Besides the blue-green algae

producing an unpleasant odor and unpleasant taste, they seem not to be a good source of

food for algae-eating organisms. This type of pollution; dumping hot water into streams,

lakes or rivers is called thermal pollution.

The other categories also have bad effects on aquatic life. Excessive sedment will

reduce the amount of sunlight hitting the water and will affect the photosynthesis in

green aquatic plants. These plants are necessary for oxygen production which help

maintain

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