Environmental Problems

All cities experience environmental problems to a lesser or greater degree, usually causing great obstruction to the developers that attempt to improve the urban environment. The brown agenda that obstructs this includes these issues: * Waste * Dereliction * Air pollution * Noise * Water supply * Environmental health * Urban ecosystems Waste products and waste disposal * Solids from paper, packaging and toxic waste increase as the numbers and affluence increase * Liquid sewage and industrial waste both rise exponentially * Sewage control in Calcutta, India-during the monsoon season sewage can be seen pouring down the side of the street where the drains are insufficient to cope. * Contamination and health hazards from poor systems of disposal, e.g. rat infestation and waterborne diseases * An example of an MEDC problem of waste disposal is in the ‘Bronx', south of New-York-rubbish continually clutters the streets, just like in the squatter settlements in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Solutions: Solutions to any problem are made more difficult by the lack of available resources and the sheer scale of the problems faced. * Improved public awareness-recycling etc, landfill sites, incineration plants and export to other areas (usually MEDC to LEDC) * Development of effective sewage systems and treatment plants including recycling of brown water for industrial use * Rubbish management-refuse collection, and recycling by informal groups or councils Dereliction of land: * Can obstruct development-due to a number of reasons- > Toxic leaks that enable a growth of development on the land > Unsightly areas-abandoned areas where buildings are in ruins, e.g. Cairo, Egypt, the buildings decline but not restored-leaving them abandoned a huge safety hazard. * Dereliction also occurs in MEDCs such as in the ‘Bronx', New-York, during the 1970s landlords were burning down their properties to claim insurance money-the buildings are boarded up and left derelict and impossible to restore-resulting in brown field sites. Solutions: * Demolishing the ruins of buildings-and re-building on top. * Toxic leaks are very difficult to tackle-the ground has to be drained of the chemicals and this is a long and expensive process. Brown field sites are very unattractive to developers-the sites are much more expensive and unpredictable than green-field sites. There is the problem of toxic waste spilling up from the ground. * There are many schemes set up in the UK for demolishing vacant or crumbling buildings-for example in Manchester many tower block houses are demolished for redevelopment. Pollution of air: * Major problem in most developing world cities. * The drive to industrialization brings with it inevitable problems, especially as legislation to protect the environment is often non-existent or rarely enforced. * The hidden economy can add to the levels of pollution as small, unlicensed industries are set up in peoples homes or on rooftops. These industries release their pollutants into the air, land and water. * Air in Mexico City is so poor that breathing it is like smoking 60 cigarettes a day * Poisonous gas explosions at Bhapal killed 3300 people and seriously injured 150 000 * Photochemical smog formation closely related to urban sprawl * Not caused by traffic alone-factories, waste, incinerators and power plants produce pollutants, especially were industrial plants are old * Some specialist chemical pollution-dangers of explosions etc * Issued of acid deposition Solutions: * Closure of old factories and importation of clean technology, e.g filters, use of cleaner fuel, not coal or wood * Cars can be fitted with catalytic converters, use of un-leaded petrol * Movement from private transport to public-this is an example of green transport planning. This will reduce the release of harmful chemicals such as Carbon Monoxide (which can attach to the red blood cells and cause serious lung problems and even death), Nitrogen Oxide etc caused by the factors mentioned. * Pollution levels can also be monitored and guidelines be released over the levels of pollution in certain areas. Noise: * Rising car ownership-traffic congesting the roads presents a major noise problem-as the roads get busier and more congested the noise levels soar * Factories and power plants are a huge noise pollutant-especially in old factories-the large machinery is not fitted with silencers and is extremely noisy throughout the majority of the day * Dams and electrical plants, mines etc Solutions: * Reduce the amount of traffic on the roads-promote public transport etc * Update the factories with more advanced, quieter, machinery * Promote more energy efficient, quieter, electrical plants- i.e. wind turbines etc Water Supply: * Overuse of ground water led to subsidence and flooding in Bangkok * Cities consume large amounts of water, especially as incomes rise: aquifier depletion, ground subsidence and low flow of rivers * Leaking sewers are also a major threat to the water supply-for example the villages of Kanpur or Varansi, India, leak untreated sewage into the Ganga-spreading disease through the villages in India. * The water supply can also become polluted as inadequate sewerage facilities allow the spread of harmful bacteria-can lead to death from water-borne disease-one of the biggest causes of high infant mortality rates. * Lack a clean water supply means that the risks of disease are very high. * Water pollution > Untreated sewage from the Ganga from cities such as Kanpur or Varanasi > In urban areas, water pollution results from leaking sewers, landfill and industrial waste, including oil and chemicals > In some LEDCs, agricultural pollution from fertilizers and manure is a problem > In some LEDCs, agricultural pollution from fertilizers and manure is a problem-leaking into the water supply Solutions: * Reservoirs * Pipeline constructions (Development of drainage systems and sewers) * Desalination of salt water * Water conservation strategies * Control points-regulation etc * Installing sewage treatment plants in the largest river settlements * Providing low-cost sanitation facilities and bathing areas * Building electric powered crematoria to reduce the numbers of bodies being burnt on the river banks * Putting flesh-eating turtles in the river to clear up the body remains * Monitoring river quality to ensure that water quality consistently improves * Promoting organic farming-elimination of chemical fertilizers and pesticides etc Environmental Health: * Air in Mexico City, Mexico, is so poor that breathing it is like smoking 60 cigarettes a day. * Chemicals such as Carbon Monoxide (which can attach to the red blood cells and cause serious lung problems and even death), Nitrogen Oxide etc * Contaminated water can spread diseases such as Cholera etc * These factors reduce the quality of life and life expectancy, and cause serious health problems-restricted breathing and rapid increase of contracting cancer etc Solutions- see solutions in tackling water contamination/air pollution etc In conclusion, many problems have been tackled, but throwing technology and capital at them does not instantly solve environmental problems. Recycling for example is not always a good way of reducing the build up of waste. For example in Manila, Philippines, children scavenge on refuse sites collecting cans for recycling. As well as being unpleasant, the risk of injury is high and any cuts will become infected. Development in urban areas is usually hindered by environmental problems-which seems to be the worst factor to overcome due to the fact that the environment is very un co-operative and many problems are ‘pushed under the carpet' as such and the problems increase to un manageable levels-both in LEDCs and MEDCs. However, MEDCs seem to be developed quicker and at more sustainable levels-due to more money in the government-more resources and grants awarded. LEDCs are developed however, but it takes a lot longer due to lack of money, resources and usually much more extremes of problems. An example of a LEDC scheme trying to improve urban areas is in India-The Ganga Action Plan-1986 the Indian government launched this to improve the water quality by: * Installing sewage treatment plants in the largest river settlements * Providing low-cost sanitation facilities and bathing areas * Building electric powered crematoria to reduce the numbers of bodies being burnt on the river banks * Putting flesh-eating turtles in the river to clear up the body remains * Monitoring river quality to ensure that water quality consistently improves * Educating local people in the need for separation of sewage and house-hold waste Case Studies that include environmental problems LEDCs: Calcutta, India * Western image is of filth and squalor- people living in cardboard boxes and newspapers on the street or people sitting on the top of buses in a ‘people-jam'. * Sewage pouring down the side of the street in the monsoon season. * These grim images of Calcutta reflect the enormous environmental problems faced result of both physical and human factors. Shanty towns- e.g. India etc * The shantytown is likely to be found on inappropriate land. * Could be prone to flooding or is very steeply sloping, increasing the chances of a landslip. * It could be on a piece of land that has been badly polluted by a neighbouring industry. The shelters made of wood and high population densities increase the risk of fire. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil * 1/3 of the population lives in favelas: > In favelas, the shortage of utilities is constant: all utilities are below standard access. > Water is usually accessed by tapping into a water main that runs near the favela. > Only about 50% of the people living in favelas have access to an indoor toilet-the sewage then runs through open ditches and eventually runs up to street level-creating an incredible health hazard. * Incineration of the waste can easily ignite many of the wooden houses and cause people become sick due to the smoke. * Since the city often does not live up to its obligation to haul away the trash, it can build up on street and become a source for disease. Cairo, Egypt * South of the delta * Some squatter settlements * City of the dead-people live in the buildings for the tombs-no water system, sewage system, shops etc in this area-lack of provisions * Very crowded-people living on the roofs * Housing declines-the buildings crumbling-are not restored * Rubbish, waste, sewage problems * Pollution * Sewage systems broken-floods the streets * Rubbish-Christians recycle the rubbish from the dumps-but Muslims won't due to their religion-Might have pig products there Solutions: * Egyptian and British scheme-water system-pipes set up for sewage all across the county-but slurry is pumped up to the streets from the construction-spreading disease etc MEDCs: The ‘Bronx', New-York * Poor repairs-houses burnt down in 1970's to claim money off the government-landlords used to burn them down * Healthcare-poorer than the ‘white area' * Rubbish cluttering up the streets * People living on the streets * Air pollution from the city-the buildings and factories are old-not filter systems-lots of air pollution * Boarded up houses-dereliction-leads to brown field sites Hackney, London, UK * Lifts are smelly etc-people urinate in the lifts * Construction in the flats are failing, the rooms are damp, they are expensive to maintain * Elderly people contract pneumonia from the damp conditions-causes health problems like bronchitis Solutions: * Demolishment of the blocks of flats * Rebuilding of flats-cleaner-easier to maintain-CCTV cameras set up http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/index.html Environmental Problems What is the impact of human activity on the natural environment? Answer: Humans are a part of the natural environment. Unfortunately, we have not yet learnt to moderate our activities in such a way as to help the environment. Human activities often lead to degradation of the environment. Impacts of humans include: †¢pollution – land, freshwater creeks and rivers, seas and oceans, and air †¢deforestation and destruction of habitats †¢endangerment and extinction of flora and fauna species introduction of invasive and parasitic fauna and flora species to new areas †¢increased desertification of land – this often occurs because, when humans try to increase fertile land in one area, they must divert needed resources from another area †¢altering natural waterways which can increase the risk of flooding †¢Interfering with the natural fire cycles of an area (one cause of increased bushfire problems in Australia) †¢overuse of natural resources, resulting in depletion of some of these resources †¢climate change and the development of extreme weather conditions: scientists continue to debate how much humans actually contribute to climate change and/or global warming, but there is evidence that our activities do contribute in some part †¢rising sea levels †¢increased erosion of land as a result of mining or agricultural activities †¢Mining activities not only can destroy the vegetation of the area, but can contribute to instability in the earth's crust.There can be some neutral impacts. Native people in many lands lived in harmony with their environment for thousands of years. The Native Americans and Australian Aborigines, for example, used only what they needed, and did not pollute their environment or alter it negatively and permanently. Fortunately, man is learning (a little too late) that there are activities he can undertake to improve land he has already degraded. This may involve: †¢conservat ion, monitoring of and captive breeding programmed for endangered species †¢restoring degraded ecosystems by planting trees specifically native to the area, and removing introduced species †¢removal of pollutant materials 3.Questions to consider: †¢What is the biggest environmental issue the earth faces? †¢Where on the Earth is this issue? †¢Who does this effect? †¢ Why it is the biggest issue the Earth faces? †¢ What statistics or relevant information is worth knowing about your topic? †¢ What future concerns are there? The Biggest Environmental Problem The environmental problem that must be considered as the biggest is the Global Warming. Temperature is slowly increasing all over the world. To understand this better it is also important to explain the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect in a summary: Sunlight radiates from the sun, through space, to earth's atmosphere.The sunlight enters the atmosphere and hits the earth. Some of it tur ns to heat energy in the form of infrared light. The heat absorbs by surrounding air and land, which, in turn, makes it warm. Infrared rays that are remitted into the atmosphere get trapped by the greenhouse gases. When the infrared light tries to leave the atmosphere, some of it will be absorbed by the greenhouse gases and is remitted back to the earth. The Infrared light that is remitted back to earth then warms it more. Some of the naturally occurring gasses in the atmosphere are carbon dioxide and methane. This is the way the earth keeps itself warm enough for human habitation.The problem is that more and more carbon dioxide are added into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels for power, transportation, and producing mass quantities of goods in factories. As if this were not enough, thousands and thousands of trees are cut down for lumber, making them unable to take carbon dioxide out of the air and replace it with oxygen. One effect of Global Warming would be rising sea levels . If Global Warming rise the temperature at the ice caps, great amounts of ice will melt, letting all the fresh water flow into the ocean. Tons and tons of ice will melt if the temperature rises high enough with the cause of sea levels to dramatically rise. Another effect of Global Warming would be severe weather. A change in temperature would mean a significant change in weather, in many places.As the weather grows warmer and more tropical, so does the weather. Many areas are experiencing changes in the weather as an effect of Global Warming intensifying winds, rains and storms. Not only considering mankind as the victims of the Global Warming also must the animals be considered. Many animals may become endangered or extinct because of the climate change is, that are happening rapidly. Animals will find their homes disappearing when trees are cut down or dead because of drought. Drowning might also be a consequence when animals are over taken by water when rivers and streams rise. This will force people and animals together even more in an overpopulated world.With the fact that the greenhouse effect also will provide drought in certain areas forcing people and animals even more together and with less food than today. It is very easy to understand that people and animals will starve to death. The Global Warming does not only have a casual effect it also have affects on other things such as inflation. Because of crops being destroyed prices will rise, and in some areas it could mean prices rising so high that only a few would be wealthy enough to buy food. Global Warming also have an effect on the world's economy and it could mean costs that mankind never could dream of. Action must be taken now before it is too late.