Air pollution

Air pollution is one of the major problems of the modern world. A great deal of energy is needed to run the factories of modern industrial nations. Automobile, trains, planes and busses need energy, too. Nearly all of this energy is produced by burning fuels. The burning produces wastes, some of which remain in the air, causing air pollution. This will causes the damaging of the environment, human health and the quality of life.

With the development in industry, came along the increase in air pollution, which occurs inside homes, schools, offices even in the countryside. Consequently there has been an increase in the death rates resulting from various diseases caused by air pollution varying from breathing problem to lung cancer. Air pollution does not only affect people but it also damages the whole ecological system in which plants and animals are harmed as well. Air pollution has reached such a critical stage where it affects the earth's atmosphere as it lets in more harmful radiation from the sun. Consequently, our polluted atmosphere is becoming a better insulator, thus, preventing heat from escaping back into space. That is why there is a global rise in temperature which scientists refer to as " global warming". As a result of this rise in temperature the world food supply and sea level will be affected, also there is the probability of increase in the tropical disease.

Sources of Air Pollution:

1. Human sources:
If we try to investigate the major sources of pollution, we realize that they stem out of human activities. Burning fossil fuels, natural gases, coal and oil, factories and motor vehicles all emit harmful substances. Among these harmful chemical compounds this burning adds to the atmosphere are carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and solid particles called particulate. Between 1900 and 1970 the use of motor vehicles expanded which resulted 690% increase in the damaging pollutants in vehicle exhaust. Another source of pollutant is the decomposing of garbage in landfills and solid waste disposal which emit methane gas, and many households products give off what is known as volatile organic chemicals (VOCs).

2. Natural sources:
It is important to point out that some pollutants originate from natural sources. For example, forest fires emit particulate and VOCs; ultra fine dust particles in the atmosphere. Finally, volcanoes give out sulfur dioxide and volcanic ash; a big volcanic eruption can darken the sky over a wide region and affect the earth's atmosphere. Unlike pollutants from human activity, however, naturally occurring pollutants remain in the atmosphere a short time and do not lead permanent atmospheric change.

Solution:
Scientists are finding ways to stop air pollution especially in big industrial areas and densely-populated cities. They are studying new ways of generating electricity that may be less damaging to the environment. In the meantime, many power plants are being modernized to give off less polluted material. Also, engineers try to design and locate new power plants to do minimum damage to the environment.

  However, it may be that we still have a long way to go before we have a "clean" world. Nearly all of the countries are trying hard to prevent and control air pollution.

  There indeed seems to be no end to tasks that environmentalists will be required to do. People will continually find new ways to control pollution.

References:

Air polltion. from: http://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/101598.html

Climate Change

Today, I want to talk about the topic climate change because I want to focus the eyes of the people on our world environmental issues and not only in Malaysia. As a member of this earth, we should concern our earth's environmental problem, solve it together and also protect our earth.

First of all, everyone of us should have to know what is climate change, how it happen and also its solution to reduce the speed of climate change happen. Climate change is a change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns when that change lasts for an extended period of time. The current warming trend is of particular significance because most of it very likely human-induced and proceeding at a rate that is unprecedented in the past 1,300 years. The average temperature of the Earth's surface has increased by about 0.85 degree celcius or 1.4F in the pass 100 years.

This is the few evidence for rapid change is compelling :
1. Sea level rise
2. Global temperature rise
3. Warming oceans
4. Shrinking ice sheets
5. Declining Arctic sea ice
6. Glacial retreat
7. Extreme events
8. Ocean acidification
9. Decreased snow covered

These evidence also prove that it is the effect to our earth, nowadays people are not very concern about this topic and also it can make more serious problem day by day to our Earth.
And now, you all should know how climate change can happened and we solve it together to save our Earth. The climate change problem problem happened actually is caused by the greenhouse effect, mainly carbon dioxide.

Scientists believe that gases released from industry and agriculture (known as emissions) are adding to the nature greenhouse effect, the way the Earth's atmosphere traps some of the  energy from the Sun. Human activities such as burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas are increasing the amount of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas responsible for global warming. Carbon-absorbing are also being cut down.

On August 3, 2015, President Obama and EPA announced the Clean Power Plan, that is a historic and important step in reducing carbon pollution from power plants that taken real action on climate change. Shaped by years of unprecedented outreach and public engagement,the final Clean Power Plan is fair, flexible and designed to strengthen the fast-growing trend toward cleaner and lower-polluting American energy. With strong but achievable standards for power plants and customized goals for states to cut the carbon pollution that is driving climate change. The Clean Power Plan provides national consistency, accountability and a level playing field while reflecting each state's energy mix.

The purpose to suggest to post this article actually I want to alert everyone of us to protect our Earth, not only start with plan but we do it and remind ourselves. Stop burning, Earth is our home, our shelter, the protection start with you and me right now.

Reference :
1. http://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/
2. http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/
3.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-5aceb360-8bc3-4741-9910-2e4f76ca02bb

Disease .

Haze

The haze problem started to hitting almost all of Malaysia and Singapore recently and made the residences feeling suffer in this condition. Haze is a situation where there is pollution to the air by suspended particulate matter. The various determinants of air pollution are Sulphur Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, Ozone, Carbon Monoxide and PM10. The fine particulate or PM10(particulate of size 10 micron and below) is the main concern as it may lead to adverse health conditions. There will be many effect and impact of haze to us and now, I would like to explain how the haze can affect our health.

Short-term adverse effects :

• Irritated eyes, watering eyes and conjunctivitis ( a type of eye inflammation).
• Running nose,stuffy nose,sneezing and post-nasal drip.
• Throat irritation,dry throat, sore throat and coughing.
• Headache,dizziness and fatigue.
• Decreased lung function,depressed respiratory immune defenses,chest pain and bronchitis (lung inflammation).
• Diarrhea and stomach upset, if drinking water sources are contaminated by dense haze and the water is consumed without further treatment.
• Anxiety,stress and depression-like symptoms such as insomnia, feelings of helplessness, loss of interest in daily activities and irritability.

Long-term effect:

• Faster rate of thickening of the arteries compared to others, promoting the development of vascular disease.
• Increases the risk of death by cardiovascular disease and reduces life expectancy by several months to few years.
• May contribute to the development of diabetes.
• Spontaneous abortion, under-weight infants, birth defects and infant death.

These all symptoms are usually mild and will subside when you stay indoor and limit your exposure to haze. However, in susceptible individuals and those suffering from chronic disease, especially respiratory and heart disease (e.g. coronary artery disease, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), their condition may be worsened by haze. They are more likely to experience more severe haze-related effects than healthy people.

The technique that Malaysia used to identify the air pollution by using Air Pollutant Index(API).

The guidelines of API and the action to be taken are shown below:

Air Pollutant Index(API) Reading	Health Effect Description	Action to be taken at the workplace
0-50	Good	·         Prepare for any future possibility of air pollution
51-100	Moderate	·         Identify outdoor activities that need to be minimized ·         Health Education to the employees ·         Ensure stock of N95 masks ·         Perform fit testing for employees who work outdoors
101-200	Unhealthy	·         Initiate use of N95 respirators by employees working outdoors ·         Reassign susceptible employees with difficulties working outdoors to indoor jobs. ·         Minimize strenuous outdoor tasks
201-300	Very Unhealthy	·         Reassign all susceptible employees to indoor jobs. ·         Avoid strenuous outdoor tasks ·         Temporarily stop earthworks and earth movements tasks
301-400	Hazardous	·         Assess visibility for work processes ·         Ensure use of headlights while driving ·         Ensure all persons working outdoor are using N95 respirators
400-500	Hazardous	·         Avoid outdoor work
>500	Hazardous	·         All government and private sector offices and workplaces to be closed pending declaration of Disaster Emergency by the National Committee on Disaster Management except essential services

What is our government action?

• Jabatan Alam Sekitar(JAS) identify the haze status and the air quality trend every hours based on three uncertainly haze situation.
• JAS also record the progress of the haze by using hotspots in Sumatera and Kalimantan, the haze problem that made by Indonesia even spread to West Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.
• Every agency that involve in management of haze problems tried to do their best to handle the open burning activities.
• The Local and State government and all the estate owner has been recommended to handle and pay attention on the easy-burn areas, such as jungle, farm, agricultural and also industrial area.

All of us should be remember never try to do some open burning activities and protect our earth and our environment.

Source:

1. Health Advisory For Workplace During Haze, Ministry of Health, Malaysia from http://www.moh.gov.my/english.php/pages/view/183

2. Air Pollutant Index of Malaysia from http://apims.doe.gov.my/v2/

3. Apa Yang Anda Perlu Ketahui Mengenai Jerebu from http://www.nre.gov.my/info_jerebu/Pages/default.aspx

4. Image source from http:.//apims.doe.gov.my/v2/

Water Pollution

Pollution is a substantial issue of concern in the modern world that we live in today. Pollution itself can be defined as the presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance which hasharmful or poisonous effects. There are various kind of pollution, namely air, water and noise pollution. Pollution at its worst, damaging and undoubtedly affect the quality of our life. The beauty of our nature that existed in the planet that we living in, the Earth, degrading itself due to the pollution. Even worse, pollution can also cause various health problems to us, human. 

Nowadays, water pollution, just like the other types of pollution happens when a great quantity of waste that comes from various sources which will harmfully disturbs the ecosystem of the organisms. Consequently, the waste that cannot be destroyed as quickly as it was produced may results in quite a numbers of unwanted things to humans, animals as well as other living organisms too. 

Oil and chemical waste are categorized as a hazards waste which also the two major sources of water pollution nowadays. Petroleum, as we universally informed, are one of the most toxic substances which will definitely ruins the ecosystem. Usually, both of these substances contacted with water by accidental spills from the ships, leaking underground the ship’s storage tanks. This accident has killed thousands of animals including the sea animals, birds ad also plant life in the sea. Human is exposed to health issue too as it happen. The rain which is the product of the evaporated sea water, when it pours, it contains harmful substances in it and as it contact with the human skin, various kind of health issues will appear.

On top of that, water pollution is also caused by the rubbish such as plastics and other plastics like substances, namely nylon, plastic bags and plastic bottles. Plastic bottle and plastic bag, as we all knows, it can be recycled but only two of every ten goes to the recycle center or to the trash can, the other landed somewhere else. To recycle a plastic, it should be done in the recycling center, so, when it is thrown to other places else, it takes time to decompose. Hence, the plastic will breakdown into tiny toxic particles and then pollution happens as they entered the food chain in the sea.  Many of the birds, fish and even turtles died as they feed through the plastic bag and bottles. In addition, the floating plastic bottle will attract the birds attention, which they think it is a fish, as as they dive from the air into the water, it will result either the bottle will attach to their neck or the birds may break their sharp beak. 

Pesticides and herbicides are mainly used to kill unwanted animals and plants in the agricultural fields in order to maintain the productivity of the plantation. Both of the substances mentioned contains toxins such as nitrate, lead and also mercury. As the botanist or farmers apply the substancesto the plantations, the residue of the chemicals may enter the lakes and rivers through the sewage or in another scenario, through the dumping of toxins by the large plantation factories. As animals drink the contaminated water, they will lose their lives. Human is one of the victim from this pollution too. It can cause death in children as well as adults when they keep on drinking water that contains nitrates. 

All in all, it is clear to everyone regarding to this problem. It affect not only us, the fauna but alsohas an effect on the flora in both short and long term which will worth us a century to clean it all up. There are numbers of countries that have laws to protect the environment but it still not enough to overcome this kind of problem. People should be more responsible with their action and should think of both, the nature and their own benefits as they act in such way. Deposing of the chemicals residue should be done in the right manners. We can choose to use biodegradable bags instead of using plastic bags in order to keep plastic out from the water thus saving the animal’s life, of course that  we'd better always remind ourself and others not throw the rubbish into the water. Most important thing is, as human, we should realize that water is something important, it is our source of life which need to be conserved and protected from any pollution because in the end, we will be the one who will face the consequences. 

References

Basic Information about Nitrate in Drinking Water. (n.d.). Retrieved October 10, 2015, from http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/basicinformation/nitrate.cfm 

Definisi pollution dalam Bahasa Inggeris:. (n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2015, from http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/ms/definisi/bahasa-inggeris/pollution?searchDictCode=all 

Facts about Pollution from Livestock Farms. (n.d.). Retrieved October 11, 2015, from http://www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/ffarms.asp 

Milman, O. (2015, October 8). BP oil spill in Great Australian Bight would be catastrophic, modelling shows. Retrieved October 10, 2015, from http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/oct/09/bp-oil-spill-in-great-australian-bight-would-be-catastrophic-modelling-shows