Environmental degradation is a result of socio-economical, technological and institutional activities. Degradation occurs when Earth's natural resources are depleted. These resources which are affected include:
Water
Air
Soil
The degradation also impacts our:
Wildlife
Plants
Animals
Micro-organisms
The problems resulting from environmental change and its degradation, pose new challenges for traditional public health science. It is an accepted fact that, environmental degradation is contributing to human health threats worldwide. We may have several questions in our mind.
2. MOTHER NATURE
The natural environment,
with all its ecosystem
services, comprises the entire
basis for life on the planet. Its
value is therefore impossible
to quantify or even model.
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3. What Is Environmental Degradation?
Environmental degradation is a result of socio-economical,
technological and institutional activities. Degradation occurs
when Earth's natural resources are depleted. These
resources which are affected include:
Water
Air
Soil
The degradation also impacts our:
Wildlife
Plants
Animals
Micro-organisms
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4. How Environmental Degradation Occurs:
Environmental changes are based on
many factors including:
Urbanization
The Population Explosion
Intensification of agriculture
Increase in energy use
Increase in transportation
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5. ..continued
High quantity of Exhaust gases
Secondary Pollutants
High number of industries such as mining
Chemical effluents
Unplanned Land-use policies
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6. The effects of the major environmental
problems on both health and productivity
are:
The problems resulting from environmental change and its degradation,
pose new challenges for traditional public health science. It is an accepted
fact that, environmental degradation is contributing to human health
threats worldwide. We may have several questions in our mind. 5
7. a. Water pollution and water scarcity
b. Air pollution
c. Solid and hazardous wastes
d. Soil degradation
e. Deforestation
f. Loss of biodiversity
g. Atmospheric changes
The effects of the major environmental
problems on both health and
productivity are:
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8. TO PREVENT ENVIRONMENTAL
DEGEADATION:
To control water pollution:
• (i) Minimising used water for processing by reusing and recycling it in
two or more suggestive stages.
• (ii) Harvesting of water can be done to meet water requirements.
• (iii) Treating of hot water and effluents before releasing them in
rivers and ponds.
Treatment of industrial effluents can be done in three phases:
• (i) Primary treatment by mechanical me It involves
screening, grinding, flocculation and sedimentation.
• (ii) Secondary treatment by biological process.
• (iii) Tertiary treatment by biological, chemical and physical
processes. This involves recycling
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9. To counter noise pollution:
• Machinery and equipment can be used and generators
should be fitted with silencers.
• Almost all machinery can be redesigned to increase
energy efficiency and reduce noise.
• (ii) Noise absorbing material may be used apart from
personal use of earplugs and earphones.
To control air pollution:
• (i) Particulate matter in the air can be reduced by
fitting smoke stacks to factories with electrostatic
precipitators, fabric filters and inertial separators.
• (ii) Smoke can be reduced by using oil or gas
instead of coal in factories or thermal power
stations.
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10. Some Solutions to Environmental
Degradation
•afforestation
•drip irrigation
•mixed crops or crop rotation
•stocking your land
•Purchase recycled products
•Conserve water
•Conserve energy
•Be an advocate to save our planet! 9
11. Innovative Ideas…………
• Opt for sustainable and renewable way of living- GO GREEN
• 3 R’s for green lifestyle
• REDUCING
• REUSING
• RECYCLING
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12. Ineffective international
policies
Ineffective interational policies leave the
future of the environment in a critical state
with carbon dioxide level rising out of control. It
is predicted that the Earth’s temperature will
increase by “11-degrees Fahrenheit by the end
of the century” (ABC Science, 2010).
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