Category Pollution

What is the affect of light pollution on plants?

One of the less discussed types of pollution is light pollution of even less is the focus on how it affects plants since conversations on light pollution invariably revolve around humans, animals and migratory birds. So, how does it impact plants? Come, let’s find out. 

Most plants are dependent on natural light because it’s an important ingredient to prepare their food through the process called photosynthesis But they need light for more than just food. Just the humans, plants to have a circadian rhythm .  (This rhythm refers to the changes each living being experiences primarily with regard to light and dark) Continued exposure to artifical light during dark hours can cause health issues in humans. And its not vastly different for plants Plants too need a sleep cycle to process staff and what they do is they gust attention on different activities at different ties of the day so they need to know the time of day But when they come under the harsh brightness of streetlights and artifical lights from buildings and vehicles, it becomes difficult for them to understand if its daytime or nighttime. This affects how they live their life.

They continue to photosynthesise at night, which forces them to use their energy and puts enormous stress on them. They are already suffering the effects of climate change such as warmer winters and longer summers”. All of these factors alter their natural rhythm to disastrous results, such as change in flowering patterns. leaf-shedding patterns, etc. Any change in plant reproduction and growth pattern impacts all the wildlife such as insects and birds dependent on it. That’s not all Light pollution affecting plants could impact humans too.

Moths are usually active at night, and artificial lights attract moths in the process, taking them away from flowering plants Studies have shown that this reduces pollen transfer (and pollination) through moths. When the number of new plants growing this way declines it denies pollen to bees an important pollinator crucial for food crops. The end of pollination could mean the eventual collapse of global ecosystems.

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A new way to tackle planet-heating CO2

How can you capture carbon? We know that forests and oceans act as carbon sinks. Can we employ mechanisms to capture carbon dioxide so that the carbon emissions can be prevented? Enter Carbon capture and storage (CCS).

A technology employed to sequester carbon dioxide, CCS prevents the release of CO2 post the conventional power generation and industrial production processes.

Here, the CO2 is injected in suitable underground storage reservoirs. The capture technology works by separating CO2 emissions from the process and the compressed COZ gets transported through pipelines or gets shipped to a geological storage location where it is then injected.

One may wonder where these geological storage locations are situated at. Well, they are the abandoned oil and gas fields, deep saline formations, and unmineable coal seams. This technology enables the use of fossil fuels whilst ensuring the CO2 emissions are also significantly reduced.

Now, scientists have found a new way to sequester carbon. The idea is to turn it into sodium bicarbonate and store it in oceans.

According to a research paper published in the journal ‘Science Advances’ recently, the new technique is found to be more efficient than the current carbon capture technology, in fact, three times more efficient. It could be a new step in addressing the climate crisis by removing carbon from the air.

The study focusses on direct air capture. Even with the conventional carbon-capturing mechanism, only relatively small amounts of carbon can be captured. It makes the whole process challenging and expensive. That’s where the new study holds promise. It follows the direct air capture method but the research team used copper to modify the absorbent material. As such, the absorbent can remove CO2 from the atmosphere at ultra-dilute concentrations. The usage of copper helps increase the capacity of the absorbent to two to three times.

Even the material can be produced with ease and is cheap. Thus the cost incurred in direct air capture can be reduced. After the carbon dioxide is captured, it is turned into sodium bicarbonate or baking soda Sea water is used for this and then the sodium bicarbonate is released into the ocean in small concentrations.

There is, however, the challenge of disposing of tonnes of sodium bicarbonate in the ocean as it could amount to “dumping”.

The negative impacts on the ocean cannot be dismissed. Scientists are also of the opinion that such carbon capture technologies may distract us from the core target of reducing the burning of fossil fuels and instead give us a licence to continue being large-scale polluters.

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WHAT IS PARTICULATE MATTER?

Particulate matter or refers particle pollution to the mixture of tiny solid and liquid particles-metals, chemicals, dust, spores, etc.-present in the air we breathe. Many of these particles are harmful to us humans. Not just that. Particulate matter pollution alters our environment by contributing to acid rain, changing weather patterns, global warming, etc.

Where does particle pollution come from?

Particle pollution can come from two different kinds of sources — primary or secondary. Primary sources cause particle pollution on their own. For example, wood stoves and forest fires are primary sources.

Secondary sources let off gases that can form particles. Power plants and coal fires are examples of secondary sources. Some other common sources of particle pollution can be either primary or secondary — for example, factories, cars and trucks, and construction sites.

Smoke from fires and emissions (releases) from power plants, industrial facilities, and cars and trucks contain PM2.5.

Particle Pollution and Your Health

Breathing in particle pollution can be harmful to your health. Coarse (bigger) particles, called PM10, can irritate your eyes, nose, and throat. Dust from roads, farms, dry riverbeds, construction sites, and mines are types of PM10.

Fine (smaller) particles, called PM2.5, are more dangerous because they can get into the deep parts of your lungs — or even into your blood.

How can particle pollution affect our health?

Particle pollution can affect anyone, but it bothers some people more than others. People most likely to experience health effects caused by particle pollution include:

  • People with heart or lung diseases (for example, asthma)
  • Older adults
  • Babies and children

Particle pollution has also been linked to:

  • Eye irritation
  • Lung and throat irritation
  • Trouble breathing
  • Lung cancer
  • Problems with babies at birth (for example, low birth weight)

Take Action

When particle pollution levels are high, take steps to limit the amount of air you breathe in while you’re outside. For example:

  • Think about spending more time indoors, where particle pollution levels are usually lower.
  • Choose easier outdoor activities (like walking instead of running) so you don’t breathe as hard.
  • Avoid busy roads and highways where PM is usually worse because of emissions from cars and trucks.

Credit : Centers of disease control and preventions 

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WHAT IS NOISE POLLUTION AND ITS EFFECTS?

Noise pollution can be defined as unwanted or excessive sound that can have adverse effects on human health, wildlife, and environment quality. Sound is measured in decibels (dB) and the normal hearing frequency rate of healthy individuals ranges from 0 to 120 dB. Sounds that reach 85 decibels or higher can damage a person’s ears. Some audio sources that exceed this threshold include power lawn mowers (90 dB), trains (90 to 115 dB), and loud rock concerts (110 to 120 dB). Noise pollution impacts millions of people on a daily basis. The most common health problems it is responsible for include noise-induced hearing loss and high blood pressure.

Human Diseases Caused by Noise Pollution

Whether we realize we are subjected to it or not, noise pollution can be hazardous to our health in various ways.

Hypertension is, in this case, a direct result of noise pollution caused elevated blood levels for a longer period of time.
Hearing loss can be directly caused by noise pollution, whether listening to loud music in your headphones or being exposed to loud drilling noises at work, heavy air or land traffic, or separate incidents in which noise levels reach dangerous intervals, such as around140 dB for adult or 120 dB for children.
Sleep disturbances are usually caused by constant air or land traffic at night, and they are a serious condition in that they can affect everyday performance and lead to serious diseases.
Child development. Children appear to be more sensitive to noise pollution, and a number of noise-pollution-related diseases and dysfunctions are known to affect children, from hearing impairment to psychological and physical effects. Also, children who regularly use music players at high volumes are at risk of developing hearing dysfunctions. In 2001, it was estimated that 12.5% of American children between the ages of 6 to 19 years had impaired hearing in one or both ears
Various cardiovascular dysfunctions. Elevated blood pressure caused by noise pollution, especially during the night, can lead to various cardiovascular diseases.
Dementia isn’t necessarily caused by noise pollution, but its onset can be favored or compounded by noise pollution.
Psychological dysfunctions and noise annoyance. Noise annoyance is, in fact, a recognized name for an emotional reaction that can have an immediate impact.

Effects of Noise Pollution on Wildlife and Marine Life

Our oceans are no longer quiet. Thousands of oil drills, sonars, seismic survey devices, coastal recreational watercraft and shipping vessels are now populating our waters, and that is a serious cause of noise pollution for marine life. Whales are among the most affected, as their hearing helps them orient themselves, feed and communicate. Noise pollution thus interferes with cetaceans’ (whales and dolphins) feeding habits, reproductive patterns and migration routes, and can even cause hemorrhage and death.
Other than marine life, land animals are also affected by noise pollution in the form of traffic, firecrackers etc., and birds are especially affected by the increased air traffic.

Tips for Avoiding Noise Pollution

Wear earplugs whenever exposed to elevated noise levels.
Maintain a level of around 35 dB in your bedroom at night, and around 40 dB in your house during the day.
If possible, choose your residential area as far removed from heavy traffic as you can.
Avoid prolonged use of earphones, especially at elevated sound levels.
If possible, avoid jobs with regular exposure to elevated sound levels.

Credit : Environmental pollution centre 

Picture Credit : Google 

WHAT IS AIR QUALITY INDEX?

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a measurement used to report daily air quality. Employed by most government agencies, it helps communicate to the public as to how clean or polluted your air is, how polluted it is forecast to become and associated health effects that might be a concern. Based on ambient concentration levels of different pollutants and their impact on human health, the National Air Quality Index in India has six categories: good, satisfactory, moderately polluted, poor, very poor, and severe.

Air quality index (AQI) is used by government agencies  to communicate to the public how polluted the air currently is or how polluted it is forecast to become. AQI information is obtained by averaging readings from an air quality sensor, which can increase due to vehicle traffic, forest fires, or anything that can increase air pollution. Pollutants tested include ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, among others.

Public health risks increase as the AQI rises, especially affecting children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory or cardiovascular issues. During these times, governmental bodies generally encourage people to reduce physical activity outdoors, or even avoid going out altogether. The use of face masks such as cloth masks may also be recommended.

Different countries have their own air quality indices, corresponding to different national air quality standards. Some of these are the Air Quality Health Index (Canada), the Air Pollution Index (Malaysia), and the Pollutant Standards Index (Singapore).

Credit : Wikipedia

Picture Credit : Google 

WHAT IS LIGHT POLLUTION?

It’s unnecessary light which creates health hazards for humans and animals, and affects the ecosystem. Ms. Sumaira Abdulali, an activist who has been fighting against noise pollution, is now urging the government to regard light pollution as a serious environmental hazard and frame a regulatory policy to make night-time lighting safer. Learn more about light pollution and what we can do about it here.

What is unnecessary light?

Flashing lights and additional colours in hoardings, halogen lights, car headlights, street lights using blue LED lights of high intensity are a few examples (the International Dark Sky Association recommends using LEDS of 3000 Kelvin or below).

Wrong lighting is also hazardous. For example, street lamps that don’t light up an area uniformly create patches of brightness followed by darkness. If they are not shielded and set on high masts. the light gets projected onto the eyes of residents or they get directed into the sky, causing a sky glow and blotting out the moon and the stars.

Light is necessary, so how can we prevent it from becoming a hazard?

Use light only when needed and in the required amount. Use better lights, not brighter lights. Instead of using very bright lights that light up only particular areas, have lights that light up the room evenly. Switch over from blue light to yellow light. Blue light creates glare impairs vision and brightens the sky more than any other colour. Have shades for lights. Deploy motion sensors instead of leaving lights on all night. Also avoid watching TV or working at the computer at night without lights.

What should the government do?

The government should plan a proper lighting policy with rules regarding what is the right amount of light, what is appropriate light and state the limit for light pollution. It should see that car headlights are checked for colour. intensity and beam angles so that they don’t create temporary blindness in drivers of oncoming cars. pedestrians and people living close to the streets.

It should hold advertisers responsible for light clutter (grouping of lights that cause confusion and distract from obstacles, potentially causing accidents). It should also ensure that street lights are shielded, placed at the right distance from each other and at the right height and angle, so that they project light down onto the street..

What can children do to reduce light pollution?

Children should be taught about light pollution. They could use a single yellow light. that would brighten up the entire room when they want to study or read but at other times, they could make use of low voltage lights. They should also turn off lights when not in use.

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