Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Motor vehicles
(burning
leaded gasol-
ine) and bat-
tery plants
Lead damages the nervous system by accumulating in the bloodstream over
time. It is not easily removed and can bioaccumulate in organisms and is a
neurotoxin. Lead can kill fish and animals and, thus, affect ecosystems.
Lead (Pb)
Particles can enter the bloodstream through the lungs. Health effects include
lung and heart problems, chronic bronchitis, asthma, and other respiratory
system issues. It can contribute to acid precipitation and smog. When it settles
in land or in water, it depletes the soil of nutrients, causes groundwater
sources to become acidic, changes the nutrient content of groundwater, and
damages vegetation and crops. Particulates also decrease visibility.
Soot from mo-
tor vehicles in-
dustry
Particulate
matter (PM)
Water Pollutants
The contamination of freshwater can have harmful effects on human and ecosystem health. As discussed earli-
er, pollution can occur from excessive nutrients, excessive heat, pathogens and waterborne disease, toxic chem-
icals, and sediment. Since all life depends on water, when sources become polluted, there are far-reaching ef-
fects. Effects of water pollution on ecosystems include poisoning of organisms, loss of biodiversity, and poten-
tially ecosystem death. Groundwater and surface water are used for drinking, crop irrigation, cleaning, recre-
ation, and other human activities.
Coral reefs are especially fragile and sensitive to pollutants. Eutrophication, excess sediment, and oil spills can
smother coral. Temperature changes can be lethal, because coral needs a consistent water temperature. Acid
precipitation and other forms of pollution can kill coral as well.
Soil Contaminants in Water
When soils are contaminated, the contaminant can percolate down through the soil, transported by water, and
ending up in a groundwater source. Contaminated groundwater and aquifers can be a serious issue in areas of
dense human population. With population density comes the threat of accidents, leaks, and human carelessness.
Contaminated soil and water may result in the inability to support life and the degradation of an ecosystem.
Humans can be at risk from direct contact with the soil, inhalation of fumes, or consumption of contaminated
water. Health effects vary from mild to extreme, depending on the substance and concentration.
Oil Spills
The effects of an oil spill can be destructive, far-reaching, and long-term. Once oil is released in water, it can
float on the surface, partially submerge and stay suspended in midlevel waters, or sink to the bottom, depend-
ing on the density of the oil. In an ecosystem, oil spills can:
• Poison or suffocate life
• Affect breeding cycles and locations
• Damage nesting sites
• Weaken egg shells and harm or kill larvae
• Damage coastlines
• Contaminate algae and phytoplankton, which serve as the basis of food webs
• Coat organisms with oil, potentially leading to loss of body heat, smothering, drowning, and starvation
• Get trapped between rocks, gravel, and sand particles and persist for many years
