Question 1
It is evident that particulate matter is becoming increasingly concentrated in Asia as reported by WHO. Power plants, dust storms, fossil fuels burning in vehicles as well as various industrial facilities result in highly significant amounts of particulates in the Asian continent. People in countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, and Nepal are prone to and in most cases suffer from aggravating respiratory and heart diseases such as emphysema, bronchitis, and asthma. Bronchitis, characterized by coughing up of dry mucus which is sometimes colored, is an inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes that carry air to the lungs. It can either be acute or chronic.
People in Asian countries are suffering from respiratory and heart problems. Therefore, both elderly and children should be limited from the outdoor exertion. However, air pollution in China is worse as compared to India. According to the World Health Organization, the concentration of particles in China and other nations such as Sri Lanka, South Korea, and Indonesia are moderate.
Question 2
Application of certain technologies such as sonic collectors, fabric filters, and cyclone separators can reduce air pollution in the United States. These techniques significantly control particulate matter. For control of Sulphur dioxides, essential techniques that could be employed constitute of fuel desulphurization, as well as fuel substitution. Auto exhaust systems installed with catalytic converters reduces the amounts nitrogen oxides emitted by vehicles in the air. Hydrocarbons which are also responsible for pollution of air in the United States by vapor recovery systems such as collars on gas pump nozzles; floating roof storage tanks to minimize evaporation of hydrocarbons; substitution of new chemicals for paints and solvents and condensation units to recover lost volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can reduce environmental impact.
The United States optimizes the existing plants to reduce the emissions and to increase the amount of produced electricity similar to the amount of coal. It also continues to develop the best available technology such as circulation of fluidized-bed (CFB) that is inclusive of supercritical combustion. The U.S turns coal into a gas and removes impurities from the gas before it is burnt. There is a CCS that captures the carbon (IV) oxide from the flue gases.
Question 3
The term carbon footprint refers to the overall set of greenhouse gas emissions ensuing from the direct or indirect support of human activities. The carbon footprint usually expressed as CO2e, that is, in equivalent tonnes of carbon (IV) oxide. Web sites providing carbon footprint calculators include; www.nature.org//carboncalculator/,www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx, and footprint.wwf.org.uk/, among others. A series of human activities are responsible for the emission of significant amounts of carbon dioxide to the environment which often than not results in detrimental effects. Such activities are, for example, burning plastics and charcoal for fuel, industrial activities resulting in the emission of carbon dioxide fumes, driving of vehicles that lack catalytic converters in the exhaust system and greenhouse farming.
As a result of human activities, the concentration of carbon (IV) oxide is rising since the beginning of industrial revolution, and currently, it has reached a dangerous level. Therefore, the emissions out-balance that of the natural resources that have been in existence for many years.
Question 4
There exists a variety of conditions arising from the contamination of water. Examples include typhoid, cholera, bilharzia, amoebiasis, botulism, dysentery, leptospirosis among others. Typhoid fever is a bacterial disease, caused by Salmonella Typhi. It may also be due to Salmonella paratyphi. Human beings are the only reservoirs for Salmonella typhi whereas Salmonella para typhi also has animal reservoirs.
Cholera
The causing agent is the bacterium Vibrio cholera. It is spread through consumption of contaminated water with the above bacteria.
Symptoms
Watery diarrhea, nausea, nose bleeding, frequent vomiting, cramps, and hypovolemic shock. At some point, death may occur within 24 hours.
Typhoid
Biological agent –Salmonella.typhi. It occurs when water that is contaminated by faeces of an infected individual is ingested.
Symptoms
Sustained fever of about 40°C, profuse sweating as well as the occurrence of diarrhea.
Botulism
The main agent is Clostridium.botulinum. This bacteria can enter through an open wound from the contaminated water. Similarly, it also penetrates through gastrointestinal track by drinking the contaminated water.
Symptoms
Dry mouth, double vision, weak muscles, breathing difficulties, vomiting as well as diarrhea.
Dysentery
It is caused by the Shigella and Salmonella species, but the most common causing agent is the Shigella dysenteriae. It spread through the water that is contaminated with the bacteria.
Symptoms
Frequent passage of the faces containing blood, mucus as well as vomiting of blood.
Question 5
Food or water contaminated with the faces of an infected person transmits Typhoid through ingestion. Symptoms include fever often up to 104 F, headaches, generalized aches and pains, abdominal pain, lethargy, diarrhea or constipation and intestinal bleeding or perforation. Cholera, on the other hand, is an acute diarrheal disease resulting from the infection of the small intestine by some strains of the bacterium Vibrio cholera.
The main reservoirs of Vibrio cholera are human beings and aquatic sources such as brackish water and estuaries. Transmission is through water contaminated by the faeces of a sick person or animal with inadequate or poorly treated sewage. Symptoms include, leg cramps, vomiting and profuse watery diarrhea- thus dehydration. Another example of waterborne diseases is dysentery which is an intestinal infection resulting in serious diarrhea with some stains of mucus and blood in the faces. These are bacillary dysentery or shigellosis usually caused by Shigella bacteria and amoebic dysentery caused by Entamoeba. histolytica. Symptoms often include painful stomach cramps, a high temperature of 100.4 F and nausea or vomiting.
Question 6
Chlorine- Gas, Liquid or Solid. The use of HOCl- in solution is cost effective. One problem is that chlorine combines with organics and may form trihalomethanes (THMs) which are carcinogenic (cause cancer). Treatment plants should reduce the organic load as much as possible before chlorination. Residual chlorine stays in the water as it leaves the treatment plant to protect water as it passes through the system (Jaffe, Anderson, Covert, Kotchenruther, Trost, Danielson & Harris, 1999). Ozone is more effective than chlorine at killing bacteria & viruses. It requires a shorter contact time with pathogens. It results in a better tasting water, but it is more expensive and does not leave a residual. Iodine discolors water (reddish/brown), is not feasible for extensive uses, but it is ok for camping or emergencies. Bromine kills pathogens but leaves toxic byproducts when combined with organics. UV light is expensive when used in the turbid water. It also leaves no residual. Heat requires boiling for as long as twenty minutes which may be valid for an emergency and small-scale activity. It does not provide a residual disinfectant.
Question 7
A variety of ways can reduce water consumption. Re-using water for various purposes is one of these ways. For example, water used to do laundry can be reused in cleaning floors or watering plants. Another approach that could be applied is imposing water charges on households which will go a long way to ensuring that residents consume water only when necessary. Creating awareness on the importance of water is also important, and a long-term solution to water wastage as knowledge is power (Wong, Vichit-Vadakan, Kan, & Qian, 2008).
Reusing treated wastewater is important for several purposes such as irrigation, industrial processes, flushing the toilets, and replenishing of groundwater basins. Therefore, it acts as a financial saving. For instance, when water is recycled by industrial facilities, it is used for cooling processes.
References
Jaffe, D., Anderson, T., Covert, D., Kotchenruther, R., Trost, B., Danielson, J., & Harris, J.
(1999). Transport of Asian air pollution to North America. Geophysical Research Letters, 26(6), 711-714.
Wong, C. M., Vichit-Vadakan, N., Kan, H., & Qian, Z. (2008). Public Health and Air Pollution
in Asia (PAPA): a multicity study of short-term effects of air pollution on mortality. Environmental Health Perspectives, 116(9), 1195.
