Presentation on geography 10 environmental pollution. Large-scale problems of our time: pollution of our environment. Lesson on the topic: “Pollution and environmental protection”

Pollution is the introduction of pollutants into the natural environment that cause adverse changes. Pollution can take the form chemicals or energy such as noise, heat or light. Components of pollution can be either foreign substances/energy or natural pollutants.

Main types and causes of environmental pollution:

Air pollution

Coniferous forest after acid rain

Smoke from chimneys, factories, vehicles or from burning wood and coal make the air toxic. The effects of air pollution are also clear. The release of sulfur dioxide and hazardous gases into the atmosphere causes global warming and acid rain, which in turn increases temperatures, causing excessive rainfall or droughts around the world and making life more difficult. We also breathe every contaminated particle in the air and as a result, the risk of asthma and lung cancer increases.

Water pollution

Caused the loss of many species of flora and fauna of the Earth. This happened because industrial waste discharged into rivers and other water bodies causes an imbalance in the aquatic environment, leading to severe pollution and death of aquatic animals and plants.

In addition, spraying insecticides, pesticides (such as DDT) on plants, contaminates the groundwater system. Oil spills in the oceans have caused significant damage to water bodies.

Eutrophication in the Potomac River, USA

Eutrophication is another important cause of water pollution. Occurs due to untreated wastewater and the run-off of fertilizers from the soil into lakes, ponds or rivers, due to which chemicals penetrate into the water and prevent the penetration of sunlight, thereby reducing the amount of oxygen and making the water body uninhabitable.

Pollution of water resources harms not only individual aquatic organisms, but also the entire water supply, and seriously affects the people who depend on it. In some countries of the world, due to water pollution, outbreaks of cholera and diarrhea are observed.

Soil pollution

Soil erosion

This type of pollution occurs when harmful chemical elements enter the soil, usually caused by human activities. Insecticides and pesticides suck nitrogen compounds from the soil, making it unsuitable for plant growth. Industrial waste also has a negative impact on the soil. Since plants cannot grow as required, they are unable to hold the soil, resulting in erosion.

Noise pollution

Appears when unpleasant (loud) sounds come from environment affect the human hearing organs and lead to psychological problems, including tension, high blood pressure, hearing loss, etc. It can be caused by industrial equipment, airplanes, cars, etc.

Radioactive contamination

This is a very dangerous type of pollution, it occurs due to malfunctions of nuclear power plants, improper storage of nuclear waste, accidents, etc. Radioactive pollution can cause cancer, infertility, loss of vision, birth defects; it can make the soil infertile, and also negatively affects air and water.

Light pollution

Light pollution on planet Earth

Occurs due to noticeable excess illumination of an area. It is common, as a rule, in large cities, especially from billboards, gyms or entertainment venues at night. In residential areas light pollution greatly influences people's lives. It also interferes with astronomical observations, making the stars almost invisible.

Thermal/heat pollution

Thermal pollution is the deterioration of water quality by any process that changes the temperature of the surrounding water. The main cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a refrigerant by power plants and industries. When water used as a refrigerant is returned to the natural environment at a higher temperature, the change in temperature reduces the oxygen supply and affects the composition. Fish and other organisms adapted to a particular temperature range can be killed by a sudden change in water temperature (or a rapid increase or decrease).

Thermal pollution is caused by excess heat in the environment creating undesirable changes over long periods of time. This is due to the huge number industrial enterprises, deforestation and air pollution. Thermal pollution increases the Earth's temperature, causing drastic climate change and loss of wildlife species.

Visual pollution

Visual pollution, Philippines

Visual pollution is an aesthetic problem and refers to the effects of pollution that impair the ability to enjoy the natural world. It includes: billboards, open garbage storage, antennas, electrical wires, buildings, cars, etc.

Overcrowding of the territory with a large number of objects causes visual pollution. Such pollution contributes to absent-mindedness, eye fatigue, loss of identity, etc.

Plastic pollution

Plastic pollution, India

Includes the accumulation of plastic products in the environment that have adverse effects on wildlife, the habitat of animals or people. Plastic products are inexpensive and durable, which has made them very popular among people. However, this material decomposes very slowly. Plastic pollution can adversely affect soil, lakes, rivers, seas and oceans. Living organisms, especially marine animals, become entangled in plastic waste or suffer from chemicals in plastic that cause disruptions in biological functions. People are also affected by plastic pollution by causing hormonal imbalance.

Objects of pollution

The main objects of environmental pollution are air (atmosphere), water resources(streams, rivers, lakes, seas, oceans), soil, etc.

Pollutants (sources or subjects of pollution) of the environment

Pollutants are chemical, biological, physical or mechanical elements (or processes) that harm the environment.

They can cause harm in both the short and long term. Pollutants come from natural resources or produced by people.

Many pollutants have toxic effects on living organisms. Carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide) is an example of a substance that is harmful to humans. This compound is absorbed by the body instead of oxygen, causing shortness of breath, headache, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, and in severe cases can lead to serious poisoning, and even death.

Some pollutants become dangerous when they react with other naturally occurring compounds. Oxides of nitrogen and sulfur are released from impurities in fossil fuels during combustion. They react with water vapor in the atmosphere, turning into acid rain. Acid rain negatively affects aquatic ecosystems and leads to the death of aquatic animals, plants, and other living organisms. Terrestrial ecosystems are also affected by acid rain.

Classification of pollution sources

According to the type of occurrence, environmental pollution is divided into:

Anthropogenic (artificial) pollution

Deforestation

Anthropogenic pollution is the impact on the environment caused by human activities. The main sources of artificial pollution are:

• industrialization;
• invention of automobiles;
• global population growth;
• deforestation: destruction natural environment habitat;
• nuclear explosions;
• overexploitation of natural resources;
• construction of buildings, roads, dams;
• creation of explosive substances that are used during military operations;
• use of fertilizers and pesticides;
• mining.

Natural (natural) pollution

Volcanic eruption

Natural pollution is caused and occurs naturally, without human intervention. It can affect the environment for a certain period of time, but is capable of regeneration. Sources of natural pollution include:

• volcanic eruptions, releasing gases, ash and magma;
• forest fires emit smoke and gaseous impurities;
• sandstorms raise dust and sand;
• decomposition of organic matter, during which gases are released.

Consequences of pollution:

Environmental degradation

Photo on the left: Beijing after the rain. Photo on the right: smog in Beijing

The environment is the first victim of air pollution. An increase in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere leads to smog, which can prevent penetration sunlight to the surface of the earth. In this regard, it becomes much more difficult. Gases such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide can cause acid rain. Water pollution in terms of oil spills can lead to the death of several species of wild animals and plants.

Human health

Lung cancer

Decreased air quality leads to several respiratory problems, including asthma or lung cancer. Chest pain, sore throat, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory diseases can be caused by air pollution. Water pollution can cause skin problems, including irritation and rashes. Similarly, noise pollution leads to hearing loss, stress and sleep disturbance.

Global warming

Male, the capital of the Maldives, is one of the cities facing the prospect of being flooded by the ocean in the 21st century

The release of greenhouse gases, especially CO2, leads to global warming. Every day new industries are created, new cars appear on the roads, and trees are cut down to make way for new homes. All these factors, directly or indirectly, lead to an increase in CO2 in the atmosphere. Rising CO2 is causing the polar ice caps to melt, raising sea levels and creating dangers for people living near coastal areas.

Ozone depletion

The ozone layer is a thin shield high in the sky that blocks ultraviolet rays from reaching the ground. Human activities release chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons into the air, which contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer.

Badlands

Due to the constant use of insecticides and pesticides, the soil can become infertile. Various types chemicals generated from industrial waste enter the water, which also affects the quality of the soil.

Protection (protection) of the environment from pollution:

International protection

Many are particularly vulnerable because they are exposed to human influence in many countries. As a result, some states are banding together and developing agreements aimed at preventing damage or managing human impacts on natural resources. These include agreements that affect the protection of the climate, oceans, rivers and air from pollution. These international environmental treaties are sometimes binding instruments that have legal consequences in the event of non-compliance, and in other situations they are used as codes of conduct. The most famous include:

• The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), approved in June 1972, provides for the protection of nature for the present generation of people and their descendants.
• The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was signed in May 1992. The main goal This agreement is to "stabilize the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system"
• The Kyoto Protocol provides for the reduction or stabilization of the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere. It was signed in Japan at the end of 1997.

State protection

Discussions of environmental issues often focus on the government, legislative and law enforcement levels. However, in the broadest sense, environmental protection can be seen as the responsibility of the entire people, not just the government. Decisions that impact the environment will ideally involve a wide range of stakeholders, including industry, indigenous groups, environmental groups and communities. Environmental decision-making processes are constantly evolving and becoming more active in different countries.

Many constitutions recognize the fundamental right to protect the environment. In addition, in various countries there are organizations and institutions dealing with environmental issues.

Although protecting the environment is not just a responsibility government agencies, most people consider these organizations to be paramount in creating and maintaining basic standards that protect the environment and the people who interact with it.

How to protect the environment yourself?

Population and technological advances fossil fuels have severely impacted our natural environment. Therefore, we now need to do our part to eliminate the consequences of degradation so that humanity continues to live in an environmentally friendly environment.

There are 3 main principles that are still relevant and more important than ever:

• use less;
• reuse;
• recycle.

• Create a compost heap in your garden. This helps to dispose of food waste and other biodegradable materials.
• When shopping, use your eco-bags and try to avoid plastic bags as much as possible.
• Plant as many trees as you can.
• Think about ways to reduce the number of trips you make using your car.
• Reduce vehicle emissions by walking or cycling. Not only are these great alternatives to driving, but they also have health benefits.
• Use public transportation whenever you can for daily transportation.
• Bottles, paper, used oil, old batteries and used tires must be disposed of properly; all this causes serious pollution.
• Do not pour chemicals and waste oil onto the ground or into drains leading to waterways.
• If possible, recycle selected biodegradable waste, and work to reduce the amount of non-recyclable waste used.
• Reduce the amount of meat you eat or consider a vegetarian diet.

The environment is not just what is around a person, the health of people, as well as the ability of future generations to live on this planet, depends on it. If you approach its conservation irresponsibly, then it is likely that everything will be destroyed human race. Therefore, everyone should know about and what contribution they can make to its protection or restoration.

What depends on the environment?

All life on Earth depends on how good the environment is. In this case, it is impossible to take into account any particular area, since all systems have a certain connection with each other:

• atmosphere;
• oceans;
• sushi;
• ice sheets;
• biosphere;
• water streams.

And every system is threatened in one way or another. But after a certain area is exposed to too much negative impact, various natural disasters can occur. Those, in turn, necessarily threaten people's lives. Therefore, everything depends on the environment, from a favorable human life to the preservation of natural resources for future generations.

All systems are monitored by responsible persons. However, as stated, every person will suffer if any sphere reaches critical point leading to a natural disaster. For this reason, everyone must ensure that nature remains in its original state, or, if it has already been disturbed, every effort must be made to return it.

Nature and environment

Virtually every person has an impact on the environment, regardless of their occupation. Some of them do actually useful things, with the help of which vast wealth can be conveyed to future generations - clean air and water, untouched nature, and so on. However, most people have precisely negative influence, which gradually destroys everything that the planet gives to humanity.

Fortunately, many countries in our time are well aware of the importance of the environment and their responsibility for its preservation. And it is for this reason that it is possible to save certain natural wealth, resources, without which the environment will perish, and soon after it, all of humanity.

Both countries in general and individual organizations in particular need to pay attention not only to virgin areas of nature, but also to those that actually need human help. These are marine ecosystems and the atmosphere, because human health directly depends on them. Therefore, the basis for preserving nature and the environment surrounding humanity is not only responsibility for a specific area, but also for their totality and interconnection. If we take chemical waste as an example, then they should be considered not only as elements that spoil human health, but also as those that harm nature.

Human-environment interaction

It is known that not only environmental resources and their safety, but also human health depend on the release of chemical waste into the atmosphere or marine ecosystems. In this regard, by 2020 it is planned to completely eliminate such pollution, not even to reduce it to a minimum. For this reason, today all those enterprises that deal with chemicals must provide detailed reports regarding how waste is disposed of.

If there is an increased concentration of substances in the atmosphere that are harmful to humans, it is necessary to promptly reduce their level. But this requires the participation of all people, and not just those organizations that bear some responsibility for protecting the environment. There is a generally accepted and undeniable belief that it is extremely important for a person to spend time outdoors. This benefits him, helps him improve or maintain his health. good level. However, if he inhales chemical waste, this will not only not contribute to the task, but will also cause harm. Consequently, the more responsible each individual behaves in relation to the environment, the greater the likelihood of its preservation and maintenance for many years.

Marine ecosystems

Many countries and states are surrounded by large bodies of water. In addition, the water cycle cannot be ignored. Therefore, any city, even if it is located in the center of the mainland, is directly related to marine ecosystems. Consequently, the life of all people on the planet is connected with the oceans, therefore the preservation and protection of water space is not the least important task.

The Department of the Environment simply cannot do without working to protect marine ecosystems. Its objectives include minimizing ocean pollution. Unfortunately, modern human activity cannot eliminate this factor, but it is necessary to strive to reduce it.

The sources that pollute the hydrosphere are the following:

1. Utilities.
2. Transport.
3. Industry.
4. Non-production sphere.

The maximum negative effect is caused by industrial emissions of various wastes into rivers or seas.

Air pollution

The atmosphere is a system that has several methods of self-defense. However, the negative impact on the environment in our time is so great that it does not have enough strength for defense measures, as a result of which it is gradually worn out.

It is necessary to highlight several main sources that pollute the atmosphere:

1. Chemical industry.
2. Transport.
3. Electric power industry.
4. Metallurgy.

Particularly alarming among them is aerosol pollution, which means that particles are emitted into the atmosphere in a liquid or solid state, but they are not part of its permanent composition.

However, oxides of carbon or sulfur are more dangerous. It is they that lead to the greenhouse effect, which results in an increase in temperature on the continents and so on. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully monitor the composition of the air, since additional impurities will sooner or later affect humanity.

Ways to protect the environment

The higher the negative impact on nature, the more organizations should be created that will not only be responsible for its protection, but also disseminate information that helps all inhabitants of the planet understand how dangerous pollution is. Consequently, as harm increases, protective measures also intensify.

International includes several methods for preserving nature and its resources:

1. Creation of treatment facilities. They can exert their influence only on marine resources or the atmosphere, or they can serve in combination.
2. Development of new cleaning technologies. This is usually done by companies that work with chemicals to facilitate disposal or increase positive influence in one system or another.
3. Proper placement of dirty industries. Security companies and organizations still cannot answer the question of where exactly the relevant enterprises should be located, but it is being actively addressed.

In a word, if we are to look for a solution to the problem of the ecological state of the planet, then this must be done by all representatives of the world community. You can't do anything alone.

Pollution fee

Since today there are no countries where human activity is not associated with environmental fees, some enterprises are charged for the environment. This process takes place in accordance with the law adopted in 2002.

A common mistake of companies involved in dirty production is that after paying funds to preserve nature, they continue the process of negatively impacting it. In fact, it may result in criminal liability. Paying a fee does not at all relieve one from liability, and every enterprise is obliged to strive to reduce harm, or even eliminate it altogether.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we can say that the environment is the totality of all those elements that are around people. It was she who provided the opportunity for evolution, for the emergence of the human race. Therefore, the main goal of our time is its protection, purification and preservation. If this does not happen, then literally in a few centuries the planet will turn into a place unsuitable for human life and activity.

Topic: “Pollution of the natural environment, sources and measures to combat and protect natural environment»

INTRODUCTION

Relevance of the research topic The fact is that currently anthropogenic pollution of the natural environment has acquired enormous proportions. This has led to serious environmental, economic, and social consequences for society, which manifests itself in the deterioration of the natural environment, the need for significant financial investments to restore it, and a sharp decrease in people’s life expectancy compared to developed countries.

The relevance of the research topic is also caused by the need to develop organizational and legal measures to ensure the protection of the natural environment from pollution: environmental control, surveillance, economic measures.

Purpose of the study : study the problems of environmental pollution, as well as consider the sources of its pollution, measures to combat and protect the natural environment.

To achieve this goal, it is necessary to solve the following tasks:

1. Define the concept of “pollution of the natural environment” and its main types;

2. Consider the main sources of environmental pollution;

3. Analyze measures to combat environmental pollution and methods of protecting the natural environment.

1. The concept of “pollution of the natural environment” and its main types

Pollution of the natural environment is the introduction into the environment or the appearance in it of new (uncharacteristic for it) physical, chemical or biological agents, or exceeding the natural average long-term concentration level of the same agents during the period under review. There are natural and anthropogenic pollution.

Under environmental pollution author Snakin V.V. understands “changes in the properties of the environment (chemical, mechanical, physical, biological and related information) occurring as a result of natural or artificial processes and leading to a deterioration in the functions of the environment in relation to any biological or technological object” 1.

Using various elements of the environment in his activities, a person changes its quality. Often these changes are expressed in an unfavorable form of pollution 2 .

Environmental pollution is the entry into it of harmful substances that can harm human health, inorganic nature, flora and fauna, or become an obstacle to certain human activities. Of course, pollution caused by human activity (they are called anthropogenic) must be distinguished from natural pollution. Usually, when talking about pollution, they mean anthropogenic pollution and evaluate it by comparing the power of natural and anthropogenic sources of pollution 3 .

Due to the large amounts of human waste entering the environment, the environment's ability to cleanse itself is at its limit. A significant part of this waste is alien to the natural environment: it is either toxic to microorganisms that destroy complex organic substances and transforms them into simple inorganic compounds, or they are not destroyed at all and therefore accumulate in various parts of the environment. Even those substances that are familiar to the environment, entering it in too large quantities, can change its qualities and affect ecological systems.

Environmental pollution is the introduction of new, uncharacteristic physical, chemical and biological agents or exceeding their natural level.

Let's look at the main types of pollution:

Physical (thermal, noise, electromagnetic, light, radioactive);

Chemical (heavy metals, pesticides, plastics and other chemicals);

Biological (biogenic, microbiological, genetic);

Information (information noise, false information, anxiety factors 1.

Any chemical contamination is the appearance of a chemical substance in a place not intended for it. Pollution arising from human activity is the main factor in its harmful effects to the natural environment.

Chemical pollutants can cause acute poisoning, chronic diseases, and also have carcinogenic and mutagenic effects. For example, heavy metals can accumulate in plant and animal tissues, causing toxic effects. In addition to heavy metals, particularly dangerous pollutants are chlorodioxins, which are formed from chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons used in the production of herbicides. Sources of environmental pollution with dioxins are by-products of the pulp and paper industry, waste from the metallurgical industry, and exhaust gases from internal combustion engines. These substances are very toxic to humans and animals even at low concentrations and cause damage to the liver, kidneys, and immune system 1 .

Along with environmental pollution by new synthetic substances, great damage to nature and human health can be caused by interference in natural cycles of substances due to active production and agricultural activities, as well as the generation of household waste.

2. Sources of environmental pollution

The atmosphere (air), hydrosphere (aquatic environment) and lithosphere (solid surface) of the Earth are subject to pollution. Let's consider the types of sources of environmental pollution, taking into account the location of pollution.

Table 1. Sources of environmental pollution 1

The source of environmental pollution is human economic activity (industry, agriculture, transport). In cities, the largest share of pollution comes from transport (70-80%). Among industrial enterprises, metallurgical enterprises are considered the most “dirty” - 93.4%. They are followed by energy enterprises - primarily thermal power plants - 27%, 9% fall on chemical industry enterprises, 12% - in the oil and 7% in the gas industry.

Although the chemical industry is not the main source of pollution (Fig. 1), it is characterized by emissions that are most dangerous for the natural environment, humans, animals and plants (Fig. 2) 2 .

Rice. 1. Air pollution from various industries

Fig.2. Pollution of the environment with hazardous waste. The main share of hazardous waste is generated by chemical industry products.

The term “hazardous waste” applies to any kind of waste that may cause harm to health or the environment when stored, transported, processed or discharged. These include toxic substances, flammable wastes, corrosive wastes and other reactive substances 1 .

Natural waters may be contaminated with pesticides and dioxins, as well as oil. Oil decomposition products are toxic, and the oil film, which isolates water from air, leads to the death of living organisms (primarily plankton) in the water. The strongest pollutants of the natural environment are industrial waste and household waste. Every year, one inhabitant of the Earth produces over 20 tons of waste. Dioxins are considered especially dangerous. By Government Decree of November 5, 1995, a federal target program for dioxins was adopted. It includes the following set of issues: development of standards for the content of dioxins in emissions and discharges of industrial enterprises and waste incineration plants; development of standards for dioxin content in soil, drinking water, in the air; assessment of the scale and degree of pollution of open regions of Russia with dioxins; development of technologies and methods for the neutralization of dioxins and others, which to some extent should lead to a reduction in environmental pollution by this toxicant.

During the period of economic reforms, there was a transformation of organizational and legal forms of management agriculture. However, due to the lack of financial resources, agricultural enterprises of various forms of ownership do not carry out environmental protection measures on livestock farms, uncontrollably use mineral fertilizers and agrochemicals, which initially accumulate in the soil and then, together with rain flows, enter rivers, polluting agricultural products and the environment. . In our opinion, it is necessary to strengthen control over the activities of rural commodity producers, to more actively apply administrative, criminal, and civil liability measures to legal entities and individuals who do not carry out environmental protection measures 1 .

Motor transport is a strong pollutant of the environment. Car emissions are a mixture of substances that are very harmful to health. However, today there is no single body involved in the development and implementation of comprehensive environmental safety programs in relation to the field of road transport, and there is no methodology for organizing road traffic developed taking into account environmental requirements. During the period of market reforms in Russia, the number of non-state enterprises has increased, which, in pursuit of generating large profits, do not pay attention to measures to protect the natural environment. There is no unified package of regulatory legal acts regulating environmental relations, which should provide for liability for environmental violations in the field of road transport.

In addition to the accumulation of toxic and harmful substances in the soil as a result of human activity, land damage is caused by the burial and dumping of industrial and household waste 1 .

Organic waste is also a water pollutant. Their oxidation requires additional oxygen. If the oxygen content is too low, normal life for most aquatic organisms becomes impossible. Aerobic bacteria that require oxygen also die; instead, bacteria develop that use sulfur compounds for their vital functions. A sign of the appearance of such bacteria is the smell of hydrogen sulfide, one of their metabolic products.

As a result, we can say that one of the main environmental pollutants is agricultural production. Into the circulation system chemical elements significant amounts of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus are artificially introduced in the form of mineral fertilizers. Their excess, not absorbed by plants, is actively involved in water migration. The accumulation of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds in natural bodies of water causes increased growth of aquatic vegetation, overgrowing of water bodies and pollution of them with dead plant debris and decomposition products. In addition, an abnormally high content of soluble nitrogen compounds in the soil entails an increase in the concentration of this element in agricultural food products and drinking water. It can cause serious illness in people.

3. Measures to combat environmental pollution and methods of protecting the natural environment

The main measures to combat air pollution are strict control of emissions of harmful substances. Toxic starting products are being replaced with non-toxic ones, a transition to closed cycles is being practiced, and methods of gas purification and dust collection are being improved. Of great importance is the optimization of the location of enterprises to reduce transport emissions, as well as the competent application of economic sanctions.

International cooperation plays a major role in protecting the environment from chemical pollution. For example, in the 1970s, a decrease in O3 concentration was discovered in the ozone layer, which protects our planet from the dangerous effects of ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. In 1974 it was established that ozone is destroyed by atomic chlorine. One of the main sources of chlorine entering the atmosphere are chlorofluorocarbon derivatives (freons, freons) used in aerosol cans, refrigerators and air conditioners. The destruction of the ozone layer occurs, perhaps, not only under the influence of these substances. However, measures have been taken to reduce their production and use. In 1985, many countries agreed to protect the ozone layer. Exchange of information and joint research on changes in atmospheric ozone concentrations continue 1 .

Taking measures to prevent the entry of pollutants into water bodies includes the establishment of coastal protective strips and water protection zones, the abandonment of toxic chlorine-containing pesticides, and the reduction of discharges from industrial enterprises through the use of closed cycles. Reducing the risk of oil pollution is possible by increasing the reliability of tankers 1 .

To prevent contamination of the Earth's surface, preventive measures are needed - to prevent contamination of the soil with industrial and domestic wastewater, solid household and industrial waste, sanitary cleaning of the soil and the territory of populated areas where such violations have been identified is necessary.

The most effective solution to the problem of environmental pollution would be waste-free production, without wastewater, gas emissions and solid waste. However, waste-free production today and in the foreseeable future is fundamentally impossible; to implement it, it is necessary to create a unified cyclic system of flows of matter and energy for the entire planet. If the loss of matter, at least theoretically, can still be prevented, then environmental problems in the energy sector will still remain. Thermal pollution cannot be avoided in principle, and so-called clean energy sources, such as wind farms, still cause damage to the environment 2 .

Today, the only way to significantly reduce environmental pollution is low-waste technologies. Currently, low-waste industries are being created in which emissions of harmful substances do not exceed maximum permissible concentrations (MPC), and waste does not lead to irreversible changes in nature. Complex processing of raw materials, combination of several industries, and use of solid waste for the production of building materials are used 3.

There are the following main ways to reduce environmental pollution: waste-free production, low-waste production, integrated processing of raw materials, new technologies and materials. New technologies and materials, environmentally friendly fuels, and new energy sources are being created that reduce environmental pollution 1 .

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, I would like to say that environmental pollution has a history almost as long as the history of humanity itself. For a long time primitive man was not much different from other animal species and, in an ecological sense, was in balance with the environment. Moreover, the human population was small.

Over time, as a result of the development of the biological organization of people and their mental abilities, the human race stood out from other species: the first species of living beings arose, the impact of which on all living things represents a potential threat to the balance in nature.

At all stages of his development, man was closely connected with the world around him. But since the emergence of a highly industrialized society, dangerous human intervention in nature has sharply intensified, the scope of this intervention has expanded, it began to express various manifestations and now threatens to become a global danger to humanity. Man has to increasingly intervene in the economy of the biosphere - that part of our planet in which life exists. The Earth's biosphere is currently subject to increasing anthropogenic impact.

In conclusion, it should be noted that in the context of the expected growth in production volumes, constantly increasing vehicle emissions, without taking effective environmental measures, the negative trend in environmental pollution levels may worsen even more.

LIST OF REFERENCES USED

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Types and scales of negative impact of humans and industry on the natural environment // Nature Management: Textbook / Ed. E.A. Arustamova. – M., 2008. – P.80-87.

Markovich, Danilo Zh. Social ecology: Monograph / D. Zh. Markovich. - M.: Publishing House of the Russian University of Peoples' Friendship, 2007. - 436 p.

Problems of social ecology: Collection scientific works. - Kemerovo: KuzPI Publishing House, 2007. - 99 p.

Snakin V.V. Ecology and nature conservation: Dictionary-reference book. - M.: Academy, 2008. p. 17.

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Human pollution of nature is one of the most ancient problems in the history of civilization. Man has long considered the environment mainly as a source of resources, striving to achieve independence from it and improve the conditions of his existence. While the population and scale of production were not large, and the natural spaces were so vast, then in order to achieve their goals, people were willing to sacrifice part of the untouched nature, as well as a certain degree of frequency of air and water.

But, obviously, this process in our relatively closed, unlimited world cannot continue indefinitely. As production grew, its environmental consequences became more severe and widespread, and natural spaces continually shrank. Expanding the scope of his activities, man began to create an artificial habitat - the technosphere, in place of the natural environment - the biosphere. However, any sphere of human practical activity requires knowledge of the laws of nature. Power engineers designing hydroelectric power plants are faced with problems of preserving spawning grounds and fish stocks, disruption of natural watercourses, climate change in the area of ​​reservoirs, and exclusion of fertile land areas from economic use. Draining swamps in order to expand the area of ​​agricultural land in many cases led to the opposite effect - a decrease in groundwater levels, the death of pastures and forests, and the transformation of huge areas into areas covered with sand and peat dust. Enterprises, especially chemical, metallurgical, and energy enterprises, with their emissions into the atmosphere, discharges into rivers and reservoirs, and solid waste, destroy flora and fauna and cause diseases in people. The desire to obtain higher yields led to the use of mineral fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. However, their excessive use leads to high concentrations of harmful substances in agricultural products, which can cause poisoning to people. Before we talk about specific examples pollution of the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere, it is necessary to consider their definition and essence.

Let's start with the environment. Ecology is the science of the relationships of living organisms with each other and with the environment. The term "ecology" was first introduced by the German biologist Haeckel in 1869. It is formed from two Greek words: "oikos", which means house, dwelling, "logos" - study or science. So literally ecology means something like the science of living environment.

A section of human ecology, or social ecology, has been formed, where the patterns of interaction between society and the environment and practical problems of environmental protection are studied. The most important section of ecology is industrial ecology, which considers the impact of industrial, transport and agricultural facilities on the natural environment - and, conversely, the influence of environmental conditions on the work of enterprises in their complexes and technosphere regions,

The ecological system (ecosystem) of our planet or its separate region is a set of equal species of organisms living together and the conditions of their existence, which are in a natural connection with each other. An imbalance in an ecosystem, causing irreversible changes in it and its gradual disruption (death), is called an ecological crisis.

An environmental disaster is a relatively quickly occurring chain of events leading to hard-to-reverse natural processes (severe desertification or pollution, contamination), making it impossible to manage any type of economy, leading to a real danger of serious illness or even death of people.

Now let’s move on to the interaction between the biosphere and humans. Currently, human economic activity is acquiring such a scale that the basic principles of the natural structure of the biosphere are being violated: the energy balance, the existing circulation of substances, and the diversity of species and biological communities is being reduced.

According to the concept of the outstanding Russian scientist Vladimir Ivanovich Vernadsky, the biosphere is a shell of the Earth, including both the area of ​​distribution of living matter and this matter itself.

Thus, the biosphere is the lower part of the atmosphere, the entire hydrosphere and the upper part of the lithosphere of the Earth, inhabited by living organisms.

The biosphere is the largest (global) ecosystem on Earth.

The biosphere exists on the principle of circulation: practically without waste. Man uses the substance of the planet very inefficiently, generating a huge amount of waste - 98% of the natural resources used, and the resulting useful social product is no more than 2%. By polluting the biosphere, a person becomes a consumer of the most contaminated food products.

Moreover, substances have appeared that change the normal structure of genes - mutagens. Mutagenesis - changing genes under the influence of the environment - constantly occurs in every organism. This process in itself is natural, but in conditions of increasing environmental pollution it is out of the control of natural mechanisms, and the task of a person is to learn to manage his health in a real environment.

Types of biosphere pollution:

1. Ingredient pollution - the entry into the biosphere of substances that are quantitatively and qualitatively alien to it. Substances that pollute the biosphere can be gaseous and vaporous, liquid and solid.

2. Energy pollution - noise, heat, light, radiation, electromagnetic.

3. Disruptive pollution - deforestation, disruption of watercourses, quarrying of minerals, road construction, soil erosion, land drainage, urbanization (growth and development of cities) and others, that is, representing changes in landscapes and ecological systems as a result of the transformation of nature by man.

4. Biocenotic pollution - consisting of an impact on the composition, structure and type of population of living organisms.

Air pollution.

The atmosphere is the gaseous envelope of the Earth, consisting of a mixture of many gases and dust. Its mass is very small. However, the role of the atmosphere in all natural processes is enormous. Availability around globe The atmosphere determines the general thermal regime of the surface of our planet, protects it from cosmic radiation and ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. Atmospheric circulation influences local climatic conditions, and through them the processes of relief formation.

The current composition of the atmosphere is the result of a long historical development globe. Air consists by volume of nitrogen - 78.09%, oxygen - 20.95%, argon - 0.93%, carbon dioxide- 0.03%, neon - 0.0018% and other gases and water vapor.

Currently, human economic activity has a great influence on the composition of the atmosphere. A significant amount of impurities has appeared in the air of populated areas with developed industry. The main sources of air pollution include enterprises of the fuel and energy complex, transport, and industrial enterprises. They cause pollution of the natural environment with heavy metals. Lead, cadmium, mercury, copper, nickel, zinc, chromium, vanadium are almost permanent components of the air in industrial centers. A modern hydroelectric power station with a capacity of 24 million kW consumes up to 20 thousand tons of coal per day and emits 120-140 tons of solid particles (ash, dust, soot) into the atmosphere.

In the vicinity of a power plant that emits 280-360 tons of CO2 per day, the maximum concentrations on the leeward side at a distance of 200-500, 500-1000 and 1000-2000 m are 0.3-4.9, respectively; 0.7-5.5 and 0.22-2.8 mg/m2.

In total, industrial facilities in Russia emit about 25 million tons of pollutants into the atmosphere annually.

Currently, according to the data given in the comments to the Law of the Russian Federation “On Environmental Protection,” more than 70 million people breathe air that is five or more times higher than the maximum permissible pollution.

An increase in the number of cars, especially in major cities, leads to an increase in emissions of harmful products into the atmosphere. Motor vehicles are moving sources of pollution in residential areas and recreational areas. The use of leaded gasoline causes pollution atmospheric air toxic lead compounds. About 70% of lead added to gasoline with ethyl liquid enters the atmosphere in the form of compounds with exhaust gases, of which 30% settles on the ground immediately after the cut of the car's exhaust pipe, 40% remains in the atmosphere. One medium-duty truck emits 2.5 - 3 kg of lead per year.

More than 250 thousand tons of lead worldwide are emitted into the air annually through vehicle exhaust fumes, which account for up to 98% of the lead entering the atmosphere.

Cities with persistently elevated levels of air pollution include: Bratsk, Grozny, Yekaterinburg, Kemerovo, Kurgan, Lipetsk, Magnitogorsk, Novokuznetsk, Perm. Usolye-Sibirskoye, Khabarovsk, Chelyabinsk, Shelekhov, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

In cities, there is a certain connection between the dust content in the outdoor air and the air in the living spaces of modern city apartments. IN summer period year, at an average outside temperature of 20°C, more than 90% of chemicals from the outside air penetrate into residential premises, and in the transition period (at a temperature of 2 - 5°C) - 40%.

Soil pollution

The lithosphere is the upper solid shell of the Earth.

As a result of the interaction of geological, climatic, and biochemical factors, the upper thin layer of the lithosphere has turned into a special environment - soil, where a significant part of the metabolic processes between living and inanimate nature occurs.

As a result of unreasonable human economic activity, the fertile layer of soil is destroyed, it becomes polluted and its composition changes.

Significant land losses are associated with intensive human agricultural activities. Repeated plowing of land makes the soil defenseless against winds and spring floods, resulting in accelerated wind and water erosion of the soil and its salinization.

Due to wind and water erosion, salinization and other similar reasons, 5-7 million hectares of arable land are lost annually in the world. Only accelerated soil erosion over the last century on the planet has resulted in the loss of 2 billion hectares of fertile land.

The widespread use of fertilizers and chemical poisons to control pests and weeds predetermines the accumulation of substances unusual for it in the soil. Finally, huge areas of soil are destroyed during mining operations, during the construction of enterprises, cities, roads, and airfields.

One of the consequences of the increasing technogenic load is intensive contamination of the soil cover with metals and their compounds. IN surrounding a person About 4 million chemicals have been introduced into the environment. In the process of production activity, a person disperses concentrated earth's crust reserves of metals, which are then reaccumulated in the upper soil layer.

Every year, at least 4 km3 of rocks and ores are extracted from the bowels of the earth, with an increase of about 3% per year. If in ancient times a person used only 18 elements of the periodic table, to XVII century- 25, in the XVIII - 29, in the XIX - 62, then all elements known in the earth’s crust are currently used.

As measurements show, of all the metals classified as the first hazard class, soil contamination with lead and its compounds is the most widespread. It is known that during the smelting and refining of lead, for each ton produced, up to 25 kg of this metal is released into the environment.

Due to the fact that lead compounds are used as additives to gasoline, motor vehicles are perhaps the main source of lead pollution. Therefore, you cannot pick mushrooms, berries, apples and nuts along roads with heavy traffic.

Mining metallurgy enterprises, waste water from mines are the most widespread sources of soil contamination with copper. Soil contamination with zinc occurs from industrial dust, especially from mines, and through the use of superphosphate fertilizers, which contain zinc.

Radioactive elements can enter the soil and accumulate in it as a result of fallout from atomic explosions or during the disposal of liquid and solid radioactive waste from industrial enterprises and research institutions involved in the study and use of atomic energy. Radioactive isotopes from soils enter plants and animal and human organisms, accumulating in certain tissues and organs: strontium - 90 - in bones and teeth, cesium -137 - in muscles, iodine - 131 - in the thyroid gland.

In addition to industry and agriculture, residential buildings and household enterprises are sources of soil pollution. Here, among the pollutants, household waste, food waste, feces, construction waste, worn-out household items, and garbage thrown out by public institutions: hospitals, hotels, shops predominate.

Soil self-purification practically does not occur or occurs very slowly. Toxic substances accumulate, which contributes to a gradual change chemical composition soils, from where toxic substances can enter plants, animals, and people and cause undesirable consequences.