Hwa Chong Institution
Integrated Humanities 2014 – Sec 2 Geography
Topic: Pollution
Handout 6: Pollution
Name: …………………………………………(
)
Date: ………………
Class: ……………
Sections
1. Prelude
2. Causes and Consequences of different types of pollution
a. Air
b. Water
c. Land
3. Responses to pollution (general)
a. International efforts
b. National efforts
c. Individual efforts
Prelude
Read this set of handouts together with your textbook for a complete understanding of
the topics. Due to time constraints, I haven’t been able to include many examples and
case studies here, so you may need to find them out yourselves for a fuller
understanding of the issues at hand.
Causes and Consequences of different types of pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the environment causing negative and
damaging effects on its inhabitants.
Air pollution occurs when pollutants are released into the atmosphere. Pollutants like
ash, dust and smoke combine with water vapour in the air to form smog. Air pollution
can be an international problem as winds carry these gases from their sources to nearby
countries.
1. Causes of air pollution
a. [Industry] The burning of fossil fuels by industries to produce energy can
result in air pollution  Soot and sulphur dioxide are two examples of gases
that can be released by industries as a by-product of manufacturing
industries.
b. [Motor vehicles] Major cities that have a very concentration of motorists
may suffer from air pollution as a result of carbon emissions from motor
vehicles  Carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides can be produced as byproducts of fuel combustion.
c. [Volcanic eruptions] Natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions can also
contribute to air pollution  large amounts of volcanic ash and smoke is
spewed into the surroundings upon a volcanic eruption.
d. [Forest fires] Forest fires, be it occurring naturally or as a result of man’s
activities, can also result in air pollution  burning large tracts of forests
release high amounts of carbon pollutants into the atmosphere.
2. Consequences of air pollution
a. [Respiratory problems] Pollutants in the air may trigger respiratory
problems  people who suffer from asthma or bronchitis may experience
difficulties breathing when exposed to pollutants, which poses a health threat
for them.
b. [Traffic danger] When a high concentration of pollutants is present in the
air, the traffic visibility of an area may be worsened due to the thick smog 
this poses a traffic hazard for motorists and pedestrians alike.
c. [Acid rain] High levels of air pollutants may result in acid rain, as toxic gases
dissolve in clouds to form acid rain  acid rain can severely damage
underwater eco-systems by altering the acidity level of water bodies.
Water pollution occurs naturally when pollutants on land are blown by wind or
washed by rain into water bodies. It can also occur as a result of man’s activities, when
pollutants are discharged indiscriminately into water bodies.
3. Causes of water pollution
a. [Oil spills] Oil spills such as the BP Deepwater Horizon accident in 2011 and
Exxon Valdez incident in 1989 can result in water pollution  huge amounts
of crude oil are released into the sea as a result of accidents or leakage from
oilrigs.
b. [Sewage] The indiscriminate dumping of untreated sewage into water bodies
can also result in water pollution  this happens when toxic chemicals (think
of Russia’s nuclear swimming pool, Lake Karachay) or man’s waste (think of
Indonesia’s Citarum River) are dumped into water bodies.
c. [Soil erosion] Natural causes of water pollution include soil erosion  when
loose soil is washed into water bodies, it makes the water undrinkable and
unfit for daily use.
4. Consequences of water pollution
a. [Destroying aquatic habitats] When contaminants are released into water
bodies, aquatic habitats are destroyed  oil spills create layers of oil on the
water’s surface, which deprive aquatic plants of sunlight that is crucial for
photosynthesis. Moreover, chemical sewages may encourage the growth of
algae, which also prevents sunlight from reaching aquatic plants.
b. [High cost of cleaning up] When water is polluted by contaminants, there is
a very high cost incurred from cleaning it up  in the Exxon Valdez oil spill
incident, it took a total of $2.1 billion, 10 000 workers and four years to
complete the cleanup.
c. [Livelihoods of fishermen] When there is widespread water pollution, the
livelihoods of fishermen may be affected  the waters may be too polluted to
fish in, or the fishes caught from such water bodies may be unsafe for sale
and consumption.
Land pollution occurs when waste is disposed of improperly on land, or if excessive
chemicals are used on farms or mines.
5. Causes of land pollution
a. [Domestic waste] When domestic waste such as plastic bags are improperly
disposed of, land pollution can result  much of this waste is nonbiodegradable and it will remain on the land if it isn’t cleared up. It happens
because there are insufficient waste treatment facilities in an area.
b. [Mining] The large amounts of chemicals used in mining process may also
contaminate the soil  chemicals are often used in mines to soften rocks for
easier extraction. If left untreated, these chemicals may make the land barren.
c. [Agriculture] Soil can be contaminated when farmers use excessive amounts
of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.  this can make the soil unsuitable for
cultivation in the future.
6. Consequences of land pollution
a. [Environmental eyesore] Land pollution can make an area an eyesore, as
piles of rubbish are unsightly and its pungent odors can lessen the quality of
life in an area.
b. [Contaminating groundwater] Land pollution may cause health hazards
when chemicals on land contaminate groundwater  when water carry
dissolved chemicals into deep underground, it can contaminate groundwater
bodies that people use for drinking and other daily purposes.
c. [Poisoning wildlife] When birds and other creatures eat vegetation that is
treated with excessive chemical fertilizers, they may become poisoned as a
result  birds’ eggs may become more brittle than before, thus threatening
the continuation of certain species.
Responses to pollution (general)
1. International Efforts
a. As pollution can spread over national boundaries, it is important for
countries to work together to combat pollution. This is because the scale of
such pollution as haze and oil spills may be too massive for any one country
to tackle effectively.
b. [Example] One such example of international efforts is the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) that was established in 1972 to review the
global environment and encourage non-pollutive and sustainable
development. On a smaller scale, there are also agreements made between
Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia to monitor ships passing through the
Straits of Malacca to minimize sea pollution.
c. [Benefits] International efforts are highly beneficial as countries may not
have jurisdiction (authority) to police pollution that falls out of their
boundaries. Moreover, international agreements are needed to coordinate
individual countries’ efforts. Pollution contributes to problems on a global
scale, such as global warming. Therefore, all countries need to play a
proportionate role in combating such problems.
d. [Limitations] However, uncooperative countries may prevent international
efforts from proceeding smoothly – in the 2009 Copenhagen Summit,
developing countries such as China effectively stalled attempts to reduce
carbon emissions. In addition, the large-scale coordination needed to bring
world leaders together requires a significant amount of time and costs.
2. National Efforts
a. National efforts can also be constitute an effective set of measures to target
pollution. Governments have both the responsibility and authority to regulate
the extent of pollution that occurs in their countries.
b. [Examples] Examples of such policies can include regulations. In Singapore,
the National Environmental Agency (NEA) sets limits on the amount of
carbon emissions on vehicles, industries and construction sites. Moreover,
countries can combat land pollution by developing proper waste disposal
methods. In Singapore, the Pulau Semakau Landfill was developed to dispose
of waste in a controlled environment. Lastly, countries can also educate the
public on the importance of reducing pollution through campaigns. In
Singapore, the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Movement is often taught at the
primary school level.
c. [Benefits] The benefit of a national approach is the efficiency of governments
to set clear directions for the masses. Governments can use a wide array of
media channels to articulate a clear series of steps to combat pollution, which
will reach the masses effectively. In Singapore, print, TV, and radio
commercials are often run by the NEA to encourage green practices.
d. [Limitations] However, such policies may represent a strain on the
government budget, as money is needed to finance educational campaigns
and the implementation of policies. Moreover, governments often face a
trade-off between economic growth and environmental protection; excessive
focus on environmental protection may hamper economic performance as
industry incurs higher costs by using more expensive, greener energy.
3. Individual Measures
a. Individual measures are an effective solution to combat pollution. Such
measures refer to individuals practicing environmentally friendly habits on a
daily basis.
b. [Example] A prime example would be in transportation – more people could
choose to use public transport instead of driving. This would reduce pollution
as less carbon emissions are produced as a result of fewer cars on the road.
Moreover, people could switch off lights and air-conditioning when they are
not in use, or adopt energy-efficient devices to reduce energy consumption.
Lastly, people could actively practice the 3R’s in their daily lives by reusing
plastic bags multiple times, or by recycling waste.
c. [Benefit] The benefit of individual efforts is that once adopted, such lifestyle
changes tend to be permanent, and it reduces pollution for long periods of
time. Moreover, large amounts of money can be saved from the need to clean
up pollutants, such as smog or excessive chemicals in farmland.
d. [Limitations] However, individual measures may suffer from several
limitations. People may not be willing to adopt green practices that are
inconvenient – sorting garbage into its component materials may be a step
that most people find unnecessary and time-consuming. Moreover, individual
measures may be insignificant in controlling large contributors to pollution:
industry’s use of fossil fuels and deforestation constitute two of the largest
sources of pollution, which individuals may have little control over on a daily
basis. Governments and international bodies may be more effective in this
regard.
Exam note: As you may have noticed, the handout has been quite sparse on examples – this is
because I wanted to give you just enough to do the exam, and not too much such that you’d
feel overwhelmed. Read the textbook for a more complete understanding of different
examples of methods to combat pollution.
Sources Cited:

Earth, Our Home, Guidebook. Secondary 2. Marshall Cavendish, 2nd ed.