Water and Air Pollution: Analyzing Environmental Impact and Laws

This report examines the critical issue of water and air pollution, highlighting their significant impact on living organisms and the environment. It discusses the seasonal availability of water, the challenges posed by water pollution due to inadequate laws and policies, and the effects of waste disposal and oil spills on aquatic ecosystems. The study, conducted in an area surrounded by rivers, employs both primary data collected through interviews and secondary data from books and journals. It analyzes water samples, assesses water quality parameters like pH and chloride ion levels, and explores the health hazards associated with pollution, such as skin problems, gastric ulcers, and respiratory issues. The report emphasizes the increasing global demand for water and the importance of policies to control environmental pollution, revealing how neglected environmental acts contribute to higher pollution rates. It concludes by underscoring the essential role of water and air in sustaining life and the need for effective measures to address pollution.

RUNNING HEADER: Geography
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RUNNING HEADER: Geography
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Problem statement 2
Methodology 3
Results and discussion 4
References 5
Introduction
Generally, water and air has been identified as the key natural resources that are critical for
survival of all living organisms. Water helps in handling process such as food production and for
economic development for example using water as paean of transport. Today there are a lot
developments which have been facilitated by use of water. The production of food depends on
water while industrial process need a lot of water. This shows that water is essential part of
environment since it is applied in millions of functions.1The seasonal availability of water
determines the amount of water which is available for use by the organisms. In the research there
is discussion of water pollution, use of laws and regulations which controls the issue of water
pollution and discussion on the aspect of balance between economic and sustainability as
1
Gillespie,International environmental law, policy, and ethics,114.
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RUNNING HEADER: Geography
indicated on existing environmental laws .Pollution of water has become a huge challenge due to
lack of stimulated laws and policies governing the pollution of water masses. Generally,
speaking rivers, logons and streams are the sinks of waste. Also discharge of product remains as
well as oil spills are disposed in rivers thus affecting the life’s of aquatic ecosystem. The issue of
water pollution has been identified as environmental issue facing many areas in world. Most of
areas are experiencing the complications such as pollution and encroachment that has largely
resulted to suffocation of valuable lives.2
Therefore, the objective of the report is to analyses the following concepts;
To shows how different lives are affected by water pollution.
To analyses the economic sustainability and use of environmental policies to control the issue of
water pollution.3
Problem statement
The main environment problematic issues discussed in this research paper are air and water
pollution.
The methodology
2 Manou et al,Climate Change, Migration and Human Rights: Law and Policy Perspectives,517.
3 Nunan. Understanding poverty and the environment,111.
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RUNNING HEADER: Geography
The study was conducted in area surrounded by rivers. The data obtained from the area was
divided into two sections. The first part of data indicate the primary data which was collected
through interviewing of participants surrounding the water masses. The data indicated the
secondary data which involves the data that was collected form books, library, journal and other
topics relating to the research topic. In the study the primary data also indicate the sampling
methods and observation methods. 4The use of conservation method was to observe on the
physical conditions which revealed the effects of water and air pollution. In case of secondary
data also there was also use of maps. The following objectives were followed in order to collect
data in the study;
The primary data of the research was identified through observation process and this included
identification of the existing physical and environmental aspects regarding tow water and air
pollution.5
Secondary data was obtained from books and other environmental concepts which describe the
level of pollution on water masses.
4 Popovski, "‘Hard’and ‘soft’law on climate change,19-41.
5 Schmidtz,"Environmental ethics,220
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RUNNING HEADER: Geography
Water samples and images were collected from different parts and results were analyzed in
geographical laboratories.
The recent water surface quality data was collected to analyses the pollution and preventive
measures needed to control the ecosystem.
The total water quality and pollution loads were analyzed so as to present the water quality
scenario that analyzed the trend of water and air pollution as well as indication of the percentage
increase in pollution loading. Also, reports, thesis and expert opinions on water and air pollution
were also collected.
Interview on effects of water and air pollution to human beings were also used. The interviews
also contained the issue of balance on economic balance together with policies and laws to be
used to control the arte of pollution. 6The area revealed how environmental acts policies and laws
were neglected thus increased rates of water air pollution. The respondents were fisherman, the
boatmen, health workers and local people who gave different opinions on the concept of water
and air pollution.7
6 Weston, Burns and David Bollier. Green governance: ecological survival, human rights, and
the law of the commons,213.
7 Wilkinson, "Environmental Liability, 194-195.
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RUNNING HEADER: Geography
All the results obtained were handled by the computer software’s which helped in analyzing the
relevant variables indicting data on water and air pollution.
Sample collection
The surface water from the water bodies were collected from different areas .Use of water and
air quality parameters were used to monitor on the level of waste contained in the two
components. There was a proper sampling procedure that was adhered during the sample
collections.
Determination of water and air quality.
In order to determine the level of pollution, different aspects were analyzed. Some of the features
analyzed to determine the pollution level included; the pH, the color of the water, the hardness of
the water, the presence of chloride ions and also the level of carbon (IV) oxide.
The pH water was measured by use of pH meter that indicated readings on the screen used.
The color of the water was identified through the use of spectrophotometer which indicated the
values and the readings taken.8
Also water g=hardness was determined through titration process whereby different reagents were
used and the readings obtained.
The presence of chloride ions were finally obtained through the use of spectrophotometer and the
results obtained and presented systematically.
8Hilsenhoff,"An improved biotic index of organic stream pollution.7.
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RUNNING HEADER: Geography
In addition, the presence of carbon (IV) oxide was identified through the use of different reagents
such as the methyl orange which was added to the sample and the results recorded.
Results and discussion.
In this section the main issue was to discuss on the health hazards originating from water and air
pollution. The vision of the study was to measure the health constraints that has resulted from
disposal of industrial waste and the domestic waste into water bodies. Also, there was need to
know why environmental policies were not adhered when controlling water and air pollution.
The qualitative results shows that there is connection between wat9er and pollution and the health
hazards. Skin problems were identified as the key problems resulting from water and air
pollution. Different respondents revealed the skin diseases which they believed resulted from
water pollution. Also, some respondents indicated gastric ulcers and severe diarrhea which they
believed they were caused by contaminated water. In addition, there were respiratory problems
which originated from water and air pollution. The participants interviewed indicated that they
were highly affected by the asthma which results from use of contaminated water and air.
Generally, from the results it shows that survival of living organisms tend to depend on key
aspects such as water and air. Water is very important since it forms the basis of life .The
demand of water in the world has been increasing since 1900 due to increase of population
growth .Different meetings and policies have initiated to handle issues related to water
availability and aspects which controls the pollution of environment.10
9 Huang et al. "High secondary aerosol contribution to particulate pollution during haze events in
China. 218.
10 Hoek, et al,"Long-term air pollution exposure and cardio-respiratory mortality: a review.43.
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RUNNING HEADER: Geography
Different sources of water has been identified and defined by different authors. Almost all
authors have explained on the importance of water thus showing that water is a key element to
support life. The use of chemicals and other forms regarding to water and air pollution have been
identified .Most of areas which expect water and air pollution are always the urban centers. Most
of the urban centers need a lot of water as compared to rural areas.11 Also, in these urban areas
the rate of water and air pollution are high due to presence of industries and domestic effluents
Different authors have described the status of ground water in different water masses. The annual
requirement of water over the world is more than 7000 km3.This shows that water takes the large
part of the earth. The underground water originates through percolation of water which is
accelerated by the process of precipitation.
References
Gillespie, Alexander. International environmental law, policy, and ethics. OUP Oxford, 2014.
11 Kadlec, et al. Constructed wetlands for pollution control,317.
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RUNNING HEADER: Geography
Manou, Dimitra, Andrew Baldwin, Dug Cubie, Anja Mihr, and Teresa Thorp, eds. Climate
Change, Migration and Human Rights: Law and Policy Perspectives. Taylor & Francis, 2017.
Nunan, Fiona. Understanding poverty and the environment: Analytical frameworks and
approaches. Routledge, 2015.
Popovski, Vesselin. "‘Hard’and ‘soft’law on climate change: Comparing the 1997 Kyoto
Protocol with the 2015 Paris Agreement." In The Implementation of the Paris Agreement on
Climate Change, pp. 19-41. Routledge, 2018.
Schmidtz, David. "Environmental ethics: what really matters, what really works.(Book review)
no 5 (2012):201-234
Weston, Burns H., and David Bollier. Green governance: ecological survival, human rights, and
the law of the commons. Cambridge University Press, 2013.
Wilkinson, K. "International Environmental Law (book review)." Environmental Liability 19,
no. 5 (2005): 194-195.
Hilsenhoff, William L. "An improved biotic index of organic stream pollution." The Great Lakes
Entomologist 20, no. 1 (2017): 7.
Huang, Ru-Jin, Yanlin Zhang, Carlo Bozzetti, Kin-Fai Ho, Jun-Ji Cao, Yongming Han, Kaspar
R. Daellenbach et al. "High secondary aerosol contribution to particulate pollution during haze
events in China." Nature 514, no. 7521 (2014): 218
Hoek, Gerard, Ranjini M. Krishnan, Rob Beelen, Annette Peters, Bart Ostro, Bert Brunekreef,
and Joel D. Kaufman. "Long-term air pollution exposure and cardio-respiratory mortality: a
review." Environmental health 12, no. 1 (2013): 43.
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RUNNING HEADER: Geography
Kadlec, Robert H., R. Knight, J. Vymazal, H. Brix, P. Cooper, and R. Haberl. Constructed
wetlands for pollution control. IWA publishing, 2017.
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