How do people endanger nature?
that your everyday life has an impact on nature;
how to improve waste segregation;
how does a plant grow.
to indicate the source of environment pollution;
how does acid rain arise and how does it affect the environment.
Air pollution
We often hear that the air in the mountains or in the forest is healthier than in big city centres, because it is cleaner. Why is that? Look at the picture below and find sources of air pollution.
Air contains not only oxygen that we need, but also harmful substances, e.g. gases from car fumes. There are some sources of pollution in the countryside as well, but not as many of them as in cities. Air pollution is very dangerous to our health, because during breathing we inhale many toxic substances into our lungs. Those substances are harmful not only to us, but also to animals and plants. They may cause withering of leaves or stem damage in plants. Air pollutants get inside living organisms via different routes causing diseases.
Sometimes the air that people breathe is full of tiny particles of dust. This is the case, for example, in a mine or in various industrial plants, as well as in their vicinity. Dust particles that we inhale settle in the lungs. Long‑term breathing with such dusty air leads to a dangerous disease called pneumoconiosispneumoconiosis .
Water pollution
Even though we need water so much, people pollute it by, for example, dumping sewage into rivers. This causes organisms in rivers to die. Harmful substances in water get into their bodies and poison them, causing diseases and death. Also, air pollutants may travel with rain or snow into water that is present in soil, rivers and lakes.
Soil pollution
Polluted water may get into soil together with substances dissolved in it. Such substances may be taken up by plants, causing damage and even death. One of the sources of soil pollution is waste we throw away. Substances in waste gradually penetrate the soil. Used batteries, paint and oils are particularly harmful, because they contain large quantities of toxic compounds. Another source of soil pollution is excessive use of chemical fertilisers. Soil pollution is also bad for us. When we eat fruits and vegetables from poisoned soils, we transfer toxic substances into our bodies. Pollution from soil may penetrate the underground water – we may then consume it with water from wells or special intake points in cities.
Acid rain
One of the consequences of air pollution is acid rainacid rain. For example, when coal or other fuels are burned, a chemical compound called sulphursulphur dioxide is released into the atmosphere. This compound reacts with water forming sulphuric acid, a corrosive substancecorrosive substance. Corrosive means that it damages surfaces it gets in contact with. Sulphuric acid falls together with water in the form of acid rain. When it falls on plants, it damages them and may even lead to plant death; it may also damage monuments and buildings. Acidic water may get into rivers and lakes directly from rainfall or with underground water. This may cause the death of plants and animals, such as fish that live there.
Knowing the influence of table salt on plant development, think about the validity of using road salt for snow removal from streets. Justify your answer.
Film dostępny na portalu epodreczniki.pl
Film przedstawiający żywotność gałązki świerku przechowywanej w warunkach domowych. Na dno dwóch szalek Petriego dano płatki kosmetyczne. Jeden nasączono wodą, drugi roztworem kwasu siarkowego. Na każdy położono kilka igieł świerku. Po trzech dniach igły położone na płatku nasączonym wodą były zielone, zaś te na drugiej szalce zaczęły brązowieć.
Find out how you can reduce the occurrence of acid rain.
Exercises
The sources of air pollution are:
- plant protection products
- industry
- animals
- landfills
- transport
- forest fires
- municipal sewage
Match the pairs: English and Polish words
choroba płuc wywołana długotrwałym wdychaniem pyłu, jeden z pierwiastków charakteryzujący się żółtą barwą; wykorzystywany m.in. w produkcji zapałek i gumy, żrący deszcz powstały przez połączenie wody i różnych związków chemicznych, np. dwutlenku siarki, substancja niszcząca inne materiały przy bezpośrednim zetknięciu z nimi
| acid rain | |
| pneumoconiosis | |
| sulphur | |
| corrosive substance |
Indicate which sentences are true and which are false.
| True | False | |
| An industrial plant that pollutes the air only affects its immediate surroundings. | □ | □ |
| Acid rain is a type of rain with which caustic substances fall to the ground. | □ | □ |
| Sulfuric acid damages the surfaces it comes in contact with. | □ | □ |
| Acid rain can cause serious wounds. | □ | □ |
Summary
The main sources of air pollution are industrial plants, furnaces in houses and car exhausts fumes.
Sources of soil contamination include, for example, water that contains harmful substances and waste.
Air pollutants get into water and soil, causing, for example, damage and death of plants and animal poisoning.
Sulfur dioxide originating, among others, from the combustion of polluted coal causes the formation of acid rain.
Keywords
environmental pollution, acid rain, corrosive substance
Glossary
kwaśny deszcz – żrący deszcz powstały przez połączenie wody i różnych związków chemicznych, np. dwutlenku siarki
pylica – choroba płuc wywołana długotrwałym wdychaniem pyłu
siarka – jeden z pierwiastków charakteryzujący się żółtą barwą; wykorzystywany m.in. w produkcji zapałek i gumy
substancja żrąca – substancja niszcząca inne materiały przy bezpośrednim zetknięciu z nimi