[Free Report]: Eutrophication

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[Free Report]: Eutrophication
by Alan Portocarrero \| 12-07-2020 04:51 1
Hello Eco Tunza member, Yesterday I was reading about an interesting topic about nature. Then, I found it something I can really share with you. It was about eutrophication. What is it? Is it beneficial or disadvantageous for the environment? What impact does it have on society? What is human doing with respect to eutrophication? In this article I am going to outline all about the process of Eutrophication. Eutrophication may occur both natural and because of human activity. It is an addition of “nutrients from decomposing biomass and run-off from surrounding areas”[1]. In other words, it is a process where natural and artificial substances, are added to the body of water, particularly nitrates and phosphates. For example, by a natural way we can find decomposition and manure, which are straightly carried to water through run-off. On the other hand, eutrophication is caused due to human activity too. Take the case of , “Nitrogen compounds produced by cars and factories; Inorganic fertilizer run-off (nitrates and phosphates) and Nitrogen oxides from internal combustion engines and furnace”[2], which go straightly to water, anyway. On the other hand, when a lake is in the process of eutrophication, algae increases. Then we can analyse that when all these autotrophs are discomposed, it leads to further nutrients in the area[3]. This is an example of positive feedback. Besides, when there is an huge amount of algae, light from the surface is going to give up the growth of others plants and as a result they die and there will be more nutrients to the system. Notwithstanding, a negative feedback also happens. Because, “the increase in nutrients promotes the growth of plants that store the nutrients in biomass. This increase the biological oxygen demand and so many organisms die ”[4]. Therefore, for the environment it has both positive and negative feedbacks. Likewise, it affects to our society. The impact is mainly financial. For example, “the cost of treating nitrate-enriched water is expensive. In the UK, it costs between £50 million and £300 million to treat nitrate-enriched water each year”[5]. Likewise, it impacts to our health, due to, being exposed to nitrated-enriched water can cause stomach cancer and baby syndrome (methaemoglobinaemia – not enough oxygen in pregnant women’s blood)[6]. Therefore, it has huge consequences to our lives. However, What can we do to manage this issue? . well, we could approach three pollution- management strategies: first, altering the human activity that produces pollution; second, regulating and reducing pollutants at the point of emission and third, is clean-up and restoration after pollution[7]. There is a plenty way of reaching the first strategy, for example we can use fewer chemical fertilizer, use less fertilizer if the previous year was dry as more will be left in the soil and use mixed cropping or crop rotation so fewer fertilizers are needed[8]. Regarding to the second, we can only use washing machines with a full load of washing and use zero- or low-phosphorus detergents[9]. The same way, we can say about the third strategy, pumping air through lakes to increase oxygen levels and using a solution of aluminium or ferrous salt to precipitate phosphates. This way, we can add some solution for some eutrophication problems. Summing up, through this article we learnt about eutrophication and how it affects to environment and society. Consequently, were added some possible solution for treating the effects rather than altering behaviours and causes of pollution. I hope this report, was interesting for you too. Reference: Davis,A.(2013). Environmental Systems and Societies. Edinburgh Gate,England:Pearson [1] Davis,A.(2013). Environmental Systems and Societies. Edinburgh Gate,England:Pearson, P.179 [2] Ibidem [3] Idem, P.180 [4] Ibidem [5] Idem, P.181 [6] Ibidem [7] Idem, P.182 [8] Ibidem 9. Idem,P.183

Dormant user Alan Portocarrero

6 Comments

Ilona Poplavskaya says :
Hello ! thank you very much for such interesting information. excellent report. keep writing. with best wishes, Ilona Poplavskaya
Posted 21-07-2020 22:53

Sang Su Mentor says :
Hi Alan Portocarrero, this is a mentor, Sang Su Lee.

I did not know that eutrophication can cause cancer to human bodies when the situation is quite severe. I also was surprised to see the financial cost to treat water with full of nitrogen. Of course, the nature tends to maintain balances, but like Le Chatelier's principle, equilibrium can be broken when so many pollutants are added to the water.

Thank you for writing the interesting article.

Green cheers~
Posted 21-07-2020 01:00

Bal krishna Pandey says :
Hello Alan,
Thank you very much for introducing such an interesting topic. I got a chance to know about the positive and negative effects of eutrophication on environment.
Thank you once again.
stay safe
green cheers~
Posted 14-07-2020 23:21

Taehyun Mentor says :
Hello Alan Portocarrero, this is mentor Taehyun!

Thank you for your article on Eutrophication! This shows that the ecosystem is maintained at all times through feedback similar to our bodies. It's like a pond that balances the flow of fresh water, which is full of nutrients, with the escaping water. The content of the report was very interesting, but the document seems to be related only to fresh water. What happens in the sea? What if seawater contains excessive nutrients? This will also be interesting.

Thank you for the report!

Green cheers!
Posted 14-07-2020 03:13

Kushal Naharki

Kushal Naharki says :
Hello Alan

Greetings ana Namaste from Nepal
Wishing you a safe stay
Thank you for your report on Eutrophication

Keep writing great reports.
We are eager to read more reports from you.
Green Cheers :)

Best wishes,
Kushal Naharki

Posted 13-07-2020 00:00