[Free Report]: Eutrophicationby Alan Portocarrero | 12-07-2020 04:51 |
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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 |
