Our Polluted Planet

It has become evident over the last decades as there has been greater release of information and increasing transparency about previous production and licence that allows many avenues of chemical pollution to continue in our atmosphere, in our water, our food, in our earth and in the subtler toxic elements in the social environment of our times. Many of these factors are no longer an error of western civilization but are also being adopted in some of the less materialistic societies to their future detriment, both physical and spiritual.
The analogy that compared humanity as lemmings hastening to the cliff edge would seem appropriate unless two positive motivations result in changes of action. These involve cessation of the production or creation of the chemical toxic pollutants in our human world and lifestyles and a similar cleansing in our minds and consciousness where thought is the prime mover.
There are many constructive and often isolated efforts to correct any one negative factor that becomes public knowledge. This will usually evoke a counter action from those who are focussed upon the material environment and alert to the danger threatening the quality of our natural elements. But like the hydra-headed monster, cut off one evil and another does seem to sprout immediately until the overall task to 'clean up our environment' can seem impossible. Impossible it is, until the cause is dealt with.
So far the industrialized countries have no obvious will to do this. Environmental toxic elements that are harming us continue to do so until the instruments in our governments find the moral backbone to take severe action to redress severe problems. This is apparently difficult to do in our modern system where the minds of our leaders are polluted by tangled persuasions and interests involving the dollar but forgetful of ramifications that may disallow health and therefore happiness of the people. No longer is this the top priority.
Any effort to purify the physical environment once polluted or poisoned is commendable but is far more difficult than preserving purity and quality. Seeking quality without correcting the injection or source of poisoning is an unreasonable project that has no end.
We need reason to prevail if we are to truly advance beyond technological skills to greater satisfaction of our souls and be able to look to true advancement in the coming decades as we anticipate mankind's coming of age in the twenty first century.
Intelligently correcting the present acknowledged wrongs requires action on many fronts. A few of these are obviously top of the list regarding chemicals and would involve.... strict control of all industrial chemicals to minimize usage; continued phasing out of chemicals use in agriculture; total ban on use of chemicals used in preparation and presentation of food for market or for consumers; total ban on chemicals that have a history of mis-use and are proven to be a causative factor in cancer and other diseases.
Industrial pollution is complex in the issues and in the matters of control but begins with a general reconsideration about possible new methods of manufacture or return to simpler principles. All release of toxic gases and fumes into our air remains a known cause of our major diseases.
Other pollutants involve our water quality with toxic material entering our groundwater from various sources including deliberate injection of chemicals into our water such as chlorine, fluoride and others in attempts to neutralize negative bacterial threats and diseases.
The soil of our Earth planet was once perceived as 'our Mother Earth' is now suffering long drawn out illness arising from our disrespect and the many, many habits that continue to offend our relationship with our material home element that sustains our lives. Should we continue to deposit our wastes from homes, hospitals and industries this way?
Then we have noise pollution and visual pollution, both of which received passing acknowledgment before legislation was made impotent by agencies reluctant to exert control of the negative elements involved. So our permissive governments are disallowing us in some measure the enjoyment of peace, quiet and beauty. Without these tonics for the soul there can be little harmonious relationship with the natural world.
But what about other factors such as radon, a radiation that is directly responsible for killing thousands each year with its invisible negative influence - a gas that is difficult to detect by our senses but that is carcinogenic and along with smoking, a cause of much lung cancer.
Traffic fumes join the accumulating toxins in our atmosphere and are increasing each year as millions of new vehicles appear on the roads. They are directly responsible for various symptoms of ill health including cancer.
And recently Propylene Glycol, (PG) a colourless chemical used in a great many food products, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals as a solvent is under scrutiny.
Present warnings about Bisphenol A, (BPA) another controversial chemical ingredient in the manufacture of milk bottles for infants and other general drink containers is a cause for real concern for both infant health and adults. It is shown to leaches into the liquid and is capable of deranging the endocrine system and our hormones.
And we have not touched yet upon Noise Pollution - and the damage done by amplified sound that not only affects our delicate hearing sense but damages our brains; and the radiation problem associated with mobile phones or cell phones suspected as a factor in brain tumours and other nerve problems that are predicted to increase in the community in the years ahead.
We have really polluted our planet in futile attempts to seek 'newer' and ever promising material rewards. This prevailing attitude has led us to an impasse that equally promises us self destruction if we do not cease our addictions - to our own greed for the new and exciting - to chemical drugs both medicinal and 'recreational' - to discordant sounds - to ugliness, to violence - to material wealth.
We must seek answers that will sustain our lives with body and soul intact and these answers were known thousands of years ago as we know them today.
All that we do requires us to be living in harmony within us and with nature if we wish to recreate a society composed of the finest energies and thoughts of human intelligence.

Aromatherapy or the science of Osmics is proving immensely popular when applied in self help or in professional healing. It is a delightful way to employ natural perfumes to assist mood and mind states and is particularly helpful as an adjunct to relaxation techniques and stress relief. Sally Wilson is an expert in aromatics and author of one of the earliest publications on the subject, directing its use in incense and in healing and has utilized the subtle benefits in her naturopathic practice over many years.
More details at associated sites...
http://www.essence-of-yoga.net
http://www.breathing-fragrance.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sally_Wilson

Uses of Varieties of Industrial Ovens

A lot of people are surprised to learn that industrial ovens aren't large ovens found in large kitchens. In fact, they have little if anything to do with kitchens. This small explanation is usually enough to completely turn a person's world upside-down, but what about the question: what, then, do these ovens do? The answer to that might astound them even more, once they realize that without the use of an industrial oven, they would not have much of what is familiar to them today.

There are a variety of different kinds of ovens: regenerative thermal oxidizers, stress relieving ovens, heat recovery systems, and many more. Some of these are used to ensure the quality of a product and ensure that the product will retain its integrity. Some are used to ensure that no pollutants are released into the atmosphere. Some use the heat and energy made by a factory or plant in a productive way. Sometimes the use of these ovens ensures the safety of a factory or plant.

Without industrial ovens, factories would still be producing nothing but toxic chemicals and subpar products. Your air would be dirtier, your factory-produced items would be of lower quality and your friends and relatives working in factories or plants would be in greater danger.

But more precisely, what do things like stress relieving ovens and their cousins do? How do we experience them on a day-to-day basis? Do you have any factory-made glass items? Those were heated using an industrial oven. What about a car? The paint on it was dried using an industrial oven. Have you even taken medication before? The ingredients in medicines are dried using these ovens. The quality of the parts of your car is assured by a stress relief oven.

Although these are sometimes used in food processing (for drying raw materials, for example), they do not have much to do with and are not found in a kitchen. As with many things, industrial ovens influence our day-to-day lives in strange ways - in some ways, their influence seems obvious and in others we may never have guessed it. It may seem odd to think of it, but as you see more and more ways that these ovens have factored into your life and have helped shape some of the things you take for granted, take a moment and thank the unsung hero: the industrial oven manufacturer.

For more information:
Industrial Ovens

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ethan_Smith_Morgan

What is Groundwater Pollution?

Groundwater forms that part of the natural water cycle present within the underground strata or aquifers. Of the global quantity of available fresh water, more than 98 percent is groundwater stored in the pores and fractures of rock strata. Ground water is also an important source for industry and agriculture as well as for sustaining rivers experiencing low flows. A reduction in either quantity or quality of the discharging groundwater can significantly influence surface-water quality; surface water and groundwater are therefore intimately connected.

Groundwater pollution refers to the introduction of chemical materials into the groundwater which alters the quality of the water and makes it unfit for consumptions and or other uses. The threat of groundwater pollution is on the increase because of the many synthetic products and materials being used today.
Groundwater is about the purest source of untreated table water as a result of the natural filtration the water undergoes before it gets to the aquifer in the course of the water cycle. Unlike the open water sources (rivers, rainfall, stream, etc), groundwater is hardy contaminated. Also with the increasing pressure on other surface water sources, groundwater might obviously become the bailout for the ever increasing demand on the global freshwater. Many regions of the world are already finding succour in groundwater sources. So its pollution would seriously affect the a good proportion of human race.

If groundwater becomes polluted it is difficult if not impossible to rehabilitate. The slow rate of groundwater flow and low microbiological activities limit any self-purification processes which takes place in days or weeks in surface water systems can take decades in groundwater.

Click here [http://environmenthighlight.com/pollution/sources-and-causes-of-groundwater-pollution/] to read on groundwater pollution.

Fortune Ihunweze is a professional Environmental Resources Manager with a passion for the environment. His views and articles on the environment are shared is his website; [http://www.environmenthighlight.com].

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fortune_Ihunweze

Quiet Please! Noise Pollution And Your Health

How does noise pollution affect your health and the health of your loved ones? This article will explain a few of the causes of noise pollution, the resulting health effects that can occur, as well as steps you can take to eliminate some of the risks involved with noise pollution.

What are some of the causes of noise pollution in your neighborhood? Here are some that come to mind: cars, busses, trucks, airplanes, motorcycles, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, hair dryers, vacuums, sirens, dishwashers, washing machines, clothes dryers, barking dogs, loud voices, air conditioners, construction sites, loud music and TV's. The list can go on and on. What effect does this have on your health and the health of those you love?

The health effects are numerous. Noise pollution can cause an increase in stress levels, as well as a rise in blood pressure over an extended period of time. Noise related hearing loss and tinnitus can occur as well, leading to life-long hearing problems. Sleep can be interrupted also when there are loud or annoying sounds during your sleeping hours, which in turn can affect your work and home life from a lack of sleep.

What steps can be taken to eliminate some of the risks involved with noise pollution? Whenever possible close the windows, either of your car or home in order to block out some of the noise. Buy a quieter hair dryer and vacuum. Turn the radio and TV down. If you own a dog, try to keep the dog from barking too much, it will be good for you and please the neighbors as well. When possible, try to find time during the day for a quiet break. Give yourself a timeout, and sit in peace and quiet even if only for a few minutes. It will refresh you!

The best solution that can help with most noise pollution situations is ear plugs. They even have a children's size so you can protect your little ones at the start of their life, and get them in the habit of protecting their hearing. Get the kind that block out the maximum level of sound, and use them when practical. This might be during a concert, fireworks display, sporting event, as well as at bed time to drown out the snoring or other noise annoyance that keeps you from a good nights sleep. You will still be able to hear but it will sound much quieter.

Your hearing and that of your loved ones is worth the effort in taking these small steps to improve your well-being from the effects of noise pollution.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joanne_Eberts

Erosion or Rainwater Pollution - Which Comes First?

Over the past century, runaway development has paved over forests, fields and wetlands across the country. Along with urbanization has come the problem of "urban stormwater" - rainwater that washes over dirty surfaces such as roads, buildings and lawns and becomes a major source of pollution in rivers, lakes and bays. While much has been achieved in the past 30 years to limit pollution from easily identifiable sources, such as watersheds, efforts to control pollution from these diffuse sources are still in their infancy. Although the Clean Water Act mandates stormwater control, local governments have been slow to respond.
This report, however, focuses on runoff pollution from developed areas, which occurs when stormwater carries away a wide variety of contaminants as it runs across rooftops, roads, parking lots, baseball diamonds, construction sites, golf courses , lawns, and other surfaces in our cities and suburbs. The oily sheen on rainwater in roadside gutters is but one common example of urban runoff pollution.
Nationwide, sediment is a leading pollutant of our waterways.

Rainwater that washes over roads, buildings and lawns carries pollution into oceans, rivers and lakes. Impervious surfaces increased 41 percent during the 1990s compared to an 8-percent increase in population. The rate of increase of impervious surface implies there will be more rapid delivery of nutrients to streams and an increase in sediment erosion.

Recovery of the Chesapeake Bay
Federal rules force constructors and contractors disturbing an acre or more of land during any type of construction project to develop a plan for preventing erosion and controlling sediment at the construction site.

One solution is to use porous materials and systems that allow stormwater to be filtered by the soil. Instead of solid materials, paving can be designed to allow water to flow through into the soil. Catch basins for stormwater are now recognized as an effective method to minimize pollution. One suggestion is to direct residential drain pipes to empty into the yard rather than a ditch. Individuals can help limit pollution by being careful with fertilizers and chemicals.

Stormwater runoff and non-point source pollution are the number one threat to water quality. Stormwater pollutes sensitive trout streams with sediment, pesticides, fertilizers, and causes erosion, flooding, and loss of habitat.

"Storm water can be controlled at its source" by "something as simple as planting trees," using more sensible tree pit design and installing green roofs that collect storm water. Storm water can also be naturally absorbed through vegetation, green areas and impervious surfaces, the councilman said.

"But, it's what's underneath the ground - a natural filtration system - that really makes the bioretention systems work. The vegetation and soils remove pollutants from the stormwater, such as nutrients, suspended solids, salt, and petroleum byproducts. The goal is to reduce flooding by slowing the flow and to have cleaner stormwater throughout the James Brook/Jacob's Meadow watershed, which flows directly into the harbor"
Development on forested steep slopes causes massive erosion, sedimentation of streams and wetlands, downstream flooding,and destruction of prime habita.

Landowners with property along streams, wetlands and moist bottomlands are encouraged to protect these riparian areas by planting trees that will create buffer zones, prevent soil erosion and attract wildlife.

Citizens can make a difference by removing from their private property invasive plant species that contribute to poor water filtering and soil erosion, and planting native trees and shrubbery that increase absorption of rainwater and improve water filtering efficiency.

By adopting 'green infrastructure' solutions, such as green roofs, permeable pavement, wetland restoration, and smarter design of street tree plantings, stormwater can be captured where it falls and used to green the city. It introduces benchmark environmental indicators as well as 80 specific measures, to capture hard data which will be used to build up a clear picture of trends and pressures over time.

The problem extends beyond neighborhood water runoff. Fertilizer runoff into the Mississippi River is blamed for the dead zone that occurs in the Gulf of Mexico. The same problem occurs from residential areas where lawn fertilizer finds its way into the waterways. Additionally, chemicals, human and animal waste wash into our water systems.

The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a voluntary land retirement program that helps farmers and other agricultural producers protect environmentally sensitive land, decrease erosion, restore wildlife habitat, and safeguard ground and surface water.

Contaminated runoff from freeways is the largest and most polluted part of overall stormwater runoff.
Caltrans will start cleaning up the runoff using a variety of innovative solutions to capture the mess before it reaches the beach.

Cleanup options include sand traps, catch basins and new porous pavement surfaces that catch polluted runoff and absorb the contaminants.

Polluted runoff is the number one water pollution problem in America, Caltrans deserves credit for blazing a pathway that other agencies and cities should now follow.
 Action is well overdue to address our deteriorating water quality.

http://www.erosioncontrolforum.com clearly identifies the decline in water quality in areas dominated by agricultural and urban land use, and offers solutions to these troubling trends. Both agriculture and local bodies must add more action to their rhetoric. It will be sad if agriculture uses urban water quality results as pretext for inaction. While the median bacteria count in urban streams is higher than the median count on rural steams, the worst rural waterways are far, far worse than the worst urban stream.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Henry_Clark