Describe the main causes of air pollution. Air pollution problem

Pollution of atmospheric air with various harmful substances leads to the occurrence of diseases of human organs and, above all, respiratory organs.

The atmosphere always contains a certain amount of impurities coming from natural and anthropogenic sources. Among the impurities emitted by natural sources include: dust (vegetable, volcanic, cosmic origin; caused by soil erosion, particles of sea salt), smoke, gases from forest and steppe fires and volcanic origin. Natural sources of pollution are either distributed, for example, cosmic dust fallout, or short-term, spontaneous, for example, forest and steppe fires, volcanic eruptions, etc. The level of atmospheric pollution by natural sources is background and changes little over time.

The main anthropogenic pollution of atmospheric air is created by enterprises of a number of industries, transport and thermal power engineering.

The most common toxic substances polluting the atmosphere are: carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (S0 2), nitrogen oxides (No x), hydrocarbons (C P H t) and solids (dust).

In addition to CO, S0 2 , NO x , C n H m and dust, other, more toxic substances are emitted into the atmosphere: fluorine compounds, chlorine, lead, mercury, benzo (a) pyrene. Ventilation emissions from the electronics industry plant contain vapors of hydrofluoric, sulfuric, chromic and other mineral acids, organic solvents, etc. Currently, there are more than 500 harmful substances polluting the atmosphere, and their number is increasing. Emissions toxic substances into the atmosphere lead, as a rule, to the excess of the current concentrations of substances over the maximum allowable concentrations.

High concentrations of impurities and their migration in the atmospheric air lead to the formation of secondary, more toxic compounds (smog, acids) or to phenomena such as the "greenhouse effect" and the destruction of the ozone layer.

Smog- severe air pollution observed in large cities and industrial centers. There are two types of smog:

Dense fog with an admixture of smoke or gas production waste;

Photochemical smog - a veil of corrosive gases and aerosols of high concentration (without fog), resulting from a photo chemical reactions in gas emissions Under the influence ultraviolet radiation Sun.

Smog reduces visibility, increases the corrosion of metal and structures, adversely affects health and is the cause of increased morbidity and mortality.

acid rain known for over 100 years, however, the problem acid rain have begun to receive due attention relatively recently. The expression "acid rain" was first used by Robert Angus Smith (Great Britain) in 1872.

Essentially, acid rain results from the chemical and physical transformations of sulfur and nitrogen compounds in the atmosphere. The end result of these chemical transformations is, respectively, sulfuric (H 2 S0 4) and nitric (HN0 3) acid. Subsequently, vapors or molecules of acids, absorbed by cloud droplets or aerosol particles, fall to the ground in the form of dry or wet sediment (sedimentation). At the same time, near sources of pollution, the proportion of dry acid precipitation exceeds the proportion of wet ones for sulfur-containing substances by 1.1 and for nitrogen-containing substances by 1.9 times. However, as the distance from the immediate sources of pollution increases, wet precipitation may contain more pollutants than dry precipitation.

If anthropogenic and natural air pollutants were evenly distributed over the Earth's surface, then the impact of acid precipitation on the biosphere would be less detrimental. There are direct and indirect effects of acid precipitation on the biosphere. The direct impact is manifested in the direct death of plants and trees, which is most more takes place near the source of pollution, within a radius of up to 100 km from it.

Air pollution and acid rain accelerate the corrosion of metal structures (up to 100 microns/year), destroy buildings and monuments, and especially those built of sandstone and limestone.

The indirect impact of acid precipitation on the environment is carried out through processes occurring in nature as a result of changes in the acidity (pH) of water and soil. Moreover, it manifests itself not only in the immediate vicinity of the source of pollution, but also at considerable distances, hundreds of kilometers.

A change in the acidity of the soil disrupts its structure, affects fertility and leads to the death of plants. An increase in the acidity of fresh water bodies leads to a decrease in fresh water reserves and causes the death of living organisms (the most sensitive ones begin to die already at pH = 6.5, and at pH = 4.5 only a few species of insects and plants are able to live).

the greenhouse effect. The composition and state of the atmosphere influence many processes of radiant heat exchange between the Cosmos and the Earth. The process of energy transfer from the Sun to the Earth and from the Earth to Space keeps the temperature of the biosphere at a certain level - on average +15°. At the same time, the main role in maintaining temperature conditions in the biosphere belongs to solar radiation, which carries to the Earth a decisive part of thermal energy, in comparison with other heat sources:

Heat from solar radiation 25 10 23 99.80

Heat from natural sources

(from the bowels of the Earth, from animals, etc.) 37.46 10 20 0.18

Heat from anthropogenic sources

(electrical installations, fires, etc.) 4.2 10 20 0.02

Violation heat balance Earth, leading to an increase in the average temperature of the biosphere, which is observed in recent decades, occurs due to the intensive release of anthropogenic impurities and their accumulation in the layers of the atmosphere. Most gases are transparent to solar radiation. However, carbon dioxide (C0 2), methane (CH 4), ozone (0 3), water vapor (H 2 0) and some other gases in the lower atmosphere, passing Sun rays in the optical wavelength range - 0.38 ... 0.77 microns, prevent the passage of thermal radiation reflected from the Earth's surface in the infrared wavelength range - 0.77 ... 340 microns into outer space. The greater the concentration of gases and other impurities in the atmosphere, the smaller the proportion of heat from the Earth's surface goes into space, and the more, consequently, it is retained in the biosphere, causing climate warming.

Modeling of various climatic parameters shows that by 2050 the average temperature on Earth may increase by 1.5...4.5°C. Such warming will cause the melting of polar ice and mountain glaciers, which will lead to a rise in the level of the World Ocean by 0.5 ... 1.5 m. At the same time, the level of rivers flowing into the seas will also rise (principle of communicating vessels). All this will cause the flooding of the island countries, coastal strip and areas below sea level. Millions of refugees will appear, forced to leave their homes and migrate inland. All ports will need to be rebuilt or refurbished to accommodate the new sea level. Global warming can have an even stronger impact on the distribution of precipitation and agriculture, due to the disruption of circulation links in the atmosphere. Further climate warming by 2100 may raise the level of the World Ocean by two meters, which will lead to flooding of 5 million km 2 of land, which is 3% of all land and 30% of all productive land on the planet.

The greenhouse effect in the atmosphere is a fairly common phenomenon at the regional level as well. Anthropogenic sources of heat (thermal power plants, transport, industry) concentrated in large cities and industrial centers, intensive influx of "greenhouse" gases and dust, a stable state of the atmosphere create space near cities with a radius of up to 50 km or more with increased by 1 ... 5 ° With temperatures and high concentrations of contaminants. These zones (domes) above the cities are clearly visible from outer space. They are destroyed only with intensive movements. large masses atmospheric air.

Destruction of the ozone layer. The main substances that destroy ozone layer, are compounds of chlorine and nitrogen. According to estimates, one chlorine molecule can destroy up to 10 5 molecules, and one molecule of nitrogen oxides - up to 10 ozone molecules. The sources of chlorine and nitrogen compounds entering the ozone layer are:

Freons, whose life expectancy reaches 100 years or more, have a significant impact on the ozone layer. Remaining in an unchanged form for a long time, they at the same time gradually move to higher layers of the atmosphere, where short-wave ultraviolet rays knock out chlorine and fluorine atoms from them. These atoms react with ozone in the stratosphere and accelerate its decay, while remaining unchanged. Thus, freon plays the role of a catalyst here.

Sources and levels of pollution of the hydrosphere. Water is the most important environmental factor, which has a diverse impact on all vital processes of the body, including human morbidity. It is a universal solvent of gaseous, liquid and solid substances, and also participates in the processes of oxidation, intermediate metabolism, digestion. Without food, but with water, a person can live for about two months, and without water - for several days.

The daily balance of water in the human body is about 2.5 liters.

The hygienic value of water is great. It is used to maintain the human body, household items, housing in proper sanitary condition, and has a beneficial effect on the climatic conditions of the population's recreation and life. But it can also be a source of danger to humans.

Currently, about half of the world's population is deprived of the opportunity to consume enough clean fresh water. The most affected by this developing countries, where 61% of rural residents are forced to use epidemiologically unsafe water, and 87% do not have sewerage.

It has long been noted that it is extremely important water factor in the spread of acute intestinal infections and invasions. Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, etc. may be present in the water of water sources. Some pathogenic microorganisms persist for a long time and even multiply in natural water.

Source of infection surface water oem may be untreated sewage.

Water epidemics are considered to be characterized by a sudden rise in the incidence, maintaining a high level for some time, limiting the epidemic outbreak to a circle of people using a common water supply source, and the absence of diseases among residents of the same settlement, but using a different source of water supply.

Recently, the initial quality of natural water has been changing due to irrational human activities. Penetration into the aquatic environment of various toxicants and substances that change the natural composition of water poses an exceptional danger to natural ecosystems and humans.

There are two directions in human use of the Earth's water resources: water use and water consumption.

At water use water, as a rule, is not withdrawn from water bodies, but its quality may vary. Water use includes the use of water resources for hydropower, shipping, fishing and fish farming, recreation, tourism and sports.

At water consumption water is withdrawn from water bodies and either included in the composition of the produced products (and, together with losses to evaporation during the production process, is included in irretrievable water consumption), or partially returned to the reservoir, but usually of a much worse quality.

Wastewater annually carries a large amount of various chemical and biological contaminants into water bodies Kazakhstan: copper, zinc, nickel, mercury, phosphorus, lead, manganese, oil products, detergents, fluorine, nitrate and ammonium nitrogen, arsenic, pesticides - this is not a complete and constantly growing list of substances that enter the aquatic environment.

Ultimately, water pollution poses a threat to human health through the consumption of fish and water.

Not only primary pollution of surface waters is dangerous, but also secondary pollution, the occurrence of which is possible as a result of chemical reactions of substances in the aquatic environment.

Consequences of pollution natural waters are diverse, but, in the end, they reduce stocks drinking water, cause diseases of people and all living things, disrupt the circulation of many substances in the biosphere.

Sources and levels of pollution of the lithosphere. As a result of economic (domestic and industrial) human activities, various amounts of chemical substances: pesticides, mineral fertilizers, plant growth stimulants, surfactants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAH), industrial and domestic Wastewater, emissions from industrial enterprises and transport, etc. Accumulating in the soil, they adversely affect all metabolic processes occurring in it and prevent its self-purification.

The problem of household waste disposal is becoming more and more difficult. Huge garbage dumps hallmark city outskirts. It is no coincidence that the term "garbage civilization" is sometimes used in relation to our time.

In Kazakhstan, on average, up to 90% of all toxic production waste is subject to annual burial and organized storage. These wastes contain arsenic, lead, zinc, asbestos, fluorine, phosphorus, manganese, petroleum products, radioactive isotopes and waste from electroplating.

Severe soil pollution in the Republic of Kazakhstan occurs due to the lack of necessary control over the use, storage, transportation of mineral fertilizers and pesticides. The fertilizers used are usually not purified, so many toxic chemicals enter the soil with them. chemical elements and their compounds: arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, nickel, zinc, selenium. In addition, an excess of nitrogen fertilizers leads to the saturation of vegetables with nitrates, which causes human poisoning. Currently, there are many different pesticides (pesticides). Only in Kazakhstan more than 100 types of pesticides are used annually (metafos, decis, BI-58, vitovax, vitotiuram, etc.), which have wide range action, although applicable to a limited number of crops and insects. They remain in the soil for a long time and exhibit a toxic effect on all organisms.

There are cases of chronic and acute poisoning of people during agricultural work in fields, vegetable gardens, orchards treated with pesticides or contaminated with chemicals contained in atmospheric emissions industrial enterprises.

The entry of mercury into the soil, even in small quantities, has a great impact on its biological properties. Thus, it has been established that mercury reduces the ammonifying and nitrifying activity of the soil. The increased content of mercury in the soil of populated areas adversely affects the human body: there are frequent diseases of the nervous and endocrine systems, genitourinary organs, and reduced fertility.

When lead enters the soil, it inhibits the activity of not only nitrifying bacteria, but also antagonist microorganisms of the Flexner and Sonne coli and dysentery, and prolongs the period of soil self-purification.

The chemical compounds in the soil are washed off its surface into open water bodies or enter the ground water flow, thereby affecting the qualitative composition of domestic and drinking water, as well as food products of plant origin. The qualitative composition and quantity of chemicals in these products is largely determined by the type of soil and its chemical composition.

The special hygienic importance of the soil is associated with the risk of transmission to humans of pathogens of various infectious diseases. Despite the antagonism of the soil microflora, pathogens of many infectious diseases are able to remain viable and virulent in it for a long time. During this time, they can pollute underground water sources and infect humans.

Soil dust can spread pathogens of a number of other infectious diseases: tuberculosis microbacteria, poliomyelitis viruses, Coxsackie, ECHO, etc. The soil also plays an important role in the spread of epidemics caused by helminths.

3. Industrial enterprises, energy facilities, communications and transport are the main sources of energy pollution in industrial regions, the urban environment, housing and natural areas. Energy pollution includes vibration and acoustic impact, electromagnetic fields and radiation, exposure to radionuclides and ionizing radiation.

Vibrations in the urban environment and residential buildings, the source of which is technological impact equipment, rail vehicles, construction machines and heavy vehicles, propagate through the ground.

Noise in the urban environment and residential buildings is generated by vehicles, industrial equipment, sanitary installations and devices, etc. On urban highways and in adjacent areas, sound levels can reach 70 ... 80 dB A, and in some cases 90 dB A and more. Sound levels are even higher near airports.

Sources of infrasound can be both natural (wind blowing of building structures and the water surface) and anthropogenic (moving mechanisms with large surfaces - vibrating platforms, vibrating screens; rocket engines, high-power internal combustion engines, gas turbines, vehicles). In some cases, the sound pressure levels of infrasound can reach the standard values of 90 dB, and even exceed them, at considerable distances from the source.

The main sources of electromagnetic fields (EMF) of radio frequencies are radio engineering facilities (RTO), television and radar stations (RLS), thermal shops and sites (in areas adjacent to enterprises).

In everyday life, sources of EMF and radiation are televisions, displays, microwave ovens and other devices. Electrostatic fields in conditions of low humidity (less than 70%) they create rugs, capes, curtains, etc.

The radiation dose created by anthropogenic sources (excluding exposures from medical examinations), is small compared to the natural background of ionizing radiation, which is achieved by the use of collective protective equipment. In cases where the objects of the economy regulatory requirements and radiation safety rules are not followed, the levels of ionizing exposure increase dramatically.

Dispersion in the atmosphere of radionuclides contained in emissions leads to the formation of pollution zones near the source of emissions. Usually, the zones of anthropogenic exposure of residents living around nuclear fuel processing facilities at a distance of up to 200 km range from 0.1 to 65% of the natural radiation background.

Migration radioactive substances in the soil is determined mainly by its hydrological regime, the chemical composition of the soil and radionuclides. Sandy soils have a lower sorption capacity, while clay soils, loams and chernozems have a larger one. 90 Sr and l 37 Cs have high retention strength in soil.

The experience of liquidating the consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant shows that agricultural production is unacceptable in areas with a pollution density above 80 Ci / km 2, and in areas contaminated up to 40 ... 50 Ci / km 2, it is necessary to limit the production of seed and industrial crops, as well as feed for young and fattening beef cattle. With a pollution density of 15...20 Ci/kg for 137 Cs, agricultural production is quite acceptable.

Of the considered energy pollution in modern conditions, radioactive and acoustic pollution have the greatest negative impact on humans.

Negative factors in emergency situations. Emergencies arise during natural phenomena (earthquakes, floods, landslides, etc.) and man-made accidents. To the greatest extent, the accident rate is characteristic of the coal, mining, chemical, oil and gas and metallurgical industries, geological exploration, boiler supervision, gas and material handling facilities, as well as transport.

Destruction or depressurization of high pressure systems, depending on the physical and chemical properties of the working environment, can lead to the appearance of one or a combination of damaging factors:

Shock wave (consequences - injuries, destruction of equipment and supporting structures, etc.);

Fire of buildings, materials, etc. (consequences - thermal burns, loss of structural strength, etc.);

Chemical pollution of the environment (consequences - suffocation, poisoning, chemical burns, etc.);

Pollution of the environment with radioactive substances. Emergencies also arise as a result of unregulated storage and transportation explosives, flammable liquids, chemical and radioactive substances, supercooled and heated liquids, etc. Explosions, fires, spills of chemically active liquids, emissions of gas mixtures are the consequences of violations of the rules of operations.

One of the common causes of fires and explosions, especially at oil and gas and chemical production facilities and during the operation of vehicles, is static electricity discharges. Static electricity is a set of phenomena associated with the formation and preservation of free electric charge on the surface and in the volume of dielectric and semiconductor substances. The cause of static electricity is the processes of electrification.

Natural static electricity is generated on the surface of clouds as a result of complex atmospheric processes. Charges of atmospheric (natural) static electricity form a potential relative to the Earth of several million volts, leading to lightning strikes.

Spark discharges of artificial static electricity are common causes of fires, and spark discharges of atmospheric static electricity (lightning) are common causes of larger emergencies. They can cause both fires and mechanical damage to equipment, disruptions in communication lines and power supply to certain areas.

The greatest danger is static electricity discharges and sparks in electrical circuits create in conditions of high content of combustible gases (for example, methane in mines, natural gas in residential premises) or combustible vapors and dust in premises.

The main reasons for large man-made accidents are:

Failures of technical systems due to manufacturing defects and violations of operating modes; many modern potentially hazardous industries are designed in such a way that the probability of a major accident is very high and is estimated at a risk value of 10 4 or more;

Erroneous actions of operators of technical systems; statistics show that more than 60% of accidents occurred as a result of errors of maintenance personnel;

The concentration of various industries in industrial zones without a proper study of their mutual influence;

Tall energy level technical systems;

External negative impacts on energy facilities, transport, etc.

Practice shows that it is impossible to solve the problem of complete elimination of negative impacts in the technosphere. To ensure protection in the technosphere, it is only realistic to limit the impact negative factors their admissible levels taking into account their combined (simultaneous) action. Compliance with the maximum permissible levels of exposure is one of the main ways to ensure the safety of human life in the technosphere.

4. Production environment and its characteristics. About 15 thousand people die in production every year. and about 670 thousand people are injured. According to Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR Dogudzhiev V.X. in 1988, there were 790 major accidents and 1 million cases of group injuries in the country. This determines the importance of the safety of human activity, which distinguishes it from all living things - Mankind at all stages of its development paid serious attention to the conditions of activity. In the works of Aristotle, Hippocrates (III-V) century BC), working conditions are considered. During the Renaissance, the physician Paracelsus studied the dangers of mining, the Italian physician Ramazzini (XVII century) laid the foundations of professional hygiene. And society's interest in these problems is growing, because behind the term "safety of activity" is a person, and "man is the measure of all things" (philosopher Protagoras, V century BC).

Activity is the process of human interaction with nature and built environment. The totality of factors affecting a person in the process of activity (labor) in production and in everyday life constitutes the conditions of activity (labor). Moreover, the action of the factors of conditions can be favorable and unfavorable for a person. The impact of a factor that could pose a threat to life or damage to human health is called a hazard. Practice shows that any activity is potentially dangerous. This is an axiom about the potential danger of activity.

The growth of industrial production is accompanied by a continuous increase in the impact production environment to the biosphere. It is believed that every 10 ... 12 years the volume of production doubles, respectively, the volume of emissions into the environment also increases: gaseous, solid and liquid, as well as energy. At the same time, pollution of the atmosphere, water basin and soil takes place.

An analysis of the composition of pollutants emitted into the atmosphere by a machine-building enterprise shows that, in addition to the main pollutants (СО, S0 2 , NO n , C n H m , dust), the emissions contain toxic compounds that have a significant negative impact on the environment. The concentration of harmful substances in ventilation emissions is low, but the total amount of harmful substances is significant. Emissions are produced with variable frequency and intensity, but due to the low height of the release, dispersal and poor purification, they greatly pollute the air on the territory of enterprises. With a small width of the sanitary protection zone, difficulties arise in ensuring clean air in residential areas. Significant contribution to air pollution is made by power plants enterprises. They emit CO 2 , CO, soot, hydrocarbons, SO 2 , S0 3 PbO, ash and particles of unburned solid fuel into the atmosphere.

The noise generated by an industrial enterprise should not exceed the maximum allowable spectra. At enterprises, mechanisms that are a source of infrasound (engines internal combustion, fans, compressors, etc.). Permissible sound pressure levels of infrasound are established by sanitary standards.

Technological impact equipment (hammers, presses), powerful pumps and compressors, engines are sources of vibrations in the environment. Vibrations propagate along the ground and can reach the foundations of public and residential buildings.

test questions:

1. How are energy sources divided?

2. What energy sources are natural?

3. What are the physical hazards and harmful factors?

4. How are chemical hazards and harmful factors divided?

5. What's included biological factors?

6. What are the consequences of atmospheric air pollution by various harmful substances?

7. What is the number of impurities emitted by natural sources?

8. What sources create the main anthropogenic air pollution?

9. What are the most common toxic substances polluting the atmosphere?

10. What is smog?

11. What types of smog are distinguished?

12. What causes acid rain?

13. What causes the destruction of the ozone layer?

14. What are the sources of pollution of the hydrosphere?

15. What are the sources of pollution of the lithosphere?

16. What is a surfactant?

17. What is the source of vibration in the urban environment and residential buildings?

18. What level can sound reach on city highways and in the areas adjacent to them?

Introduction

Atmosphere - outer shell biosphere

Air pollution

Environmental consequences of atmospheric pollution7

3.1 Greenhouse effect

3.2 Ozone depletion

3 Acid rain

Conclusion

List of sources used

Introduction

Atmospheric air is the most important life-supporting natural environment and is a mixture of gases and aerosols of the surface layer of the atmosphere, formed during the evolution of the Earth, human activities and located outside residential, industrial and other premises.

Currently, of all forms of degradation of the natural environment in Russia, it is the pollution of the atmosphere with harmful substances that is the most dangerous. Features of the environmental situation in certain regions Russian Federation and emerging environmental problems are due to local natural conditions and the nature of the impact on them of industry, transport, utilities and agriculture. The degree of air pollution depends, as a rule, on the degree of urbanization and industrial development of the territory (the specifics of enterprises, their capacity, location, applied technologies), as well as on climatic conditions that determine the potential for air pollution.

The atmosphere has an intense impact not only on humans and the biosphere, but also on the hydrosphere, soil and vegetation cover, geological environment, buildings, structures and other man-made objects. Therefore, the protection of atmospheric air and the ozone layer is the highest priority environmental problem and it is given close attention in all developed countries.

Man has always used the environment mainly as a source of resources, but for a very long time, his activity did not have a noticeable impact on the biosphere. Only at the end of the last century, changes in the biosphere under the influence of economic activity attracted the attention of scientists. In the first half of this century, these changes have been growing and at the present time they have fallen like an avalanche on human civilization.

The pressure on the environment increased especially sharply in the second half of the 20th century. A qualitative leap took place in the relationship between society and nature, when, as a result of a sharp increase in the population, intensive industrialization and urbanization of our planet, economic loads began to everywhere exceed the ability to ecological systems for self-purification and regeneration. As a result, the natural circulation of substances in the biosphere was disturbed, and the health of the present and future generations of people was threatened.

The atmosphere is the outer shell of the biosphere.

The mass of the atmosphere of our planet is negligible - only one millionth of the mass of the Earth. However, its role in the natural processes of the biosphere is enormous. The presence of the atmosphere around the globe determines the general thermal regime of the surface of our planet, protects it from harmful cosmic and ultraviolet radiation. Atmospheric circulation has an impact on local climatic conditions, and through them - on the regime of rivers, soil and vegetation cover and the processes of relief formation.

The modern gas composition of the atmosphere is the result of a long historical development of the globe. It is mainly a gas mixture of two components - nitrogen (78.09%) and oxygen (20.95%). Normally, it also contains argon (0.93%), carbon dioxide (0.03%) and small amounts of inert gases (non-he, helium, krypton, xenon), ammonia, methane, ozone, sulfur dioxide and other gases. Along with gases, the atmosphere contains solid particles coming from the surface of the Earth (for example, products of combustion, volcanic activity, soil particles) and from space ( space dust), as well as various products of plant, animal or microbial origin. In addition, water vapor plays an important role in the atmosphere.

The highest value for different ecosystems have three gases that make up the atmosphere: oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen. These gases are involved in the main biogeochemical cycles.

Oxygen plays essential role in the life of most living organisms on our planet. It is necessary for everyone to breathe. Oxygen has not always been part of the earth's atmosphere. It appeared as a result of the vital activity of photosynthetic organisms. Under the influence of ultraviolet rays, it turns into ozone. As ozone accumulated, an ozone layer formed in the upper atmosphere. The ozone layer, like a screen, reliably protects the Earth's surface from ultraviolet radiation, which is fatal to living organisms.

The modern atmosphere contains hardly a twentieth of the oxygen available on our planet. The main reserves of oxygen are concentrated in carbonates, in organic substances and iron oxides, part of the oxygen is dissolved in water. In the atmosphere, apparently, there was an approximate balance between the production of oxygen in the process of photosynthesis and its consumption by living organisms. But recently there has been a danger that, as a result of human activity, oxygen reserves in the atmosphere may decrease. Of particular danger is the destruction of the ozone layer, which has been observed in recent years. Most scientists associate this with human activity.

The oxygen cycle in the biosphere is extremely complex, since a large number of organic and non-organic substances react with it. organic matter and hydrogen, which combines with oxygen to form water.

Carbon dioxide(carbon dioxide) is used in the process of photosynthesis to form organic substances. It is thanks to this process that the carbon cycle in the biosphere closes. Like oxygen, carbon is a part of soils, plants, animals, participates in various mechanisms of the cycle of substances in nature. The content of carbon dioxide in the air we breathe is approximately the same in different parts of the world. The exception is large cities, in which the content of this gas in the air is above the norm.

Some fluctuations in the content of carbon dioxide in the air of the area depend on the time of day, the season of the year, and the biomass of vegetation. At the same time, studies show that since the beginning of the century, the average content of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, although slowly but constantly, has been increasing. Scientists associate this process mainly with human activity.

Nitrogen- irreplaceable biogenic element, since it is part of proteins and nucleic acids. The atmosphere is an inexhaustible reservoir of nitrogen, but the bulk of living organisms cannot directly use this nitrogen: it must first be bound in the form of chemical compounds.

Partially, nitrogen comes from the atmosphere to ecosystems in the form of nitric oxide, which is formed under the action of electrical discharges during thunderstorms. However, the bulk of nitrogen enters the water and soil as a result of its biological fixation. There are several types of bacteria and blue-green algae (fortunately, very numerous) that are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen. As a result of their activities, as well as due to the decomposition of organic residues in the soil, autotrophic plants are able to absorb the necessary nitrogen.

The nitrogen cycle is closely related to the carbon cycle. Although the nitrogen cycle is more complex than the carbon cycle, it tends to be faster.

Other components of the air do not participate in biochemical cycles, but the presence of a large number of pollutants in the atmosphere can lead to serious violations of these cycles.

Air pollution.

Pollution atmosphere. Various negative changes in the Earth's atmosphere are mainly associated with changes in the concentration of minor components of atmospheric air.

There are two main sources of air pollution: natural and anthropogenic. Natural source- these are volcanoes, dust storms, weathering, forest fires, processes of decomposition of plants and animals.

To the main anthropogenic sources atmospheric pollution include enterprises of the fuel and energy complex, transport, various machine-building enterprises.

In addition to gaseous pollutants, a large amount of particulate matter enters the atmosphere. These are dust, soot and soot. Contamination of the natural environment with heavy metals poses a great danger. Lead, cadmium, mercury, copper, nickel, zinc, chromium, vanadium have become almost constant components of the air in industrial centers. The problem of air pollution with lead is particularly acute.

Global air pollution affects the state of natural ecosystems, especially the green cover of our planet. One of the most obvious indicators of the state of the biosphere are the forests and their well-being.

Acid rains, caused mainly by sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, cause great harm to forest biocenoses. It has been established that conifers suffer from acid rain to a greater extent than broad-leaved ones.

Only on the territory of our country the total area of forests affected by industrial emissions has reached 1 million hectares. A significant factor in forest degradation in recent years is environmental pollution with radionuclides. Thus, as a result of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, 2.1 million hectares of forests were affected.

Particularly affected are green spaces in industrial cities, the atmosphere of which contains a large amount of pollutants.

The air environmental problem of ozone depletion, including the appearance of ozone holes over Antarctica and the Arctic, is associated with the excessive use of freons in production and everyday life.

Human economic activity, acquiring an increasingly global character, begins to have a very tangible impact on the processes taking place in the biosphere. You have already learned about some of the results of human activity and their impact on the biosphere. Fortunately, up to a certain level, the biosphere is capable of self-regulation, which makes it possible to minimize the negative consequences of human activity. But there is a limit when the biosphere is no longer able to maintain balance. Irreversible processes begin, leading to environmental disasters. Humanity has already encountered them in a number of regions of the planet.

Environmental effects of atmospheric pollution

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Ecological system (3)

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Measures to combat pollution atmosphere

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Anthropogenic impacts on atmosphere (4)

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Outdoor air pollution

Atmospheric air pollution should be understood as any change in its composition and properties that has a negative impact on human and animal health, the state of plants and ecosystems.

Atmospheric pollution can be natural (natural) and anthropogenic (technogenic).

natural pollution air caused natural processes. These include volcanic activity, weathering rocks, wind erosion, mass flowering of plants, smoke from forest and steppe fires, etc. Anthropogenic pollution associated with the release of various pollutants in the process of human activity. In terms of its scale, it significantly exceeds natural air pollution.

Depending on the extent of distribution, there are Various types atmospheric pollution: local, regional and global. local pollution is characterized by an increased content of pollutants in small areas (city, industrial area, agricultural zone, etc.). regional pollution significant areas are involved in the sphere of negative impact, but not the entire planet. Global pollution associated with changes in the state of the atmosphere as a whole.

According to the state of aggregation, emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere are classified into:

1) gaseous (sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, etc.)

2) liquid (acids, alkalis, salt solutions, etc.);

3) solid (carcinogenic substances, lead and its compounds, organic and inorganic dust, soot, tarry substances, etc.).

The most dangerous pollution of the atmosphere is radioactive. At present, it is mainly due to globally distributed long-lived radioactive isotopes - products of nuclear weapons tests conducted in the atmosphere and underground. The surface layer of the atmosphere is also polluted by emissions of radioactive substances into the atmosphere from operating nuclear power plants during their normal operation and other sources.

Another form of atmospheric pollution is local excess heat input from anthropogenic sources. A sign of thermal (thermal) pollution of the atmosphere is the so-called thermal tones, for example, a “heat island” in cities, warming of water bodies, etc.

In general, judging by official data for 1997-1999, the level of atmospheric air pollution in our country, especially in Russian cities, remains high, despite a significant decline in production, which is associated primarily with an increase in the number of cars, including - faulty.

Environmental effects of atmospheric pollution

Air pollution affects human health and the environment different ways- from a direct and immediate threat (smog, etc.) to a slow and gradual destruction of various life support systems of the body. In many cases, air pollution disrupts the structural components of the ecosystem to such an extent that regulatory processes are unable to return them to their original state, and as a result, the homeostasis mechanism does not work.

First, consider how it affects the environment local (local) pollution atmosphere, and then global.

Physiological impact on the human body major pollutants (pollutants) is fraught with the most serious consequences. So, sulfur dioxide, combining with moisture, forms sulfuric acid, which destroys the lung tissue of humans and animals. This relationship is especially clearly seen in the analysis of childhood pulmonary pathology and the degree of sulfur dioxide concentration in the atmosphere of large cities.

Dust containing silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) causes severe lung disease - silicosis. Nitrogen oxides irritate and, in severe cases, corrode mucous membranes, for example, eyes, lungs, participate in the formation of poisonous mists, etc. They are especially dangerous if they are contained in polluted air together with sulfur dioxide and other toxic compounds. In these cases, even at low concentrations of pollutants, a synergistic effect occurs, i.e., an increase in the toxicity of the entire gaseous mixture.

The effect of carbon monoxide on the human body is widely known ( carbon monoxide). At acute poisoning appears general weakness, dizziness, nausea, drowsiness, loss of consciousness, death is possible (even after three to seven days). However, due to the low concentration of CO in the atmospheric air, as a rule, it does not cause mass poisoning, although it is very dangerous for people suffering from anemia and cardiovascular diseases.

Among the suspended solid particles, the most dangerous particles are less than 5 microns in size, which can penetrate the lymph nodes, linger in the alveoli of the lungs, and clog the mucous membranes.

Anabiosis- temporary suspension of all vital processes.

Very unfavorable consequences, which can affect a huge time interval, are also associated with such minor emissions as lead, benzo (a) pyrene, phosphorus, cadmium, arsenic, cobalt, etc. They depress the hematopoietic system, cause oncological diseases, reduce the body's resistance to infections, etc. Dust containing lead and mercury compounds has mutagenic properties and causes genetic changes in the cells of the body.

The consequences of exposure to the human body of harmful substances contained in the exhaust gases of cars are very serious and have widest range actions:

London type of smog occurs in winter in large industrial cities under unfavorable weather conditions(no wind and temperature inversion). Temperature inversion manifests itself in an increase in air temperature with height in a certain layer of the atmosphere (usually in the range of 300-400 m from the earth's surface) instead of the usual decrease. As a result, atmospheric air circulation is severely disrupted, smoke and pollutants cannot rise up and are not dispersed. Often there are fogs. Concentrations of sulfur oxides, suspended dust, carbon monoxide reach dangerous levels for human health, lead to circulatory and respiratory disorders, and often to death.

Los Angeles type of smog or photochemical smog, no less dangerous than London. It occurs in the summer with intense exposure to solar radiation on air saturated, or rather supersaturated with car exhaust gases.

Anthropogenic emissions of pollutants in high concentrations and for a long time cause great harm not only to humans, but also negatively affect animals, the state of plants and ecosystems as a whole.

Ecological literature describes cases of mass poisoning of wild animals, birds, and insects due to emissions of harmful pollutants of high concentration (especially salvos). So, for example, it was found that when settling on honey plants of some toxic species dust, there is a noticeable increase in the mortality of bees. As for large animals, the poisonous dust in the atmosphere affects them mainly through the respiratory organs, as well as entering the body along with the dusty plants eaten.

Toxic substances enter plants in various ways. It has been established that emissions of harmful substances act both directly on the green parts of plants, getting through the stomata into tissues, destroying chlorophyll and cell structure, and through the soil to the root system. So, for example, soil contamination with dust of toxic metals, especially in combination with sulfuric acid, has a detrimental effect on the root system, and through it on the whole plant.

pollutants gaseous substances differently affect the state of vegetation. Some only slightly damage leaves, needles, shoots (carbon monoxide, ethylene, etc.), others have a detrimental effect on plants (sulfur dioxide, chlorine, mercury vapor, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, etc.) Sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), under the influence of which many trees die, and first of all conifers - pines, spruces, firs, cedars.

As a result of the impact of highly toxic pollutants on plants, there is a slowdown in their growth, the formation of necrosis at the ends of leaves and needles, failure of assimilation organs, etc. An increase in the surface of damaged leaves can lead to a decrease in moisture consumption from the soil, its general waterlogging, which will inevitably affect in her habitat.

Can vegetation recover after exposure to harmful pollutants is reduced? This will largely depend on the restoring capacity of the remaining green mass and the general condition of natural ecosystems. At the same time, it should be noted that low concentrations of individual pollutants not only do not harm plants, but, like cadmium salt, for example, stimulate seed germination, wood growth, and the growth of some plant organs.

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OUTLINE: Introduction1. The atmosphere is the outer shell of the biosphere2. Atmospheric pollution3. Environmental consequences of atmospheric pollution7

3.1 Greenhouse effect

3.2 Ozone depletion

3 Acid rain

Conclusion

List of used sourcesIntroductionAtmospheric air is the most important life-supporting natural environment and is a mixture of gases and aerosols of the surface layer of the atmosphere, formed during the evolution of the Earth, human activities and located outside residential, industrial and other premises. Currently, of all forms of degradation of the natural environment in Russia It is the pollution of the atmosphere with harmful substances that is the most dangerous. Features of the environmental situation in certain regions of the Russian Federation and emerging environmental problems are due to local natural conditions and the nature of the impact on them of industry, transport, utilities and agriculture. The degree of air pollution depends, as a rule, on the degree of urbanization and industrial development of the territory (the specifics of enterprises, their capacity, location, applied technologies), as well as on climatic conditions that determine the potential for air pollution. The atmosphere has an intense impact not only on humans and the biosphere, but also on the hydrosphere, soil and vegetation cover, geological environment, buildings, structures and other man-made objects. Therefore, the protection of atmospheric air and the ozone layer is the highest priority environmental problem and it is given close attention in all developed countries. Man has always used the environment mainly as a source of resources, but for a very long time his activity did not have a noticeable impact on the biosphere. Only at the end of the last century, changes in the biosphere under the influence of economic activity attracted the attention of scientists. In the first half of this century, these changes have been growing and are now like an avalanche hitting human civilization. The pressure on the environment increased especially sharply in the second half of the 20th century. A qualitative leap took place in the relationship between society and nature, when, as a result of a sharp increase in the population, intensive industrialization and urbanization of our planet, economic loads everywhere began to exceed the ability of ecological systems to self-purify and regenerate. As a result, the natural circulation of substances in the biosphere was disturbed, and the health of the present and future generations of people was threatened.

The modern gas composition of the atmosphere is the result of a long historical development of the globe. It represents mainly gas mixture two components - nitrogen (78.09%) and oxygen (20.95%). Normally, it also contains argon (0.93%), carbon dioxide (0.03%) and small amounts of inert gases (neon, helium, krypton, xenon), ammonia, methane, ozone, sulfur dioxide and other gases. Along with gases, the atmosphere contains solid particles coming from the Earth's surface (for example, products of combustion, volcanic activity, soil particles) and from space (cosmic dust), as well as various products of plant, animal or microbial origin. In addition, water vapor plays an important role in the atmosphere.

The three gases that make up the atmosphere are of greatest importance for various ecosystems: oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen. These gases are involved in the main biogeochemical cycles.

Oxygen plays an important role in the life of most living organisms on our planet. It is necessary for everyone to breathe. Oxygen was not always included earth's atmosphere. It appeared as a result of the vital activity of photosynthetic organisms. Under the influence of ultraviolet rays, it turns into ozone. As ozone accumulated, an ozone layer formed in the upper atmosphere. The ozone layer, like a screen, reliably protects the Earth's surface from ultraviolet radiation, which is fatal to living organisms.

The modern atmosphere contains hardly a twentieth of the oxygen available on our planet. The main reserves of oxygen are concentrated in carbonates, organic substances and iron oxides, part of the oxygen is dissolved in water. In the atmosphere, apparently, there was an approximate balance between the production of oxygen in the process of photosynthesis and its consumption by living organisms. But recently there has been a danger that, as a result of human activity, oxygen reserves in the atmosphere may decrease. Of particular danger is the destruction of the ozone layer, which has been observed in recent years. Most scientists attribute this to human activity.

The oxygen cycle in the biosphere is extremely complex, since a large number of organic and inorganic substances, as well as hydrogen, react with it, combining with which oxygen forms water.

Carbon dioxide(carbon dioxide) is used in the process of photosynthesis to form organic substances. It is thanks to this process that the carbon cycle in the biosphere closes. Like oxygen, carbon is a part of soils, plants, animals, and participates in various mechanisms of the circulation of substances in nature. The content of carbon dioxide in the air we breathe is about the same in different parts of the world. The exception is large cities in which the content of this gas in the air is above the norm.

Some fluctuations in the content of carbon dioxide in the air of the area depend on the time of day, the season of the year, and the biomass of vegetation. At the same time, studies show that since the beginning of the century, the average content of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, although slowly, but constantly increases. Scientists associate this process mainly with human activity.

Nitrogen- an irreplaceable biogenic element, since it is part of proteins and nucleic acids. The atmosphere is an inexhaustible reservoir of nitrogen, but the majority of living organisms cannot directly use this nitrogen: it must first be bound in the form of chemical compounds.

Part of the nitrogen comes from the atmosphere to ecosystems in the form of nitric oxide, which is formed under the action of electrical discharges during thunderstorms. However, the main part of nitrogen enters the water and soil as a result of its biological fixation. There are several types of bacteria and blue-green algae (fortunately, very numerous) that are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen. As a result of their activities, as well as due to the decomposition of organic residues in the soil, autotrophic plants are able to absorb the necessary nitrogen.

The nitrogen cycle is closely related to the carbon cycle. Although the nitrogen cycle is more complex than the carbon cycle, it tends to be faster.

Other constituents of the air do not participate in biochemical cycles, but the presence of a large amount of pollutants in the atmosphere can lead to serious violations of these cycles.

2. Air pollution.

Pollution atmosphere. Various negative changes in the Earth's atmosphere are mainly associated with changes in the concentration of minor components of atmospheric air.

To the main anthropogenic sources atmospheric pollution include enterprises of the fuel and energy complex, transport, various machine-building enterprises.

In addition to gaseous pollutants, a large amount of particulate matter enters the atmosphere. These are dust, soot and soot. Contamination of the natural environment with heavy metals poses a great danger. Lead, cadmium, mercury, copper, nickel, zinc, chromium, vanadium have become almost permanent components of air industrial centers. The problem of air pollution with lead is particularly acute.

Global air pollution affects the state of natural ecosystems, especially the green cover of our planet. One of the most obvious indicators of the state of the biosphere is forests and their well-being.

Only on the territory of our country, the total area of forests affected by industrial emissions has reached 1 million hectares. A significant factor in forest degradation in recent years is environmental pollution with radionuclides. Thus, as a result of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, 2.1 million hectares of forests were affected.

Particularly affected are green spaces in industrial cities, the atmosphere of which contains a large amount of pollutants.

Human economic activity, acquiring an increasingly global character, begins to have a very tangible impact on the processes taking place in the biosphere. You have already learned about some of the results of human activity and their impact on the biosphere. Fortunately, up to a certain level, the biosphere is capable of self-regulation, which makes it possible to minimize the negative consequences of human activity. But there is a limit when the biosphere is no longer able to maintain balance. Irreversible processes begin, leading to ecological disasters. Humanity has already encountered them in a number of regions of the planet.

3. Environmental effects of atmospheric pollution

The most important environmental consequences of global air pollution include:

1) possible climate warming (“greenhouse effect”);

2) violation of the ozone layer;

3) acid rain.

Most scientists in the world consider them as the biggest environmental problems of our time.

3.1 Greenhouse effect

Currently, the observed climate change, which is expressed in a gradual increase in the average annual temperature, starting from the second half of the last century, most scientists associate with the accumulation in the atmosphere of the so-called "greenhouse gases" - carbon dioxide (CO 2), methane (CH 4), chlorofluorocarbons (freons), ozone (O 3), nitrogen oxides, etc. (see table 9).

Table 9

Anthropogenic atmospheric pollutants and related changes (V.A. Vronsky, 1996)

Note. (+) - increased effect; (-) - decrease in effect

Greenhouse gases, and primarily CO 2, prevent long-wavelength thermal radiation from the surface of the earth. An atmosphere rich in greenhouse gases acts like the roof of a greenhouse. On the one hand, it lets in most of the solar radiation, on the other hand, it almost does not let out the heat reradiated by the Earth.

In connection with the burning by man of an increasing amount of fossil fuels: oil, gas, coal, etc. (annually more than 9 billion tons of standard fuel), the concentration of CO 2 in the atmosphere is constantly increasing. Due to emissions into the atmosphere during industrial production and in everyday life, the content of freons (chlorofluorocarbons) is growing. The methane content increases by 1-1.5% per year (emissions from underground mine workings, biomass combustion, emissions from cattle, etc.). AT lesser degree the content of nitrogen oxide in the atmosphere is also growing (by 0.3% annually).

A consequence of the increase in the concentrations of these gases, which create a "greenhouse effect", is an increase in the average global air temperature near the earth's surface. Over the past 100 years, the warmest years were 1980, 1981, 1983, 1987 and 1988. In 1988, the average annual temperature was 0.4 degrees higher than in 1950-1980. Calculations by some scientists show that in 2005 it will be 1.3 °C higher than in 1950-1980. The report, prepared under the auspices of the United Nations by the international group on climate change, states that by 2100 the temperature on Earth will increase by 2-4 degrees. The scale of warming over this relatively short period will be comparable to the warming that occurred on Earth after ice age, which means that the environmental consequences can be catastrophic. First of all, this is due to the expected rise in the level of the World Ocean, due to the melting of polar ice, the reduction in the areas of mountain glaciation, etc. Modeling the environmental consequences of an increase in ocean level by only 0.5-2.0 m by the end of the 21st century, scientists have found that this will inevitably lead to a violation of the climatic balance, flooding of coastal plains in more than 30 countries, degradation of permafrost, swamping of vast areas and other adverse consequences.

However, a number of scientists see positive environmental consequences in the alleged global warming. An increase in the concentration of CO 2 in the atmosphere and the associated increase in photosynthesis, as well as an increase in climate humidification, can, in their opinion, lead to an increase in the productivity of both natural phytocenoses (forests, meadows, savannahs, etc.) and agrocenoses ( cultivated plants, orchards, vineyards, etc.).

There is also no unanimity of opinion on the issue of the degree of influence of greenhouse gases on global climate warming. Thus, the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (1992) notes that the observed in last century climate warming by 0.3-0.6 °C could be due mainly to the natural variability of a number of climatic factors.

On the international conference in Toronto (Canada) in 1985, the world's energy industry was tasked with reducing industrial carbon emissions by 20% by 2010. But it is obvious that tangible environmental effect can only be obtained by combining these measures with the global direction of environmental policy - the maximum possible preservation of communities of organisms, natural ecosystems and the entire biosphere of the Earth.

3.2 Ozone depletion

The ozone layer (ozonosphere) covers the entire globe and is located at altitudes from 10 to 50 km s maximum concentration ozone at an altitude of 20-25 km. The saturation of the atmosphere with ozone is constantly changing in any part of the planet, reaching a maximum in the spring in the subpolar region. For the first time, the depletion of the ozone layer attracted the attention of the general public in 1985, when an area with a low (up to 50%) ozone content was discovered over Antarctica, which was called "ozone hole". With Since then, measurement results have confirmed the widespread depletion of the ozone layer on almost the entire planet. For example, in Russia over the past ten years, the concentration of the ozone layer has decreased by 4-6% in winter and by 3% in summer. The depletion of the ozone layer is now widely recognized as a major threat to global environmental safety. A decrease in ozone concentration weakens the ability of the atmosphere to protect all life on Earth from hard ultraviolet radiation (UV radiation). Living organisms are very vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation, because the energy of even one photon from these rays is enough to destroy chemical bonds in most organic molecules. It is no coincidence that in areas with a low ozone content there are numerous sunburns, an increase in the incidence of skin cancer among people, etc. 6 million people. In addition to skin diseases, the development of eye diseases (cataracts, etc.), suppression of the immune system, etc. is also possible. trophic chains biota of aquatic ecosystems, etc. Science has not yet fully established what are the main processes that violate the ozone layer. Both natural and anthropogenic origin of "ozone holes" is assumed. The latter, according to most scientists, is more likely and is associated with an increased content chlorofluorocarbons (freons). Freons are widely used in industrial production and in everyday life (cooling units, solvents, sprayers, aerosol packages, etc.). Rising into the atmosphere, freons decompose with the release of chlorine oxide, which has a detrimental effect on ozone molecules. According to the international environmental organization Greenpeace, the main suppliers of chlorofluorocarbons (freons) are the USA - 30.85%, Japan - 12.42%, Great Britain - 8.62% and Russia - 8.0%. The USA punched a "hole" in the ozone layer with an area of 7 million km 2 , Japan - 3 million km 2 , which is seven times larger than the area of Japan itself. Recently in the USA and in a number of Western countries plants were built for the production of new types of refrigerants (hydrochlorofluorocarbon) with a low potential for ozone depletion. According to the Protocol of the Montreal Conference (1990), later revised in London (1991) and Copenhagen (1992), it was envisaged to reduce CFC emissions by 50% by 1998. According to Art. 56 of the Law of the Russian Federation on Environmental Protection, in accordance with international agreements, all organizations and enterprises are required to reduce and subsequently completely stop the production and use of ozone-depleting substances.

A number of scientists continue to insist on the natural origin of the "ozone hole". Some see the reasons for its occurrence in the natural variability of the ozonosphere, the cyclic activity of the Sun, while others associate these processes with rifting and degassing of the Earth.

3.3 Acid rain

One of the most important environmental problems, which is associated with the oxidation of the natural environment, - acid rain . They are formed during industrial emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere, which, when combined with atmospheric moisture, form sulfuric and nitric acids. As a result, rain and snow are acidified (pH value below 5.6). In Bavaria (Germany) in August 1981 it rained with acidity pH=3.5. The maximum recorded acidity of precipitation in Western Europe is pH=2.3. The total global anthropogenic emissions of the two main air pollutants - the culprits of atmospheric moisture acidification - SO 2 and NO, are annually - more than 255 million tons. nitrogen (nitrate and ammonium) in the form of acidic compounds contained in precipitation. As can be seen from Figure 10, the highest sulfur loads are observed in the densely populated and industrial regions of the country.

Figure 10. Average annual sulfate precipitation kg S/sq. km (2006) [according to the site http://www.sci.aha.ru]

High levels of sulfur precipitation (550-750 kg/sq. km per year) and the amount of nitrogen compounds (370-720 kg/sq. km per year) in the form of large areas (several thousand sq. km) are observed in densely populated and industrial regions of the country. An exception to this rule is the situation around the city of Norilsk, the trace of pollution from which exceeds in area and thickness of precipitation in the zone of pollution deposition in the Moscow region, in the Urals.

On the territory of most subjects of the Federation, the deposition of sulfur and nitrate nitrogen from own sources does not exceed 25% of their total deposition. The contribution of own sulfur sources exceeds this threshold in the Murmansk (70%), Sverdlovsk (64%), Chelyabinsk (50%), Tula and Ryazan (40%) regions and in the Krasnoyarsk Territory (43%).

In general, on European territory country, only 34% of sulfur deposits are of Russian origin. Of the rest, 39% comes from European countries and 27% from other sources. Wherein largest contribution Ukraine (367 thousand tons), Poland (86 thousand tons), Germany, Belarus and Estonia contribute to transboundary acidification of the natural environment.

The situation is especially dangerous in the humid climate zone (from Ryazan region and to the north in the European part and everywhere in the Urals), since these regions are distinguished by a natural high acidity of natural waters, which, due to these emissions, increases even more. In turn, this leads to a drop in the productivity of water bodies and an increase in the incidence of teeth and intestinal tract in humans.

On the vast territory natural environment acidification, which has a very negative impact on the state of all ecosystems. It turned out that natural ecosystems are destroyed even at a lower level of air pollution than that which is dangerous for humans. "Lakes and rivers devoid of fish, dying forests - that's sad consequences industrialization of the planet. The danger is, as a rule, not the acid precipitation itself, but the processes occurring under their influence. Under the influence of acid precipitation, not only vital plants are leached from the soil. nutrients, but also toxic heavy and light metals - lead, cadmium, aluminum, etc. Subsequently, they themselves or the resulting toxic compounds are absorbed by plants and other soil organisms, which leads to very negative consequences.

The impact of acid rain reduces the resilience of forests to drought, disease, natural pollution, which leads to even more pronounced degradation of them as natural ecosystems.

A striking example of the negative impact of acid precipitation on natural ecosystems is the acidification of lakes. . In our country, the area of significant acidification from acid precipitation reaches several tens of million hectares. Particular cases of acidification of lakes have also been noted (Karelia, etc.). Increased acidity of precipitation is observed along western border(transboundary transfer of sulfur and other pollutants) and on the territory of a number of large industrial regions, as well as fragmentarily on the coast of Taimyr and Yakutia.

Conclusion

The protection of nature is the task of our century, a problem that has become a social one. Again and again we hear about the danger threatening the environment, but still many of us consider them an unpleasant, but inevitable product of civilization and believe that we will still have time to cope with all the difficulties that have come to light.

However, human impact on the environment has taken on alarming proportions. Only in the second half of the 20th century, thanks to the development of ecology and the spread of environmental knowledge among the population it became obvious that humanity is an indispensable part of the biosphere, that the conquest of nature, the uncontrolled use of its resources and environmental pollution is a dead end in the development of civilization and in the evolution of man himself. Therefore, the most important condition for the development of mankind is a careful attitude to nature, comprehensive care for the rational use and restoration of its resources, and the preservation of a favorable environment.

However, many do not understand the close relationship between economic activity people and the state of the environment.

Broad environmental education should help people to acquire the kind of environmental knowledge and ethical norms and values, attitudes and lifestyles that are necessary for sustainable development nature and society. To fundamentally improve the situation, purposeful and thoughtful actions will be needed. A responsible and efficient policy towards the environment will be possible only if we accumulate reliable data on the current state of the environment, substantiated knowledge about the interaction of important environmental factors, if we develop new methods to reduce and prevent the harm caused to Nature by Man.

Bibliography

1. Akimova T. A., Khaskin V. V. Ecology. Moscow: Unity, 2000.

2. Bezuglaya E.Yu., Zavadskaya E.K. Influence of air pollution on public health. St. Petersburg: Gidrometeoizdat, 1998, pp. 171–199. 3. Galperin M. V. Ecology and basics of nature management. Moscow: Forum-Infra-m, 2003.4. Danilov-Danilyan V.I. Ecology, nature protection and ecological safety. M.: MNEPU, 1997.5. Climate characteristics conditions for the propagation of impurities in the atmosphere. Help Guide/ Ed. E.Yu. Bezuglaya and M.E. Berlyand. - Leningrad, Gidrometeoizdat, 1983. 6. Korobkin V. I., Peredelsky L. V. Ecology. Rostov-on-Don: Phoenix, 2003.7. Protasov V.F. Ecology, health and environmental protection in Russia. M.: Finance and statistics, 1999.8. Wark K., Warner S., Air pollution. Sources and control, trans. from English, M. 1980. 9. Ecological state Territories of Russia: Textbook for students of higher education. ped. Educational institutions / V.P. Bondarev, L.D. Dolgushin, B.S. Zalogin and others; Ed. S.A. Ushakova, Ya.G. Katz - 2nd ed. M.: Academy, 2004.10. List and codes of substances polluting the atmospheric air. Ed. 6th. SPb., 2005, 290 p.11. Yearbook of the state of air pollution in cities in Russia. 2004.– M.: Meteo agency, 2006, 216 p.

The atmosphere is the gaseous shell of the Earth, the mass of which is 5.15 * 10 tons. The main components of the atmosphere are nitrogen (78.08%), argon (0.93%), carbon dioxide (0.03%), and the remaining elements are to very small amounts: hydrogen - 0.3 * 10%, ozone - 3.6 * 10%, etc. According to the chemical composition, the entire atmosphere of the Earth is subdivided into the lower (up to 100km^-homosphere, which has a composition similar to surface air), and the upper one, the heterosphere, of inhomogeneous chemical composition. For upper atmosphere the processes of dissociation and ionization of gases occurring under the influence of solar radiation are characteristic. In the atmosphere, in addition to these gases, there are also various aerosols - dusty or water particles that are in suspension in a gaseous medium. They may be of natural origin (dust storms, Forest fires, volcanic eruptions, etc.), as well as technogenic (the result of human productive activity). The atmosphere is divided into several areas:

Troposphere is Bottom part atmosphere, which contains more than 80% of the entire atmosphere. Its height is determined by the intensity of the vertical (ascending descending) air currents caused by the heating of the earth's surface. Therefore, it extends at the equator to a height of 16-18 km, in temperate latitudes up to 10-11 km, and at the poles 8 km. A regular decrease in air temperature with height was noted - by an average of 0.6C for every 100 m.

The stratosphere is located above the troposphere up to a height of 50-55 km. The temperature at its upper boundary rises, which is associated with the presence of an ozone belt here.

Mesosphere - the boundary of this layer is located up to a height of 80 km. Its main feature is a sharp drop in temperature (minus 75-90C) at its upper limit. Silvery clouds consisting of ice crystals are fixed here.

Ionosphere (thermosphere) It is located up to a height of 800 km, and it is characterized by a significant increase in temperature (more than 1000C), Under the influence of ultraviolet radiation from the Sun, gases are in an ionized state. Ionization is associated with the glow of gases and the occurrence of auroras. The ionosphere has the ability to repeatedly reflect radio waves, which provides real radio communication on Earth, the Exosphere is located above 800 km. and extends up to 2000-3000 km. Here the temperature exceeds 2000 C. The velocity of gases approaches the critical value of 11.2 km/s. Hydrogen and helium atoms dominate, which form a corona around the Earth, extending to a height of 20 thousand km.

The role of the atmosphere for the Earth's biosphere is enormous, since it, with its physical and chemical properties provides the most important life processes in plants and animals.

Atmospheric air pollution should be understood as any change in its composition and properties that has a negative impact on human and animal health, the condition of plants and ecosystems.

Atmospheric pollution can be natural (natural) and anthropogenic (technogenic),

Natural air pollution is caused by natural processes. These include volcanic activity, weathering of rocks, wind erosion, mass flowering of plants, smoke from forest and steppe fires, etc. Anthropogenic pollution is associated with the release of various pollutants during human activities. In terms of its scale, it significantly exceeds natural air pollution.

Depending on the scale of distribution, various types of atmospheric pollution are distinguished: local, regional and global. Local pollution is characterized by an increased content of pollutants in small areas (city, industrial area, agricultural zone, etc.). With regional pollution, significant areas are involved in the sphere of negative impact, but not the entire planet. Global pollution is associated with changes in the state of the atmosphere as a whole.

According to the state of aggregation, emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere are classified into: 1) gaseous (sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, etc.); 2) liquid (acids, alkalis, salt solutions, etc.); 3) solid (carcinogenic substances, lead and its compounds, organic and inorganic dust, soot, tarry substances, etc.).

The main pollutants (pollutants) of atmospheric air, formed in the process of industrial and other human activities, are sulfur dioxide (SO 2), nitrogen oxides (NO 2), carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter. They account for about 98% of the total emissions of harmful substances. In addition to the main pollutants, more than 70 types of harmful substances are observed in the atmosphere of cities and towns, including formaldehyde, hydrogen fluoride, lead compounds, ammonia, phenol, benzene, carbon disulfide, etc. However, it is the concentrations of the main pollutants (sulfur dioxide, etc.) most often exceed the permissible levels in many Russian cities.

The total world emission into the atmosphere of the four main pollutants (pollutants) of the atmosphere in 2005 amounted to 401 million tons, and in Russia in 2006 - 26.2 million tons (Table 1).

In addition to these main pollutants, many other very dangerous toxic substances enter the atmosphere: lead, mercury, cadmium and other heavy metals (emission sources: cars, smelters, etc.); hydrocarbons (CnHm), among them the most dangerous is benz (a) pyrene, which has a carcinogenic effect (exhaust gases, boiler furnaces, etc.), aldehydes, and primarily formaldehyde, hydrogen sulfide, toxic volatile solvents (gasolines, alcohols, ethers) and etc.

Table 1 - Emissions into the atmosphere of the main pollutants (pollutants) in the world and in Russia

Substances, million tons	Dioxide sulfur	nitrogen oxides	carbon monoxide	Solid particles	Total
Total world release
Russia (landlines only) sources)					26.2
				11,2
Russia (including all sources), %				12,2	13,2

A special place is occupied by the release of radioactive substances from the fourth block of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in April - May 1986. If during the explosion atomic bomb over Hiroshima (Japan) 740 g of radionuclides were released into the atmosphere, then as a result of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986, the total release of radioactive substances into the atmosphere amounted to 77 kg.

Another form of atmospheric pollution is local excess heat input from anthropogenic sources. A sign of thermal (thermal) pollution of the atmosphere is the so-called thermal zones, for example, the “heat island” in cities, the warming of water bodies, etc.

In general, judging by official data for 2006, the level of air pollution in our country, especially in Russian cities, remains high, despite a significant decline in production, which is primarily associated with an increase in the number of cars.

2. MAIN SOURCES OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION

At present, the “main contribution” to atmospheric air pollution in Russia is made by the following industries: thermal power engineering (thermal and nuclear power plants, industrial and municipal boiler houses, etc.), then enterprises of ferrous metallurgy, oil production and petrochemistry, transport, non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises and production building materials.

The role of various sectors of the economy in air pollution in the developed industrial countries of the West is somewhat different. So, for example, the main amount of emissions of harmful substances in the USA, Great Britain and Germany falls on motor vehicles (50-60%), while the share of heat power is much less, only 16-20%.

Thermal and nuclear power plants. Boiler installations. In the process of burning solid or liquid fuels, smoke is released into the atmosphere, containing products of complete (carbon dioxide and water vapor) and incomplete (oxides of carbon, sulfur, nitrogen, hydrocarbons, etc.) combustion. The volume of energy emissions is very high. Thus, a modern thermal power plant with a capacity of 2.4 million kW consumes up to 20 thousand tons of coal per day and emits 680 tons of SO 2 and SO 3 into the atmosphere during this time, 120-140 tons of solid particles (ash, dust, soot), 200 tons nitrogen oxides.

Translation of installations to liquid fuel(fuel oil) reduces ash emissions, but practically does not reduce emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides. The most environmentally friendly gas fuel, which pollutes the atmosphere three times less than fuel oil, and five times less than coal.

Sources of air pollution with toxic substances on nuclear power plants(NPP) - radioactive iodine, radioactive inert gases and aerosols. A large source of energy pollution of the atmosphere - the heating system of dwellings (boiler plants) produces little nitrogen oxides, but many products of incomplete combustion. Due to the low height of the chimneys, toxic substances in high concentrations are dispersed near the boiler plants.

Ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy. When smelting one ton of steel, 0.04 tons of solid particles, 0.03 tons of sulfur oxides and up to 0.05 tons of carbon monoxide are emitted into the atmosphere, as well as in small quantities such hazardous pollutants as manganese, lead, phosphorus, arsenic, and mercury vapours. and others. In the process of steelmaking, vapor-gas mixtures consisting of phenol, formaldehyde, benzene, ammonia and other toxic substances are emitted into the atmosphere. The atmosphere is also significantly polluted at sinter plants, at blast furnace and ferroalloy production.

Significant emissions of waste gases and dust containing toxic substances are observed at non-ferrous metallurgy plants during the processing of lead-zinc, copper, sulfide ores, in the production of aluminum, etc.

Chemical production. Emissions from this industry, although small in volume (about 2% of all industrial emissions), nevertheless, due to their very high toxicity, significant diversity and concentration, pose a significant threat to humans and the entire biota. On various chemical industries atmospheric air is polluted by sulfur oxides, fluorine compounds, ammonia, nitrous gases (a mixture of nitrogen oxides), chloride compounds, hydrogen sulfide, inorganic dust, etc.).

Vehicle emissions. There are several hundred million cars in the world that burn a huge amount of oil products, significantly polluting the air, especially in large cities. Thus, in Moscow, motor transport accounts for 80% of total emissions into the atmosphere. Exhaust gases of internal combustion engines (especially carburetor ones) contain a huge amount of toxic compounds - benzo (a) pyrene, aldehydes, nitrogen and carbon oxides, and especially dangerous lead compounds (in the case of leaded gasoline).

The largest amount of harmful substances in the composition of exhaust gases is formed when the vehicle's fuel system is not adjusted. Its correct adjustment allows reducing their number by 1.5 times, and special converters reduce the toxicity of exhaust gases by six or more times.

Intensive atmospheric air pollution is also observed during the extraction and processing of mineral raw materials, at oil and gas refineries (Fig. 1), with the release of dust and gases from underground mine workings, with the burning of garbage and burning rocks in the coverage (heaps), etc. . AT rural areas sources of air pollution are livestock and poultry farms, industrial complexes for the production of meat, pesticide spraying, etc.

Rice. 1. Routes of distribution of emissions of sulfur compounds in

area of the Astrakhan gas processing plant (APTZ)

Transboundary pollution refers to pollution transferred from the territory of one country to the area of another. Only in 2004 on European part Russia because of its disadvantageous geographical location 1204 thousand tons of sulfur compounds fell from Ukraine, Germany, Poland and other countries. At the same time, in other countries Russian sources pollution fell only 190 thousand tons of sulfur, i.e. 6.3 times less.

3. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION

Air pollution affects human health and the natural environment in various ways - from a direct and immediate threat (smog, etc.) to a slow and gradual destruction of various life support systems of the body. In many cases, air pollution disrupts the structural components of the ecosystem to such an extent that regulatory processes are unable to return them to their original state, and as a result, the homeostasis mechanism does not work.

First, consider how local (local) atmospheric pollution affects the environment, and then global.

The physiological impact on the human body of the main pollutants (pollutants) is fraught with the most serious consequences. So, sulfur dioxide, combining with moisture, forms sulfuric acid, which destroys the lung tissue of humans and animals. This relationship is especially clearly seen in the analysis of childhood pulmonary pathology and the degree of sulfur dioxide concentration in the atmosphere of large cities. According to studies by American scientists, at a pollution level of 502 to 0.049 mg / m 3, the incidence rate (in person-days) of the population of Nashville (USA) was 8.1%, at 0.150-0.349 mg / m 3 - 12 and in areas with air pollution above 0.350 mg/m3 - 43.8%. Sulfur dioxide is especially dangerous when it is deposited on dust particles and in this form penetrates deep into the respiratory tract.

Dust containing silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) causes severe lung disease - silicosis. Nitrogen oxides irritate and, in severe cases, corrode mucous membranes, such as the eyes, easily participate in the formation of poisonous mists, etc. They are especially dangerous if they are contained in polluted air together with sulfur dioxide and other toxic compounds. In these cases, even at low concentrations of pollutants, a synergistic effect occurs, i.e., an increase in the toxicity of the entire gaseous mixture.

The effect of carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide) on the human body is widely known. In acute poisoning, general weakness, dizziness, nausea, drowsiness, loss of consciousness appear, and death is possible (even after 3-7 days). However, due to the low concentration of CO in the atmospheric air, as a rule, it does not cause mass poisoning, although it is very dangerous for people suffering from anemia and cardiovascular diseases.

The consequences of exposure to the human body of harmful substances contained in the exhaust gases of cars are very serious and have the widest range of action: from coughing to death (Table 2). Severe consequences in the body of living beings are also caused by a toxic mixture of smoke, fog and dust - smog. There are two types of smog, winter smog (London type) and summer smog (Los Angeles type).

Table 2 Effects of vehicle exhaust gases on human health

Harmful substances	The consequences of exposure to the human body
carbon monoxide	Prevents the blood from absorbing oxygen, which impairs thinking ability, slows reflexes, causes drowsiness and can cause loss of consciousness and death
Lead	Affects the circulatory, nervous and genitourinary systems; probably causes mental decline in children, is deposited in bones and other tissues, therefore dangerous for a long time
nitrogen oxides	May increase the body's susceptibility to viral diseases (such as influenza), irritate the lungs, cause bronchitis and pneumonia
Ozone	Irritates the mucous membrane of the respiratory system, causes coughing, disrupts the functioning of the lungs; reduces resistance to colds; can exacerbate chronic heart disease, as well as cause asthma, bronchitis
Toxic emissions (heavy metals)	Cause cancer, reproductive dysfunction, and birth defects

The London type of smog occurs in winter in large industrial cities under adverse weather conditions (lack of wind and temperature inversion). Temperature inversion manifests itself in an increase in air temperature with height in a certain layer of the atmosphere (usually in the range of 300-400 m from the earth's surface) instead of the usual decrease. As a result, atmospheric air circulation is severely disrupted, smoke and pollutants cannot rise up and are not dispersed. Often there are fogs. The concentration of sulfur oxides and suspended dust, carbon monoxide reach levels dangerous for human health, lead to circulatory and respiratory disorders, and often to death. In 1952, more than 4,000 people died from smog in London from December 3 to December 9, and up to 10,000 people became seriously ill. At the end of 1962, in the Ruhr (Germany), 156 people were killed in three days. Only the wind can disperse the smog, and reducing the emissions of pollutants can smooth out the smog-dangerous situation.

Los Angeles type of smog, or photochemical smog, is no less dangerous than London. It occurs in the summer with intense exposure to solar radiation on air saturated, or rather oversaturated with car exhaust gases. In Los Angeles, the exhaust gases of more than four million cars emit only nitrogen oxides in the amount of more than a thousand tons per day. With very weak air movement or calm air in this period, complex reactions occur with the formation of new highly toxic pollutants - photooxide (ozone, organic peroxides, nitrites, etc.), which irritate the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, lungs and organs of vision. In only one city (Tokyo), smog poisoned 10,000 people in 1970 and 28,000 in 1971. According to official figures, mortality in Athens on smog days is six times higher than on days of a relatively clean atmosphere. In some of our cities (Kemerovo, Angarsk, Novokuznetsk, Mednogorsk, etc.), especially in those located in the lowlands, due to an increase in the number of cars and an increase in emissions of exhaust gases containing nitrogen oxide, the likelihood of photochemical smog is increasing.

Ecological literature describes cases of mass poisoning of wild animals, birds, and insects due to emissions of harmful pollutants of high concentration (especially salvos). Thus, for example, it has been established that when certain toxic types of dust settle on melliferous plants, a noticeable increase in the mortality of bees is observed. As for large animals, the poisonous dust in the atmosphere affects them mainly through the respiratory organs, as well as entering the body along with the dusty plants eaten.

Gaseous pollutants affect vegetation in different ways. Some only slightly damage leaves, needles, shoots (carbon monoxide, ethylene, etc.), others have a detrimental effect on plants (sulfur dioxide, chlorine, mercury vapor, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, etc.) (Table 13:3). Sulfur dioxide (502) is especially dangerous for plants, under the influence of which many trees die, and primarily conifers - pines, spruces, firs, and cedars.

Table 3 - Toxicity of air pollutants for plants

Harmful substances	Characteristic
sulphur dioxide	The main pollutant, a poison for the assimilation organs of plants, acts at a distance of up to 30 km
Hydrogen fluoride and silicon tetrafluoride	Toxic even in small quantities, prone to aerosol formation, effective at distances up to 5 km
Chlorine, hydrogen chloride	Damage mostly at close range
Lead compounds, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides	Infect vegetation in areas of high concentration of industry and transport
hydrogen sulfide	Cellular and enzyme poison
Ammonia	Damages plants at close range

4. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF GLOBAL AIR POLLUTION

The most important environmental consequences of global air pollution include:

possible climate warming (“greenhouse effect”);

violation of the ozone layer;

fallout of acid rain.

Most scientists in the world consider them as the biggest environmental problems of our time.

Possible warming of the climate (“Greenhouse effect”). The currently observed climate change, which is expressed in a gradual increase in the average annual temperature since the second half of the last century, most scientists associate with the accumulation in the atmosphere of the so-called "greenhouse gases" - carbon dioxide (CO 2), methane (CH 4), chlorofluorocarbons ( freovs), ozone (O 3), nitrogen oxides, etc.

Greenhouse gases, and primarily CO 2 , prevent long-wave thermal radiation from the Earth's surface. An atmosphere rich in greenhouse gases acts like the roof of a greenhouse. On the one hand, it passes most of the solar radiation inside, on the other hand, it almost does not let the heat reradiated by the Earth pass outside.

In connection with the burning of more and more fossil fuels: oil, gas, coal, etc. (annually more than 9 billion tons of standard fuel), the concentration of CO 2 in the atmosphere is constantly increasing. Due to emissions into the atmosphere during industrial production and in everyday life, the content of freons (chlorofluorocarbons) is growing. The content of methane increases by 1-1.5% per year (emissions from underground mine workings, biomass combustion, emissions from cattle, etc.). To a lesser extent, the content of nitrogen oxide in the atmosphere also grows (by 0.3% annually).

A consequence of the increase in the concentrations of these gases, which create a "greenhouse effect", is an increase in the average global air temperature near the earth's surface. Over the past 100 years, the warmest years have been 1980, 1981, 1983, 1987, 2006 and 1988. In 1988, the average annual temperature was 0.4 °C higher than in 1950-1980. Calculations by some scientists show that in 2009 it will increase by 1.5 °C compared to 1950-1980. The report, prepared under the auspices of the UN by the international group on climate change, argues that by 2100 the temperature on Earth will be above 2-4 degrees. The scale of warming in this relatively short period will be comparable to the warming that occurred on Earth after the ice age, which means that the environmental consequences can be catastrophic. First of all, this is due to the expected rise in the level of the World Ocean due to the melting of polar ice, the reduction in the areas of mountain glaciation, etc. Modeling the environmental consequences of an increase in ocean level by only 0.5-2.0 m by the end of the 21st century, scientists have found that that this will inevitably lead to disruption of the climatic balance, flooding of coastal plains in more than 30 countries, degradation of permafrost, swamping of vast territories and other adverse consequences.

However, a number of scientists see positive environmental consequences in the alleged global warming.

An increase in the concentration of CO 2 in the atmosphere and the associated increase in photosynthesis, as well as an increase in climate humidification, can, in their opinion, lead to an increase in the productivity of both natural phytocenoses (forests, meadows, savannahs, etc.) and agrocenoses (cultivated plants, gardens , vineyards, etc.).

There is also no unanimity of opinion on the issue of the degree of influence of greenhouse gases on global climate warming. Thus, in the report of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Climate Change (1992) it is noted that the observed warming of the climate by 0.3-0.6 in the last century could be due mainly to the natural variability of a number of climatic factors.

In connection with these data, Academician K. Ya. Kondratiev (1993) believes that there are no grounds for one-sided enthusiasm for the stereotype of "greenhouse" warming and putting forward the task of reducing greenhouse gas emissions as central to the problem of preventing undesirable changes in the global climate.

In his opinion, the most important factor in the anthropogenic impact on the global climate is the degradation of the biosphere, and therefore, first of all, it is necessary to take care of the preservation of the biosphere as the main factor in global environmental security. Man, using a power of about 10 TW, has destroyed or severely disrupted the normal functioning of natural communities of organisms on 60% of the land. As a result, a significant amount of substances was withdrawn from the biogenic cycle of substances, which was previously spent by biota on stabilizing climatic conditions. Against the background of a constant reduction in areas with undisturbed communities, the degraded biosphere, which has sharply reduced its assimilating capacity, is becoming the most important source of increased emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

At an international conference in Toronto (Canada) in 1985, the world's energy industry was tasked with reducing industrial carbon emissions by 20% by 2008. At the UN Conference in Kyoto (Japan) in 1997, the governments of 84 countries of the world signed the Kyoto Protocol, according to which countries should emit no more anthropogenic carbon dioxide than they emitted in 1990. But it is obvious that a tangible environmental effect can only be obtained when these measures are combined with the global direction of environmental policy - the maximum possible preservation of communities of organisms, natural ecosystems and the entire biosphere of the Earth.

Ozone depletion. The ozone layer (ozonosphere) covers the entire globe and is located at altitudes from 10 to 50 km with a maximum ozone concentration at an altitude of 20-25 km. The saturation of the atmosphere with ozone is constantly changing in any part of the planet, reaching a maximum in the spring in the subpolar region.

For the first time, the depletion of the ozone layer attracted the attention of the general public in 1985, when an area with a low (up to 50%) ozone content, called the "ozone hole", was discovered over Antarctica. Since then, measurements have confirmed the widespread depletion of the ozone layer on almost the entire planet. So, for example, in Russia over the past 10 years, the concentration of the ozone layer has decreased by 4-6% in winter and by 3% in summer.

Currently, the depletion of the ozone layer is recognized by all as a serious threat to global environmental security. A decrease in ozone concentration weakens the ability of the atmosphere to protect all life on Earth from hard ultraviolet radiation (UV radiation). Living organisms are very vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation, because the energy of even one photon from these rays is enough to destroy the chemical bonds in most organic molecules. It is no coincidence, therefore, that in areas with a low ozone content, sunburns are numerous, there is an increase in the incidence of skin cancer, etc. 6 million people. In addition to skin diseases, it is possible to develop eye diseases (cataracts, etc.), suppression of the immune system, etc.

It has also been established that under the influence of strong ultraviolet radiation, plants gradually lose their ability to photosynthesis, and disruption of the vital activity of plankton leads to a break in the trophic chains of the biota of aquatic ecosystems, etc.

Science has not yet fully established what are the main processes that violate the ozone layer. Both natural and anthropogenic origin of "ozone holes" is assumed. The latter, according to most scientists, is more likely and is associated with an increased content of chlorofluorocarbons (freons). Freons are widely used in industrial production and in everyday life (cooling units, solvents, sprayers, aerosol packages, etc.). Rising into the atmosphere, freons decompose with the release of chlorine oxide, which has a detrimental effect on ozone molecules.

According to the international environmental organization Greenpeace, the main suppliers of chlorofluorocarbons (freons) are the USA - 30.85%, Japan - 12.42; Great Britain - 8.62 and Russia - 8.0%. The United States punched a "hole" in the ozone layer with an area of 7 million km2, Japan - 3 million km2, which is seven times larger than the area of Japan itself. Recently, factories have been built in the USA and in a number of Western countries for the production of new types of refrigerants (hydrochlorofluorocarbons) with a low potential for ozone depletion.

According to the protocol of the Montreal Conference (1987), later revised in London (1991) and Copenhagen (1992), it was envisaged to reduce chlorofluorocarbon emissions by 50% by 1998. In accordance with the Law of the Russian Federation "On Environmental Protection" (2002), the protection of the ozone layer of the atmosphere from environmentally dangerous changes is ensured by regulating the production and use of substances that deplete the ozone layer of the atmosphere, based on international treaties Russian Federation and its legislation. In the future, the problem of protecting people from UV radiation must continue to be addressed, since many of the chlorofluorocarbons can persist in the atmosphere for hundreds of years. A number of scientists continue to insist on the natural origin of the "ozone hole". Some see the reasons for its occurrence in the natural variability of the ozonosphere, the cyclic activity of the Sun, while others associate these processes with rifting and degassing of the Earth.

acid rain. One of the most important environmental problems associated with the oxidation of the natural environment is acid rain. They are formed during industrial emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere, which, when combined with atmospheric moisture, form sulfuric and nitric acids. As a result, rain and snow are acidified (pH value below 5.6). In Bavaria (FRG) in August 1981 it rained with the formation of 80,

The water of open reservoirs is acidified. The fish are dying

The total global anthropogenic emissions of the two main air pollutants - the culprits of atmospheric moisture acidification - SO 2 and NO 2 are annually more than 255 million tons (2004). Over a vast territory, the natural environment is acidified, which has a very negative impact on the state of all ecosystems. It turned out that natural ecosystems are destroyed even at a lower level of air pollution than that which is dangerous for humans.

The danger is, as a rule, not the acid precipitation itself, but the processes occurring under their influence. Under the action of acid precipitation, not only vital nutrients for plants are leached from the soil, but also toxic heavy and light metals - lead, cadmium, aluminum, etc. Subsequently, they themselves or the resulting toxic compounds are absorbed by plants and other soil organisms, which leads to very negative consequences. For example, an increase in aluminum content in acidified water to only 0.2 mg per liter is lethal for fish. The development of phytoplankton is sharply reduced, since the phosphates that activate this process are combined with aluminum and become less available for absorption. Aluminum also reduces wood growth. The toxicity of heavy metals (cadmium, lead, etc.) is even more pronounced.

Fifty million hectares of forests in 25 European countries are affected by a complex mixture of pollutants, including acid rain, ozone, toxic metals, and others. For example, coniferous mountain forests in Bavaria are dying. There have been cases of damage to coniferous and deciduous forests in Karelia, Siberia and other regions of our country.

The impact of acid rain reduces the resistance of forests to droughts, diseases, and natural pollution, which leads to even more pronounced degradation of forests as natural ecosystems.

A striking example of the negative impact of acid precipitation on natural ecosystems is the acidification of lakes. It occurs especially intensively in Canada, Sweden, Norway, and southern Finland (Table 4). This is explained by the fact that a significant part of sulfur emissions in such industrialized countries as the USA, Germany and Great Britain falls on their territory (Fig. 4). The lakes are the most vulnerable in these countries, since the bedrocks that make up their bed are usually represented by granite-gneisses and granites, which are not able to neutralize acid precipitation, in contrast, for example, to limestones, which create an alkaline environment and prevent acidification. Strongly acidified and many lakes in the north of the United States.

Table 4 - Acidification of lakes in the world

The country	The state of the lakes
Canada	More than 14 thousand lakes are strongly acidified; every seventh lake in the east of the country suffered biological damage
Norway	In water bodies with a total area of 13 thousand km 2, fish were destroyed and another 20 thousand km2 were affected
Sweden	In 14 thousand lakes, the species most sensitive to the level of acidity have been destroyed; 2200 lakes are practically lifeless
Finland	8% of lakes do not have the ability to neutralize acid. The most acidified lakes in the southern part of the country
USA	There are about 1,000 acidified lakes in the country and 3,000 almost acidic lakes (data from the Environmental Protection Fund). EPA studies in 1984 showed that 522 lakes are highly acidic and 964 are on the verge of this.

Acidification of lakes is dangerous not only for the populations of various fish species (including salmon, whitefish, etc.), but often entails the gradual death of plankton, numerous species of algae and other inhabitants, the lakes become practically lifeless.

In our country, the area of significant acidification from acid precipitation reaches several tens of million hectares. Particular cases of acidification of lakes have also been noted (Karelia, etc.). Increased acidity of precipitation is observed along the western border (transboundary transport of sulfur and other pollutants) and on the territory of a number of large industrial regions, as well as fragmentarily on Vorontsov A.P. Rational nature management. Tutorial. -M.: Association of Authors and Publishers "TANDEM". EKMOS Publishing House, 2000. - 498 p. Characteristics of the enterprise as a source of air pollution MAIN TYPES OF ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACTS ON THE BIOSPHERE THE PROBLEM OF ENERGY SUPPORT FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF HUMANITY AND PROSPECTS FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY

2014-06-13

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