Mine Water Pollution in Canada
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
Download PDF 303 KB
HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY HEALTHY CANADIANS the aır we breathe AN INTERNATIONAL COMPARISON OF AIR QUALITY STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES ir pollution is the most harmful environmental problem in Canada in terms of human health effects, causing thousands of deaths, millions of cases of illness, billions of dollars in health care expenses, and tens of billions of dollars in lost productivity every year. To put these figures in context, the magnitude of deaths Aand illnesses caused by air pollution in Canada is equivalent to a Walkerton water disaster happening on a daily basis. This report compares Canada’s voluntary air quality guidelines with the legally binding national standards in the United States, Europe, and Australia, as well as the recommendations published by the World Health Organization. Ozone, particulate matter, sulphur oxides, ni- trogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and lead – known as the six criteria air pollutants – are the focus of the comparative analysis. The disturbing but undeniable conclusion reached by this study is that Canada provides weaker protection for human health from the negative effects of air pollution than the U.S., Australia, or the European Union. Canada is the only nation to rely on voluntary national guidelines, which provide a far weaker approach to air pollution than the national standards in the U.S., Australia, and the European Union. Canada’s air quality guidelines are weaker than the European Union standards on five out of six air pollutants. Canada’s air quality guidelines also are weaker than the Australian stand- ards on five out of six air pollutants. Canada’s air quality guidelines are weaker than the World Health Organization recommendations for all five air pollutants with WHO standards (nei- ther the WHO nor Canada has a guideline for lead). -
Paani Foundation Is a Not-For-Profit Organization Which Has Been the Brainchild of Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao
ANNUAL REPORT PAANI FOUNDATION’S ACTIVITIES IN 2016 Background: Paani Foundation is a not-for-profit organization which has been the brainchild of Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao. The organization was registered in early 2016 in order to work towards creating a drought-free Maharashtra. The idea originated from the television show Satyameva Jayate which was being anchored by Aamir Khan , addressing various social issues . One of the crucial issues that strongly came up was the water scarcity in Maharashtra which was mainly due to the topographical pattern of large areas in existence which are drought prone and face serious lack of rain every year. India is classified globally as a water-adequate nation. It has neither abundance nor scarcity. It has enough for its needs. Yet, increasingly, more and more people do not have water to drink, more and more farmers face drought and starvation, and more and more industries shut down or cannot grow because of a shortage of water. The reason for the Water Crisis: The crisis is largely man-made and has four key causes: 1. Pollution: We have polluted our lakes and rivers. 2. Over-Exploitation: We have recklessly pumped out ground water without bothering to recharge the groundwater table resulting in a catastrophic fall in its level. 3. Irrational Water Management: Can be described well with the example of highly water-intensive sugarcane cultivation in drought-prone areas. 4. Climate Change: Rainfall is getting compressed in both space and time. The number of rain days is decreasing. Rainfall is concentrated in small areas with vast land masses subject to drought. -
The Legislative and Regulatory Framework for Oil Sands Development in Alberta: a Detailed Review and Analysis
University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Research Centres, Institutes, Projects and Units Canadian Institute of Resources Law 2007 The Legislative and Regulatory Framework for Oil Sands Development in Alberta: A Detailed Review and Analysis Vlavianos, Nickie Canadian Institute of Resources Law by Nickie Vlavianos, The Legislative and Regulatory Framework for Oil Sands Development in Alberta: A Detailed Review and Analysis, Occasional Paper No. 21 (Calgary: Canadian Institute of Resources Law, 2007) http://hdl.handle.net/1880/47188 working paper Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca Canadian Institute of Resources Law Institut canadien du droit des ressources The Legislative and Regulatory Framework for Oil Sands Development in Alberta: A Detailed Review and Analysis Nickie Vlavianos Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law Research Associate, Canadian Institute of Resources Law University of Calgary CIRL Occasional Paper #21 August 2007 MFH 3353, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4 Tel: (403) 220-3200 Fax: (403) 282-6182 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.cirl.ca CIRL Occasional Paper #21 All rights reserved. No part of this paper may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher: Canadian Institute of Resources Law, Murray Fraser Hall, Room 3353 (MFH 3353), University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 1N4 Copyright © 2007 Canadian Institute of Resources Law Institut canadien du droit des ressources University of Calgary Printed in Canada ii ♦ Framework for Oil Sands Development CIRL Occasional Paper #21 Canadian Institute of Resources Law The Canadian Institute of Resources Law was incorporated in 1979 with a mandate to examine the legal aspects of both renewable and non-renewable resources. -
Stormwater Management: Water Pollution and Our Own Yards Kelly A
® ® University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Know how. Know now. G1848 Stormwater Management: Water Pollution and Our Own Yards Kelly A. Feehan, Extension Educator David P. Shelton, Extension Agricultural Engineer Steven R. Tonn, Extension Educator of non-stormwater discharges such as improper connections to This NebGuide describes practices to reduce water the drainage system or illegal dumping. pollution and conserve water resources by reducing While the amount of pollutants originating from a single the amount of pollutants and runoff water that leave a residential lot is small (Figure 1), these pollutants combine property. This is part of a series. with pollutants from other lots and from municipal and busi- ness properties. Streams, rivers, and lakes are interconnected. Protection of water quality is an environmental issue Once pollutants reach a waterway, the pollution from one town everyone faces. When it rains and as snow melts, water runs combines with pollution from other cities, towns, rural areas, across and off our property. This runoff water is referred to and so on. Everyone lives in a watershed, that area of land as stormwater. As stormwater flows across surfaces, it picks that drains to a specific body of water, and everyday actions up pollutants in its path and eventually deposits them into affect water quality in watersheds. streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, or other surface water. It is through stormwater that many pollutants such as sediment, nutrients, bacteria, heavy met- als, and others reach surface water. This is called nonpoint source pollution. It cannot be easily traced to one source or one property. -
Pollution Brochure
THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT Water What Can You Do? AND PLANNING AGENCY Jamaica, as a small mountainous island, is particu- • Dispose of and store chemicals properly larly vulnerable to the effects of water pollution. Pol- • Learn more about the proper disposal of waste Pollution luted water adversely affects coastal and marine en- • Get involved in environmental action groups vironments. Some sources of water pollution include: • Reduce noise Is Our Concern • Report offensive odours and emissions from • Sewage effluent (treated and untreated) factories and commercial sites Surface run off from agricultural sources which • • Do not burn your garbage may carry solid waste and dissolved chemicals • Do not throw garbage into gullies, drains and such as pesticides rivers • Oil pollution from off shore oil spills, drilling, • Reduce, reuse and recycle tanker washing and industrial effluent Air Pollution Noise Frequent exposure to high levels of noise can cause Land pollution headaches, high level of stress and temporary or Managing & protecting Jamaica’s permanent deafness. Sleep as well as concentration land, wood & water can be affected by noise. Some sources of noise pollution include: For further information contact The Public Education and Corporate • Loud music and talking Communication Branch of National Environment and Planning Agency • Honking horns (NEPA) • Industrial activity (factory noise) 10 & 11 Caledonia Avenue, Kingston 5 Water pollution • Low flying aeroplanes and motor vehicles Tel: 754-7540, Fax: 754-7595/6 What is Environmental Pollution ? Toll free: 1-888-991-5005 Environmental pollution may be defined as; the contamination Email: [email protected] of the environment by man through substances or energy Website: www.nepa.gov.jm which may cause harm or discomfort to humans, other living organisms and ecological systems. -
Diffuse Pollution, Degraded Waters Emerging Policy Solutions
Diffuse Pollution, Degraded Waters Emerging Policy Solutions Policy HIGHLIGHTS Diffuse Pollution, Degraded Waters Emerging Policy Solutions “OECD countries have struggled to adequately address diffuse water pollution. It is much easier to regulate large, point source industrial and municipal polluters than engage with a large number of farmers and other land-users where variable factors like climate, soil and politics come into play. But the cumulative effects of diffuse water pollution can be devastating for human well-being and ecosystem health. Ultimately, they can undermine sustainable economic growth. Many countries are trying innovative policy responses with some measure of success. However, these approaches need to be replicated, adapted and massively scaled-up if they are to have an effect.” Simon Upton – OECD Environment Director POLICY H I GH LI GHT S After decades of regulation and investment to reduce point source water pollution, OECD countries still face water quality challenges (e.g. eutrophication) from diffuse agricultural and urban sources of pollution, i.e. pollution from surface runoff, soil filtration and atmospheric deposition. The relative lack of progress reflects the complexities of controlling multiple pollutants from multiple sources, their high spatial and temporal variability, the associated transactions costs, and limited political acceptability of regulatory measures. The OECD report Diffuse Pollution, Degraded Waters: Emerging Policy Solutions (OECD, 2017) outlines the water quality challenges facing OECD countries today. It presents a range of policy instruments and innovative case studies of diffuse pollution control, and concludes with an integrated policy framework to tackle this challenge. An optimal approach will likely entail a mix of policy interventions reflecting the basic OECD principles of water quality management – pollution prevention, treatment at source, the polluter pays and the beneficiary pays principles, equity, and policy coherence. -
The Causes of Urban Stormwater Pollution
THE CAUSES OF URBAN STORMWATER POLLUTION Some Things To Think About Runoff pollution occurs every time rain or snowmelt flows across the ground and picks up contaminants. It occurs on farms or other agricultural sites, where the water carries away fertilizers, pesticides, and sediment from cropland or pastureland. It occurs during forestry operations (particularly along timber roads), where the water carries away sediment, and the nutrients and other materials associated with that sediment, from land which no longer has enough living vegetation to hold soil in place. This information, however, focuses on runoff pollution from developed areas, which occurs when stormwater carries away a wide variety of contaminants as it runs across rooftops, roads, parking lots, baseball diamonds, construction sites, golf courses, lawns, and other surfaces in our City. The oily sheen on rainwater in roadside gutters is but one common example of urban runoff pollution. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) now considers pollution from all diffuse sources, including urban stormwater pollution, to be the most important source of contamination in our nation's waters. 1 While polluted runoff from agricultural sources may be an even more important source of water pollution than urban runoff, urban runoff is still a critical source of contamination, particularly for waters near cities -- and thus near most people. EPA ranks urban runoff and storm-sewer discharges as the second most prevalent source of water quality impairment in our nation's estuaries, and the fourth most prevalent source of impairment of our lakes. Most of the U.S. population lives in urban and coastal areas where the water resources are highly vulnerable to and are often severely degraded by urban runoff. -
Students' Opinions on the Light Pollution Application
International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 2015, 8(1), 55-68 Students’ Opinions on the Light Pollution Application Cengiz ÖZYÜREK Ordu University, Turkey Güliz AYDIN Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Turkey Received: June, 2015 / Revised: August, 2015 / Accepted: August, 2015 Abstract The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of computer-animated concept cartoons and outdoor science activities on creating awareness among seventh graders about light pollution. It also aims to identify the views of the students on the activities that were carried out. This study used one group pre-test/post-test experimental design model with 30 seventh graders. The data in the study were collected via open-ended questions on light pollution and semi-structured interview questions. The open-ended questions on light pollution were administered as a pre-test and a post- test. After the post-test was administered, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven students. The data collected from the open-ended questions and semi-structured interviews were qualitatively analysed and quotes from the students’ statements were included. Looking at the answers of the students to questions on light pollution, it was understood that the activities that were carried out were effective. Furthermore, all of the students that were interviewed made positive statements about the activities that were carried out. Keywords: Light pollution, Concept cartoons, Students’ views. Introduction Humans are an indispensable part of the environment that they live in. Due to the rapid increase in population, overurbanization, industrialization and, consequently, the excessive use of natural resources, today, environmental issues have become global issues. -
Lesson 2. Pollution and Water Quality Pollution Sources
NEIGHBORHOOD WATER QUALITY Lesson 2. Pollution and Water Quality Keywords: pollutants, water pollution, point source, non-point source, urban pollution, agricultural pollution, atmospheric pollution, smog, nutrient pollution, eutrophication, organic pollution, herbicides, pesticides, chemical pollution, sediment pollution, stormwater runoff, urbanization, algae, phosphate, nitrogen, ion, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, nitrifying bacteria, proteins, water quality, pH, acid, alkaline, basic, neutral, dissolved oxygen, organic material, temperature, thermal pollution, salinity Pollution Sources Water becomes polluted when point source pollution. This type of foreign substances enter the pollution is difficult to identify and environment and are transported into may come from pesticides, fertilizers, the water cycle. These substances, or automobile fluids washed off the known as pollutants, contaminate ground by a storm. Non-point source the water and are sometimes pollution comes from three main harmful to people and the areas: urban-industrial, agricultural, environment. Therefore, water and atmospheric sources. pollution is any change in water that is harmful to living organisms. Urban pollution comes from the cities, where many people live Sources of water pollution are together on a small amount of land. divided into two main categories: This type of pollution results from the point source and non-point source. things we do around our homes and Point source pollution occurs when places of work. Agricultural a pollutant is discharged at a specific pollution comes from rural areas source. In other words, the source of where fewer people live. This type of the pollutant can be easily identified. pollution results from runoff from Examples of point-source pollution farmland, and consists of pesticides, include a leaking pipe or a holding fertilizer, and eroded soil. -
Water Pollution from Agriculture: a Global Review
LED BY Water pollution from agriculture: a global review Executive summary © FAO & IWMI, 2017 I7754EN/1/08.17 Water pollution from agriculture: a global review Executive summary by Javier Mateo-Sagasta (IWMI), Sara Marjani Zadeh (FAO) and Hugh Turral with contributions from Jacob Burke (formerly FAO) Published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Rome, 2017 and the International Water Management Institute on behalf of the Water Land and Ecosystems research program Colombo, 2017 FAO and IWMI encourage the use, reproduction and dissemination of material in this information product. Except where otherwise indicated, material may be copied, downloaded and printed for private study, research and teaching purposes, or for use in non-commercial products or services, provided that appropriate acknowledgement of FAO and IWMI as the source and copyright holder is given and that FAO’s and IWMI’s endorsement of users’ views, products or services is not implied in any way. All requests for translation and adaptation rights, and for resale and other commercial use rights should be made via www.fao.org/contact-us/licence- request or addressed to [email protected]. FAO information products are available on the FAO website (www.fao.org/ publications) and can be purchased through [email protected]” © FAO and IWMI, 2017 Cover photograph: © Jim Holmes/IWMI Neil Palmer (IWMI) A GLOBAL WATER-QUALITY CRISIS AND THE ROLE OF AGRICULTURE Water pollution is a global challenge that has increased in both developed and developing countries, undermining economic growth as well as the physical and environmental health of billions of people. -
Protecting Water Quality from Agricultural Runoff
Protecting Water Quality EPA 841-F-05-001 from AGRICULTURAL R UNOFF Clean Water Is Everybody’s Business he United States has more than T330 million acres of agricultural What Is Nonpoint Source Pollution? land that produce an abundant supply Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, unlike pollution from point sources of food and other products. Ameri- such as industrial and sewage treatment plants, comes from many can agriculture is noted worldwide for its high productivity, quality, and diffuse sources. Polluted runoff is caused by rainfall or snowmelt efficiency in delivering goods to the moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks consumer. When improperly managed up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, finally however, activities from working farms depositing them into watersheds through lakes, rivers, wetlands, and ranches can affect water quality. coastal waters, and even our underground sources of drinking water. In the 2000 National Water Quality Inventory, states reported that agricul- Did you know that runoff from farms is the leading source of tural nonpoint source (NPS) pollution impairments to surveyed rivers and lakes? is the leading source of water quality impacts on surveyed rivers and lakes, to reduce pollution also increase In addition, other pollutants like the second largest source of impair- productivity and save farmers and fertilizers, pesticides, and heavy metals ments to wetlands, and a major ranchers money in the long run. are often attached to the soil particles contributor to contamination of sur- and wash into the water bodies, causing There are many government programs veyed estuaries and ground water. -
2021 BC State of the Air Report
BC LUNG ASSOCIATION state CELEBRATING THE CLEAN AIR MONTH OF JUNE OVID-19’s economic consequences are apparent everywhere. Yet the impact of 1 C COVID-19 restrictions on air quality and health are of less obvious – as are the effects of poor air quality on COVID-19 transmission and illness severity. 2 Accordingly, we begin this year’s State of the Air the Report with key findings on the subject, which a panel of international experts presented at the 18th Annual Air Quality & Health Workshop. We also provide an update on small air sensors’ 20 air reliability in measuring local air quality. Despite issues with certain models, Metro Vancouver and Environment and Climate Change Canada have recognized the potential of sensors in supplementing their air monitoring and forecasting efforts. In 2018, after the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) periodically under-reported health risks from wildfire smoke in our province, the AQHI-Plus was developed. We feature this novel tool that has been recently adopted as a complementary model to AQHI. Speaking of wildfire smoke, B.C.’s wildfire season is constantly setting new records in both duration and severity. As another wildfire season becomes imminent, we offer 10 best practices to limit our exposure, protect our health, and better prepare us this year. Another innovation we’re featuring is UBC’s SmellVan, a web-based app that collects odour information from user-submitted reports to paint a “smellscape” (smell landscape). The SmellVan app does not replace Metro Vancouver’s odour complaint process, but it offers information useful to the agency’s air quality work.