Types of pollution Essay Example for Free

Types of pollution Essay Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into our environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollutants, the elements of pollution, can be substances, energies, or naturally occurring. Pollution can be natural and man-made. Natural pollution occurs naturally and does not cause excessive harm to our lives due to its regeneration ability. While the man-made pollution is caused by human activities, and is hard to get rid of. The backbones of man-made pollution are human population and technology. By the increase of human population, the contact with natural resources is getting more intensive, because needs are increasing. And by the findings and development of new technologies, human can apply them to get the resources. And it is common that new technologies would bring their respective side effects besides their advantages. Types of pollution There are four common types of pollution that I know, which are: Air Pollution Water Pollution Land or Soil Pollution Noise Pollution Air pollution Air pollution is indication of disturbances to the composition of compounds in the atmosphere, as it may be summarized as: †¢excess emission of gases, vapors or air pollutants like carbon particals, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, lead, CFCs into the atmosphere †¢saturation of chemical compounds or particulates †¢emergence of new chemical reactions of reactive and non-biodegradable compounds. Causes We can classify major causes of air pollution into the following categories: †¢Motor Vehicle Exhaust †¢Heat And Power Generation Facilities †¢Industrial Processes †¢Automobile And Electrical Components Manufacturing †¢Fertilizer Plants †¢Building Demolition †¢Solid Waste Disposal †¢Volcanic Eruption †¢Fuel Production †¢Roadway Construction †¢Forest Fires †¢Agriculture Effects †¢Global warming- it is an increase in the earths atmospheric and oceanic temperatures widely predicted to occur due to an increase in the greenhouse effect. †¢Acid rain-it is any precipitation, including snow, that contains a heavy concentration of sulfuric and nitric acids. It makes the soil acidic, affects plants and damages buildings, monuments, etc. †¢Smog-it is a fog made heavier and darker by smoke and chemical fumes. It is caused due to hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen especially from automobile exhaust †¢Ozone depletion- the ozone layer in the atmosphere protects us from the harmful ultra violet rays of the sun. However, CFCs, and some other air pollutants that diffuse into the ozone layer, destroy ozone. †¢Health problems- carbon particles cause respiratory problems, carbon monoxide causes headaches, dizziness, nausea and even death and lead affects the liver, kidney and the alimentary canal and causes mental disorders. Prevention Prevention of air pollution: †¢Using smokeless sources of energy like smokeless stoves †¢use smokeless fuels like biogas and LPG at home and CNG in cars. †¢Using wet scrubbers and electrostatic precipitators (air pollution control devices) for filtering smoke in chimneys of factories and powerhouses. †¢Planting more trees that absorb excess CO2 and give out O2. †¢Locating industries away from residential areas. †¢Strictly checking pollution levels in automobiles’ exhaust emission. †¢Using unleaded petrol. †¢Using other sources of energy like wind energy, solar energy and tidal energy. Water pollution Water pollution is contamination of water by foreign matter that deteriorates the quality of the water. Water pollution covers pollutions in liquid forms like ocean pollution and river pollution. It involves the release of toxic substances, pathogenic germs, substances that require much oxygen to decompose, easy-soluble substances, radioactivity, etc. that interfere with the condition of aquatic ecosystems. Causes We can classify the major causes of water pollution into the following categories: †¢Petroleum Products †¢Synthetic Agricultural Chemicals(fertilizers, pesticides) †¢Heavy Metals †¢Hazardous Wastes from homes and factories †¢Excess Organic Matter †¢Infectious Organisms †¢Air Pollution †¢Soil Pollution Effects †¢Direct disposal of waste into natural waterways causes waste to build up within the water. †¢When the acid rain falls, it contaminates local natural waterways including streams, rivers and lakes. This causes the death of many aquatic animals. Other animals drinking the water may become ill and die, too. †¢Thermal pollution occurs when water used to cool hot machinery is released into waterways and the temperature of the water is drastically increased. This temperature change may cause aquatic life to die and numbers to be reduced. Additionally, such a temperature increase decreases the amount of oxygen in water, causing more of a chance of death to organisms. †¢Drinking polluted water can cause cholera or typhoid infections, along with diarrhea. The consumption of highly contaminated water can cause injury to the heart and kidneys. †¢Toxins within water can harm aquatic organisms, thus breaking a link in the food chain. †¢Causes algae in water. They decrease oxygen in water. Overgrowth of algae and surface life leading to loss of light and nutrients to deep aquatic life. †¢The erosion of soil into waterways causes flooding, especially with heavy rainfall. †¢Harms animals when they eat dead fish in contaminated streams. Prevention †¢Treat domestic sewage water and use it to irrigate crops. †¢Convert sewage sludge to generate biogas †¢Use residue from biogas for regeneration as organic manure. †¢Reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers †¢Treat wastewater from industries in effluent treatment plants before disposing them †¢Reduce consumption of water in industries. Land or Soil pollution Soil pollution or land pollution involves the following mechanism: †¢Deposition of solid waste †¢Accumulation of non-biodegradable materials †¢Toxification of chemicals into poisons †¢Alteration of soil chemical composition (imbalance of chemical equilibrium to soil medium) Causes We can classify the major causes of land pollution into the following categories: †¢Agriculture (pesticides, insecticides) †¢Cutting of trees for agriculture, mining, quarrying and constructions †¢Sewage Sludge †¢Dredged Spoils †¢Dumping of household waste, industrial waste, non-biodegradable wastes Effects †¢Land pollutions leads to loss in the forest cover of Earth. This is in turn going to affect the amount of rain. Less rains mean lesser vegetation. †¢One of the biggest threats to the eco-system caused by land pollution is chemical contamination. The biodegrade particles poison the ground itself. Animals eat the plants growing on such grounds and even humans are all affected by these chemicals. †¢When land pollution is bad enough, it damages the soil. This means that plants may fail to grow there, robbing the eco-system of a food source for animals. Invasive weeds that choke off the remaining sources of native vegetation can spring up in areas that have been weakened by pollution. †¢In some cases, pollution can damage the soil to the point that vegetation no longer grows. This may lead to erosion of the soil. †¢Polluted land has a negative impact on surrounding environments. Land pollution that contaminates soil can also contaminate waterways. Contaminated water that evaporates into the atmosphere can fall back to the earth as acid rain, causing the cycle of contamination and pollution to continue. Prevention †¢Separate wastes into biodegradable and non-biodegradable. †¢Biodegradable wastes could be used as manure while non-biodegradable wastes should be recycled. †¢Treat industrial effluents physically, chemically and biologically until they are less harmful. †¢Use manures or biofertilisation instead of their chemical alternatives †¢Use designated pits for dumping of solid wastes. Noise pollution Noise pollution means excessive noise in the environment which is annoying and potentially harmful Causes †¢Industries †¢Transportation systems †¢Construction works †¢Loudspeakers †¢Entertainment systems Effects †¢Auditory fatigue †¢Deafness †¢Annoyance †¢Loss of working efficiency †¢Interference in speech communication †¢Physical disorder like stress, nausea, high blood pressure, sleep loss and increase in heartbeats. Preventions †¢Turning down the volume of music systems, radios, and televisions so as not to disturb others. †¢Ban on loudspeakers in public places †¢Creating green belts between residential and industrial sectors. Conclusion Pollution is a growing pain. Pollution is not a problem that came suddenly; its our fault and has been a part of our life through many years. We must be wise in managing our resources, and take positive action towards preventing any forms of pollution to the environment.

Analysis of Howard Zinns Argument in his Article Dying for the Governm

Analysis of Howard Zinn's Argument in his Article "Dying for the Government" In June of 2003, Howard Zinn’s â€Å"Dying for the Government† was published in â€Å"The Progressive† newspaper. He discusses the government’s claim to military victory in Iraq, and he believes that many innocent people have died for an unjust cause in that war. His claim is that soldiers died for their government, not their country. An important part of his argument is his discussion of democracy, which he says is what our country is supposed to be based on. He also brings up some history of U.S. wars and quotes Mark Twain’s statement about the invasion of the Phillipines by the United States. Even though some of his assertions lack evidence, Zinn uses authority and structure very well to make his argument effective. Some of Zinn’s assertions are a bit sketchy in his essay because there is no evidence that proves them true. One that really stands out is when he writes, â€Å"[they] died for Bush and Cheney and Rumsfeld. And yes, they died for the greed of the oil cartels, for the expansion of the American empire, for the political ambitions of the President. They died to cover up the theft of the nations’ wealth to pay for the machines of death† (159). His argument may seem true to many, but he does not provide us with any evidence that these statements are accurate. He does not say where he got this information, so it may be hard for some to believe this, unless they share the same opinions as him. Another statement he makes is that â€Å"[we] have not been given in the American media (we would need to read the foreign press) a full picture of the human suffering caused by our bombing† (159). This is a very strong assertion, but he does not tell us if he... ...ifth of whom grow up in poverty?† (161). Questions like these make his argument very strong, and they are purposely added towards the end to make the reader consider their own thoughts about them after already having been given information on the topic. It is obvious that he is against the expansion of U.S. power, and he is very passionate in his writing about it. Authority and structure make Zinn’s argument very effective, even though some of his assertions do not have much evidence. Throughout the essay, he makes it very clear how he feels about the government and war. He feels soldiers are dying for their government so the U.S. can gain more power. Towards the end of the essay, he writes, â€Å"[instead] of being feared for our military prowess, we should want to be respected for our dedication to human rights† (161). I could not have said it better myself.

Nurse Patient Communication

According to the article, â€Å"Nurse-Patient Communication Barriers in Iranian Nursing† (Anoosheh et al, 2009) communication is one of the basic social needs of human beings. This article is the description of a study done to better understand the barriers that inhibit nurse-patient communication. Communication is critical in the nursing profession and can be considered a main aspect of nursing care.Patients and families count on nurses to keep them informed, help them feel connected to their physicians and other caregivers, to listen to them, to ease their anxiety, and to protect and watch over them during their healthcare experience. However, many studies (Anoosheh et al. 2009) have shown poor results in the quality of nurse –patient communication. There is the risk that nurses can become focused on tasks, physiological needs of the patient and time management at the expense of psychological needs.I am a firm believer that the psychological aspect of human beings can directly influence our physical state. I agree with the statement in the article that communication can be, â€Å"an essential part of nursing care but also as a treatment by itself† (Anoosheh et al. 2009). As I give care in my nursing practice I can improve communication by confirming patient feelings by asking questions such as, â€Å"How are you feeling today? † or â€Å"How do you feel about your upcoming procedure? †.To help patients know what to expect I can explain what care I will be performing, how long it will take and what their role may be. Another aspect that is necessary for quality patient care is collaborating with the patient by asking questions like, â€Å"What can we do better? † and, â€Å"How is the treatment working? † These patient centered questions can get patients talking about their thoughts and feelings. With a positive nurse patient relationship, there can be patient and family satisfaction and an environment that supp orts healing.

Benefits Of Electronic Health Records - 2986 Words

Abstract Electronic health records are used in health care to replace paper charts. They contain valuable patient medical information. EHRs improve quality of care without expensive, time-consuming processes. Although there are many reasons to use electronic health records, there are also some disadvantages to using them. More importantly though, there is a real importance for EHRs this day-in-age. The Importance of Electronic Health Records â€Å"Electronic health record systems enable hospitals to store and retrieve detailed patient information to be used by health care providers, and sometimes patients, during a patient’s hospitalization, over time, and across care settings.† (CITEEE). This paper will discuss why we need EHRs, the advantages and disadvantages, the importance of electronic health records, and also how they have become more useful in today’s society. To learn more about EHRs and the role they play in our health care system, we must first understand what they are. What is an EHR Definition of EHRs EHR stands for electronic health record. They store health data electronically. These health records are a digital version of a patient’s traditional paper chart. Using a highly secure network, health care professionals such as, physicians, nurses, etc., enter patient medical information directly into a computer, instead of using the old format of writing it down on paper. Electronic health records are used to improve patient care by communicating with one anotherShow MoreRelatedBenefits Of Electronic Health Records1313 Words   |  6 Pagesproviders who reported that the electronic health records are readily available at the point of care is 94% and the percentage of the providers who stated that the electronic health records showed the clinical benefits is 88%. The percentage of the physicians who reported that the electronic health records enable them to provide the enhanced care to the patients is 75% (Jamoom, Patel, King, Furukawa, 2012). According to the authors, the use of electronic health records also aided in enhancing the riskRead MoreThe Benefits Of Electronic Health Records924 Words   |  4 PagesElectronic Health Record (EHR) is a method to restore patient health information, such as patient’s demographic, progress note, diagnosis, medication and so on, through electronic form (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, 2017). The benefit of EHR adoption is not only to replace paper work, but also assist with data creation, management, and sharing of patients’ health information to different providers and organizations across various states (Health IT, 2016). According to theRead MoreThe Benefits Of Electronic Health Records845 Words   |  4 Pagespurchasing and installing an electronic health record (EHR) ranges from $15,000 to $70,000 per provider. Costs vary depending on whether you select on-site EHR deployment or web-based EHR deployment. Web-based EHR deployment, known as S oftware as a Service (SaaS), typically requires providers to pay a fixed monthly subscription cost. On-site deployment typically requires providers to pay for ongoing costs to support and manage on-site data servers. Electronic Health Records contain essentially less mistakesRead MoreBenefits Of An Electronic Health Record ( Emr )1317 Words   |  6 PagesMany patients do not fully understand the benefits as well as the drawbacks of an Electronic Health Record (EMR); however, there are many of both. The first major benefit is that you, as a patient, no longer have to remind the provider of previous information, such as orders or allergies. This greatly increases efficiency in terms of patient visit times. Another benefit of an EMR is that a doctor is much less likely to provide medication in error. For example, a patient could currently be takingRead MoreBenefits Of Adopting Electronic Health Records1275 Words   |  6 Pagesthe implementation of Electronic Health Records (EHR). As a recap from our last meeting, hard and soft ROI represents various benefits which can be included and used in an ROI analysis. The hard benefits are the direct benefits which are tied to the impact of implementing the proposed solution. Soft benefits on the other hand are less easy to quantify and rely on. Soft benefits are often referred to as indirect, because they rely on a number of steps in order for the benefit to be realized. TodayRead MoreThe Benefits Of Electronic Health Records1178 Words   |  5 Pagesyour EHR, or Electronic Health Records. The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health enacted under The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, led to financial incentives for those who could demonstrate meaningful use of the EHR technology. Now more than 80 percent of physicians keep some version of an electronic health record for their patients. What is an Electronic Health Record you ask? An EHR is a technology that allows a health-care provider to record, access, asRead MoreExplanation Of Benefits And Electronic Health Records1446 Words   |  6 PagesExplanation of Benefits and Electronic Health Records Do healthcare policy holders have a right to know what they are paying for? Do people have a right to know if there is an infectious disease outbreak in their area? These are two examples of the questions being asked when it comes to Explanation of Benefit (EOB) statements and Electronic Health Records (EHRs). The Affordable Care Act (ACA) enacted in 2010, â€Å"Has extended coverage for young adults up to twenty-six years old on their parent’s privateRead MoreBenefits And Implementation Of An Electronic Health Record1233 Words   |  5 Pages Introduction An electronic health record (EHR) is a digital version of a patient’s paper chart. Through EHRs information can be available instantly and securely to authorized users. Electronic Health Record contain the medical and treatment histories of patients, patient’s medical history, diagnoses, medications, treatment plans, immunization dates, allergies, radiology images, and laboratory and test results, it allows access to evidence-basedRead MoreBenefits Of Using Electronic Health Records929 Words   |  4 PagesMeaningful Use – the incentive program with the intention of helping physicians provide better care to their patients through financial rewards and punishments. Those Eligible professionals (EPs) who choose not to demonstrate meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs) are about to face a 1% penalty in their Medicare reimbursements. These penalties will increase by 1% each year until 2019 when they finally cap-off at 5%. And just to make it that much mo re aggravating, EPs won’t get away with a one-timeRead MoreBenefits Of Using Electronic Health Records946 Words   |  4 PagesMeaningful Use is the incentive program with the intention of helping physicians provide better care to their patients through financial rewards and punishments. Those Eligible professionals (EPs) who choose not to demonstrate meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs) are about to face a 1% penalty in their Medicare reimbursements. These penalties will increase by 1% each year until 2019 when they finally cap-off at 5%. And just to make it that much more aggravating, EPs won’t get away with a one-time