North American Environmental Pollution (Research Paper Sample)

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North American Environmental Pollution
Abstract
The introduction of technology in production and service industries has greatly increased the amount of toxic substances released into the environment. These toxic substances affect various aspects of the environment, including plants and animals. In addition, they endanger the sustainability of the environment and pose serious dangers for current and future generations. Nevertheless, there have been efforts in various places that have been taken to minimize such emissions and protect the environment against degradation. This article discusses these developments by focusing on three emissions, namely mercury, nitrogen oxides, and sludge from various industries present in North America.
Introduction
Innovation and technology in North America continue to affect day to day living in various ways. The invention of computers, for example, brought revolutionary changes in communication and manufacturing sectors. However, these scientific advancements also come with negative implications on the environment. Toxic substances emitted by various industries interfere with the natural state of the environment, thereby affecting current and future generations of animals, plants as well as human beings. Harmful substances released into the environment can be classified into organic, inorganic, and metallic compounds. Organic compounds are those substances that can be decomposed naturally by natural forces such as bacteria. Inorganic compounds are non-biodegradable substances, while metallic compounds are those compounds classified as metals in the periodic table because they form positive ions and also exhibit metallic bonds. This paper contains a discussion based on three waste products, a metal, an inorganic compound, and an organic compound emitted by more than one industry in North America. The work discusses the process that generates each of the compounds and expounds on the means through which each compound affects the environment.
Mercury
Manufacture and use of electronic devices in many parts of North America continue to pose serious challenges to the environment by emitting Mercury vapour. Mercury is a metallic waste that is often associated with electronic waste often disposed in many disposal sites all over North America. Motor vehicle manufacturing and use also leads to the generation of mercury, which poses serious threats to the environment. This section, discusses the generation of mercury in the information and communication sector, as well as in the motor vehicle transport industry. It also discusses various dangers that are associated with the mercury emission into the environment.
Potential Damaging Effects of Mercury
Mercury is a highly toxic substance that affects the atmosphere, water masses, and soil. Its presence in the atmosphere causes serious damaging effects on human health and animal life. The mercury gets into the environment through the atmosphere. It is later returned to the ground and water masses through rain water. A single gram of mercury has the ability to contaminate vast amounts of the atmosphere. Mercury has many health effects on human being. It is taken mainly through inhalation, but can also enter the body from water, fish and plants, which have been exposed to it. Health impacts of mercury can be classified into two, short term and long term effects. Short term effects include respiratory challenges, irritation, headache, nausea, visual problems, and increased blood pressure. Long term effects include sleeping problems, fatigue, anxiety, healing impairment, loss of memory, and tremors (WHO 19). Some microorganisms often found in the soil convert atmospheric mercury to a more dangerous form of mercury called methyl mercury. Methyl mercury causes multiple problems such as affecting the heart and the circulation system, inhibiting development of unborn children, and also initiates growth of cancerous cells.


Movement of Mercury in the Environment
Industrial Processes Emitting Mercury
Mercury in Electronic Waste (Communication Sector). Mercury is used in the manufacture of various electronic devices. It is used in the manufacture of Liquid Crystal displays, electronic toners, photocopier machines, batteries, mobile phones, laptops, desktops, notebooks, fax machines, and audio equipment. EEE standards recognize more than 26 components in which mercury is used. Mercury is used in very low quantities in the manufacture of each of the components. According to research, the average amount of mercury contained in each of the equipment is approximately 2-10 mg depending on the size and type of equipment. In computers, mercury is used in the manufacture of switches due to its ability to conduct electric current. Additionally, mercury is used in the manufacture of Liquid Crystal displays. Mercury vapor can conduct electric current, making it a suitable choice for use in various applications (Ding et al. 27). Mercury is preferred for use in LCDs due to its ability to conduct and glow when subjected to various pressure and heat changes. Its glow is essential in production of light in LCDs. Mercury is also used in the manufacture of fluorescent tubes and energy saving bulbs owing to its ability to grow under high temperatures. Tilt switches make use of mercury. These switches are used to make or break electric circuits and employ the principle of vaporization of mercury. Once mercury is vaporized due to changes in temperatures, it causes one side of the switch to be heavier and breaks the electric contact. Mercury is used in batteries as a protective liner that seals many types of batteries used in common electronics such as watches, wall clocks, pacemakers, and others. Once these electronics reach their end of life, they are often disposed in dump sites as electronic waste. Consequently, they emit mercury into the environment in gaseous form. Mercury can also be emitted when various electronic components are damaged. Breakage of LCDs and Fluorescent tubes, for example, emits mercury vapor into the environment. Mercury is also emitted into the environment during the manufacture of various electronic equipment. Thousands of organizations in North America make use of electronics, especially computers for communication. This leads to the release of mercury into the atmosphere in considerably destructive amounts (WHO 32).
Mercury in the Motor Vehicle Transport Industry. The motor vehicle transport industry is also associated with considerable release of mercury vapor into the environment. Mercury has been traditionally used in motor vehicles in their switching operations. This has been especially significant for automatically controlled lighting systems in motor vehicles. Trunk lights and under hood light fixtures make use of mercury switches to achieve on and off operations. Recently, mercury has been used in motor vehicles in the automatic brake systems as switches. Mercury switches are highly effective, making them appropriate for various automatic applications. They respond very fast to initiation signals, explaining why they are preferred over many other switches. Mercury is also contained in some types of lamps that are used in the motor vehicle industry as head lamps. Mercury vapor produces fluorescent light when subjected to high temperature, explaining why it is used in lamps. Additionally, mercury is used in vehicle entertainment systems and in the control panels, mainly to provide light. The Society of Automotive Engineers asserts that mercury switches accounts for the greatest percentage of mercury used in the fabrication of motor vehicles. According to the society, mercury switches consumes approximately 99% of mercury used in the fabrication of vehicles. Each mercury switch is estimated to consume approximately 0.8-1gm depending on the size of the switch and its applications.
Measures Taken to reduce Mercury Emissions
In both industries, electronics and motor vehicle, measures have been taken to reduce the amount of mercury released into the atmosphere. First, there have been standards developed to control the amount of mercury used in different components. These regulations have ensured that only a minimal amount of mercury is applied. Secondly, there are measures to ensure that mercury leakage is brought to a minimum by enhancing standard manufacture of equipment. Finally, there are measures that have been taken to recycle mercury parts, especially switches used in the motor vehicle transport industry.
Nitrogen Oxides
Potential Damaging Effects
Nitrogen oxides are harmful compounds that are mainly emitted by the motor vehicle transport industry and the energy sector. Nitrogen oxides are released into the atmosphere by a number of industrial processes such as combustion. Once in the atmosphere, nitrogen oxides can either affect human health directly through inhalation or indirectly from rain water. Nitrogen oxides are primary pollutants that cause multiple health problems on man. In addition, they lead to the formation of acid rain, which increases corrosion of various things such as iron sheets, machine parts, and motor vehicles. Health impacts of nitrogen oxides include respiratory turmoil and lung irritation. Nitrogen oxides are also classified as greenhouse gases due to their aid in the formation of ozone gas. Ozone rises to higher levels of the atmosphere and interferes with heat exchange processes. Ultimately, increased heat leads to global warming. Global warming is the major cause of raising sea level, with multiple implications in the environment. Nitrogen oxides also affect the human immune systems. Consequently, they reduce the ability of the human body to fight illnesses such as pneumonia and influenza (Winston and McConnell 39).
Industrial Processes Emitting Nitrogen Oxides
Nitrogen Oxides and the Motor Vehicle ...