Pollution After Japan Tsunami

Types of pollution caused by the Japan’s Tsunami: › Water pollution

Soil Contaminants and physical contaminants;

Oil spills;› Nuclear pollution

Water Pollution

A worldwide contamination (developed countries) of the ocean water are due to land runoff, bringing contaminants into the water, such as chemical fertilizers, detergents, sewage, herbicides, etc.

Water Pollution› Nitrogen-rich fertilizers

increase algae when flowed into the ocean. This latter robs the oxygen from the water causing no marine life possible.

› Everything comes back into the food chain, where we end up consuming ourselves.

Water Pollution

Other common pollutants would be solid wastes such as plastic bags, and other solid items dumped in to the oceans where aquatic animals mistake them as food.

Water Pollution

Oil spills (in this case) is due to immersion and damages of cars and boats. › Possible of light oil and heavy oil spills:

Light oil: highly flammable, highly toxic, evaporates quickly

Heavy oil: less toxic, but high life span over water. Hardens on shore coasts, can suffocate aquatic life in water

Video

This video showing the water washing everything away, but also how people were trying to reach to higher grounds

http://www.youtube.com/user/RussiaToday#p/u/60/vC0OFT8WWHk

Explanation of the nuclear byproduct

Iodine 129 and Iodine 131› Thyroid constantly absorbs iodine› Cannot tell apart from radioactive and

nonradiactive iodine

Prevention: › Raise concentration of stable iodine in blood› Iodized table salt is useful to maintain health,

but strong but NOT anti-radiation!› Excess or too little is not good for health:

Thyroid disease

Explanation of nuclear byproducts

Cesium 137› Increase risk of cancer› Higher concentration in muscles than in

bone and fat› Decay time: 30.17 years

Prevention: › Cesium in environment cannot be avoided› Remains short time in body and eliminated

through urine.

Nuclear Pollution

Contamination of the air: › Forced up to higher atmosphere, particles

would be carried around by the jet stream

Contamination of the ecosystems: › Iodine -131 (through milk, accumulated in

thyroid) Farm in Hitachi, 27 times higher than

acceptable Dairy farm in Iitate, 18 times higher than

acceptable

Nuclear Pollution

› Cesium 137 (damage cells, increase risk of cancer) 4 times higher than normal

Human contamination: › Over exposure to radioactive environment› Human body a walking contamination

References

› http://www.greenlivingtips.com/blogs/164/Effects-of-oil-spills.html

› http://www.ehow.com/about_5434352_oil-spills-affect-ocean.html

References

› http://www.ehow.com/facts_5933006_do-oil-spills-affect-animals_.html

› Soil pollutants: http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/critical-issues-marine-pollution/

› Nuclear contamination: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/21/world/asia/21japan.html?_r=1&pagewanted=2