Industrial air and water emissions and control measures in Canada

Introduction

Throughout the contemporary world, industries play an important role in bringing about the sustenance of economies. Almost every country in the world has become dependent on industries to sustain themselves to such an extent that they cannot do without them. However, while these industries are useful, they are also harmful to the environment as a result of emissions which have an adverse effect on air and water quality.  In the past decade, many firms produced a significant amount of emissions that adversely affected the environment. The emissions into the atmosphere have an effect on soil, water, power use, and waste management. In many economies, the detrimental effect of emissions on the environment has resulted in legislation being enacted to control the emissions. In Canada, the government has acknowledged the impact of emissions, and has committed itself to reducing the degree of emissions in order to enhance the quality of air and while at the same time improving water quality (Boyd, 2010). The emissions have adversely affected the air and water quality in Canada and as a result, it has aimed at making sure that it promotes sustainable practices. Additionally, ecosystems have been destroyed through acidification when the emissions, especially those containing sulphur, are exposed to the rain or ground water. Environmental pollution has many manifestations and the resultant health risks tend to have an adverse effect on the bodies of those individuals affected (Bell & Davis, 2001). Canada has sought to take tangible steps towards ensuring that there is a high level of control measures aimed at not only reducing emissions, but also bringing about a situation where there is a reduction in public health risks as a result of bad air and water quality.

Reasons for control measures

Canada is one of the countries in the world which has a wide diversity of natural resources that have yet to be exploited. However, it is essential that these resources are used sustainably; meaning that as much as possible has to be done to ensure that during the exploitation process, there is limited destruction of the natural environment. Industrial activities in Canada often have an adverse effect on air and water quality and this is to such an extent that it has led to a significant threat both towards the human, animal, and plant populations. The risk of damaging entire ecosystems through the unsustainable industrial processes has made the implementation of control measures extremely important. Moreover, the health of Canadians is highly dependent on the quality of air and water in their environment to such an extent that without control measures, it is likely that the country might end up getting into a public health crisis in future (El-Fadel & Massoud, 2000). Having absolute control over the monitoring and control processes involved in keeping greenhouse emissions at a minimum are important in not only securing air and water quality, but also bringing about a situation where it is possible to effectively fight global warming and the climate change that comes about as a result. Therefore, the overall wellbeing of Canadians is dependent on putting control measures over industrial emissions into place to ensure that the air and water quality all over the country is improved.

Examples and explanation of air and water pollutants

The main air pollutants are in the form of gaseous pollutants, which include organic compounds, sulfur compounds, nitrogen compounds, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matters. Particulate matters are exhausts from diesel engines that include the wood smoke, coal ash, pesticide mist, mineral dust, and acid mists. Radioactive pollution is also a form of air pollution that occurs when radioactive isotopes from burning reactors leak into the atmosphere (WHO, 1996). Water emissions from industries occur when toxic chemicals such as fluoride and arsenic leak from industries and end up contaminating underground water (Frost, Tollestrup, Craun, Raucher, Chwirka, & Stomp, 2002). Water is also contaminated directly when wastes from industries find their way into water bodies. All of these pollutants have the potential of bringing about serious health and environmental problems. As a result, there is need for constant awareness concerning the potential problems that these pollutants might bring about while at the same time promoting initiatives for the provision of more information concerning how best to handle their effects when they occur. It is estimated that a significant proportion of diseases in the world today are associated with the effects of pollution hazards in the environment (Smith, Corvalan, & Kjellstrom, 1999). Thus, Canada’s attempts to bring about control measures on air and water emissions is an important step towards the development of sustainable measures aimed at not only maintaining the environment at its best state, but also preventing those diseases that come about as a result of pollution; averting a public health crisis.

Sources of Industrial Emissions

Operations in industries are the major sources of industrial emissions and these can be attributed to the irresponsible actions of industries which seek to make a quick profit at the expense of the environment (McMichael, Kjellstrom & Smith, 2001). The industries that have been found to be the most responsible for the emissions mainly include the energy, transport, building and construction sectors, which, despite the large amounts of emissions they produce, are also essential for the development of the economy. The extensive use of fossil fuels in Canada has also had an impact on air quality. This is because most industries as well as vehicles in the country run on these types of fuels although there are attempts to bring about the use of cleaner energy sources. In line with these, the oil industry, which is depended upon for fossil fuels, is one of the biggest polluters in the country leading to a situation where it has surpassed emissions that were produced by the transport sector. While this may be the case, as a result of its efforts, Canada has been able to ensure that its emission levels remain slightly lower than those of other countries, especially in the developing world and the emerging economies (McGranahan & Murray, 2003). A major setback that has been encountered by Canada in recent years is when in 2007, the Suncor spilled some 9.8 million liters into Athabasca River; a situation that might have brought about significant risks to the human and wildlife living in the area affected. However, despite this incident, Canada has been able to ensure that it takes on action towards the establishment of environmental sustainability.

Even though large amounts of emissions are from the industrial operations, other factors have played key roles in determining the level of emissions in Canada. These factors entail the demographic changes, the physical geography, and economic development. When compared to the other developed economies, the Canada’s climate is very variable; therefore, much energy resources are used for heating and cooling spaces. In regards to demographics, Canada is sparsely populated; therefore, there are long travel periods and the demand for transportation as individuals travel from one region to another is high compared to the densely populated economies (National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, 1999). More so, Canada's economic growth and population growth is greater than other developed economies and the growth demands for more use of natural resources that include gas and oil. Irrespective of the challenges faced by this country, the economy has been de-coupling between reduction in emissions and economic growth. That has called for technologically efficient methods of production and adoption of clean energy rather than over-relying on oil. Technology has also been adopted in all sectors of the economy especially in electricity production in efforts to reduce the greenhouse gasses emissions. The industries are required to be in the forefront of use of efficient applications and thus, lead the household by example. More so, most of the consumers in Canada have knowledge about the consequences of emissions; hence, they have also adopted ways of reducing the emissions such as walking to workplaces.

Effects of emissions on Environment and Human Health

For the most part, the effect of emissions can be categorized into three classes, environmental impacts, economic impacts, and human health effects (Hobbs & Meier, 2000). Environmental effects entail the increase in temperatures that result in the melting of the ice, glaciers, and snow, with the melting results in flooding of the coastal regions due rising in the sea levels.  This is especially the case in the Arctic where the permafrost is likely to thaw, bringing with it potential environmental hazards to which it might be difficult to adjust. In Canada, there is the potential that there will be changes in climatic conditions characterized by increased precipitation in all regions except in the Southern Canada. The increased rainfall will increase the chances of flooding that might lead to some serious disruption in the lives of people affected as well as the economy. Another environmental effect, in this case caused by air pollution which has adverse consequences on the ozone layer, which is increasingly being depleted, will be increased frequency of heat waves; having both direct and indirect effects on the ecosystem. For instance, many species of wildlife will find it hard to adapt to the high temperatures hence suffer from stress. Additionally, massive destruction of the natural environment will also occur; making it extremely difficult for ecosystems which have been established for thousands of years to survive.

One of the most serious effects of climate change is that it might lead to the extinction of those species that are not able to adapt to the new environment; a significant loss to the highly diversified natural environment that can be found in Canada today. Sustaining the natural environment through seeking to control and maintain the air and water quality is an important step towards the achievement of a greater balance between the natural and human environments (Gwilliam, Kojima, & Johnson, 2004). Industrial activity, especially concerning the emission of harmful chemicals into the atmosphere and water bodies has the potential of bringing about instability in the natural environment. Threats, not only to wildlife, but also to the human community are also prevalent and these have to be stopped in order to bring about a situation where individuals are concerned about their environment enough to help sustain it. In this way, it becomes possible to avoid those problems associated with destruction of ecosystems as well as medical conditions that reduce the quality of life of those affected by exposure to air and water pollutants.

In regards to human health, the high temperature has the potential of exposing human beings to a significant number of diseases such as stroke and deaths related to dehydration. According to Health Canada (2010), changes in the local weather patterns increase the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases along with cancer due to exposure to carcinogenic volatile organic compounds. More so, people will be more vulnerable to vector, water, rodent, and food-borne diseases. The populations living in the northern regions are more vulnerable than those living in the southern regions of Canada and children, the elderly and women are most susceptible to problems that might be brought about by climate change. Moreover, greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere can have the potential of leading to instances of mortality as a result of respiratory infections. Air pollution also increases the risk of having an adverse effect on the manner that children’s lungs function in such a way that it brings about post-neonatal mortality (Brunekreef & Holgate, 2002); a situation that would have a severe impact on the demographics of the country. An increase in cardiovascular diseases and respiratory infections for the elderly could also result from acute air pollution, which exposes members of society to a number of harmful airborne pollutants (WHO 2000). Not only would this situation have an adverse effect on the health of members of society, it would also lead to an increase in the burden of healthcare on Canada; making it more expensive to cater for the needs of all of its citizens that are affected by air pollution.

The most direct route of exposure to harmful industrial chemicals in water it through the consumption of contaminated water from the affected bodies. The level of exposure depends on the amount of water that has been consumed meaning that those who consume more of this water are at a greater risk of being affected by the chemical compounds within it (Fewthrell, Kaufmann, & Preuss, 2003). There is also a risk that when this contaminated water is used in the preparation of food, the food also ends up being contaminated because despite high cooking temperatures, the level of toxicity is not easily affected. Another route of exposure in water is through inhalation of volatile compounds when individuals are having hot showers or skin exposure when bathing or making use of water for recreational purposes. These chemical compounds are extremely harmful especially considering that they might bring about the exposure of unborn or young children through crossing the placenta, or when infants take it in through breast milk. These forms of exposure are can bring about numerous adverse health and developmental effects on those individuals who are exposed to contaminated water; making it essential to make sure that pertinent steps are taken to ensure that water is free from industrial chemicals.

Also, acute exposure to industrial contaminants to drinking water can lead to diverse medical conditions, ranging from minor to major conditions. Among these is irritation in the eyes, nose, or skin and in some extreme instances, the gastrointestinal system. There are also instances where there is the possibility of chronic exposure such as liver toxicity that comes about as a result of the presence of copper, arsenic, or chromium in drinking water. When chemicals pass through the kidney of victims, it leads to toxic effects, which can cause serious problems for the individuals affected, with the most prominent elements in water that can cause kidney problems being cadmium, copper, mercury, and chlorobenzene (WHO 2003). The use of pesticides also brings about a lot of risk for those people living within areas close to water bodies that are used for everyday purposes. This is especially the case in agricultural or industrial settings where it is common for the chemicals used to persist in the environment for a long time and end up being carried into water bodies. The result of the ingestion of these chemicals through the consumption of water is that it leads to the disruption of the endocrine system that ends up leading to behavioral, developmental, and reproductive problems for the individuals affected. Furthermore, these chemicals, which disrupt the endocrine system, can lead to the reduction of fertility and increase the occurrence of birth defects and cancers that are hormonally dependent such as breast and prostate cancers (WHO & International Programme on Chemical Safety 2002). It is, therefore, important that control measures are taken to make sure that natural resources, especially air and water, are protected because without action from both government and communities, it is possible that industrial emissions into these resources could lead to some serious health and environmental problems.

Conclusion and Future Recommendations

Although industries play a significant role in economic development, studies have revealed that they have an adverse effect on human health and the environment through the emissions that these industries produce. The emissions are mainly in the form of gases, water, and particles, which, once they enter the atmosphere and water bodies, bring about a situation where there is risk of human exposure to these elements, or the environment being adversely affected through the destruction of natural ecosystems. In efforts to reduce the adverse effect of the emissions, the government of Canada should focus itself on reducing the level of emissions and improve the quality of air, improve visibility while at the same time monitoring the level of emissions. The Canadian government should take on leadership in controlling the level of emissions to both air and water in order to uphold the integrity of the natural ecosystem. The discussion above has shown that it is industries that produce the greenhouse gases and chemicals that are responsible for global warming. Therefore, it is important for the government take on initiatives to control the emissions in order to reduce the rate of global warming and the subsequent climate change. The effect of the emissions in the discussion has been classified in terms of the environmental, and the human health effects.

The keeping clean areas clean (KCAC) principles are an integral part of universal Canada-Wide Standards that focus on the quality of air while also protecting visibility (Taylor & McMillan, 2014). Furthermore, the provincial and the federal governments carry out the environment assessment to ensure that the quality of water and air does not injure the ecosystem. At all the new points of the source of water or air, the quality needs to be assessed to guarantee the Canada's efforts to protect the environment are upheld. More so, any modification of the air or water from the industries must be evaluated to ensure that it does not pollute the environment or cause harm to the human health. Among the most pertinent interventions that can be taken in future in order to ensure that the air and water quality is maintained at a premium level is through limiting hazardous waste disposal. Instead, hazardous substances should be recycled at their site of use or in situation where it is impossible to recycle, these substances can be replaced with those that are less harmful. Interventions There should be constant air monitoring which involves the cooperation between government institutions and communities aimed at reducing air pollution. Moreover, it is important for these monitoring activities to be tied to concrete actions such as the promotion of such actions as banning vehicle use when pollution levels become too high and go past predetermined thresholds. At the exposure level, it is important for individuals in the community to be conscious of the threat towards them and take necessary actions to protect themselves. Among these is the use of household filters to reduce the amount of chemicals such as arsenic from their drinking water. Finally, it is also essential for health services in the country to remain vigilant and seek to protect and bring about the restoration of the health of people showing signs of adverse effects in communities that are at the highest risk as a result of water and air pollution.

Reduced Meat Consumption in China

Introduction

One of the most important issues in the contemporary world concerns climate change and environmental sustainability. This s an issue that has gained public attention as a result of the significant changes that have taken place to the global climate, especially considering global warming. It has led to a situation where it has increasingly become apparent that it is essential to make sure that steps are taken to promote the advancement of sustainable development in order to promote the reduction of various risks to the environment. There are numerous instances of the effects of global warming that can be seen across the world, as seen in the manner through which the polar icecaps, especially that of the Arctic, are melting. The resultant rise in sea levels has the potential of leading to massive climatic disasters and destabilisation that is a direct threat to all natural life. There are numerous ways through which governments and individuals can act in order to make sure that there is the advancement of sustainable development across the world. One of these would be ensuring that there is creating a focus on meat production and consumption. Meat production and consumption can be considered to be among the most energy intensive processes across the world. This is because meat production involves considerable use of energy as well as effort in order to bring meat into the market. The entire process often results in a negative impact on the environment because not only does it involve the consumption of considerable energy, which is produced at the expense of the environment, but it also leads to the production of considerable waste, which is difficult to dispose of. It is therefore essential to ensure that initiatives are taken to promote the reduction of meat consumption across the world in order to advance the interests of environmental sustainability. In this paper, there will be a discussion of the process through the analysis of a case study on the reduction of meat consumption in China.

Description

The reduction of meat consumption is considered one of the best meant to make sure that there is the establishment of sustainable development. This is because the process will involve the reduction of emissions and energy consumption that is involved in the production of meat. Meat consumption is considered one of the biggest threats to the environment because it is a process that involves a considerable in take of meat, which is produced using considerable amounts of energy that increase carbon emissions to the atmosphere. Meat consumption has in recent years, especially in the developing world, risen from a rare treat to a staple in most households. This has led to a situation where meat production has increased considerably in order to cater for the growing market. While increased meat consumption can be looked upon as a sign of increased prosperity, it has also come to be a threat to the environment. In order to mitigate this threat, initiatives are being put in place to promote the reduced consumption of meat. It is estimated that if meat consumption is reduced, there is likely to be a reduction of hundreds of millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from the livestock industry across the world. Such a reduction would help in the advancement of means through which to enable sustainable development in such a way that the environment will be protected for the sake of future generations. The keeping and consumption of livestock for meat is among one of the biggest contributors to the emissions that lead to global warming. It is estimated that the keeping of livestock creates emissions that are more than the entire global transport sector; a sign that it is indeed a serious problem that has to be brought under control in the cause of environmental sustainability. Livestock often emit methane, which is an extremely powerful greenhouse gas, which the production of feed for the livestock leads to large carbon emissions.

The promotion of lifestyle changes is one of the most important ways through which to ensure that there is a significant reduction in carbon emissions. This is especially the case where meat consumption is concerned because as the global rate of meat consumption increases, there is a massive potential of its leading to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. There is need for policymakers as well as individuals in society to make sure that they seek solutions to the meat consumption problem in such a way that it is possible to reduce consumption. The reduction of meat consumption will ensure that there are significant changed in the livestock industry, which are likely to bring about more sustainable changes aimed at bringing about significant cuts to the production of emissions. The achievement of this goal cannot be underestimated because it is one of the most reasonable means that can be implemented to bring about more sustainable development, especially considering that the global population is continuously on the rise. Were meat consumption to continue at the same level as is currently the case, then it is likely that it could lead to the creation of considerable environmental problems. This is especially the case where there will not only be global warming, but it is likely that there will also be climatic changes that will be detrimental to the entire natural environment. Therefore, tackling climate change through encouraging reduced meat consumption involves not only sound scientific judgement, but also entrepreneurial support as well as responsible political decisions. Furthermore, it is also important that there is the sensitisation of the general public in such a way that brings about their involvement in the process because it is through them that the objective of reduced meat consumption can be effectively implemented. There is need to ensure that there is a belief in the carbon reduction concept within the public so that they can be able to slowly adapt to it and make it an essential part of their lives.

Case Study

One of the most significant developments in the Chinese meat industry is that meat has moved from being an extremely scarce product to a regular staple in many Chinese households. This is mainly because of the emergence of China as a global economic powerhouse, which has ensured that there is an increase in the number of people within its population within the middle class. A consequence has been that the increased meat production has essentially come about because of the greater purchasing power that the Chinese population has achieved when compared to previous decades. Furthermore, the consumption of pork in China has also increased significantly due to its affordability, to such an extent that it has become the world’s largest consumer. While China is still much lower than the United States when it comes to the average consumption of meat, seems to be catching up. This is considering that in recent years, while meat consumption in the United States has essentially remained stable, the Chinese meat consumption has increased significantly. A consequence has been that Chinese meat companies are seeking opportunities to cater for the demand in the domestic market. Such initiative have led to a considerable increase in the availability of meat in the Chinese market to such an extent that it has not only become cheaper, but it has also become a basic part of the nation’s diet. However, meat consumption has also brought with it considerable environmental ramifications, with many of them being negative. Policymakers in the country have come to the realisation that the increase in meat consumption within the population carries with it an environmental risk that cannot be ignored. This is the case because the Chinese government has proven itself to be among the foremost in the world when it comes to taking measures to bring about environmental protection and sustainable development.

As the consumer of about a quarter of the world’s meat, China has the responsibility of developing policies aimed at reducing its meat consumption. This is because China has a lot to lose if it continues on the same path of meat production and consumption as it is currently on. Not only does an increase in meat production have a negative environmental impact through greenhouse gas production, and the clearing of forests in order to create space for feed production, but it is also faced with the potential of an increase in a number of health problems. Among these is an increase in cases of obesity, which is becoming a considerable problem in the country. In recent years, China has seen more than 100 million cases of diabetes cases, which is the largest in the world. This condition is mostly brought about through obesity, cases of which can come about through cases of excessive meat consumption. However, there is recognition that despite the best efforts by the Chinese government, it is likely going to be a challenge to convince its population to reduce its meat consumption. One of the reasons behind it is that it will be difficult to convince the growing middle class to give up on meat, which has become an essential part of their diet as well as a sign of their prosperity. Furthermore, the rapid urbanisation of the country could create problems because under such circumstances, demand for meat is likely to increase rather than decrease.

Lake Mead

Lake Mead is among the most significant reservoirs in the western United States, serving many of the cities along the Colorado River. Studies have shown that the levels of this lake are likely to drop over the coming years and that if no action is  to remedy this situation, then Lake Mead will most likely dry up by the year 2021. There are many factors other than climate change, which are believed to have a significant effect to the lake’s drying up. It is these factors, excluding climate change, which shall be discussed in this paper in relation to the dropping water levels on Lake Mead.

One of the factors which affect the increase in the dropping levels of water on Lake Mead is the rise in the human population which relies on the water supply from the lake. Lake Mead is responsible for the supply of water to such key cities as Phoenix and Las Vegas, and the ever increasing human population in these cities is stretching the ability of Lake Mead to supply water efficiently. If action is not taken to get an alternative source of water for this population, then it is most likely that the lake will indeed be dried up in a few years time (Henetz).

A significant factor, which has a crucial effect on the possible drying up of Lake Mead, is drought. This reservoir is situated at a place which is particularly prone to drought. It is, therefore, extremely difficult to predict whether a drought will last for only a few months, or for several years. This makes it highly uncertain that the water in lake will be maintained in the current levels. There are times when there is an abundance of rainfall to replenish the water supply, but such rains are always short and are, therefore, not reliable. It is more likely than not that drought will continue to plague this region unless there is a serious climatic change (Brean).

The maintenance of the water levels of Lake Powell, which is upstream of Lake Mead, also has an effect on the possibility of the latter drying up. More water is required to maintain the height of Lake Powell, and this is detrimental to Lake Mead. This is because Lake Mead is denied the necessary supplies of water needed to ensure that it does not dry up. Moreover, Lake Mead, as stated above, supplies ever growing cities, and because of this, it needs more water to ensure that this supply is stable. If this trend continues for the next few years, then it is inevitable that Lake Mead will dry up (Rogers).

Lake Mead, and by extension the Colorado River which maintains it, relies heavily on the abundance of snowfall to replenish its water supply (Hawkins). Snowfall is not usually abundant, and there are times when it is not enough to maintain the level required for the lake to be effective. This means that in order to supplement the water supply of Lake Mead, there is often an overreliance on rainfall. Rainfall is always in short supply, in this area due to the fact that it is prone to drought. This dependence on rainfall is, therefore, not logical because it is not known whether it might utterly fail. If the latter happens for an exceedingly long time, then it is highly likely that Lake Mead will dry up.