Competency Level 12.1.6 : Contributes to maintain the quality of the environment by controlling the factors affecting environmental
degradation.
Number of Period : 05
Learning outcomes : The students should be able to; • Explain the concept of pollution
• Tabulate the pollutants of air, water and soil and indicate their sources
• Explain the impacts of air, water and soil pollution. Suggested learning – Teaching Process:
• Project work - Collect articles, photographs, posters etc. to reflect the impact of human activities on environment throughout the process of human civilization and make presentations.
• Organize and participate at a campaign/ working program to uplift or improve the quality of degraded environment in the locality.
• With the aid of suitable diagrams explain the factors affecting environmental degradation. Guidelines :
• Introduce the concept of pollution -
When material and energy is present in a particular environment in potentially harmful amounts, it is said that pollution has occurred.
• Define the concept of pollution.
Release in to the environment of substances or energy in such quantities and for such duration that they cause harm to people or other organisms or the environment. Pollution can affect all aspects of environment, man-made and natural ecosystems, abiotic and biotic components.
• Air pollution
Deterioration of the quality of air by releasing substances or energy in such quantities which prevent smooth/ balanced functioning of natural processes and produce
undesirable environmental and health effects. Indicate main sources of the following air pollutants. Sulphur dioxide, Nitrogen Oxides, Carbon monoxide, Hydrocarbons,
Particulate matter, Chlorofluorocarbon, Carbon dioxide, Ozone Adverse impacts of some air pollutants
Pollutant Impacts
Carbon monoxide Decrease in oxygen carrying capacity of blood. Impaired
perception of stimuli,slows reflexes, impaired vision, drowsiness, decreased muscular coordination and nausea. Exposure to carbon monoxide over a long period at high concentrations can cause death.
Sulphur dioxide Acute, Chronic asthma, bronchitis and emphysema, some association with lung cancer. Causes acid rain. Teacher should explain the impacts of acid rain.
Nitrogen Oxides Similar effects as of sulphur dioxide. In addition reduce the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood and cause acute pulmonary oedema. i.e. accumulation of fluid in the lung. Produce photochemical smog. Teacher should explain the
impacts of photochemical smog.
Hydrocarbons Produce photochemical smog. Causes eye irritations.
Drowsiness. Some can be carcinogenic. Some are associated with lung diseases.
Chlorofluorocarbon Harmless at ground level. But at the level of atmosphere destroy the ozone layer. Teacher should explain the impacts of
Excess carbon dioxide Green house effect and global warming. Teacher should explain the impacts of global warming.
Ozone Damage to animals and harm patients suffering from respiratory disease. Coughing, Choking, impaired lung function, Reduce resistance to pneumonia, aggravate asthma
Particulate matter Respiratory problems (Asthma), Some can be carcinogenic, cut off solar radiation reaching earth surface.
Water pollutants, their major sources and their impacts : Nitrates and Phosphates
Pathogenic organisms
Oil
Heavy metals; Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Arsenic, Pesticides
Non-degradable material (polythene)
Teacher should indicate the major sources of these and explain their impacts.
Soil Pollutants their sources and impacts Pesticides
Chlorinated hydrocarbons (DDT, Aldrin, Endrin etc) Polychlorinated biphenyls
Heavy metals (Pb, Hg, Cd, As) Radioactive Material
Polythene and plastics
Competency 12.1.0 : Engages in a biological analysis on relationships between organisms and their environment
Competency Level 12.1.7 : Get updated on the global environmental problems .
Number of Period : 06
Learning outcomes : The student should be able to;
• list major global environmental issues
• describe the contributory factors for global warming , depletion of the Ozone layer, acid rains and their impacts Suggested Learning – Teaching Process :
Project work
Make a presentation on global scale environment issues preferably with aid of multimedia material.
Guidelines:
Global environmental problems
• Global warming - The average temperature of the atmosphere is increasing Contributory factors - Green house effect. In the atmosphere gases such as CO2, oxides of nitrogen, Methane, water vapour and Ozone prevent a part of the radiation that reaches the earth’s surface being radiated back in to space. CO2 is the principal green house gas
• Impacts of global warming
Increase in volume of the ocean leading to gradual rise in sea level.
In the longer term rising temperature can cause the melting of glaciers and polar ice caps contributing further to sea level rise.
Changes in pattern of atmospheric flow. Wind patterns, climatic factors will change and rainfall pattern may alter.
Affect to the agricultural production, composition of vegetation and its distribution can be changed. May alter limits of forests, grass lands and deserts.
Increase drought conditions, Increase irrigation demand
Increase of flood may result in loss of habitats, extinction of certain species Increase of forest fires may changed vegetation patterns
Affect human population and health through increased deaths by heat diseases Increase of migration may cause spread of tropical diseases to temperate areas
• Depletion of the Ozone layer.
The stratospheric Ozone layer is a very effective screen which prevents a major part of the ultra-violet radiation coming from the sun from reaching the surface of the earth. It plays a very important part in the maintenance of life on earth.
Contributory factors: Release of chlorofluorocarbon compounds • Impact of Ozone depletion.
Increased risk of cataracts and skin cancer in people (UV radiation is a mutagenic agent).
Lowering crop yields through interference with photosynthesis • Desertification
(Explain the contributory factors and the impacts) • Acid rain
(Explain the contributory factors) Impacts of acid rain
Corrode metals,
Erode limestone/ buildings
Increase up take of heavy metals from soil by plants Reduce soil organisms responsible for N2 fixation
Decrease photosynthesis due to yellowing/ scorching of leaves Decrease the abundance of aquatic organisms due to decrease in pH Decrease soil fertility
Competency 12.1 : Engages in a biological analysis on
relationships between organisms and their
environment
Competency Level 12.1.8 : Contributes to sustainable usage of environmental resources by getting enlightened on the
environmental related protocols and acts
Number of Period : 04
Learning outcomes : The student should be able to;
• Demonstrate the knowledge and understanding of national legislation, and global agreements.
• Discuss the importance of sustainable use of resources
Suggested Learning – Teaching Process :
• With the aid of suitable publications, motivate the student to read about the importance of conservation
• Let the students build up list of environmental resources.
• Highlight and discuss the importance of sustainable use of environmental resources. Guidelines:
Main Conventions, Protocols and Parliamentary Acts contributing to environmental conservation.
• Basel convention
Convention on the control of trans boundary movement of hazardous wastes and their disposal.
This aims to protect human health and the environment against the adverse effects which may result from the generation and management of hazardous wastes which may be toxic, poisonous, explosive, corrosive or infectious.
• Marpol convention
International convention for the prevention of pollution by ships. • Montreal protocol (1987) on substances that deplete the Ozone layer.
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climatic change. The major feature of the Kyoto Protocol is that it sets binding targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European community for reducing green house gas (GHS) emissions. These amount to an average of five per cent against 1990 levels over the five year period 2008-2012.
• National environmental act
Under the provisions of this Act, the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) was established in 1980. The CEA has wide powers to regulate pollution by issuing environmental licenses and evaluate environmental impacts of development projects through assessment schemes.
Need for the sustainable use of environmental resources
• Natural resources are sources of material and energy found naturally which are of use in everyday life and for economic development.
• Natural resources may be living or nonliving
Renewable or nonrenewable May or may not be recycled. Exhaustible or nonexhaustible
Give examples for each.
• Natural resources should be used rationally. Giving suitable examples, explain what are the effects of over-exploitation of natural resources.
• Methods of reducing unwise utilization of natural resources should be explained.
• Sustainable utilization and sustainable development, their meanings importance and examples should be discussed.