Pollution
1. DEFINITION
The Macquarie Dictionary defines pollution as: (1)
i)“Environmental pollutants”.
ii)“The results of these pollutants”.
2. BIBLE REFERENCE
Isaiah 11:9
“They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,
3. FACTS
a)Marine Pollution
·Pollution from the land contributes up to 80% of marine pollution.
·This pollution affects the ecological processes, public health and use of the marine environment.
·The pollution from wastes dumped at sea endanger the waters surrounding the coasts of Australia . (2)
b)Air Pollution
·In Australia the main sources of air pollution are carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons, which come the exhaust of vehicles and sulphur dioxide, ozone and microscopic particles.
·In Australia most of our air pollution is our own, whereas in many other countries air pollution can come from their neighbour countries.
·In Australia air pollution comes from (most to least): cars, industry, and smaller sources- backyard incinerators, paint fumes, cleaning chemicals . (3)
4. NSW LEGISLATION
a) Marine Pollution Act 1987 No. 299 (4)
·According to Section 8 it is an offence to discharge oil or oily mixtures into state waters
·This will result in a $500 000 fine if it is a person who commits the offence or a $10 000 000 fine if it is a body corporate who commits the offence.
·According to section 11 every ship which that section applies to must carry on board an oil record book.
·According to Section 13B ships must be insured against oil pollution.
·Part 3, Section 18 relates to the discharging of noxious substances, it states that “if any discharge of a liquid substance, or of a mixture containing a liquid substance, being a substance or mixture carried as cargo or part cargo in bulk, occurs from a ship into State waters, the master and the owner of the ship are each guilty of an offence punishable”.
·This offence will result in a $500 000 for an individual and a $10 000 000 fine for a body corporate.
For more information on the Marine Pollution Act please visit:
http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au
b) Action for Air (5)
·In 1998 the NSW Government released Action For Air.
·It is a 25 year air quality management plan.
·It focuses on regional air pollution.
·It focuses on ground level ozone and fine particle pollution.
·The Action for Air Objectives are:
oTo integrate air quality goals and urban transport planning
oProvide more and better transport choices.
oMake cars, trucks and buses cleaner.
oPromote cleaner business.
oPromote cleaner homes.
oManage the impact of open burning.
oMonitor, report and review air quality.
For more information about the Action for Air plan please visit:
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/air/actionforair/actionair.htm
5. HOW YOU CAN ACT
The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) offers some ways you can help reduce pollution: (6)
·Ditch the car and walk or ride a bike instead.
·When you are purchasing your next car make sure it is fuel efficient.
·Always switch off the television, stereo and lights every time you leave a room.
·Purchase appliances which are energy efficient.
·Use cleaning products which are environmentally friendly.
The Australian Government offers some tips to be environmentally friendly: (7)
·Use mulch in your garden.
·Wash your car on the lawn.
·Recycle, recycle, recycle!
·Use reusable bags instead of plastic bags.
·Compost garden weeds and non- meat food scraps.
·Purchase products that have been recycled.
·Choose the products with the least packaging.
·Don’t pour oil, fats and grease down the sink.
·Use detergents that have little or no phosphorous in them.
6. BIBLIOGRAPHY AND FURTHER READING
Australian Academy of Science, NOVA, Local Air Pollution Begins at Home:
http://www.science.org.au/nova/015/015key.htm
Australian Government, Department of Environment and Heritage, Coastal and Marine Pollution: http://www.deh.gov.au/coasts/pollution/index.html#dump
The Australian Government, Department of The Environment and Heritage, National Pollution Inventory:
http://www.npi.gov.au/about/reduce.html#you
Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW) EPA, Action fro Air Plan:
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/air/actionforair/actionair.htm
Parliamentary Counsel’s Office, Marine Pollution Act 1987, No. 299:
http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au
(1) Macquarie Dictionary, 2005, “Pollution” Macquarie University, Published by Macquarie Library
(2) All information in Section 3a: Australian Government, Department of Environment and Heritage, Coastal and marine Pollution: http://www.deh.gov.au/coasts/pollution/index.html#dump
(3) All information in Section 3b: Australian Academy of Science, NOVA, Local Air Pollution Begins at Home: http://www.science.org.au/nova/015/015key.htm
(4) Parliamentary Counsel’s Office, Marine Pollution Act 1987, No. 299:
http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au
(5) Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW) EPA, Action for Air Plan:
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/air/actionforair/actionair.htm
(6) The Australian Government, Department of The Environment and Heritage, National Pollution Inventory:
http://www.npi.gov.au/about/reduce.html#you
(7) Commonwealth of Australia (2004), The Australian Government, Giving Our Land a Hand:
http://www.nrm.gov.au/publications/land-a-hand/pubs/land-a-hand.pdf
