Download Environmental Issues of Southern and Eastern Asia

Environmental Issues of
Southern and Eastern Asia
SS7G10 – The student will discuss environmental
issues across Southern and Eastern Asia.
Ganges River
The Ganges River begins in the Himalayan
Mountains and flows through India and
Bangladesh to the Bay of Bengal.
The river is very important to the people of India
spiritually, however the water quality has
become very poor.
Pollution of the Ganges River
• Chemicals used in fertilizer and industry are
washed into the river daily.
• Human and animal waste also enters the river.
• Dead animals as well as cremated remains of
humans (bodies that are burned after death
and the ashes are scattered into the river)
flows in the river regularly.
Results of Pollution
• Despite the pollution many Indians bathe in
the Ganges. They also use it for drinking and
cooking.
• Water born diseases
– Cholera
– Dysentery
– Typhoid
– Hepatitis
Ganges Action Plan 1985
• Many sewage and water treatment plants
were built.
• The growing population and run-off from
industrial and farm production have made the
clean-up efforts fall short.
The Yangtze River
• China’s longest river flows from the
northwestern part of the country to the East
China Sea.
• Pumping stations take water out of the river
to supply the 400 million plus people who live
along it.
Pollution in the Yangtze
• Millions of gallons of sewage are dumped into
the river along with chemicals from farming
and industries.
Results of Pollution
• Many species of plants and animals that once
lived in the river are disappearing.
• Blue-green algae is growing due to high levels
of nitrogen and phosphates which reduces the
oxygen levels in the water causing fish to die.
• Contaminated fish eaten by Chinese people
are causing health problems.
Solving the problem
• More water treatment facilities are being built.
• Cities along the river are encouraged to build
land fields to gather their garbage.
• The Three Gorges Dam is being build along the
river for hydroelectric purposes. This will allow
people in central China to who have never had
electricity to have it.
• Some feel the dam could cause extinction of
some species of plants and animals or cause
earthquakes.
India’s Air Pollution
• Air pollution is a serious problem in India.
• With a growing population and development of
industry it has some the heaviest air pollution in
the world.
• Not only industrial smoke but automobile
emission causes about 70% of the pollution.
• In rural areas people cook over open fires, use
wood, animal dung, or coal for fuel. This causes
carbon monoxide, soot and other chemicals.
• Air inside the home is as bad as outside.
Results of Pollution
• India has a very high rate of respiratory
diseases
Solving the Problem
• It is very hard for the Indian government to
enforce laws on industry and transportation
that might improve the countries air quality
but to the fact they do not want to slow down
economic growth.
China’s Air Pollution
• China’s air pollution was from the growth in
population and industry.
• Their energy came from burning coal which
sends soot, ash, and chemicals into the
atmosphere.
• Automobile exhaust is another problem.
Result
• Respiratory disease and heart disease
• Acid rain
Solving the Problem
• Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection
Bureau was established to work on air quality
before the 2008 Olympics.
• Automobile traffic was greatly reduced
• Many factories temporarily closed.
• Many people want the government to find a
way to keep pollution down but allow
economic progress.