SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT

Transcription

1 Geitnas Schl 2 nd Year Junir High Schl (8 th Grade) SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT COMENIUS 1: WATER & AIR QUALITY ACTIVITY: AIR POLLUTION (Pllutants, Surces and Effects) Objectives T determine the pssible surces f air pllutin and t evaluate the health effects f air pllutin n humans. T determine the lcatin f plluted areas in the district f Attiki. T identify the crrespnding pllutants fr the district f Attiki. Basic knwledge The natural cmpsitin f air is mstly nitrgen and xygen, tgether with very small amunts f ther gases such as carbn dixide, nitrgen xides, argn etc. By the term air pllutin we mean any visible r invisible particle r gas that is nt part f the natural qualitative and quantitative cmpsitin f air. The natural pllutants f air have always been part f the histry f Earth. The natural pllutants f air are particulates and a variety f gases emitted in the atmsphere frm vlcanes explsins, frest fires and the disintegratin f rganic materials in ceans and swamps. The natural pllutants are present in greater amunts in the atmsphere than the pllutants prduced by humans (human-made pllutants). Hwever, the natural pllutants d nt cause as serius prblems as human-made pllutants, because they are dispersed ver large areas and are nt cncentrated ver cities. In additin, many f them are nt as harmful as human-made pllutants. The human-made air pllutin is a result f the cntinuusly increasing cnsumptin f fssil fuels and the cntinuusly Prject: Water and Air Quality 1

2 Geitnas Schl 2 nd Year Junir High Schl (8 th Grade) increasing industrial activity. Many f these pllutants are prduced frm burning f cal, il, wd and ther fuels. The majr human-made air pllutants are suspended particulates, carbn mnxide, nitrgen dixide, sulphur dixide, lead and zn. The plants and animals have adapted t mst natural pllutants (except fr the rare catastrphic events that create glbal climate changes). Unfrtunately, the mst serius prblems cme frm the human-made pllutants. Air pllutin can becme land and water pllutin thrugh rainfall. The impact f air pllutin n humans can range frm a simple eye irritatin t cancer. The direct inhalatin f pllutants r the indirect absrptin thrugh plants, animals and water can cause significant health hazards n humans. Fr this reasn, gvernments have established prgrams t measure and cntinuusly mnitr air pllutin. In additin, the gvernments have set health standards fr each air pllutant. When these standards are exceeded, steps are taken t cntrl pllutant emissins. Instructins fr the activity Distribute the Air Pllutin Wrksheets. Is the air pllutin always visible? What are the ways thrugh which the air pllutin becmes visible arund us? In ther wrds, which are the signs f pllutin? Ask students the abve questins t create a relevant discussin. Students recrd the signs f pllutin suggested, in the crrespnding space n the wrksheet. A pssible list culd include: smke, drs, phtchemical clud, smg, dust clud caused by public r private cnstructins, plants and trees with stunted grwth, disclured and crrded buildings and mnuments. Prject: Water and Air Quality 2

3 Geitnas Schl 2 nd Year Junir High Schl (8 th Grade) Hw des air pllutin affect peple? Which are the main effects n human health? Ask students the abve questins t create a relevant discussin. Students recrd the health effects suggested in the crrespnding space n the wrksheet. A pssible list culd include: breathing prblems (asthma) headaches, irritated eyes, lung, heart, brain and kidney damages. What are the surces f air pllutin? Ask students the abve questins t create a relevant discussin. Students recrd the surces f pllutin suggested, in the crrespnding space n the wrksheet. A pssible list culd include: cars, industries, il refineries, electric pwer statins, central heating devices, chemical industries, dry cleaners, landfills. Distribute the sheet with the map f the district f Attiki. Hang a large map f Attiki district n the blackbard. Lcate the plluted areas in the brader regin f Attiki district. A relevant discussin takes place n the surces and the type f pllutin. The students mark n the map sme f the surces f air pllutin. A pssible list culd include: basic rads f heavy car traffic (Panepistimiu, Alexandras and Kifisias Avenues, Attiki rad, Natinal Nrth and Suth rads), Oil refineries f Asprpyrgs, Stainless Steel Metal industry, industrial areas arund Athens. Discuss again with students abut the cntent and the aims f the prject and the participant schls. Encurage them t visit the prject website Prject: Water and Air Quality 3

4 Geitnas Schl 2 nd Year Junir High Schl (8 th Grade) Distribute the Indicative List f Websites and ask students t gather infrmatin fr the issues discussed abve. Ask them t wrk in grups (they have already been divided int grups) and t prepare a reprt n the infrmatin they have cllected. They will present their reprt the first week after the Easter vacatins. The duratin f the presentatin shuld be 7-10 minutes. The evaluatin criteria f the reprt have t be explained t the students. References 1. Natinal Envirnment Prtectin Agency Ministry f Envirnment 2. A.I.R.E. Prject American Envirnmental Prtectin Agency 3. Hellenic Military Gegraphical Service Map Ministry f Defence Prject: Water and Air Quality 4

5 Geitnas Schl 2 nd Year Junir High Schl (8 th Grade) Indicative List f WEBSITES Website f prject, T find infrmatin abut air and water pllutin, visit the fllwing websites: 1. Ministry f Envirnment (Υ.ΠΕ.ΧΩ..Ε.) 2. American Envirnmental Prtectin Agency 3. Eurpean Envirnment Cmmissin 4. Eurpean Envirnment Agency 5. United Natins Envirnment Prgram 6. Hellenic Center fr Marine Research 7. Pseidn Mnitring, frecasting and infrmatin system fr the Greek seas Clean seas and casts 9. Rivers and lakes f ur cuntry Greek Bitpe - Wetlands Centre EΥ ΑΠ Water Supply and Sewrage Cmpany f Athens ΕΤΥΜΠ Natinal data bank f hydrlgical and meterlgical infrmatin Hellenic Marine Envirnment Prtectin Assciatin 14.WWF Prject: Water and Air Quality 5

6 Geitnas Schl 2 nd Year Junir High Schl (8 th Grade) AIR POLLUTION (Student Wrksheet) «Signs» f Air Pllutin Health Effects f Air Pllutin Surces f Air Pllutin Prject: Water and Air Quality 6

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