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Southern and Southern and Eastern AsiaEastern AsiaSouthern and Southern and Eastern AsiaEastern Asia
Environmental IssuesEnvironmental IssuesEnvironmental IssuesEnvironmental Issues
Water PollutionWater PollutionWater PollutionWater Pollution
The causes and effects of pollution on the The causes and effects of pollution on the
Yangtze and Ganges RiversYangtze and Ganges Rivers
The Ganges River - IndiaThe Ganges River - IndiaThe Ganges River - IndiaThe Ganges River - India
Source is high in the Himalayan MountainsSource is high in the Himalayan Mountains
Flows 1600 miles through India and Flows 1600 miles through India and
BangladeshBangladesh
Empties into the Bay of BengalEmpties into the Bay of Bengal
Over 400 million people live in its river valleyOver 400 million people live in its river valley
Provides water and transportationProvides water and transportation
““Mother Ganges”Mother Ganges”
Ganges RiverGanges RiverGanges RiverGanges River• India’s most sacred riverIndia’s most sacred river
• Used for funeral ritesUsed for funeral rites
• Cremated bodiesCremated bodies
• (not) cremated bodies(not) cremated bodies
• Used by millions for drinking and bathing Used by millions for drinking and bathing
• Poor sewage systems drain directly into the Poor sewage systems drain directly into the riverriver
• Ganges Action Plan 1985Ganges Action Plan 1985
• Water treatment plans attempting to clean-up Water treatment plans attempting to clean-up the riverthe river
Ganges River Pollution
Ganges Action PlanGanges Action PlanGanges Action PlanGanges Action Plan
Program started in 1985 to clean up the riverProgram started in 1985 to clean up the river
Many sewage and water treatment plants have been built Many sewage and water treatment plants have been built
along the riveralong the river
Challenges to the clean up efforts:Challenges to the clean up efforts:
Growing populationGrowing population
Run-off from industries and farm productionRun-off from industries and farm production
• Chemical fertilizersChemical fertilizers
• Animal fertilizers Animal fertilizers
Quality of WaterQuality of WaterQuality of WaterQuality of Water
Chemicals used in fertilizer and industry Chemicals used in fertilizer and industry
wash into the river every daywash into the river every day
Human and animal wasteHuman and animal waste
Bodies of dead animalsBodies of dead animals
Cremated remains of humansCremated remains of humans
Still, people use river for bathing, drinking, Still, people use river for bathing, drinking,
and cookingand cooking
Ganges River
Pollution India
Cities along the Cities along the GangesGanges
Cities along the Cities along the GangesGanges
Highest rates of water-born diseases of Highest rates of water-born diseases of
any who live in Indiaany who live in India
Pour millions of gallons of sewage into the Pour millions of gallons of sewage into the
river which is then carried to other cities river which is then carried to other cities
and villages farther south.and villages farther south.
Outbreaks of many diseases are commonOutbreaks of many diseases are common
The Yangtze RiverThe Yangtze RiverThe Yangtze RiverThe Yangtze RiverChina’s longest riverChina’s longest river
4000 miles from the NW part of the the country to the 4000 miles from the NW part of the the country to the
East China SeaEast China Sea
Pumping stations take water out to supply people with Pumping stations take water out to supply people with
water for drinking, irrigation, and industrial useswater for drinking, irrigation, and industrial uses
Millions of gallons of sewage, chemicals from Millions of gallons of sewage, chemicals from
agricultural and industrial wastes are dumped into the agricultural and industrial wastes are dumped into the
river every dayriver every day
Nitrogen and arsenic are leading pollutants Nitrogen and arsenic are leading pollutants
Yangtze PollutionsYangtze PollutionsYangtze PollutionsYangtze Pollutions
Many species of plants and animals are Many species of plants and animals are
disappearingdisappearing
High levels of nitrogen and phosphates lead to High levels of nitrogen and phosphates lead to
growth of blue-green algaegrowth of blue-green algae
This reduces oxygen in the water causing This reduces oxygen in the water causing
fish to diefish to die
These fish are caught and eaten leading to These fish are caught and eaten leading to
human health problemshuman health problems
Yangtze RiverYangtze RiverYangtze RiverYangtze River
• China’s longest riverChina’s longest river- 4,000 miles from the Northwest regions to the East - 4,000 miles from the Northwest regions to the East
China Sea China Sea
• Passes through over 185 towns and villages (400 Passes through over 185 towns and villages (400 million people)million people)
• Poor sewage drains millions of gallons into the riverPoor sewage drains millions of gallons into the river
• Fertilizer run-off into the riverFertilizer run-off into the river
• Millions of people use the river to catch fish (most Millions of people use the river to catch fish (most have been contaminated by factory chemicals)have been contaminated by factory chemicals)
Yangtze River Pollution - China
Three Gorges DamThree Gorges DamThree Gorges DamThree Gorges Dam
Three Gorges Dam
You Tube Video:
ImprovementsImprovementsImprovementsImprovements
China building more water treatment China building more water treatment
facilitiesfacilities
Encouraging cities along river to build Encouraging cities along river to build
sanitary landfills for garbage rather than sanitary landfills for garbage rather than
dumping in the riverdumping in the river
International organizations like the World International organizations like the World
Bank have worked with China on these Bank have worked with China on these
programsprograms
India’s Air PollutionIndia’s Air PollutionIndia’s Air PollutionIndia’s Air Pollution
One of India’s most serious environmental issuesOne of India’s most serious environmental issues
Due to enormous and growing population and rapid Due to enormous and growing population and rapid
growth of cities and development of industry and number growth of cities and development of industry and number
of automobiles and trucksof automobiles and trucks
Some of the highest rates of respiratory diseases in the Some of the highest rates of respiratory diseases in the
world world
Difficult for Indian government to enforce laws on Difficult for Indian government to enforce laws on
industry and transportation that might improve airindustry and transportation that might improve air
Air PollutionAir PollutionAir PollutionAir Pollution
Rural areas have pollution due to material used in Rural areas have pollution due to material used in
homes (wood, animal dung, coal, etc.)homes (wood, animal dung, coal, etc.)
India has some 500,000 annual deaths from India has some 500,000 annual deaths from
indoor air pollution indoor air pollution
Can form “brown clouds” which can reduce Can form “brown clouds” which can reduce
rainfall and temperaturesrainfall and temperatures
Air Pollution
India
Air Pollution in ChinaAir Pollution in ChinaAir Pollution in ChinaAir Pollution in China
Many cities in China have growing populations and Many cities in China have growing populations and
industriesindustries
China is the world’s fastest growing economy—with no China is the world’s fastest growing economy—with no
environmental regulationenvironmental regulation
Leading cause of death are respiratory and heart disease Leading cause of death are respiratory and heart disease
that can be tied to long exposure to air pollutionthat can be tied to long exposure to air pollution
The burning of coal provides much of China’s energyThe burning of coal provides much of China’s energy
Leads to the release of soot, ash, and chemicals into the Leads to the release of soot, ash, and chemicals into the
airair
Air pollution also contributes to acid rainAir pollution also contributes to acid rain
Air Pollution China
Beijing Municipal Environmental Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection BureauProtection Bureau
(set up before the 2008 Olympics; athletes were (set up before the 2008 Olympics; athletes were concerned)concerned)
Beijing Municipal Environmental Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection BureauProtection Bureau
(set up before the 2008 Olympics; athletes were (set up before the 2008 Olympics; athletes were concerned)concerned)
Works on improving the quality of the city’s airWorks on improving the quality of the city’s air
Automobile traffic was reduced and many Automobile traffic was reduced and many
factories were closed for a period of timefactories were closed for a period of time
Arguments from the World Bank to encourage Arguments from the World Bank to encourage
the government to enforce these laws:the government to enforce these laws:
Cost of health care far outweighs the Cost of health care far outweighs the
economic profits from activities that economic profits from activities that
contribute to air pollutioncontribute to air pollution
Flooding in IndiaFlooding in IndiaFlooding in IndiaFlooding in India• Monsoon winds bring
heavy amounts of seasonal rainfall.
• Because the rain continues for months the ground becomes saturated and mudslides occur.
• Standing water in flooded streets breeds mosquitoes. Diseases spread by them, such as malaria, spread quickly.
Flooding India
Flooding in China• The Yangtze River has flooded more than
1000 times but the Yellow River is responsible for the most catastrophic floods.
• The Yellow River has killed more people than any other river in the world – called “River of Sorrow”
• People have tried to control the river with levees and drainage ditches
• When the levees were built, more sediment accumulated in the river, causing more flooding
Yellow River – China Flooding
The 1887 Yellow River flood was a devastating flood on the Yellow River (Huang He) in China. This river is prone to flooding due to the elevated nature of the river, running between dams above the broad plains surrounding it. The flood that began in September 1887 inundated the area, killing some 900,000 people. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters ever recorded.
The 1938 Yellow River flood was created by the Nationalist Government in central China in an attempt to stop the advance of Japanese forces. They opened the dikes (dam like structures), It has been called the "largest act of environmental warfare in history,“ An estimate of 800,000 were drowned.The floods covered and destroyed thousands of square kilometers of farmland and shifted the mouth of the Yellow River hundreds of miles to the south.
Yellow River Flooding in History
Flooding China
