◄UNIT 6:Programming for childrenUNIT 8:Animals►

UNIT 7:Air pollution

  • UNIT 7:Air pollution

    1. Look at the following pictures.

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    2. Think about the responsibilities of human beings in the situations
    above and predict what you are going to learn in this unit.

    7.1 Definition of pollution
    Find out
    1. What pollution is.
    2. How polluted air affects us.
    3. Causes of air pollution.

    4. How to advocate against air pollution.

    Activity 7.1 Field visit
    1. Describe the harmful effects of motor vehicles to the environment.
    2. Visit an industry near your school.
    3. Ask questions on several activities going on in the industry
    including how the environment is managed.
    4. Write short notes in your notebook.

    Pollution is the presence or introduction into the environment of a

    substance which has harmful poisonous effects.

    7.2 Sources of common air pollutants
    Activity 7.2 Identifying the sources of air pollution

    1. Look at these pictures.

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    2. What is going on in the pictures? Is it good or bad to the
    environment?
    3. Visit a polluted environment and observe it carefully. Write down
    short notes that include:
    a) Causes of air pollution

    b) Effects of air pollution

    Air pollutants are substances that cause air pollution. e.g smoke, dust
    particles, fumes, gases such as carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and
    nitrogen dioxide.They come from burning of garbage and tyres, vehicle
    exhaust systems, industries, smoking, deforestation, woodfires. Dust
    created by wind and other activities like quarrying also pollute the air.

    Air pollutants contaminate the air making it unsafe for use.

    7.3 Consequences of air pollution
    Activity 7.3    Identifying effects of air pollution
    Carry out the following experiments:
    1. Burn some fresh leaves in a closed room. How do you feel after
    some time? Why is this the case?
    2. Burn some plastics such as tyres then place a shiny lid or pan on
    top of the burning fire. Observe the lid or pan after sometime.

    What do you see?

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    3. What do these experiments tell you about how air pollution affects us?

    Activity 7.4 Research Activity
    1. Go to the library and read articles, textbooks, magazines and
    pamphlets on consequences of air pollution.
    2. Visit a local environment management authority office. While
    there, ask the officers about the causes and effects of air
    pollution and how to control it.
    3. Write short notes on your findings on consequences of air

    pollution.

    Consequences of air pollution can be grouped into two:
    • Health effects
    • Environmental effects

    a) Health effects
    These include:
    • Irritation of the eyes, nose and throat.
    • Respiratory diseases such as asthma, pneumonia and cancer of
    the lungs.
    • Damage to other living organisms.

    b) Environmental effects
    These include:
    • Air pollutant gases such as carbon monoxide which can cause
    death when inhaled. This happens especially when in limited supply
    of air. This explains why we should not stay in a closed room with
    burning charcoal.
    • Acid rain which contaminates water, putting the lives of human
    beings and other animals at risk.
    • Destruction of the ozone layer leading the green house effect

    which causes global warming.

    7.4 Advocating against air pollution
    Find out
    Ways of avoiding air pollution.

    Activity 7.5       Ways of Preventing air pollution 

    1. Look at the following picture.

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    2. How are the activities above important regarding environment

    protection?

    Ways of controlling air pollution include:
    • Planting plenty of trees to create forest covers in order to absorb
    carbon dioxide. Forests act as both water catchment areas and
    recycling points of gases.
    • Fitting vehicle exhausts with catalytic converters to help convert
    poisonous gases into less poisonous ones before being released to
    the atmosphere.
    • Setting up industries far away from residential areas and fitting
    factories with chimneys that filter air.

    • Avoiding/reducing cooking using firewood and charcoal.

    UNIT TEST 7

    1. What is pollution?
    2. Apart from carbon dioxide, give other pollutants that are gaseous
    in nature.
    3. Give any three reasons why air pollution is a threat to animal lives
    and the environment.
    4. Why is it not advisable to stay in a room with burning charcoal?
    5. Explain the term “go green” as a solution to air pollution in our
    environment.
    6. Explain why the government of Rwanda stopped people from
    smoking cigarettes in public places.
    7. Look at the pictures below. Say whether what is going on is right

    or wrong. Give reasons for your answer.

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    a) __________________

    a

    

    b) __________________

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    c) __________________
    8. a) What is global warming?
    b) What environmental activities can we practice to avoid global
    warming?
    9. How does air pollution affect drivers?
    10. What advice would you give to people who use fuel as a source of
    energy?
    11. Air pollution is severe in ____________. (cities, rural areas) Why?
    12. Which of these gases is responsible for global warming?
    A. Hydrogen peroxide
    B. Carbon dioxide
    C. Sulfur dioxide

    D. Nitrogen dioxide

    ◄UNIT 6:Programming for childrenUNIT 8:Animals►