Mother: American Films and Mom

I think the most important person in my life is my mother. The reason why I chose my mother is because she is really all I have, she is my motivation, and she helps me live through all my struggles. I wouldna t be able now to enjoy this minute of my life writing this essay without my mother. My mother has brought me to this wonderful world. For nine months she carried me, she felt very bad, but did not refuse, and gave birth to me. Looking back, my mom is the most positive and important influence on my life.Ia ve been mentioning my mom, in almost every essay I write. But I really cana t express how much I love her, in just words. My mom is a really big part of me, and shea s the person who influences and inspires me. I cana t imagine my life without her. What would I do I dona t know. Ia ve learned how to love her, since I met her for the first time. And I will always love her. She is everything for me. She always protects me and always supports me. She is always with me, when Ia hap py and when Ia m sad. She helps me with hard problems in my life, and she is glad for some good things I do. She helped me from the first, day I was born. She fed me; she didna t sleep for many nights, only to make me comfortable. She went for walks with me, and was always with me. From the first grade of my school, she helped me with my homework; she taught me how to behave. I am who I am, because of my mom. She always tries to make me a better person.From childhood, she hired a piano and chess teacher for me. She bought a lot of books for me to read. She bought some intellectual games and that kind of stuff. Sometimes I didna t like my piano lessons. But I still didna t tell that to my mom, because I didna t want her to be sad. I study hard to make her happy. I want her to be proud of me. I want her to feel, as I am the best child in the world, and as she is the best mom. I do everything for that. I behave myself very good in school, I dona fight and I obey the rules. She always s upports me for my goals and ambitions, and thata s the key in pursuing my dream. And what makes my mother the most important individual in my life aside from those that I have mentioned? It is the fact that even though how many times we fight, and even if I am not the best child she could ever have, she always makes me feel that I am the best gift she ever received from God. If I would have a chance to be born again, I would have chosen to be again her chi

The Theoretical Background Upon Behavior Modification Techniques

The theoretical background upon behavior modification techniques Abstract Behavior modification is a technique about the change in undesired behavior and enhancing desired behavior. In this paper is shown the history of this technique, when it dates from, a theoretical background and the steps of the modification, in order to be successful and thriving. This paper will show one of the first experiments with the behavior modification and how they helped this behavior technique to evolve, so to be helpful for therapeutic purposes as well as for parental purposes. Table of contents: 1. Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 2 2. History of behavior modification†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 2 3. Principles of behavior modification†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 3 4. Techniques of behavior modification †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 3 5. Steps of behavior modification†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 4 6. Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦. 4 7. Reference list†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦. 5 1. Introduction Behavior modification is a technique concerning the change in the undesired behavior and enhancing desired behavior. It is an approach that aims to modify the behavior of a pe rson through the use of positive or negative reinforcement and punishment.Rewards such as approval, cloth, food or even money can support and strengthen the desired behavior and improve its regularity and occurrence. Behavior modification technique is used in many different situations, varying from the performance of children in their classroom, in their home or in the playground to the actions of adult prison inmates or people who need therapeutic treatment. For instance, if a child is doing her or his homework, this is a desired and wanted behavior. A teacher can support this kind of activity by providing the child with praise or a star on a chart to encourage the child to repeat this behavior.In the next lesson the kid has done the homework in order to get another star. This is a behavior modification. 2. History of behavior modification The theoretical background of behavior modification technique dates since 1911 when this term is used for the first time by Edward Thorndike. Th e behavior modification can also be traced to lab research in 1800's and 1900's. The greater part of this research was done through experimenting with animals. However, this technique is profoundly and intensely developed by American behaviorist Burrhus Frederic Skinner.He developed the idea of operant conditioning, which is the concept that the behavior of a person or an animal can be shaped by reinforcement or lack of one. (Skinner, B. F, 1938). Nowadays, these notions are used by parents and mental health professionals. Behaviorists strongly believe that people are a creation of their life experience with the ability to manage their behavior and study new once. Many routine programs are about reducing cholesterol, blood pressure or weight by using behavior modification techniques as a means of thoroughly modifying eating habits.In another words, behavior modification technique is used to replace undesirable behavior with desirable once. It is the process of modifying a person's r eaction to different stimuli. 3. Principles of behavior modification In the behavior modification technique there are two main principles and they are reinforcement and punishment; both can be either positive or negative. The reinforcement fortifies the behavior. It is something that a person obtains as a result of their behavior that makes it more possible to do it again in the future. A positive reinforcement is about encouraging desirable behaviors through a technique of rewards.In the behavior therapy, therapists often make contracts with their patients and clients in order to establish the terms of the reward system. A negative reinforcement illustrates wanted behavior which is rewarded with the elimination of a negative stimulus. On the other hand, the punishment lessens the behavior. It happens when a person obtain a consequence that they do not desire as an outcome of their behavior. A positive one takes place when unwanted behavior results in the addition of a negative stim ulus. A negative punishment takes place when unwanted behavior results in the removal of an enjoyable and satisfying motivation.B. F. Skinner display positive and negative reinforcement. He put a rat in a box. In this box there was a lever and when it was pushed it released food. The rat quickly understands that every time he pushed the lever he will receive food. In this case the positive reinforcement of receiving food made the rat to push the lever and so it has lever pushing behavior. In Skinner's other example, he put the rat in a different box with a lever. In this box there was an electric current. The rat would push the lever, which immediately turned off the electric current.So, the rat learned to push it in order to stop the current. This behavior was reinforced by avoiding negative circumstances. According to B. F. Skinner the punishment have to be used only as a last option. He thought so, because he believed that people will try harder for a prize than through fear of p unishment, so he stated that the positive reinforcement is more effective than the other methods. He also had the notion that the punishment did not result in the long run for the behavior modification, he believed that the punishment had only brief results. 4 . Techniques of behavior modificationIn the behavior modification there are three techniques which help to remodel negative thoughts or actions into positive ones and they are systematic desensitization, aversion and token economy. Systematic desensitization technique aid with lessen the fear associated with certain stimuli. The experience to the fear-producing stimuli, while focusing on easing techniques in the long run leads to the fear-inducing stimuli resulting in the easing response, rather than fear. Aversion technique support breaking severe or just troublesome habits through associating aversive stimuli to the unwanted habits.In the end, the unwanted habits become related with the negative consequence and the behavior is diminished. The most effective behavior modification technique is the token economy, mainly with children. With this technique a wanted behavior results in the reward of a token -for instance a star or a poker chip; on the other hand unwanted behavior result in taking away the token. When children gain a specific number of tokens, they get a meaningful item, opportunity or some kind of benefit in exchange for the tokens.Ultimately, the rewarding of tokens decreases the unwanted behavior on their own. 5. Steps of behavior modification The behavior modification technique is accessible for everyone – individuals, families and ill people and they all have to follow some steps in order the behavior modification to be successful. The steps are related with identification, education, environmental changes, encouragement and discouragement. The identification of a problem may be easy when an adult choose to stop smoking, or difficult when a student often interrupt the teacher in c lass.Behavior modification techniques involve an educational part to begin the wanted changes. For instance, a teacher might explain to a child in positive ways to express irritation with discussion, rather than throwing objects. Negative behaviors often take place in relation to exact circumstances. For instance, an overeater might always eat when watching TV or a smoker might always smoke when drinking coffee. Environmental changes diminish the chances for the negative behaviors to take place. When the proper behavior occurs, the individual obtain positive reinforcement.For example, a child who does her or his homework will be left to play games or extra hour on the playground. Negative reinforcement give unwanted consequences for keeping on the negative behavior. For instance, extra chores might be the consequence for a teenager acting disrespectfully at home. 6. Conclusion A behavior modification technique has the potential to help many people as well as everyday behaviors and c ircumstances and also to aid in many disorders. This technique has proved as successful many different treatments.For instance, it has helped with children with autism, conduct disorders, many different phobias and addictions; it also has helped in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as well as in parenting and classroom settings. In conclusion to be thriving it has to be followed five very important steps for successful behavior modification technique. First of all it has to be determining the ways for helping diminishing the problems. Secondly, it has to be developing a program designed to lessen the unwanted behavior and make stronger the wanted behavior.Third, it has to be carry out the program. Fourth, it has to be keep objective records of progress. And fifth it has to be supervising the program and results and modify as necessary. 7. Reference list †¢Fernandez, Cr. (2010) Examples of Behavior Modification Techniques Available from: http://www. lives trong. com/article/181974-examples-of-behavior-modification-techniques/ [Accessed November 2012] †¢Labrador, Fr. (2004) Skinner and the Rise of Behavior Modification and Behavior Therapy Available from: http://www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pubmed/15581239 Accessed [November 2012] †¢Martinez, El. 2010) Types of Behavior Modification Available from: http://www. livestrong. com/article/123748-types-behavior-modification/ Accessed [November 2012] †¢Nayab, N (2011) Examples of Behavior Modification Approaches That Really Work Available from: http://www. brighthub. com/office/human resources/articles/107630. aspx [Accessed November 2012] †¢Steeves, J. (2012) A Review of Different Behavior Modification Strategies Designed to Reduce Sedentary Screen Behaviors in Children Available from: http://www. hindawi. com/journals/jobes/2012/379215/ Accessed [November 2012]

Nursing Delivery Systems Nursing Care Delivery System Essay

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The Conflict Of The Syrian Civil War - 1395 Words

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Should University Increase Tuition Fee - 1314 Words

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Breaking the norm Essay Example For Students

Breaking the norm Essay Breaking the NormsWhen each of us was conceived, we did not have anything influencing our perception of the world. While we were growing up and still do this day, our surroundings influenced the way we think and the how we behave in our daily lives. We get ideas about gender roles from our parents, our teachers, television, books and even subconsciously. As part of a project to break the norms of society and push past peoples thresholds, I needed to figure out what made people feel uncomfortable. I thought for a moment and decided to tackle homophobia. I choose this topic because very few men are comfortable talking about the subject of gay men. It is my objective to better understand why men think the way we do. In order to get started I needed to brainstorm. After a little bit of deliberation, Juan and some other male classmates decided to hold hands and walk through the student union. Picture four grown men holding each others hands, walking through the middle of campus. As you can imagine, we received a lot of looks. We walked around for about five minutes as if nothing was going on. People seemed to be staring at us for a moment saying to themselves what are they doing? This is something that never happens in society. You hardly ever see men holding hands, much less four grown men swinging each others arms. Honestly, my first thought was that we would look so gay if we did this. Others in the group were skeptical at first to do this as well. When we walked into class, the students seem to cringe when they saw us take our seats. After that day I decided to take my project one step farther and push past everyones threshold. In order to break the norms of society and truly make people uncomfortable, I decided to wear the color pink for t he entire day of school. I went to the local Savers and purchased several items that were very feminine. I bought a pair of pink and yellow striped bellbottoms and a tight pink collared shirt. I wore the clothes to school in the hopes to witness the students reactions to me wearing clothes completely out of the ordinary. After attending two classes that day, I decided to talk to some friends of mine. They all told me that I looked like a fag. I finally had broke the norms of society and at the same time caught my friends stereotyping. Other people said I looked ridiculous and others called me a sissy. After hearing the comments, I felt it was time to dive into this question more deeply and find why pink is not normal for men. When my friend told me I looked like a sissy, I thought more about it. The terms sissy is sometimes used when referring to a boy who is feminine. According to our notes, femininity and masculinity are tightly bound to our gender roles. Men are expected to be strong, rough, and have stamina. We are not supposed to wear tight fitting bellbottoms and we should avoid colors like pink and purple. These are feminine colors. The man in the family is usually the person who should provide money and build a career. On the other hand, women traditionally are supposed to be tender and loving mothers and wives, to wear skirts and to walk on high heels. They should not have careers, but should take care of the kids and the house. It seems that these perceptions have been existing forever, and one reason is because from early childhood we are taught by our parents that pink is for girls, and blue is for boys. .ufb3f157cdd2b72267268440d11e664d9 , .ufb3f157cdd2b72267268440d11e664d9 .postImageUrl , .ufb3f157cdd2b72267268440d11e664d9 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ufb3f157cdd2b72267268440d11e664d9 , .ufb3f157cdd2b72267268440d11e664d9:hover , .ufb3f157cdd2b72267268440d11e664d9:visited , .ufb3f157cdd2b72267268440d11e664d9:active { border:0!important; } .ufb3f157cdd2b72267268440d11e664d9 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ufb3f157cdd2b72267268440d11e664d9 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ufb3f157cdd2b72267268440d11e664d9:active , .ufb3f157cdd2b72267268440d11e664d9:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ufb3f157cdd2b72267268440d11e664d9 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ufb3f157cdd2b72267268440d11e664d9 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ufb3f157cdd2b72267268440d11e664d9 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ufb3f157cdd2b72267268440d11e664d9 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ufb3f157cdd2b72267268440d11e664d9:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ufb3f157cdd2b72267268440d11e664d9 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ufb3f157cdd2b72267268440d11e664d9 .ufb3f157cdd2b72267268440d11e664d9-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ufb3f157cdd2b72267268440d11e664d9:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Motivation Essay ThesisEven before the children are born, parents begin choosing clothing and decorations by color based on the sex of the baby. The stereotype of pink, pastels, yellow and white for girls and bright or dark colors like green, blue and red for boys has long been a part of culture. How many times have you heard kids argue over toys because girls dont want that icky boy color or the boys dont want the gross girl color? This issue of color may go deeper than toys. Television programs further fuel this stereotype, again by showing children how they are supposed to act. For starters, there are more men than women in childrens programs and the women are portrayed most often in family roles. In general, males on TV are shown as knowledgeable, independent and aggressive. Females usually are shown as romantic, submissive, emotional and timid. In addition, commercials geared toward boys tend to be fast paced and action filled; for girls, quiet and feminine with soft background music. Even movies are becoming sensitive to this issue, making toadys generation feel this concept is normal. As adults, we are prone to pass our perceptions to anyone who will watch. On a past 60 minutes episode dedicated entirely to tomboys and sissies, they tackled the question facing how children grow up. In it, light was shed on how they grew up and the anxiety their parents faced. A girl at an age of three was shown, dressed with a skirt and playing with dolls. The next shot was at an age of four, revealing dramatic changes in her attitude towards dolls. Now she preferred jeans rather than pink dresses. When questioned, she replied pink sucks and Im your little boy, mommy. The parents were scared because they were not pleased with the possibility of raising a gay. This underlines an important tendency in our society. Most of the people are still uncomfortable with gays. They tend to associate gays only the negative aspects like AIDS. Gays are not allowed to serve in the army and they do not occupy high political positions. Thats why, it is not surprising that parents are concerned with the problem. They are trying to protect their kids from society, a large portion of which does not tolerate deviation from the established norms of behavior. The majority of parents in our society have brought their children up believing that a relationship consists of man and a women, and that there is not deviation from this norm. When I asked a number of heterosexual men, ranging from the ages of 18 to 24, why they feel homosexuality is wrong, they came up with basically the same answer. In one way or another they all said, That it is just wrong, and they take it in the rear! Some of the men I asked even said they felt homosexuality is like a disease that you might rub off on you if you get too close. Many of these men felt like their families would disown them. My feeling is that if you are not gay then you have no reason to be afraid of someone who is. I feel that if you have no doubt in your sexuality then you wouldnt feel threatened by someone who is. I dont feel that men are truly independent or confident enough to let go and feel as comfortable as females do. I feel that the social construction of our society needs to be modified. Men need to be taught that it is okay to show emotion and that whatever their sexuality is, it doesnt matter. To be more masculine we should learn to cope with our sexuality, and not be afraid. Masculinity does not mean without feeling, it means being strong and coming to terms with who you are. Wearing a pink shirt or holding hands with someone doesnt mean anything then just that. With so many influences changing our perception of the world, its hard to make the right choices. You should not be so quick to judge someone, and in this case, why does it matter?

Pollution and Its Various Forms Essay Example

Pollution and Its Various Forms Paper Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that causes adverse change. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light. Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants. Pollution is often classed as point source or Nippon source pollution. Forms of pollution The major forms of pollution are listed below along with the particular contaminant relevant to each of them: * Air pollution : The release of chemicals and particulates into the atmosphere. Common gaseous pollutants include carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CIFS) and nitrogen oxides produced by industry and motor vehicles. Photochemical ozone and smog are created as nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons react to sunlight. Particulate matter or fine dust is characterized by their micrometer size IMO to PM. 5. * Light pollution : Includes light trespass, over. Illumination and astronomical interference. Littering : The criminal throwing of inappropriate man-made objects, unredeemed, onto public and * Noise pollution : which encompasses roadway noise, riveter properties. Aircraft noise, industrial noise as well as high-intensity sonar. * Soil contamination : occurs when chemicals are released by spill or underground leakage. Among the most significant soil contaminants are hydrocarbons, heavy metals, METE herbicides, pesticides and chlorinated hydrocarbons. Radioactive contamination : resulting from 20th century activities in atomic physics, such as nucl ear power generation and nuclear weapons research, manufacture and deployment. (See alpha emitters and actinides in the environment. ) * Thermal pollution : -is a temperature change in natural eater bodies caused by human influence, such as use of water as coolant in a power plant. * Visual pollution : -which can refer to the presence of overhead power lines, motorway billboards, scarred landforms (as from strip mining), open storage of trash, municipal solid waste or space debris. Water pollution : by the discharge of wastewater from commercial and industrial waste (intentionally or through spills) into surface waters; discharges of untreated domestic sewage, and chemical contaminants, such as chlorine, from treated sewage; release of waste and contaminants into reface runoff flowing to surface waters (including urban runoff and agricultural runoff, which may contain chemical fertilizers and pesticides); waste disposal and leaching into groundwater; transportation and littering. P ollutants A pollutant is a waste material that pollutes air, water or soil. We will write a custom essay sample on Pollution and Its Various Forms specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Pollution and Its Various Forms specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Pollution and Its Various Forms specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Three factors determine the severity of a pollutant: its chemical nature, the concentration and the persistence. * Pollutants are classified as: 1 . Degradable or Nan-persistent pollutants: Those which are rapidly broken down by natural processes e. G. Domestic sewage, discarded vegetables, etc. 2. Slowly-degradable or persistent pollutants: These remain in the environment for many years in an unchanged condition and take decades or longer to degrade e. G. EDT and most plastics * Non-degradable pollutants: These cannot be degraded by natural processes. They are difficult to eradicate and continue to accumulate. E. G. Toxic elements like lead or mercury and nuclear wastes Sources and causes Air pollution produced by ships may alter clouds, affecting global temperatures. Air pollution comes from both natural and human-made (anthropogenic) sources. However, globally human-made pollutants from ambition, construction, mining, agriculture and warfare are increasingly significant in the air pollution equation. Motor vehicle emissions are one of the leading causes of air pollution. China, United States, Russia, India Mexico, and Japan are the world leaders in air pollution emissions. Principal stationary pollution sources include chemical plants, coal-fired power plants, oil refineries, petrochemical plants, nuclear waste disposal activity, incinerators, large livestock farms (dairy cows, pigs, poultry, etc. ), PVC factories, metals production factories, plastics factories, and other heavy industry. Agricultural air pollution comes from contemporary practices which include clear felling and burning of natural vegetation as well as spraying of pesticides and herbicides. About 400 million metric tons of hazardous wastes are generated each year. The United States alone produces about 250 million metric tons. [ Americans constitute less than 5% of the worlds population, but produce roughly 25% of the worlds CA, and generate approximately 30% of worlds waste. Pollution can also be the consequence of a natural disaster. For example, hurricanes often involve water contamination from sewage, and theoretical spills from ruptured boats or automobiles. Larger scale and environmental damage is not uncommon when coastal oil rigs or refineries are involved. Some sources of pollution, such as nuclear power plants or oil tankers, can produce widespread and potentially hazardous releases when accidents occur. In the case of noise pollution the dominant source class is the motor vehicle, producing about ninety percent of all unwanted noise worldwide. Effects Human health Overview of main health effects on humans from some common types of pollution. Adverse air quality can kill many organisms including humans. Ozone pollution can cause respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, throat inflammation, chest pain, and congestion. Water pollution causes approximately 14,000 deaths per day, mostly due to contamination of drinking water by untreated sewage in developing countries. An estimated 700 million Indians have no access to a proper toilet, and 1,000 Indian children die of diarrhea every day. [ Nearly 500 million Chinese lack access to safe drinking water. C 656,000 people die prematurely each year in China because of air pollution. In India, air pollution is believed to cause 527,700 totalities a year. Studies have estimated that the number of people killed annually in the US could be over 50,000. Oil spills can cause skin irritations and rashes. Noise pollution induces hearing loss, high blood pressure, stress, and sleep disturbance. Mercury has been linked to developmental deficits in children and neurological symptoms. Older people are major exposed to diseases induced by air pollution. Those with heart or lung disorders are under additional risk. Children and infants are also at serious risk. Lead and other heehaw metals have been shown to cause neurological problems. Chemical and radioactive substances can cause cancer and as well as birth defects. Environment pollution has been found to be present widely in the environment. There are a number of effects of this: * Pontifications describes situations where toxins (such as heavy metals) may pass through atrophic levels, becoming exponentially more concentrated in the process. * Carbon dioxide emissions cause ocean acidification, the ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earths oceans as CA becomes dissolved. * The emission of greenhouse gases leads to global warming which affects ecosystems in many ways. Invasive species can out compete native species and reduce biodiversity. Invasive plants can contribute debris and bimolecular (elephant) that can alter soil and chemical compositions of an environment, often reducing native species competitiveness. * Nitrogen oxides are removed from the air by rain and fertilize land which can change the species composition of ecosystems. * Smog and haze can reduce the amount of sunlight received by plants to carry out photosynthesis and leads to the production of troposphere ozone which damages plants. Soil can become infertile and unsuitable for plants. This will affect other organisms in the food web. * Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides can cause acid rain which lowers the pH value of soil. Environmental health information The Toxicology and Environmental Health Information Program (TEPID) at the United States National Library of Medicine (ML) maintains a comprehensive toxicology and environmental health web site that includes access to resource s produced by TEPID and by other government agencies and organizations. This web site includes links to databases, bibliographies, tutorials, and other scientific and consumer-oriented resources. TEPID also is responsible for the Toxicology Data Network (TOXINS) an integrated system of toxicology and environmental health databases that are available free of charge on the web. Regulation and monitoring To protect the environment from the adverse effects of pollution, many nations worldwide have enacted legislation to regulate various types of pollution as well as to mitigate the adverse effects of pollution. Pollution control Pollution control is a term used in environmental management. It means the control of emissions and effluents into air, water or soil. Without pollution intro, the waste products from consumption, heating, agriculture, mining, manufacturing, transportation and other human activities, whether they accumulate or disperse, will degrade the environment. In the hierarchy of controls, pollution prevention and waste minimization are more desirable than pollution control. In the field of land development, low impact development is a similar technique for the prevention of urban runoff. Practices * Recycling * Reusing * Waste minimization * Mitigating * Preventing * Compost Pollution control devices * Dust collection systems * Backhouses * Cyclones Electrostatic precipitation * Scrubbers * Baffle spray scrubber * Cyclonic spray scrubber * Ejector venture scrubber * Mechanically aided scrubber * Spray tower * Wet scrubber * Sewage treatment * Sedimentation (Primary treatment) * Activated sludge batterers (Secondary treatment; also used for industrial wastewater) * Aerated lagoons * Constructed wetlands (also used for urban runoff) * Industrial wastewater treatment * API oil-water separators * Filterers * Dissolved air flotation (DEAF) * powdered activated carbon treatment * alliteration * Vapor recovery systems * Phototypesetting Perspectives The earliest precursor of pollution generated by life forms would have been a natural function of their existence. The attendant consequences on viability and population levels fell within the sphere of natural selection. These would have included the demise of a population locally or ultimately, species extinction. Processes that were untenable would have resulted in a new balance brought about by changes and adaptations. At the extremes, for any form of life, consideration of pollution is superseded by that of survival. For human kind, the factor of technology is a distinguishing and critical inconsideration, both as an enabler and an additional source of byproducts. Short of survival, human concerns include the range from quality of life to health hazards. Since science holds experimental demonstration to be definitive, modern treatment of toxicity or environmental harm involves defining a level at which an effect is observable. Common examples of fields where practical measurement is crucial include automobile emissions control, industrial exposure (e. G. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Peels), toxicology (e. G. LEAD), and medicine (e. G. Medication and addition doses). The solution to pollution is dilution, is a dictum which summarizes a traditional approach to pollution management whereby sufficiently diluted pollution is not harmful. It is well-suited to some other modern, locally scoped applications such as laboratory safety procedure and hazardous material release emergency management. But it assumes that the diluting is in virtually unlimited supply for the application or that resulting dilutions are acceptable in all cases. Such simple treatment for environmental pollution on a wider scale might have had greater merit in earlier centuries hen physical survival was often the highest imperative, human population and densities were lower, technologies were simpler and their brood cuts more benign. But these are often no longer the case. Furthermore, advances have enabled measurement of concentrations not possible before. The use of statistical methods in evaluating outcomes has given currency to the principle of probable harm in cases where assessment is warranted but resorting to deterministic models is impractical or infeasible. In addition, consideration of the environment beyond direct impact on human beings has gained prominence. Yet in the absence of a superseding principle, this older approach predominates practices throughout the world. It is the basis by which to gauge concentrations of effluent for legal release, exceeding which penalties are assessed or restrictions applied. One such superseding principle is contained in modern hazardous waste laws in developed countries, as the process of diluting hazardous waste to make it non-hazardous is usually a regulated treatment process. Migration from pollution dilution to elimination in many cases can be confronted by challenging economical and technological barriers. Greenhouse gases and global warming Historical and projected CA emissions by country. Energy Information Administration. Source: Carbon dioxide, while vital for photosynthesis, is sometimes referred to as pollution, because raised levels of the gas in the atmosphere are affecting the Earth s climate. Disruption of the environment can also highlight the connection between areas of pollution that would normally be classified separately, such as those of water and air. Recent studies have investigated the potential for long-term rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide to cause slight but critical increases in the acidity of ocean waters, and the Seibel effects of this on marine ecosystems. Most polluted places in the developing world The Blacksmith Institute, an international non-for-profit organization dedicated to eliminating life-threaten inning pollution in the developing world, issues an annual list of some Of the worlds Worst polluted places. In the 2007 issues the ten top nominees, already industrialized countries excluded, are located in Azerbaijan, China, India, Peru, Russia, Ukraine and Zambia. Air pollution takes toll on Chinas tourism In this Jan. 29, 2013 photo, a man wears a mask on Attainment Square in thick haze in Beijing. China, one of the most visited countries in the world, has seen sharply fewer tourists this year, with worsening air pollution partly to blame. BEIJING ? China, one of the most visited countries in the world, has seen sharply fewer tourists this year ? with worsening air pollution partly to blame. Numbers of foreign visitors have declined following Januarys Airplanes, when already eye-searing levels of smog soared to new highs. Tourists have been put off by news about smog and other problems, said grand Iliac of travel agency Studious in Munich, Germany. He said the number f people booking trips to China through his company has fallen 1 6 percent this year. You are reading about smog. You are reading about political things, said Iliac. All the news which is coming from China concerning the non-tourist things are bad, frankly speaking. China is the worlds No. Destination for international travel after France and the United States. Weakness in visitor numbers could hurt government efforts to reduce reliance on trade-driven manufacturing by promoting cleaner service industries such as tourism. Foreign visitors are outnumbered by Chinese tourists but spend more. The decline could be long-term if Beijing fails to make visible progress in combating pollution, experts say. That Chinas air and water are badly polluted following three decades of breakneck growth is not news. But Januarys record-setting bout of smog got worldwide news coverage and was so bad some longtime foreign residents left the country. From January to June, the total number of foreign visitors, including business travelers and residents, entering China declined by 5 percent to just under 13 million compared with the same period last year, according to the China National Tourism Administration. Overall, visitors from Asia, Australia, Europe and the Americas all declined. In Beijing, with major attractions including the Great Wall and the Imperial Palace, the drop is even more striking. The number of foreign tourists visiting the Chinese capital fell by 15 percent in the first six months of the year to 1. 9 million, according to the Beijing Tourism Administration. The China National Tourism Administration acknowledges a decline in foreign tourists to China as a whole, and in cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Examine, a prosperous port city in the southeast. It blames the lobar economic slowdown and a stronger Chinese currency and says Chinas tourism image has been hurt by the emergence of HON. bird flu, air pollution and dead pigs found floating in Shanghais main river. The city of Aware in central Japan canceled a student exchange trip due to bad air. Eighteen Japanese students were due to visit the eastern coastal city of Shagging under an annual exchange program that goes back 30 years. Such trips might resume next year if conditions improve, said an employee of Arass city hall, Toshiba Nuking. Beijing official air quality reports show improvement ever recent years. But Steven Andrews, an environmental and legal consultant, said other data show a decline. An analysis of U. S. Embassy readings of smaller, more harmful airborne particles, show this years pollution is significantly worse than in the past three years, Andrews said. Beggings city government only started publicly releasing air quality data in January 201 2 that measured PM. 5, or fine particles smaller than 2. 5 micrometers in diameter. They can enter deep into the lungs and can cause more damage. They are considered a more accurate reflection of air quality than other pollutants. According to Andrews calculations, the average PM. 5 reading in the first half of 201 3 was about 118 micrograms per cubic meter, compared with 95 last year and 89 in 201 1 . In other words, so far this year the air pollution is about 25 percent worse than the first half of last year, he said. Total numbers of foreigners to Beijing rose in January by 13 percent compared with a year earlier. But following news reports of Januarys smog, they dropped in February by 37 percent compared with February 2012. In June, the number of foreigners to the Chinese capital was down by about 1 9 recent from a year ago, according to the Beijing Tourism Administration. The biggest drop was among Japanese visitors ? 55 percent fewer came to the capital in the first six months. The number of Americans, the biggest single group Of foreign visitors, declined 4 percent to just under 370,000. How long the tourist decline lasts is linked to how quickly the smog clears, economists suggest. Air and water pollution from factories and cars is the outcome of successful economic development and difficult to control because it is difficult or politically infeasible to identify responsible parties, aid Tim Darrell, former director of the Center for Sustainable Tourism at Arizona State university. Thus the air pollution trends in China will be difficult to reverse and their impacts will be significantly negative on the tourism industry, he said. These impacts could be reversed if the government can make significant improvements in air quality and enthusiastically convey these improvements to international travelers. Other economists in the U. S. Re studying data from 18 Chinese provinces from 1999 to 2010 that suggest air pollution hurts levels of foreign visitors. A asters degree thesis by Chinese student Congo Hung at the University of San Francisco was the starting point. She estimated that a 1 percent rise in air pollution will lower the number of foreign tourist arrivals by about 1. 2 percent. The Chinese government has announced ambitious new anti- pollution measures but people whose jobs depend on foreign tourists arent hopeful. The sales manager of the Cumming Garden Hotel, near Attainment Square in central Beijing said guest numbers are down. She said the next three months usually are a busy period but if the slump continues, the hotel sight cut prices. Were still not very much confident about having many inbound tourists next year, said the manager, who would give only her surname, Wang. Pollution in Lack-M ©gigantic at high levels, study says Potential carcinogen found at 394,444 times above normal limit An environmental group is criticizing the government for its handling of the Lack- M ©gigantic, Queue. , cleanup, and says the province is not releasing enough information about the environmental contamination. Nearly 5. 7 million liters Of crude oil spilled out of derailed train cars and leached into the water, soil ND air of Lack-M ©g igantic following the July 6 disaster. But the government has yet to release any information about the potentially harmful contaminants in that oil and their effect on the environment. The Quebec environmental group Socio ©t © pour vainer la pollution (SSP) took matters into its own hands and tested samples from the Chased ©re River, which runs through town, a week after the train derailment. About 5. 7 million liters of crude oil spilled into the air, water and soil in Lack-M ©gigantic, Queue. (CB) The SSP released those results today, which suggest a severe impact on water quality and soil in the effected area. The analysis suggests extremely high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, a figure 394,444 times the standard acceptable for surface waters mandated by the provincial government. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are potential carcinogens materials commonly found in crude Oil. The toxicity of this oil is quite high, which means people have to take extra precautions during cleanup, said Daniel Green, co-president of the SSP. As well, the concentration of arsenic detected on the waters surface is said to have exceeded the governments acceptable standard by 28 times. The SSP worked in collaboration with Greenback on the study. The organization acknowledged that because of its limited resources, it was unable to perform the chemical analyses required to identify all the toxins, but said it hoped to carry out a second round of tests. Concerns about recontamination The results suggest that the ecosystem could be facing long-term consequences, according to Green. He said many of the contaminants might have settled along the bottom of the river, and if the oil isnt removed before winter, the spring melt could recontamination the shoreline. Floating barriers ere set up along the Chased ©re River after the derailment to stop the spread of oil. (CB) But an environmental assessment expert with McGill University said its possible the concentration is not as widespread as it seems. Proof. Michel A. Boucher said he thinks its more likely the oil sank to several pockets along the bottom of the Chased ©re River. Either way, he said, the government should be more transparent. l dont see why this would be contentious material. I dont think its a public security issue. Frankly, cant give you an answer, Boucher said. Waiting for answers from the province Green said the people of Lack-M ©gigantic should have access to the information they need to protect themselves. So far, information about the exact chemical makeup of the oil has not been made public. The Transportation Safety Board and the Environment Ministry have yet to release the results of their tests. CB News contacted the office of Environment Minister Yves-Franà §ois Blanched, but the ministry was not willing to comment on the findings. Theyve done extensive sampling ? air, water and soil, and weve yet to see any results from the government on this environmental catastrophe, Green said. Feds fining Columbia $1. Million for pollution Federal officials plan to assess $476,400 in fines against the city and require another SSL million to address flooding and cleanse parts of three major streams that flow into Columbians rivers: Rocky Branch, Gills Creek and Smith Branch, according to a proposed consent agreement posted on the citys website. Most importantly, the EPA consent decree establishes a timeline on which to make improvements and assess further penalties if the city does not meet those target dates. While Columbia has had plans to make sewer system upgrades, the EPA order would leave the city less discretion on when o make repairs. Thats what really gives this teeth, Congealer Riverside Bill Strangler said of the EPA consent decree. This lays out what has to be done and when it has to be done. With every incremental decrease in sewer spills and improvements to the wastewater plant, its an important improvement for water quality in our rivers. In the next 18 mon ths to two years, the city must come up with an array of plans to address sewer system problems, then begin work to make repairs and improvements, according to the EPA consent order. The EPA is taking action because it says Columbia has elated and continues to violate the federal Clean Water Act, established some 40 years ago to protect and clean up polluted waterways. The agencys consent decree also says the city has violated its wastewater discharge permit, as well as the S. C. Pollution Control Act. The decree says Columbia has reported numerous sewer overflows and other violations in the past five years. An attempt to reach EPA officials was unsuccessful Monday, but city officials were generally upbeat, despite the Peas enforcement action. Columbia has struggled for years to maintain its sewer system and has had increasing difficulty because the system is so old. The city has drawn fire for diverting millions of dollars from its water and sewer fund for non-water-and- sewer projects. Officials said they are working on improvements. The city has been diligently working to reduce the number of sanitary sewer overflows, Columbia public awareness coordinator Victoria Kramer said, noting that the citys efforts have led to an average annual drop of 26 percent in sewer overflows since 2008. Columbia officials have in recent years committed to spend ab out $500 million upgrading the water and system. And City Council is now discussing spending another $500 million, which is to be funded in part by rising water and Sewer rates. Last year, council approved and then eased rate hikes that caused an uproar among its larger customers. The rates were based on the need to generate $100 million yearly to meet the Peas requirements and to accommodate a growing population. Columbians wastewater system is one of the largest in South Carolina. Its treatment plant has capacity to discharge 60 million gallons per day, while its sewer collection system has about 1 , 1 00 miles of piping. City officials say theyve already made significant investments in upgrading the sewer system, including a $40 million improvement to the treatment plant. The federal order is not final because the city must still sign off on it. Council will discuss approving an ordinance Tuesday that authorizes execution of the consent decree. Consent decrees typically are negotiated settlements between the EPA and those it accuses of violating federal pollution laws.