ESE - UNIT V HUMAN POPULATION & THE ENVIRONMENT POPULATION: The population is a group of individuals of a particular species, sharing the common

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1 ESE - UNIT V HUMAN POPULATION & THE ENVIRONMENT POPULATION: The population is a group of individuals of a particular species, sharing the common gene-pool and occupying a particular area at a specific time. Population trend: The population growth rate is not uniform and it is varying from time to time. In the beginning of this century, the world s population crossed six billions. India has about 17% of world population. Population explosion: The tremendous increase in the number of people is called population explosion. The increasing population creates severe environmental damages. Most of our natural resources are under threat because of the population growth which leads to the shortage of resources in future. Also it causes increase disease, economic inequality and environmental abuse, illiteracy, mal-nutrition, demand for basic needs, etc. Reason for Population explosion: Illiteracy which increases the birth rate. Invention of modern medical facilities which reduces the death rate. Attitude of the people/leaders is to attract more crowds for their functions. Increase of average life expectancy. Reduction in doubling time. Methods to control population explosion (Family welfare programme): Strict implementation of family planning programme which reduces the population growth. Proper family planning education should be given to the public to reduce population growth. Controlling birth rate by adopting birth control measures. Mass media like radio, TV, etc can be used for canvassing the people to adopt birth control. Campaign should be launched to promote small family concept. Encouraging one child for one couple concept. Providing contraception services from National Family Health Organizations will reduces population growth. Problems due to population explosion: Imbalance between food production and population growth which brings food demand. Poverty. Shortage of food and numerous deaths due to mal-nutrition. Hunger and famine. Excessive withdrawal of ground and surface water which affects ecosystem. Emission of Carbon dioxide, CFC, etc leads to Green house effect and depletion of ozone layer. 1

2 Depletion of natural resources quickly. Pollution of air, water and land in Urban areas. Destroying the forest for fire-wood, medicinal plants, timber, etc by Rural people. Scarring of land due to mining activities. Industrialization produces effluents and smoke emissions which affects the environment. Deforestation, loss of ecological balance, climate change, etc Acid rain, change in the nature of water table, etc Loss of biodiversity. HUMAN RIGHTS: The universal rights held to belong to individuals by means of their being human, encompassing civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights and freedoms and is based on the nation of personal human dignity and worth. Various human rights are as follows. Life and Thought. Expression & Religion. Maintain good health. Education and Marriage. Employment, Food and shelter. VALUE EDUCATION: The education which produces citizens with sound character and healthy personality is called value education. The value education should prepare individuals for participation in social life and acceptance of social rules. Also it provides healthy climate for sharing responsibilities, community life and relationships. HIV/AIDS: AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is a disease caused by HIV (Human Immuno definciency Viruses). The first case of HIV infection was detected in Now about 50 million people live with HIV/AIDS disease. According to a current estimation, about 5000 people may be getting infected with HIV every day all over the world. As per WHO the syndrome has already claimed 25 million lives and 7 million people need treatment. HIV/AIDS scenario in India: India stood second in the world with 5.1 million HIV/AIDS affected people. The largest number of infected case have been found in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, followed by Delhi, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Goa. In Tamil Nadu alone, till September 2013 around 50,000 case of AIDS have been detected. AIDS is very danger. Why? There is no vaccine or cure for AIDS. The drugs available for this disease are also very limited. It attacks mostly the age-group of 15 to 45 years since this age-group represents the sexually active part of the population. Test for AIDS ELISA test (Enzyme linked Immuno-sorbent Assay test). 2

3 Western Blot test. Point of care test (Rapid antibody test). P24 Antigen test. Nuclei acid Based test (NAT). CD4 T Cell count test (Decrease of white blood cell test). AIDS virus spread by HIV can be transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse when one of the partners is already infected. HIV transmission is through infected blood, blood products, organs and tissues and contaminated needles and syringes. The probability for this type of transmission is above 90%. HIV transmission is from an infected mother to her child during pregnancy, at birth or shortly after birth. The probability for this type of transmission is 30%. AIDS virus is not spreading by Cloths. Embracing and kissing. Bathing together. Working together. Mosquito, flies, insects bites. Food and air. Coughing and sneezing. Telephone use. Playing together. Handshake. Prevention of AIDS Men/Women must avoid sexual relations before marriage. After marriage sex relations to be only between husband and wife. For safer sex use condom. WOMEN AND CHILD WELFARE To maintain good health and resist disease, we need fairly large amount of macronutrients and smaller amount of micro-nutrients consisting of various vitamins and minerals. People who cannot buy enough food to meet their basic energy needs suffer from malnutrition. Many of the world s poor can afford to live only on a low protein, high carbohydrate diet and they suffer from mal-nutrition. 3

4 As per WHO data, 150 million children in developing countries are deficient in vitamin A, which puts them at risk of blindness and premature death. Iron deficiency causes anemia, fatigue and increase a woman s chances of dying at the time of delivery. As per UNESCO data, about 26 million children suffer brain damage each year. Childhood deaths can be prevented by the following life-saving programmes, Immunizing children against childhood diseases such as measles Encouraging breast-feeding Preventing dehydration from diarrhoea by giving infants a mixture of sugar and salt with a cup of water Preventing blindness by giving children a vitamin A capsule twice a year Educating women with importance on nutrition, pure drinking water, sterilization and child care. As per WHO data, seven of ten deaths of children under age 5 in developing countries can be due to one of the following causes: Mal-nutrition, Pneumonia, Diarrhoea, Measles and Malaria. ROLE OF INFORMATION TECHNONOLOGY IN ENVIRONMENT: Now-a-days the world is ruled by computers and which are used in every office, institution and all business centres. The application of computer in various fields is numerous. In same way, the computer usage in environmental aspects is also limitless. Computer based instruments for environmental studies: There are several on-line use instruments, by which data can be collected automatically at fixed interval of time. The various meteorological parameters such as temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind speed, wind direction, barometric pressure, etc. can be monitored. 1. Acoustic sounding system (SODAR) is used to monitor and analyze various meteorological parameters in the atmospheric boundary layer. 2. Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) is one of the advanced analytical instruments which perform a complex chemical analysis in computer platform. 3. Dopper Sodar system is used to deduct the mixing height, inversion layers characteristics, height of thermal plumes, etc 4. Inductive Coupled Plasma Spectroscopy (ICPS) attached with powerful computer is used for waste water analysis. 5. Mapping of land degradation, deforestation, soil erosion, etc can be performed by satellite imagery using various digital enhancement techniques. 6. Atomic spectrometer, XRD meter, etc are connected with computers are much useful in analysis of sample. 4

5 7. The operation of waste water treatment system, weather pattern, etc can be adjusted with computers. 8. Using computers, entire industrial Environmental Impact Assessment problem can be analyzed effectively. 9. Computer is very much useful in statistical analysis for highlighting significant environmental conditions. 10. Computer can help in organizing data in a meaningful way and analyzing complex data used in environmental modeling. 11. A comprehensive administrative system can be developed by using computer techniques. 12. Computer is greatly used in net-work analysis of environmental problems. 13. Many computers are directly connected to environmental monitoring sensors. 14. Computers are used in compiling and maintaining inventories of emission sources, determining the status of control device, etc. 15. Computer software are very useful in environmental studies are as follows. PolyFORTH To estimate sewage overflows, rate of effluence discharge, etc FLOSA Flow system analysis used to study water quality DAVID For environmental management system RAISON To study watershed acidification, water quality and other environmental problems. 16. The GIS (Geographic Information System) is very useful for evaluating ocean resource and for coral reef mapping. 17. The remote sensing through satellite is very used to get reliable date about vegetation resources, land degradation, deforestation, wildlife, hot spot area and environmental related information. Question Bank Part B (Frequently/Previously asked semester questions) 1. Write an essay on Role of Information Technology in Environment. 2. Define population explosion. Explain its causes, controlling measures and consequences. 3. Explain the term: Human rights 4. Explain the term HIV and AIDS in detail. 5. Give an account on Women and child welfare. Part A (Frequently/Previously asked semester questions) 1. Name any two Institution/agencies in India that work for environmental protection. 2. State a few drawbacks of Pollution related Acts. 3. Define Doubling Time with reference to population growth. 4. What are the roles of women in environmental protection? 5. Define air pollutant according to air prevention and control of pollution act. 5

6 6. What is population explosion? 7. What are the major precautions to avoid AIDS? 8. What is meant by anthropogenic sources of pollution? 9. What is meant by e waste? 10. Why world environment day is observed on 5 th June every year? 11. Mention some of the economic instruments in Environmental Management. 12. List any four pollution control acts. 13. What is meant by EIA and EMS? 14. Define population equation. 15. What is total fertility rate? 16. List the problems of population growth. 17. Define population explosion. 18. What are the objectives of public awareness? 19. Define population density. 20. State the role of information technology in environment. 21. What is population density? 22. What are the causes of population explosion? 23. Mention some ill effects of HIV/AIDS. 24. List the problems of population growth. 25. Write the salient feature of Forest Conservation Act What is meant by doubling time? What is the doubling time for India? 27. What are the objectives of family welfare program in India? 28. What are the reasons for declining birth rate? 29. Why is variation important within a population? 30. What are human rights? 31. Give the preventive measures for HIV/AIDS. 32. State how environment and human health are related. 33. What are the disadvantages of population explosion? 34. List some family welfare programmes in India. 35. List any four vector-borne diseases. 36. What is a Dobson unit? 37. What are the reasons behind the increased population growth in the less developed nations compared with developed nations? 38. Differentiate between HIV and AIDS. Prepared By: Dr. M. Manivannan. M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D, AP / Dept of chemistry, CNCET. 6