TASK

In Completing Courses Of Dasar-Dasar Lingkungan

Taught by Dr. H. Sueb, M.Kes

By

Offering A

Fadilah Eka Wulandari (170341615061)

UNIVERSITAS NEGERI MALANG

FACULTY OF MATHEMATICS AND NATURAL SCIENCE
BIOLOGY MAJORS
Februari 2018
Question :

1. Why do humans become environmentally destructive?

2. Why do humans become polluters?

Answer :

1.

In my opinion humans become environmentally destructive because Humans do

various activities to meet various needs for they life. To meet the need for food, they develop
agriculture, making factory processing of agricultural products, making farms and others. To
meet the needs of living equipment such as agricultural equipment, household appliances,
vehicles and others, humans develop various types of industries. Various activities to meet
the needs of life, will eventually produce waste in the form of waste or waste discharged into
the environment. This happens because every human activity is essentially a process of
changing matter or energy from one form to another. Each process can not be completely
changed, but there is always a waste that entered into the environmental.

The statement is also supported by the international journal which discusses that
waste generated from various human activities can be disturbing and even can damage the
environment. the statement is also supported by the international journal which discusses that
waste generated from various human activities can be disturbing and even can damage the
environment. in the next paragraph I will attach some contents of international journals
related to human topics as environmental destruction

Mining activities and other geochemical processes often result in the generation of
acid mine drainage (AMD), a phenomenon commonly associated with mining activities. It is
generated when pyrite (FeS2) and other sulphide minerals in the aquifer and present and
former mining sites are exposed to air and water in the presence of oxidizing bacteria, such as
Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, and oxidised to produce metal ions, sulphate and acidity
(Ogwuegbu and Muhanga, 2005).

Literature survey shows that heavy metals (M) at mining sites are leached and carried
by acidic water downstream. They can be acted upon by bacterial and methyllated to yield
organic forms, such as monomethylmercury and dimethylcadmium. This conversion is
effected by bacteria in water, in the presence of organic matter,according to the following
simplified equation. Humans are in turn exposed to heavy metals by consuming contaminated
plants and animals, and this has been known to result in various biochemical disorders. In
summary, all living organisms within a given ecosystem are variously contaminated along
their cycles of food chain.

Industrial products that are used in homes, and which have been produced with heavy
metals are sources of human exposure to such heavy metals. Mercury exposure is through
disinfectants (like mercurochrome), antifungal agents, toiletries, creams and organo-metallics
(McCluggage, 1991); cadmium exposure is through nickel/cadmium batteries and artist
paints; lead exposure is through wine bottle wraps, mirror coatings, batteries, old paints and
tiles and linolein amongst others. Infants are more susceptible to the endangering effects of
exposure to heavy.

Heavy metal pollution of surface and underground water sources results in

considerable soil pollution and pollution increases when mined ores are dumped on the
ground surface for manual dressing (Garbarino et al., 1995; INECAR, 2000). Surface
dumping exposes the metals to air and rain thereby generating much AMD. When
agricultural soils are polluted, these metals are taken up by plants and consequently
accumulate in their tissues (Trueby, 2003).

The biotoxic effects of heavy metals refer to the harmful effects of heavy metals to
the body when consumed above the bio-recommended limits. Although individual metals
exhibit specific signs of their toxicity, the following have been reported as general signs
associated with cadmium, lead, arsenic, mercury, zinc, copper and aluminium poisoning:
gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, diarrhoea, stomatitis, tremor, hemoglobinuria causing a rust–
red colour to stool, ataxia, paralysis, vomiting and convulsion, depression, and pneumonia
when volatile vapours and fumes are inhaled (McCluggage, 1991). The nature of effects
could be toxic (acute, chronic or sub-chronic), neurotoxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic or
teratogenic.

Based on the explanation of international journals above it can be concluded that

humans are said to be environmentally destructive because most of the remaining results of
human activities can cause many problems for the environment that can ultimately lead to
ecosystem imbalances. if the balance of the ecosystem has been disrupted then all
components that are in it will also be disrupted so that it can not perform its functions and
roles so that at a certain point will cause damage to the environment.

2.

In my opinion humans are said to be environmental polluters because most human

activities always produce waste substances in the form of garbage, and some of the waste
can be processed to be more useful and most others can be a pile of waste that can
ultimately lead to contamination for the surrounding environment. for example, the waste
that is wasted in the river will lead to pollution of the river and also waste can cause various
diseases. waste generated by human activities comes from household waste, garbage of
beauty products, medical waste, and many other garbage.
The statement is supported by a national journal on Generation of Household
Hazardous Solid Waste and Potential Impacts on Environmental Health in Sleman Regency,
Yogyakarta. Household waste containing Hazardous and Toxic Materials (B3) such as
batteries, electric lamps, electronics, pesticide packaging, clothing bleach, floor cleaners,
paints, pressurized cans (aerosols), drug residues, thermometers and syringes have the
potential to threaten human health and the environment. Although the quantity of household
waste (SB3-RT) in Sleman District is only 2.44 g / person / day or about 0.488% of
domestic waste, but because it has characteristic of explosive, flammable, reactive, toxic,
infectious and / or corrosive hence very harmful to health and environment (water, soil, air).

 Electric Light

The type of electric lamps found in this study consisted of: 47.86%
fluorescent type CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) or Lamp Energy Saving (LES);
13.57% fluorescent type TL (Tube Luminescent); 37.86% of incandescent lamps;
0.71% LED lamp (Light Emitting Diode). Lamp type
electricity containing hazardous and toxic materials are fluorescent lamps of both CFL
and TL types.

 Electronic waste
Wastewater is the most common type of electronic garbage (20.97% each), while
viewed by its weight it is the largest used TV monitor (41.97%).

 Paint packaging

The types of paint marks found consist of: 45.45% water-soluble paint (latex);
27.27% spray paint (aerosol); 13.64% solvent paint; and 13.64% paint solvent paint.
The latex paint uses a dye containing chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb), while the solvent
paint contains a dye containing Pb and Hg.

 Wasteof self-care and beauty product

This type of garbage group is dominated by aerosol perfume packaging

(53.85%). Former aerosol perfume cans potentially cause fire, explosion and cause
irritation of the eyes and skin as it contains methylene chloride, nitric acid, o-phenyl
phenol, propane,trichloroethane.Former packaging bleach clothes that households
produced by 24.61% and the rest (21.54%) are cosmetics, nail dyes and hair. The
bleach contains sodium hypochlorite or hydrogen peroxide, and potentially cause
poisoning, corrosion, and irritation on eyes, skin and mucous membranes (Bowen,
1998).

 Rubbish home maintenance products

Types of waste from home maintenance activities include: 61.87%% cleaning

packages (floor, bathroom, WC); 25.46% of aerosol space deodorizer packaging; and
12.67% used synthetic glue (pipe, plastic, metal, multipurpose).

 Medical and pharmaceutical waste

The types of medical waste found in this study consisted of: 56.97% residual
tablet / solid / powder drug; 37.88% liquid drug packaging; 12.12% external drug
packaging; 1.52% of syringes; and 1.52% mercury thermometer.
 The potential health and environmental impacts of household B3 waste are influenced
by the quantity, characteristics and means of handling it (Conn, 1989). The larger the quantity
of SB3-RT burned indiscriminately and discharged directly into the environment, the greater
the risk of health problems and environmental pollution.

Waste generated by human activity can be a place for the growth and development of
various bacteria. Bacteria is one source of disease, both dangerous and moderate. if it
continues to be left then an environment with a lot of waste will become a den of disease. The
statement is also supported by an international journal about the research of pathogenic
bacteria in the waters of the joro river in nakuru, Kenya.

Pathogenic Bacteria in Water. Pathogenic bacteria that cause dysentery and diarrheal
infections were isolated. These are E.coli, Salmonella and Shigellaspp. which were isolated in
all the sites five sites. In the rainy month Ngata had the highest number of pathogens isolated
whereas Mogoon had the lowest number of pathogens isolated.In the dry month however
Turkana and Njoro canning had the highest number of pathogens isolated where asSigotik
had the lowest number of pathogens isolated. On the other hand Vibrio species were not
isolated in all the sitesduring the dry month in November. During the rainy month, only
Ngata and Mogoon had Vibrio species isolated. In January the dry month, Turkana, Njoro
canning and Mogoon had Vibrio species isolated. Faecal contamination of the river from both
animal and human sources may have led to the hyper-eutrophication of water. This factor
combined with the increasingly brackish, slow moving tributaries and increased
anthropogenic activities might have adversely affected the ecological balance in River Njoro.
The combination of the above could in essence have created the ecological niche necessary
for the proliferation of these pathogens.

Based on research conducted in the area can be proved that every human activity
generates a lot of waste material which then dumped into a source of pollution in various
aspects. the results of the national journal research have illustrated that humans deserve to be
called as a source of environmental pollution, because only one area has as much as that
waste generated. in the area with more population, of course the amount of waste generated
will also be more and more and more pollution sources are there.
 References

Bowen, C.F., 1998. Household Hazardous Product and Hazardous Waste: A Summary for Consumer.
Department of Agriculture and Extension Education, Pennsylvania.

Conn, W.D., 1989. Managing Household Hazardous Waste. Journal of the American Planning
Association,55:192-203.

Iswanto,Sudarmadji , Endang Tri Wahyuni, and Adi Heru Sutomo., 2016 National Journal.
Human And Environment, Vol. 23, No.2, July 2016: 179-188.

Ogwuegbu MOC, Muhanga W (2005). Investigation of Lead Concentration in the Blood of

People in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia,
J. Environ. (1): 66 – 75.

McCluggage D (1991). Heavy Metal Poisoning, NCS Magazine, Published by The Bird
Hospital, CO, U.S.A. (www.cockatiels.org/articles/Diseases/metals.html).

Trueby P (2003). Impact of Heavy Metals On Forest Trees From Mining Areas. In:
International Conference On Mining And The Environment III, Sudbury,
Ontario, Canada. (www.x-cd.com/sudbury03/prof156.html).

Garbarino JR, Hayes H, Roth D, Antweider R, Brinton TI, Taylor H (1995). Contaminants in
the Mississippi River, U. S. Geological Survey Circular 1133, Virginia, U.S.A.
(www.pubs.usgs.gov/circ/circ1133/)

Duruibe, J. O.1, Ogwuegbu, M. O. C. and Egwurugwu, J. N., 2007 Heavy metal pollution
and human biotoxic effects International Journal of Physical Sciences Vol. 2 (5), pp. 112-
118, May, 2007. ISSN 1992 - 1950 © 2007 Academic Journals

Itotia T. K., Muia A. W., Kiruki S.K, and Getenga Z., 2018. Occurrence of Pathogenic
Bacteria Harbouring Antibiotic Resistant Genes in River Njoro in Nakuru
County, Kenya. International Journal of Environment Pollution and Human
Health, 2018, Vol. 6, No. 1, 31-37. © Science and Education Publishing
DOI:10.12691/jephh-6-1-5