SustAIRnable Future

With the recent haze in Singapore, I thought it would be good to write a post on air pollution.

In nature, "air pollution" exists - e.g. sulphur dioxide from volcano eruptions. However, today's air pollution is significantly caused by anthropogenic activities. It may be as simple as spraying pesticides, to slash and burn and factory emissions. All this contribute to a deteriorating air quality, which can affect health and living standards.

(Taken from http://gizmodo.com/the
-largest-air-purifier-ever-built-sucks-
up-smog-and-t-1729298355)

A couple of weeks back, I chanced upon this article titled "The largest air purifier ever built sucks up smog and turns it into gem stones". The article talks about a "Smog Free Tower" which adsorbs dust particles from the air using ion technology. The Smog Free Tower is capable of filtering 30,000 cubic meters of air per hour, operating on green energy. Interestingly, the particles are compacted and placed inside a ring - a gimmick to garner supporters and donations.

This Smog Free Project was launched on 4th September 2015 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Currently the first of its kind, the team aims to expand the project. However, bearing high costs, this project is dependent on donations and sponsors. Below is the video of the project.

It is heartening to see efforts to reduce pollution. Although such projects do not address the roots of the problems, they certainly contribute to technological materialism. Perhaps it paves the way for us to move further down the Environmental Kuznet's Curve - towards a more sustainable future. 

References

The Largest Air Purifier Ever Built Sucks Up Smog And Turns It Into Gem Stones  (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/the-largest-air-purifier-ever-built-sucks-up-smog-and-t-1729298355

Studio Roosegaarde (— Smog Free Project)

https://www.studioroosegaarde.net/project/smog-free-project/

Sustainable solutions to mining?

Mining generates a lot of waste. One way to prevent it from seeping out to the environment would be to store it - in dams.

Tailings are waste products of mining. They consist of residual metals and minerals, often containing water and chemicals from the extraction process. Most mining sites have tailing dams to store the tailings.

Baia Mare spill
(Taken from http://www.mediafax.ro/politic/elena-basescu-accidentul-din-ungaria-mult-mai-grav-decat-cel-produs-la-baia-mare-in-2000-7506314)

However, accidents do occur. The Baia Mare cyanide spill happened when the tailings dam gave way. Tailings which contained high amounts of toxic cyanide from gold-mining spilled out into nearby rivers.

Although it is good to have measures to control pollution, are these solutions carried out in the interest of the environment? Mining companies, like any other companies, are interested in profits. Given a choice, the majority would likely not bother with the environmental impacts. Fortunately, many countries have regulations in place that mandate some form of pollution control. But with profit driven mindsets, few companies will go great lengths to minimise environmental impact, and rather just meet the guidelines.

Recycling of metals
(Taken from http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/RecyclingMetal.php)

To reduce mining and limit the pollution, alternatives have to be considered. Recycling of metals is one option. Recycling of aluminium cans and scrap metal are examples we see daily. Besides reducing dependency on mining, recycling also saves almost 75% of energy compared to production from ores.

Another alternative is the production of synthetic diamonds. These are produced by mimicking natural conditions, i.e. high temperature and pressure. Most of the synthetic diamonds are for industrial uses, as there are economic concerns that excessive supply of synthetic diamonds will lower the value of diamonds. Furthermore, real diamonds are preferred when it comes to jewelry - just like how people rather have "real" than "counterfeit" products.

Although minimising environmental pollution is desirable, economic, political and even social obstacles stand in the way. Much is up to the leaders to pass and enforce environmentally-sustainable laws. On a smaller scale, public education - e.g. how goods are produced - will let consumers know the impact of their demand.


References

How are waste materials managed at mine sites | MiningFacts.org 

http://www.miningfacts.org/Environment/How-are-waste-materials-managed-at-mine-sites/

The Baia Mare Gold Mine Cyanide Spill: Causes, Impacts and Liability (ReliefWeb)

http://reliefweb.int/report/hungary/baia-mare-gold-mine-cyanide-spill-causes-impacts-and-liability

Will Synthetic Diamonds Take Over? (The Natural Sapphire Company Blog)

http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/blog/will-synthetic-diamonds-take

Recycling Metal - Conserve Energy Future (ConserveEnergyFuture)

http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/RecyclingMetal.php

Mining

Mining is a means to obtain resources such as coal, metals and minerals. These resources are required for energy production, construction and aesthetic purposes etc. In this post, I will focus on the environmental impacts of surface mining.

(Taken from http://www.snipview.com/q/Surface%20mines?tab=images)

Surface mining is a type of mining that removes vegetation, soil and rocks from the Earth's surface to reach the resources underneath. This results in the loss of biodiversity which severely disrupts the ecosystem.

When the ground below is exposed, naturally occurring substances like arsenic and lead can become wind-borne and have adverse health effects when inhaled.

In addition, soil erosion and flooding will occur without the presence of forests to hold the soil in place and act as catchment for rainwater. Flooding and soil erosion can cause further damage to the ecosystem and people living at lower altitudes.

Iron oxyhydroxide can be seen in this acid mine drainage.
(Taken from http://phys.org/news/2012-10-indiana-coal-
reclamation-years.html)

The term 'acid mine drainage' is used to describe the surface runoff that flows through mining sites. The drainage contains acid that is formed when rainwater mixes with sulphur compounds in the soil. The acidity dissolves compounds which contain heavy metals like lead, copper and mercury. As it flows down into rivers, the people and organisms will get affected.

(Taken from http://www.salem-news.com/articles/march112010/
myths-water-rb.php)

Mining sites collect stagnant water, which are potential mosquito breeding areas.

The picture on the right shows the Berkeley Pit. The mine has stopped operations since 1982 and is now filled with groundwater.


Mining is devastating to the environment. However, the people who benefit most from mining are mostly unaware of such devastation. Will heightened awareness help to reduce mining? In my next post, I will discuss the methods used to reduce negative impacts of mining, and alternatives to mining.


References

Book about Indiana coal mine reclamation compiles years of research (Book about Indiana coal mine reclamation compiles years of research)

http://phys.org/news/2012-10-indiana-coal-reclamation-years.html

Environmental Impact of Strip Mining (Bright Hub)

http://www.brighthub.com/environment/science-environmental/articles/19087.aspx

Methods of Mining. University of Kentucky (Methods of Mining. University of Kentucky)

https://www.uky.edu/KGS/coal/coal_mining.htm

Sierra Leone Mining and Environment (LEONE Case) (SIERRA LEONE MINING)

http://www1.american.edu/ted/LEONE.HTM

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

http://www.sosbluewaters.org/epa-what-is-acid-mine-drainage%5B1%5D.pdf