Water, Soil, Air

Water Water is the source of life; the life of all living things depends on water. Humans and all living creatures need water in order to live and grow. Water covers 75 percent of the Earth, but 98 percent of this water is salty. Only 2 percent of the Earth's surface water is frozen, and we can use less than 1 percent of this water. The amount of water produced in nature is nearly constant, but the population consuming water increases day by day. One of humanity's future problems will be the problem of water. Even now, in water-scarce countries such as those of the Middle East, one of the causes of war and conflict is access to water and rivers. The water of some Iranian cities is so good and palatable that on world markets it is worth more than crude oil; let us use this precious resource properly. Humans deplete water resources in two ways. One is by destroying forests and the Earth's vegetation, which are reservoirs of underground water, and the other is by the excessive extraction of water along with the pollution of water sources; population growth has an aggravating effect in each case. Industrial, agricultural, and household wastewater contains dangerous substances that can endanger the lives of humans and other animals. The nitrogen and phosphorus in chemical fertilizers, the lead in gasoline, mercury and other chemical elements in industrial wastewater, and the microbes and parasites in waste leachate, if they enter the water used by humans, lead to dangerous and sometimes incurable diseases. Various cancers are among the diseases in which chemicals play a role. Diseases such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and many others are transmitted through contaminated water. Things that can be done to improve the situation: With a little care and attention, a great deal of water waste and excessive wastewater production in household use can be prevented. To achieve this: Let us use hot water properly. Excessive use of hot water, in addition to wasting water and increasing wastewater, also leads to energy waste and air pollution, because heating water requires both fuel and electricity. Fuels and power plants are among the polluters of the air and contributors to acid rain. For washing dishes, a small amount of dishwashing liquid and the use of one basin of water, or filling the sink bowl with water and then rinsing with the necessary amount of water, is sufficient. This both prevents water waste and produces less wastewater. In addition, the proper use of dishwashing liquid, like any other cleaning agent, results in less wastewater pollution and a reduced risk of contaminating underground water sources. For brushing your teeth, only one glass of water is enough. If the tap is left running the entire time you brush your teeth, at least 50 liters of water are wasted. The water in city plumbing is treated water. A great deal of money is spent on water treatment. Instead of washing a car with a hose of treated water, one bucket of water and a piece of sponge can be used. Washing a car with a hose uses an average of about 500 liters of water. Twenty liters of water are enough to wash a car. Saving water is not only for times of drought; every drop of water wasted means one drop less for a beautiful river and one drop less for the survival of living creatures. Air Without air, no creature can live. A human can survive a few days without water and food, but cannot live for more than 3 minutes without air. Only some anaerobic bacteria can continue to live away from air. Even these bacteria survive by fermenting other organic matter and using their oxygen. Any change in the physical and chemical properties of the elements that make up the air causes its pollution. Many human activities, by introducing various substances and compounds into the air, cause its pollution. Population growth, the expansion of cities, the increase in vehicles, the development of industry and the use of unsuitable industrial systems and equipment, the cutting down of forest trees, and many other factors have endangered the health of the air and consequently the health of humans and other creatures on Earth. The fuels used in homes and urban areas for cooking, heating the environment, and heating water release a large amount of carbon monoxide, smoke, and other gases into the air. Motor vehicles such as passenger cars, motorcycles, minibuses, buses, airplanes, and ships are among the polluters of the air. Worn-out cars, whose average age is 16 years, account for nearly half of gasoline consumption and the emission of pollutants. The most important substance released into the air by gasoline cars is lead. Lead is a highly toxic metal that causes dangerous effects for humans, especially for children. A decline in IQ and speech and behavioral problems are among these effects. Some gases, such as carbon dioxide from fuels, methane from the decomposition of substances in nature and the fermentation of waste, the chlorofluorocarbon gas in cooling systems such as air conditioners and refrigerators, and nitrogen oxides—together with water vapor—form a layer around the Earth. That is, like a glass cover, they prevent heat from escaping from around the Earth. Fifty percent of the greenhouse effect is due to the presence of carbon dioxide. Each year, 6 billion tons of carbon dioxide enter the atmosphere as a result of burning oil, coal, and gas, as well as the destruction of forests (which are air purifiers). About 20 percent of the greenhouse condition is due to the presence of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). These gases also destroy the ozone layer. Methane produced by herds of cattle, rice fields, and masses of waste causes 18 percent of the greenhouse effect. Nitrogen oxides, produced by microbes, the chemical decomposition of fertilizers, and the burning of wood and fossil fuels, cause 10 percent of the greenhouse gas condition. From about twelve to fifty kilometers above the Earth there is an invisible layer called the ozone layer, which prevents the sun's dangerous rays (especially ultraviolet rays) from reaching the Earth. Spray cans such as insecticides, air fresheners, refrigerant gases, and air conditioners contain chlorofluorocarbons. After being released, these gases rise into the air and, upon reaching the ozone layer, decompose and destroy the ozone layer. The excessive penetration of ultraviolet rays to the Earth due to the destruction of the ozone layer causes skin cancer, weakening of the body's defense system, eye diseases, reduced agricultural products, and a decline in aquatic populations. The minimum things that can be done to improve the situation: Using public transportation, riding a bicycle, or walking short distances are important factors in reducing pollution. By eliminating four short intra-city trips by private car per week, the emission of 100 kilograms of carbon dioxide can be prevented over the course of a year. If using a private car is necessary and unavoidable, it is better to use unleaded gasoline. Let us not forget to save electricity. Greater electricity consumption requires greater electricity production. Power plants release a large number of polluting substances into the air. Children are more sensitive to air pollution. Let us help keep the air clean to protect children's health. Cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide and, in addition to causing illness in smokers, also contributes to air pollution, especially in enclosed environments. During severe air pollution, let us avoid strenuous physical activity and tiring exercise. During the day, trees and plants absorb a large amount of carbon dioxide from the air and produce oxygen, in effect purifying the air. Let us strive to protect green spaces and forests, and as far as possible plant trees and create green spaces. The destruction of historical monuments due to polluted air in the last hundred years has been as great as that of the five hundred years before it. Soil Soil is one of the important components of the environment. Soil is the habitat and base of terrestrial creatures and human communities, as well as the most important source of food for humans and other animals. Plants absorb water and nutrients from the soil through their roots and, with the help of sunlight, produce food and grow. Plants become the food of animals, and many of those animals themselves become food for other animals. The droppings and remains of animals, after decomposing, again create the soil's nutrients. The formation of soil takes place over long periods (centuries), under special conditions and the influence of particular factors. Producing more crops to feed the world's ever-growing population rapidly consumes the soil's nutrients; to compensate for these substances, humans are forced to add fertilizer to the land. Fertilizers are either natural or chemical. Natural fertilizers (or organic fertilizers) are made from the decomposition of plant and animal remains or from the droppings of livestock such as cattle, sheep, and horses, and from bird droppings. These fertilizers are very useful for replenishing the soil's nutrients. Chemical fertilizers are produced in factories using chemicals. These fertilizers are useful if used correctly and according to the soil's needs. Otherwise, they pollute the soil and underground water and create many environmental hazards. The residue of chemical fertilizers in agricultural land is washed away by irrigation water and enters water sources. Consuming water contaminated with fertilizers and chemical pesticides, or even consuming plants and crops that have absorbed large amounts of chemical pesticides, leads to disorders and diseases. Among these diseases, kidney disease, digestive disease, and various cancers can be mentioned. Population growth, together with the use of incorrect methods of exploiting natural resources, causes soil degradation. Cutting down forests, overgrazing livestock on natural pastures, and uprooting shrubs for fuel cause the soil to become bare. Soil without vegetation is vulnerable to water and wind, and its fertile layer is washed away by water, which leads to soil erosion. Desertification is a phenomenon that occurs as a result of the loss of vegetation, decreased rainfall, successive droughts, the warming of the Earth's atmosphere, urban air pollution, and the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Other causes of desertification include the conversion of agricultural land into residential areas, the conversion of forests and pastures into agricultural land, the expansion of construction and industrial activities, failure to observe correct agricultural and irrigation principles, and the overgrazing of livestock. "In most stages of desertification, traces of human activity can be observed. Each year, 1 to 1.5 million hectares are added to Iran's deserts. "Let us remember that wheat and every other plant grows only from the soil." "The soil must be used in such a way that the sustainability of the environment is not damaged and the Earth remains usable for future generations. The minimum that can be done to protect the soil: As far as possible, we should use natural (organic) fertilizers such as animal manure, green manure, and compost, and use chemical fertilizers (especially nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers) less and only on the advice of agricultural experts. Preserving the soil's vegetation (forests and pastures) and creating green spaces and planting trees is equivalent to protecting the soil, so it is better to protect the vegetation. Wastewater and industrial waste are among the dangerous pollutants. Laws must prevent these substances from entering the soil and water, and industry owners must carefully observe these laws to protect the health of all people and the environment. Let us help the health of the soil by preventing oil, gasoline, and motor oil from entering it. The conversion of forests and pastures into agricultural land, and of agricultural land into residential and industrial areas, must be prevented.