Online version: PDF - DTIE
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UNIT 1: WHERE DO WE STAND? THE STATE OF THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT<br />
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• Thermal wastewater from cooling in industry processes and power<br />
stations can increase turbidity in water and lead to an increase in the<br />
oxygen demand of other waste effluents. Higher temperatures in water<br />
can also result in an unusual assembly of plants and animals that are<br />
not found under normal climatic conditions. For example, invertebrates<br />
of semi-tropical origin have been found growing in northern water<br />
bodies that become artificially warm.<br />
• When fuel oil is spilt at sea it first spreads over the water surface<br />
as a slick. The lightest components, which are also the most toxic,<br />
either evaporate or dissolve in the water. The immobile elements then<br />
disperse in the water and emulsify to form a sticky brown mass that<br />
causes major problems when it comes ashore. The heaviest residues<br />
form lumps of tar. Oil spills can kill a range of marine life including<br />
fish, seals, otters and birds.<br />
• Organic contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)<br />
and polyaromatic and heteroaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a<br />
great human health hazard. They are extremely persistent in the<br />
environment, remaining stable under temperatures at which most other<br />
organic compounds, natural or synthetic, decompose. PCBs and PAHs<br />
are soluble in fat, and therefore ‘bioaccumulate’ up the food chain.<br />
Studies of first- and second-order marine carnivores, including seals<br />
and birds in North America and Europe, have indicated high tissue<br />
concentrations of PCBs. This is thought to cause serious abnormalities<br />
in feeding and breeding.<br />
Other Water Management Issues<br />
Many of the world’s major rivers flow through several different countries. This<br />
can cause serious sharing and management problems. International conflicts over<br />
water resources have arisen in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.<br />
There can also be management and distribution problems at the national level.<br />
In most countries there is little co-ordination between the different bodies<br />
responsible for water, which can result in confused supply, treatment, and<br />
discharge. In coastal areas, there may be additional problems involving fisheries,<br />
including fish farming, maritime transport and tourism. This has already been<br />
experienced in many destinations.<br />
The availability of adequate safe drinking water is also critical, to limit risks<br />
of gastro-enteritis, hepatitis A and typhoid. There is also mounting concern on<br />
effects synthetic chemicals and the way they mimic natural hormones and cause<br />
radical disruption of the human reproductive system. Exposure (even to a foetus<br />
in the womb), to minute quantities of these chemicals, can cause sterility, lower<br />
sperm counts, malformed reproductive organs, and is even suspected to affect<br />
intelligence and temperament.<br />
It is estimated<br />
that in most<br />
developing<br />
countries, a<br />
tourist uses ten<br />
times more water<br />
every day than a<br />
local inhabitant.<br />
Why Should the Tourism Industry be Concerned about Water<br />
Scarcity and Pollution?<br />
Water is perhaps the tourism industry’s most important resource. It is estimated<br />
that in most developing countries, a tourist uses ten times more water every day<br />
than a local inhabitant. Water quality is also important for in-stream tourism sites<br />
such as bathing beaches, rivers and lakes. Water pollution in these sites will<br />
automatically result in losses to tourism.