Pollution
Mining:
Using potassium cyanide for gold mining in the desert
Cyanide is one of only a few chemicals that dissolve gold in water. It is a common industrial chemical that is readily available at a reasonably low cost. Cyanide is very toxic and is deathly if inhaled. Because of this, the mining in the desert involving cyanide can be very deadly to all organisms living there.
Using potassium cyanide for gold mining in the desert
Cyanide is one of only a few chemicals that dissolve gold in water. It is a common industrial chemical that is readily available at a reasonably low cost. Cyanide is very toxic and is deathly if inhaled. Because of this, the mining in the desert involving cyanide can be very deadly to all organisms living there.
Effects of Gold Mining with Cyanide:
Cyanide is a fast acting poison in an organism's body. It affects living organisms ability to breathe. Severe breathing difficulties develop very rapidly when cyanide is swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Cyanide gas is highly flammable and reacts violently in some situations. There is also a high a high risk of explosion if cyanides are exposed to heat or flame, and cyanide rapidly kills any living organisms surrounding the area.
Specific effects include:
Cyanide is a fast acting poison in an organism's body. It affects living organisms ability to breathe. Severe breathing difficulties develop very rapidly when cyanide is swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Cyanide gas is highly flammable and reacts violently in some situations. There is also a high a high risk of explosion if cyanides are exposed to heat or flame, and cyanide rapidly kills any living organisms surrounding the area.
Specific effects include:
- Weakness and confusion
- Headache
- Nausea
- Metabolic acidosis
- Gasping for air in a manner similar to asphyxiation, but with a more abrupt onset
- Difficulty breathing, respiratory arrest
- Loss of consciousness
- Seizures
- Cardiac arrest
Vehicle Pollution:
A main source of pollution in Phoenix is the gas and emission vehicles
The air quality in Phoenix is awful and very dangerous. The air pollution is so bad that there is always a brownish, yellowish tint in the air from the gasoline of the motor vehicles. The process of burning gasoline to power cars and trucks contributes to air pollution by releasing a variety of emissions and unwanted chemicals into the atmosphere. Motor vehicles also pollute the air during the processes of manufacturing, refueling, and from the emissions associated with oil refining and distribution of the fuel they burn.
A main source of pollution in Phoenix is the gas and emission vehicles
The air quality in Phoenix is awful and very dangerous. The air pollution is so bad that there is always a brownish, yellowish tint in the air from the gasoline of the motor vehicles. The process of burning gasoline to power cars and trucks contributes to air pollution by releasing a variety of emissions and unwanted chemicals into the atmosphere. Motor vehicles also pollute the air during the processes of manufacturing, refueling, and from the emissions associated with oil refining and distribution of the fuel they burn.
Effects of Vehicle Pollution:
- Acute respiratory problems, temporary decreases in lung capacity, and inflammation of lung tissue
- Impair the body’s immune system
- Reduce the release of oxygen to body tissues
- Increase a person’s risk of cancer-related death
- Contribute to birth defects, low birth weight, and infant deaths
- Harm blood vessels in healthy individuals
- Loss of habitat
- Make healthy active children 3 to 4 times more likely to develop asthma