THE WORLD OF CHEMICALS

• Around 100,000 different chemicals find their way into everyday products.
• In 2013 worldwide chemical sales were valued at 3.2 trillion euros.
• Chemicals to assist agricultural production , develop medicine , and produce customer goods can be hazardous to human health over long term , accumulating in our bodies through environmental exposure.
• more than 25% of global burden of human disease can be traced back to preventable environmental factors, including exposure to chemicals. 
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COMMON CHEMICALS IN HOSPITALS

• Mercury in medical devices like IVs to formaldehyde in laboratories
• Gluteraldehyde in disinfectants
• Dioxins in waste dumps 

Patients and health care workers are the most vulnerable.They are exposed to these chemical substances every day.Workers who manufacture and dispose of the products are also at risk

• Disinfectants contain hazardous chemicals including sodium hypochlorite(which irritates the skin and breathing through release of chlorine gas) and glutaraldehyde (a skin irritant and carcinogen) .
• The widespread use of sodium hypochlorite is harmful. They are not only used to clean medical supplies but also to wash surfaces and floors in the reception areas and offices.This chemical cause our eyes to burn and get our sense of smell affected.

DREADFUL CONSEQUENCES

• One million people die from occupational poisoning every year.
• Two million die annually indoor smoke from solid fuel use.
• 1.2 million die every year from outdoor air pollution.
• 375 thousands die die from occupational particulates.

DESERTS

The Main Deserts

1. North African Deserts(Great Basin & Majave)

REFUGEES WORLD

• One in every 110 people is displaced.
• 68.5 million people the world over fleeing because of war or persecution.
• In 2017 16.2 million people newly displaced around the world
• refugees from Myanmar to Bangladesh over 2017 concentrated in 100 days towards the end of August was 6,55,500
• half of the refugees are children
• In 2016 50 million child migrants were there worldwide
• one in 200 refugees are children

TODAY IS WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

This year UN has set a theme for Environment Day.That is to BEAT PLASTIC POLLUTION.
We are in constant touch with and use of plastics.It has become so inseparable an item in our life.
The tragedy is the waste plastic we throw away is so huge.It causes hazardous consequences.Oceans are filled with plastics.Marine organisms including fish,birds,turtles etc. swallow this plastic.The ecosystem balance is affected.We encounter lethal diseases like cancer and such series of illness.For the healthy planet and healthy human life we have to take urgent steps to reduce plastic consumption and waste.

WHY WE NEED FORESTS

Forests play an important role in the livelihoods and welfare of a vast number of people who live in and off the forest.

1. By absorbing water and holding soil in place, forests reduce the risk of floods and mudslides that result from earthquakes and hurricanes.
2. Forests protect watersheds which supply fresh water to rivers - critical sources of drinking water.
3. The cloud forests La Tigra National Park in Honduras provide more than 40% of the water supply for the capital city,tegucigalpa and it's 850,000 people.
4. More than 1.6 billion people around the world depend to varying degrees on forests for their livelihoods,not just for food but also for fuel,for livestock grazing areas and for medicine.
5. More than 300 million people live in forests.
6. Forests are home to 80% of the world's terrestrial biodiversity.
7. Forests cover 31% of total land area .
8. More than 40% of the world's oxygen is produced by rain forests.

1. Forests Provide

SHELTER

• Livelihoods
• Water
• Fuel and Food to 2 billion people directly and help regulate the climate for everyone on the planet.

• Forests play an important role in the livelihoods and welfare of a vast number of people who live in and off the forest.

• Marine ecosystems support more than 660 million jobs globally and are significant source of protein,particularly in developing countries.
• More than 1.6 billion people around the world depend to varying degrees on forests for their livelihoods,not just for food but also for fuel,for livestock grazing areas and for medicine.
• Forests protect watersheds which supply fresh water to rivers(critical sources of drinking water).
• The cloud forests of La Tigra National Park in Honduras provide more than 40% of the water supply for the capital city,Tegucigalpa and its 850,000 people.
• Forests are home to 300 million people.
• Forests are home to 80% of the world's terrestrial biodiversity.
• The carbon in forests exceeds the amount of carbon currently in the atmosphere.
• More than a quarter of medicines  worth an estimated 108 billion us dollar a year,originate from tropical forest plants.

MANGROVE FORESTS

• Mangroves are the most productive ecosystems.
• Globally  there are 60 true mangrove sp. in 23 genera and families.
• In India there are 34 species of true mangroves. Bhitarkanika (Orissa)has 31 species. 
• Sunderbans  have 27 species
• Andaman and Nicobar islands have 24 species.
• India is home to more than 7% of the world's mangrove forests.
• Mangroves make up 8% of the Indian coastline.
• 80% of the mangrove forests are found on the eastern coast of India.
• Mangroves are also found in over two thirds of the salt water coastal areas of tropical and subtropical Africa,Asia,Australia and North America,and South America.
• Mangroves are nesting grounds for hundreds of species of birds,which build nests on the branches.
• Mangroves are very leafy and take in a lot of CO2 from atmosphere to make biomass.This reduces the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.
• If mangroves are destroyed migratory birds will no longer have a safe haven to halt and rest.
• Mangrove deforestation is contributing to decline in fisheries,degradation of clean water supplies, increasing salinity of coastal soils,erosion, and land subsidence.
• Mangroves are known as soldiers of the Coasts.
• Indonesia has the largest area under mangroves with 30% of the global coverage,followed by Brazil,Australia and India.
• Red mangroves is the most common mangrove sp. in the world.
• Redmangroves (genus Rhizophora)are well adapted to salty swamps.
• Black mangroves,white mangroves,and buttonwood mangroves  grow around redmangrove clusters.
• Mangroves slow down the force of the sea waves and thus,protect coastline.
• Sunderban mangrove forests are home to more than 35 sp. of reptiles,270 sp. of birds,and 42 sp. of marine mammals.
• The salt water or estuarine crocodile (the largest of all living reptiles) is found in this mangrove forest.

VANAMAHOTSAVA

The first successful tree planting week was celebrated in Delhi in July 1947, with the participation of national leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad , Abdul Kalaam Azad, among many other important personalities. The celebration was renamed Vana Mahotsava , the grand festival of forests or trees.

BLUE CARBON FACTS

1. Mangrove ecosystems,tidal marshes and sea grasses sequester and store large quantities of blue carbon in the plants.
2. Global annual loss of these ecosystems is at the rate 1-2 % for tidal marshes;0.7 - 3% for mangroves; and 0.4 - 2.6% for sea grass.
3. The loss of all these systems  releases significant emissions of CO2 into the atmosphere and the ocean, contributing to climate change
4. Emissions from drained coastal wetlands result in 3 to 19 % of emissions from REDD
5. Coastal ecosystems provide other benefits for Climate change adaptation,local livelihoods,tourism and culture.Protection from storm and prevention of shoreline erosion,regulation of coastal water quality,habitat for important fish species and other vulnerable species.

ORGANISMS IN DRINKING WATER

1. Anabaena circinalis ,a compylobaster,salmonella
2. Salmonella enterica
3. Chironomids
4. Cryptosporidium
5. Copepods
6. Legionella pneumophila
7. Campylobacter
8. E. coli
9. Naegleria fowleri