Management of Long-Term Environmental Changes Caused By Industrial Pollution
1M .A Badejo and 2R.O.A Adelagun
1Biological Sciences Department, Wesley University of Science and Technology, Ondo
2Chemistry Department, Wesley University of Science and Technology, Ondo.
Correspondence: jemiruth2009@yahoo.com, Tel: 234-080-65709024
Accepted on July 9, 2013
Abstract
One common source of frustration to policy makers involved in environmental management is that mitigating measures are sometimes followed by a worsening of the unwanted conditions rather than an improvement. This paper attempts to explain the causes and suggest an effective strategy for managing long – term environmental changes so as to avoid situations capable of frustrating policy makers. Attributes of soils and sediments that cause non- linear and time- delayed effects of certain pollutants in the environment are identified as buffering capacity , absorption of chemical materials and oxygen donating capacity. Specific cases where these attributes had affected bioavailability of toxic and ecologically harmful substances in the USA and Central Europe are highlighted. A long term strategic management of the environment which employs a two- dimensional matrix that identifies the source environmental change on the one axis and a small set of ‘Critical Environmental Indicators’ (CEIs) on the other is advocated. This method adopts the synoptic approach to complex –inter –relationships between economic development and environmental change as well as identifies both the primary and secondary linkages between development activities and environmental transformations. This ‘Bottom –up’ approach which tackles pollution problems right from their cause is advocated. The need for policy makers to pay more attention to environmental monitoring systems which provide early warning of fundamental ecological change is stressed.