Technology and Society

                                                       12. Technology and society

1. Technology and society

-some technological advances can have an enormous social impact.
-Humans use technology as a tool, and most technologica advances are used to improve our well-being.
-It´s important to know how to use technology correctly because using it incorrectly can lead to problems, even if technology isn´t harmful.

2. Technology and enviroment

-Over the years, human evolution has led to an unstoppable and continuous process of enviromental degradation.

2.1 Enviromental impact

The enviromental impact of technology depends on the following factors:
-the % of the population with acces to technology.
-how much technology is used, in other words the level of consumption.
-The enviromental quality of the technology used.

3. Pollution and waste

Classification of pollutants is based in 3 criteria: -their source
                                                                        -the way they are emitted.
                                                                        -the part of the enviroment that they pollute

1. Categories of source

-Natural pollutants: produced by natural processes.
-pollutants produced by human activity

2. Categories of pollutants by the way they are emitted

-Primary pollutants
-Secondary pollutants

3. Categories by the part of the enviroment that are polluted

-Air pollutants
-Water pollutants
-Land pollutants

Pollution control

when pollution is very bad that the enviroment is no longer able to recover naturally, and we have to do different things:

-stop the production of pollutants.
-clean the pollutant or minimise the damage that it does.

3.1 Air pollution

Causes       Pollutants              Effects
- natural       - Co2                   - on climate
- human       - Oxydes              - in ecosystems
                   - hydrocarbons      - respiratory problems
                   - Ozone                - headaches
                   - Arosols              - put lives on sick and older lives at risk
                                              - corrosion of buildings and other constructions.

3.2 Water pollutions

    Causes                             Pollutants                       Effects
- urban areas                        - Various chemicals         -Water toxity
- Industrial wastes                - insoluble particles           - Accumulation of toxic substances in fish
- farming and fisheries          - oil and tar                      - Skin disseases
- shipwrecks                        - microorganisms              - loss of marine ecosystems
- use of coean trenches        - radioactive waste            - Oxygen exhausted by microorganisms
to dispose radioactive           - hot water                       - changes to ecosystems caused by water temp.
 waste

3.3 Land pollution

Causes                                    Pollutants                                          Effects
- Farming techniques                 - agrochemicals                                   - soil compaction
- use of pesticides                     - organic and inorganic waste               - soil crusting
- urban and industrial waste       - insoluble chemical compounds            - loss of nutrients
- forest fires                             - agricultural machinery                        - water erosion
- wars and conflicts                                                                             - acidification and salination
- intensive farming                                                                               - loss of plants and animals
-irrigation techniques                                                                            - desertification

5 Alternative energy sources 

Biofuels                   Nuclear fusion                                           Fuel Cells
they include:               is a reaction in wich                                   Is currently being carried outto see if it is
-Bioethanol.               two very light nuclei                                   possible to convert chemical energy into
-biodiesel                  join together to a form                                electrical energy.
-biogas                      to form a heavier nucleus.
                                 It has 2 key advantages:
                                 -radioactive contamination is less.
                                 -it uses elements thatare abundant.