Various Environmental Pollutants and Their Terrible Effect on Our Environment
Environmental pollution is the introduction of harmful materials caused by pollutants into the environment. Pollutants are the various impurities that have found their way into the environment due to both human activity and natural causes thus leading to pollution. These chemical compounds are harmful to both life and the environment. The WordWeb dictionary defines pollutants as “waste matter that contaminates the water, air or soil.”
According to environmentalists and scientists, there are various types of pollutants, and are classified according to the type of pollution they cause – such as water, air, soil, noise and radioactive pollution. Others types include thermal, plastic, agricultural, and light pollution. In view of all these, this article seeks to list and explain the various types of pollutants present in the environment.
1. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC)
These are gases that are very destructive to the protective ozone layer. CFCs are used in sprays, perfumes and other canned products including aerosols. Since they are lighter than air, they rise to the atmosphere where the ultraviolet light frees the chlorine.
If the chlorine gets in contact with the earth’s protective ozone layer, it causes irreparable damage which leads to entry of cosmic rays that are carcinogenic to human beings and the deterioration of marine and terrestrial plant growth.
2. Lead
This is a dangerous toxin found across the world, in fact, in all states. The element readily dissolves in water and upon uptake leads to devastating health problems. It negates the work of body’s enzymes thereby slowing down the normal functioning of the body. In addition to this, it is one of the causes of nervous breakdowns, for in large quantities, it ends up affecting the brain.
3. Methane
This is a major component of natural gas, the gaseous form of fossil fuel. In itself it is harmless to the environment. However, it is one of the greenhouse gases and when it reacts with carbon dioxide in the presence of water vapor, it absorbs and retains most of the radiation heat from the sun. This traps excessive heat in the atmosphere contributing to global warming and climate change.
4. Carbon monoxide
This is one of the most lethal pollutants of the air. It is produced in various instances like cigarette smoking and whenever there is incomplete combustion. For vehicles to run, for example, the fuel in them has to undergo combustion to move the pistons that power the engine. The same applies to various machinery fuel powered equipment in industries.
But since the space within the engine is compacted and at times do not allow in enough oxygen for complete combustion, the fuels composed of a high hydrocarbon concentrations do not fully combust, releasing carbon monoxide as a byproduct.
Carbon monoxide clogs the air making it hard to breathe. It is also one of the leading causes of deaths associated with suffocation in homes where firewood is used in enclosed spaces. Carbon monoxide also plays a huge role in the formation of ground-level ozone.
5. Particulate matter (PM)
These are the very small particles suspended in the air. They can either be in solid form or in liquid form in both organ and inorganic particles. They are released into the atmosphere due to incomplete combustion like the carbon particles or blown into the air by wind. Examples are pollen, dust, soot, and aerosol spray liquid droplets just to mention a few.
They are very tiny and can, therefore, be easily inhaled. They cause respiratory problems such as lung cancer and are even more harmful to sensitive people especially those who suffer from asthma attacks.
6. Nitrogen oxides
There are many types of nitrogen oxides, most of which are harmful to the environment. These include; nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen monoxide, and nitrogen pentoxide. The formation of these oxides happens in the atmosphere where nitrogen readily combines with oxygen at high temperatures.
Nitrogen dioxide has an irritating odor that also contaminates the air. Like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide combines with oxygen and water to form acid rain in the form of nitric acid thus leading to premature death, health complications, and corrosion of roofs.
7. Sulfur dioxide
This is the main ingredient of acid rain, which results in the corrosion of roofs and various health complications. The acid rain, weak sulfuric acid, is formed when there is oxidation of this compound. The process takes place when sulfur dioxide reacts with oxygen and other chemical oxides, and together with the water rain, it becomes acid rain.
8. Plastic
This is one of the most common environmental pollutants and bears one of the greatest impacts. The abundance of plastics in the world even led to the coining of the term “plastic pollution.” Plastic is used almost everywhere; to hold and package things such as foods, drinks, chemicals, and is also used as a raw materials for making various products. More than 60% of all products are made using plastic.
To make matters worse, almost all single use items are made of plastics, which end up being thrown away after use. These plastics end up filling landfills, waterways, oceans, rivers and streams thus contaminating drinking water and water for domestic use. These same plastics find way into game parks and marine habitats harming wildlife and marine animals that confuse them for food.
9. Mercury
This element is released into the environment due to mining activities, poor disposal of certain items that are either made of mercury or had mercury in them. Batteries are a main source of mercury, which is why it is essential to dispose of them carefully. Mercury should be handled with care since it can readily change its state. This makes the element hard to detect and thus, hazardous. Inhalation of mercury can cause death.
10. Ground level ozone
This is one of the constituents of the well-known ozone, but the difference is that it forms just above the earth’s surface. It is a highly irritating and colorless gas produced when there is a photochemical reaction between volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides in sunlight’s presence.
Hence, it is referred to as secondary pollutant. Exposure to ozone is associated with pre-mature death, asthma, and respiratory problems in humans. It also decreases the yield of some crops and can destroy synthetic, textile, and cotton materials, and accelerates the corrosion of some coating/paints.
Nitrates are a complex form of nitrogen and oxygen elements. The compound is associated with nitrate pollution, which causes water contamination from excessive amounts of nitrates washed out from food and animal waste as well as inorganic fertilizers. Once in excessive concentration in water bodies, it causes eutrophication – a contributing factor to the contamination of waterways and death of aquatic life.
13. Phosphorus
Like nitrates, phosphorus is associate with nutrient pollution that lead to eutrophicationand harmful algal bloom.
14. Automobiles
Motor vehicles are also pollutants considering the multiple pollutants they release into the environment. Without automobiles, some pollutants such as soot, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons can be considerably cut back from the environment. But due to the use of fossil fuels in automobiles, there will always be the continuous release of carbon compounds and particulate matter into the atmosphere leading to air pollution. The hooting, alarms, and high rev sounds are also noise pollutants.
15. Loud sounds
Loud sound is a pollutant because it contributes to noise or sound pollution. The sources of the pollutant include vehicles, planes, clubs, and loud speaker radio systems. The music that is played in clubs is so loud that concentration is impossible a distance away from the place. Loud sounds cause temporal or permanent hearing impairments, and can also interfere with both the behaviors of humans and animals such as sleep, mating, movement and breeding.
16. Uranium
This metal is associated with radioactive pollution because it is highly radioactive. Exposure for humans can cause various cancers, premature aging, premature death, fertility problems, and interfere with the normal brain functions.
17. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
These are compounds that can easily become gas or vapor. They are mostly released from the burning of gasoline, wood, natural gas and coal. Other sources of VOCs include thinners and paints, cigarettes, solvents, wood preservatives, air fresheners, furnishings, copy machines and printers, cleaners, pesticides, and disinfectants. VOCs react with nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere to form ground level ozone and smog.
18. PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl)
This is an organic chlorine compound that was at one point extensively used as coolant fluids and dielectric in electrical gadgets, in heat transfer fluids, and in carbonless copy paper. It was banned in the US in 1979, but is still in use. PCBs are very dangerous pollutants since the chemicals are cancer causing and can adversely affect the life of fish and wild animals.
30 Spectacular Ways to Prevent Earth Pollution That is Destroying Our Planet Earth
Earth pollution collectively defines all kinds of pollution that are destroying planet Earth, especially those arising from human activities. The contamination of the water bodies, soils, and the atmosphere among other natural ecosystems and habits is the leading cause of earth pollution. The exploitation of natural resources at a faster rate than nature can restore itself is also another contributing factor.
The measures can be as simple as reusing a product as many times as possible to reduce overall waste that goes into the environment. Other measures can include recycling, proper disposal of wastes, proper farming practices, and use of renewable energy sources. Here are 30 spectacular ways to prevent earth pollution.
30 Fantastic Ways to Prevent Earth Pollution
1. Recycling
It is the process where waste or obsolete materials are processed and converted into new reusable materials. It is considered as an alternative method to conventional waste disposal methods. It has benefits such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and assist in saving potentially useful materials.
This is because it reduces the need for fresh raw materials, ensuring there is conservation of energy and water and limits air pollution associated with the processing and transportation of virgin materials and finished products respectively. Some of the recyclable materials include metal, tires, paper, electronics, textiles, and plastics.
2. Reusing
This is the practice of using something again either for its conventional reuse or for another different function. As opposed to recycling, it does not involve the breaking down or reprocessing of materials. It saves money, energy, resources and time. An example is the use of milk bottles, glass mugs, tire retreading, reusable plastic boxes, and the corrugated fiberboard boxes.
3. Phytoremediation
Phytoremediation is a technology whereby living plants together with the associated microorganisms are used in cleaning up contaminated soil, water, and air. This method is combined with other agronomic and soil amendments techniques to remove the toxic or environmental contaminants.
It is a cost-effective method which uses the idea of plants’ ability to concentrate elements from the environment and metabolize some molecules in their own tissues. Such plants are called hyperaccumulators and they bioaccumulate, degrade and later render the contaminants harmless.
4. Industrial wastewater treatment
Industries are among the biggest contributors to earth pollution. They use lands and water sources as their main dumping sites which leads to accumulation of toxic materials in both soil and water. Furthermore, some industries emit toxic gases such as hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide into the environment leading to air pollution and acid rains.
Industrial wastewater treatment is a method of treating wastewater from industries. The treatment is done with the aim of reusing the water or releasing it into sewer systems or water bodies for a further natural breakdown. Some of the industrial wastewater treatment methods range from API oil-water separation, powdered activated carbon treatment, use of biofilter, and ultrafiltration to Dissolved Air Floatation (DAF).
5. Use of the scrubber system
Srubbler systems are devices that control air pollution and are used in the removal of chemical particulates and toxic gases from the industrial chimney streams. They were traditionally installed to remove carbon dioxide but with time, they have evolved and been redesigned to absorb acidic gases. They are also convenient in heat recovery emanating from hot gases through the process of flue-gas condensation. Scrubber systems include the baffle spray, cyclonic spray, mechanically aided, and ejector venturi scrubbers.
6. Use of the thermal oxidizer in chemical manufacturing plants
Chemical plants release toxic gases as a result of the chemical reactions in the manufacturing processes. In curbing this kind of pollution, it can be controlled by subjecting the hazardous gases to high temperatures, which breaks them down before being released into the environment.
7. Offsetting environmental impacts
It involves offsetting the environmental impacts of natural resources such as rivers, oceans, forests, and lakes. When a natural resource is destroyed, the organizations responsible must purchase credits or compensate for the damages to restore the natural resources.
8. Environmental audit
In ensuring manufacturing processes and production plants do not cause adverse effects on the environment; businesses and manufacturing plants are required to submit Environmental Statements that indicate their polluting units. The measures aim to ensure clear air, urban air quality, clean water systems, and pollution-free lands.
9. Waste minimization and cleaner production
This strategy can be adopted by both small and large scale industries to minimize industrial pollution through the use of cleaner and efficient production practices. It is based on the principle of continuous improvement, reducing emission, increasing efficiency of production, and waste reduction.
10. Environmental mapping and statistics
It is a sound environmental management strategy which involves the use of reliable information and the mapping of areas that need special attention in pollution control and prevention.
11. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
It is a management tool used in environmental conservation decision making and provides vital information on the impacts of various manufacturing processes and finished products on the environment.
12. The practice of tree planting
Trees reduce the speed of surface runoff and as a result, reduce the erosion and the washing away of the contaminants into water bodies. Trees are also carbon sinks and can, therefore, assist in reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the environment that cause global warming and climate change.
13. Minimize the use of vehicles and planes
One of the leading air polluters on earth are vehicles and planes. They release high amounts of gasoline fumes which contain pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and particulate matter. When their use is reduced by considering other travel options and fuel alternatives such as electric trains, reducing travel trips, biking or walking, and electric vehicles; air pollution can be reducedsignificantly.
Lead is a highly toxic substance which can lead to contamination of soil and water sources. Unleaded gasoline would curb the effects of pollution.
16. Proper disposal of medications among other household chemical products such as insecticides and paints
Such substances contain high levels of toxic substances and should not be flushed down the drain or disposed of anyhow. Proper disposal methods are necessary when discarding used medications and other mentioned household chemical products.
17. Use of the toilet appropriately
Some people have a tendency of disposing of wastes such as synthetic materials, wrappers, paper wastes, mothballs, and bleaching products in the toilet. Such wastes contain toxic substances that might end up in the water sources. Therefore, proper usage of toilets can aid in reducing water pollution.
18. Minimal use of detergents and bleach
Bleach and detergents used in the cleaning of laundry are toxic to the environment and for this reason, there is a need to minimize their usage. Phosphate-free detergents are more environmentally friendly and should hence be considered an ideal replacement for the conventional detergents.
19. Reduction in the usage of non-organic farm inputs
Use of excessive farm inputs such as artificial fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides can lead to soil contamination and water pollution as these chemicals are retained in the soil and later find their way into rivers and lakes through soil infiltration and surface runoff. Instead, farmers should use organic methods for weed, disease and pest control to reduce both soil and water pollution at a global scale.
20. Sewage treatment and management
The best way to limit the number of toxic wastes discharged into water sources from sewage plants is the proper treatment. Homes using septic tanks or the cellar drains should also ensure that they have proper management strategies of the sewage to avoid contaminating groundwater systems.
21. Stop smoking
Cigarettes are not only harmful to an individual’s health but they also pollute the environment. The cigarette butts are non-biodegradable and contain chemicals such as arsenic, acetone, formaldehyde, benzene, ammonia, cadmium, toluene and lead. A cigarette butt can leak these chemicals into the natural environment for up to 25 years.
22. Maintaining your vehicle and keeping it in good condition
Well maintained vehicles have no oil leakages and are quite fuel efficient thereby reducing the overall earth pollution. If disposal of the vehicle’s obsolete parts has to be done, it should be according to set regulations of dismantling, processing, and recycling.
23. Supporting organizations that advocate for conservation efforts
People should support those companies that have projects aimed at reducing earth pollution such as those using recycled products.
24. Conservation of energy and use of renewables
Use of energy-saving machines and energy efficient bulbs is a means of increasing environmental sustainability and reducing environmental pollution and degradation. The exploitation of renewable energy options such as wind and solar power can also go a long way in limiting earth pollution owing to the fact that electricity production is the main contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
25. Avoid plastic use
Plastic bottles, plates, and bags are non-biodegradable and a major environmental pollutant. They also destroy aquatic life.
26. The use of designated disposal areas of electronics, motor oil, and antifreeze
These products should be dumped in designated collection points where they can be collected for recycling or proper disposal.
27. Involving the local authority
In case of improper practices in terms of waste disposal by companies or industries, people should take the initiative of informing the relevant local authorities.
28. Use of water-efficient household appliances
Dishwashers, toilets, washing machines, and shower heads consume a lot of water. Use of appliances that are water-efficient can save millions of liters of water that would have been wasted.
29. Environmental cleaning activities
Participating in projects that involve cleaning the surrounding environment such as around the beach or polluted rivers is a means of controlling pollution.
30. Making donations
Monetary contributions and donations to environmental protection organizations is also a means of contributing to the conservation and the management of the natural environment.
What is Industrial Pollution?
With the coming of the Industrial Revolution, humans were able to advance further into the 21st century. Technology developed rapidly, science became advanced and the manufacturing age came into view. With all of these came one more effect, industrial pollution. Earlier, industries were small factories that produced smoke as the main pollutant.
However, since the number of factories were limited and worked only a certain number of hours a day, the levels of pollution did not grow significantly. But when these factories became full-scale industries and manufacturing units, the issue of industrial pollution started to take on more importance.
Causes of Industrial Pollution
1. Lack of Policies to Control Pollution:
Lack of effective policies and poor enforcement drive allowed many industries to bypass laws made by the pollution control board which resulted in mass scale pollutionthat affected the lives of many people.
2. Unplanned Industrial Growth
In most industrial townships, unplanned growth took place wherein those companies flouted rules and norms and polluted the environment with both air and water pollution.
3. Use of Outdated Technologies
Most industries still rely on old technologies to produce products that generate a large amount of waste. To avoid high cost and expenditure, many companies still make use of traditional technologies to produce high-end products.
4. Presence of a Large Number of Small Scale Industries
Many small scale industries and factories that don’t have enough capital and rely on government grants to run their day-to-day businesses often escape environment regulations and release a large number of toxic gases in the atmosphere.
5. Inefficient Waste Disposal
Water pollution and soil pollution are often caused directly due to inefficiency in the disposal of waste. Long term exposure to polluted air and water causes chronic health problems, making the issue of industrial pollution into a severe one. It also lowers the air quality in surrounding areas which causes many respiratory disorders.
6. Leaching of Resources From Our Natural World
Industries do require a large amount of raw material to make them into finished products. This requires the extraction of minerals from beneath the earth. The extracted minerals can cause soil pollution when spilled on the earth. Leaks from vessels can cause oil spills that may prove harmful for marine life.
Effects of Industrial Pollution on Our Environment
1. Water Pollution
The effects of industrial pollution are far-reaching and liable to affect the ecosystem for many years to come. Most industries require large amounts of water for their work. When involved in a series of processes, the water comes into contact with heavy metals, harmful chemicals, radioactive waste, and even organic sludge.
These are either dumped into open oceans or rivers. As a result, many of our water sources have a high amount of industrial waste in them which seriously impacts the health of our ecosystem. The same water is then used by farmers for irrigation purpose which affects the quality of food that is produced.
Water pollution has already rendered many groundwater resources useless for humans and wildlife. It can at best be recycled for further usage in industries.
2. Soil Pollution
Soil pollution is creating problems in agriculture and destroying local vegetation. It also causes chronic health issues to the people that come in contact with such soil on a daily basis.
3. Air Pollution
Air pollution has led to a steep increase in various illnesses and it continues to affect us on a daily basis. With so many small, mid and large scale industries coming up, air pollution has taken the toll on the health of the people and the environment.
4. Wildlife Extinction
By and large, the issue of industrial pollution shows us that it causes natural rhythms and patterns to fail, meaning that the wildlife is getting affected in a severe manner. Habitats are being lost, species are becoming extinct and it is harder for the environment to recover from each natural disaster. Major industrial accidents like oil spills, fires, the leak of radioactive material and damage to property are harder to clean-up as they have a higher impact in a shorter span of time.
5. Global Warming
With the rise in industrial pollution, global warming has been increasing at a steady pace. Smoke and greenhouse gases are being released by industries into the air which causes an increase in global warming. Melting of glaciers, extinction of polar bears, floods, tsunamis, hurricanes are few of the effects of global warming.
The issue of industrial pollution concerns every nation on the planet. As a result, many steps have been taken to seek permanent solutions to the problem. Better technology is being developed for the disposal of waste and recycling as much polluted water in the industries as possible.
Organic methods are being used to clean the water and soil, such as using microbes that naturally use heavy metals and waste as feed. Policies are being pushed into place to prevent further misuse of land. However, industrial pollution is still rampant and will take many years to be brought under control.
What is Pollution?
Pollution, we hear it every other day at school, college and read about it in newspapers. So what is it? Pollution occurs when pollutants contaminate the natural surroundings; which brings about changes that affect our normal lifestyles adversely. Pollutants are the key elements or components of pollution which are generally waste materials of different forms. Pollution disturbs our ecosystem and the balance in the environment. With modernization and development in our lives, pollution has reached its peak; giving rise to global warming and human illness.
Pollution occurs in different forms; air, water, soil, radioactive, noise, heat/ thermal, and light. Every form of pollution has two sources of occurrence; the point and the non-point sources. The point sources are easy to identify, monitor and control, whereas the non-point sources are hard to control. Let us discuss the different types of pollutions and their effects on mankind and the environment as a whole.
Major Types of Pollution
Air Pollution is the most prominent and dangerous form of pollution. It occurs due to many reasons. Excessive burning of fuel which is a necessity of our daily lives for cooking, driving and other industrial activities; releases a huge amount of chemical substances in the air every day; these pollute the air.
Smoke from chimneys, factories, vehicles or burning of wood basically occurs due to coal burning; this releases sulfur dioxide into the air making it toxic. The effects of air pollution are evident too. The release of sulfur dioxide and other hazardous gases into the air causes global warming and acid rain; which in turn have increased temperatures, erratic rains and droughts worldwide; making it tough for the animals to survive. We breathe in every polluted particle from the air which results in the increase in asthma and cancer in the lungs.
Water Pollution has taken toll of all the surviving species of the earth. Almost 60% of the species live in water bodies. It occurs due to several factors; the industrial wastes dumped into the rivers and other water bodies cause an imbalance in the water leading to its severe contamination and death of aquatic species. If you suspect that nearby water sources have been contaminated by a corporation then it might be a good idea to hire an expert to see your options.
Also spraying insecticides, pesticides like DDT on plants pollutes the groundwatersystem and oil spills in the oceans have caused irreparable damage to the water bodies. Eutrophication is another big source; it occurs due to daily activities like washing clothes, utensils near lakes, ponds or rivers; this forces detergents to go into the water which blocks sunlight from penetrating, thus reducing oxygen and making it inhabitable.
Water pollution not only harms the aquatic beings but it also contaminates the entire food chain by severely affecting humans dependent on these. Water-borne diseases like cholera, diarrhea have also increased in all places.
Soil pollution occurs due to the incorporation of unwanted chemicals in the soil due to human activities. Use of insecticides and pesticides absorbs the nitrogen compounds from the soil making it unfit for plants to derive nutrition from. The release of industrial waste, mining, and deforestation also exploits the soil. Since plants can’t grow properly, they can’t hold the soil and this leads to soil erosion.
Noise pollution is caused when noise which is an unpleasant sound affects our ears and leads to psychological problems like stress, hypertension, hearing impairment, etc. It is caused by machines in industries, loud music, etc.
Radioactive pollution is highly dangerous when it occurs. It can occur due to nuclear plant malfunctions, improper nuclear waste disposal, accidents, etc. It causes cancer, infertility, blindness, defects at the time of birth; can sterilize soil and affect air and water.
Thermal/heat pollution is due to the excess heat in the environment creating unwanted changes over long time periods; due to the huge number of industrial plants, deforestation, and air pollution. It increases the earth’s temperature, causing drastic climatic changes and extinction of wildlife.
Light pollution occurs due to prominent excess illumination of an area. It is largely visible in big cities, on advertising boards and billboards, in sports or entertainment events at the night. In residential areas, the lives of the inhabitants are greatly affected by this. It also affects astronomical observations and activities by making the stars almost invisible.
Serious Effects of Pollution
1. Environment Degradation
The environment is the first casualty for the increase in pollution weather in air or water. The increase in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere leads to smog which can restrict sunlight from reaching the earth. Thus, preventing plants in the process of photosynthesis. Gases like Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide can cause acid rain. Water pollution in terms of the oil spill may lead to the death of several wildlife species.
2. Human Health
The decrease in quality of air leads to several respiratory problems including asthma or lung cancer. Chest pain, congestion, throat inflammation, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease are some of the diseases that can be caused by air pollution. Water pollution occurs due to contamination of water and may pose skin related problems including skin irritations and rashes. Similarly, noise pollution leads to hearing loss, stress and sleep disturbance.
3. Global Warming
The emission of greenhouse gases particularly CO2 is leading to global warming. Every other day new industries are being set up, new vehicles come on roads and trees are cut to make way for new homes. All of them, in a direct or indirect way, lead to an increase in CO2 in the environment. The increase in CO2 leads to melting of polar ice caps which increases the sea level and pose danger for the people living near coastal areas.
4. Ozone Layer Depletion
Ozone layer is the thin shield high up in the sky that stops ultraviolet rays from reaching the earth. As a result of human activities, chemicals, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), were released int to the atmosphere which contributed to the depletion of the ozone layer.
5. Infertile Land
Due to the constant use of insecticides and pesticides, the soil may become infertile. Plants may not be able to grow properly. Various forms of chemicals produced from industrial waste are released into the flowing water which also affects the quality of the soil.
Pollution not only affects humans by destroying their respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological systems; it also affects the nature, plants, fruits, vegetables, rivers, ponds, forests, animals, etc, on which they are highly dependent for survival. It is crucial to control pollution as nature, wildlife and human life are precious gifts to mankind.
Environmental Pollution
Environmental pollution has existed for centuries but only started to be significant following the industrial revolution in the 19th century. Pollution occurs when the natural environment cannot destroy an element without creating harm or damage to itself. The elements involved are not produced by nature, and the destroying process can vary from a few days to thousands of years (that is, for instance, the case for radioactive pollutants). In other words, pollution takes place when nature does not know how to decompose an element that has been brought to it in an unnatural way.
Pollution must be taken seriously, as it has a negative effect on natural elements that are an absolute need for life to exist on earth, such as water and air. Indeed, without it, or if they were present on different quantities, animals – including humans – and plants could not survive. We can identify several types of pollution on Earth: air pollution, water pollution and soil pollution.
Causes of Environmental Pollution
Let us first take a look at the causes of environmental pollution:
1. Industries: Industries have been polluting our environment especially since the beginning of the industrial revolution, as mentioned above, notably due to the increasing use of fossil fuels. In the 19th century and for a significant part of the 20thcentury, coal has been use to make machines work faster, replacing human force. Though pollution by industries mainly causes air pollution, soil and water contamination can also occur. This is particularly the case for power-generating industries, such as plants producing electricity (May they be a dam, a nuclear reactor or some other type of plant).
Also, the transportation of this energy can be harmful to the environment. We can take as an example the transportation of petrol through pipelines; if there is a leak in the pipeline, soil will automatically be polluted. At the same time, if the tanker transporting the petrol from its production plant to the place where it will be consumed leaks or sinks, the water will get contaminated.
2. Transportation: Ever since men abandoned animal power to travel, pollution of the environment has become higher and higher. Its levels have only been increasing until now. Similarly to industries, pollution caused by transport can mainly be attributed to fossil fuels. Indeed, humans went from horse carriages to cars, trains (which, before electricity, used to be propelled by coal), and airplanes. As the traffic is increasing every day, pollution follows that evolution.
3. Agricultural Activities: Agriculture is mainly responsible for the contamination of water and soil. This is caused by the increased use of pesticides, as well as by the intensive character of its production. Almost all pesticides are made from chemical substances and are meant to keep diseases and threatening animals away from the crops. However, by keeping these forms of life away, harm is almost always made to the surrounding environment as well.
Furthermore, as agriculture gets more and more intensive to feed the increasing world population, more environments and ecosystems are destroyed to make space for the crops. Some of them, like rapeseed –used to make oil – demand a lot of space for a relatively small output.
4. Trading Activities: Trading activities including the production and exchange of goods and services. Concerning goods, pollution can be caused by packaging (which often involves the use of plastic, which is made from fossil fuels) or transport, mainly.
5. Residences: Finally, residential areas provide their fair share of pollution as well. First, to be able to build homes, natural environment has to be destroyed in one way or another. Wildlife and plants are driven away and replaced by human constructions. As it requires the work of industries, construction itself is also a source of contamination of the environment. Then, when people settle in, they will produce waste every day, including a part that cannot be processed by the environment without harm yet.
Effects of Environmental Pollution
Now that we have identified the main causes of environmental pollution, let us study the negative effects it has:
1. Effects on Humans: The effects of environmental pollution on humans are mainly physical, but can also turn into neuro-affections in the long term. The best-known troubles to us are respiratory, in the form of allergies, asthma, irritation of the eyes and nasal passages, or other forms of respiratory infections. Notably, these well spread affections can be observed when air pollution is high in cities, when the weather gets hot, for instance. On top of that, environmental pollution has been proven to be a major factor in the development of cancer. This can happen for example when we eat reminiscences of pollutants used in the production of processed foods, or pesticides from the crops. Other, rarer, diseases include hepatitis, typhoid affections, diarrhoea and hormonal disruptions.
2. Effects on Animals: Environmental pollution mainly affects animal by causing harm to their living environment, making it toxic for them to live in. Acid rains can change the composition of rivers and seas, making them toxic for fishes, an important quantity of ozone in the lower parts of the atmosphere can cause lung problems to all animals. Nitrogen and phosphates in water will cause overgrowth of toxic algae, preventing other forms of life to follow their normal course. Eventually, soil pollution will cause harm and sometimes even the destruction of microorganisms, which can have the dramatic effect of killing the first layers of the primary food chain.
3. Effects on Plants: As for animals, plants, and especially trees, can be destroyed by acid rains (and this will also have a negative effect on animals as well, as their natural environment will be modified), ozone in the lower atmosphere block the plant respiration, and harmful pollutants can be absorbed from the water or soil.
4. Effects on the Ecosystem: In short, environmental pollution, almost exclusively created by human activities, has a negative effect on the ecosystem, destroying crucial layers of it and causing an even more negative effect on the upper layers.
World’s Top 10 Toxic Pollution Problems
Every day synthetic, toxic chemicals are released into the environment. It affects our water, land and air. Water is our most vital resource but also our most threatened. Without water, there is no life. Our land is where we live and thrive upon. The air is what we breathe; what travels through the air is what we inhale. As it ultimately affects the future of our planet and us, it is considered to be a global threat at huge cost to the environment.
The toxic pollution problems discussed below impacts more to the people who live near to the sources of pollution. These pollutants may cause serious health effects such as birth defects, development disorders, respiratory problems, cancer and in some cases can lead to death. Apart from this, it can also have adverse effect on wildlife and environment.
Here is a list of the Top 10 Toxic Pollution Problems our world faces today, in no particular order:
1. Lead-Acid Battery Recycling
These rechargeable batteries are composed of lead plates and sulphuric acid in a plastic case. The battery recycling business is a very large industry, and although it aims to reduce the number of disposable batteries as solid waste, batteries contain a high number of toxic metals and chemicals like lead oxide that lead to the pollution of our water and contamination of soil.
2. Mercury and Lead Pollution from Mining
More than two million people globally are affected by mining and ore processing. These mining sites provide various minerals and metals to produce variety of products and minerals. The most hazardous chemicals that are found near these sites are lead, chromium, asbestos, arsenic, cadmium and mercury.
3. Coal Mining (Sulphur Dioxide and Mercury Pollution)
Though it’s often overlooked, the high levels of mercury in the air are a serious threat to human health. Originating from power plants fired by coal, many of which are located very close to large urban areas and cities in America. It can also travel exceptionally far (as in thousands of miles) through the air. Mercury is extremely damaging to human health as it severely damages the brain and nervous system when inhaled or made contact with. It is also estimated that a high percentage of pregnant woman in America are affected by high mercury levels that affect a foetus’s brain development. All in all, mercury is one of the most deadly toxic pollutants in the air.
Not only is Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) a substantial pollutant in our air and a direct result of coal power plants, it is also one of the causes of some serious health problems. It can be a root cause of lung cancer, asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis. As a result, thousands of people are tragically hospitalized or die each year. It is seriously toxic to human health. SO2 originates primarily from fossil fuel combustion at power plants and coal power plants.
4. Artisanal Gold Mining (Mercury Pollution)
The production process of retrieving gold from mined ores releases more mercury than any other global sector. The mining process is usually done in the open air, putting people living nearby at risk either through contaminated water or soil. The vaporized mercury is a potent neurotoxic element that causes development disorders and affects the central nervous system.
5. Lead Smelting
Each year millions of people are affected by the toxic chemicals, primarily iron, limestone, pyrite and zinc that are released into the air by the dozens of lead smelting sites around the world. Lead smelting uses furnaces and other chemical agents to remove impurity from lead ores. Lead Smelting puts approximately 2.5 million people at risk at 70 polluted lead smelting sites worldwide, according to Blacksmith Institute.
6. Pesticides Pollution from Agriculture and Storage
Pesticides are substances necessary for agriculture to destroy targeted pests. An approximate 2 million metric tonnes of pesticides are used annually on fields. As a result, millions of tons of pesticides are dumped every year on our fields. Unfortunately, the health effects pesticides have on us are disastrous, from simple skin irritation to hurting to nervous system to even causing cancer.
Apart from this, stockpiles of old and outdated pesticides add to the trouble. Most of the farmers are illiterate and use expired products. An estimated six to nine million metric tonnes of such pesticides are improperly stored.
7. Arsenic in Ground Water
Arsenic in Ground Water is naturally occurring pollution problem that affects some 750,000 people, mostly in south Asia. Contaminated ground water is still used by many people which can lead to cancer, blood vessel damage, abnormal heat beat and some other ill effects.
8. Industrial Waste Water
Waste water is water that has been harmfully affected by outside influence and that flows from an open drain. Waste water may or may not be affected by any of the following, but certainly not limited to, batteries, smelting, toxins, organic particles, pathogens, methane and carbon dioxide. This water ends up in the environment where it is much more harmful to humans than irrigation water.
9. Chromium Pollution (Dye Industry)
Believe it or not, the dye industry actually contains numerous health hazards. Dye is used to add color to material, but the additions they have to pollution are more than noticeable. While chromium, which is used in dye, is critical to the human diet and generally speaking causes no damage to the human body, Cr IV Chromium is dangerous and highly toxic, enough to cause death in humans.
10. Chromium Pollution (Tanneries)
Chromium is primarily used to turn animal hides into leather for consumers, in places called tanneries, which are primarily centered in South-East Asia. Such tanneries are still operating with little control and produce daily 7.7 million litres of waste water and 88 million tons of solid waste. Again, Cr IV is dangerous and can cause health problems as in respiratory and heart failure and cancer in the brain and kidneys.
Environmental Pollution
Environmental pollution has existed for centuries but only started to be significant following the industrial revolution in the 19th century. Pollution occurs when the natural environment cannot destroy an element without creating harm or damage to itself. The elements involved are not produced by nature, and the destroying process can vary from a few days to thousands of years (that is, for instance, the case for radioactive pollutants). In other words, pollution takes place when nature does not know how to decompose an element that has been brought to it in an unnatural way.
Pollution must be taken seriously, as it has a negative effect on natural elements that are an absolute need for life to exist on earth, such as water and air. Indeed, without it, or if they were present on different quantities, animals – including humans – and plants could not survive. We can identify several types of pollution on Earth: air pollution, water pollution and soil pollution.
Causes of Environmental Pollution
Let us first take a look at the causes of environmental pollution:
1. Industries: Industries have been polluting our environment especially since the beginning of the industrial revolution, as mentioned above, notably due to the increasing use of fossil fuels. In the 19th century and for a significant part of the 20thcentury, coal has been use to make machines work faster, replacing human force. Though pollution by industries mainly causes air pollution, soil and water contamination can also occur. This is particularly the case for power-generating industries, such as plants producing electricity (May they be a dam, a nuclear reactor or some other type of plant).
Also, the transportation of this energy can be harmful to the environment. We can take as an example the transportation of petrol through pipelines; if there is a leak in the pipeline, soil will automatically be polluted. At the same time, if the tanker transporting the petrol from its production plant to the place where it will be consumed leaks or sinks, the water will get contaminated.
2. Transportation: Ever since men abandoned animal power to travel, pollution of the environment has become higher and higher. Its levels have only been increasing until now. Similarly to industries, pollution caused by transport can mainly be attributed to fossil fuels. Indeed, humans went from horse carriages to cars, trains (which, before electricity, used to be propelled by coal), and airplanes. As the traffic is increasing every day, pollution follows that evolution.
3. Agricultural Activities: Agriculture is mainly responsible for the contamination of water and soil. This is caused by the increased use of pesticides, as well as by the intensive character of its production. Almost all pesticides are made from chemical substances and are meant to keep diseases and threatening animals away from the crops. However, by keeping these forms of life away, harm is almost always made to the surrounding environment as well.
Furthermore, as agriculture gets more and more intensive to feed the increasing world population, more environments and ecosystems are destroyed to make space for the crops. Some of them, like rapeseed –used to make oil – demand a lot of space for a relatively small output.
4. Trading Activities: Trading activities including the production and exchange of goods and services. Concerning goods, pollution can be caused by packaging (which often involves the use of plastic, which is made from fossil fuels) or transport, mainly.
5. Residences: Finally, residential areas provide their fair share of pollution as well. First, to be able to build homes, natural environment has to be destroyed in one way or another. Wildlife and plants are driven away and replaced by human constructions. As it requires the work of industries, construction itself is also a source of contamination of the environment. Then, when people settle in, they will produce waste every day, including a part that cannot be processed by the environment without harm yet.
Effects of Environmental Pollution
Now that we have identified the main causes of environmental pollution, let us study the negative effects it has:
1. Effects on Humans: The effects of environmental pollution on humans are mainly physical, but can also turn into neuro-affections in the long term. The best-known troubles to us are respiratory, in the form of allergies, asthma, irritation of the eyes and nasal passages, or other forms of respiratory infections. Notably, these well spread affections can be observed when air pollution is high in cities, when the weather gets hot, for instance. On top of that, environmental pollution has been proven to be a major factor in the development of cancer. This can happen for example when we eat reminiscences of pollutants used in the production of processed foods, or pesticides from the crops. Other, rarer, diseases include hepatitis, typhoid affections, diarrhoea and hormonal disruptions.
2. Effects on Animals: Environmental pollution mainly affects animal by causing harm to their living environment, making it toxic for them to live in. Acid rains can change the composition of rivers and seas, making them toxic for fishes, an important quantity of ozone in the lower parts of the atmosphere can cause lung problems to all animals. Nitrogen and phosphates in water will cause overgrowth of toxic algae, preventing other forms of life to follow their normal course. Eventually, soil pollution will cause harm and sometimes even the destruction of microorganisms, which can have the dramatic effect of killing the first layers of the primary food chain.
3. Effects on Plants: As for animals, plants, and especially trees, can be destroyed by acid rains (and this will also have a negative effect on animals as well, as their natural environment will be modified), ozone in the lower atmosphere block the plant respiration, and harmful pollutants can be absorbed from the water or soil.
4. Effects on the Ecosystem: In short, environmental pollution, almost exclusively created by human activities, has a negative effect on the ecosystem, destroying crucial layers of it and causing an even more negative effect on the upper layers.
