Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants
into the natural environment that cause adverse change. Pollution can take the
form of chemical substances or energy,
such as noise, heat or light. Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be
either foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants.
Pollution is often classed as point source or nonpoint source pollution.
There are
four basic kinds of pollution:
·
Water Pollution
·
Noise Pollution
·
Land Pollution
·
Air Pollution
Other
secondary types are:
·
Light Pollution
·
Thermal Pollution
·
Radioactive Pollution
·
Visual Pollution
The release of chemicals and particulates into the
atmosphere causes air pollution.
Common gaseous pollutants include carbon monoxide
sulfur
dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and nitrogen oxides
produced by industry and motor vehicles. Photochemical ozone and smog are created as
nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons react to sunlight. Particulate matter,
or fine dust is characterized by their micrometre
size PM10 to PM2.5.
Littering:-
the criminal throwing of inappropriate man-made objects, unremoved, onto public
and private properties.
Noise pollution:-
which encompasses roadway
noise, aircraft noise,
industrial
noise as well as high-intensity sonar.
Soil
contamination occurs when
chemicals are released by spill or underground leakage. Among the most
significant soil
contaminants are hydrocarbons,
heavy metals,
MTBE,[9]
herbicides,
pesticides
and chlorinated
hydrocarbons.
Radioactive
contamination, resulting from 20th
century activities in atomic physics,
such as nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons research, manufacture and
deployment. (See alpha
emitters and actinides
in the environment.)
Thermal pollution, is a temperature
change in natural water bodies caused by human influence, such as use of water
as coolant in a power plant.
Visual pollution, which can refer to the presence of overhead power
lines, motorway billboards, scarred landforms
(as from strip mining), open storage of trash, municipal solid waste or space debris.
Water pollution,
by the discharge of wastewater from commercial and industrial waste (intentionally or through spills) into surface waters;
discharges of untreated domestic sewage, and chemical contaminants, such as
chlorine,
from treated sewage; release of waste and contaminants into surface runoff
flowing to surface waters (including urban runoff
and agricultural runoff, which may contain chemical fertilizers
and pesticides);
waste disposal and leaching into groundwater;
eutrophication and littering.
Cause of pollution
The ultimate cause of pollution is
human activity itself. Pollution is a human contribution to nature. Science has
evolved technologies and technologies have helped the human welfare. In the
process, the pollution has been a part of technology and therefore a part of
human miseries.
Human activities mainly include:
- Industries for various human needs - directly and
indirectly
- Agriculture for food production and industrial needs
- Health care for health of human beings and animals
- Transport for mobility of human beings
- Dwelling for settlement in city or villages
- Energy for various direct human needs and industrial
needs.
All of them contribute to pollution
in one way or other and therefore cause miseries. All of them are aimed to be
part of human welfare programmes. Along with welfare, all of them have brought
the maladies of pollution.
Impact of pollution
Impact of pollution on Human Health
Many pollutants have a negative impact on human
health. For example, pollutants in the air, such as ozone or particulates in
the air, may lead to respiratory health problems such as asthma, chronic
bronchitis and decreased lung function. Drinking contaminated water may lead to
stomach and other digestive problems. Pollutants such as mercury can accumulate
in fish and seafood and can lead to serious health problems, especially for
vulnerable populations such as children or pregnant women. Pollutants in the
soil, such as contamination by heavy metals, toxins or lead, can lead to
serious health problems, including cancer and developmental problems in
children.
Impact of pollution
on Air
One of the most common sources of air pollution
results from the burning of fossil fuels, such as vehicle and factory
emissions. These emissions are a major contributor to smog, a mass of
particulate matter than hangs like a cloud over many major cities and
industrial areas. A second effect of air pollution is acid rain, which forms
when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide in the air combine with oxygen, water
and other chemicals in the air. This combination decreases the pH of rainwater,
which is typically pH neutral. Acid rain can lead to the death of trees, fish
kills in lakes and damage to statues, monuments and building faces.
Impact on water
Pollutants in the soil
most often result from industrial sources. Particularly insidious soil pollutants
include lead, PCBs and asbestos. These pollutants may negatively affect human
health and native plant and animal health. Pesticide use can also impact the
land. One undesired impact of using pesticides is the death of native plant and
animal species that also reside in the area.
Impact on Ecosystems
Because each type of pollution (air, water, land)
does not occur separately from one another, entire ecosystems are often
impacted. For example, the use of pesticides or fertilizers on land may negatively
impact terrestrial species of plants and animals. When these materials are
introduced to nearby bodies of water, they impact aquatic species of plants and
animals. Thus, curbing pollution in one area of an ecosystem can also help
protect another part of the ecosystem.
Pollution is threatening the delicate balance of life on
Earth. Meanwhile our own bodies are being attacked by cancers, diseases, and a
flurry of health problems that seem to increase in number every year. It can
cause anyone to feel overwhelmed and confused about what they can do. The vast
amount of troubles in the world can make any thing we do seem insignificant.
But if we can do just a few things to help, the joined efforts can create a
huge difference in both the world and in our lives. If you are not sure where
to begin here are five simple things that can create a big change.
1. Grow your own garden. Whether
you have a large yard, a small patch of land, or just enough room for a few
potted plants growing your own garden can create a tremendous difference.
Having fresh fruits and vegetables at your finger tips can not only improve
your health, it can also save you money. A packet of seeds only costs a few
cents but can produce several times the amount of food than you would expect to
pay in a grocery store, and without the added hassle of driving to the store
and creating more garbage from the packaging and bags. Spending time each day
working in your garden is wonderful exorcise and a great way to get plenty of
sunshine.2. Start composting. For many composting seems disgusting. Often when people think of composting they imagine an open pile of rotting foods, foul odors, and an array of animals digging through it. Modern composting, however, is nothing like that. Today you can buy or create several different kinds of containers and storage devices from small ones that fit under your kitchen sink to large ones that sit in your yard. These containers not only prevent rodents and other animals from creating a mess they also look neater and more attractive than an open heap or pile. Smell is also something that does not have to be a worry. Ideally composting should not have a strong odor, an odor usually is a sign of an imbalance in what you are adding to the mix. Adding more fallen leaves or cut grass can help reduce the smell. Having a compost bin is a great way to get rid of common kitchen scraps without creating more garbage and waste. And once cultivated you have an excellent source of fertilizer and mulch for plants to grow from.
3. Stop buying chemical cleaners. Check under your sink or in your kitchen cabinets. Are there bottle after bottle of cleaners, degreasers, and disinfectants? Most people think that they need to spend money buying special formulas to clean their house, what they don't think about is what effect those chemicals can have on your health and the environment. Instead of buying more bottles of chemicals and creating more waste try some of the simple cleaner ideas that you can make yourself. Vinegar and baking soda is one of the simplest, most effective, and cheapest cleaning solutions available. You can clean everything from a dirty stove top to a load of laundry with that mixture, and not worry about the effects it could have on your health and home. Lemon juice is another safe and effective cleaner that can remove soap scum and whiten clothes as well as many other uses.
4. Change your light bulbs. Replacing your ordinary light bulbs with low energy bulbs can both save you money and help the environment. These long lasting bulbs reduce your energy bill and do not need to be replaced as often as conventional bulbs. There are a variety of styles available, even low energy holiday lights are being sold. Though the initial price can be higher for these than ordinary bulbs, over time these bulbs can save you up to $50 during the lifetime of a bulb.
5. Recycle. The tried and true method of helping the environment is recycling. Most cities have recycling centers or recycling pick-up available for people. Plastic, glass, paper, even old phonebooks can be recycled and used for other things. Using recycled items can also help the environment and save you money. Old tires and newspapers are used for insulation in homes, paper is recycled into new paper for notebooks and envelopes, even the rubber souls on shoes can come from recycled products. Many stores now offer a wide variety of recycled items, simply look for the recycled symbol to know if you are buying something that came from recycled products
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