Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of any substances (solid, liquid, or gas) or any form of energy (such as heat, sound, or radioactivity) to the environment at a rate faster than it can be dispersed, diluted, decomposed, recycled, or stored in some harmless form. It is created mostly by human activities, but can also be a result of natural disasters. Pollution has a detrimental impact and effect on any living organism in an environment, making it impossible to sustain life in severe cases. It is caused by industrial and commercial waste, agriculture methods, day-to-day human activities and transportation.
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[edit] Types
Types of environmental pollution can be roughly classified by anthropogenic (human-caused) and natural sources.
[edit] Anthropogenic sources
By the object of pollution:
By the economic sourceof pollution:
- Agricultural pollution
- Industrial pollution
- Transport pollution
- Car pollution / Heavy vehicle pollution
- Ship pollution
- Airplane pollution
- Commercial and domestic sector pollution
Other types:
- Light Pollution
- Radioactive pollution
- Chemical pollution
- Invasive species pollution
- Light pollution
- Noise pollution
- Visual pollution
[edit] Natural Sources of Pollution:
- Volcanic eruptions
- Dust storms
- Smoke from forest and grass fires
[edit] Pollutants
- Main Article: Pollutants
Pollutants are unwanted chemicals, waste materials and other considered contaminants. Pollutants in high concentrations can endanger the environment and is the cause pollution.
[edit] Effects
All types of pollution has a negative impact on the living environment. The effects in living organisms may range from mild discomfort to serious diseases such as cancer to physical deformities.
[edit] Human Health
Air pollution can kill many organisms including humans, which cause respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, throat inflammation, chest pain, and congestion. Older people are majorly exposed to diseases induced by air pollution. Contamination of drinking water causes approximately 14,000 deaths per day, mostly due to untreated sewage in developing countries.
Oil spills can cause skin irritations and rashes. Noise pollution induces hearing loss, high blood pressure, stress, and sleep disturbance. Mercury has been linked to developmental deficits in children and neurologic symptoms. Those with heart or lung disorders are under additional risk. Children and infants are also at serious risk. Lead and other heavy metals have been shown to cause neurological problems. Chemical and radioactive substances can cause cancer and as well as birth defects.
[edit] Animals
Acid rain destroys fish life in lakes, streams and rivers. Excessive ultraviolet radiation coming from the sun through the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere which is eroded by some air pollutants, may cause skin cancer in wildlife and on lower atmosphere, ozone can damage delicate lung tissues of animals.
Nutrient pollution causes overgrowth of toxic algae eaten by other aquatic animals, and may cause death; nutrient pollution can also cause outbreaks of fish diseases. Chemical contamination can cause declines in fresh water and marine biodiversity. Oil pollution can negatively affect development of marine organisms, increase susceptibility to disease and affect reproductive processes; can also cause gastrointestinal irritation, liver and kidney damage, and damage to the nervous system. Mercury in water can cause abnormal behavior, slower growth and development, reduced reproduction, and death. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may cause declines, deformities and death of fish life.
Soil pollution can alter metabolism of microorganisms and arthropods in a given soil environment; this may destroy some layers of the primary food chain, and thus have a negative effect on predator animal species. Small life forms may consume harmful chemicals which may then be passed up the food chain to larger animals; this may lead to increased mortality rates and can even result to animal extinction.
[edit] Environment
Acid rain can destroy and kill trees, destroy the leaves of plants, can infiltrate soil by making it unsuitable for purposes of nutrition and habitation. Excessive ultraviolet radiation from the sun to enter the Earth causing damage to trees and plants Ozone in the lower atmosphere can prevent plant respiration and negatively affecting plants’ photosynthesis rates which will stunt plant growth; ozone can also decay plant cells. Photosynthesis in aquatic plants will be disrupted because of polluted water. Terrestrial and aquatic plants may absorb pollutants from water (as their main nutrient source) and pass them up the food chain to consumer animals and humans. Plants may be killed by too much sodium chloride in water, mud from construction sites , clay and other similar materials and herbicides in water; herbicides are chemicals which are most harmful to plants. Soil pollution may cause trees and plants to absorb soil contaminants and pass them up the food chain.
[edit] Prevention
Pollution prevention is reducing or eliminating toxic waste at the source by modifying production processes, promoting the use of non-toxic or less-toxic substances, implementing conservation techniques, and re-using and recycling materials. Prevention means the control of emissions into air, water or soil. Without pollution control, the waste products from consumption, heating, agriculture, mining, manufacturing, transportation and other human activities, whether they accumulate or disperse, will degrade the environment. In the hierarchy of controls, pollution prevention and waste minimization are more desirable than pollution control.
