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What is pollution |
Always many questions regarding to environment is arises us that is- What is pollution? What are types of Pollution? What are the Effects of Pollution?
What is pollution?
Pollution is derived from Latin word "polluere" that means to defile. Pollution is an unpleasant change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of our air, land and water which have dangerous impact on human life or that of other species, our industrial processes, living situations and cultural assets.
Pollution not required always be caused by chemical particles such as particulates like smoke and dust. Forms of energy such as sound, heat or light can also produced pollution. And these substances that cause pollution are known as pollutants.
Pollution, even in minuscule amounts, affects the ecological balance. Pollutants can create its way up the food chain and usually find its way inside the human body.
Types of pollutions-
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Types of pollution |
There are several types of pollution, that are either caused by natural events like forest fires or by man-made activities like cars, factories, nuclear wastes, etc. These are further classified into the following types of pollution:
- Air Pollution
- Water Pollution
- Soil Pollution
- Noise Pollution
Besides these 4 different types of pollution, other types occurs such as light pollution, thermal pollution and radioactive pollution. The latter is much rarer than other types, but it is the deadliest.
1) Air pollution-
It refers to the release of harmful contaminants such as chemicals, toxic gases, particulates, biological molecules, etc. into the earth’s atmosphere. These contaminants are quite detrimental, and in some situations, pose serious health issues. Some causes that contribute to air pollution are:
- Burning of fossil fuels.
- Mining operations.
- Exhaust gases from industries and factories.
2) Water pollution-
Water pollution is defined to occurs when harmful pollutants and particulate matter are introduced into water bodies such as lakes, rivers and seas. These contaminants are majorly introduced by human activities like not suitable sewage treatment and oil spills. However, even natural processes such as eutrophication can cause water pollution.
Other significant causes of water pollution contain:
- Dumping solid wastes in water bodies.
- Disposing untreated industrial sewage into water bodies.
- Human and animal wastes.
- Agricultural runoff containing pesticides and fertilizers.
3) Soil pollution -
Soil pollution is known soil contamination, mention to the degradation of land due to the presence of chemicals or other man prepared substances in the soil. The xenobiotic substances alter the natural composition of soil and impact it negatively. These can drastically affect life directly or indirectly. For instance, any dangerous chemicals present in the soil will get consumed by the plants. Since plants are producers in an environment, it gets passed up through the food chain. Compared to the other types of pollution, the effects of soil pollution are a little more obscured, but their implications are very reportable.
4) Noise pollution-
Noise pollution refers to the large amount of noise in the surrounding that disrupts the natural balance. Generally, it is man prepared, though specific natural calamities like volcanoes can contribute to noise pollution.
Particularly, any sound which is over 85 db is described to be detrimental. Also, the duration an individual is exposed plays an affect on their health. For perspective, a normal conversation is around 60 decibels, and a jet taking off is around 150 decibels. Consequently, noise pollution is more obvious than the other types of pollution.
Noise pollution has many contributors, that contains:
- Industry-oriented noises such as heavy machines, mills, factories, etc.
- Transportation noises from vehicles, aeroplanes, etc.
- Construction noises.
- Noise from social events like loudspeakers, firecrackers, etc.
- Household noises (such as mixers, TV, washing machines, etc.)
What are the main causes of environment pollutants?
Pollution is the action of any contaminent to our environment. By this definition, most of the activities amounts to pollution. Such a universal to come near to encourage the pollution will occurs to unclear answers.
Based on the popular perceptions, the pollution can be classified as below:
Energy sector:
Next source of pollutants is a surprise culprit.
Agriculture sector :
About 13% of the pollutants are radiated from agriculture sector. Methane emission from biomass and Nitrogen oxides production from fertilizers are the silent pollutants.
Nuclear pollutants:
Nuclear sources are the most feared pollutants of this generation. Initiating from Hiroshima and Nagasaki of the war cruelties to the peacefull annihilation of Three mile islands , Chernobyl to the recent Fukushima incidents have aggravated this fear. Advancement of technology and statistical data in favour of Nuclear accidents could not do much to improve this sentiment.
The natural probability of failure of any fault free systems ,as understood by humankind makes all claims of the technical world to convince them against another imminent Nuclear disaster. Again , the history of failure of advanced technological show pieces like Titanic is still haunting them.
General Industry and traffic: |
Noise pollution , water pollution, thermal pollution are majorly contributed by industry as well as traffic.
Since the enhancement of the awareness of the potential of whole these pollutants, humankind has started steps to include them, with the powerful opposition from within.
What is impact of air pollution on environment?
The continuous pollution of the air has more large unwanted impacts on nature and also on human health. Those long-term and medium-term impacts have become problems that are hard to solve.
Here, we are listing the major negative impacts that air pollution is causing worldwide:
Global Warming-
Almost certainly global warming is one of the most important impacts for researcher and environmentalists. Global warming is a direct consequence of the greenhouse impact, which is created by the maximun radiation of Carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere. Most of these emissions are created by the industry, so this can be remedied by social responsibility and action by companies and factories.
Climate Change-
Climate Change is one of the consequence of global warming. When the temperature of the planet rises, there is a disturbance in the usual climatic cycles, accelerating the changes of these cycles in an evident way. Due to climate change, the mass of the poles is melting, and this is leading to flooding and the rising of sea levels.
Acid Rain-
The gases emitted by industries, power plants, boilers, heating and transport are very harmful. Those gases contains sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) issued into the atmosphere that come from fossil fuels burning. When those materials accumulate in the atmosphere and react with water, they form dilute solutions of nitric and sulphuric acid, and when those concentrations become rain, both the environment and surfaces suffer. |
Smog effect-
This smog effect also called beret effect happens when there is a part of dark fog concentrated over the cities and fields. That fog is a load of pollutants and can be of 2 types: sulphurous smog and photochemical smog, both dangerous and toxic to health. Both types of smog are a consequence of industrial and urban action. However, sulphurous smog has its origin majorly in the use of coal in several industrial processes. That has been lowered in the most advanced countries nevertheless, there are still several enhancing countries that don't have treatment protocols for pollutants.
Deterioration of fields-
Acid rain, climate change and smog overall damage the Earth surface. Contaminated water and gases ooze into the earth, varying the composition of soils. That directly impacts agriculture, varying crop cycles and the composition of the food we all eat.
How can we prevent pollution in our environment?
Environmental problems are so nervous and spread that effectively any activity advancement interacts with the environment. Several environmental pollution problems are local in character and they can be prevented by making environmental consciousness in each and every citizen. People should be told about the application of clean atmosphere as well as about the consequences of many types of environmental pollutions. Besides, action is also required at national level and guidelines may be proposed internationally by the United Nations Joint Committee of Experts.
Some of the effective and practical control measures for minimizing environmental pollution are outlined below:
1) Combustible solid wastes should be burnt in incinerators. This process does not cover the problem in a actual sense because in this, solid waste is being transferred into gaseous wastes producing air pollution. Unless it is suitably prevented, incineration may cause more nuisance.
2) Solid organic wastes containing faecal matter and wastes from tanneries should be transferred into compost manure at the areas far away from the cities and human dwellings. The composting should be done in pits or in heaps adequately covered with layers of soil at least 8 to10 cm thick to control fly breeding and rat menace that are necessary carriers of different diseases.
3) Non-combustible solid waste substances like ash, rubbish, tins, glass pieces if not repeated coverable for gradually reasons should be disposed of by landfill technique in low-lying places.
4) Anaerobic septic tank treatment can be used for individual houses or tiny communities. Besides, aerobic biological treatment processes containing trickling filters, activated sludge treatment and oxidation ponds can also be helpful for liquid wastes or sewage disposal.
5) Automobiles must be either produced to remove use of gasoline and diesel oil or overall combustion is obtained in the engine so that noxious compounds are not emitted. The automobiles, trucks and other transport methods must have an antismog device. In some countries factories are using devices like scrubbers, cyclone separators or electrostatic precipitators to reduced pollution.
6) There should be cut back in the utilize of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and other agrochemicals as far as possible.
7) Excessive and unsuitable burning of vegetation should be ceased.
8) Sponges and towels should be helpful in place of paper towels and also the use of paper cups and plates and similar substances should be ceased.
9) Small use of electric appliances and motor-nm appliances will lower thermal pollution.
10) Washing soda and scouring pad should be used alternative of detergents.
11) Waste management is depend on principle of ‘3Rs’ that means lower, Recycle and Reuse. Used boxes, bags, plastics and bottles should be reused whenever possible.
12) Since approximately 40% of the phosphates in water pollution comes from detergent, it has been mentioned that only detergents low in phosphates should be used.
13) Shampoos, lotions and similar products should not be bought in plastic bottles. It has nowadays been mentioned that use of plastic containers and glasses may leads cancer.
14) Smoking should be ceased. There is 5, 00,000 tonnes tobacco pollution annually.
15) Correct attention should be given by the government to produce people feels the implications of environmental problems.
16) Legislation against pollution should be strictly implemented.
17) International action is required to deal with the problems presented by morr harmful pollutants like lead, mercury, organ chlorine pesticides released in to the atmosphere and transferred far beyond the country of origin as well as carried down to the sea by rivers. Successful steo to improve environmental qualities depends majorly introduced on the acceptance by industry and local authorities of the required to decrease mostly both quantities and toxicity of specific wastes at present being discharged into the sea and the modernization and expansion of sewage disposal processes.
18) Environmental education is the good programme to deal with the environmental problems. It is most fundamental in our efforts to combat and prevent pollution, over-population and misuse of natural resources.
With the growing world it's small harder to eradicate the environmental problems but they can be prevented to a large extent.