Environmental pollution

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION -can be defined as any undesirable change in physical, chemical, or biological
characteristics of any component of the environment i.e. air, water, soil which can cause harmful effects on various forms of
life or property. Pollution: The term pollution can be defined as influence of any substance causing nuisance, harmful
effects, and uneasiness to the organisms Pollutant:- Any substance causing Nuisance or harmful effects or uneasiness to
the organisms, then that particular substance may be called as the pollutant.
TYPES OF POLLUTION
WATER
POLLUTION

AIR POLLUTION

LAND POLLUTION

NOISE

WATER POLLUTION -can be defined as alteration in physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of water
through natural or human activities and making it unsuitable for its designated use. Fresh Water present on the earth
surface is put to many uses. It is used for drinking, domestic and municipal uses, agricultural, irrigation, industries,
navigatio n, recreation. The used water becomes contaminated and is called waste water.
SOURCES OF WATER POLLUTION -Most of Water Pollution is man made It may also occur naturally by addition
of soil particles through erosion animal wastes and leaching of minerals from rocks The sources of water pollution
can be classified as Municipal Waste Water Industrial Waste Inorganic Pollutants Organic
Pollutants Agricultural Wastes Marine Pollution Thermal pollution
INDUSTRIAL WASTE -The major source of water pollution is the waste water discharged from industries and
commercial bodies, these industries are chemical, metallurgical, food processing industries, textile, paper industries.
They discharge several organic and inorganic pollutants. That prove highly toxic to living beings.
INORGANIC POLLUTANTS -They include fine particles of different metals, chlorides, sulphates, oxides of iron,
cadmium, acids and alkalies.
ORGANIC POLLUTANTS - They Include oils, fats, phenols, organic acids grease and several other organic
compounds
AGRICULTURAL WASTES - Chemical fertilizers and pesticides have become essential for present day high
yielding crops. Consequently , they have become a potential source of water pollution. These fertilizers contain
major plants nutrients mainly nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Excess fertilizers may reach the ground water
by leaching or may be mixed with surface water of rivers, lakes and ponds by runoff and drainage.
MARINE POLLUTION - Ocean are the final sink of all natural and manmade pollutants. Rivers discharge their
pollutants into the sea. The sewage and garbage of costal cities are also dumped into the sea. The other sources
include, discharge of oils, grease, detergents, and radioactive wastes from ships.
THERMAL POLLUTION - Thermal Pollution of water is caused by the rise in temperature of water. The main
source of thermal pollution are the thermal and nuclear power plants. The power generating plants use water as
coolants and release hot water into the original source. Sudden rise in temperature kills fish and other aquatic
animals.
AIR POLLUTION -is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or
discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment,
into the atmosphere. A substance in the air that can cause harm to humans and the environment is known as an air
pollutant.
CAUSES OF AIR POLLUTION Carbon dioxide-this happens because of Deforestation and fossil fuel burning.
Sulfur dioxide Due to the burning of sulfur containing compounds of fossil fuels. Sulfur oxides- very dangerous
to humans at a high concentration. Sulfur in the atmosphere is responsible for acid rain.
CONSEQUENCES OF AIR POLLUTION CO2 is a good transmitter of sunlight, but it also partially restricts
infrared radiation going back from the earth into space, which produces the socalled greenhouse effect that prevents
a drastic cooling of the Earth during the night. CO2 in atmosphere --> GLOBAL WARMING
LAND POLLUTION -is the demolition of Earth's land surfaces often caused by human activities and their misuse of
land resources. It occurs when waste is not disposed properly. Urbanization and industrialization are major causes
of land pollution.

CAUSES OF LAND POLLUTION Four Main causes of land pollution: Construction Agriculture Domestic
waste Industrial Waste
CONSTRUCTION Buildings take up resources and land, the trees are chopped down and used to make
buildings. Takes away the places for animals and other organisms to live.
AGRICULTURE As there are more and more people inhabiting the earth, food is in higher demand and so forests
are chopped down and turned into farmland In addition, herbicides, pesticides, artificial fertilizers, animal manure
are washed into the soil and pollute it.
DOMESTIC WASTE Tons of domestic waste is dumped every day. Some waste from homes, offices and
industries can be recycled or burnt in incinerators . There is still a lot of garbage, such as refrigerators and washing
machines that are dumped in landfills simply because they cannot be reused in anyway, nor recycled .
INDUSTRIAL WASTE Plastics factories, chemical plants, oil refineries, nuclear waste disposal activity, large
animal farms, coal-fired power plants, metals production factories and other heavy industry all contribute to land
pollution.
NOISE POLLUTION -is excessive, displeasing human, animal, or machine-created environmental noise that
disrupts the activity or balance of human or animal life. Sound becomes undesirable when it disturbs the normal
activities such as working, sleeping, and during conversations. World Health Organization stated that Noise must
be recognized as a major threat to human wellbeing
SOURCES OF NOISE POLLUTION Transportation systems are the main source of noise pollution in urban
areas. Construction of buildings, highways, and streets cause a lot of noise, due to the usage of air compressors,
bulldozers, loaders, dump trucks, and pavement breakers. Industrial noise also adds to the already unfavorable
state of noise pollution. Loud speakers, plumbing, boilers, generators, air conditioners, fans, and vacuum cleaners
add to the existing noise pollution.
EFFECTS OF NOISE POLLUTION According to the USEPA, there are direct links between noise and health.
Also, noise pollution adversely affects the lives of millions of people. Noise pollution can damage physiological
and psychological health. High blood pressure, stress related illness, sleep disruption, hearing loss, and
productivity loss are the problems related to noise pollution. It can also cause memory loss, severe depression, and
panic attacks.
SOLUTIONS FOR NOISE POLLUTION Planting bushes and trees in and around sound generating sources is an
effective solution for noise pollution. Regular servicing and tuning of automobiles can effectively reduce the noise
pollution Social awareness programs should be taken up to educate the public about the causes and effects of noise
pollution. Workers should be provided with equipments such as ear plugs and earmuffs for hearing protection.
Similar to automobiles, lubrication of the machinery and servicing should be done to minimize noise generation.
Soundproof doors and windows can be installed to block unwanted noise from outside. Regulations should be
imposed to restrict the usage of play loudspeakers in crowded areas and public places. Factories and industries
should be located far from the residential areas.
WAYS TO STOP POLLUTION We believe that it is the responsible thing to do to increase recycling. It is just
like doing laundry and separating blacks and colors. The residents of the country should also try and do their part
and put in at least one day of litter picking up.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GLOBAL WARMING AND THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT Global warming refers
to a rise in the temperature of the surface of the earth. The Greenhouse Effect is a process by which thermal
radiation from a planetary surface is absorbed by atmospheric greenhouse gases, and is re-radiated in all directions.

Environmental Problems
Our environment is constantly changing. There is no denying that. However, as our environment changes, so does
the need to become increasingly aware of the problems that surround it. With a massive influx of natural disasters,
warming and cooling periods, different types of weather patterns and much more, people need to be aware of what
types of environmental problems our planet is facing.
Global warming has become an undisputed fact about our current livelihoods; our planet is warming up and we are
definitely part of the problem. However, this isnt the only environmental problem that we should be concerned
about. All across the world, people are facing a wealth of new and challenging environmental problems every day.

Some of them are small and only affect a few ecosystems, but others are drastically changing the landscape of what
we already know.
Our planet is poised at the brink of a severe environmental crisis. Current environmental problems make us
vulnerable to disasters and tragedies, now and in the future. We are in a state of planetary emergency, with
environmental problems piling up high around us. Unless we address the various issues prudently and seriously we
are surely doomed for disaster. Current environmental problems require urgent attention.

15 Major Current Environmental Problems

1. Pollution: Pollution of air, water and soil require millions of years to recoup. Industry and motor vehicle exhaust
are the number one pollutants. Heavy metals, nitrates and plastic are toxins responsible for pollution. While water
pollution is caused by oil spill, acid rain, urban runoff; air pollution is caused by various gases and toxins released
by industries and factories and combustion of fossil fuels; soil pollution is majorly caused by industrial waste that
deprives soil from essential nutrients.
2. Global Warming: Climate changes like global warming is the result of human practices like emission of
Greenhouse gases. Global warming leads to rising temperatures of the oceans and the earth surface causing melting
of polar ice caps, rise in sea levels and also unnatural patterns of precipitation such as flash floods, excessive snow
or desertification.
3. Overpopulation: The population of the planet is reaching unsustainable levels as it faces shortage of resources
like water, fuel and food. Population explosion in less developed and developing countries is straining the already
scarce resources. Intensive agriculture practiced to produce food damages the environment through use of chemical
fertilizer, pesticides and insecticides. Overpopulation is one of the crucial current environmental problem.
4. Natural Resource Depletion: Natural resource depletion is another crucial current environmental problems.
Fossil fuel consumption results in emission of Greenhouse gases, which is responsible for global warming and
climate change. Globally, people are taking efforts to shift to renewable sources of energy like solar, wind, biogas
and geothermal energy. The cost of installing the infrastructure and maintaining these sources has plummeted in the
recent years.
5. Waste Disposal: The over consumption of resources and creation of plastics are creating a global crisis of waste
disposal. Developed countries are notorious for producing an excessive amount of waste or garbage and dumping
their waste in the oceans and, less developed countries. Nuclear waste disposal has tremendous health hazards
associated with it. Plastic, fast food, packaging and cheap electronic wastes threaten the well being of humans.
Waste disposal is one of urgent current environmental problem.
6. Climate Change: Climate change is yet another environmental problem that has surfaced in last couple of
decades. It occurs due to rise in global warming which occurs due to increase in temperature of atmosphere by
burning of fossil fuels and release of harmful gases by industries. Climate change has various harmful effects but not
limited to melting of polar ice, change in seasons, occurrence of new diseases, frequent occurrence of floods and
change in overall weather scenario.
7. Loss of Biodiversity: Human activity is leading to the extinction of species and habitats and and loss of biodiversity. Eco systems, which took millions of years to perfect, are in danger when any species population is
decimating. Balance of natural processes like pollination is crucial to the survival of the eco-system and human
activity threatens the same. Another example is the destruction of coral reefs in the various oceans, which support
the rich marine life.
8. Deforestation: Our forests are natural sinks of carbon dioxide and produce fresh oxygen as well as helps in
regulating temperature and rainfall. At present forests cover 30% of the land but every year tree cover is lost
amounting to the country of Panama due to growing population demand for more food, shelter and cloth.
Deforestation simply means clearing of green cover and make that land available for residential, industrial or
commercial purpose.
9. Ocean Acidification: It is a direct impact of excessive production of CO2. 25% of CO2 produced by humans.
The ocean acidity has increased by the last 250 years but by 2100, it may shoot up by 150%. The main impact is on
shellfish and plankton in the same way as human osteoporosis.
10. Ozone Layer Depletion: The ozone layer is an invisible layer of protection around the planet that protects us
from the suns harmful rays. Depletion of the crucial Ozone layer of the atmosphere is attributed to pollution caused
by Chlorine and Bromide found in Chloro-floro carbons (CFCs). Once these toxic gases reach the upper

atmosphere, they cause a hole in the ozone layer, the biggest of which is above the Antarctic. The CFCs are banned
in many industries and consumer products. Ozone layer is valuable because it prevents harmful UV radiation from
reaching the earth. This is one of the most important current environmental problem.
11. Acid Rain: Acid rain occurs due to the presence of certain pollutants in the atmosphere. Acid rain can be caused
due to combustion of fossil fuels or erupting volcanoes or rotting vegetation which release sulfur dioxide and
nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere. Acid rain is a known environmental problem that can have serious effect on
human health, wildlife and aquatic species.
12. Water Pollution: Clean drinking water is becoming a rare commodity. Water is becoming an economic and
political issue as the human population fights for this resource. One of the options suggested is using the process of
desalinization. Industrial development is filling our rivers seas and oceans with toxic pollutants which are a major
threat to human health.

13. Urban Sprawl: Urban sprawl refers to migration of population from high density urban
areas to low density rural areas which results in spreading of city over more and more rural land.
Urban sprawl results in land degradation, increased traffic, environmental issues and health
issues. The ever growing demand of land displaces natural environment consisting of flora and
fauna instead of being replaced.
14: Public Health Issues: The current environmental problems pose a lot of risk to health of
humans, and animals. Dirty water is the biggest health risk of the world and poses threat to the
quality of life and public health. Run-off to rivers carries along toxins, chemicals and disease
carrying organisms. Pollutants cause respiratory disease like Asthma and cardiac-vascular
problems. High temperatures encourage the spread of infectious diseases like Dengue.
15. Genetic Engineering: Genetic modification of food using biotechnology is called genetic
engineering. Genetic modification of food results in increased toxins and diseases as genes from
an allergic plant can transfer to target plant. Genetically modified crops can cause serious
environmental problems as an engineered gene may prove toxic to wildlife. Another drawback is
that increased use of toxins to make insect resistant plant can cause resultant organisms to
become resistant to antibiotics.
The need for change in our daily lives and the movements of our government is growing.
Because so many different factors come into play; voting, governmental issues, the desire to
stick to routine, many people dont consider that what they do will affect future generations. If
humans continue moving forward in such a harmful way towards the future, then there will be no
future to consider. Although its true that we cannot physically stop our ozone layer from
thinning (and scientists are still having trouble figuring out what is causing it exactly,) there are
still so many things we can do to try and put a dent in what we already know. By raising
awareness in your local community and within your families about these issues, you can help
contribute to a more environmentally conscious and friendly place for you to live.