On celebration of World Environment Day Types of Pollution
Posted on: 08/Jun/2018 12:52:05 PM
Pollution is an act of contaminating the environment by introducing certain hazardous contaminants that lead to disturbance of ecosystem and directly or indirectly affect the human beings, animals, plants of the ecosystem.
Pollution causes the disturbance of the natural system and balance of the environment.
Pollution is an undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of air, water, and soil that may harmfully affect life or create potential health hazard of any living organism. Technological advancements done by humans are also one of the main reasons of pollution on the Earth.
Various types of pollution are caused, but mainly the following lead to life-threatening and adverse effects on the humans:
1. Air Pollution
The most dangerous and common type of pollution, caused by the release of harmful gases in the air. It is majorly caused due to the direct release of chemicals into the environment by industries. The polluted air we breathe goes into our whole body and affects all the body systems mainly the respiratory functions.
Causes of Air Pollution: Burning of fuels, smoke from vehicles, fireworks, burning of woods, and release of hazardous chemicals or chemical gases from industries or factories.
Effects of Air Pollution: Air pollution causes life-threatening diseases like asthma, cancer, bronchitis, lung disorder, and many more. Depletion of the ozone layer is also a cause of air pollution. Solutions to prevent Air Pollution: Conserve energy, stop fireworks, reduce-reuse-recycle, usage of energy efficient equipment, usage of public transport, etc.
2. Soil Pollution
The release of harmful substances in soil is the major cause of contamination of soil. Soil pollution causes an indirect damage to humans and other animals. The nutrients taken by the plants are then transferred to the consumers that depend on these plants. Hence a soil consisting of contaminants will not only affect the plants growing on the soil but it will also indirectly harm the entire food chain.
Causes of Soil Pollution: Release of industrial wastes from large factories or industries, the release of chemical wastes, agricultural chemicals, deforestation, use of pesticides, mining activities, burning of trees or plants, etc.
Effects of Soil Pollution: Soil pollution causes a direct effect on plants growth, soil fertility, change in soil structure, toxic dust, and chronic health problems to humans.
Solutions to prevent Soil Pollution: Reduce the use of plastics, reduce wastes, crop organic foods without using fertilizers and pesticides, use of biodegradable products, place liquid chemicals in the spill-proof containers, solid waste treatment, reuse and recycle things, etc.
3. Water Pollution
A major part of the Earth’s surface is covered with water and more than half of the total population of the species reside in water. Water is one of the most important natural resources for humans and natural vegetation to survive. Water used from a polluted lake directly contaminates its user.
Causes of Water Pollution: Direct incorporation of hazardouous pollutants, Disposal of wastes in water from factories and industries, garbage disposal by humans in rivers, etc.
Effect of Water Pollution: Water creatures are on the verge of extinction, drinking contaminated water causes serious health disorders, etc.
Solutions to prevent Water Pollution: Don’t throw waste or rubbish in the rivers, oceans, use water wisely, don’t throw oil, medicines, harmful liquids in the water, buy environmentally safe liquids for cleaning purpose, etc.
4. Noise Pollution
Increase in noise level leads to Noise Pollution. It is not caused due to the release of chemicals or toxins or hazardous gases but is just the loud noise generated in the environment.
Noise is defined as the unpleasant sound that has an adverse effect on the human ear. Though the causes of this pollution are unlike others, the effect of this pollution is as hazardous as other types of pollutions. It directly penetrates into human minds and leads to mental disorders as a major result.
The Major cause is the honking of moving vehicles, loud music, running Causes of Noise Pollution:of machines at sites, radio, TV, etc.
Effect of Noise Pollution: Psychological illness, bad behavior, irritation, hypertension, depression, forgetfulness, annoyance, stress, aggression and many more. It not only affects humans but also animals and many times lead to their cause of death due to an unbearable level.
Solutions to prevent Noise Pollution: Obey the rule of no-honking until and unless necessary, construction of soundproof rooms for the heavy machines, no misuse of loudspeakers, growing trees along with roads are some of the ways to absorb sound.
Conclusion:
With the rising rate of pollution over the years, there is a worrisome increase in the rate of human diseases, and death rate of humans, various animals, and plants on earth.
Though pollution is released both by natural and human activities, majorly it is created due to human activities, which can easily be minimized to reduce the pollution rate.
