A Short Note on Environmental pollution

The surroundings of a physical system that may interact with other systems by transferring mass and energy are referred to as the environment. The natural environment encompasses all living and nonliving things. The environment is the setting in which we exist, and it is our obligation to safeguard it from harm. Environmental contamination is one of the most serious issues confronting humanity today. Environmental contamination is divided into three categories air, water, and soil.

What is Pollution of The Environment?

Environmental pollution occurs when there is an undesired alteration in the environment that has adverse consequences on plants and animals. Pollutants are substances that pollute the environment. Pollutants can be liquid, solid, or gaseous in nature. When the concentration of a substance exceeds the natural abundance, it is classified as a pollutant. This increase in concentration might be caused by human actions or natural phenomena. There are contaminants that, like vegetables, can be degraded and broken down quickly through natural processes. We also have contaminants that take decades to decompose and are difficult to remove once discharged. DDT, plastics, heavy metals, and nuclear waste are only a few examples.

Pollution’s Effects on the Environment

Pollutants are created in one location and then carried to other locations by the action of wind or water. Humans release some contaminants into the environment. This results in pollution of the air, water, and soil. The helpful microorganisms in the soil will die if it is polluted, and the soil’s fertility will be lost. Crop production is expected to decline. It will have a negative impact on human society if the land is not fruitful. Similarly, if water is contaminated, it must be purified before consumption. Purification necessitates financial investment. Finally, if the air is polluted, breathing will become difficult, and life will be threatened. Air pollution causes a variety of respiratory illnesses and is harmful to the human body.

Different Types of Pollution

As previously stated, there are various sorts of pollution, which are caused by either natural events (such as forest fires) or man-made activity (like cars, factories, nuclear wastes, etc.) These are further divided into the forms of pollution listed below

• Environmental Pollution
• Pollution of Water
• Soil contamination
• Pollution via noise

Other types of pollution exist, such as air pollution, thermal pollution, and radioactive pollution, in addition to these four. The latter is far less common than the others, yet it is the most lethal.

Environmental Pollution

The release of harmful contaminants (chemicals, toxic gases, particles, biological molecules, and so on) into the earth’s atmosphere is referred to as air pollution. These pollutants are harmful and can cause major health problems in some situations. The following are some of the factors that contribute to air pollution

• Combustion of fossil fuels
• Exploration and mining
• Industries and manufacturers’ exhaust gases

The consequences of air pollution differ depending on the type of pollutant. However, the effects of air pollution might range from

Respiratory sickness and cardiovascular issues are more likely to occur.

• Skin disease risk is higher.
• Cancer risk may be increased.
• Climate change
• Rainfall with acidity
• Depletion of ozone
• Risks to wildlife

Air pollution, among the other types of pollution, is thought to have global implications. Scientists have even proposed an apocalyptic scenario in which unregulated air pollution causes an extreme form of global warming known as the runaway greenhouse effect. Though this is totally hypothetical, a similar scenario has already occurred on Venus.

Water Pollution

When harmful contaminants and particle matter are introduced into water bodies such as lakes, rivers, and seas, water pollution is said to occur. Human activities such as faulty sewage treatment and oil spills are common sources of these toxins. Even natural processes like eutrophication, however, can pollute water.

Other prominent water pollution causes include

• Dumping solid waste into bodies of water
• dumping untreated industrial waste in bodies of water
• Waste from humans and animals
• Pesticides and fertilisers in agricultural runoff

Water contamination has a significant impact on our ecosystem. Toxic substances can also bioaccumulate in living things and migrate up the food chain, eventually reaching people.

Water pollution, among the various types of pollution, has the most devastating effects on humanity. For example, in 1932, a severe incidence of water contamination rendered the residents of a Japanese city unable to work for decades due to neurological illnesses and mental sickness. However, the immediate cause was unknown, but it was later determined to be acute mercury poisoning. Methylmercury was discharged into the water, where it eventually bio accumulated in the fish. These fish were subsequently consumed by the local populace, resulting in negative side effects including neurological illnesses.

Water contamination also has the following consequences

• Ecosystem destabilisation
• Marine life threats
• Waterborne disease risk is higher.
• Increases hazardous substances in water bodies (such as mercury).
• Eutrophication

Soil Pollution

Soil contamination, often known as soil pollution, is the degradation of land caused by the presence of chemicals or other man-made compounds in the soil. Xenobiotic compounds change the natural composition of soil and have a negative impact on it. These can have a significant direct or indirect impact on one’s life. Any hazardous compounds in the soil, for example, will be absorbed by the plants. Because plants create in their surroundings, it is passed up the food chain. The effects of soil contamination are less visible than those of other types of pollution, but their consequences are significant.

The following are some of the most common sources of soil pollution

• The improper disposal of industrial waste
• Spills of Oil
• Acid rain is a result of air pollution.
• Mining operations
• Agrochemicals and intensive farming (like fertilisers and pesticides)
• Industrial mishaps

Soil pollution has a wide range of consequences. When wastes, such as radioactive waste, are not properly contained, they become highly hazardous. A nuclear disaster in Chernobyl, for example, has rendered a 2,600-square-kilometer area uninhabitable for thousands of years.

Other negative consequences of soil pollution include

• Loss of soil nutrients, making the soil unfit for farming.
• Has an effect on the soil’s indigenous flora and fauna.
• As the soil salinity rises, it degrades the vegetation.
• Toxic dust (such as silica dust) can cause lung cancer or respiratory issues.

Noise Pollution

Noise pollution is defined as excessive noise in the environment that disturbs the natural balance. Noise pollution is usually caused by humans, while natural disasters such as volcanoes can also cause it.

In general, any sound that exceeds 85 dB is deemed harmful. The length of time a person is exposed has an effect on their health. An average discussion has a decibel level of roughly 60, while a jet taking off has a decibel level of around 150. As a result, noise pollution is more noticeable than other forms of pollution.

Several factors contribute to noise pollution, including

• Heavy machineries, mills, factories, and other industrial noises
• Noises from vehicles, planes, and other modes of transportation
• Noises from construction
• Sound from social gatherings (loudspeakers, firecrackers, etc.)
• Domestic noises (such as mixers, TV, washing machines, etc.)

Due to extensive urbanisation and manufacturing, noise pollution has become quite frequent. Noise pollution can have negative consequences such as

• Hearing impairment
• Tinnitus
• Sleep disturbances
• High blood pressure (high BP)
• Issues with communication

Conclusion

To sum up, environmental pollution has a negative impact on human life and should be minimised as much as feasible. We harm nature, and nature, in turn, harms us far more. This must be prevented; human survival is dependent on the ecosystem, thus caution must be exercised and its balance preserved.