Sources of Pollution

Pollution results from unfavourable changes in our environment that harm plants, animals, and humans. This occurs when short-term economic profits are prioritised over long-term environmental benefits to humanity. No natural phenomenon has had a more significant impact on the environment than humans. We have poisoned our air, water, and soil, with a range of waste products during the previous few decades. 

Sources of pollution are solid, liquid, or gaseous substances that are present in quantities larger than natural abundance. Compared to similar amounts present in food, even a tiny quantity of pollutants in the air becomes more relevant. Pollutants in water can travel long distances, particularly in marine ecology.

Pollution can be of many types like noise pollution, air pollution, soil pollution, water pollution etc. 

Air pollution and its sources

The presence of undesirable solid or gaseous particles in the air in proportions that humans damage health and the environment is called air pollution. Natural factors such as volcanoes, which spew ash, dust, sulphur, and other pollutants into the atmosphere, or forest fires, which are occasionally sparked by lightning, can pollute the air. On the other hand, natural pollutants tend to stay in the atmosphere for a short period and do not cause lasting changes, unlike pollutants produced by human activities.

A source directly emits a primary pollutant. A secondary pollutant is created when other pollutants (primary pollutants) react in the atmosphere rather than directly emitted. Secondary pollutants are not directly emitted. When primary pollutants react with each other or other elements in the atmosphere, secondary pollutants arise. Ground-level ozone, Smog, and POPs are the most common secondary level air pollutants (Persistent Organic Pollutants).

The use of fossil fuels for energy Sulphur dioxide, which is produced by the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum, and other manufacturing combustibles, is a significant source of pollution. However, their overuse harms our ecosystem by polluting it with hazardous gases.

Water pollution and its sources

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies, mainly caused by human activity. Lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers, and groundwater are examples of water bodies. When toxins are introduced into the natural environment, water contamination occurs.

Toxic compounds enter water bodies such as lakes, rivers, and seas and become dissolved, suspended in the water, or deposit on the bed, resulting in water pollution. Water quality suffers as a result. This will be disastrous for aquatic ecosystems, but the contaminants will also seep through and reach groundwater, potentially contaminating the water we use in our daily activities, including drinking.

Soil pollution and its sources

The presence of xenon biological chemicals or other changes in the natural soil ecosystem produce soil contamination or pollution as part of land deterioration. Industrial activity, agricultural chemicals, and inappropriate waste disposal are common causes.

Soil pollution can be caused by natural processes or by human action. However, human activities such as heavy industries and pesticides in agriculture are primarily responsible for most soil pollution. 

The problem is exacerbated by industrial activities such as mining, smelting, and manufacturing; domestic, livestock, and municipal wastes; pesticides, herbicides, and fertilisers used in agriculture; petroleum-derived products that are released into or break down in the environment; and transportation fumes. Pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, hormones, biological pollutants, and “e-waste” from outdated electronics and plastics are utilised in every human endeavour.

Thermal pollution and its sources 

Thermal pollution, often known as “thermal enrichment,” is the worsening of water quality caused by any process that alters ambient water temperature. The use of water as a coolant by power plants and industrial enterprises is a common source of thermal pollution.

Thermal pollution is caused by a variety of human and natural processes. Cooling for industrial machinery and power plants is perhaps the single most significant source of thermal pollution. Water is a great cooling agent that is also free. Many industrial operations use relatively chilly water to cool their machinery and then discharge the comparatively warm water into a river, lake, or sea nearby.

There are some natural causes of thermal pollution. Excess heat is introduced into bodies of water through geothermal vents and hot springs. Other artificial sources of hot water include soil erosion, deforestation, and runoff from paved areas.

Conclusion

Pollution has an impact on everyone. Our environmental pollution has reached a point where immediate action is required. Growing public knowledge of the situation has prompted national anxiety about the future if the current rate of destruction of our life-sustaining environment continues. Global environmental pollution, such as greenhouse gas emissions and acid deposition, as well as water pollution and waste management, are considered international public health issues that should be researched from a variety of perspectives, including social, economic, legislative, and environmental engineering systems, as well as healthy lifestyle habits that strengthen environmental systems to resist contamination.