Environmental pollution is one of the greatest problems the world is facing. It causes extreme harm to human health and affects the mortality rate. The burden of pollution is shared by developed and developing nations alike. Environmental pollution is caused due to various reasons like industrialisation.

Forest wildfires, demolition of buildings, improper waste management, and various other reasons contribute to it. There are strict laws in place to prevent pollution in some countries, but still, the long-term effects of the phenomenon can be seen and felt. Environmental pollution leads to serious health issues and affects the sustainable living of the people. Waste that is accumulated is the most visible form of pollution. Every year, billions of tonnes of waste is produced. The issue of waste management is a serious one. 

The after-effects of pollution are severe and can lead to major loss of life for both humans and animals.

Causes of Environmental Pollution

There are various causes of environmental pollution. Some of them are:

• Burning of fossil fuels: Fossil fuels are burnt as they act as a fuel for electricity generation, as well as for transportation purposes. When these fumes from vehicles get released into the atmosphere, they make the air impure. These fumes contain harmful gases like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, which make the air toxic.

• Agriculture: Agricultural activities are another source of air pollution. Ammonia that comes from agricultural activities combines with air and forms aerosol. Aerosol is extremely harmful and causes lung and pulmonary diseases. 

• Wildfires: Wildfires in forests also cause environmental pollution. Wildfires not only destroy the land, causing land pollution, but the smoke from the fire also causes air pollution.

• • Demolition: Demolition of buildings causes land pollution through the release of smoke. 

• Industrialisation: Waste from industries causes both air and water pollution. Smoke from industries pollutes the air and is responsible for acid rains. The industrial wastes that are drained into water pollute the water as well and cause harm to aquatic life. 

• Mining: Mining is another process that contributes to environmental pollution. It causes land pollution as well as contaminates the surface of the earth.

Impact of Environmental Pollution

• Ozone layer depletion: Chemicals like CFCs used in coolants harm the ozone layer and cause its depletion. The ozone layer protects the earth from harmful UV rays coming from the sun. Thus, ozone layer depletion causes UV rays to enter the earth, which causes immense damage. UV rays affect human eyesight. They also adversely affect plants and crops.

• Eutrophication: The industrial waste dumped in seas and rivers forms a layer on the water surface. This layer does not let sunlight and air enter the bottom layers of seas and rivers. Thus, oxygen reaching the plants and animals is cut down. This leads to immense loss of marine life. This phenomenon is termed eutrophication.

• Air-borne diseases: The polluted air is harmful to the lungs and causes various air-borne diseases like asthma. Air pollution can also cause fatigue and dizziness.

• Acid Rain: When the smoke from industries enters the air and pollutes it, it causes acid rain. Acid rain affects insects and animals, causes respiratory diseases, damage to monuments, etc.

• Global Warming: Environmental pollution also causes global warming. The greenhouse gases trap the heat in the earth’s atmosphere, increasing the temperature at an alarming rate. 

Conclusion

Human activities are responsible for increasing pollution day by day around the world. This has become a great concern, which needs to be addressed immediately. From transportation to agriculture, human activities are polluting the environment. 

Smoke emitted from vehicles pollutes the air, while pesticides and fertilisers used for agriculture pollute our land. Excessive noise from loudspeakers, traffic, factories, etc., causes noise pollution. 

Due to this, respiratory diseases have become common. Moreover, it needs to be understood that the effects of pollution can be witnessed for years.