Pollution

What is pollution?

According to the oxford dictionary pollution is defined as “the presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance or thing that has harmful or poisonous effects” Pollution is caused because of human activities or even due to some natural phenomena’s. There has been an increase in the rate of pollution in recent years, which has caused harm not only to the environment but also on human health. Pollution can be in many types, however the main types of pollution's are land pollution, air pollution and water pollution.

Air Pollution

CAUSES OF AIR POLLUTION

               The main cause of air pollution is due to the dangerous emissions of gases like Nitrogen Oxide, Sulphur Dioxide and other greenhouse gases, which are emitted from factories, motor vehicles or by other human activities or even because some natural phenomena’s

             Household activities like using wood fires for cooking can add to the smoke in the air, use of incense and air fresheners can also contribute to the pollution.

           In order to get rid off garbage they are burnt in open lands, thus this smoke adds to the pollution because of no proper waste disposal method.

          An increase in the amount of CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) which is emitted due to the use of refrigerators, air conditioners etc also add to the air pollution.

EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION

           

1. ·         An increase in air pollution alters the ozone layer in the atmosphere. The ozone layer helps protect the earth from dangerous gases. A decrease in the ozone layer could lead to diseases like skin cancer.

• ·         As air pollution increases humans could also face many respiratory problems.
• ·         Many humans could find it difficult to breathe in this polluted air thus have diseases like bronchitis.

SOLUTIONS TO CONTROL AIR POLLUTION

• ·         Vehicle owners should take care of their vehicles in order to reduce the smoke emitted from them.
• ·         Factory owners should take care of their factories so that they can reduce the amount of chemicals emitted in the air.
• ·         Instead of burning garbage other methods that are better for the environment should be introduced.
• ·         Reduction in the use of air fresheners, incense, air conditioners, burning of firewood for cooking etc. can also reduce air pollution.

Water pollution:

CAUSES OF WATER POLLUTION

            The main reason for water pollution is because of waste dumped into the sea, river, lakes and other water bodies, directly or indirectly, by human activities like using the sea side for domestic purposes like bathing, washing, etc. this is mainly done in rural areas of developing countries like India.

           Water pollution is also caused by factories dumping waste like dyes, etc in the seas and other water bodies.

           Oil spills because of human activities, while transporting oil can also add to the water pollution.

waste from factories

people washing clothes at lakes thus polluting them

EFFECTS OF WATER POLLUTION

v  Water pollution affects the flora and fauna in the sea.

v  Fishes find it difficult to live in this polluted water and eventually die many species of fishes are on the verge of extinction  because of water pollution.

v  Water pollution not only affects marine animals but humans also, as it can cause diseases like jaundice. Consumption of this polluted water could also lead to other diseases.

v  Fishes in the polluted water have a small amount of mercury in them, when these fishes are consumed by humans it could be dangerous.

SOLUTIONS TO CONTROL WATER POLLUTION

v  Waste from factories should not be dumped in the sea but instead special provisions should be made to dumb waste.

v  While transporting oils humans should be careful in order to avoid oil spills.

v  The government should enforce laws that will lead to lesser waste dumped into the sea.

Land pollution:

CAUSES OF LAND POLLUTION 

          Land pollution is caused by dumping household waste and factory waste in open lands

   due to lack of proper waste disposal methods.

        In order to increase the growth of vegetables, farmers have begun using pesticides and fertilizers. Excessive use of these fertilizers also reduces the quality of the land.

       In order to meet the demands of raw materials like coal, mining has been increased. Thus mining is also one of the causes of land pollution.

        Deforestation in order to build buildings is also another reason for land pollution which is increasing lately because of urbanization and industrialization.

EFFECTS OF LAND POLLUTION

v  Land pollution affects the climate, as there is less forest cover this results in lesser amout of rainfall.

v  Many species who cannot adapt to these climatic changes may find it difficult to live and eventually die.

v  Land is wasted, which can be used for better purposes like agriculture.

v  There is also a spread of epidemics like plague, malaria, etc due to no proper disposal methods.

SOLUTIONS TO CONTROL LAND POLLUTION

Ø  We should plant more trees.

Ø  Increase in the use of biodegradables products.

Ø  Waste should be disposed of properly instead dumping them on open land.

Ø  We should adopt methods like Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

CONCLUSION

Pollution has been increasing continuously lately, due to increase in pollution, it has been difficult for animals and us to live in this polluted environment, with the help of these solutions we can try and reduce the percentage of pollution, as pollution could be really dangerous for the environment and us humans.