Industrialization's Watery Grave: A Pollution Story

The Industrial Revolution, which began in Britain in the late 18th century, brought about large-scale economic growth and technological advancements. However, it also had detrimental effects on the environment, including water pollution. As industrialization spread across Europe and North America, cities became heavily polluted due to the increased use of fossil fuels, such as coal, and improper disposal of industrial waste. This led to contaminated waterways, with rivers like the Thames becoming dumping grounds for industrial waste. The issue of water pollution intensified with the advent of the Industrial Revolution, and it continues to be a problem today, despite legislative efforts to mitigate it.

Industrial agriculture and animal waste

The Industrial Revolution, which began in Britain in the late 18th century, brought about large-scale environmental degradation, including water pollution. This was due to the increased use of fossil fuels, such as coal, and improper industrial practices that led to oil and debris being dumped into waterways. As a result, rivers like the Thames became dumping grounds for industrial waste, and the quality of water began to deteriorate.

Animal waste is a major source of water pollution in industrial agriculture. Livestock and poultry in the US produce nearly 1.4 billion tons of manure annually, according to the USDA. This waste is often disposed of by spreading it untreated on land, leading to runoff into water sources. The manure contains high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen, which are components of synthetic fertilizer and can harm waterways and threaten the health and biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems. For instance, chicken manure has a higher percentage of phosphorus, which can cause phosphorus runoff into nearby water bodies.

Additionally, the excessive use of heavy metals like copper and zinc in confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to promote growth and prevent disease in pigs and chickens can contaminate water supplies. These metals accumulate in the soil when animal waste is sprayed on farm fields and can have toxic effects on fish and other aquatic life. Copper toxicity, for example, can cause gastrointestinal and liver disorders in humans.

Another concern is the presence of pathogens in animal waste, which can cause human diseases. Swine waste, in particular, can harbour more than 100 disease-causing microorganisms. When factory farm lagoons leak, contaminated water can reach waterways and groundwater, posing risks to nearby communities. According to a 2022 study, approximately 1.27 million people worldwide die each year from antibiotic-resistant infections, with such bacteria playing a role in a total of 4.95 million deaths.

Improper disposal of sewage and debris

The Industrial Revolution, which began in Britain in the late 18th century, brought about a manufacturing-based economy, leading to advancements in production, efficiency, transportation, and living and working conditions. However, these advancements came at a cost, as industrialization contributed significantly to environmental degradation, including water pollution. Improper disposal of sewage and debris has been a major factor in this issue.

As industrialization progressed, cities became overcrowded, leading to poor sanitation and unhealthy living conditions. The rapid growth of urban centers resulted in the improper disposal of sewage and waste, which often ended up in nearby rivers, streams, and lakes. This issue was exacerbated by the lack of effective waste treatment technologies, allowing harmful pollutants to enter fragile aquatic ecosystems.

One of the most well-known examples of water pollution due to improper disposal of sewage and debris is the case of the Cuyahoga River in Ohio. By the mid-1900s, the river had become heavily polluted, primarily from industrial waste and sewage disposal. The river caught fire several times due to the buildup of oily debris and waste, with the most notorious incident occurring in 1969, where the flames reached five stories tall.

The improper disposal of sewage and debris has led to the contamination of freshwater ecosystems, causing a decline in water quality and harming aquatic life. Untreated wastewater can introduce dangerous pathogens, heavy metals, and pollutants into water sources, making them unsafe for human consumption, recreation, and irrigation. This has led to outbreaks of diseases and illnesses, posing a significant risk to public health.

The impact of improper sewage and debris disposal on the environment and human health has been recognized, and efforts have been made to address this issue. The enactment of legislation such as the Clean Water Act in the United States aims to reduce water pollution and improve water quality. Additionally, the development of innovative waste treatment solutions is ongoing, helping industries minimize their environmental footprint and protect public health.

Oil and chemical spills

Oil spills, for instance, can result in the death or injury of many sea creatures, including birds, sea mammals, fish, algae, and coral. Oil penetrates the structure of the plumage of birds and the fur of mammals, reducing its insulating ability and making them more vulnerable to temperature changes and less buoyant in the water. It can also taint fish, making them unsafe for human consumption, which has a massive economic impact on the fishing industry. In addition, oil can damage fishing equipment and boats, and clean-up operations can interrupt fishing routes and sometimes result in fishing bans. Oil spills can also contaminate drinking water supplies, as seen in 2013 when two separate oil spills contaminated water supplies for 300,000 people in Miri, Malaysia, and 80,000 people in Coca, Ecuador.

Chemical spills can also have devastating effects on the environment and local communities. They can kill wildlife, destroy habitats, and contaminate critical resources in the food chain. For example, shellfish are particularly good indicators of water quality because they concentrate pollutants from the water in their tissues as they feed. When a spill occurs, the difference in measurements of shellfish before and after a spill indicates how much contamination can be attributed to the spill. Chemical spills can also wreak havoc on the economies of coastal communities, forcing the closure of fisheries, driving away tourists, or temporarily shutting down navigation routes.

The effects of oil and chemical spills can be long-lasting, with environmental and economic damages lingering for decades. Therefore, it is crucial to address and mitigate the impacts of such spills to protect the environment and the communities that depend on it for survival, commerce, recreation, and culture.

Urban overcrowding and poor sanitation

The Industrial Revolution, which began in Britain in the late 18th century, marked a shift to a manufacturing-based economy, bringing about large-scale advancements in production, efficiency, and living and working conditions. However, these advancements came at a cost, as industrialization also led to environmental degradation, natural resource depletion, and water pollution.

Overcrowded cities resulted in unsanitary living conditions, with poor and marginalized communities bearing the brunt of the burden. Inadequate sanitation systems and open sewers became breeding grounds for diseases, with the risk of outbreaks constantly looming over these communities. Communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, cholera, and dengue thrive in such environments, posing a global health concern.

The lack of access to safe drinking water further compounds the problem. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that since 2000, the number of city inhabitants lacking access to safely managed drinking water has increased by over 50%. This means that millions of people are forced to rely on polluted water sources, exposing them to harmful contaminants and increasing the risk of waterborne diseases.

Additionally, the overcrowding in cities contributes to localized and global climate change. Carbon dioxide emissions from congested urban areas, often due to the large concentration of factories, have steadily increased since the start of the Industrial Revolution. These emissions have led to rising global temperatures and severe environmental consequences, such as the depletion of the ozone layer, which protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Increased fossil fuel use and emissions

The Industrial Revolution, which began in Britain in the late 18th century, marked the start of our intensive use of fossil fuels. As societies transitioned from manual labour to machine-based production, the demand for fossil fuels increased, leading to a sharp rise in carbon emissions and harmful environmental pollution. This included water pollution, as industrial waste was often dumped directly into rivers and streams, with little regard for the consequences.

The burning of fossil fuels releases various hazardous pollutants into the atmosphere, including nitrogen oxides, which contribute to the formation of smog and acid rain. When released into the atmosphere, nitrogen oxides can be deposited back onto land and subsequently wash into nearby water bodies, leading to nutrient pollution. This excess of nutrients in aquatic ecosystems can cause harmful algal blooms and oxygen-deprived zones, which are toxic to aquatic organisms.

Additionally, the increased use of fossil fuels has led to higher emissions of particulate matter, such as soot, which can have serious respiratory health impacts on residents of industrialised areas. The Great Smog of 1952 in London, caused by pollutants from factories and fireplaces, resulted in the deaths of at least 4,000 people. Similar incidents of severe smog have occurred in other industrialised cities, such as Donora, Pennsylvania in 1948, where 20 people were asphyxiated and 7,000 more fell ill.

Furthermore, the burning of fossil fuels contributes to the release of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, which trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere and are the driving force behind climate change and global warming. The ocean absorbs a significant portion of this carbon dioxide, leading to ocean acidification and altering the chemistry of seawater. This, in turn, can have far-reaching consequences for marine ecosystems and the organisms that depend on them.

The impact of increased fossil fuel use on water pollution is not limited to nutrient pollution and ocean acidification. Fossil fuels are also implicated in oil spills, which can have devastating effects on aquatic environments. The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, for example, released approximately 11 million gallons of crude oil into the sea off the coast of Alaska, contaminating water sources and causing long-lasting ecological damage.

Frequently asked questions