Industries' Polluting Practices: Air And Water At Risk

The health of our environment is dependent on the health of our ecosystems, and industries are having a devastating impact on both. Air and water pollution are the most damaging types of pollution to our physical health, and industries are polluting our air and water in a variety of ways. The burning of fossil fuels, for example, releases carbon dioxide and other hazardous pollutants, while the fashion industry dyes clothes with toxic chemicals that end up in our water supply. The energy industry is the most polluting sector, with roughly 75% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide caused by burning fossil fuels to generate heat and electricity. The construction industry also has a large impact, with the extraction and transportation of building materials, construction processes, and everyday operations of buildings estimated to emit about 40% of global emissions. The tech industry is also a growing contributor to air pollution, with cryptocurrency mining alone emitting 129 million tonnes of CO2 per year.

Energy production

The burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas has long been an easy way to generate power, but it is a major contributor to air pollution. Fossil fuels are the most polluting sector in the world, and emissions continue to increase. In 2022, emissions grew by 1% to 40.5 gigatons of CO2.

Nuclear power is another source of energy that is known to produce large amounts of electricity, with the United States producing and consuming about 22% of the world's nuclear power. However, nuclear power is produced from the radioactive decay of elements such as uranium, which releases large amounts of energy. The process of extracting natural gas through hydraulic fracturing also produces large quantities of wastewater and toxic gases, including hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides.

The energy sector is one of the most polluting industries in the world, and with our growing global population and increasing industrialization, our energy consumption is only rising. In 2019, the world consumed more than 100 million barrels of oil per day, a surge from 85 million barrels just 15 years prior.

To combat this, the world must transition to cleaner sources of power, such as wind, wave, and solar power, as well as investigate other potential sources of green energy such as nuclear, geothermal, and biomass power.

Construction

The construction industry is responsible for emitting a range of contaminants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are harmful gases that can cause cancer and react with other gases to form dangerous pollutants. Other contaminants include asbestos, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. Construction activities can also alter the quality of water resources, with pollutants such as VOCs, paints, glues, diesel, oils, toxic chemicals, and cement contaminating surface and groundwater.

To reduce air pollution, construction sites can implement measures such as using more sustainable materials, recycling, and reusing building materials, as well as low-VOC paints. Real-time monitoring of dust levels is crucial, and based on the data, different control mechanisms can be employed, such as water spraying, dust barriers, PPE, and masks. Regulatory frameworks have been established in some regions to manage pollution exposure, with employers providing respirators for workers when air quality deteriorates.

Water pollution from construction sites is a serious issue that can have severe environmental consequences. Pollutants can enter water systems through runoff, drains, seepage into soil, or directly into rivers and lakes. As it is harder to treat groundwater than surface water, there is a risk of chemical pollutants like arsenic and mercury being consumed, leading to serious health issues. Construction sites should properly collect and treat any wastewater they produce to prevent silt and pollutants from running off into bodies of water.

Noise pollution is another concern, as construction work can generate excessive noise that can adversely affect people's health, leading to stress, sleep disturbances, high blood pressure, and hearing loss. Modern preventive measures, such as using quieter power tools and equipment, scheduling work during sociable hours, and implementing acoustic barriers, can help mitigate noise pollution.

Fossil fuels

The extraction, transportation, and refining of fossil fuels can result in oil spills that wreak havoc on wildlife, destroy habitats, erode shorelines, and lead to closures of beaches, parks, and fisheries. The 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the largest in history, released 134 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, causing the deaths of 11 people and countless animals, and costing BP $65 billion in penalties and cleanup costs. Additionally, the fossil fuel industry requires vast stretches of land for infrastructure, such as wells, pipelines, and access roads, impacting landscapes and ecosystems.

Fracking, a controversial method of extraction, involves injecting water mixed with chemicals and sand into wells at high pressures to fracture rock and release oil or gas. This process generates significant wastewater, which can be laden with heavy metals, radioactive materials, and other pollutants, posing risks of contamination to nearby waterways and aquifers. Furthermore, the burning of fossil fuels for transportation contributes significantly to air pollution, with cars and trucks producing substantial amounts of nitrogen oxide emissions.

The impact of the fossil fuel industry on air and water pollution is evident, and addressing these issues is crucial to mitigating the sector's environmental and health costs. Transitioning to renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency are essential steps towards reducing the industry's pollution and combating climate change.

Transport

The transport sector is a significant contributor to air pollution and a leading source of greenhouse gas emissions. In 2022, the transport sector accounted for 28% of total US greenhouse gas emissions, making it the largest contributor to US emissions. Globally, in 2010, the transport sector accounted for 14% of the greenhouse gas budget.

Road transport, particularly diesel traffic, is responsible for a substantial share of particulate matter (PM) emissions globally. Oil spillages and slicks on roads can be washed off into nearby fields, streams, and rivers, compromising the quality of the soil and water. Tyre wear also contributes to the accumulation of particulate matter. Aircraft emissions are another significant source of pollution, releasing CO2, NOx, and water vapour into the atmosphere. Aviation accounts for 16% of all transport-related emissions, and aircraft noise can have negative impacts on human health, including delayed reading ages and poor attention levels in children.

To reduce emissions from the transport sector, various strategies can be implemented, such as transitioning to low-carbon fuels, improving vehicle technologies, increasing vehicle efficiency, and promoting electric and hybrid vehicles. Additionally, reducing traffic volumes through the development of safe cycling and pedestrian infrastructure can improve air quality and have social and economic co-benefits.

Fast fashion

The fast-fashion business model relies on the exploitation of resources and labour to deliver garments that follow the latest trends at an unprecedented rate. This quick output of garments demands a large volume of raw materials, creating a significant amount of waste, pollution, and degradation to air, water, and wildlife habitats. The fast-fashion industry is the second-largest consumer of water, requiring about 700 gallons to produce one cotton shirt and 2,000 gallons to produce a pair of jeans. It is also responsible for 8-10% of global carbon emissions.

Textile dyeing is the world's second-largest polluter of water, as the water leftover from the dyeing process is often dumped into ditches, streams, or rivers. The water in a ditch in Dhaka, Bangladesh, turned red from the toxic chemical dyes dumped into it by nearby tanneries. Dhaka is the world's second-biggest garment manufacturing hub and one of the most climate-vulnerable cities on Earth. The flooding in Dhaka in 2009 witnessed the scale of the water crisis, with fast-moving rivers and canals turned black from wastewater.

The fashion industry also uses synthetic, non-biodegradable fibres such as nylon, polyester, and acrylic, which take hundreds of years to biodegrade. A 2017 report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimated that 35% of all microplastics in the ocean come from laundering synthetic textiles. Washing clothes also releases 500,000 tons of microfibres into the ocean each year, equivalent to 50 billion plastic bottles.

The environmental impact of fast fashion can be mitigated by embracing the slow fashion movement, which advocates for manufacturing that respects people, the environment, and animals. Consumers can also play a role by building a capsule wardrobe of versatile, durable items, renting or borrowing clothing, and supporting retailers that align with sustainable values.

Frequently asked questions