Pollution's Causes And Their Ubiquity Explained

Pollution is a pressing issue that poses significant risks to human health and the planet. It refers to the release of harmful substances into the environment, including air, water, and land. While pollution can be caused by natural events, such as volcanic eruptions, it is predominantly associated with human activities like manufacturing, transportation, agriculture, and poor waste management. The dominant take, make, waste linear economy, fueled by cheap and accessible energy, has contributed to the widespread nature of pollution. The consequences of pollution are far-reaching, impacting the environment, human health, and social and economic systems. Addressing the root causes of pollution and transitioning towards a more sustainable and regenerative circular economy are crucial steps in mitigating its detrimental effects.

Fossil fuels and climate change

Fossil fuels are a major contributor to climate change. They are formed from the decomposition of carbon-based organisms that died millions of years ago, creating carbon-rich deposits that are extracted and burned for energy. Fossil fuels include coal, oil, and natural gas. When these fuels are burned, they release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, leading to global warming and climate change.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), emissions from fossil fuels are the dominant cause of global warming. In 2018, 89% of global CO2 emissions were attributed to fossil fuels and industry. Among the fossil fuels, coal is the largest contributor to global temperature rise, responsible for over 0.3 degrees Celsius of the 1-degree increase in global average temperatures. Oil is also a significant factor, releasing approximately one-third of the world's total carbon emissions.

The burning of fossil fuels has severe consequences for human health and the environment. It contributes to air pollution, which is a major threat to global health. Air pollution causes respiratory problems, increases the risk of asthma and bronchitis, and has been linked to millions of deaths worldwide annually. Additionally, climate change exacerbates water shortages, increases the risk of agricultural and ecological droughts, and threatens the survival of species on land and in the ocean.

To address the impact of fossil fuels on climate change, a transition to renewable energy sources is essential. While more than a quarter of electricity globally is already generated from renewable sources, the continued reliance on fossil fuels by the manufacturing and industrial sectors contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Efforts to reduce emissions, such as the Paris Agreement signed by world governments in 2015, are crucial steps towards mitigating the effects of climate change.

Furthermore, economic factors play a role in the widespread use of fossil fuels. Subsidies that artificially lower the cost of fossil fuels promote wasteful consumption and increase pollution and waste. Phasing out these subsidies and transitioning towards a circular economy that prioritizes regenerative and sustainable practices can help address the root causes of pollution and climate change.

Poor waste management

Ineffective disposal methods, such as open and unsanitary landfills, contribute to the contamination of drinking water sources. This can lead to infections and the transmission of diseases, particularly in marginalized communities. Improper waste disposal also leads to air pollution, as the breakdown of waste releases gases like methane, a major driver of global climate change. Additionally, the incineration of plastic waste produces hydrochloric acid and dioxins, which are detrimental to human health and can cause allergies, hemoglobin deficiency, and cancer.

The increasing volume and complexity of waste generated by the modern economy pose a serious risk to ecosystems and human health. Solid waste, including electrical and electronic equipment, contains hazardous substances that are challenging to manage in both developed and developing countries. Inadequate solid waste management (SWM) systems in developing countries often resort to unsustainable practices, such as mixing household and commercial garbage with hazardous waste, deficient transportation, and informal dumping, further exacerbating the problem.

To address poor waste management, the first step is waste minimization. When waste cannot be avoided, the recovery of materials and energy from waste, as well as remanufacturing and recycling, should be prioritized. Recycling, for example, leads to substantial resource savings and job creation. Implementing integrated solid waste management systems and proper treatment of special wastes, such as electronics, agricultural biomass, and plastics, are crucial steps towards improving waste management practices.

Overall, poor waste management has widespread environmental and health implications, and addressing this issue is essential to mitigate its adverse impacts and promote sustainable development.

Manufacturing and extractive industries

The extractives sector, including mining and oil drilling, has historically caused significant environmental changes and pollution worldwide. It is responsible for air, water, and land pollution, as well as toxic waste. Oil production has severely impacted the environment in countries like Nigeria, and 20% of oil and gas contracts overlap with biodiversity-protected areas in Africa. The extractive industry has also been linked to social issues, including tailing dam disasters and human rights abuses, with over 40,000 children working in cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Globalization and free trade have intensified the environmental impact of manufacturing. Large textile clusters in countries like Bangladesh, Kenya, Pakistan, and Tanzania exported $79 billion worth of goods in 2019. However, the production of these exports resulted in intense water consumption (44%), land use (19%), and degradation of freshwater quality. The manufacturing-pollution-export nexus has received limited attention, but it is crucial to address as the gains from manufacturing and trade could be offset by the costs of associated pollution and its detrimental effects on human health.

To mitigate manufacturing pollution, it is essential to adopt clean production technologies and promote green industrial policies. Positive incentives, such as facilitating the transfer of environmentally friendly technologies and technical skills, can help lay strong foundations in regions like sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Policymakers should also consider the potential of life cycle assessments (LCAs) to reduce pollution. For example, an analysis of palm oil processing in Kenya found that for every tonne of palm oil exported, 1.8 tonnes of pollutants were left in the environment.

The circular economy offers an alternative to the linear economy's "take, make, waste" model. It aims for restorative and regenerative industrial and natural resource-based production systems. Initiatives such as eco-industrial parks, industrial symbiosis, and the implementation of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) are gaining traction in Africa and South Asia. By addressing the root causes of pollution and transitioning towards sustainable practices, we can reduce the widespread environmental and health impacts caused by manufacturing and extractive industries.

Agriculture and water pollution

Agriculture is a major contributor to water pollution, with agricultural activities impacting the quality of freshwater resources and marine ecosystems. The US, for example, devotes about 1.2 billion acres of its 2.3 billion acres to agriculture, with around 40% of its land used for farming.

Agricultural chemicals, such as pesticides, fertilizers, and manure, are a significant source of water pollution. The overuse of fertilizers and manure increases levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in water bodies, leading to algal blooms and hypoxic conditions that are harmful to aquatic life. This process, known as eutrophication, can also be caused by excessive sedimentation from erosion, which can smother breeding areas and degrade coastal and marine ecosystems, including coral reefs.

Pesticides are another major pollutant, with atrazine, for example, being one of the most widely used and detected pesticides in US surface water. Pesticide runoff can contaminate streams, rivers, and groundwater, posing risks to aquatic life, wildlife, and drinking water supplies. It also negatively impacts pollinator populations, such as bees and butterflies, which have seen significant declines in recent decades.

Livestock farming, in particular, has a large impact on water pollution. Manure from livestock contains high levels of phosphorus, which can run off into waterways, as well as ammonia, which combines with other air pollutants to form harmful solid particles. These particles can cause heart and lung diseases and are estimated to cause millions of deaths globally each year. Additionally, the feed for livestock is often grown using pesticides and fertilizers, and the process of raising livestock requires significantly more food, water, and land compared to plant-based agriculture.

To address these issues, farmers are adopting various practices to minimize their impact on water quality. These include nutrient management techniques, such as targeted fertilizer application and drip irrigation, as well as manure storage methods that reduce runoff risks. Conservation approaches, such as contour strip cropping, are also being employed to reduce erosion and runoff.

Natural sources of pollution

Volcanic eruptions can spew massive amounts of sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere. In the past, volcanoes were the main source of atmospheric sulphur dioxide, but today, human activity has taken over as the primary source. Sulphur dioxide is a significant pollutant, and volcanoes can emit large quantities, affecting air quality and contributing to the overall pollution levels.

Forest fires and wildfires are another natural source of pollution. These fires release harmful substances into the atmosphere, including smoke, ash, and gases. Wildfires are often caused by people, either accidentally or intentionally, and they can spread quickly, especially in dry conditions. The smoke from these fires can irritate the eyes and throat and cause or worsen respiratory issues, especially for those with pre-existing conditions such as asthma.

Additionally, certain gases are emitted from decomposing organic matter in soils, such as methane. Livestock, especially cows and sheep, also produce large amounts of methane through belching and flatulence. Methane is a significant greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

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