Greta Jimenez
Pollution is the introduction of harmful substances, contaminants, or pollutants into the environment. These pollutants can be foreign substances or naturally occurring and can take the form of solids, liquids, gases, or energy such as heat, light, or radioactivity. Major forms of pollution include air pollution, water pollution, litter, noise pollution, plastic pollution, soil contamination, and radioactive contamination. Pollution has widespread consequences on human and environmental health, causing illnesses and contributing to premature deaths. It also impacts social and economic systems and threatens entire ecosystems. Human activities such as industrialization, urbanization, and burning fossil fuels are major contributors to pollution, and addressing its root causes through sustainable practices is crucial to mitigating its effects.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment. |
| Pollutants | Pollutants can be natural, such as volcanic ash, or created by human activity, such as trash, pesticides, heavy metals, nitrates, oil, plastics, microplastics, and industrial toxins. |
| Types | Air, water, soil, noise, light, electromagnetic, littering, plastic, radioactive, thermal, and visual pollution. |
| Impact | Pollution has widespread consequences on human and environmental health, affecting social and economic systems. It is the leading environmental cause of disease and premature death, with approximately nine million deaths worldwide in 2019. |
| Mitigation | Pollution mitigation is an important part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Solutions include transitioning to a circular economy, adopting eco-friendly practices, and promoting renewable energy sources. |
Air pollution
A polluted environment is contaminated by chemical, physical, or biological agents that modify the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. Air pollution is a major subset of environmental pollution, with around 99% of the global population breathing air that exceeds WHO guideline limits on pollutants.
Outdoor air pollution, particularly in cities, creates smog, which results in fine particulate matter that can lead to strokes, heart disease, lung cancer, and acute and chronic respiratory diseases. Additionally, about 2.4 billion people are exposed to dangerous levels of indoor air pollution, often due to the use of polluting open fires or simple stoves for cooking with fuels like kerosene, biomass, and coal.
Some specific air pollutants, known as hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), are of particular concern due to their severe health and environmental impacts. These include benzene, perchloroethylene, methylene chloride, dioxins, asbestos, toluene, and metals such as cadmium, mercury, chromium, and lead compounds.
Addressing air pollution requires a multi-faceted approach. Policies and investments that promote sustainable land use, cleaner household energy, improved waste management, and energy-efficient technologies can significantly reduce ambient air pollution. Additionally, transitioning to cleaner fuels and industrial processes is crucial for both climate and health benefits.
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Water pollution
One of the main sources of water pollution is sewage discharges. Sewage from cities and towns can contain pathogens (disease-causing microorganisms) and putrescible organic substances, which pose a direct threat to public health. Industrial activities are another significant contributor to water pollution, with chemicals and oils from factories sometimes dumped or seeped into waterways. These chemicals create a toxic environment for aquatic life and can also indirectly harm humans who consume fish from these waters.
Agricultural activities are a leading cause of water degradation worldwide. Farming and livestock production account for about 70% of global freshwater consumption and contribute to water pollution through agricultural runoff, which can contain pesticides, fertilizers, and waste. Mining and drilling can also pollute water sources, with acid mine drainage (AMD) being a major issue in rivers and streams near coal mines. AMD releases chemical sulfur, creating a river rich in toxic sulfuric acid.
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Soil pollution
The effects of soil pollution are wide-ranging and detrimental. Firstly, it poses direct risks to human health. Contaminated soil can lead to health issues through direct contact, inhalation of vapours, or the consumption of crops grown in polluted soil. Pesticides and heavy metals in soil, for example, have been linked to adverse effects on cardiovascular health and the development of congenital disorders. Soil pollution also disrupts ecosystems by affecting the activity and composition of soil microorganisms, reducing soil fertility, and contaminating water supplies.
Moreover, soil pollution contributes to water pollution when pollutants are washed into rivers and other water bodies. This creates a toxic environment for aquatic life and further impacts human health through the consumption of contaminated water or fish. Additionally, deforestation and soil erosion liberate previously sequestered pollutants, leading to further environmental degradation.
The clean-up and remediation of polluted soil are complex, time-consuming and costly processes. They require expertise in various scientific fields, such as geology, hydrology, and chemistry. Preventing soil pollution is crucial to safeguarding human health, preserving ecosystems, and maintaining the natural functions of soil, such as water storage and carbon capture.
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Noise pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause harm. It can take the form of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such as radioactivity, heat, sound, or light). Noise pollution, or sound pollution, is one of the major forms of pollution. It encompasses roadway noise, aircraft noise, industrial noise, as well as high-intensity sonar.
The main sources of noise pollution include machines, transport, and propagation systems. Poor urban planning, such as side-by-side industrial and residential buildings, can also result in noise pollution in residential areas. Some common sources of noise in these areas include loud music, transportation, lawn care maintenance, construction, electrical generators, wind turbines, explosions, and people. Noise pollution in the United States is highest in low-income and racial minority neighborhoods, and noise associated with household electricity generators is an emerging issue in many developing nations.
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Light pollution
Pollution is the introduction of harmful substances or energy like radioactivity, heat, sound, or light into the environment. Light pollution, a subset of this phenomenon, is the human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally. It is caused by the inefficient or unnecessary use of artificial light, such as from streetlights, buildings, cars, and satellites.
Addressing light pollution requires legislative change, public education, and the proper design and implementation of lighting sources and fixtures.
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Frequently asked questions
A polluted environment is the presence of harmful substances in the natural environment, such as air, water, or land, that cause undesirable effects. These harmful substances are called pollutants, and they can be foreign substances or naturally occurring contaminants.
Pollutants can be solids, liquids, or gases, as well as energy forms like radioactivity, heat, sound, or light. Some examples of pollutants include carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), nitrogen oxides, plastics, heavy metals, pesticides, and industrial waste.
Pollution can be caused by natural events, such as volcanic eruptions, or human activities such as manufacturing, poor waste management, transportation, and agriculture. Urbanization, industrialization, and economic growth have been major contributors to the increase in pollution worldwide.
