Brian Barton
Waste pollution has been a problem since the emergence of our earliest ancestors, with increasing human populations leading to more bacteria and disease. During the Middle Ages, unsanitary conditions caused by waste led to diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever across Europe, and the Black Death was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which thrived in the unsanitary environment. By the 1800s, the link between unsanitary living conditions, water contamination, and disease was established, leading to the construction of sewage systems in cities. However, with industrialization in the 19th century, a new form of pollution emerged from industrial and factory waste. Today, waste pollution continues to be a pressing issue, with the world generating over two billion tons of municipal solid waste annually, and plastic pollution posing severe threats to marine life, human health, and the planet.
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What You'll Learn
Industrial waste and water contamination in the 1800s
Pollution is not a new phenomenon. In fact, it has been a problem since the emergence of our earliest ancestors. During the Middle Ages, for instance, diseases like cholera and typhoid fever swept across Europe due to unsanitary conditions caused by human, animal, and garbage waste.
By the 1800s, people began to understand the link between unsanitary living conditions, contaminated water, and disease epidemics. This awareness prompted major cities to take action to control waste and garbage. Chicago, for instance, built the first major sewage system in the United States in the mid-1850s to treat wastewater. Other US cities soon followed suit.
However, as cities became more populated towards the end of the 19th century, industrialized cities across Europe and the United States faced a new challenge: industrial waste. Streams and rivers became open sewers as manufacturers dumped millions of gallons of waste into them, mixing with raw municipal sewage. This greatly worsened disease outbreaks.
In the United States, industrial chemicals and wastes, including sulfuric acid, soda ash, muriatic acid, limes, dyes, wood pulp, and animal byproducts from industrial mills, contaminated waters in the Northeast. A similar situation occurred in Wales, where the Tawe River was polluted by "alkali works, copper works, sulfuric acid liquid, sulfate of iron from tin-plate works, and by slag, cinders, and small coal."
While some local and state governments attempted to address the problem through the creation of boards of health and the passing of pollution control laws, these efforts were often undermined by corporations that filed lawsuits to protect their interests. As a result, water and air pollution in industrialized cities continued to worsen well into the 20th century.
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Plastic pollution in oceans
Pollution has been a problem since the emergence of our earliest ancestors. During the Middle Ages, for instance, diseases like cholera and typhoid fever were rampant across Europe due to unsanitary conditions caused by human and animal waste. With the onset of industrialization in the 19th century, a new form of pollution emerged: industrial waste from factories.
The ocean, being the recipient of much of this waste, has been a dumping ground for plastic, sewage, industrial, and chemical waste for decades. Before the 1960s, the issue of ocean dumping was largely unstudied by scientists. However, in that decade, scientists from the National Academy of Sciences discovered that more than 100 million tons of waste had been dumped into the ocean. This waste consisted primarily of chemical, industrial, and sewage waste, as plastic had only recently become a mainstream material.
Plastic, first invented in 1862 by Alexander Parkes, who created a product called Parkesine, has become one of the major pollutants in our oceans. Between the 1970s and 1990s, plastic waste generation more than tripled, and it became clear that plastic does not simply "go away" but breaks up into microplastics, which continue to pollute the ocean. During this period, scientists also discovered that seabirds were ingesting plastic, and seals were getting trapped in plastic netting.
Today, plastic pollution is a global issue, contaminating the surface of every ocean, the deep sea, sea ice, and all ocean basins, ecosystems, habitats, and food webs. Single-use plastics, which account for half of all plastic produced, are the biggest contributors to marine litter and pose severe threats to marine life, human health, and the planet. Up to 5 trillion plastic bags are used every year, and plastic debris is commonly found in the bellies of dead whales and the noses of turtles.
While legislative attempts have been made to de-pollute the oceans, such as the U.S. Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, and industry initiatives like the plastic resin identification code, the problem of plastic pollution in the oceans persists, with research and policy efforts expanding to address this global issue.
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Air pollution from landfills
The concept of waste pollution has existed since the emergence of our earliest ancestors. The rise in human populations led to an increase in bacteria and diseases, with epidemics such as cholera and typhoid fever in the Middle Ages being linked to unsanitary conditions caused by waste. During the 19th century, the connection between unsanitary living conditions, water contamination, and disease outbreaks became more apparent, leading cities like Chicago to develop the first major sewage systems in the United States.
Landfills are a significant contributor to air pollution due to the release of gases and particles from waste decomposition. The decomposition of organic waste, hazardous and chemical waste, and secondary biological processes all generate various pollutants. Here are some key aspects of air pollution from landfills:
- Decomposing Organic Waste: The anaerobic decomposition of organic waste in landfills produces methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) through microbial activity. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.
- Hazardous and Chemical Waste: Landfills containing hazardous and chemical waste, such as solvents, batteries, and paints, can release toxic gases and compounds.
- Secondary Biological Processes: Microbial activity during waste decomposition generates gases like ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulphide (H2S). Hydrogen sulphide is a toxic gas produced when waste contains sulphur.
- Landfill Design and Management: Poorly sealed waste cells, leaks in biogas capture systems, improper leachate management, and inadequate temporary covers can contribute to air pollution.
- Operational Emissions: The use of heavy machinery for waste movement and compaction, as well as vehicles transporting waste to the landfill, generates emissions and releases particulate matter into the air.
- Global and Regional Impact: Landfilling is a common method for disposing of municipal and industrial waste worldwide. In the EU, landfilling is considered the least favoured option due to its risks to human health and the environment.
- Air Pollutants Released: In addition to methane, carbon dioxide, and ammonia, landfills emit pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter (PM), and hydrocarbons (HC).
- Climate Change and Greenhouse Gases: Methane and carbon dioxide, both released from landfills, are greenhouse gases that contribute to the intensification of the greenhouse effect and global warming.
- Volatilization and Suspended Particles: The release of dust and suspended particles (PM10 and PM2.5) occurs due to machinery movement and unpaved roads. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are also generated during waste decomposition.
- Waste Burning: Burning waste, especially plastics or materials with chlorine, produces extremely toxic compounds like dioxins and furans, posing significant health risks.
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The impact of waste on human health
Pollution has been a problem since the emergence of our earliest ancestors. As the human population has grown, so have the opportunities for bacteria and disease to spread. During the Middle Ages, Europe suffered epidemics of diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever, which were directly caused by unsanitary conditions brought about by waste.
The burning of waste, especially in open landfills, has also been identified as a significant health risk. Hazardous waste treatment methods such as open burning can directly harm waste workers and neighbouring communities. Furthermore, air pollution from automobiles, industrial processes, and the burning of coal in factories and homes has been a serious problem, with particulate matter and toxic gases causing respiratory issues and other health problems in humans.
Water pollution is another area of concern. Industrial chemicals, sewage, and agricultural waste can contaminate water sources, leading to waterborne diseases such as cholera. Plastic pollution in the oceans is also a major issue, with microplastics entering the human food chain when we consume fish and crustaceans. Many of the chemicals used in plastic production are endocrine disruptors and carcinogens, linked to cancers, infertility, Alzheimer's, miscarriage, and developmental issues.
Overall, poor waste management and government inaction have severe consequences for human health, and addressing these issues is critical to mitigating the impact of waste on human populations.
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The role of waste management in reducing pollution
Waste pollution has been a problem since the emergence of our earliest ancestors, with links between human populations and the spread of bacteria and disease. During the Middle Ages, unsanitary conditions caused by waste resulted in diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever across Europe. The "Black Death", an outbreak of the bubonic plague in 1347, was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, spread by fleas and rats living in unsanitary conditions.
In the 1800s, the connection between unsanitary living conditions, water contamination, and disease epidemics was established, leading to the construction of sewage systems in major cities like Chicago in the mid-1850s. As cities became more industrialized towards the end of the 19th century, a new challenge arose with waste from factories and industries. By the 1890s, rivers like the Tawe River in Wales were severely contaminated by industrial waste, and water pollution continued to worsen well into the 20th century.
The environmental movement of the 1960s brought a heightened awareness of the environmental and public health risks associated with poor waste management. However, it wasn't until the 1970s that the true impact of plastic waste generation was realized, with plastic pollution in oceans and waterways coming under scrutiny. The National Academy of Sciences discovered that over 100 million tons of waste had been dumped into the ocean, and plastic pollution was identified as a significant contributor. This realization led to legislative attempts to address ocean pollution, such as the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act.
Today, waste management plays a critical role in reducing pollution. Solid Waste Management (SWM) is a significant challenge, especially in urban areas with high population growth and garbage generation rates. Ineffective waste management, including uncontrolled dumping and open-air waste burning, leads to air pollution, water and soil contamination, and adverse health effects. Proper waste management, on the other hand, helps to reduce pollution and its associated risks. This includes minimizing waste generation, recovering materials and energy from waste, and promoting recycling and reuse to reduce the consumption of finite resources. Composting, for example, can reduce organic waste by half and provide agricultural benefits. Additionally, modern technologies can significantly reduce emissions of hazardous substances and improve overall environmental sustainability.
The UNEP International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC) in Japan supports the implementation of integrated solid waste management systems, focusing on the proper treatment of special wastes such as electronics, agricultural biomass, and plastics in developing countries. Sustainable SWM practices contribute to achieving several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, such as ensuring clean water and sanitation (SDG6), creating sustainable cities (SDG11), and mitigating climate change (SDG13).
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Frequently asked questions
Waste pollution has been a problem since the emergence of our earliest ancestors.
There are many sources of waste pollution, including municipal solid waste, hazardous waste, industrial non-hazardous waste, agricultural and animal waste, medical waste, radioactive waste, construction and demolition debris, extraction and mining waste, oil and gas production waste, and fossil fuel combustion waste.
Waste pollution has contaminated drinking water sources, caused infections and transmitted diseases, and polluted ecosystems. It has also contributed to climate change through the release of greenhouse gases, such as methane, from landfills.
Solutions to waste pollution include waste minimization, material and energy recovery, remanufacturing, and recycling. Implementing integrated solid waste management systems and proper treatment of special wastes, such as electronics, agricultural biomass, and plastics, are also important.
Challenges in addressing waste pollution include the lack of reliable waste collection services in developing countries, the high cost of operating sanitary landfills, and the continued use of single-use plastics and fast fashion.
