WEEK 2
Pollution
What is Pollution?
Types of Pollution
Air Pollution
Water Pollution
Soil Pollution
Noise Pollution
Definition of Pollution
“Pollution is the introduction of substances (or energy) that cause adverse changes in the
environment and living entities.”
Pollution need not always be caused by chemical substances such as particulates (like smoke and
dust). Forms of energy such as sound, heat or light can also cause pollution. These substances that
cause pollution are called pollutants.
Pollution, even in minuscule amounts, impacts the ecological balance. Pollutants can make their
way up the food chain and eventually find their way inside the human body
Types of Pollution
As stated before, there are different types of pollution, which are either caused by natural events
(like forest fires) or by man-made activities (like cars, factories, nuclear wastes, etc.) These are
further classified into the following types of pollution:
Air Pollution
Water Pollution
Soil Pollution
Noise Pollution
Besides these 4 types of pollution, other types exist such as light pollution, thermal pollution and
radioactive pollution. The latter is much rarer than other types, but it is the deadliest.
Definition of Pollutants
Definition of Pollutants- A pollutant is a substance that is present in concentrations that may harm
organisms (humans, plants and animals) or exceed an environmental quality standard. The term
is frequently used synonymously with contaminant.
Air pollution refers to the release of harmful contaminants (chemicals, toxic gases, particulates,
biological molecules, etc.) into the earth’s atmosphere. These contaminants are quite detrimental
and in some cases, pose serious health issues. Some causes that contribute to air pollution are:
Burning fossil fuels
Mining operations
Exhaust gases from industries and factories
The effects of air pollution vary based on the kind of pollutant. But generally, the impact of air
pollution ranges from:
Increased risk of respiratory illness and cardiovascular problems
Increased risk of skin diseases
May increase the risk of cancer
Global warming
Acid rain
Ozone depletion
Hazards to wildlife
Water Pollution
Water pollution is said to occur when toxic pollutants and particulate matter are introduced into
water bodies such as lakes, rivers and seas. These contaminants are generally introduced by
human activities like improper sewage treatment and oil spills. However, even natural processes
such as eutrophication can cause water pollution.
Other significant causes of water pollution include:
Dumping solid wastes in water bodies
Disposing untreated industrial sewage into water bodies
Human and animal wastes
Agricultural runoff containing pesticides and fertilisers
The effects of water pollution are very pronounced in our environment. Furthermore, toxic chemicals
can bioaccumulate in living beings, and these chemicals can travel their way up the food chain,
ultimately reaching humans. Among the other types of pollution, water pollution has severe
consequences on humans.
Other consequences of water pollution include:
Disruption of the ecosystem
Threats to marine life
Increased risk of water-borne diseases
Increases toxic chemicals (such as mercury) in water bodies
Eutrophication
Soil pollution, also called soil contamination, refers to the degradation of land due to the
presence of chemicals or other man-made substances in the soil. The xenobiotic substances
alter the natural composition of soil and affect it negatively. These can drastically impact life directly
or indirectly. For instance, any toxic chemicals present in the soil will get absorbed by the plants.
Since plants are producers in an environment, it gets passed up through the food chain. Compared
to the other types of pollution, the effects of soil pollution are a little more obscured, but their
implications are very noticeable.
Some of the common causes of soil pollution are:
Improper industrial waste disposal
Oil Spills
Acid rain which is caused by air pollution
Mining activities
Intensive farming and agrochemicals (like fertilisers and pesticides)
Industrial accidents
The effects of soil pollution are numerous. Specific wastes, such as radioactive
waste become particularly hazardous when they are not well-contained. A well-documented example
is a nuclear accident in Chernobyl, which has left an area of 2,600 km 2 uninhabitable for several
thousand years.
Other effects of soil pollution include:
Loss of soil nutrients, which renders the soil unfit for agriculture
Impacts the natural flora and fauna residing in the soil
Degrades vegetation due to the increase of salinity of the soil
Toxic dust (such as silica dust) can cause respiratory problems or even lung cancer
Noise pollution refers to the excessive amount of noise in the surrounding that disrupts the natural
balance. Usually, it is man-made, though certain natural calamities like volcanoes can contribute to
noise pollution.
In general, any sound which is over 85 decibels is considered to be detrimental. Also, the duration
an individual is exposed plays an impact on their health. For perspective, a normal conversation is
around 60 decibels, and a jet taking off is around 15o decibels. Consequently, noise pollution is
more obvious than the other types of pollution.
Noise pollution has several contributors, which include:
Industry-oriented noises such as heavy machines, mills, factories, etc.
Transportation noises from vehicles, aeroplanes, etc.
Construction noises
Noise from social events (loudspeakers, firecrackers, etc.)
Household noises (such as mixers, TV, washing machines, etc.)
Noise pollution has now become very common due to dense urbanisation and industrialisation.
Noise pollution can bring about adverse effects such as :
Hearing loss
Tinnitus
Sleeping disorders
Hypertension (high BP)
Communication problems
Harmful pollutants responsible for polluting the environment.
The harmful pollutants responsible for polluting the environment are:
Nitrogen oxide
Sulphur oxide
Mercury
Particulate matter
Chlorofluorocarbon
Volatile organic compounds
Reference: https://byjus.com/biology/types-of-pollution/
