Environmental pollution is subsisting for centuries. It is a stumbling block in every society. Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. Environmental pollution is defined as “the contamination of the physical and biological components of the earth/atmosphere system to such an extent that normal environmental processes are adversely affected.” It is a global challenge that is affecting humanity and other forms of life on the planet. It needs to be paused.
Pollution is not caused in a specific field. There are many reasons which trigger pollution.
“One hundred and fifty years ago, the monster began, this country had become a place of industry. Factories grew on the landscape like weeds. Trees fell, fields were up-ended, rivers blackened. The sky choked on smoke and ash, and the people did, too, spending their days coughing and itching, their eyes turned forever toward the ground. Villages grew into a town, towns into cities. And people began to live on the earth rather than within it.” ― Patrick Ness, A Monster CallsOne cannot over and be done with environmental pollution. It is a menace that can be controlled, not only by a few people but by all human beings.
Environmental pollution can be of various types predominantly: soil, air, water pollution.
CAUSES: There are several causes of environmental pollution. Let us discuss them.
Industry: Continuous use of fossil fuels has been corrupting our natural resources for a long period of time. The high power smoke which is released from the industries pollutes air, containing many hazardous particles, affecting flora, fauna and human respiratory system. The use of coal instead of human power also contributes to this. Industries should be careful while carrying out their activities.
Transportation: Ever since humans have deserted the use of animal power, and started using vehicles, pollution has intensified. The fumes from car exhausts contain dangerous gases and particulates including hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide. These gases rise into the atmosphere and react with other atmospheric gases creating even more toxic gases. The day by day increasing traffic is another helping hand in this cause.
Agriculture: According to The Earth Institute, the heavy use of fertilizer for agriculture is a major contributor to fine-particulate air pollution, with most of Europe, Russia, China, and the United States being affected. The level of pollution caused by agricultural activities is thought to outweigh all other sources of fine-particulate air pollution in these countries. Ammonia is the primary air pollutant that comes from agricultural activities. Ammonia enters the air as a gas from concentrated livestock waste and fields that are over-fertilized. This gaseous ammonia then combines with other pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and sulfates created by vehicles and industrial processes, to create aerosols. Aerosols are tiny particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause heart and pulmonary disease.
Deforestation: The selfishness of human beings to cut off the trees for their use is the most serious problem. Destroying flora will not lead to development but is pulling back the growth of the country. The latest of Australia’s issue is a massive example of this.
EFFECTS: Pollution causes adverse effects not only on human beings but all forms of life. Diseases are the first effect of pollution. Respiratory problems, birth defects, reproductive failure, asthma, lung failure, and many more diseases can be lined up caused by pollution.
It is snatching away the lives of animals and is affecting humans little by little. It is an issue that cannot be ignored. We get busy in our lives thinking that we will think about it when it will affect us. It is affecting. And that day is not far when only buildings will be left on this planet. Future generations will know nature only in stories, and humans at an unexpected age will be suffering from hazardous diseases spending money on so-called ‘organic’ products.