Overview

In the present day world, everyone knows that not only humans but each and every living species is endangered due to pollution. Pollution is not only of a single kind, there are different types of pollution like air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, noise pollution(sound pollution), and many more. We have already discussed the causes of air pollution. Many think that noise/sound pollution is not as dangerous as other pollution.

However, underestimating noise pollution is a big mistake. The World Health Organization considered noise pollution to be one of the most dangerous kinds of pollution. The European Environment Agency’s study shows that about 12,000 premature deaths and 48,000 hospitalizations are due to noise pollution every year in the continent of Europe itself.

In our everyday life at every instance, we come across some sources of noise pollution. Metropolitan cities all over the world have become the epicenter of noise pollution and its sources are many different things. This mix of noise pollution is becoming more and more dangerous for everyone in the world. As we know, not only humans but animals are also affected by it. According to the National Park Service of the United States, noise pollution majorly impacts the environment and its consequences on the animal are very dangerous as well.

According to the World Health Organization, when a sound is above 65 decibels, it is called sound pollution or noise pollution. In other words, it can also be defined as sound or noise which is excessive and unpleasant and causes a temporary disruption in nature.

When the noise is more than 80 decibels, it is considered to be harmful, and if it reaches above 120 decibels, it is considered painful. Noise below 65 decibels is considered normal during the daytime. However, at night, the sound level should be below 30 decibels. Otherwise, it is not good for human sleep.

Noise pollution is mainly divided into two types-

1. Man-made Noise Pollution

Man-made noise pollution, as it suggests, is caused by the activities of humans. These activities usually generate sound between 30 decibels to 140 decibels. There are many activities that produce such high sounds like – traffic vehicles, construction work, household noises, the sound of speakers from big functions, etc.

2. Environmental noise pollution

Environmental noise pollution is generally caused by the things that are happening in nature. These types of sounds are very high in decimals. Some examples of environmental noise pollution are thunderstorms, volcanic eruptions, etc.

10 Major Causes of Noise Pollution

Following are the 10 major causes of noise pollution:

1. Industrialization

When we talk about industrial noise pollution the main cause for it is generally the large machinery and plants used in industry. Industrial noise pollution can be very harmful and dangerous not only for the people working there but also for the people who are living surrounding these industries. Depending upon the sounds of these industries and their frequency and range, this may feel annoying. However, in serious cases, this may disturb the speech and hearing capacity of a person causing some irreversible damage to their hearing.

The workers of the shipping and steelwork industries are most vulnerable to damages caused by industrial noise pollution. In these industries usually, very large machines are used that produce sounds over 110 decibels which are considered to be very harmful to living beings. According to vast research, it is found that only a single-time exposure to sounds over 110 decibels can cause some instant hearing problems.

The most common types of problems workers in an industrial area face along with loss of hearing are psychological trauma, headache, and neurological disorders. Some other disorders caused by industrial sound pollution are high blood pressure, anger issues, communication difficulties, stress & anxiety fatigue, sleep disturbance, and productivity loss.

2. Sound Pollution on Roads

Vehicles have become a part of our lives and each and every year more and more vehicles are introduced onto the roads. However, with the increase in vehicles, noise pollution has also increased drastically. Engine noise, horns, and vehicle exhaust are major sources of road noise pollution. It is the big cities and towns that are affected the most by noise pollution on roads.

These loud sounds can be very harmful to humans and cause mental distress which would eventually lead to road rage, physical discomfort, headache, etc. The effect of sound pollution in the surrounding area is to be taken seriously as every year the number of people moving to personal vehicles increases. Many people all over the world nowadays try to avoid busy places or highways because of the noise pollution in these areas.

The persons who are most affected by noise pollution are drivers and passengers of public transportation. The people who travel by buses, trains, and the subway are always exposed to a high level of noise pollution which can cause some serious hearing issues.

Many countries in their major cities have tried to reduce this sound pollution from roads and highways by implementing sound barriers. These various types are mainly installed in areas that have a high density of population and are highly exposed to noise pollution. The implementation of sound barriers or walls which are effective near a residential area could be the solution for the transport departments. It is observed that in many areas using these solutions, the health of a person generally and the stress to their ears has reduced drastically. Sometimes traffic signs – “Horn Prohibited” are installed mostly near schools or hospitals to reduce these effects.

3. Social Events

Social events can be considered one of the major contributors to noise pollution. All over the world, thousands of social events are held every day. In places like pubs, marriage venues, religious venues, parties, etc., we usually see that the sound from the speakers is maximum. All these places might have rules and revolutions set by local authorities but these rules are usually overlooked. This results in the creation of chaos and nuisance in those areas.

Localities that are situated near these places are highly vulnerable to the effects of noise pollution. Some people play music at high volume throughout the night causing huge problems for the people living around. In markets also, we see that shopkeepers use speakers to attract customers by canvassing their products.

In recent times in major cities, one more cause of noise pollution is holding major events by bringing big celebrities. In these events, the sounds are extremely high and not only the people who are in these events are affected but also the residents who are living near such events.

Many people would think that accusing these events as the cause of noise pollution is hilarious. But over a long time, the effects of these would be visible. The people who are exposed to such high sound frequency would eventually start having hearing problems.

4. Construction Work

The human population in the world is increasing day by day so, to accommodate and provide places to work, every day, thousands of constructions are done. Construction of new buildings, bridges, dams, different types of roads, flyovers, and stations is being done at a rapid pace. Although these things are done to fulfill the necessity of the human race. But, one cannot hide the fact that a lot of noise pollution is also called during these construction works.

Besides human activities during construction work, a lot of huge construction machines are operated during work and they make an annoying noise while they are running, which gives power to noise pollution.

In the short term, people tend to ignore this but in the long run, they understand how the sound from construction work has affected their hearing. The people affected by construction work sound pollution are mainly the workers who do not have the proper gears to combat the sounds during construction. Moreover, the people who live around a construction site or pass by a construction site also face the same issue afterward.

The effects mentioned below are caused by the noise pollution of construction:

➵ Permanent or partial hearing loss.
➵ Poor sleep quality.
➵ Ear pain.
➵ Cardiovascular effects.
➵ Anxiety.

5. Poor Urban Planning

Poor urban planning is seen in all the developing and underdeveloped countries of the world. In these countries, due to a lack of proper government rules and regulations along with a lack of knowledge among the people, houses are built in close proximity.

In some places, it is seen that the majority of the city is settled in this unplanned manner. Due to this lack of space, we see that large joint families stay in this small house. There is a lack of space for parking and other basic and essential needs. This ultimately leads to fights and quarrels among neighbors on a regular basis. These fights are usually very loud which ultimately contributes to noise pollution.

We also see that in these localities, whenever a house is having functions or parties, the neighbor beside the house also has to hear the sounds from the house, and thus they face sound pollution as well. Another thing is “household sounds” which also contribute much effectively to noise pollution due to poor urban planning.

It is also seen that people try to build their houses near industrial areas in which they work to save their cost of travel. However, doing so ultimately becomes very dangerous to them because of the industrial noises which not only disturb their sleep and laser time but also affect their hearing. This noisy environment is also considered bad for young children as this is a problem to give knowledge because of all these sounds which often disturb them and make them feel irritated as well. Read Also: Acceptable Noise Levels for Different Buildings.

6. Household sounds

Nowadays, every minor work of the house can be done with the help of some machines. These gadgets have become a part and parcel of everyone’s life and without them, many face problems to manage the work of their house.

The extensive use of gadgets like TV, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, mixer grinder, cookers, dryers, air coolers, etc. contribute very minorly to noise pollution but still, they are noisy enough to be harmful to us. These noises caused by all these gadgets have some effects on our day-to-day life which we don’t usually relate to.

Many consider the noises from his gadgets harmless but in reality, they are harmful. In many cases, these are the reasons for anxiety, causing hearing problems, etc. These sounds from the gadgets are very harmful to the surroundings as well as the wildlife as well.

7. Air traffic sound

Airplanes have become one of the major ways of traveling from one place to another. But it has not been considered by many as a cause of noise pollution. However, if one hears the sound of an aircraft, one can clearly understand how loud the aircraft is.

The sound of a single airplane reaches 130 decibels. Now, if we take into consideration all the airplanes that fly in the air space, it eventually becomes one of the main causes of noise pollution. The people who reside near an airport are highly exposed to the noises of airplanes during taking off and landing. These sounds are usually of very high decibels and are very harmful to anyone living around an airport.

Moreover, if we take into account the fighter jets which have big engines and produce a lot of noise, it clearly shows how much sound pollution is caused by them as well.

8. Unnecessary use of Fireworks

Fireworks are used all over the world to celebrate different festivals and occasions. The use of fireworks is increasing in a tremendous way. Nowadays, they are used just for enjoyment by many. However, one thing people tend to neglect is the effect of fireworks on nature.

Fireworks and firecrackers cause two of the most serious types of pollution. They play a major role in air pollution and noise pollution. Although steps are taken to control these, they have little to no effect. In case of noise pollution, the fireworks make sounds that are of very high decibels. These sounds are dangerous as they not only affect humans but also the animals and birds in the surrounding area.

It is true that steps are taken to control the sounds of fireworks. There are rules that fireworks cannot produce more sound than a certain decibel. However, it is not such an effective rule because the fireworks are made according to the sound level restrictions, when they are used in an area in large numbers, the sounds of the fireworks exceed those limits easily. So, proper steps should be taken to control it. The use of fireworks should be minimized and proper and effective steps are to be taken.

9. Volcanic Eruptions and Thunderstorms

Volcanic eruptions and thunderstorms can be considered one of the major natural causes of noise pollution. All over the world, there are hundreds of volcanoes that are active. These volcanoes keep on erupting every now and then. Sometimes the eruptions are small but many times they are big and these big eruptions usually cause a loud sound.

In the same way, throughout the year, thousands of thunderstorms are witnessed in the whole world. We clearly know how loud these thunderstorms usually are which contributes to noise pollution.

10. Animal Sound

The sounds of animals like – howl and bark also contribute to some extent to noise pollution. These howling and barking sounds usually are loud and between 60 to 80 decibels. So, although animals contribute minimally to noise pollution, still cannot be ignored. Read Also: 14 Causes of Soil Pollution.

howl

Conclusion

These above points clearly show how noise pollution is caused and what are the effects of it on nature. So, we should try to understand the causes and try to take steps that could help in decreasing noise pollution. Major Causes of Noise Pollution images are licensed under CC BY 4.0.

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What are the Major Causes of Water Pollution?

Causes of Soil Pollution

Hello readers! I hope you all are doing well. Today, our topic is “causes of soil pollution“. ‘Pollution’ is the word with which all of us are well acquainted at present time. Pollution is such a harmful condition of the environment that affects not only human life but also every creature of the ecosystem. Our environment is getting contaminated mainly due to human activities. Among different types of pollution (like – water pollution, air pollution, and sound pollution), soil pollution is one of them and is a matter of great concern as well. Today, we will take a look at the main causes of soil pollution in this article. So, let’s dive in.

Before learning the main reasons for soil pollution, we need to know “what is soil pollution“. See, any soil is not devoid of hazardous or toxic substances that are harmful to human beings and other living creatures. But, you will not find the density of such elements in unpolluted soil that can be alarming to its adjacent ecosystem. On the other hand, when one or more such toxic components are present in the soil in large amounts, the soil becomes dangerous to living beings and it is called polluted.

Along with the advancement of human civilization, urbanization and industrialization are climbing up gradually. As a result, the amount of waste materials from factories, vehicles, agriculture, etc. is increasing uncontrollably. And by mixing with soil, this wastages toxifies the soil day by day.

Did you know that one inch of topsoil (the upper layer of soil) enriched with the most organic matter and microorganisms takes at least 100 years to form? But what do we humans do? We make them full of toxins and harmful chemicals every moment.

According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the countries of Asia, Europe, and North Africa are the ones having serious aggregation of soil pollution. Currently, Bangladesh is considered to be the country having the most soil pollution in the globe. Statistics show that, on average, 8.3 million people in the world face death every year only from soil or land pollution.

Food is the most essential thing for survival. And these foods are grown in the soil, therefore, we cannot imagine our life without soil. So, the ground should always be clean and should contain full of nutrients.

But, if soil pollution continues to rise at such a rate, it will pose a big threat to all of us. Due to soil pollution, people face many deadly diseases and severe health problems. A few long-term diseases like – leukemia, cancer, etc. are caused if a man comes in contact with soil contaminated with chemicals like – gasoline and benzene. Among the most common soil pollutants, there are some hefty metals like – cadmium, lead, and arsenic that increase the chance of stroke, hypertension, and heart disease.

Though the most percentage of soil pollution occurs by chemical substances created by human activities, there are some negligible natural causes of it. So, we can divide the causes of soil pollution into two segments –

• A. Anthropogenic causes (man-made)
• B. Naturogenic causes (nature-made)

A. Anthropogenic causes

The word ‘anthropogenic’ indicates something (mainly environmental pollution and pollutants) caused by human activities. Almost every cause of soil pollution is anthropogenic i.e man-made. You will find too many processes by which people lead soil to extreme contamination. Here are the most significant man-made reasons for soil pollution:

1. Industrial waste

Industrial wastes play a vital role in polluting the soil. People have built many factories and industries due to various needs. But there is hardly any well-planned waste management in those factories and industries. Therefore, industrial wastes are directly discharged into the soil. In this way, many hazardous chemicals like Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Dioxins, benzene, methylbenzene, etc. get combined with soil. And the most important thing is that these chemicals are extremely carcinogenic to humans. Besides, these elements reduce the fertility and strength of the soil.

2. Excessive Use of Fertilizer

In the 21^st century, people cannot think of farming without chemical fertilizers. In today’s agriculture, chiefly three macronutrients – nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium-based fertilizers are used. Among the most common fertilizers, there are urea, diammonium phosphate, potassium chloride, etc. Undoubtedly these fertilizers are advantageous to boost the nutrients of plants, but they are posing a great negative impact on the land. Overuse of nitrogen-based fertilizers makes the soil acidic and the land gradually becomes uncultivable.

On the other hand, phosphorus-containing fertilizers carry a very dangerous metal – cadmium. When a phosphorus-based fertilizer is used in agriculture, cadmium makes the soil contaminated and also our food. Cadmium is such an element that is highly hazardous to human health that causes fatal diseases like – cancer. But the quantity of cadmium significantly varies in different phosphate rocks. For example, depending on the phosphate rock, SSP (Super Single Phosphate) may have a cadmium content of as low as 2 mg/kg or as high as 40 mg/kg. And you will be surprised to know that the phosphate rocks which are used to manufacture fertilizers may contain nearly 200 mg of cadmium per kg.

Except these, many other substances like – arsenic, fluoride, mercury, radioactive elements, etc. get mixed with the soil released from the fertilizers making the soil contaminated. Read Also: How to Improve Soil Fertility?

3. Use of Pesticides

Pesticide is a must-have thing in modern agriculture. Similarly, it is a must-have point in the list of the causes of soil pollution as pesticides are greatly responsible for soil pollution. When applied, pesticides mix with the soil making it contaminated. Among the most common types of pesticides used to resist the outgrowth of pests, there are – herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides, etc.

Carbamates, Phenoxyalkyl acids, and Aliphatic acids are some examples of herbicides that are used to kill weeds and other unwanted plants. Whereas organophosphates, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and pyrethrum are the common names of insecticides that are used to kill insects.

Mercury-containing compounds, thiocarbamates, copper sulfate, etc. are used to kill parasitic fungi or control their spread and so, these are called fungicides. Rodenticides include bromethalin, zinc phosphide, strychnine, etc. which are useful to kill rodents like – rats, mice, squirrels, woodchucks, etc.

It’s needless to say that all the above-mentioned pesticides are verily dangerous pollutants of soil and we, humans, are continuously using them and bringing our own troubles.

4. Excessive use of plastic

Plastic materials have become an inseparable thing in our daily life. Alongside, they have become a great threat to the environment as well as to mankind. They, especially plastic carry bags, play a vital role in polluting the soil. People all over the world use plastic carry bags, plastic wrappers, etc. randomly and throw them here and there after one-time use.

Each year, we produce on average, 400 million tons of plastic waste. We all know that plastics are not biodegradable, i.e they do not get decomposed with the soil. And too many toxic chemicals are used to produce plastic. Owing to the leaching of substances like – phthalates, Bisphenol A (mostly familiar as BPA), fluorinated compounds, etc. from plastics, the surrounding soil becomes contaminated. When released, these toxins obstruct the growth of plants and also affect the soil fauna. More importantly, these chemicals have adverse effects on human health.

5. Medical wastes

Another significant reason behind soil pollution is biomedical waste or infirmary waste. Materials used for patient care, such as cotton, bandaids, syringes, medicines, and medical instruments are examples of medical wastes. Medical wastes also include biomolecules or organisms used in research laboratories. Only the U.S produces more than 6 million tons of medical waste every year on average.

When the management of these wastes is not done in a proper way, they become a cause of soil pollution. In most cases, medical wastes are dumped in open land. As a result, the wastes leach out harmful chemicals like – polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), heavy metals, etc. Thus, the surrounding soil gets extremely contaminated with the aforesaid toxins. And beyond the shadow of a doubt, such soils are very dangerous to plants and living beings as well.

6. Composition of toxic solid metals

As I have told you beforehand, the presence of heavy metals in the soil at a large concentration causes soil pollution. When soil is polluted with one or more heavy metals, its microbial processes are highly affected and the number and activity of soil microorganisms are decreased. Along with some natural sources, man-made sources of heavy metals like – arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, lead, copper, zinc, and nickel are the most in number. Man-made sources of such metals are – foundries, smelters, oil refineries, petrochemical plants, pesticide production, chemical industries, etc.

7. The mixture of mineral oil

The list of causes of soil pollution will be incomplete without the mention of mineral oils. Mineral oils are something that is contaminating the soil day by day. But, how? Ok, I am telling you.

Mineral oils can mix with soil in various ways. When mineral oils are extracted from underground, they spill around and get mixed with the soil. Another way mineral oil causes soil pollution is leakage of the pipelines through which mineral oils are transported. If there is a leakage in the pipe while transporting the oils, they exude from the pipe and contaminate the soil. Besides, the waste produced during the purification of the mineral oils can cause soil pollution if their disposal is not done in an appropriate process.

Soil pollution due to mineral oil has numerous negative impacts on living beings. By increasing carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons in the soil, mineral oil also reduces the water-holding capacity of the soil. It also greatly affects human health including the surrounding flora and fauna of the soil. Excessive concentration of mineral oils in soil lessens the quantity of phosphorus which is a significant element for plants’ growth. People living around such areas face many health problems like fatigue, nausea, headache, irritation in the eyes, and skin rashes.

8. Sewage produced in urban areas

Sewages are one of the main sources of soil pollution mainly in urban areas. In the cities, mostly in developing countries, sewage water is often discharged into open land or water bodies. And during heavy rainfall, sewage water overflows and contaminates the surrounding areas with harmful chemicals, bacteria, and heavy metals. When soil becomes contaminated by sewage, it becomes unsafe not only for plants but also for humans. Read Also: Characteristics of Sewage.

9. The mixture of radioactive materials

The list of the top 10 causes of soil pollution can not be complete without the mention of radioactive materials. The adverse effects of radioactive elements like – radium, uranium, polonium, francium, etc. are uncountable. Radioactive materials mix with soil in different ways and pollute it. The largest man-made source of radioactive materials is nuclear power plants. Other sources of such elements created by mankind are – nuclear medicines, nuclear fuel, nuclear waste, nuclear explosions, etc.

As most of the radioactive elements remain radioactive for more than 1000 to 10,000 years, they hamper the nutrient cycle of soil and make them unsuitable for agriculture. And the people of surrounding areas suffer from severe and long-term health problems like cancer and cardiovascular disease.

10. Electronic Waste

All abandoned electronic or electrical devices are called electronic waste or e-waste. They can be computers, mobile phones, or household appliances that are no longer used are considered e-waste. With the advancement of technology, the demand for various types of electronic gadgets and appliances is skyrocketing and their production is also increasing likewise.

So, those products have become cheap as well as readily available. As a result of their availability like a piece of cake, electronic devices are frequently replaced by new ones. Consequently, the amount of e-waste is on the rise day by day and the environment is facing a great threat from them. According to statistics, we generate an average of 54 metric tons of e-waste every year globally. But most of that amount of e-waste is not disposed of properly and is dumped in the open land resulting in extreme soil pollution.

These e-wastes discharge many heavy metals like – lead, cadmium, beryllium, mercury, etc. into the soil. They also contaminate the soil with substances like – POPs, PCBs, plastics, perfluorooctanoic acids (PFOAs), and flame-retardants. No need to say that these elements become very dangerous to the local fauna and flora. They affect the brain, heart, liver, kidney, and skeletal system of the human body.

B. Naturogenic Causes

No, not every cause of soil pollution is man-made. Though at a very low amount, nature also creates soil pollution and those causes of soil pollution created by nature are called naturogenic causes. Here are some main natural causes of soil pollution:

1. Trace Elements

The elements that are present in the soil at a very low concentration are called trace elements. There are two types of trace elements – essential and non-essential. Essential trace elements include copper, zinc, iron, etc. which play a significant role in the growth of plants. On the other hand, some examples of non-essential trace elements are – cadmium, arsenic, lead, mercury, etc. And these non-essential trace elements are the pollutants of soil. Rock weathering, soil erosion, volcano eruption, and dissolution of water-soluble salts mainly work as the sources of trace elements that pollute the soil.

2. Naturally occurring asbestos

A fibrous silicate mineral, asbestos is such a pollutant that is naturally present in the soil. Asbestos can directly get mixed with soil from natural resources. Some common natural origins of asbestos are – serpentinites, altered ultramafic rocks, and some mafic rocks from which asbestos is generated and mixed into the soil. Asbestos brings various health hazards to humans such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and cancer.

3. Naturally occurring organic contaminants

Some organic pollutants come to the soil through natural causes like – wildfire, volcano eruption, etc.

4. Radionuclides

There are mainly three ways through which radionuclides come to the soil and contaminate it. Cosmic Radiation, Terrestrial Radiation, and Internal Radiation are those three processes by which radioactive elements like Radium, Polonium, Cesium, Strontium, Beryllium, etc. mix with soil.

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10 Major Causes of Air Pollution

The 9 Major Causes of Noise Pollution

Causes of Air Pollution

Pollution is one of the most common words which we hear and read about in our day-to-day life. We have heard about many different types of pollution, but air pollution is one of the most dangerous ones. Air pollution can be defined as the release of gases and solid particles which are harmful not only to humans but also to all other living beings. The change in the air due to the mixture of harmful particles and gases is what causes air pollution.

Nowadays, because of air pollution, everyone is worried about their health. When it comes to the lives of humans, air pollution is the cause of most of this every year. Although it is such a big problem, still many around the world are unaware of it.

The increase of certain gases in the atmosphere causes the depletion of the ozone layer. This happens because our atmosphere is composed of different types of gases that are present in a certain amount, so, if a gas that is not needed increases in the atmosphere, it causes air pollution. Global warming, which is a hot-selling cake, is the consequence of air pollution.

Our atmosphere is polluted by various types of pollutants. So, to understand the causes of air pollution, you also need to know a little about air pollutants. Primarily we can divide air pollutants into two categories- primary air pollutants and secondary air pollutants.

Primary air pollutants are the ones that are emitted and have a source. Elements like carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and particulate matter are considered as primary air pollutants.

Secondary air pollutants are formed in the atmosphere when the primary pollutants go through chemical reactions. An example of a secondary pollutant is ozone.

Some of the main causes of air pollution are as follows:

1. Fossil Fuel Burning

The burning of fossil fuels is considered one of the main reasons for air pollution. When fossil fuels are used but not completely burned, they produce lots of pollutants. Fossil fuels like coal, natural gas, and oil are mainly used for the production of electricity and in our vehicles.

Carbon monoxide(CO) is highly emitted when fossil fuels are burned. Along with carbon dioxide, gases like nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide are also emitted when fossil fuels are used.

The vehicles that we use in our daily life emit dangerous gases like nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, organic compounds, and lead. This is how the usage of fossil fuels, although important to us, is very harmful to the environment which is indirectly harmful to us as well as all other living beings.

It is reported that about two third of the SO₂ emissions produced by fossil fuel burning cause acid rain. According to the World Health Organisation, about 4.2 million people every year lose their life due to outdoor air pollution.

2. Emissions from Factories and Industrial Areas

When we talk about industrial areas or a plant, the first thing that comes to our mind is the large chimney. Although one might think that these industries don’t contribute to air pollution majorly, that is false. These industrial areas are considered among the major causes of air pollution. Many different types of pollutants are emitted from these industries. Some of the major pollutants of these industries are particulate matter 2.5 and 10, along with NO2, SO2, and CO. The main reason behind this is that all industries use either coal or wood as the primary source of energy.

Moreover, air pollutant CO₂ is also produced which plays a major role in global warming as this is a greenhouse gas. The increase of greenhouse gases traps the heat of the sun which results in an increase in the temperature of the earth. According to many surveys, it is estimated that every 10 years, the surface temperature of the earth rises by one degree Celsius.

Industrial pollutants are also very dangerous for humans. The effects of this in humans are breathing issues, eye and throat irritation, asthma attacks, and increased chances of chronic illness.

3. Wildfires in the Forests

In recent years, we have heard about wildfires burning down big parts of forests. Wildfires are considered natural causes of air pollution, however, indirectly humans are the ones behind this as well. Wildfires may happen during the dry hot summers as the heat helps in igniting the fire.

Humans are indirectly responsible for this as well because of climate change which is caused by global warming. During the summers, we hear in the news that throughout the world forests are burned into ashes because of these wildfires. We see the number of wildfires keep on increasing year by year.

In a forest fire, PM 2.5 is released which when coming in contact with certain gases in the air turns to smog. This smog is very harmful because it causes breathing problems, irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat, and itching in the respiratory tract. It is even more harmful to the wildlife in the region because many animals lose their lives and their habitat.

It is estimated that about 90 percent of wildfires are caused by careless human activities. Which results in the burning of large areas of forests. Moreover, with the rise in the surface temperature of the earth, wildfires will increase more. This clearly shows that in the coming years if the increase in temperature is not controlled every year, a huge loss of both wildlife and plants will happen.

4. Indoor Air Pollution

Indoor Air Pollution is another very harmful type of air pollution. Although it might not feel so dangerous, once we know more about it, we can certainly understand how life-threatening it would be. Indoor air pollution is caused by toxic products which are known as Volatile Organic Compounds. This becomes even more dangerous when a house is not properly ventilated, has uneven temperature, and is humid.

Some of the common things that cause pollution inside the house are smoking and leaving the walls of the house with mold untreated. The use of a wood heater in a house increases both the temperature and the humidity of the house as well. Another thing that is responsible for indoor pollution is the use of products like pants, and other clothes which have many toxic components in them. This is seen when a house has been painted, the paint smell makes it uncomfortable for anyone to breathe inside. Suspended particulate matter is also found in houses.

About 17 percent of deaths from lung cancer are caused by toxic indoor pollutants. In a report published by the World Health Organisation, it is reported that 27 percent of the deaths caused by pneumonia are due to indoor air pollution and 45 percent of the deaths by pneumonia are children. Moreover, in the report, it was stated that in 2020, about 3.2 million people died due to indoor air pollution.

5. Decomposition of Waste in Landfills

Every day, millions of tons of waste from cities and towns are collected and dumped in landfills outside big cities. Although many would think that helps in keeping the city as well as the surroundings clean, it is not what it seems. The area in which all the waste is collected become like a live bomb as a huge amount of methane is released from it. This happens because the wastes are not separated and the wet and dry wastes are dumped together.

The methane gas which is emitted from these landfills is considered a bomb because it is a highly flammable gas and is a greenhouse gas as well. Along with methane, carbon dioxide and nitrogen are also released. If someone breathes this type of air, for sure he will face breathing problems and this could lead to the loss of his life as well.

Moreover, wastes from different industries are also dumped in the same place. This waste of industries produces CO, hydrocarbon, and chemical which contaminates air, water bodies as well as soil.

The health-related issues that one will face in this type of region are breathing problems, aggregation of asthma, skin allergies and disease, eyes, nose, and throat irritation, and much more.

6. Emissions from Transportation

Transportation is one of the most important things in a developing country. Over the years, there has been increasing demand for both public and private modes of transportation. People buy vehicles of their own for easy movement. Although transportation is very important, with the increasing number of vehicles like cars, buses, bikes, etc., pollution of air also increases.

This is because the majority of these vehicles either use CNG or oils like petroleum and diesel. This results in them emitting large amounts of greenhouse gases like CO₂, hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and suspended particulate matter like 2.5 and 10. In urban cities, this pollution from vehicles shows its worst effect because it mixes with fog to make smog which is very harmful and causes serious breathing complications and many other health issues as well.

This will increase if necessary steps are not taken by both the citizens as well as the government of a country to combat it. At the government level, strict rules and regulations should be introduced, and public transport systems that are more efficient and environmentally friendly should be introduced. Whereas the citizens should look to use electric vehicles or vehicles which have the least amount of emissions.

7. Burning of Waste in the Open

Every day, a large amount of garbage waste is produced. However, when it comes to proper treatment of this waste, it is not done properly and if done, then the waste is mainly burnt in the open. One would not understand the consequence of burning waste unless one knows its effects. Wastes are burned after they are bumped in the landfills to decrease the amount of waste however, its effect is very harmful. When the waste is burned, many greenhouse gases are released along with black carbon, soot, and carcinogens.

This emission of such harmful toxins is very harmful. The black carbon and soot remain spent in the air and when they fall on the glaciers, the melting of glaciers is fastened. Along with global warming, this deposition of black carbon and soot causes the ice peaks to melt very fast.

The burning of waste is harmful to humans as well because temporary health issues like breathing problems, asthma, headache, and nausea happen. Some permanent and very dangerous health conditions may also arise like cancer, liver issues, and weakness of the immunity system, affecting the nervous system as well as the reproductive system. Carcinogens are the top substance that causes cancer.

8. Pollution due to Construction and Demolition

This type of pollution is mainly seen in urban areas. The reason behind this is that a large number of construction works are done in all the major cities and towns for accommodation for the rural population moving into the urban areas.

When the construction of buildings is carried out, large amounts of dirt and dust are suspended in the air. Moreover, pollutants like asbestos and lead are also released into the air when large buildings are demolished along with the dust as the building collapses.

Particulate matter, Volatile Organic Compounds, and many other pollutants are majorly found in this air.
It is seen that the workers or people who come in contact with the air of these sites, after some time, start having health-related issues. Moreover, people who live beside these areas also start having different health issues in them. All of these give us a clear idea of how harmful the air of construction and demolition sites is.

9. Agricultural Pollution

There are several agricultural countries and a major portion of their population work in the agricultural sector. So, all the farmers get the highest yield from their fields using different types of fertilizers and pesticides. All these fertilizers and pesticides help in increasing the yield but these are very harmful to nature as well as humans.

Some harmful elements are used in these fertilizers and pesticides which make both the air and soil polluted. Toxic elements are suspended in the year which inhaled by someone could lead to some serious health issues. A lot of different chemicals are used in the manufacturing of fertilizers and pesticides which degrades the quality of soil and pollutes the air. Nitrogen fertilizer is one such fertilizer that is suspended in air and when comes in contact with water turns the water poisonous as well.

According to the food and Agriculture Organisation, 40% of the emissions of the World comes from livestock, 16% from mineral fertilizers, 17% from Burning Biomass, and 8% from agricultural waste.

10. Pollution due to Mining Operations

Mining is done to extract different minerals from below the Earth’s surface. Mining large types of equipment along with TNT results in air pollution. During mining large amount of dust and chemicals are released into the air along with certain gases which causes pollution.

How harmful the year of the mines is seen when we see the workers and the residents who live near the mining areas facing many health issues related to breathing.

Mining is indeed significant to get important minerals that help in the development of a country but it is also one of the reasons which helps in degrading the quality of the air.

Conclusion:

Pollution is one of the hottest topics in the world at present. Air pollution is one of the most dangerous types of pollution which is affecting the lives of people all over the world. Due to air pollution, the Global temperature has increased, with the chances of acid rain have also increased. We should try to find ways to minimize air pollution and other pollution. To do this, many drastic steps should be taken worldwide to protect our planet.

Read Also:

Kyoto Protocol – MCQ