POLLUTION

WHAT IS POLLUTION?
Pollution is the introduction of a contaminant into the environment. It is created
mostly by human actions, but can also be a result of natural disasters. Pollution has
a detrimental effect on any living organism in an environment, making it virtually
impossible to sustain life.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF POLLUTIONS

There are many different types of pollution. Some of the main ones include

 air pollution,
 land pollution,
 water pollution,
 noise pollution,
 light pollution,
 mercury pollution,
 Oil pollution.

Air Pollution

Many people think that there is only one type of pollution to the air but there are
two, outdoor and indoor pollution. Different types of pollution include smog, acid
rain, the greenhouse effect, and many others. Outdoor pollution is caused by tiny
particles that are released from the burning of fuels for energy. The exhaust from
homes, automobiles, and schools also cause outdoor pollution. Ronald Reagan said,
“Approximately 80% of our air pollution stems from hydrocarbons released by
vegetation, so let's not go overboard in setting and enforcing tough emission
standards from man-made sources."Outdoor pollution can't rise and it is trapped in
an area like a city surrounded by mountains. Smog, a type of outdoor pollution is
caused by chemical reactions between pollutants from different sources, which are
mostly automobile exhaust and industrial emissions. Cities are the main cause of
this type of air pollution. Acid rain is another serious problem caused by sulfuric
acid that combines with rain or melted snow that damages plants by damaging
leaves and poisoning the soil. The Greenhouse Effect is also known as the global
warming. It is believed to be caused by carbon dioxide. Many forests are dieing and
therefore there is more carbon dioxide, which "blankets the earth" and keeps the
earth warm. As the earth warms ice caps and glaciers melt which causes coastal
flooding. Tobacco smoke, cooking, and heating appliances are some causes of
indoor pollution. Other causes include vapors from paint and furniture. It can cause
serious health problems.

Pollution is worse indoors rather than outdoors by 25%-62% greater. Different

groups of people are affected differently like young children and the elderly.
Short-term effects include: irritation to the eyes, nose, throat, and upper
respiration like pneumonia, headaches, nausea, and allergies. Long-term
health effects include: respiratory disease, lung cancer, heart disease, and even
damage to the brain, nerves, liver, or kidneys. Lyndon Baines Johnson said,
“The people have a right to air that they and their children can breathe without
fear.” The most dangerous air pollutant is cigarette smoke. Many scientists are
studying to prevent pollution to the air.

What are the sources of air pollution?

Some of the main contributors to air pollution are:

 Automobile emissions
 Tobacco smoke
 Combustion of coal
 Acid rain
  Power plants
 Manufacturing buildings
 Large ships
 Paint fumes
 Aerosol sprays
 Wildfires
 Nuclear weapons

Examples of Air Pollution

 Tobacco Smoke

Tobacco smoke is one of the major forms of pollution in buildings. It is not

only the smoker who is infected, but everyone who inhales the polluted air.
There is a very strong connection between smoking and lung cancer.
Bronchitis is common among smokers and unborn babies of mothers who
smoke also suffer from the harmful effects of smoking.

 Exhaust Gases of Vehicles

Pollution from exhaust gases of vehicles is responsible for 60% of all air
pollution and in cities up to 80%. There is a large variety of harmful
chemicals present in these gases, with lead being one of the most dangerous.

 Combustion of Coal

The combustion of coal without special precautions can have serious

 consequences. If winds do not blow away the poisonous gases, they can
have fatal effects and may lead to death.

 Acid rain

Acid rain is the term for pollution caused when sulfur and nitrogen dioxides
combine with atmospheric moisture to produce highly acidic rain, snow,
hail, or fog. The acid eats into the stone, brick and metal articles and pollutes
water sources. Coal in South Africa is rich in sulphur and the power stations
in the Mpumalanga Province could be responsible for acid rain over other
areas of our country.

Facts about Air Pollution

Here are a few facts about air pollution:

 Almost 232 million different types of vehicles are driven by U.S. citizens
every day, adding greenhouse gases into the air
 U.S. vehicle emissions contribute 45% to global warming
 The average adult consumes 3,000 gallons of polluted air every day
 Vehicle exhaust contributes to 60% of carbon monoxide emissions in the
U.S. and up to 95% in large cities
 Every year 335,000 Americans die of lung cancer, which is a direct result of
air pollution

How to Prevent Air Pollution

The number one way to prevent air pollution is to walk or bike more and drive less.
This will prevent fossil fuels from polluting the air. Here are some other ways to
prevent air pollution:

 Carpool with friends and coworkers

 Don’t smoke
 Keep your car maintenance up-to-date
 If you have to drive, do your errands at one time
  Don’t buy products that come in aerosol spray cans
 Avoid using lighter fluid when barbecuing outside
 When you drive accelerate slowly and use cruise control
 Always replace your car’s air filter
 Use a push or electric lawnmower rather than a gas-powered one
 Don’t use harsh chemical cleaners that can emit fumes
 Inspect your gas appliances and heaters regularly

Land Pollution

One of the main ways to pollute the land is through agriculture. Farmers use
chemicals to restore nutrients to the soil. They also use weed killers to kill
unwanted weeds. Garbage is also another cause of land pollution. Humans produce
tons of garbage each year. Wastes shouldn't be burnt because it pollutes the
atmosphere and we shouldn't dump it in the sea because that pollutes the waters.
An effect is that plants will take in the chemicals and we eat the plants. Garbage is
buried but underground it breaks down and it will decay.
What are the sources of land pollution?
Some of the main contributors to land pollution are:

 Chemical and nuclear plants

 Industrial factories
 Oil refineries
 Waste Disposal
 Human sewage
 Oil and antifreeze leaking from cars
 Mining
 Soil Pollution
 Littering
 Overcrowded landfills
 Deforestation
 Construction debris

Examples of Land Pollution 　

 Soil Pollution

Soil pollution is mainly due to chemicals in herbicides (weed killers) and

pesticides (poisons which kill insects and other invertebrate pests). Litter is
waste material dumped in public places such as streets, parks, picnic areas,
at bus stops and near shops.
  Waste Disposal
The accumulation of waste threatens the health of people in residential areas.
Waste decays, encourages household pests and turns urban areas into
unsightly, dirty and unhealthy places to live in.

Facts about Land Pollution

Here are a few facts about land pollution:

 Every year one American produces over 3285 pounds of hazardous waste
 Land pollution causes us to lose 24 billion tons of top soil every year
 Americans generate 30 billion foam cups, 220 million tires and 1.8 billion
disposable diapers every year
 We throw away enough trash every day to fill 63,000 garbage trucks
 Every day Americans throw away 1 million bushels of litter out their car
window
 Over 80% of items in landfills can be recycled, but they’re not

How to Prevent Land Pollution

The best way to prevent land pollution is to recycle. Here are a few other ways you
can reduce land pollution:

 Reuse any items that you can

 Buy biodegradable products
 Store all liquid chemicals and waste in spill-proof containers
 Eat organic foods that are grown without pesticides
 Don’t use pesticides
 Use a drip tray to collect engine oil
 Buy products that have little packaging
 Don’t dump motor oil on the ground
 Water Pollutions

We as humans pollute our lakes, rivers, streams, and oceans. Many innocent
animals are dyeing and our drinking water is going bad. There are two types of
water pollution; there is a nonpoint source, which delivers pollutants indirectly
through environmental changes and point sources, which is where pollution occurs
when harmful substances are emitted directly into a body of water. Water can be
polluted by sewage, domestics waste water, factory outflows of acids and
poisonous metals, engine oil from the roadside that drains and garages, farm
chemicals washed off the land by rain, building-site rubble, nuclear waste from
power plants, and oil from wells, refineries, and tankers. “More than one-half of
the world's major rivers are being seriously depleted and polluted, degrading and
poisoning the surrounding ecosystems, thus threatening the health and livelihood
of people who depend upon them for irrigation, drinking and industrial water," said
Ismail Serageldin, Chairman of the World Commission on Water for the 21st
Century Effects are often by the coasts and can kill fish, sea birds are unable to
mate, whales are poisoned, and turtles can be killed. People drinking that water
become very sick. Water pollution can be prevented by cleaning the water before
use, in rich countries the wastes are treated before they are released into the water.

What are the sources of water pollution?

Some of the main contributors to water pollution are:
  Factories
 Refineries
 Waste treatment facilities
 Mining and Agricultural Wastes
 Pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers
 Human sewage
 Oil spills
 Failing septic systems
 Soap from washing your car
 Oil and antifreeze leaking from cars
 Household chemicals
 Animal waste
 Industrial affluent
 Sewage Disposal and Domestic Wastes

Examples of Water Pollution

 

 Industrial affluent

Water is discharged from after having been used in production processes.

This waste water may contain acids, alkalis, salts, poisons, oils and in some
cases harmful bacteria.

 Mining and Agricultural Wastes

Mines, especially gold and coal mines are responsible for large quantities of
acid water. Agricultural pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides may wash into
rivers and stagnant water bodies.

 Sewage Disposal and Domestic Wastes

Sewage as well as domestic and farm wastes were often allowed to pollute
rivers and dams.
Facts about Water Pollution
Here are a few facts about water pollution:

 Over two-thirds of Pak. estuaries and bays are severely degraded because of
nitrogen and phosphorous pollution
 Every year almost 25% of Pak. beaches are closed at least once because of
water pollution
 Over 73 different kinds of pesticides have been found in the groundwater
that we eventually use to drink
 1.2 trillion gallons of sewage, storm water and industrial waste are
discharged into U.S. waters every year
 40% of Pak. rivers are too polluted for aquatic life to survive
 Americans use over 2.2 billion pounds of pesticides every year, which
eventually washes into our rivers and lakes

How to Prevent Water Pollution

The best way to prevent water pollution is to not throw trash and other harmful
chemicals into our water supplies. Here are a few more ways you can prevent
water pollution:

 Wash your car far away from any storm water drains
 Don’t throw trash, chemicals or solvents into sewer drains
 Inspect your septic system every 3-5 years
 Avoid using pesticides and fertilizers that can run off into water systems
 Sweep your driveway instead of hosing it down
 Always pump your waste-holding tanks on your boat
 Use non-toxic cleaning materials
 Clean up oil and other liquid spills with kitty litter and sweet them up
 Don’t wash paint brushes in the sink
 Noise Pollution

      

Many people find noise irritating, making it difficult for them to concentrate
or causing them to lose sleep at night. In some very noisy factories, people
have to communicate by sign language. If people are exposed to very high
levels of noise over a long period of time, they may become permanently
deaf. 
      

Noise pollution tends to be especially serious in urban areas. The

countryside is usually much quieter, and this is one reason why many city-
dwellers like eon get to rural areas when they have a chance. 
 

 
Sources of noise pollution 
Most noise pollution comes from the following sources:  

1) Construction activities such as piling, drilling, excavating  

2) Transport systems, for example, moving cars, trains, trams  

3) Industrial and power plants  

4) Human noise as experienced in crowds or markets  

The urban areas of Hong Kong are often very noisy. Major sources of noise are
road traffic and various kinds of construction work. In places such as Mong Kok,
Kowloon City and Western District, noise comes mostly from major traffic routes,
elevated highways, flyovers and congested spots. People living in mixed land use
zones (e.g. Hung Hom, Tai Kok Tsui) are especially affected by industrial noise.  

There is also the problem of neighborhood noise in high density residential areas
especially late at night. Neighborhood noise is created when people play mahjong,
listen to the radio and watch TV. 

Effects of noise pollution 

- A noise environment may damage people's hearing.  

- A noisy environment can make people become bad-tempered, nervous and
mentally ill.  
- People cannot be concentrated on doing something  

Light Pollution
What is Light Pollution?

In a nutshell, Light Pollution is misdirected or misused light, generally resulting

from an inappropriate application of exterior lighting products. Light Pollution
comes in several flavors... each with its own negative effects. These are:

Sky Glow
Light wastefully escaping into the night sky and causing a glow over
urban/suburban areas.

Glare
Light shining dangerously out into people’s eyes as they walk or drive by.
Light Trespass
Unwanted light shining onto a neighbor’s property or into their home.

Why should I care?

Light Pollution impacts us all, in many ways. Some of these are quite obvious,
others are much less obvious.

Light Pollution Wastes

5 to 10 billion depending on whose numbers you want to use.

Light Pollution Wastes

Incredible amounts of valuable natural resources. Hundreds of millions of barrels
of oil, and hundreds of millions of tons of coal, just so people can light the bottoms
of clouds?   

Light Pollution Pollutes

The air we breathe through needless generation of electricity (most of which comes
from fossil fuels). See the previous comment about burning oil & coal. Air
pollution is a serious problem that affects large segments of the population.  

Light Pollution Harms

Many species won't even go near an area that has bad lighting. Also, many species
will simply stop reproducing if habitat destruction from overly bright lights
becomes too severe. Light Pollution currently threatens all Florida.

Light Pollution Harms

This is serious! This can be thought of as second hand smoke in the 1970's.
Researchers were just starting to look into the effects of second hand smoke back
then. Many people laughed at the idea that one person could smoke and another
person could be harmed. Today, we know that this is in fact the case.   
Light Pollution Destroys
90% of all American live under skies that are "affected" by light pollution... while
roughly half cannot see the Milky Way from their homes. This is a shame.
Mankind has throughout history looked to the stars to try to understand events
around them.

Mercury Pollution

Mercury is a global problem. It can cause neurological problems, reproductive, and

development abnormalities. Mercury is the most familiar in a dense, silvery liquid.
Products that contain mercury can be released into the atmosphere for disposal.
Mercury is in the present fossil fuel coal. Mercury in the air takes the form of gas
and travels far. When examining mercury most look for methyl mercury that is in
fish like tuna prompted consumption warnings mostly for children and pregnant
women. A study shows that pregnant women with high contact in methyl mercury
have problems with memory, language, and attention. This study was done at
Faeroe Islands.
Oil Pollution

Oil is one of the main sources for marine pollution in the oceans. According to
Ocean Plant there are 706 gallons of oil pollution every year. The types of oil
pollution include Offshore Drilling, Large Oil Spills, Natural Seeps, Up in Smoke,
Routine Maintenance, and Down the Drain.

 Offshore Drilling comes from operation discharges and drilling accidents

during oceanic oil exploration.
 Large Oil Spills are the result from oil tankers accidents such as collisions
and groundings.
 Natural seeps come from seepage off the ocean floor and eroding
sedimentary rock.
 Up in Smoke comes from oil consumption in automobiles and industry.
 Routine Maintenance occurs from ship bilge cleaning and so forth.
 Down the Drain occurs from people dumping oils and oil products down
storm drains after oil changes and urban street runoff.

This is a graph that shows how many millions of gallons of oil are put into the
oceans from different sources.

The worst type of oil pollution is oil that is dumped into drains and road run off.
Preventions include: double hulling oil tankers so there is less chance of oil spills
and using oil recycling factories that tell people not to pore oil down storm drains
which pollutes millions of gallons of water. Oil pollution is so bad because it
damages the fur and feathers of animals and prevents them from keeping warm and
they may die from freezing. Others include accidental poisoning, blindness if
exposed to oil, liver damage, and other disabilities.