Introduction

Environmental pollution is not a new phenomenon, yet it remains the world’s greatest problem facing
humanity, and the leading environmental causes of morbidity and mortality. Man’s activities through
urbanization, industrialization, mining, and exploration are at the forefront of global environmental
pollution. Both developed and developing nations share this burden together, though awareness and
stricter laws in developed countries have contributed to a larger extent in protecting their environment.
Despite the global attention towards pollution, the impact is still being felt due to its severe long-term
consequences. This chapter examines the types of pollution—air, water, and soil; the causes and effects
of pollution; and proffers solutions in combating pollution for sustainable environment and health.

Types of pollution

1 Air Pollution

The air we breathe is an essential ingredient for our wellbeing and a healthy life. Unfortunately polluted
air is common throughout the world specially in developed countries from 1960s.. South of Poland
Ukraine even famous crowded cities and countries are facing air pollution. Polluted air contains one, or
more, hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant that creates a hazard to general health. The main
pollutants found in the air we breathe include, particulate matter, PAHs, lead, ground-level ozone, heavy
metals, sulphur dioxide, benzene, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. Air pollution in cities causes a
shorter lifespan for city dwellers. Holland et al, illustrated that British scientists concluded that
particulate and related air pollution at high levels pose hazards to human health. According to Mishra
rapid growth in urban population, increasing industrialization, and rising demands for energy and motor
vehicles are the worsening air pollution levels. He added other factors, such as poor environmental
regulation, less efficient technology of production, congested roads, and age and poor maintenance of
vehicles, also add to the problem. He further added that air pollution is caused of ill health and death by
natural and man-made sources, major man-made sources of ambient air pollution include tobacco
smoke, combustion of solid fuels for cooking, heating, home cleaning agents, insecticides industries,
automobiles, power generation, poor environmental regulation, less efficient technology of production,
congested roads, and age and poor maintenance of vehicles. The natural sources include incinerators
and waste disposals, forest and agricultural fires

Causes

causes of air polution Some air pollution is from natural causes but most is caused by humans, and it
can impact every aspect of our lives.

1. The Burning of Fossil Fuels

When fossil fuels are burned, they release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the air. This is a climate-
altering gas. When we use dirty fuels — coal, gasoline, diesel — to power our cars, heat our homes, and
drive industry, we are creating an environmental and existential catastrophe. A recent study found that
not only does it destroy our climate, the burning of fossil fuels is responsible for the deaths of around
eight million people a year.

2. Agricultural Activities

Farming animals, including fish, creates vast amounts of air pollution. Not only does producing animal
products require a lot more land, which means the destruction of climate-protecting trees, but it creates
a lot of dangerous emissions. More than 168 gases are emitted from factory farm waste, including
hazardous chemicals such as ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and methane. The animals trapped inside
these farming systems suffer as a result, and so do the people who live nearby. Headaches, nausea, and
other problems caused by the fumes and odors coming from such farms are commonplace and children
who live nearby suffer a higher incidence of asthma. Farm workers who inhale the toxic gases created by
the animals’ waste may even die.

3. Waste in Landfills

Similar toxic gases are emitted from landfill sites. Ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, methane and carbon
dioxide are all created when bacteria break down the trash we dispose of. The unpleasant odors are one
thing, but these gases have health and environmental implications too. Not only do they contribute to
the climate crisis, but even short-term exposure can lead to respiratory problems, irritation of the eyes,
nose and throat, headaches, and nausea. When we throw things away, we contribute to this pollution,
and it’s a reminder that nothing is entirely disposable; there are always consequences.

4. Exhaust From Factories and Industries

Since the dawn of industrialization, industries have been polluting the air with toxic chemicals and
driving health and ecological crises. Often, they are powered by fossil fuels, which exacerbates their
detrimental impact.

5. Mining Operations

Pollution is caused at every stage of the mining process, from excavation to transportation to processing
to refining. At the start of the process, wind erosion and traffic cause unrefined materials from the site
to become airborne. These may contain lead, arsenic, cadmium, and other toxic elements. Such
pollutants are associated with diseases of the respiratory system and allergies.

6. Fishing Fleets
When we think of the impact our diets have on the environment, we tend to think of factory farming.
But the fishing industry creates a lot of air pollution, too. One study found that fishing boats that trawl
the ocean floor release as much carbon dioxide as the entire aviation industry.

7. Forest Fires

The size and frequency of wildfires are growing due to climate change. They release large quantities of
carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and fine particulate matter into the atmosphere, which further drives
climate breakdown and the likelihood of more forest fires. The resulting air pollution can cause both
respiratory and cardiovascular problems. It is astonishing, therefore, that meat industry operations
deliberately set fires to clear the way for the expansion of their operations.

Effects

effects of air pollution Greenhouse Gases

One of the most devastating consequences of air pollution is climate breakdown. When we burn fossil
fuels or farm animals for their meat, milk, and eggs, we release vast amounts of climate-altering gases.
The only way to protect the planet is to change our behavior.

Smog and Soot

Smog is another word for ground level ozone, and it is caused when burning fossil fuels react with
sunlight. Soot is particulate matter carried in the air. Both cause respiratory ill-health.

Mold

Mold is an indoor pollutant. Mold spores proliferate in damp environments so poorly heated or badly
ventilated homes can be at risk. Mold is not only unpleasant, it can cause serious illness, even death. A
two-year-old boy in Britain recently died from inhaling mold spores from the substandard social housing
he lived in.

Acid Rain

Burning fossil fuels releases sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides which combine with oxygen and water in
the atmosphere to fall as acid rain. This devastates forests, crops, waterways, and the life within them.
Air pollution regulations have reduced acid rain in many parts of the world, but sadly not all.
Eutrophication

The damaging accumulation of nutrients in water often starts with air pollution. When nitrogen and
sulfur from industry, including industrial animal farming, are released, they pollute their air and find
their way into waterways. Once there, they trigger the explosive growth of algae, which uses up all the
oxygen in the water. Animals who live there must flee or die.

Effect on Wildlife

Air pollution can seriously damage the ecosystems in which wild animals live. It can kill vegetation and
insects, which has a knock-on impact on all other life. It can also affect wild animals directly, disrupting
their endocrine function, causing organ damage, disease, and death. This is just one way that farming
animals causes harm to wild animals.

Diseases

Air pollution can cause many diseases in people, including stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease, various cancers, asthma, and lower respiratory infections. There is also evidence of a link
between air pollution and type 2 diabetes, systemic inflammation, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia.

Water pollution

Water pollution The water we drink are essential ingredients for our wellbeing and a healthy life.
Unfortunately polluted water and air are common throughout the world. The WHO states that one sixth
of the world’s population, approximately 1.1 billion people do not have access to safe water and 2.4
billion lack basic sanitation .Polluted water consists of Industrial discharged effluents, sewage water, rain
water pollution and polluted by agriculture or households cause damage to human health or the
environment. This water pollution affects the health and quality of soils and vegetation Some water
pollution effects are recognized immediately, whereas others don’t show up for months or years
Estimation that more than fifty countries of the world with an area of twenty million hectares area are
treated with polluted or partially treated polluted water including parts of all continents and this poor
quality water causes health hazard and death of human being, aquatic life and also disturbs the
production of different crops In fact, the effects of water pollution are said to be the leading cause of
death for humans across the globe, moreover, water pollution affects our oceans, lakes, rivers, and
drinking water, making it a widespread and global concern A drinking water contained a fluoride content
ranging from 5.26 to 26.32 milligrams per liter and this is too high as compared to the World Health In
present scenario due to industrialization and increased population, the drains of Pakistan carry the
industrial and municipal effluents that are ultimately carried that polluted water to the canals and rivers.
The untreated industrial and municipal wastes have created multiple environmental hazards for
mankind, irrigation, drinking and sustenance of aquatic life. The drainage water contains heavy metals in
addition to biological contaminations. This water pollution infected our food in addition to groundwater
contamination when used to irrigate crops. Pakistani cities are facing tribulations of urban congestion,
deteriorating air and water quality and waste management while the rural areas are witnessing rapid
deforestation, biodiversity and habitat loss, crop failure, desertification, land degradation, clean drinking
water, noise pollution, sanitation

Land \solid waste pollution

Improper management of solid waste is one of the main causes of environmental pollution Land
pollution is one of the major forms of environmental catastrophe our world is facing today . As Bulgaria
and the Slovak Republic, heavy metal industries have produced wastes that are deposited into landfills
without special precautions posit that approximately half of the population lives in the vicinity of waste
sites that do not conform to contemporary standards in Romania. Czech Republic’s coal and uranium
mines have produced serious pollution problems, and much of the solid industrial waste containing
heavy metals is disposed of, without pretreatment, in open dumps concluded as the worst pollution of
Hungary comes from open cast mines, lignite-based power plants, chemical factories, and the aluminum
industry. The Silesia district in the south of Poland has severe contamination from mining and industry
Avdeev & Korchagin conceived soil pollution are critical issues in Ukraine. World Bank found Particulate
matter is the most serious pollutant in large cities in South Asia.

Causes of land pollution

The leading causes of land pollution are: Improper disposal of wastes released from factories and
agricultural wastes also cause land pollution. Rapid construction, Mineral exploitation, Acid rain
chemicals used in agriculture. Soil degradation (through excessive grazing, excessive farming, extreme
mining activities, etc.) also causes soil pollution. It is contaminating the surface of the earth, and hence
the environment is getting polluted.

Land Pollution Causes

Soil pollution is a form of land pollution in which the soil’s upper layer is harmed. Overuse of chemical
fertilizers, soil degradation caused by running water, and other pest control measures contribute to the
loss of agricultural land, forest cover, and grazing pastures, among other things.

Various Causes of Land Pollution are listed below.

Agricultural Activities – As animal production grows, it becomes decoupled from crop production,
causing normal nutrient cycles between plants, soil, and animals to be severely disrupted, resulting in
the widespread use of synthetic herbicides, insecticides, bactericides, and fertilizers, all of which
contribute to pollution.
Mining Activities – Mining has the potential to pollute the air and water supply, damage biodiversity
and ecosystems, and permanently alter natural landscapes. Mining harms the ecosystem by destroying
habitats, causing soil erosion, and polluting surface water, groundwater, and soil.

Urbanization – Intensive urbanization will exacerbate poverty by preventing local municipalities from
providing services to all residents. Increased air pollution from concentrated energy usage has a direct
effect on human health. Lead levels in urban air are elevated as a result of automobile emissions.

Nuclear Waste – The soil is also contaminated by radioactive waste from nuclear research stations and
nuclear power plants, as well as radioactive fallout from nuclear explosions. Since radioactive materials
have a long half-life, they can survive in the soil for long periods of time

Effect

Various Effects of Land Pollution are listed below.

Climate Change – Land contamination, such as that caused by mining, farming, and factories, may allow
harmful chemicals to enter the soil and water. These chemicals have the potential to kill animals and
plants, destroying the food chain. Landfills emit methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global
warming.

Acid Rain – Forests, especially those at higher elevations, are also harmed by acid rain and fog. Acid
deposits deplete vital nutrients like calcium and allow aluminum to be released into the soil, making it
difficult for trees to absorb water. Acids also damage the leaves and needles of trees.

Deterioration of fields – A chain reaction occurs as a result of soil contamination. It alters soil
biodiversity, decreases soil organic matter, and reduces soil’s filtering ability. It also contaminates water
contained in the soil and groundwater, resulting in nutrient imbalances in the soil.

Respiratory health problems – Air pollution can irritate your airways, causing shortness of breath,
coughing, wheezing, asthma attacks, and chest pain. Lung cancer, heart attacks, strokes, and, in the
worst-case scenario, premature death are all risks associated with air pollution exposure

Noise Pollution

When the intensity of sound crosses 85 dB, it causes us both mental and physical discomfort. This is
what is known as sound pollution. It is also called noise pollution which affects not only human health
but is also harmful to animals.

Effects of noise pollution in humans include:

 It may cause hypertension. Blood pressure problems.

  An increase in stress level.
 Leads to anxiety.
 Effects of noise pollution in animals include:
 Reproductive problems.
 Breeding problems.
 Production issues.
 Loss of hearing.

There may be several reasons for noise pollution such as loudspeakers, disco, marriage functions,
industrial noise, etc. But we can control it through various steps.

Thermal Pollution

The excessive heat released from vehicles & factories may cause unwanted changes in nature. Thermal
pollution is polluting the water bodies on the Earth’s surface. In short, it is also a reason for water
pollution. Earth’s temperature is increasing day by day due to this. The effect is that it’s eventually
causing climate change, global warming, wildlife extinction, etc.

Causes of thermal pollution:

Increases Toxin levels.

Biodiversity in danger.

Increases temperature of the water.

Leads to soil erosion and deforestation.

Effects of thermal pollution: Harm to the marine life reproductive system.

Migration of marine species because of warm water.

Loss of life of many fishes and insects.

Huge environmental impact.

Light Pollution Excessive use of artificial light leads to this type of pollution. It lights up the skies at night.
The cycle of natural activities gets upset due to light pollution. As a result of this, wildlife is also getting
affected. It causes them an unnecessary nuisance. It is mainly observed in metropolitan & busy cities.

Radioactive Pollution
Well, this type of pollution happens due to the irresponsible disposal of nuclear waste and accidents in
nuclear plants. Radioactive pollution is the most hazardous pollution. It has permanent effects on living
organisms & the environment too.

Causes of radioactive pollution:

 Some cosmic rays are not visible to human eyes.

 Nuclear tests and accidents.
 Radiation tests.
 Increases of geological processes by mining.
 Using radioactive chemicals.
 Blindness, skin allergy, infertility, etc.
 Effects of radioactive pollution:
 Many skin diseases, including cancer.
 Genetic mutations.
 This leads to soil infertility, and nutrients quality decreases.
 Burning of skin
However, it is quite hard to avoid radiation in our life because radiation is everywhere. Our cell
phones, medical examination equipment, etc. everything runs on radiation. Radiation surrounds
us at every moment of our life. The best option to protect ourselves from radiation is to
maintain some distance from gadgets and equipment. We also should minimize the use of these
types of equipment to save the environment

What is the current situation of Pakistan?