1.1.
1 Effects of Pollution on Environment, Industry and
Humans :
Pollution is a state when an adverse change takes
place in the Natural environment due to the
introduction of contaminants. These contaminants are
a variety of Chemicals, Solid wastes, Garbage, Sewage,
Oils. It can also be caused by Energies like the Sound,
Light or Heat. Particulates like Smoke, Dust, Ozone
depleting layers too cause Pollution. They not only
disturb the Environment but also Living Entities such as
Humans, the Animals, the Birds and the Marine
Ecosystem. For example, a Sea fish eating these
harmful substances may eventually be eaten by other
Marine animal or a flying bird or by a human. These
Foreign bodies entering all the above via the Food
chain impacts the Ecological system
A ship produces Wastes and Garbage such as
Plastics, Dunnage, Packing material, cleaning material,
Rags, Oily Rags, Paper products, Food waste, Remains
of Paints, Solvents, Chemicals, Sludge, N2O, SOx, CO,
CO2, HCs, BCs, NOx, Noise, Grey Water, Black Water,
Ballast Water.
Ballast Water Pollution - Transfers Microbes and
micro-organisms, vegetation, sea animals(jelly fishes).
Aggressive Organisms from one part of the world may
wipe out the passive Organisms in another part.
Air Pollution - Releases Nitrous Oxides, Nitrogen
Oxide, Sulphur Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Carbon
Dioxide, Hydrocarbons and Black Carbons (caused by
incomplete combustion in ME, AE, ABlr) and
Incineration of Waste on board.
Noise Pollution - Sound from Running Machineries,
of Waves clashing with Ships, Pounding, Alarms,
Entertainment activities on Ships reverberating through
the Ship’s Hull causes the Environment to disturb its
Marine Ecosystem. Noise disturbs the Marine Animals
and Mammals such as Killer Whales, Dolphins whose
sensitive hearing gets harmed and debilitated, leading
to their death and thus loss of ecosystem.
Grey Water Pollution - From Sinks, Laundries,
Showers, Galleys containing not only harmful chemicals
but also metals and minerals.
Blackwater / Sewage Pollution - From Flushes,
Hospitals containing Bacteria and Algae adversely
affecting the oceanic life forms and the entire marine
ecosystem. All the Shit is dumped into the Sea after
passing through STP.
Chemical Pollution - Toxic Chemicals from Batteries,
Dry cleaning chemicals, Expired Chemicals pose a huge
threat to the lives of marine creatures and life forms.
Marpol Annexe II deals with Regs for control of Noxious
Liquid Substances in bulk.
Oil Pollution - Overflow, Cargo Hose rupture,
Collisions and accidents too cause oil pollution.
Bilge Pollution - Fuels burnt contain dangerous
levels of Sulphur and heavy metals. Faulty Engine and
Boiler Systems and improper repair work causes
leakage of oil.
Solid Waste Pollution - Generation of Ash and
smoke, Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Dioxins,
Furans, Paper, Cardboard, Aluminium materials form
unwanted debris on the Ocean’s surface, posing large
scale threats to marine plants and creatures.
Garbage Pollution - From Food wastes, Plastic
Damage to Estuaries, Coral Reefs, Destruction of
natural wonders, marine Fauna and Flora.
Thermal Pollution – From Exhausts
Pollutions have also known to injure or kill Marine
Lives particularly Fin Whales, Killer Whales Humpback
Whales and Dolphins. Thus, it is so necessary for us not
to break the Chain Reaction and to exercise caution and
care for the aquatic life.
Effects of Pollution
1) Release of Destructive Gases and Particulates
leads to Respiratory and long term Health problems
such as Cancers, Cognitive Impairme, Skin Allergies
not only to Humans but also to Animals and Plants.
2) Ozone Depletion due to Chemical reaction
3) Travel and Tourism Industry is affected and thus
Revenue is hampered for other Industries such as
Food or Shopping
4) Fishing Industry is affected which sets up a
cascade of other Industries linked to it such as the
Hotel Industry
5) Global Warming due to GHG. They absorb
Sunlight and Radiations to heat up
6) Acidic Rain Precipitation due to increased levels
of Hydrogen ions. Acids are produced when SO2
and Oxides of N2 combine with Water Molecules.
7) Wildlife is affected
8) Hazard to Marine Life and increase in Water-
borne disease
9) Hypertrophication and Eutrophication leading
to excessive growth of Algae
10) Higher Mercury levels in Water bodies
11) Land Degradation to Natural Soil Environment
12) Reduction in Natural Nutrients
13) Impact on Flora and Fauna
14) Land Salinity is increased
15) Pollution leads to decreased Productivity and
Procreativity
16) Fatigue, Hearing Loss, Stress in Marine Animals
and Land Animals alike.
