Sources of Pollution

Domestic Sources

Domestic sources of pollution include toilets, latrines and wastewater from kitchens and bathrooms.
Open drains and Nullahs obviously releases human waste into the environment, which can then be
washed into rivers and other surface waters.

The organic wastes from domestic sources include human excreta and also food waste and other
kitchen waste such as cooking oil residues.

Solid wastes from households, shops, markets and businesses include food waste, packaging
materials and other forms of rubbish. Domestic sources are also responsible for gaseous pollutants in
the form of smoke and carbon dioxide from domestic fires.

Industry

Pollution from the industrial sector has been on the rise, posing a serious problem to the
environment. Many industrial processes produce polluting waste substances that are discharged to
the environment, frequently through chimneys (to the air) or through pipes (to surface water)
Among the most polluting industries are food processing, tanneries and textiles with processing
plants and factories that produce liquid effluents which are discharged into rivers, often without
treatment. In practice, rivers frequently receive polluting discharges from many different sources all
at the same time.

Agriculture

Agricultural activities use more pesticides and fertilizers. Fertiliser contains phosphate and nitrate
and if these reach water bodies they can cause excessive plant growth. Plant fertilizers can
encourage excessive growth of vegetation if they are washed into lakes and other water bodies.

Agriculture is also responsible for gaseous pollutants in the form of methane produced by livestock
and solid pollutants from crop residues, packaging materials and other wastes similar to those
produced domestically. Animals also contribute to waste products and potential pollutants with their
excrement.

Transport

There is variety of vehicles on our roads. These vehicles differ not only in their size, but also by using
different types of fuel such as petrol, diesel, and blended fuel (10% ethanol and petrol). If you
observe the tailpipe of diesel engine vehicles, you will have seen the black exhaust gas produced. The
intensity of the black colour is greater for poorly maintained vehicles, to the extent sometimes that it
makes the air hazy or smoky and causes coughs and eye irritation. The lack of a policy to remove old
vehicles from the roads adds to the problem. Nearly half of vehicles in Pakistan are over 10 years old,
resulting in high levels of tailpipe emissions. Traffic jams, common in all big cities, make the problems
worse.
DEFORESTATION:

The effects of deforestation are very devastating and. It affects the ecological system in many ways.

Heavy Soil Erosion – The roots of the trees hold the soil firmly keeping it intact. With large scale
deforestation soil erosion and landslides have become a normal phenomenon.

Extinction of flora and fauna – Destruction of the forests leads to a tragic loss of biodiversity. Millions
of plants and animal species are on the verge of extinction due to deforestation.

Global warming – The trees absorb the harmful carbon dioxide and release the life sustaining oxygen,
thus acting as natural friends of humans. Deforestation increases the amount of carbon dioxide in
the atmosphere leading to global warming due to green house effect.

Silting of Rivers and Dams & Lowering of Water Table – Deforestation causes large scale deposition of
sediments in the rivers. This leads to collection of sediments in the dams, thus reducing their
lifespan.

Flooding – Trees absorb water in large quantities during heavy rains. Now there are very less tress to
retain water. This again leads to heavy floods causing heavy loss of life and property.