What is Industrial Pollution?

With the coming of the Industrial Revolution, humans were able to advance further
into the 21st century. Technology developed rapidly, science became advanced and
the manufacturing age came into view. With all of these came one more effect,
industrial pollution. Earlier, industries were small factories that produced smoke as
the main pollutant.

However, since the number of factories were limited and worked only a certain
number of hours a day, the levels of pollution did not grow significantly. But when
these factories became full-scale industries and manufacturing units, the issue of
industrial pollution started to take on more importance.

Any form of pollution that can trace its immediate source to industrial practices is

known as industrial pollution. Most of the pollution on the planet can be traced
back to industries of some kind. In fact, the issue of industrial pollution has taken
on grave importance for agencies trying to fight against environmental
degradation. Countries facing sudden and rapid growth of such industries are
finding it to be a serious problem which has to be brought under control
immediately.

Industrial pollution takes on many faces. It contaminates many sources of drinking

water, releases unwanted toxins into the air and reduces the quality of soil all over
the world. Major environmental disasters have been caused due to industrial
mishaps, which have yet to be brought under control. Below are a few of the causes
of industrial pollution that have resulted in environmental degradation.

Causes of Industrial Pollution

1. Lack of Policies to Control Pollution:
Lack of effective policies and poor enforcement drive allowed many industries to
bypass laws made by the pollution control board which resulted in mass scale
pollution that affected the lives of many people.
2. Unplanned Industrial Growth
In most industrial townships, unplanned growth took place wherein those
companies flouted rules and norms and polluted the environment with both air
and water pollution.

3. Use of Outdated Technologies

Most industries still rely on old technologies to produce products that generate a
large amount of waste. To avoid high cost and expenditure, many companies still
make use of traditional technologies to produce high-end products.

4. Presence of a Large Number of Small Scale Industries

Many small scale industries and factories that don’t have enough capital and rely on
government grants to run their day-to-day businesses often escape environment
regulations and release a large number of toxic gases in the atmosphere.

5. Inefficient Waste Disposal

Water pollution and soil pollution are often caused directly due to inefficiency in the
disposal of waste. Long term exposure to polluted air and water causes chronic
health problems, making the issue of industrial pollution into a severe one. It also
lowers the air quality in surrounding areas which causes many respiratory
disorders.

6. Leaching of Resources From Our Natural World

Industries do require a large amount of raw material to make them into finished
products. This requires the extraction of minerals from beneath the earth. The
extracted minerals can cause soil pollution when spilled on the earth. Leaks from
vessels can cause oil spills that may prove harmful for marine life.
Effects of Industrial Pollution on Our
Environment
1. Water Pollution
The effects of industrial pollution are far-reaching and liable to affect the ecosystem
for many years to come. Most industries require large amounts of water for their
work. When involved in a series of processes, the water comes into contact with
heavy metals, harmful chemicals, radioactive waste, and even organic sludge.

These are either dumped into open oceans or rivers. As a result, many of our water
sources have a high amount of industrial waste in them which seriously impacts the
health of our ecosystem. The same water is then used by farmers for irrigation
purpose which affects the quality of food that is produced.

Water pollution has already rendered many groundwater resources useless for

humans and wildlife. It can at best be recycled for further usage in industries.

2. Soil Pollution
Soil pollution is creating problems in agriculture and destroying local vegetation. It
also causes chronic health issues to the people that come in contact with such soil
on a daily basis.

3. Air Pollution
Air pollution has led to a steep increase in various illnesses and it continues to
affect us on a daily basis. With so many small, mid and large scale industries
coming up, air pollution has taken the toll on the health of the people and the
environment.

4. Wildlife Extinction
By and large, the issue of industrial pollution shows us that it causes natural
rhythms and patterns to fail, meaning that the wildlife is getting affected in a severe
manner. Habitats are being lost, species are becoming extinct and it is harder for
the environment to recover from each natural disaster. Major industrial accidents
like oil spills, fires, the leak of radioactive material and damage to property are
harder to clean-up as they have a higher impact in a shorter span of time.

5. Global Warming
With the rise in industrial pollution, global warming has been increasing at a steady
pace. Smoke and greenhouse gases are being released by industries into the air
which causes an increase in global warming. Melting of glaciers, extinction of polar
bears, floods, tsunamis, hurricanes are few of the effects of global warming.

The issue of industrial pollution concerns every nation on the planet. As a result,
many steps have been taken to seek permanent solutions to the problem. Better
technology is being developed for the disposal of waste and recycling as
much polluted water in the industries as possible.

Organic methods are being used to clean the water and soil, such as using
microbes that naturally use heavy metals and waste as feed. Policies are being
pushed into place to prevent further misuse of land. However, industrial pollution is
still rampant and will take many years to be brought under control.

Pollution[edit]

Trash thrown in an empty plot in Karachi, Pakistan.

The World Bank report in 2013 stated that Pakistan's top environmental issues include air pollution, inadequate
supply of uncontaminated drinking water, noise pollution and the health deterioration of urban and rural
populations due to pollution. These environmental concerns not only harm Pakistani citizens but also pose a
serious threat to the country's economy. The report also stated that the increase
in industrialization, urbanization and motorization will inevitably worsen this problem.[3]

Water pollution[edit]
Main article:  Water supply and sanitation in Pakistan
Pakistan is classified as a water stressed nation by the World Bank. There are seven main rivers that enter
Pakistan from upper riparian states, including the Kabul River that enters from Afghanistan, and the Indus
River, Jhelum River, Chenab River, Ravi River, and Sutlej River that enter from India. Among these the Ravi
and Sutlej are diverted in upstream India, for which consumptive use was awarded to India under the Indus
Waters Treaty signed in 1960 by India and Pakistan. Canal networks from the Indus (main stem), Jhelum River,
and Chenab River supply water throughout the agricultural plains in Punjab and in Sindh, while the rest of the
country has very little access to other fresh water.[1] Potential scarcity of water not only threatens Pakistan's
economy but also poses a serious threat to the lives of millions of Pakistanis.
Lower flows due to the Indus Waters Treaty, as well as diversion to canals, means that lower dilution flows are
available within the rivers of Pakistan. On the other hand, water pollution generation is increasing largely due to
the growing economy and population, and an almost complete lack of water treatment. The sources for water
pollution include the overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the dumping of industrial effluent into lakes
and rivers, untreated sewage being dumped into rivers and the ocean, and contaminated pipelines being used
to transport water.[4] The contamination of fresh drinking water makes it harder for people to find clean water
supplies and increases the prevalence of waterborne diseases. Consequently, most of the reported health
problems in Pakistan are either a direct or indirect result of polluted water. [5] 45% of infant deaths are due to
diarrhea and 60% to overall waterborne diseases. [6]

Noise pollution[edit]
The megacities of Pakistan, such as Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, face the issue of noise
pollution. The main source of this pollution is the traffic noise caused by buses, cars, trucks, rickshaws and
water tankers. A study showed that on one of Karachi's main roads, the average noise level was around 90 dB
and was capable of reaching about 110 dB. This is much higher than the ISO's noise level standard of 70 dB,
which is not meant to be harmful to the human ear. However, the study also concluded that in Pakistan, "the
traffic noise levels limit as laid down by National Environment Quality standards, Environmental Protection
Agency is 85 dB".[7]
This high level of noise pollution can cause auditory and non-auditory health issues. Auditory issues include the
loss of auditory sensory cells; non-auditory health issues include sleep disturbance, noise and cardiovascular
disease, endocrine response to noise and psychiatric disorder.[8] There are very few, vague laws and policies in
regards to noise levels. There is no accountability, and while the federal and provincial environmental
protection agencies receive dozens of complaints on noise pollution from the public, these agencies are unable
to take action due to legal constraints and the absence of national noise level standards. [9]

Air pollution[edit]
Air pollution is a growing environmental problem in most major cities of Pakistan. According to a World Bank
report, "Karachi's urban air pollution is among the most severe in the world and it engenders significant
damages to human health and the economy". The inefficient use of energy, an increase in the number of
vehicles used daily, an increase in unregulated industrial emissions and the burning of garbage and plastic
have contributed the most to air pollution in urban areas. According to a recent study, the Sindh Environment
Protection Department claims that the average level of pollution in big cities is approximately four times higher
than the World Health Organisation's limits. These emissions have detrimental effects, including "respiratory
diseases, reduced visibility, loss of vegetation and an effect on the growth of plants."
One of the greatest contributors to air pollution is industrial activity. The inadequate air emission treatments and
lack of regulatory control over industrial activity has contributed to the deterioration of ambient air quality in
major cities. In addition, the common practice of burning massive amounts of solid waste, including plastic and
rubber, on street corners by the public, releases toxic gases, which are extremely harmful for residents in the
area.
In 2018, a young entrepreneur in Karachi, Abid Omar, launched the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative to monitor air
quality in Pakistan's big cities. The project aims to increase the availability of air quality data in Pakistan and
make citizens more aware of the health impacts of air pollution.[10] The US State Department has set up three
high-quality air quality monitoring stations at three locations in Pakistan.