Making small changes in our everyday habits

can have huge impacts.

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into

the natural environment that cause adverse
change.[1] Pollution can take the form of any
substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such
as radioactivity, heat, sound, or
light). Pollutants, the components of pollution,
can be either foreign substances/energies or
naturally occurring contaminants. Although
environmental pollution can be caused by
natural events, the word pollution generally
implies that the contaminants have an
anthropogenic source — that is, a source
created by human activities. Pollution is often
classed as point source or nonpoint source
pollution. In 2015, pollution killed 9 million
people worldwide. Since plastics were first
developed in the 1950’s, the ensuing pollution
has become a major environmental
concern both on land and most especially in the
oceans. We have seen an exponential rise in
the production and disposal of plastics and
unfortunately plastic never really goes away.
Plastic pollution can be found in even the most
remote areas of the planet, a plastic bag was
even found in the Mariana Trench at a depth of
10,000m! It is estimated that by 2050 there will
be more plastic in the oceans than fish, that is a
terrifying thought!
There are different types of plastic pollution and
each one has a different impact. Macro plastics
(> 5mm) such as bottles, containers, bags,
balloons and Styrofoam are ingested by
animals such as seabirds, fish and turtles
causing a slow and painful death.
Researchers estimate 90% of seabirds and
76% of fish have ingested plastic and by
2050 it will be as high as 99%. Abandoned
and discarded ‘ghost’ nets trap and kill
thousands of turtles, sharks, rays, dolphins
and whales with an estimated 4,000-10,000
turtles entangled in Northern Australia in the
last decade alone. Macro plastics carried by
ocean currents (gyres) have formed massive
areas of high concentrations of plastic
debris which are a major hazard to wildlife.
Microplastics (< 5mm) also have a major
impact on ocean dwellers. These are formed
either by macro plastics which have broken
down over time or are fabricated such as
microbeads used in cosmetics and
cleansers, or fibres shed from synthetic
textiles. Corals and zooplankton will
consume microplastics and as these are
coated in toxic bacteria this causes the
animals to become sick and die. Some
corals even select plastic over their usual
food which is a serious concern to
researchers. Whether it be sharks or
dolphins killed in ghost nets or microscopic
plankton ingesting plastics with toxic
chemicals it is a serious, global problem
which affects everyone.

Kathmandu, Nepal | World’s most polluted cities

Haphazard expansion of the capital city due to
uncoordinated planning makes Kathmandu one
of the world’s most polluted cities in 2021. The
Bagmati river in Kathmandu is highly
contaminated due to insufficient wastewater
treatment facilities and low levels of awareness
among the people concerning waste disposal.
Building construction processes and vehicular
exhaust emissions add to air pollution as well as
noise pollution. 
Tetovo, North Macedonia
The most polluted city in Europe, Tetovo, is located
in the northwest of North Macedonia, on the
foothills of the Šar mountains. The city is largely
dependent on the highly polluting lignite coal-
powered industry which serves domestic heating
purposes. Automobile emissions from old obsolete
vehicles are another major cause of pollution.
Improper waste disposal and harmful gases released
from industries add to the toxicity of the air. 
As per 2018 statistics, 38% of all deaths in Tetovo
are directly caused because of air pollution. Illegal
logging in the nearby mountain forests reduces the
green cover and this, in turn, harms the ecosystem
even more. Drinkable water is also lacking in Tetovo
because industrial waste is continuously dumped
into the city’s rivers.
Kabul, Afghanistan
In Kabul, one of the most polluted capital cities in
the world, about 3000 people die annually due to
respiratory diseases caused by contaminated air. The
use of poor-quality fuel, raw coal, and even plastic
materials and car tires, majorly contributes to the
dangerous levels of air contaminants. 
On top of this, a lack of forestland has led to a
situation where there is no carbon sink in the city to
absorb the threatening amount of carbon
emissions. Irregular usage of groundwater, lack of
sufficient infrastructure, and low rainfall have led to
a scenario where 80% of drinking water is polluted,
causing food poisoning and other diseases.
Ways to Reduce Plastic Pollution
 Buy in bulk.
Single-serving yogurts, travel-size toiletries,
tiny packages of nuts—consider the
product-to-packaging ratio of items you
tend to buy often and select the bigger
container instead of buying several smaller
ones over time.

 Wean yourself off disposable plastics.

Ninety percent of the plastic items in our
daily lives are used once and then chucked:
grocery bags, plastic wrap, disposable
cutlery, straws, coffee-cup lids. Take note of
how often you rely on these products and
replace them with reusable versions. It only
takes a few times of bringing your own bags
to the store, silverware to the office, or
travel mug to Starbucks before it becomes
habit.

Stop buying water.

Each year, close to 20 billion plastic bottles
are tossed in the trash. Carry a reusable
bottle in your bag, and you’ll never be
caught having to resort to a Poland Spring
or Evian again. If you’re nervous about the
quality of your local tap water, look for a
model with a built-in filter.

Purchase items secondhand.

New toys and electronic gadgets, especially,
come with all kinds of plastic packaging—
from those frustrating hard-to-crack shells
to twisty ties. Search the shelves of thrift
stores, neighborhood garage sales, or
online postings for items that are just as
good when previously used. You’ll save
yourself a few bucks, too.

We can help the world or our coutry, please

be good-natured and if you see anything
that could cause pollution, take it and throw
in the trash .

After all , this may not stop but reduce the

pollution of our coutry.
Making small changes in our everyday habits
can have huge impacts.