Pollution

By Aritra Saha
 Pollution: Definition

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural Pollution has widespread consequence on human and
environment that cause adverse change. Pollution can take the form environmental health, having systematic impact on social and
of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such as economic systems. In 2015, pollution killed nine million people
radioactivity, heat, sound, or light). Pollutants, the components of worldwide (one in six deaths). Air pollution accounted for 3⁄4 of these
pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or naturally earlier deaths. A 2022 literature survey found that levels of
occurring contaminants. anthropogenic chemical pollution have exceeded
Although environmental pollution can be caused by natural events, planetary boundaries and now threaten entire ecosystems around
the word pollution generally implies that the contaminants the world. Pollutants frequently have outsized impacts on vulnerable
have an anthropogenic source – that is, a source created by human populations, such as children and the elderly, and marginalized
activities, such as manufacturing, extractive industries, poor communities, because polluting industries and toxic waste sites tend
waste management, transportation or agriculture. Pollution is often to be collocated with populations with less economic and political
classed as point source (coming from a highly concentrated specific power. This outsized impact is a core reason for the formation of
site, such as a factory or mine) or nonpoint source pollution (coming the environmental justice movement, and continues to be a core
from a widespread distributed sources, such as microplastics or element of environmental conflicts, particularly in the Global South.
agricultural runoff).
Because of the impacts of these chemicals, local, country and
Many sources of pollution were unregulated parts of industrialization
international policy have increasingly sought to regulate pollutants,
during the 19th and 20th centuries until the emergence of
resulting in increasing air and water quality standards, alongside
environmental regulation and pollution policy in the later half of the
regulation of specific waste streams. Regional and national policy is
20th century. Sites where historically polluting industries released
typically supervised by environmental agencies or ministries, while
persistent pollutants may have legacy pollution long after the source
of the pollution is stopped. Major forms of pollution include
international efforts are coordinated by the
air pollution, light pollution, litter, noise pollution, plastic pollution, UN Environmental Program and other treaty bodies. Pollution
soil contamination, radioactive contamination, thermal pollution, mitigation is an important part of all of the
visual pollution, and water pollution. Sustainable Development Goals.
 Types of Pollution
• Air pollution: the release of chemicals and particulates into the
atmosphere. Common gaseous pollutants include
carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
and nitrogen oxides produced by industry and motor vehicles.
Photochemical ozone and smog are created as nitrogen oxides
and hydrocarbons react to sunlight. Particulate matter, or fine
dust is characterized by their micrometer size PM10 to PM2.5.
• Electromagnetic pollution: the overabundance of
electromagnetic radiation in their non - ionizing form, such as
radio and television transmissions, Wi-fi etc. Although there is no
demonstrable effect on humans there can be interference with
radio-astronomy and effects on safety systems of aircraft and
cars.
• Light pollution: includes light trespass, over - illumination and
astronomical interference.
• Littering: the criminal throwing of inappropriate man-made
objects, unremoved, onto public and private properties.
• Noise pollution: which encompasses roadway noise,
aircraft noise, industrial noise as well as high-intensity sonar.
• Plastic pollution: involves the accumulation of plastic products
and microplastics in the environment that adversely affects
wildlife, wildlife habitat, or humans.
• Soil contamination occurs when chemicals are released by spill
or underground leakage. Among the most significant
soil contaminants are hydrocarbons, heavy metals, MTBE,[14]
herbicides, pesticides and chlorinated hydrocarbons.
• Radioactive contamination, resulting from 20th century activities
in atomic physics, such as nuclear power generation and nuclear
weapons research, manufacture and deployment. (See
alpha emitters and actinides in the environment.)
• Thermal pollution, is a temperature change in natural water
bodies caused by human influence, such as use of water as
coolant in a power plant.
• Visual pollution, which can refer to the presence of overhead
power lines, motorway billboards, scarred landforms (as from
strip mining), open storage of trash, municipal solid waste or
space debris.
• Water pollution, caused by the discharge of industrial wastewater
from commercial and industrial waste (intentionally or through
spills) into surface waters; discharges of untreated sewage and
chemical contaminants, such as chlorine, from treated sewage;
and releases of waste and contaminants into surface runoff
flowing to surface waters (including urban runoff and agricultural
runoff, which may contain chemical fertilizers and pesticides, as
well as human feces from open defecation).
 Pollutant

A pollutant or novel entity is a substance or energy introduced into the environment that
has undesired effects, or adversely affects the usefulness of a resource. These can be
both naturally forming (i.e. minerals or extracted compounds like oil) or anthropogenic in
origin (i.e. manufactured materials or byproducts from biodegradation). Pollutants result in
environmental pollution or become public health concerns when they reach a concentration
high enough to have significant negative impacts.
A pollutant may cause long - or short - term damage by changing the growth rate of plant
or animal species, or by interfering with human amenities, comfort, health, or property
values. Some pollutants are biodegradable and therefore will not persist in the environment
in the long term. However, the degradation products of some pollutants are themselves
polluting such as the products DDE and DDD produced from the degradation of DDT.
Pollution has widespread negative impacts on the environment. When analyzed from a
planetary boundaries perspective, human society has released novel entities that well
exceed safe levels.
 Natural causes

One of the most significant natural sources of pollution are volcanoes, which during
eruptions release large quantities of harmful gases into the atmosphere. Volcanic
gases include carbon dioxide, which can be fatal in large concentrations and
contributes to climate change, hydrogen halides which can cause acid rain, sulfur
dioxides, which are harmful to animals and damage the ozone layer, and hydrogen
sulfides, which are capable of killing humans at concentrations of less than 1 part
per thousand. Volcanic emissions also include fine and ultrafine particles which
may contain toxic chemicals and substances such as arsenic, lead, and mercury.
Wildfires, which can be caused naturally by lightning strikes, are also a significant
source of air pollution. Wildfire smoke contains significant quantities of both carbon
dioxide and carbon monoxide, which can cause suffocation. Large quantities of
fine particulates are found within wildfire smoke as well, which pose a health risk to
animals.
 Human generation
Motor vehicle emissions are one of the leading causes of air
pollution. China, United States, Russia, India Mexico, and Japan
are the world leaders in air pollution emissions. Principal
stationary pollution sources include chemical plants, coal - fired
power plants, oil refineries, petrochemical plants, nuclear waste
disposal activity, incinerators, large livestock farms (dairy cows,
pigs, poultry, etc.), PVC factories, metals production factories,
plastics factories, and other heavy industry. Agricultural air
pollution comes from contemporary practices which include
clear felling and burning of natural vegetation as well as
spraying of pesticides and herbicides.
About 400 million metric tons of hazardous wastes are
generated each year. The United States alone produces about
250 million metric tons. Americans constitute less than 5% of
the world's population, but produce roughly 25% of the world's
CO2, and generate approximately 30% of world's waste. In
2007, China overtook the United States as the world's biggest
producer of CO2, while still far behind based on per capita
pollution (ranked 78th among the world's nations).
Chlorinated hydrocarbons (CFH), heavy metals (such as chromium, cadmium – found in
rechargeable batteries, and lead – found in lead paint, aviation fuel, and even in certain
countries, gasoline), MTBE, zinc, arsenic, and benzene are some of the most frequent
soil contaminants. A series of press reports published in 2001, culminating in the
publication of the book Fateful Harvest, revealed a widespread practice of recycling
industrial leftovers into fertilizer, resulting in metal poisoning of the soil. Ordinary
municipal landfills are the source of many chemical substances entering the soil
environment (and often groundwater), emanating from the wide variety of refuse
accepted, especially substances illegally discarded there, or from pre-1970 landfills that
may have been subject to little control in the U.S. or EU. There have also been some
unusual releases of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, commonly called dioxins for
simplicity, such as TCDD.
Pollution can also occur as a result of natural disasters. Hurricanes, for example,
frequently result in sewage contamination and petrochemical spills from burst boats or
automobiles. When coastal oil rigs or refineries are involved, larger - scale and
environmental damage is not unusual. When accidents occur, some pollution sources,
such as nuclear power stations or oil ships, can create extensive and potentially
catastrophic emissions.
The motor vehicle is the most common cause of noise pollution, accounting for over
90% of all undesirable noise globally.
Plastic pollution it’s choking our oceans by making plastic gyres, entangling marine
animals, poisoning our food and water supply, and ultimately inflicting havoc on the
health and well - being of humans and wildlife globally. With the exception of a small
amount that has been incinerating, virtually every piece of plastic that was ever made in
the past still exists in one form or another. And since most of the plastics don’t
biodegrade in any meaningful sense, all that plastic waste could exist for hundreds or
even thousands of years. If plastic production isn’t circumscribed, plastic pollution will be
disastrous and will eventually outweigh fish in oceans.
 Greenhouse gas emissions

Carbon dioxide, while vital for photosynthesis, is sometimes referred to as pollution,

because raised levels of the gas in the atmosphere are affecting the Earth's climate.
Disruption of the environment can also highlight the connection between areas of
pollution that would normally be classified separately, such as those of water and air.
Recent studies have investigated the potential for long - term rising levels of atmospheric
carbon dioxide to cause slight but critical increases in the acidity of ocean waters, and the
possible effects of this on marine ecosystems.
In February 2007, a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),
representing the work of 2,500 scientists, economists, and policymakers from more than
120 countries, confirmed that humans have been the primary cause of global warming
since 1950. Humans have ways to cut greenhouse gas emissions and avoid the
consequences of global warming, a major climate report concluded. But to change the
climate, the transition from fossil fuels like coal and oil needs to occur within decades,
according to the final report this year from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC).
 Effects
 Biomagnification describes situations where
toxins (such as heavy metals) may pass through
trophic levels, becoming exponentially more
concentrated in the process.
 Carbon dioxide emissions cause
ocean acidification, the ongoing decrease in the
pH of the Earth's oceans as CO2 becomes
dissolved.
 The emission of greenhouse gases leads to
global warming which affects ecosystems in many
ways.
 Invasive species can outcompete native species
and reduce biodiversity. Invasive plants can
contribute debris and biomolecules (allelopathy)
that can alter soil and chemical compositions of
an environment, often reducing native species
competitiveness.
• Nitrogen oxides are removed from the air by
rain and fertilize land which can change the
species composition of ecosystems.
• Smog and haze can reduce the amount of
sunlight received by plants to carry out
photosynthesis and leads to the production of
tropospheric ozone which damages plants.
• Soil can become infertile and unsuitable for
plants. This will affect other organisms in the
food web.
• Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides can cause
acid rain which lowers the pH value of soil.
• Organic pollution of watercourses can deplete
oxygen levels and reduce species diversity.
 Regulation and monitoring

To protect the environment from the adverse effects of pollution, many nations worldwide have enacted
legislation to regulate various types of pollution as well as to mitigate the adverse effects of pollution. At the
local level, regulation usually is supervised by environmental agencies or the broader public health system.
Different jurisdictions often have different levels regulation and policy choices about pollution. Historically,
polluters will lobby governments in less economically developed areas or countries to maintain lax
regulation in order to protect industrialization at the cost of human and environmental health.
The modern environmental regulatory environment has its origins in the United States with the beginning of
industrial regulations around Air and Water pollution connected to industry and mining during the 1960s
and 1970s.
Because many of pollutants have trans-boundary impacts, the UN and other treaty bodies have been used
to regulate pollutants that circulate as air pollution, water pollution or trade in wastes. Early international
agreements were successful at addressing Global Environmental issues, such as Montreal Protocol, which
banned Ozone depleting chemicals in 1987, with more recent agreements focusing on broader, more
widely dispersed chemicals such as persistent organic pollutants in the
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants created in 2001, such as PCBs, and the
Kyoto Protocol in 1997 which initiated collaboration on addressing greenhouse gases to
mitigate climate change.
 Control

Pollution control is a term used in environmental management. It means the control

of emissions and effluents into air, water or soil. Without pollution control, the waste
products from overconsumption, heating, agriculture, mining, manufacturing,
transportation and other human activities, whether they accumulate or disperse,
will degrade the environment. In the hierarchy of controls, pollution prevention and
waste minimization are more desirable than pollution control. In the field of
land development, low impact development is a similar technique for the prevention
of urban runoff.
Policy, law and monitoring/transparency/life - cycle assessment - attached
economics could be developed and enforced to control pollution. A review
concluded that there is a lack of attention and action such as work on a globally
supported "formal science – policy interface", e.g. to "inform intervention, influence
research, and guide funding".
 Cost

Pollution has a cost. Manufacturing activities that cause air pollution impose health and clean - up costs
on the whole of society. A manufacturing activity that causes air pollution is an example of a negative
externality in production. A negative externality in production occurs "when a firm’s production reduces the
well-being of others who are not compensated by the firm." For example, if a laundry firm exists near a
polluting steel manufacturing firm, there will be increased costs for the laundry firm because of the dirt and
smoke produced by the steel manufacturing firm. If external costs exist, such as those created by
pollution, the manufacturer will choose to produce more of the product than would be produced if the
manufacturer were required to pay all associated environmental costs. Because responsibility or
consequence for self - directed action lies partly outside the self, an element of externalization is involved.
If there are external benefits, such as in public safety, less of the good may be produced than would be
the case if the producer were to receive payment for the external benefits to others. Goods and services
that involve negative externalities in production, such as those that produce pollution, tend to be
overproduced and underpriced since the externality is not being priced into the market.
Pollution can also create costs for the firms producing the pollution. Sometimes firms choose, or are
forced by regulation, to reduce the amount of pollution that they are producing. The associated costs of
doing this are called abatement costs, or marginal abatement costs if measured by each additional unit. In
2005 pollution abatement capital expenditures and operating costs in the US amounted to nearly $27
billion.
 (P)reference(s)

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