Environmental pollution
Table of Contents
Environmental pollution ................................................................................................................... 1
Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ 2
Environmental pollution ................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction to Environmental Pollution ........................................................................................... 4
Anthropogenic (Human Caused) Sources of Pollution & Types of Environmental Pollution .......... 5
Natural Sources of Pollution ........................................................................................................ 5
Sources of Environmental Pollution................................................................................................. 7
Fossil Fuel Sources of Environmental Pollution .......................................................................... 7
Other (Non - Fossil Fuel) Sources of Environmental Pollution ........................................................ 9
Air Pollution Causes ...................................................................................................................... 10
Air Pollution Causes: Fundamental Causes ..................................................................... 10
Air Pollution Causes: Industries........................................................................................ 11
Air Pollution Causes: Air Pollutants .................................................................................. 12
How can we control environmental pollution? ............................................................................... 18
Environmental Pollution Effects on Humans, Other Animals & Plants .......................................... 19
Environmental Pollution Effects on Humans ................................................................................. 22
Air pollution ................................................................................................................................ 22
Water pollution .......................................................................................................................... 23
Waterborne diseases caused by polluted beach water: ........................................................... 23
Soil contamination ..................................................................................................................... 25
Environmental Pollution Effects on Animals .................................................................................. 26
Air Pollution ............................................................................................................................... 26
Water Pollution .......................................................................................................................... 26
Soil Contamination .................................................................................................................... 27
Environmental Pollution Effects on Trees and Plants ................................................................... 28
Air Pollution ............................................................................................................................... 28
Water Pollution .......................................................................................................................... 28
Soil Contamination .................................................................................................................... 28
Environmental Pollution Effects on Wider Environment ................................................................ 29
Environmental Pollution - Conclusion ....................................................................................... 29
What is the way forward? .............................................................................................................. 30
Environmental pollution
Environmental pollution is “the contamination of the physical and biological components of the
earth/atmosphere system to such an extent that normal environmental processes are adversely
affected”.
“Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the environment that cause harm or discomfort
to humans or other living organisms, or that damage the environment” which can come “in the
form of chemical substances, or energy such as noise, heat or light”. “Pollutants can be naturally
occurring substances or energies, but are considered contaminants when in excess of natural
levels.”
Pollution is “the addition of any substance or form of energy (e.g., heat, sound, and radioactivity)
to the environment at a rate faster than the environment can accommodate it by dispersion,
breakdown, recycling, or storage in some harmless form”
“Much of what we have come to call pollution is in reality the no recoverable matter resources and
waste heat.”
“Any use of natural resources at a rate higher than nature's capacity to restore itself can result in
pollution of air, water, and land.”
“Pollution is habitat contamination”
Introduction to Environmental Pollution
Although pollution had been known to exist for a very long time (at least since people started
using fire thousands of years ago), it had seen the growth of truly global proportions only since
the onset of the industrial revolution during the 19th century.
The industrial revolution brought with it technological progress such as discovery of oil and its
virtually universal use throughout different industries.
Technological progress facilitated by super efficiency of capitalist business practices (division of
labour – cheaper production costs – overproduction – over consumption – over pollution) had
probably become one of the main causes of serious deterioration of natural resources.
At the same time, of course, development of natural sciences led to the better understanding of
negative effects produced by pollution on the environment.
Environmental pollution is a problem both in developed and developing countries. Factors such
as population growth and urbanization invariably place greater demands on the planet and stretch
the use of natural resources to the maximum.
It has been argued that the carrying capacity of Earth is significantly smaller than the demands
placed on it by large numbers of human populations. And overuse of natural resources often
results in nature’s degradation.
It’s interesting to note that natural resources had been stored virtually untouched in the Earth for
millions of years.
But since the start of the industrial revolution vast amounts of these resources had been exploited
within a period of just a couple of hundred of years at unimaginable rates, with all the waste from
this exploitation going straight in to the environment (air, water, land) and seriously damaging its
natural processes.
Anthropogenic (Human Caused) Sources of Pollution & Types of
Environmental Pollution
By the object of pollution:

Air pollution

Water pollution

Soil pollution (contamination) / Land pollution
By the economic source (originator) of pollution:

Agricultural pollution

Industrial pollution

Transport pollution

o
Car pollution / Heavy vehicle pollution
o
Ship pollution
o
Airplane pollution
Commercial and domestic sector pollution
Other types

Radioactive pollution (contamination)

Chemical pollution

Invasive species pollution

Light pollution

Noise pollution

Visual pollution
Natural Sources of Pollution

Volcanic eruptions

Dust storms

Smoke from forest and grass fires
Some of the most important air pollutants are sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide,
ozone, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and airborne particles, with radioactive pollutants
probably among the most destructive ones (specifically when produced by nuclear explosions).
Water pollutants include insecticides and herbicides, food processing waste, pollutants from
livestock operations, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), heavy metals, chemical waste and
others.
Some soil pollutants are: hydrocarbons, solvents and heavy metals.
Sources of Environmental Pollution
Fossil Fuel Sources of Environmental Pollution
In modern industrialized societies, fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal) transcended virtually all imaginable
barriers and firmly established themselves in our everyday lives.
Not only do we use fossil fuels for our obvious everyday needs (such as filling a car), as well as in
the power-generating industry, they (specifically oil) are also present in such products as all sorts
of plastics, solvents, detergents, asphalt, lubricating oils, a wide range of chemicals for industrial
use, etc.
Combustion of fossil fuels produces extremely high levels of air pollution and is widely recognized
as one of the most important “target” areas for reduction and control of environmental pollution.
Fossil fuels also contribute to soil contamination and water pollution. For example, when oil is
transported from the point of its production to further destinations by pipelines, an oil leak from
the pipeline may occur and pollute soil and subsequently groundwater. When oil is transported by
tankers by ocean, an oil spill may occur and pollute ocean water.
Of course, there are other natural resources whose exploitation is a cause of serious pollution; for
example, the use of uranium for nuclear power generation produces extremely dangerous waste
that would take thousands of years to neutralize.
But there is no reasonable doubt that fossil fuels are among the most serious sources of
environmental pollution.
Power-generating plants and transport are probably the biggest sources of fossil fuel pollution.
Common sources of fossil fuel pollution are:
Industry:

Power-generating plants

Petroleum refineries

Petrochemical plants

Production and distribution of fossil fuels

Other manufacturing facilities
Transport:

Road transport (motor vehicles)

Shipping industry

Aircraft
Fossil fuel combustion is also a major source of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and perhaps the
most important cause of global warming. Learn more about the causes and effects of global
warming here.
Other (Non - Fossil Fuel) Sources of Environmental Pollution
Among other pollution sources, agriculture (livestock farming) is worth mentioning as the largest
generator of ammonia emissions resulting in air pollution. Chemicals such as pesticides and
fertilizers are also widely used in agriculture, which may lead water pollution and soil
contamination as well.
Trading activities may be another source of pollution.
For example, it’s been recently noted that packaging of products sold in supermarkets and other
retail outlets is far too excessive and generates large quantities of solid waste that ends up either
in landfills or municipal incinerators leading to soil contamination and air pollution.
Residential sector is another significant source of pollution generating solid municipal waste that
may end up in landfills or incinerators leading to soil contamination and air pollution.
Air Pollution Causes
While
air
pollution
causes
may
be
both
natural
and
human-made,
it is undoubtedly the human activity that is the largest source of atmospheric pollution.
So what are the main causes of air pollution?
The largest amounts of air pollution come from human activity though there are some natural
sources as well.
Fossil fuels are no doubt the most important source of harmful atmospheric emissions.
We cannot (just yet!) imagine our lives without fossil fuels.
They are used in virtually every area of human life starting from gasoline for our cars to a
multitude of applications in industrial production, agriculture etc.
But fossil fuels are not the only culprits. There are other pollution sources, ex. processes used to
produce non-ferrous metals, which also cause air pollution.
In one word, anthropogenic (human-induced) causes are far more important than natural ones in
raising the current levels of atmospheric pollution dangerously high.
We discuss major air pollution causes below.

Air Pollution Causes: Fundamental Causes
o
The humanity had known air pollution, to some extent or another, at least since
the times the fire had been invented.
o
But it was only with the onset of the industrial revolution in the 19 th century that
people realized the seriousness of the problem of air pollution and its often
devastating effects.
o
In the last 200 years or so there appeared several fundamental trends which
became the major forces behind the surge in levels of air pollution throughout the
globe.
o
Industrialization is the first fundamental pollution cause. Among other things,
industrialization set in motion the widespread use of fossil fuels (oil, gas & coal)
which are now the main pollution sources.
o
Population growth is the second fundamental pollution cause. With population
numbers literally exploding around the world, the demand for food and other
goods goes up. This demand is met by expanded production and use of natural
resources, which in its turn leads to higher levels of environmental pollution in
general, and air pollution in particular.
o
Globalization is another major pollution cause. Globalization has become an
effective facilitator of air pollution. Developing countries usually have much looser
laws on environmental protection. With this “benefit” as well as the population
growth and easy availability of cheap labor, big industry prefers to move its
facilities to such “pollution havens” rather than work in more regulated markets.
So we won’t be wrong if we consider industrialization, population growth and globalization
the fundamental drivers of pollution, the very roots of the gigantic pollution tree.

Air Pollution Causes: Industries
o
The global industrial development gave rise to a great number of economic sectors,
with each generating air pollution to some degree or another.
So these economic sectors act as pollution causes in their own right.

Air Pollution Causes: Air Pollutants
o
Air pollutants are basically the waste products generated by the above mentioned
economic sectors.
o
They come in the form of gases and finely divided solid and liquid particles
suspended in the air (aerosols).
o
Air pollutants can also be of primary or secondary nature.
o
Primary pollutants are the ones that are emitted directly into the atmosphere by the
sources (ex., power plants).
o
Secondary pollutants are the ones that are formed as a result of reactions between
primary pollutants and other elements in the atmosphere.
o
Air pollutants are direct pollution causes, in other words they are the actual pollution
agents which directly affect the health of living beings as well as the wider
environment.
We discuss the most important air pollutants below:

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
 Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a colorless gas with a pungent, suffocating odor. SO2
is corrosive to organic materials and it irritates the eyes, nose and lungs;
therefore it is quite a dangerous air pollutant. (3)
 Sulfur is contained within all fossil fuels, and is released in the form of sulfur
dioxide during fossil fuel combustion. Fossil fuel combustion accounts for
almost all anthropogenic sulfur emissions.

Power generation (public electricity & heat production) is by far the
largest industry for global SO2 emissions.

Power plants require large amounts of energy for their operations.

This use of energy by power plants produces emissions of a whole
cocktail of air pollutants including greenhouse gases (causing global
warming) and non-greenhouse gases.

It is worth singling out coal as the dirtiest fossil fuel of all; it is still
widely used as a source of energy by power plants.

Coal combustion is a very serious source of sulfur dioxide emissions.

But in addition to that, it produces a number of greenhouse gases
and other waste products such as arsenic, lead, mercury etc.
 Industry (manufacturing industries & construction) is the second biggest
source of sulfur dioxide emissions globally.

It involves the use of energy for the manufacture of industrial
products (ex., iron, steel etc) as well as consumer goods, which
releases SO2 into the atmosphere.

Non-ferrous metals’ production is the third largest source of SO2
emissions. Some examples of non-ferrous metals are aluminium, copper,
lead, zinc, gold.
The manufacture of non-ferrous metals generates SO2 emissions via:

the use of fossil fuels, and

specificity of the industrial process involved
The industrial process we are talking about involves the heating of sulfide ores in
the air and results in the separation of a non-ferrous metal and the sulfur from the
ore.
The separated sulfur combines with oxygen in the air, turns into sulfur dioxide
and thus becomes a source of SO2 emissions.

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
o
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are produced by combustion of all fossil fuels
including coal- and gas-fired power stations and motor vehicles. (7)
o
There are two main nitrogen oxides: nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide
(NO2).
o
While NO is a colorless gas, NO2 is a gas of reddish-brown color with a
distinct sharp, biting odor.
o
Fossil fuel combustion produces both NO2 and NO.
o
But almost 90% of the total NOx combustion product is released in the form
of NO which is then converted to NO2 in the air.
 Road transport is the biggest global contributor of nitrogen emissions
produced by motor fuel combustion.
US, China, Brazil, India and Russia are the largest producers of global
nitrogen emissions.
 Power generation is indeed another top producer of nitrogen emissions.
For example, in the US power plants are responsible for about a quarter
of all nitrogen oxides emitted in the country every year.

Carbon Monoxide (CO)
o
Carbon monoxide is a highly toxic gas which has no color, odor or taste.
o
Fossil fuel combustion normally produces carbon dioxide (CO2) but
sometimes, when such combustion is incomplete it also becomes a source of
carbon monoxide.
 Deforestation by means of fires (plus other wildfires) has become such a
serious global problem that it is now the biggest source of carbon
monoxide emissions.
 The way biofuel combustion causes CO emissions is similar to that of
wildfires’.
Biofuel is used by some power plants and road transport in developed
countries, but mostly as a source of energy for residential purposes in
developing regions of the world, with Africa and Asia being the biggest
biofuel users.
 Road transport is another major source of carbon monoxide both in
developed and developing countries.
It is the largest producer of carbon monoxide emissions in developed
countries.

Ammonia (NH3)
 Ammonia is a pungent, hazardous caustic gas.
 Agriculture, specifically livestock farming & animals waste, is the main
source of ammonia emissions.

Ozone (O3)
 Ozone (O3) is a colorless, poisonous gas with a sharp, cold, irritating odor.
It can be found in

The stratosphere (upper layer of the atmosphere) where it occurs
naturally, and

The troposphere (lowest layer of the atmosphere) where it occurs
both naturally and as a product of anthropogenic emissions.
 Stratospheric ozone protects the Earth by keeping harmful ultraviolet sunlight
from reaching the planet’s surface.
 However, human-induced tropospheric ozone is a secondary pollutant
produced by the reaction of primary pollutants, nitrogen oxides and
hydrocarbons, in the presence of sunlight.
 Tropospheric ozone is one of the main components of the photochemical
smog which is harmful to human and animal health.

Other Air Pollutants
 Airborne Particles are tiny fragments of solid or liquid nature suspended in
the air (aerosols).
They may be primary – when emitted directly into the atmosphere by sources
(ex., road transport & power plants), or secondary – when particles are
formed in the atmosphere through the interaction of primary pollutants.
Inhalation of airborne particles may lead to asthma, lung cancer and other
problems.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) may include a wide range of organic
air pollutants, from pure hydrocarbons to partially oxidized hydrocarbons to
organic compounds containing chlorine, sulfur, or nitrogen.
VOCs may affect human health directly (ex., leukemia) or indirectly as
contributors to the formation of tropospheric ozone, with all the negative
effects of ozone on human health and the environment.
 Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are compounds which are resistant
to degradation and persistent in the environment, and may include dioxins,
furans, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides such
as DDT.
Exposure to POPs takes place through diet (ex., animal fat consumption),
environmental
exposure
or
accidents
and
may
lead
to
cancers,
neurobehavioral disorders and other illnesses.

Natural Air Pollution Causes
Natural air pollution causes are mostly forest fires and volcano eruptions but
may also include vegetation (ex., forests), oceans and decay processes in
soil.
How can we control environmental pollution?
It's clear that fossil fuels are among the biggest sources of pollution. We need to find
alternative renewable sources of energy which can replace fossil fuels in the future.
Green investment provides a great platform to explore and develop new and clean
sources of energy.
Environmental Pollution Effects on Humans, Other Animals & Plants
Miguel A. Santos notes that a very important aspect of the effect of pollution is its dose (or
concentration) required to cause environmental damage.
He defines pollution response as “the change in the effect of a pollutant in response to a
change in its concentration”.
In this respect, he identifies 3 different types of response evoked by the environment to
different pollution concentrations:

Linear effect

Greater-than-linear effect

Threshold effect
In
the linear effect, environmental damage increases linearly with pollution
concentrations. In other words, “the total damage or risk is directly proportional to
the accumulated exposure”.
This effect occurs with radioactive substances as well as mercury, lead, cadmium
and asbestos.
In
the greater-than-linear effect, environmental damage increases with an
increase in pollution concentrations but at a decreasing rate. This means that, as
pollution concentrations continue to increase the environmental damage will
continue to decrease.
This is the case with thermal pollution.
In
the threshold effect, pollution produces no effect until a certain threshold in
pollution concentrations is achieved. In other words, “so long as a given threshold
is not exceeded, the damage from pollution would be completely repaired as
quickly as it is produced”.
This effect is found with biodegradable pollutants.
It is also important to mention synergistic effects of pollutants on the environment.
While interacting with each other, pollutants can produce greater impacts than
when acting individually.
A good example of that is a synergy between asbestos exposure and smoking in causing lung
cancer.

There is no doubt that excessive levels of pollution are causing a lot of damage
to human & animal health, plants & trees (including tropical rainforests) as well
as the wider environment.

All types of environmental pollution – air, water and soil pollution – have an
impact on the living environment.

The effects in living organisms may range from mild discomfort to serious
diseases such as cancer to physical deformities (for example, extra or missing
limbs in frogs).

Experts admit that environmental pollution effects are quite often underestimated
and that more research is needed to understand the connections between
pollution and its effects on all life forms.
Environmental Pollution Effects on Humans
We know that pollution causes not only physical disabilities but also psychological and
behavioral disorders in people.
We are discussing the effects of air pollution and specific air pollutants in more detail in
the Air Pollutants article.
The following effects of environmental pollution on humans have been reported:
Air pollution

Reduced lung functioning

Irritation of eyes, nose, mouth and throat

Asthma attacks

Respiratory symptoms such as coughing and wheezing

Increased respiratory disease such as bronchitis

Reduced energy levels

Headaches and dizziness

Disruption of endocrine, reproductive and immune systems

Neurobehavioral disorders

Cardiovascular problems

Cancer

Premature death
Water pollution
Waterborne diseases caused by polluted drinking water:

Typhoid

Amoebiasis

Giardiasis

Ascariasis

Hookworm
Waterborne diseases caused by polluted beach water:
o
Rashes, ear ache, pink eye
o
Respiratory infections
o
Hepatitis, encephalitis, gastroenteritis, diarrhoea, vomiting, and stomach aches
Conditions related to water polluted by chemicals (such as pesticides,
hydrocarbons, persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals etc):

Cancer, incl. prostate cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Hormonal problems that can disrupt reproductive and developmental
processes

Damage to the nervous system

Liver and kidney damage

Damage to the DNA

Exposure to mercury (heavy metal):
 In the womb: may cause neurological problems including slower
reflexes, learning deficits, delayed or incomplete mental
development, autism and brain damage
 In adults: Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s
disease, heart disease, and even death
Other notes:

Water pollution may also result from interactions between water and
contaminated soil, as well as from deposition of air contaminants (such
as acid rain)

Damage to people may be caused by fish foods coming from polluted
water (a well known example is high mercury levels in fish)

Damage to people may be caused by vegetable crops grown / washed
with polluted water (author’s own conclusion)
Soil contamination

Causes cancers including leukaemia

Lead in soil is especially hazardous for young children causing
developmental damage to the brain

Mercury can increase the risk of kidney damage; cyclodienes can lead to
liver toxicity

Causes neuromuscular blockage as well as depression of the central
nervous system

Also causes headaches, nausea, fatigue, eye irritation and skin rash
Other notes:
o
Contact with contaminated soil may be
schools etc) or
direct (from using parks,
indirect (by inhaling soil contaminants which
have vaporized)
o
Soil
contamination
may
also
result
from
secondary
contamination of water supplies and from deposition of air
contaminants (for example, via acid rain)
o
Contamination of crops grown in polluted soil brings up problems
with food security
o
Since it is closely linked to water pollution, many effects of soil
contamination appear to be similar to the ones caused by water
contamination
Environmental Pollution Effects on Animals
Air Pollution

Acid rain (formed in the air) destroys fish life in lakes and streams

Excessive ultraviolet radiation coming from the sun through the ozone layer in the upper
atmosphere which is eroded by some air pollutants, may cause skin cancer in wildlife

Ozone in the lower atmosphere may damage lung tissues of animals
Water Pollution

Nutrient pollution (nitrogen, phosphates etc) causes overgrowth of toxic algae eaten
by other aquatic animals, and may cause death; nutrient pollution can also cause
outbreaks of fish diseases

Chemical contamination can cause declines in frog biodiversity and tadpole mass

Oil pollution (as part of chemical contamination) can negatively affect development of
marine organisms, increase susceptibility to disease and affect reproductive processes;
can also cause gastrointestinal irritation, liver and kidney damage, and damage to the
nervous system

Mercury in water can cause abnormal behavior, slower growth and development,
reduced reproduction, and death

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may cause declines, deformities and death of
fish life

Too much sodium chloride (ordinary salt) in water may kill animals (24)
Other notes:
o
We also assume that some higher forms of non-aquatic animals may have similar
effects from water pollution as those experienced by humans, as described above
(author’s own conclusion)
Soil Contamination

Can alter metabolism of microorganisms and arthropods in a given soil environment; this
may destroy some layers of the primary food chain, and thus have a negative effect on
predator animal species

Small life forms may consume harmful chemicals which may then be passed up the food
chain to larger animals; this may lead to increased mortality rates and even animal
extinction
Environmental Pollution Effects on Trees and Plants
Air Pollution

Acid rain can kill trees, destroy the leaves of plants, can infiltrate soil by making it
unsuitable for purposes of nutrition and habitation

Ozone holes in the upper atmosphere can allow excessive ultraviolet radiation from the
sun to enter the Earth causing damage to trees and plants

Ozone in the lower atmosphere can prevent plant respiration by blocking stomata
(openings in leaves) and negatively affecting plants’ photosynthesis rates which will stunt
plant growth; ozone can also decay plant cells directly by entering stomata
Water Pollution

May disrupt photosynthesis in aquatic plants and thus affecting ecosystems that depend
on these plants

Terrestrial and aquatic plants may absorb pollutants from water (as their main nutrient
source) and pass them up the food chain to consumer animals and humans

Plants may be killed by too much sodium chloride (ordinary slat) in water

Plants may be killed by mud from construction sites as well as bits of wood and leaves,
clay and other similar materials

Plants may be killed by herbicides in water; herbicides are chemicals which are most
harmful to plants
Soil Contamination

May alter plant metabolism and reduce crop yields

Trees and plants may absorb soil contaminants and pass them up the food chain
Environmental Pollution Effects on Wider Environment
Apart from destroying the aquatic life in lakes and streams, acid rain can also corrode
metals, damage surfaces of buildings and monuments, and cause soil acidification.
Pollution of water may cause oxygen depletion in marine environments and severely
affect the health of whole ecosystems.
Environmental Pollution - Conclusion
o
Environmental pollution is causing a lot of distress not only to humans but also
animals, driving many animal species to endangerment and even extinction.
o
The transboundary nature of environmental pollution makes it even more difficult to
manage – you cannot build stone walls along the borders of your country or put
customs cabins at every point of entry to regulate its flows into your country.
o
Everything on our planet is interconnected, and while the nature supplies us with
valuable environmental services without which we cannot exist, we all depend on
each other’s actions and the way we treat natural resources.
o
It’s widely recognized that we are hugely overspending our current budget of natural
resources – at the existing rates of its exploitation, there is no way for the
environment to recover in good time and continue “performing” well in the future.
o
Perhaps we should adopt a holistic view of nature – it is not an entity that exists
separately from us; the nature is us, we are an inalienable part of it, and we should
care for it in the most appropriate manner. Only then can we possibly solve the
problem of environmental pollution.
What is the way forward?
The nature is not going to survive the demands that we currently place on it, for much
longer.
We certainly need to get our act together and stop using dirty technologies.