Pollution
By Deseree Guillen
Mr. Gomez 2nd Period
Introduction
Pollution has been a global issue for many years. It has affected many lives and
destroyed many ecosystems. Pollution comes in all forms and affects different areas of the
world. We as humans have caused this mess, and now we must clean it up.
What is Pollution?
Pollution is the result of waste being placed somewhere in the world. Pollution can be
found in the land, ocean, and air of the world. Another form of pollution is noise pollution,
where certain species become endangered from humans near the area, preventing them from
reproducing. Pollution can be described as hazardous material that contaminates a certain area.
This hazardous material then goes on to affect the life in that area. The most common cases of
pollution are oil spills, illegal dumping, and natural disasters. An excess of waste in bodies of
water causes “dead zones”, where that area becomes inhabitable. In the case of water pollution,
we dump more waste than the amount of marine life we take out.
What effects does this have on humanity?
With the huge amount of toxins we put into the world, Earth has begun to deteriorate.
Many countries have been deemed dangerous places to live and life expectancy rates are
decreasing rapidly. In countries like India, the average person is estimated to live 3.2 years less
than the average human. China has had to renovate their buildings in order to accommodate the
massive amount of citizens and to allow them to breathe clean air. Nuclear plants and nuclear
bombings aid to the spread of toxins throughout that area and through the people living there.
Many scientists are coming up with new ideas to stop the production of harmful
emissions from vehicles and other things we use in our daily life. Along with this, many people
have been requesting safer conditions for metal mining and other dangerous jobs. In
overpopulated areas, living conditions are extremely polluted with human waste and disease.
Sewage systems have evolved and have helped clean up a little bit. However, a lot of the waste
is caused by humans being too lazy to pick up trash.
Conditions in China
In China, a country infamous for their population of over 1 billion people, the living
conditions are terrible. From a sky filled with gray smog to people having to wear medical
masks everywhere they go, China has almost been dubbed uninhabitable. It has been estimated
that 40% of a teenager’s remaining life is spent being ill from cancer and cardiovascular diseases
caused by the air pollution. It is common for many children and adults to miss school or work
because of illness. Many children are obese because they cannot go outside and exercise. Many
laws and regulations have been made to control the pollution, but it just doesn’t seem to work.
In the past few years, air domes have been added to buildings to filter the air and make it
safe to breathe for the citizens in Beijing. Deposition has been an option mentioned more than
once to get rid of the smog. The idea was for sprinklers to be placed on tall buildings and those
sprinklers would create artificial rain, getting rid of the smog. For one whole week, normal
activities, factories, and cars were suspended so that the citizens could get a good glimpse of a
clear blue sky. School and work were canceled so that the adults and children could enjoy a sky
clear of smog.
Conditions in India
An equally polluted country compared to China, 13 of the 20 most polluted cities are in
India. It has been estimated that the average Indian citizen’s life span has been shortened by 3.2
years due to the air pollution. The population is around 660 million, so the amount of years of
life lost is more than 2 billion years. Scientists have known that particle pollution in the air is
terrible for a person’s health; however, performing an experiment to find exact data on air
pollution’s impact is very hard. In a 2013 paper for the proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences, Greenstone and his co-authors calculated that an extra 100 micrograms per cubic meter
of total suspended particulates in the air was associated with a life expectancy drop of about 3
years.
Though China has already taken major steps to try to stop their pollution, India isn’t so
lucky. India is a very poor country compared to China. Roughly 400 million people in India are
living without electricity. India is currently focusing more on its economy, meaning that they are
trying to expand the uses for fossil fuels, thus making their situation worse. In November 2014,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that air quality data would be released to the public and
that power plants would have new emission standards.
Conditions in Antarctica
Antarctica has always been an interesting area to discover and is very beautiful.
However, due to scientists consistently running tests and introducing new species to the area, and
pollution and overfishing, the marine ecosystems of Antarctica are being degraded. Biodiversity
is a crucial part of an ecosystem, for example, an ecosystem with a wide variety of species can
hold more information than an ecosystem that has a fewer variety. By damaging the ecological
fabric of Antarctica, we are decreasing its information content and endangering its uniqueness
and resilience. The Antarctic Treaty system provides an effective framework for the
management and protection of the continent, but some issues aren’t addressed already. Pollution
can be localized, however, global climate change caused by emissions of carbon dioxide and
other green house gases can have effects on the continent for decades and even centuries.
Scientists have already discovered marine life being affected by rising sea temperatures. Along
with emissions, ocean acidification is also likely to greatly affect the marine life.
Researchers have identified a range of historical and ongoing human activities that have
damaged or restructured food webs in the Southern Ocean throughout the recent decades.
Hunting top predators such as whales and seals, overexploitation of some fish species, ship
wrecks, the transportation of alien species through hulls and tourism all play a big role in
damaging the Antarctic ecosystem. When unfamiliar noises are heard in an ecosystem, some
species are not able to reproduce because of noise pollution.
However, some of the threats to Antarctica are also global threats. One example is the
Ozone hole, which was discovered in 1985 and was caused by the accumulation of atmospheric
chlorofluorocarbons, better known as CFCs. Scientists fear that the drastic temperature changes
in Antarctica could result in the colonization of more alien species, therefore damaging the food
web even more than before. Researchers note that organisms living in Polar Regions are
uniquely vulnerable to the effects of ocean acidification because of low concentrations of
dissolved calcium carbonate in the water column. They cite that declining seawater pH will
greatly affect organisms with calcified shells and skeletons such as mollusks, sea stars, sea
urchins, coralline algae and cold-water corals. It is also possible that ocean acidification will
alter the planktonic food web, containing unknown consequences for animals further up in the
food chain.
Air Pollutants
Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is the main pollutant that is warming Earth. Though
living things emit carbon dioxide when they breathe, carbon dioxide is widely considered to be a
pollutant when associated with cars, planes, power plants, and other human activities that involve
the burning of fossil fuels such as gasoline and natural gas. In the past 150 years, such activities
have pumped enough carbon dioxide into the atmosphere to raise its levels higher than they have
been for thousands of years. Other greenhouse gases include methane, which comes from such
sources as swamps and gas emitted by livestock, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which were
used in refrigerants and aerosol propellants until they were banned because of their deteriorating
effect on Earth's ozone layer.
Another pollutant associated with climate change is sulfur dioxide, a component of smog.
Sulfur dioxide and closely related chemicals are known primarily as a cause of acid rain. But
they also reflect light when released in the atmosphere, which keeps sunlight out and causes
Earth to cool. Volcanic eruptions can spew massive amounts of sulfur dioxide into the
atmosphere, sometimes causing cooling that lasts for years. In fact, volcanoes used to be the
main source of atmospheric sulfur dioxide; today people are. Most people agree that to end
global warming, a variety of measures need to be taken. On a personal level, driving and flying
less, recycling, and conservation reduces a person’s "carbon footprint", the amount of carbon
dioxide a person is responsible for putting into the atmosphere.
On a larger scale, governments are taking measures to limit emissions of carbon dioxide
and other greenhouse gases. One way is through the Kyoto Protocol, an agreement between
countries that they will cut back on carbon dioxide emissions. Another method is to put taxes on
carbon emissions or higher taxes on gasoline, so that people and companies will have greater
incentives to conserve energy and pollute less.
Causes of Pollution
Though they may be hard to track down, there are many causes of pollution. One of the
common causes is ocean littering. Whether it’s a bit of cargo that fell off a boat during a storm
or a natural disaster that wiped out an entire town, it’s still floating around in the ocean. This
trash accumulates and floats in the ocean currents until it eventually washes up on a beach.
Aside from ocean littering, another infamous cause of pollution is toxic chemicals.
Animals and people can absorb chemicals through the environment and it can change their whole
system. There are some chemicals that have no effects, while others can be fatal. Besides
traveling by animal, chemicals can also travel by air. There is recent concern over three types of
chemicals: chemicals that persist in the ecosystem and accumulate in the body of an animal,
endocrine disruptors that can interfere with hormones, and chemicals that cause cancer or
damage DNA.
The use of pesticides and fertilizers on farms has increased immensely in the past few
decades, fueling the increase in crops and crop production. However, pesticides and fertilizers
may wash into streams and rivers, polluting them even further. Pesticides can kill beneficial
insects, soil bacteria, and fish. Though fertilizer can’t directly harm an ecosystem, it can create
an overpopulation of algae, therefore creating an aquatic dead zone.
Noise and Light Pollution are some of the lesser known causes for pollution. Noise
pollution occurs when an unusual sound is heard by an animal, making it harder for an organism
to breed and feed. Light Pollution occurs when an organism is exposed to artificial light. For
example, many people are advised to turn off their lights around the night time because baby sea
turtles can follow the light, thinking it’s the moon.
Air Pollution is one of the major problems in the world. The burning of fossil fuels in
energy plants and vehicles causes carbon dioxide emissions, resulting in climate change.
Industrial processes emit many damaging gases such as sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and
other harmful gases. Some of these chemical can contribute to acid rain and smog. Short term
exposure to air pollution can irritate the eyes, nose and throat and cause upper respiratory
infections, headaches, nausea and allergic reactions. Long-term exposures can lead to chronic
respiratory disease, lung cancer, and heart disease. Long-term exposures also can lead to
significant climatic changes that can have far reaching negative impacts on food, water and
ecosystems.
Emitters of Air Pollutants
Metal Mining
3%
5% 4%
7%
Electric Utilities
8%
47%
Chemicals
12%
13%
Primary Metals
All Others
The pie chart above represents the different causes of air pollution. The most affective
cause is Metal Mining, where deadly toxins are released into the air, making everyone in the area
vulnerable to lung diseases. Electric Utilities are the second leading causes for polluting the air.
Food, Beverage, and Tobacco are the least effective causes of pollution. However, in order to
heal the bruises and scars of pollution, we must find different ways to go about our lives without
harmful emissions.
Country
Average PM2.5 Pollution
Pakistan
101 ug/m3
Qatar
92 ug/m3
Afghanistan
84 ug/m3
Bangladesh
79 ug/m3
Iran
76 ug/m3
Egypt
74 ug/m3
Mongolia
64 ug/m3
United Arab Emirates
61 ug/m3
India
59 ug/m3
Bahrain
57 ug/m3
Based on these statistics, it has been proven that not all polluted countries are the rapidly
developed ones. The data shown above was collected from the 2014 global air pollution report
by the World Health Organization (WHO). The particles found in the air in these countries can
be inhaled and can accumulate in the human respiratory system. WHO stated that there is no
safe level of PM2.5.
Impacts
Pollution has impacted the lives of many species, but not in a good way. When
chemicals are released into an ecosystem, the predators can absorb these through their skin and
become defected or have their DNA changed. Clean freshwater is vital for the survival of
humanity, however, over 1.1 billion of the world’s population lacks the access to clean water and
2.4 billion people lack proper sanitation. Water becomes polluted when toxins are released into
water through rivers and streams. Sewage and industrial waste can also find its way into the
many bodies of water on Earth. The pollutants can come in many forms, such as: organic,
inorganic, and radioactive. These pollutants make it difficult for animals and humans to live
normal lives.
Human activities, such as agriculture, have led to large increases in the levels of nitrogen
and phosphorus in the environment. In water, too many of these nutrients can fuel the excessive
growth of phytoplankton and algae, which can have disastrous consequences. Harmful algal
blooms, a species that produce deadly toxins and can be known as “red tides” or “brown tides”
for their appearance in the water, can kill fish, marine mammals, birds, and harm humans. When
algae and other organisms die off, bacteria may suck up all the oxygen from the water as the
algae decompose. This phenomenon creates a “dead zone” where fish cannot live. More than
400 areas around the world have been identified as experiencing this process and 169 are
hypoxic.
Pollution. (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2015, from https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/pollution
Pollution can affect the world through many different forms. Humanity isn’t the only species that
is affected by this, however. Plants and animals are affected when the environment around them becomes
polluted. Humans have created this mess, and now we must put a stop to it.
Pollution. (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2015, from
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/oceans/fit-for-the-future/pollution/
Most of our waste goes into oceans all around the world. We put more garbage into the ocean
than fish taken out of the ocean. Dead zones are the bodies of water in the world that are considered
uninhabitable for aquatic life. Mining into the ground releases deadly toxins that attack miner’s lungs and
brain.
(n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2015, from http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/dec/16/beijingairpocalypse-city-almost-uninhabitable-pollution-china
Overpopulation in Beijing, China, has led to extreme air pollution in the area. Residents and visitors are
required to wear masks in order to protect their health. Buildings are modified to accommodate the 21
million citizens in the city. The polluted air makes Beijing almost impossible to live in.
Humans Impact the Marine Ecosystems of Antarctica. (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2015, from
https://newsroom.fit.edu/2011/03/31/humans-impact-the-marine-ecosystems-of-antarctica/
Scientists in the U.S. and U.K. have warned that the marine life in Antarctica is becoming endangered.
Most might believe the common cause of this is global warming. However, another cause is noise
pollution. Noise pollution occurs when extreme levels of sound disrupt everyday life. For example,
whales in the ocean flee away from the noises scientists make when they go to Antarctica, causing them
to not be able mate and reproduce.
India's air pollution is so bad it's reducing life expectancy by 3.2 years. (2015, February 24). Retrieved
May 15, 2015, from http://www.vox.com/2015/2/24/8094597/india-air-pollution-deaths
Though China might be the first thought when thinking about effects of pollution, India is in the same
condition. The pollution in India has gotten so bad that the life expectancy of the average Indian citizen
has been reduced by 3.2 years. The effects of ground pollution, air pollution, and water pollution are
exposed to children and adults in the country. This new discovery has shown that this is a warning sign
and that more procedures should be followed in order to stop pollution from becoming something
catastrophic to humanity.
Countries with the worst air pollution ranked by World Health Organisation. (n.d.). Retrieved May 19,
2015, from http://www.news.com.au/travel/world-travel/countries-with-the-worst-air-pollution-rankedby-world-health-organisation/story-e6frfqai-1227040198863
This website contains a list of some of the most polluted countries, not including China. The average
pollution is represented by the micrograms (ug) per cubic meter (m3). The database looked at the air
pollution levels of 1600 cities across 19 countries by using a reading called PM2.5 and PM10. PM2.5 is
the most commonly used indicator of the impact air pollution has in an area and examines the
concentration of particulate pollution of 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter.
Air Pollution Facts, Air Pollution Effects, Air Pollution Solutions, Air Pollution Causes National Geographic. (n.d.). Retrieved May 20, 2015, from
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/pollution-overview/
When thinking of air pollution, most people associate it with smog filled skies and people
with lung diseases. The main air pollutants associated with air pollution are sulfur dioxide and
carbon dioxide. Both of these come from industrial production and vehicles. Many people
believe this phenomenon is associated with global warming.