POLLUTION (AIR, WATER AND TERRESTRIAL-CAUSES AND EFFECTS)

Air Pollution (Causes & Effects)

Causes & Effects of Air Pollution

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Air pollution is one of the most visible forms of pollution. Anyone who's seen the brownish-yellow sky over a city, or dark smoke belching from the tail pipe of a bus or industrial smoke stack knows what it looks like. It's effects are not always so obvious, and range from contaminated rain to ozone levels to global warming. There are also health concerns, making air pollution a serious environmental concern.

Causes

1. 
   Industrial smoke stacks
   Air pollution is essentially the introduction of particles into the atmosphere that does not belong there. Particulate matter, tiny pieces of contaminants, which because they are lighter than air become airborne. They might then rise high into the air to travel on the winds, or float near ground level. This is a result of both the kind of pollutant and where it is released. Car exhaust, for example, starts much lower than industrial smoke. Air pollution does not have to be man made chemicals. The desertification of wilderness areas releases extra dust and sand into the air that also causes many of the problems associated with chemical air pollution.

Smog

2. 
   Smog over a major city
   One of the most visible effects of air pollution is smog. A fog-like smoke (hence the term, "smog") that blankets many cities, it can be seen as a discolored haze that obscures the view of skylines around the world. It comes from car exhausts and other emissions put out by a modern city such as furnaces, incinerators, and surrounding industries. This effects not only the people who breathe it but also all systems that rely on circulating air. When it is particularly heavy, the dust and grime can adversely impact machinery by clogging filters, and gears.

Acid Rain

3. 
   This statue is being slowly dissolved by acid rain
   Acid rain is caused when chemicals from pollutants enter the atmosphere and become bound to rain droplets. The chemical composition of the water then changes and becomes acidic. When it falls to earth it has numerous consequences. Aside from polluting the existing water table, the acid also affects plants and trees. Acid rain can kill a forest by affecting not only the leaves and bark, but also by raising the acidity of the soil. Acid rain affects human constructions as well, especially any item made of stone. This includes monuments and statures, but also building structures which are eaten away by the acid.

Health Issues

4. 
   Masks used against pollution in China
   Air pollution causes numerous health consequences for people. Like the filters in machinery and buildings, a person's lungs can become coated with the particulate matter in the pollution. This can lead to any number of respiratory problems, depending on the levels of exposure. At the very minimum, people who suffer from asthma or respiratory issues may have more difficulty. Long term exposure can lead to health concerns similar to long term smoking, such as cancer and emphysema. This is in addition to any contamination caused by toxic chemicals that may be in the pollution, which themselves carry numerous health risks.

Global Effect

5. 
   Air currents carry pollution into the arctic
   One of the biggest effects of air pollution is it's global reach. Even areas that don't have vehicles or industry, such as the arctic, are still affected by air pollution as global currents carry chemicals and particles around the world. Another aspect of air pollution is also global warming, which is caused by excess carbon dioxide. Although CO2 is a gas, and not a particle, because more of it is being put into the atmosphere through human activities, it counts as a pollutant. So does changes to the ozone levels, both the higher atmospheric ozone layer (affected by CFC's) and also ground level ozone which is similar to smog.

Water Pollution (Causes And Effects)



















Water pollution has been seriously affecting the life of humans, plants as well as animals. The eco-system of rivers, streams, lakes, seas and oceans is also getting deteriorated due to the contamination of water, through various sources. This condition also leads to the outbreak of numerous diseases, majority of them being lethal and contagious. However, before going about finding a solution to the problem, we need to look into its underlying causes. In the following lines, we have provided information on the causes and harmful effects of water pollution. Go through them and then decide on your course of action.

Sources Of Water Pollution

• Dumping of industrial wastes, containing heavy metals, harmful chemicals, by-products, organic toxins and oils, into the nearby source of water is one of the visible causes of water pollution.
• Another cause for the contamination of water is the improper disposal of human and animal wastes.
• Effluents from factories, refineries, injection wells and sewage treatment plants are dumped into urban water supplies, leading to water pollution.
• A number of pollutants, both harmful and poisonous, enter the groundwater systems through rain water.
• The residue of agricultural practices, including fertilizers and pesticides, are some of the major sources of water pollution.
• Untreated pollutants are drained into the nearest water body, such as stream, lake or harbor, causing water pollution.
• Another major source of water pollution comprises of organic farm wastes. When farm land, treated with pesticides and fertilizers, is irrigated, the excess nitrogen and poisons get mixed into the water supply, thereby contaminating it.
• Pathogens, sediments and chemical pollutants are other sources of water pollution.
• The corporeal wastes produced by humans and farmed organisms pollute rivers, lakes, oceans and other surface waters.

Harmful Effects Of Water Pollution

• A number of waterborne diseases are produced by the pathogens present in polluted water, affecting humans and animals alike.
• Pollution affects the chemistry of water. The pollutants, including toxic chemicals, can alter the acidity, conductivity and temperature of water.
• Polluted municipal water supplies are found to pose a threat to the health of people using them.
• As per the records, about 14000 people perish or incur various communicable diseases due to the consumption of contaminated drinking water.
• The concentration of bacteria and viruses in polluted water causes increase in solids suspended in the water body, which, in turn, leads to health problems.
• Marine life becomes deteriorated due to water pollution. Lethal killing of fish and aquatic plants in rivers, oceans and seas is an aftereffect of water contamination only.
• Diseases affecting the heart, poor circulation of blood and the nervous system and ailments like skin lesion, cholera and diarrhea are often linked to the harmful effects of water pollution.
• Carcinogenic pollutants found in polluted water might cause cancer.
• Alteration in the chromosomal makeup of the future generation is foreseen, as a result of water pollution.
• Discharges from power stations reduce the availability of oxygen in the water body, in which they are dumped.
• The flora and fauna of rivers, sea and oceans is adversely affected by water pollution.

Land Pollution (Causes And Effects)













People across the globe have been facing a number of health problems caused due to the pollution of land, water and air. Talking about land pollution, it has some of the most devastating effects on both nature and living beings. Land pollution is characterized by the contamination of Earth's surface, where humans and other creatures live. One of the major causes of land pollution is human activities. Given below is complete information about the main causes and harmful effects of land pollution.

Causes of Land Pollution

• Increase in urbanization is one of the major causes of land pollution. Construction uses up forestland. This leads to the exploitation and destruction of forests. There is more demand for water. Reservoirs are built resulting in the loss of land.
• The disposal of non-biodegradable wastes, including containers, bottles and cans made of plastic, used cars and electronic goods, leads to the pollution of land.
• Agricultural wastes including the waste matters produced by crop, animal manure and residues of the farm land are one of the major causes of land pollution. The pesticides and fertilizers used by farmers to increase the crop yield, leaches into the nearby land areas and pollutes them.
• The process of mining leads to the formation of piles of coal and slag. When these wastes are not disposed through proper channel, they are accumulated and contaminate the land.
• Industrial wastes are major contributors of land pollution. Dumping of toxic materials such as chemicals and paints makes the areas surrounding the industries, look very filthy.
• Improper treatment of sewage leads to the accumulation of solids, such as biomass sludge. These solid wastes overflow through the sewage, making the entire area look dirty.
• Burning of solid fuels leads to the formation of ashes, which is yet another cause of land pollution.
• Although domestic and industrial wastes are collected and recycled or burnt in incinerators, a large amount of rubbish is left untreated. These are then dumped into grounds, leading to land pollution.
• Garbage dumped by people makes the streets unhealthy, unfit and dirty to reside in. The waste matter usually consists of leftover food, fruit and vegetable peels and other non decomposable solid materials such as glass, cloth, plastic, wood, paper etc.

Harmful Effects Of Land Pollution

• Tonnes and tonnes of domestic wastes are dumped every day. Since people do not follow proper methods for the disposal of such wastes, it leaves the places look dirty and makes them unhealthy.
• Land pollution indirectly affects the respiratory system of human beings. Breathing in polluted dust or particle can result in a number of health problems related to the respiratory system.
• Skin problems are often diagnosed due to land pollution. It is said that the improper disposal of household wastes leads to allergic reactions on the skin.
• Land pollution has been found as one of the leading causes for birth defects. Pregnant women living in unhealthy and dirty environment can incur breathing problems and a number of diseases, which may affect the health of the baby as well.
• Land pollution has serious effect on wildlife. Flora, which provides food and shelter to wildlife, are destroyed.
• Land pollution often disrupts the balance of Nature, causing human fatalities.

REFERENCES
http://www.ehow.com/about_4779837_causes-effects-air-pollution.html
http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/causes-and-effects-of-water-pollution-4515.html
http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/causes-and-effects-of-land-pollution-4470.html