Pollution of Environment
Pollution is the contamination of the environment by the introduction of contaminants that can cause damage to the environment and harm or discomfort to humans or other living species. Environmental pollution is one of the most significant challenges that the world is facing today. It began since the industrial revolution, increasing day by day and causing irreparable damage to the world. Different types of pollution are air, water, land, soil, noise, and waste pollution. Understanding these various forms of corruption and what creates them, form the first step in discovering the best ways to prevent them.
Pollution of air through the emission of gases from cars, trucks, and other vehicles is and has been a major environmental problem. When fuel burned in an internal combustion engine, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons are the one release, and fuel residuals emitted through the vehicle tailpipe (Ahmad, 2010). This emission affects the ozone layer which leads to world global warming and to ensure a reduction of this emission, proper maintenance of car and truck emission control systems will limit harmful emissions, improve fuel efficiency and vehicle performance, extending the life of the vehicle.
Improper sewage disposal from houses and factories significantly cause water pollution. Domestic and industrial sewage contains a wide variety of dissolved and suspended impurities which pollute water when it discharges without treating. Sewage-contaminated water causes eutrophication, which is the increase in the concentration of chemical elements required for life, which causes overpopulation of organism to the point where they use up most of the dissolved oxygen that is naturally found in water, making it difficult for other organisms in this aquatic environment to live (Stauffer, 2013). Sewage treatment plants neutralize and deactivate the chemicals found in the sewage water, and thus it prevents water pollution.
Deforestation affects global air quality since water vapour released into the air is less. An imbalance will occur, and there will be effects of global warming and temperature rise. Deforestation also affects the air that we breathe and this is because all trees take in carbon dioxide and other pollutants which are known to cause a lot of problems in the atmosphere (O’Donnell, 2018). Reforestation helps to absorb impurities released to the air atmosphere because trees release water vapour into the air, which affects atmospheric temperatures and other crucial elements that keep this earth of ours ticking over nicely.
Application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides significantly causes land pollution. Soil, for instance, is contaminated by copper and boron in fertilizers and organochlorine in pesticides which harm the environment and create health risks when products are used in wrong proportions or over a long period (Mahvi et al. 2010). To prevent such damages, farmers should use composted manure and bio-fertilizers; biologically actives products such as algae and also the use of biological pest control.
Traffic in cities and other places causes noise pollution, and it affects both health and behaviour. Noise pollution also has a detrimental effect on animals, increasing the risk of death by changing the delicate balance in predator or prey detection and avoidance (Mangalekar et al. 2010). Noise from roadways, by the use of noise barriers, such as limitations of vehicles speed, use of traffic control that smooth vehicle flow to reducing braking and acceleration, and tire design minimize noise pollution.
In sum, the emission of gases from vehicles, cars, and trucks, improper sewage disposal from houses and factories, deforestation, application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and traffic in cities significantly causes environment pollution.
References
Ahmad, R. S. (2010). Monitoring urban transport air pollution and energy demand. Science Direct, 35, 2323-2332.
Mahvi, Z. A. (2010). Effect of Fertilizer Application on Soil Heavy Metal Concentration.
Mangalekar S.B., J. A. (n.d.). Study of Noise Pollution in Kolhapur City, Maharashtra, India. 2.5
O’Donnel, J. (2018). Causes, Effects, and Solutions for the Future.
Stauffer, J. (2013). Engineering & Technology, Environment and Sustainability. London.