Effect of Industrialization on the Environment - Essay Example

Effect of Industrialization on the Environment Introduction As the world has developed many concerns regarding the well being of society have risen. These concerns are either related to man-made havocs or some natural shifts in the structure of the world. Industrialization has been carried out by human beings to improve the living standards of the people. It has various benefits because of which many people promote it. The concept of industrialization arose in the 19th century when the world was beginning to see a change. It was introduced to improve the economic realms of the world so that the people could benefit (World Bank 1992 p62). It is this industrialization that has helped many countries to manufacture goods which were beyond human imagination (World Bank 1992 p.71). Industrialization was not only experienced in the developed countries but also in the undeveloped countries. Ever since the economies of countries have improved because of industrialization many countries are still striving hard to industrialize their states. It was noted that the rate of industrialization in Asia was even higher than the developed countries in the years of 1990 to 1995 (WHO 1997 p.130-132). However these countries are not recognizing as to how much effects are they causing on the environment through industrialization. The health hazards and environmental pollution have become the least important of all aspects when it comes to industrialize an area. However with growing concerns it has been noticed that different countries all over the world have taken a stand so as to avoid any mishap. This essay would further analyze different effects of industrialization and environmental pollution on the society and the possible outcome of these effects. It would also put forward some measures through which their effects can be decreased. Environmental problems have had a negative effect on both a global and local scale due to the exhaust fumes from vehicles, factory emissions, cigarette smoking and the burning of waste and these problems would be discussed in detail in this essay (Vallero 2008, Goudie 2000 & Cooper 2001) Industrialization and environment As mentioned above industrialization has been of immense importance to the economies of many countries and because of this reason many countries have adopted the strategies of industrialization. Industrialization is causing a deteriorating effect on the environment of this earth and is also playing a great role in influencing the environmental pollution. Industrialization has also had some good effects on the society as it has improved the living standards of many. It has helped states to better their economy by manufacturing and exporting goods. It has created jobs for the unemployed and has provided many individuals with different opportunities (Pearce et al 1994). The question now arises as to how industrialization is causing deteriorating effects on the environment as it is only meant to improve the economies of countries. This question along with the effects of industrialization on the environmental pollution would be discussed in the following paragraphs. Many of the developed countries have crossed this period of industrialization and this period is now being seen in mostly the under-developed countries. Industries function in different ways through which they can produce the desired product. The products which are being manufactured these days require different raw material. This raw material has to undergo different processes in these industries after which it has the ability to form the desired product. All these processes together are forming materials which are to be exposed because of their toxic nature (Headrick 1990). Now after the product is manufactured it becomes difficult for the industries to dispose of these toxic materials and it is reported that some of the industries in developing countries do not even have perfect measures to dispose this material off. Industries also are an important source of different types of hazardous gases. It is known that it is because of these industrial emissions that many adverse effects are being caused to the layers of the earth. Many of the industries have found a way to dispose the toxic materials into the sea and this has caused other issues. Marine life is greatly endangered by the actions of these industries as they are causing the fishes to die. It is these toxic materials which enter the body of the fish and cause adverse effects. It is because of these adverse effects that a fish dies because of the wrong disposal of waste by these industries. In some cases it is also seen that these fishes somehow reach the human beings and they consume the fish. These industries also dispose off their toxic materials into lands and sewers which can cause other problems. If these toxic materials enter into fertile lands they can easily destroy the crops and destroy the living of a simple farmer. Similarly they can also cause a fertile land to go infertile because of the harmful substances that they are made up of (Taylor 1996). Similarly the smoke given off by industries is also known to be very hazardous for human health. Carbon dioxide at temperature (20-25C) is a colorless, odorless gas and it is the most important greenhouse gas. There are a number of sources which emit carbon dioxide in the atmosphere whereas some of the sources also help removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Such sources are known as ‘sinks’. Therefore sources and sinks collectively regulate the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere and maintain carbon cycle. As CO2 is discharging in excess amount, ratio of carbon dioxide is also rising in our environment. This increased ratio can be responsible for many hazardous effects on our environment. One of the chief sources of carbon dioxide in the society is the industrial sector. There are certain industrial production processes which play vital role in rising levels of carbon dioxide. These processes include: mineral production, metal production etc. In addition the use of petroleum-based products can also lead to CO2 emissions. The process of carbon sequestration also plays a vital role in altering the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Since industrial revolutionary changes have arisen, it has increased the concentration of CO2 in atmosphere up to 30%. It was primarily thought that this increase is due to the combustion of fossils fuels but from further studies, later it was concluded that industrial revolution is the main cause of high level of CO2 in atmosphere (Helm & Robinson, 2002 p 197). Charles D. Keeling was a founder in investigating carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere. The high levels of CO2 are superior to the records in the last 800,000 years. It is now standing at 380 parts per million (ppm) while the pre-industrial was high of280 ppm. The current rate of increases is around 2ppm per year. (PhysicalGeography.net) Carbon dioxide is also released in the manufacture of lime and cement. (United States 1998) Although, final amount of CO2 emission vary according to the type and quality of cement but contributes in increasing the levels of CO2. If these levels of carbon dioxide are not controlled they have the ability to cause serious effects on the society as a whole. CO2 has also an ability to change the pH of water.CO2 is slightly soluble in water and forms carbonic acid, H2CO3, Carbon dioxide + water --> carbonic acid When carbonic acid reacts reversibly with water it forms a hydronium cation, H3O+, and the bicarbonate ion, HCO3-, according to the following reaction Carbonic acid + water --> carbonate- + hydronium cation This is the mechanism due to which H2O behaves as acidic i.e. pH 5.5 instead of neutral i.e. 7. Acid rain also produces by this mechanism which is hazardous for plants especially. Exposure to acid rain also causes skin diseases in humans (Alters 2000). With time climate changes are taking place on the globe. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), an agency of the United Nations the major cause of these changes is greenhouse gases. Among them CO2 is the most important one. Other gases include methane, nitrous oxide etc, which are also found in the atmosphere of earth. These gases trap infrared and ultraviolet radiations of the sun which increases the temperature and results in global warming. Therefore they regulate the atmosphere of the earth. Nowadays global warming is becoming a serious environmental issue. The United Methodist Church has declared its support of “social policies that...de-emphasize or eliminate energy-producing technologies that endanger the health, the safety, and even the existence of the present and future human and nonhuman creation”. In addition, the Church has called for the “control of global warming” (Resolution 1001.8), the support of “strenuous efforts to conserve energy and increase energy efficiency” (Resolution 1001.1), the United States to “move beyond its dependence on high carbon fossil fuels that produce emissions leading to climate change” (Resolution 1002.1) and “measures calling for a reduction of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide, which contribute to acid rain and global climate change” (Resolution 1023). Nature makes everything in balance but these human activities that disturb natural phenomena leads to extensive rise in the amount of CO2 in atmosphere. Due to its increasing rate there are certain adverse effects on environmental and health. The lower part of atmosphere is about 10-15 kilometers thick. It is known as troposphere and the gases it contains are known as greenhouse gases. When sunlight reaches to earth it converts into heat. Greenhouse gases absorb this heat and trap it near the earth’s surface which creates a warm effect on earth. This effect is known as the greenhouse effect.(Rachal & Clarke, 1992) This greenhouse effect regulates the temperature of whole earth. If the greenhouse effect would not exist, the whole earth may be covered in ice. The rate of heat absorption in the troposphere determines the temperature on earth. This heat absorption depends on the concentrations of greenhouse gases. It also depends on the time these gases exist in the atmosphere. The important gases that constitute greenhouse gasses are carbon dioxide, CFC's (Chlor-Fluoro-Carbons), nitrogen oxides and methane. After the industrial revolution in 1850 human activities rose to levels at which they resulted in discharge of the greenhouse gasses. This results in rise in temperature and leads to environmental problems. This abnormal increase in gasses is known as global warming. This warming effect also causes melting of ice caps from the poles which further produces the chances of storms. The rate of heat absorption in the troposphere determines the temperature on earth. This heat absorption depends on the concentrations of greenhouse gases. It also depends on the time these gases exist in the atmosphere. The important gases that constitute greenhouse gasses are carbon dioxide, CFC's (Chlor-Fluoro-Carbons), nitrogen oxides and methane. Although CO2 plays vital roles in body but its excess amount can be hazardous for human health. Some of the health dangers of CO2 are: • Asphyxiation: It is a disease caused by excess release of CO2 in a confined airless or unventilated area. Due to the accumulation of CO2 oxygen tension becomes low which is hazardous for human health. • Frostbite: it is a disease caused by treating solid CO2 in hands for more than a second or two without proper safety measures. It causes serious blisters, and other unwanted effects. CO2 gas is released from steel cylinders i.e. fire extinguisher. • Kidney damage or coma: it is caused due to abnormal concentrations of CO2 in body which may cause a difference in the chemical equilibrium of the body and hence cause a situation which can prove to be fatal for the individual. Thus it can be said that industrialization is indirectly playing a great role in the production of Carbon Dioxide and harming the lives of many human beings on this planet (Alters 2000). It is because of these industrialization that many such harmful products have also been manufactured which are causing a great deal towards increasing the environmental pollution. It is because of this industrialization that advanced products such as vehicles are manufactured. The major contributor towards the smoke nowadays is because of the emissions given off by the vehicles. The emissions given off by the vehicles include the harmful gases such as Carbon Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide (United States 1998). Environmental pollution can have profound effects on the health of an individual either directly or indirectly. Environmental pollution is being generated through different means and industries are one major contributors of the environmental pollution. Different chemicals are released by these industries which may cause different diseases. These chemicals can at times cause skin diseases in workers which are known as dermatitis. The disposal issue of industries which was mentioned above can also cause health hazards. Poor disposal of the sewage water can cause contaminated water to be delivered to the normal human beings which can further cause diseases related to diarrhea. At times this diarrhea is so severe because of different bacteria that the individual is not able to survive. Similarly other effects of environmental pollution can be on the nasal and gastro-intestinal passages which can cause other diseases in the human beings. Air pollution which is caused by industries and other sources can also lead to different respiratory diseases to arise in human beings. Tuberculosis can also arise because of this environmental pollution. It is believed that workers working in industries are also greatly exposed to different chemicals which can have a profound effect on the health of the worker. Some of the industries can also release lead fumes which can cause lead poisoning in the workers. Contamination of the chemicals by industries in the surrounding areas can cause the residents to have nervous diseases because of these harmful toxins. In some cases it is also noted that the industrial toxins can cause neoplasms, genetical defects and malformations. Noise pollution is also being caused by industries which can act as an irritant for many individuals (Robbins et al 2003; Asuzu 2002). From the above discussion it can be clearly seen that industrialization is playing a great role in increasing the environmental pollution. It is also giving out different harmful gases which can then pose health hazards to many individuals. To decrease environmental pollution one has to point out the effects of industrialization. Nowadays the effects of industrialization have been analyzed and a link between industrial waste and pollution has been studied. Many of the countries have taken different steps so as to decrease the environmental pollution that is being caused by these industries. It was reported in 2002 that China spends 1.3% of their GDP only to control the environmental pollution. Many other countries have followed and have strict guidelines when it comes to the aspect of industrialization. India has also laid down different guidelines so as to make the industrialists cautious about their actions (China 2002). Conclusion In conclusion it can be said that industrialization is posing great threats to the whole society and it should be discouraged. Although it is seen that industrialization has proved to be of great help to countries so that they can improve their economies but it is also posing serious threats to the individuals who are living in the society. The threats of industrialization are much higher than the benefits and hence it should be discouraged or a new way should be sought through which the environmental pollution given off by these industries can be reduced. In my view new methods or strategies should be sought by the governments so that they can decrease the adverse effects of industrialization so that their economy is also not affected. 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