Impact of Pollution on Human Health and the Environment - Essay Example

Impact of Pollution on Human Health and the Environment Impact of Pollution on Human Health and the Environment Introduction World Health Organization estimates that approximately 50% of health problems facing human beings are caused by prolonged exposure to environmental pollution (Sitkin, 2011). Environmental pollution can be classified into three types: air pollution, water pollution, and noise pollution. Each type of pollution poses widespread adversities to the health of human beings in the environment. Environmental toxicants found in the air, water and soil find their way into the human body through inhalation, ingestion, and absorption. While in the body, these toxic substances are responsible for causing skin disorders, respiratory abnormalities, abdominal problems, eye infections, damage to the central nervous system, and blood disorders (Santrock, 2014). The problem of interaction between environmental pollution and health is considered a global issue since pollution is not restricted to place and time. The problem of health hazards caused by environmental pollution is widely recognized due to fatalities that are associated with it. Nature of the Problem Pollution effects of health are caused by both natural and human factors. The greatest natural factor that spurs health hazards of pollution constitutes tsunamis. A tsunami is a series of water waves that results from a displacement of large volumes of water in an ocean or sea. The 2004 Indian tsunami is one of the deadliest in history of the world that caused deaths of more than 230, 000 people (Gullì, 2013). Tsunamis cause widespread destruction and deposits solid and liquid chemicals into water bodies. Global warming is the unequivocal and constant rise in the average temperature of the earth’s climate system. Human factors that cause pollution include emissions from industries and manufacturing activities, burning fossil fuels, household and farming chemicals, and discharge of untreated sewage into water bodies. The effects of pollution cause chemical reactions that create poisonous gases. An example of a poisonous gas is ground-level ozone, which is adversarial to people’s health (Grandjean, 2013). Pollution also causes to depletion of ozone layer from the atmosphere, leading to exposure of people to harmful ultra-violet rays. Impact on the Business Sector A clean environment is highly fundamental for human health and wellbeing. Human beings depend on environmental factors for their survival (Gullì, 2013). Without environment, no life would exist on the earth. The environment consists of both living and non-living components that surround a person, place, or an object. The interactions between the environment and human health is characterised by complexity and dynamism, which renders it difficult to assess. The most well known impacts of health are related to ambient air pollution, poor quality of water and insufficient sanitation (Khanna & Ajendra, 2013). Polluted air, water and noise are the primary causes of health hazards across the world. Health effects of pollution are not limited to any particular sector, but affect all business sectors of the economy. People working all sectors are affected by health hazards of pollution. Environmental pollution does not select specific sectors to attack. There is no business sector that is immune to health hazards caused by pollution as long as it is found within the environment. Responses to minimize the health hazards of pollution are of absolute necessity. People cannot ignore the consequences of pollution to health by not being proactive in seeking proper mechanisms to address to problem. Chitkara (2012) argues that human health has always been threatened by pollution perils such as industrial emissions, discharge of chemicals into water bodies, metallic objects, dust and smoke. The consequences of these environmental destruction are worsened by lack of preparedness to minimize creation of pollutants when they occur. Some forms of pollution are not escapable as long as production activities are taking place. There is no absolute solution to health effects of pollution, but some forms of control can be instituted to minimize its consequences on human health. The governments and the public can assume a collective responsibility to defend themselves from the adversities of pollution (Great Britain, 2009). It is not optional to protect people from health hazards, but it is necessary for both people themselves and the governments of the affected countries to seek solutions to health hazards. People can take charge of their health and ensure they go for regular check-ups in order to identify the amount of pollutants in their bodies. Outlook for the Future Ways of responding to pollution problem Growing recognition of the environmental and public hazards has prompted the development and application of methods, strategies, and technologies to minimize the effects of pollution. Governments have initiated regulatory and policy measures to reduce pollution effects on health and ensure achievement of environmental health standards (Wong & Croucher Foundation, 2013). Solution efforts on combating pollution are always difficult to implement. This necessitates concentration on prevention interventions as a way of controlling pollution to curb the adversities of pollution on health. Both the government and the public should collaborate to initiate effective prevention mechanisms. The first way of responding to the health hazards of pollution is educating people about the causes, effects, and possible measures of minimizing pollution (Khanna & Ajendra, 2013). Educating the community is the best way of empowering people to intervene in finding solutions to problems that are facing them. Enlightening the people will equip them with knowledge and skills to identify origins of health problems. When they have identified the origins of diseases that affect their communities, they will link them to various pollution agents and the processes through which harmful chemicals find their way into human body. People can only be able to prevent an issue when they fully understand its course. Through education and empowerment programs, the public will then initiate methods of minimizing exposure to the agents of pollution (Satarkar, 2008). Uniting people in a process where everyone knows that they have a responsibility of caring for the environment can immensely contribute towards creating a nearly pollution-free world. The second method of controlling pollution is implementing a comprehensive waste management strategy. Waste is regarded as an undesirable by-product from the process of production that must be contained in order to ensure that it does not contaminate soil, water and air resources (Peng & Dominic, 2008). Governments, for example, have established standards for acceptable practices required to collect, handle and dispose pollutants to ensure environmental protection. Examples of comprehensive waste management methods include disposing wastes through sanitary landfills, waste incineration, and proper treatment of hazardous waste before disposal (Syred & Khalatov, 2007). Additionally, waste minimization and recycling have been given due attention as one way of avoiding potential burden and costs associated with waste disposal. The third strategy of combating pollution and its associated health problems is by incorporating pollution prevention in the design of industrial processes. This becomes feasible since the pollution control technologies have become more expensive and sophisticated to use. Most of the companies that could participate in environmental pollution find it complex and expensive to participate in environmental protection. Incorporating pollution prevention in the production process eliminates harmful environmental effects and promotes competitiveness among industries (Goldstein & Goldstein, 2002). As an approach of pollution prevention, incorporating pollution control strategies in the production process focuses directly on practices, materials, and energy that minimize creation of harmful wastes at the source. Corporate commitment plays a vital role in decision-making aiming at incorporation of technologies that can reduce creation of pollutants. The effectiveness of solutions The proposed solutions for minimizing health problems are purely responsive and do not have any element of profit motive. Application of methods of pollution control has demonstrated considerable effectiveness in minimizing health hazards associated with pollution (Sinha & Choudhary, 2008). It is necessary to take a comprehensive approach in assessing and controlling both point and non-point sources of pollution. Countries that are experiencing rapid industrialization without addressing the challenges of pollution are risking the health of their populations. The government has put in place sanctions aimed at limiting the amount of waste productivity from the manufacturing units. Exceeding the amount of pollution is met with heavy fines and penalties (Ledgerwood & Broadhurst, 2000). To some extent, concentration in minimizing pollution has a profit motive. For example, modern companies engage in corporate social responsibility in order to build a good image of the firm that can attract customers (Sarkis, 2014). Impact of the problem on my business sector The impact of pollution on health has widespread consequences on the tourism business in the next thirty years (Satarkar, 2008). Amount of pollution differs from place to place and depending on time. People are becoming more sensitive to pollution causes and effects due to exposure to enlightenment and education. Tourism countries that are deemed to have excessive amount of pollutants are going to be avoided by tourists. The tourism business is going to face unprecedented challenges, as the amount of tourism will decrease over time. Conclusion The environmental consequences of rapid industrialisation have been the primary causes of courtliness incidents of contaminating land, air and water resources with toxic materials and other pollutants; these threatens human ecosystems with adverse health risks. Modern production processes are characterised by intensive and extensive use of energy and materials that create cumulative pressures on the quality of local, regional and global ecosystems. Health effects of population are not limited to any sector, place or time, but affect all parts of the world and all the time. The responsibility of minimising pollution rests on both the public and the public. Ways of reducing population include educating people about pollution, adopting a comprehensive waste management strategy and incorporating pollution prevention in the design of industrial processes. Continued pollution in various countries of the world may negatively affect the tourism sector, as people will avoid countries that have chances of widespread pollution. References Chitkara, M. G. 2012. Environmental pollution control. New Delhi: APH Pub. Corp. Goldstein, I. F., & Goldstein, M. 2002. How much risk?: A guide to understanding environmental health hazards. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Grandjean, P. 2013. Only one chance: How environmental pollution impairs brain development--and how to protect the brains of the next generation. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Great Britain. 2009. Lake nutrient impact classified by the chironomid pupal exuviae technique. Bristol: Environment Agency. Gullì, F. 2013). Pollution under environmental regulation in energy markets. London: Springer. Khanna, D. R., & Ajendra, K. 2013. Environmental pollution: Assessment and control techniques. New Delhi: Biotech Books. Ledgerwood, G., & Broadhurst, A. I. 2000. 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Environmental contamination: Health risks and ecological restoration. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press Read More