Human Pollution and Hazardous Chemicals - Essay Example

Human Pollution and Hazardous Chemicals Human pollution are man-made pollutions that are caused by human beings through release of toxic substances and hazardous chemicals into the natural environment thereby causing hazardous and huge health effects and undesirable environment for human health. The great increase in human pollution results from faster population increase, increased industrialization and faster infrastructure development that forces man to clear the natural resources available for better ecosystem being (Plant, Jane, Kristin, Ragnarsdottir, and Nikolaos 78). These results from human actions and activities like energy generation especially from nuclear generating plant, consumption, industrial production, waste disposal, and transportation. The pollutants may reach the surrounding human environments through ways such as water, soil, and air (atmosphere). This paper discusses human pollution and its hazardous chemicals, solutions to the threat caused by pollutants, and the cost benefits of the solution proposed for solving human pollution. Water Pollutants This occurs when chemicals waste substances or products from industries are released to water bodies without treatment or washed away by rainfall into the water environment. This threatens marine life, coral reefs, fisheries, mangroves and coastal zones. Chemical substances such as pesticides, fertilizers, motor oils, and oils spills from ships can adversely affect the life of plants and animals living there. Studies have shown that most of the water pollutants come from land such as chemical fertilizers, detergents, pesticides, heavy metals, oil, plastics, sewage, and other metals where they accumulate deep down in the ocean flow and sediments, and later consumed by marine organisms which may later be re-introduced to the global food chain when they are consumed by man. Additionally, studies have shown that about 20% of the water pollutants originates from direct disposal of chemical waste substances into the oceans, rivers, lakes and streams, untreated sewage disposal into enclosed areas, discharge of oily waste products from ships regularly and accidental spills (Cooper, Marshall, Vanderlinden and Ursitti 134) Moreover, research have found that group of chemicals with common features referred to as persistent organic pollutants such as persistence, long-range transport and bioaccumulation. In addition to their toxicity these characteristics have adverse significant effects on both marine mammals including wildlife as well as human populations, and most particularly the vulnerable group like infants and nursing mothers. The health threat of exposure to persistent organic pollutants are carcinogenicity, endocrine disruption, and neuro-development disorders. Air Pollutants Many human activities results in air pollutants and the level of air pollutants are highest in areas of high traffic volumes, coal-fired electricity generation areas, industrial activity, and wood fuel combustion areas. The outdoor air pollutants include carbon monoxide, nitrogen and Sulphur oxides, volatile organic compounds and ammonia. Studies have shown that the largest sources of furan and dioxin chemicals which are highly toxic organic pollutant come from the municipal waste products disposal areas and medical waste substances. In addition, research have found that indoor air pollutants comes from consumer products such as products of combustion, radon, biological allergens, as well as house dust. Studies have shown extensive evidence indicating that dust from the house contains more than 100 allergens and potentially toxic substances. Particulate matter and house dust from outside sources or indoor air are the most important medium through which children exposes themselves to PBDEs, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), lead, pesticides, endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) and phthalates, arsenic, mold, bacteria, chromium, and endotoxin (Bachmann and Till 45). Additionally, Sulphur dioxide from factories release, volcanic eruption, and carbon dioxide from motor vehicle exhaust have great chemical composition that may cause depletion of the ozone layer leading to global warming and finally systematic changes in the climatic systems. Radioactive Pollutants These originate from either denotation or explosion of nuclear devices, accidental discharge of chemicals from the nuclear plant, and improperly disposing of nuclear waste products. Contamination of radioactive materials can last for several years and decades leading to long term destruction of living tissues resulting to chronic illness like mutation and cancers such as breast cancer. Furthermore, other human pollutants and hazardous chemicals that are emerging are heavy metals, metalloids, and metals, electronic wastes, endocrine disrupters, open burning or materials, non-biodegradable plastics in the environment, and nanomaterials and nanoparticles in pharmaceuticals, food packaging, cosmetics and personal care products. Solutions to Human Pollutions and Its Hazardous Chemicals The global response need to be reinforced through Stockholm, Basel, and Rotterdam conventions and other organizations that addresses chemicals and wastes like MARPOL, Montreal protocols that control depletion of ozone layer, the London convention, as well as treaties like Mediterranean conventions, Bamako and the future Minamata convention on Mercury are all the foundations that were proposed to protect human environment and health from adverse effects of waste and chemicals. Discussions conducted enabled the organizations to foresee problems and make organizations to act on issues collectively, soundly and sustainable way. Moreover, different solutions were proposed that were more beneficial and less costly in solving the human pollution and hazards such as provision of sound management of chemicals throughout their life cycle and of waste, protection of environment and human health from persistent organic pollutants (POPs), preservation and protection of marine environments from all different kinds of pollution (Lomborg 7). Others were, Trans boundary movement controls of hazardous waste and responsible trade in hazardous chemicals, safe nuclear waste and radioactive management, and assessing science based risk transparently through management risk procedures as well as monitoring systems globally, nationally, and regionally Conclusion Human pollution and hazardous chemicals resulting from these human pollutants are very dangerous and may lead to mass extinction of human kind if not properly dealt with. Pollutants like Sulphur dioxide gas and carbon monoxide when excessively released into the atmosphere may lead to depletion of ozone layer leading to global warming and changes in climate systems. More research and studies therefore need to be conducted to ensure that proper, friendly and adequate infrastructure are placed in key sectors such as health, information and communication technology, water, transport, sanitation, disaster management to protect people from harmful chemicals, radioactive and hazardous waste. Works Cited Bachmann, Till M. Hazardous Substances and Human Health: Exposure Impact and External Cost Assessment at the European Scale. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2006. 21-157 Print. Cooper K, Marshall L, Vanderlinden L, and Ursitti F. Early Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals/Pollution and Associations with Chronic Disease: A Scoping Review. A report from the Canadian Environmental Law Association, the Ontario College of Family Physicians and the Environmental Health Institute of Canada, 2011. 4-162. Print. Lomborg, Bjorn. Global Crises, Global Solutions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009. 7-67. Print. Plant, Jane A, Kristin V. Ragnarsdottir, and Nikolaos Voulvoulis. Pollutants, Human Health, and the Environment: A Risk Based Approach. Chichester, West Sussex, U.K: Wiley-Blackwell, 2012. Print. Read More