Danger of Environmental Pollution - Report Example

environmental pollution] [Environmental pollution, forms of pollutants and sources, consequences to human, plant and animal life and mitigation measures) Executive summary 3 Environmental pollution report 6 1.0.Introduction 6 1.1.General overview 6 2.0.Forms and sources of environmental pollution 7 2.1.Forms of environmental pollution 7 2.1.1.Air pollution 7 2.1.2.Water pollution 8 2.1.3.Soil pollution 8 2.2.Environmental pollution sources 8 2.2.1.Fossil fuels sources 8 2.2.2.Non-fossil fuel sources 10 3.0.Consequences 10 3.1.The effects of environmental pollution on humans, animals and plants 10 3.1.1.Air pollution effects 11 3.1.2.Water pollution effects 11 3.1.3.Soil pollution effects 13 4.0.Environmental pollution Mitigation measures 13 4.1.Control and prevention of air pollution 14 4.2.Control and prevention of water pollution 15 4.3.Management of solid waste 15 4.4.Control and prevention of industrial pollution 16 5.0.Conclusion 17 6.0.References 18 Executive summary Environmental pollution report 1.0. Introduction 1.0.1. General overview Environmental pollution is the degradation of the surrounding by physiological and biological contaminants known as pollutants which affects the atmosphere and the earth systems through a process known pollution (Davis & Cornwell, 2011) Pollution means that undesirable products are introduced in any segment of the environment either air, water and soil causing adverse reaction. Human activities are the main causes of environmental pollution. Environmental pollution is a global burden. Environmental pollution increases with population increase as their need increases. Some causes of environmental pollution include industrialization, urbanization, settlement and farming (Dorgham, 2000). This report looks into air, water and soil forms of pollution and their sources, consequences the pollutants pose to all living things and put forward some mitigation measure to control and prevent environmental pollution. 2.0. Forms and sources of environmental pollution 2.1. Forms of environmental pollution 2.1.1. Air pollution Air pollution is the availability of undesirable particles or fumes in the atmosphere (Gadd, 2009). Air pollution results from emitted gases such ammonia, CO2, carbon monoxide, dust particles, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone etc (Dorgham, 2000). 2.1.2. Water pollution Water pollution is the presence of unwelcoming odors, toxic substance in ponds, rivulets and river water (Davis & Cornwell, 2011). Some water pollutants include untreated sewerages with heavy metals, turbidity, human and animal waste, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and excess salts. 2.1.3. Soil pollution This includes pollutants and processes that alter the soil composition and structure making it undesirable for human, animals and plants survival. Such include dissolved chemicals on the land or oil, heavy metals, haphazard use of farming chemicals poisoning the soil (Turner, 2011). 2.2. Environmental pollution sources Fossil fuels and non-fossil fuel sources are major contributors to environment pollution. Fossil fuel sources include use of coal, gas or oil (Gadd, 2009). Their use pollutes the air, the soil and even water (Friedl, & Getzner, 2003). Non-fossil fuel sources arise from utilization of decomposable organic and non-inorganic materials (Buitenzorgy, & Mol, 2011). These materials lead to landfill following overuse polluting the air, water and soil. 3.0. Consequences The consequences of environmental pollution are lethal to the plants, animals and humans (Gadd, 2009). Different pollutants affect living things differently after a long or short use (Gadd, 2009 and Mihelcic & Zimmerman, 2010). Human may suffer from cancer, diarrhea, slowed growth and development when exposed to either air, water or soil pollutants. Animals may suffer from deformities and altered population growth as it is with fish and tadpoles. Plants may accumulate toxic substance or die from ozone emission affecting primary food chain. Environmental pollution generally, lowers the quality and quantity of the environment making all living thing prone to diseases, disabilities and extinction. 4.0. Mitigation measures The highly recommended measures are methods which emphasizes on the use of products and processes that are recyclable, reusable, renewable and decomposable (Dorgham, 2000). In addition, nations should strictly reinforce existing laws to safeguard environment degradation through pollution. Creating awareness to all people is important as everyone has a role to play in preventing environmental pollution (Turner, 2011). Use of low emitting gasoline vehicles and common public vehicle use is highly recommended (Mihelcic & Zimmerman, 2010). Industries and factories should be regulated on the activities they perform, gasses emission mitigation measures and waste water should be recycled or treated before releasing to the streams (Dorgham, 2000). Severe penalties should be imposed to law breakers. 5.0. Conclusion Environmental pollution is a global pandemic and hence control and prevention measures have to be jointly reinforced and practiced to safeguard the nature from degradation. Environmental pollution report 1.0. Introduction 1.1. General overview According to (Davis & Cornwell, 2011) nature is made up of living and non-living things including human. Deforestation, over-population growth, industrialization and modern urbanization have altered the natural environment greatly. Environmental pollution is defined as contamination of the systems forming the atmosphere and earth which occur from biological and physical components impacting the systems to an extent that there are evident effects of the environmental processes. Pollution is the introduction of elements or contaminants in any part of the environment including soil, water and air which is undesirable and affects the nature. When pollution occurs in the environment it deteriorates the natural resources affecting its quantity and quality. Pollutants are the unwanted foreign materials which lead to pollution. Pollution arises from the daily activities carried by people. Human activities cause different forms of pollution. They include and not limited to sound pollution, soil pollution, water pollution and air pollution. Human activities are the main cause of pollution. The main causes are ignorance of the people interacting with the environment, use of pesticides, migration, modernization, deforestation, industrialization, growth of population and urbanization. Environmental pollution forces a great burden to all nations as it affects both the developed and undeveloped countries (Dorgham, 2000). People need increases with population increase (Buitenzorgy, & Mol, 2011). Many people move to the towns due to different reasons. Growth in urban population leads to increased human activities in turn contributing to increased environmental pollution. Cities industrialization, vehicles and waste products are the main causes of pollution. The factories produce excess waste, chemical and harmful gases. Unplanned industrialization and urbanization cause sound pollution, air pollution and water pollution. Deforestation is carried for different reasons which lead to air pollution. Lack of education makes people lack knowledge of the activities they do that lead to environmental pollution and how to mitigate the pollution. Environmental pollution took heavy roots since industrial revolution. The result is deforestation as people clear land for farming, settlement (Davis & Cornwell, 2011). This report will look into air, water and soil forms of pollution and their sources, consequences the pollutants pose to all living things and put forward some mitigation measure to control and prevent environmental pollution. 2.0. Forms and sources of environmental pollution 2.1. Forms of environmental pollution 2.1.1. Air pollution Air pollution is the presence of harmful microorganisms, dirt particles and fumes forming air composition (Gadd, 2009). Firewood and kerosene usage emits smoke that mixes with air. Industries and moving vehicles releases smoke particles and fumes that dissolve in air quickly. Decomposing organic materials releases odour into the air. This raises amount of dissolved poisonous gases and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The common air pollutants include radioactive particles, volatile organic compounds, ozone, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide (Dorgham, 2000). 2.1.2. Water pollution Water pollution is rendering rain, surface and underground water unfit for soil, human, animals and plants consumption (Davis & Cornwell, 2011). Water pollutants includes chemical waste, heavy metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), livestock operation pollutants, food processing waste, herbicides and insecticides. As people increases so is the general population. Quantities of Sewerage and garbage increase with the rate of the population (Turner, 2011). Unwanted materials are disposed in the ponds, rivulets and rivers. Unnecessary products from the industries and factories are released to the water. This forms the sewage which then pollutes water, and affects its natural efficiency (Davis & Cornwell, 2011). 2.1.3. Soil pollution Currently, in the industrialization and urbanization era, people have grown impatient. They want things to happen sudden and get the results with little cost. As such people have changed from following instructions on how to use different chemicals like insecticides, fungicides, fertilizers etc to increase the production on agriculture. Generally, soil pollutants encompass heavy metals, solvents and hydrocarbons. Soil pollution occurs when chemical leak or spill to the soil (Turner, 2011). 2.2. Environmental pollution sources 2.2.1. Fossil fuels sources Use of coal, gas or oil (fossil fuels) has become a natural thing. However, they affect all human beings as the pollutants are trans-boundary (Gadd, 2009). Fossil fuels are used in car petrol station, power-generating industry and they are present in product like all types of lubricating oils, asphalt, detergents, solvents, plastics and different types of chemical used in the industries among others. Fossil fuel combustion emits high levels of pollutants in the air (Friedl, & Getzner, 2003). They also pollute water and soil widely. For example; leakage of oil through the pipelines during transportation to different destination pollutes soil and subsequently groundwater. Transportation of oil using tankers over the surface of the ocean can spill and pollute the oceanic waters. Nuclear waste emanates from scientific, medical and industrial processes that use materials which are radioactive (Mihelcic & Zimmerman, 2010). Nuclear waste is lethal to marine habitats. Sources include: Nuclear power stations operations in turn producing radioactive waste. Refining and mining thorium and uranium causes marine nuclear waste. Many scientific, medical and industrial processes which use nuclear fuel cycle produce nuclear waste as well. In addition, uranium use in nuclear power generation causes pollution that takes years to decompose. Therefore, transport and power-generating plants are the major causes of pollution using fossil fuels (Gadd, 2009). Fossil fuel pollution emanates from: Industry: i. Fossil fuel production and distribution ii. Petrochemical plants iii. Petroleum refineries iv. Power-generating plants v. Other facilities of manufacturing Transport: i. Aircraft ii. Shipping industry iii. Road transport iv. Fossil fuel combustion emits carbon dioxide which is the leading cause in global warming 2.2.2. Non-fossil fuel sources Agriculture is the key cause of ammonia emission like livestock farming causing air pollution. Fertilizers and pesticides chemicals used in large scale for agriculture pollutes both soil and water. Trading activities are other sources that pollute the environment. For example; retail and supermarkets packaging products is becoming excess generating solid waste that is drained into either municipal incinerators or landfills subsequently contaminating both air and soil. In addition, residential sector produces excess municipal waste that is in turn flown to incinerators or landfills polluting air and the soil (Buitenzorgy, & Mol, 2011) 3.0. Consequences The effects of the environmental pollution are sincerely lethal to the living things (Gadd, 2009). The effect ranges from some discomforts to fatal diseases and physical deformities. Studies show that effects of pollution are taken lightly (Gadd, 2009 and Mihelcic & Zimmerman, 2010). 3.1. The effects of environmental pollution on humans, animals and plants Environmental pollution is accountable for behavioral disorders, physiological disorders and physical disabilities among people (Gadd, 2009 and Dorgham, 2000). 3.1.1. Air pollution effects Polluted air affects the general health of the living being People suffer from different diseases. Example of diseases and infection prone to human arising from air pollution include; cancer, eye itching, whooping cough, immune system and central nervous system malfunctioning, reduced energy levels and asthma. Air pollution affects domestic and wild animals such as suffering from respiratory disease of varied form. Fish life is destroyed by acid rain in streams and lakes. Eroding of the upper atmosphere ozone layer by air pollutants leads to penetration of ultraviolent light from the sun which is cancerous to animals. Lower atmosphere ozone destroys internal organs of the animals like the lungs. Acid rain infiltrates the soil rendering it unsuitable for habitation and nutrition purpose for plants, destroy plant leaves or kill the trees. Excessive UV from high atmosphere penetrating through the damaged Ozone can damage plants and trees. Ozone emanating from the lower atmosphere blocks the stomata hindering respiration in turn affecting photosynthesis consequently, leading to stunting plants and later the plant dies off. 3.1.2. Water pollution effects Water pollution affects both flora and fauna. Water turbidity increases. Pure water gets contaminated affecting living things following water borne diseases. Some forms of infection include typhoid, amoeba, round worms, hook worms cholera, dysentery, skin itches and rashes, diarrheas etc aquatic animals and plant get harmed. Increased chemical on water encourages growth of unfavorable plants reducing light penetration. This vegetation affect human activities such as fishing as there are competition between foreign plants encouraged to grow by the product in water as well affecting ease navigation. Therefore, water pollution affects smooth growth of both aquatic plant and animals. The initially health animals and plants taken for human food get poisoned transferring the chemicals into human as some are indecomposible like cadmium, mercury etc Nutrient pollution like phosphate, nitrogen leads to excessive overgrowth of poisonous algae consumed by water animals which may cause fish diseases outbreaks and death. Contamination of water by chemicals can result to tadpole mass and frog biodiversity decline. Oil pollution leads to nervous system damage, kidney and liver damage, gastrointestinal irritation affects processes of reproduction and increased vulnerability of water animals to diseases. Mercury is lethal can cause death, reduced reproduction, slower growth and development and abnormal behavior among water animals. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) cause fish death, deformities and population decline. Excess sodium chloride in water causes death in animals. Water pollution is likely to alter photosynthesis in aquatic plants in turn affecting the depended ecosystems. Pollutants from the water can be taken up in food chain when consumed as nutrient by aquatic and terrestrial plants. Excess salts (sodium chloride may kill plants), silting from sites of construction kills plants, as well as herbicide presence in water. On the wider scope, environmental pollution can lead to oxygen depletion in waters like marine habitats in turn affecting the whole ecosystem. Acid rain also cause soil acidification, damages monuments and building surfaces and corrodes metals in addition to the destruction of streams and lakes aquatic life 3.1.3. Soil pollution effects Presence of lead cause poor development of the brain in children, cancers like leukemia, mercury offers great chances for kidney damage and liver toxicity, skin rashes, eye irritation, fatigue, nausea and headache. Contaminated soil contaminates food leading to food insecurity In soil pollution, human activities affect the topsoil which is fertile. In some cases pesticides use destroy useful pests and microorganisms. This in turn leads to low production and lowers soil fertility. Soil quality and composition deterioration disturbs development and growth of the living things. Therefore, the environment becomes imbalanced affecting subsequent land productivity. Soil pollution can alter arthropods and microorganisms metabolism consequently destroying some members in the primary food chain affecting the predator pessimistically. Consumption of chemical by small animals may be taken up and concentrate on larger animals in the food chain leading to animal extinction due to raised mortality rates. Plants and trees are likely to absorb and take contaminants up in the food chain. Over time, crop yield and metabolism of plants is adversely affected. 4.0. Environmental pollution Mitigation measures Environmental pollution is inevitable (Dorgham, 2000). Its effects are far beyond what researchers have established. Seriousness of environmental pollution is yet to be ensured. Mitigation, minimization and prevention measures of environmental pollution would be highly recommended to combat the detrimental consequences earlier highlighted on plants, animals and human. Basically, worldwide, each country has certain laws governing environmental pollution prevention and mitigation measures. However, this is rarely taken into consideration because of industrialization era as factories and industries take root to make reasonable output at the environmental disadvantage. This can be reversed if internationals and national communities both take action (Turner, 2011). Coming up with a strong international climate policy that is strictly followed to force countries to limit emissions would be a great step forward in stopping environmental pollution. Nevertheless, this is yet to be in minds of different international communities as the undeveloped countries suffer the consequences of developed countries. This does not mean there is nothing which can be done to prevent or stop environmental pollution. Adapting good practices to prevent either air, water and soil pollution by all people can be the basic starting point. This can be seriously practiced if the government puts in place laws to maintain the practices as well as ensuring there is a serious compliance to the regulations by industries which emit pollutants. Everyone can play a great role by ensuring he gets to understand the causes and sources of environmental pollution, their consequences to the current and the generation to come and their prevention methods. In addition further control and prevention measures include: 4.1. Control and prevention of air pollution Air pollution is the leading cause of environmental pollution (Davis & Cornwell, 2011). The government has banned burning vegetation and plants. Industries have set rules and regulation regarding emissions; however, there is need for the regulations to be applied. To reduce fossil fuel combustion renewable sources of energy should be adapted. Industries should install proper chimneys and air filtering should be carried before gases are released to the atmosphere. This will prevent lethal pollutants escaping to the air. To reduce diesel and petrol burning CNG vehicles should be encouraged for transport. In addition (Mihelcic & Zimmerman, 2010), public vehicle use should be encouraged and regular checking of vehicles for pollution emission should be done. 4.2. Control and prevention of water pollution Any healthy ecosystem is built on safe and clean water (Dorgham, 2000).Water pollution control and prevention should consider developments that employ water cycle and regional water resources consumption (Gadd, 2009). For health life, there is need to protect and safeguard quality and quantity of drinking water sources. Washing and bathing in river banks should be discouraged as well as setting up sewerage and treatment plants. Industrial waste should not be directly dumped into rivers and heavy fines should be imposed to those doing such an act. A good number of sewerage treatment plants should be put up in urban centers to ensure at least 90% of sewerage is treatment while 80% of plants should be in major towns in the country (Mihelcic & Zimmerman, 2010). Installation of sludge disposal facilities should be put up for sewerage treatment. Directly sewerage can be arranged to be extracted and treated by installing small wastewater facilities for treatment to provide water for municipal, irrigation and cleaning purposes. 4.3. Management of solid waste An effective ecosystem comprises some measures like safe treatment, recycles, reduction and waste management (Gadd, 2009). To reduce industrial solid waste, effective measures such as advocating healthy consumption, vegetable pretreatment before availing in urban centers, simplifying commodity packaging, one-shot product control and coal substitution should be enforced as well as promote recycling and at the source domestic refuse and commercial garbage prevention (Turner, 2011). Industrial restructuring should be done to ensure 90% of the waste from the industries is reused. Metallurgical residues and coal ash currently reuse system should be improved and treatment facilities should be provided. Moreover, to achieve a 100% safe disposal and treatment of solid waste, a development of hazardous waste management system which is strictly regulated and followed is a must. Non-on-site hazardous waste should all be collected and taken to a central treatment facilities and disposal. New landfill should be built for solid if need be. Medical waste should be treated in a centralized treatment facility (Davis & Cornwell, 2011). Strict supervision should be ensured to prevent urban domestic refuse being mixed with hazardous waste. In addition, heavy fines should ruthlessly accompany law breakers. 4.4. Control and prevention of industrial pollution Industries are major sources of environmental pollution (Turner, 2011). Industrial smoke, noise, waste pollutes water air, and soils. Main objective of control and prevention of pollution emanating from industries is to reduce harmful discharge from the plants. Primary measure includes banning of heavy pollutant producing enterprises, the outmoded technique elimination advanced technology popularization, enterprise environment management improvement, industrial layout and structure readjusting, recycle economy and life-cycle applications and quantity control program of total discharge. Air pollutants should be prevented from escaping leading to over pollution (Dorgham, 2000).Promotion of non-conventional sources and green fuel usage should be done always with those industries adapting the methods offered subsidies. Regular examination should be carried to ensure all industries practice and heavy fines should accompany non complaints. 5.0. Conclusion From these report, it is evident that environmental pollution is inevitable. Human activities are the basic causes of environmental pollution with industrialization leading in all form of pollution that is air, water and soil pollution. The consequences of environmental pollution are lethal to all living things. The challenge is that some of inorganic materials can be consumed or taken up by plants in turn affecting high members in food chain. In addition, pollutants are transboundary such that they cannot be contained in a specific country where they are produced. The effects of the environmental pollution are therefore, far touching. Following the impacts environmental pollution poses onto the general environment mitigation measures are inevitable. The challenge with the current mitigation measures is lack of strict reinforcement measures. In addition, industrialization versus environmental pollution mitigation lacks balance. The main aim of all mitigation measures advocated is to ensure the safety of nature and control future environmental degradation. Hence, this report supports strict review on the methods laid for prevention and control of environmental pollution to safe the nature from deterioration now and for future generation. 6.0. References Buitenzorgy, M. & Mol, A.P. M., “Does Democracy Lead to a Better Environment?” Deforestation and the Democratic Transition Peak, Environmental and Resource Economics, (2011): 48. 59 - 70. Davis M.L. & Cornwell D.A. Introduction to Environmental Engineering, 5th edition, McGraw-Hill, (2011) Dorgham M.A. (ed) Environment Pollution International Journal (2000): 14(3). Gadd, G., M. “Biosorption: Critical Review of Scientific Rationale, Environmental Importance and Significance for Pollution Treatment”. J. chem. Technol. Biotechnol. (2009): 84:13-28 Friedl, B. Getzner, M., “Determinants of Carbon Dioxide Emissions in a Small Open Economy”. Ecological Economics (2003): 48:59-70 Mihelcic J.R. & Zimmerman J.B. Environmental Engineering, Fundamentals, Sustainability and Design, john Wiley & sons, Inc (2010). Turner C. The leap: How to Survive and Thrive in the Sustainable Economy, Random House Canada, (2011). Read More

Acid rain also cause soil acidification, damages monuments and building surfaces and corrodes metals in addition to the destruction of streams and lakes aquatic life 3.1.3. Soil pollution effects Presence of lead cause poor development of the brain in children, cancers like leukemia, mercury offers great chances for kidney damage and liver toxicity, skin rashes, eye irritation, fatigue, nausea and headache. Contaminated soil contaminates food leading to food insecurity In soil pollution, human activities affect the topsoil which is fertile.

In some cases pesticides use destroy useful pests and microorganisms. This in turn leads to low production and lowers soil fertility. Soil quality and composition deterioration disturbs development and growth of the living things. Therefore, the environment becomes imbalanced affecting subsequent land productivity. Soil pollution can alter arthropods and microorganisms metabolism consequently destroying some members in the primary food chain affecting the predator pessimistically. Consumption of chemical by small animals may be taken up and concentrate on larger animals in the food chain leading to animal extinction due to raised mortality rates.

Plants and trees are likely to absorb and take contaminants up in the food chain. Over time, crop yield and metabolism of plants is adversely affected. 4.0. Environmental pollution Mitigation measures Environmental pollution is inevitable (Dorgham, 2000). Its effects are far beyond what researchers have established. Seriousness of environmental pollution is yet to be ensured. Mitigation, minimization and prevention measures of environmental pollution would be highly recommended to combat the detrimental consequences earlier highlighted on plants, animals and human.

Basically, worldwide, each country has certain laws governing environmental pollution prevention and mitigation measures. However, this is rarely taken into consideration because of industrialization era as factories and industries take root to make reasonable output at the environmental disadvantage. This can be reversed if internationals and national communities both take action (Turner, 2011). Coming up with a strong international climate policy that is strictly followed to force countries to limit emissions would be a great step forward in stopping environmental pollution.

Nevertheless, this is yet to be in minds of different international communities as the undeveloped countries suffer the consequences of developed countries. This does not mean there is nothing which can be done to prevent or stop environmental pollution. Adapting good practices to prevent either air, water and soil pollution by all people can be the basic starting point. This can be seriously practiced if the government puts in place laws to maintain the practices as well as ensuring there is a serious compliance to the regulations by industries which emit pollutants.

Everyone can play a great role by ensuring he gets to understand the causes and sources of environmental pollution, their consequences to the current and the generation to come and their prevention methods. In addition further control and prevention measures include: 4.1. Control and prevention of air pollution Air pollution is the leading cause of environmental pollution (Davis & Cornwell, 2011). The government has banned burning vegetation and plants. Industries have set rules and regulation regarding emissions; however, there is need for the regulations to be applied.

To reduce fossil fuel combustion renewable sources of energy should be adapted. Industries should install proper chimneys and air filtering should be carried before gases are released to the atmosphere. This will prevent lethal pollutants escaping to the air. To reduce diesel and petrol burning CNG vehicles should be encouraged for transport. In addition (Mihelcic & Zimmerman, 2010), public vehicle use should be encouraged and regular checking of vehicles for pollution emission should be done. 4.2.

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