Pollution | its effect | how to control pollution?

  - Pollution 

         Pollution is any undesirable change in the physical, chemical or Biological characteristics of the environment that effects the living organisms negatively or may create a potential health hazard. it is the necessary evil arising due to reckless development and the ever-growing population. Substances that cause pollution are called pollutants, for example, human and animals wastes, garbage, dust, sewage waste, radiation, etc. 

   Pollution is mainly of three types:

  1- Air Pollution

  2- Water Pollution

  3- Soil Pollution

  1- Air Pollution :-

            Air pollution occurs when harmful substances, such as, smoke, dust, fumes, particulates, etc,.  are released into the atmosphere. Most of the air pollution occurs due to the burning of coal, petrol, oil, exhaust from vehicles, fumes from factories, industries, brick kilns, etc. Ash from burning, volcanoes, dust from storms and forest fires also contribute to air pollution but to a lesser extent. 

  Effects of Air Pollution

Air Pollution is a real problem regarding public health, environmental issues, health conditions of plants and animals, etc. The smoke released to form various sources may combine with dust particles and fog in the atmosphere to form a deadly mixture called smog. Smog is very harmful to plants and causes asthma and other respiratory allergies in humans. It is also causes global warming (increase in earth's temperature due  to accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere), acid rain, etc. 

    Steps to Control Air Pollution 

 • Controlling emissions from factories and vehicles, etc. 

 • Protecting forest that help in increasing the amount if oxygen in the atmosphere. 

 • Using public transport and reducing usage of personal vehicles. 

 • Avoid burning of trash, waste, etc. 

 • Using natural gas instead of coal, wood kerosene oil for cooking and heating purpose. 

 • Installation of devices which reduce the release of pollutants, like filters, electrostatic precipitaters, etc. 

 Water Pollution 

     The contamination of water resources, such as lakes, rivers, oceans, ponds, etc,. Is called water pollution. This happens when pollutants are directly or indirectly discharged into the water sources. Sewage from houses, agriculture, industries, etc,. Are dumped directly into nearby water sources. People and animal bathing in water sources also make water polluted. Fertilisers, pesticides, insecticides, etc,. Used in agriculture sometimes reach water source due to rain which is again a pollutants. 

Effects of Water Pollution

     • Drinking or using polluted water can be harmful to living things. Bathing in polluted water can cause skin irritation, rashes, etc. 

     • Diseases like cholera, diarrhoea, typhoid, etc., spread through contaminated water. 

     • Stagnant sewage water becomes breeding places for insects and pests, such as mosquitoes, fleas, cockroaches, etc., which cause diseases, like dengue, malaria, Chikungunya, etc. 

Steps to Control Water Pollution 

     • Industrial waste water should be treated well before dumping into water sources. 

     • Waste, whether industrial or domestic, should not be directly thrown into water sources. 

     • Bathing in water sources should be avoided. 

     • Defecting in open places should not be allowed. 

   Soil Pollution 

         Dumping wastes in open area can cause soil pollution, It degrades the soil quality and also reduces slaughter houses, agricultural wastes, etc. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides from agricultural field which reach the soil as run-off also contribute to soil pollution. 

Effects of Soil Pollution

     • When wastes are dumped at a particular area, they start decaying and  produce foul smell which destroys the natural beauty of the surrounding and makes living detrimental for the local people. 

     • They become breeding places for disease - causing germs, flies, insects, etc. 

     • They soil below also becomes infertile. 

     • Non- biodegradable substances like plastic never and remains there for years. Disease carriers, such as flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches, etc., transfer disease causing pathogens from the waste to our food. Consuming such food can make a person sick. 

Steps to Control Soil Pollution

     • Dumping wastes in open should be avoided. 

     • Wastes should be categorised os biodegradable and non biodegradable. 

     • Domestic wastes should be dumped in a compost pit. 

     • Necessary steps should be taken by municipality for waste treatment and disposal management of localities. 

     • Use of plastic bags must be banned and instead paper bags and cloth bags should be used. 

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