Causes, Effects and Solutions of Pollution

Causes, Effects and Solutions of Pollution

Introduction

Civilization and advancement in technology have improved the living standards and life expectancy of humans. Communication over a wide geographical area between people from America and Asia is done in real-time and is attributed to technology. However, the developments require the extraction and manufacture of raw materials that release a lot of toxins into the environment. Moreover, industries have no mechanism for appropriately disposing of waste products that degrade the ecological system. The environmental effects of human activities are life-threatening, and all stakeholders should be cautious of their activities to reduce pollution.

Appannagari, R. R. (2017). Environmental pollution causes and consequences: a study. North Asian International Research Journal of Social Science and Humanities, 3(8), 151-161.

Pollution is caused by natural circumstances, such as the eruption of an active volcanic mountain that releases toxic gases into the environment. Another major contributor to pollution is human activities such as mining, manufacturing, lumbering, and other economic activities. The effects posed against the environment are deliberate, and some negative effects are experienced unwittingly. Unknown effects of pollution on the environment are not realized immediately, but they occur cumulatively over time.

The main cause of pollution in urban areas can easily be linked with the population concentration and growth in those areas. Urban centres are naturally comprised of income-generating activities, and the people are unconscious of their actions on the environment. The air quality index in virtually all cities is particularly low due to the industrial activities that release greenhouse gases (Guatam & Bolia, 2020). Most vehicles are found in urban areas, and they are propelled by internal combustion engines that use fossil fuel. The by-product of internal combustion engines is carbon dioxide a major contributor to air pollution. Industries that operate on burning coal also produce a lot of greenhouse gases that are a waste product to the environment. Authorities in countries with high industrial production, such as China, ought to find other mechanisms for powering manufacturing plants.

Glencross, D. A., Ho, T. R., Camina, N., Hawrylowicz, C. M., & Pfeffer, P. E. (2020). Air pollution and its effects on the immune system. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 151, 56-68.

The human body is delicate and sensitive to foreign material. An optimum functioning immune system is necessary for the operation of daily activities. A less or excessive immune response paves the way for anomalies in the efficient performance of the body. The introduction of foreign bodies or pathogens into the body causes the development of autoimmune responses that fight the normally functioning cells (Yu et al., 2018). Overexposure to harmful gases or radiation can potentially activate cancer cells. Cancer cells are difficult to control as they can move from one location to another, a condition known as metastatic malignancy.

Hereditary conditions are prevalent and require effective management to enhance the quality of life. Asthma is a condition that is worsened by continuous exposure to poor air quality. This occurs through the suppression of the cells responsible for fighting diseases. The gene that causes the inhibition of the development of asthma is reduced when exposed to air full of toxins. The harmful effects of poor air quality are likened to smoking in expectant mothers on the alteration of the unborn gene sequence. Additionally, people with underlying pulmonary conditions are greatly affected by poor air quality as their lung capacities are inhibited by air pollutants.

Ahmed, S., & Ismail, S. (2018). Water pollution and its sources, effects & management: a case study of Delhi. Shahid Ahmed and Saba Ismail (2018)’Water Pollution and its Sources, Effects & Management: A Case Study of Delhi’, International Journal of Current Advanced Research, 7(2), 10436-10442.

Water is the main solvent that sustains life on Earth, and without it, life would not have existed on our planet. The release of untreated waste into water causes an imbalance in the biosphere, negatively affecting aquatic life. The most common contaminants are effluents from homes and industries, spillage of oil, and plastics from ships travelling by sea. In most cities, the sewerage treatment plants available are capable of handling slightly above a quarter of the population’s waste. Therefore, most of the untreated or semi-treated waste is dumped on lakes, rivers, and seas.

Humans require freshwater for survival and perpetuity of life. The effects of consuming contaminated water are relatively higher compared to other types of pollution. The consumption of contaminated water interferes with the digestion tract, and the infections can be fatal. In India, there is a significant amount of infants succumbing to pneumonia and diarrhoea due to the inaccessibility of clean, fresh water. Also, water used in the irrigation of foods affects the immune system of individuals. A study in homes that consumed foods irrigated using contaminated water had a low immunity susceptible to diseases (Azizullah, Khattak, Ritcher, & Hader, 2011). Contrarily, households that used clean water in irrigation had improved immunity and growth. This implies a higher resistance to infectious diseases, resulting in an increased life expectancy.

Rhodes, C. J. (2018). Plastic pollution and potential solutions. Science Progress, 101(3), 207-260.

Plastics have been advantageous in many sectors of human lives, such as food packages, acting as insulators in tools, and making storage devices that are affordable and durable. However, plastic is not a biodegradable organic material, and the microorganisms in the soil cannot decompose it. Animals ingest plastics and cause problems with their internal organs. Plastics on the oceans are predicted to reduce the population of sea animals prematurely through suffocation.

Plastics can occur in very tiny fragments that are potentially inhaled, as research found microplastics in the lungs. This indicates the pervasive ways that the use of plastic has grown. Since 2004, the amount of plastic used has increased more than in the last century (Galloway et al., 2020). The demand for plastic is a result of the increase in economic activities, and the many uses of plastic have made it efficient in business operations. Many countries have banned the use of plastics due to their negative effects on the environment and animal and human health. Especially the focus needs to be shifted from the manufacture of plastic from crude oil and natural gas that contain complex hydrocarbons that cannot be easily broken down.

People are discouraged from using plastics that are derived from petroleum and are not environmentally friendly to a more organic and safe environment approach of plastic formed from complex sugars and starch. Governments promote the use of biodegradable sources due to the long-term effects applicable to the environment and the integrity of the particles, as well as the possible danger posed by excessive consumption that reflects an underlying problem that needs to be addressed promptly. However, the use of complex sugars only comprises less than 5% of users and availability globally.

Perera, F. (2018). Pollution from fossil-fuel combustion is the leading environmental threat to global pediatric health and equity: Solutions exist. International journal of environmental research and public health, 15(1), 16.

Global warming has been a prevalent problem that threatens life on both land and sea. Coastal regions flood due to the increase of the tides, and the ice at the poles reduces in the summer, interfering with the normal breeding season of some animals, such as the penguins. An increase in the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is the main cause of global warming. The largest emission of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming is the burning of fossil fuels. In the U.S., more than 81% of machines are powered by internal combustion engines that primarily use fossil fuels (Perera, 2018). Evidence-based research indicates that low-income households are most commonly affected by poor air quality as by-products of fossil fuels that mainly affect children intolerant to toxic environments (Yu et al., 2018). Additive factors of the socioeconomic status of the individuals exacerbate the greenhouse gas effects.

Many car manufacturers are aware of the detriments of relying on fossil fuel as the main vehicle propellant. As a result, most automobile makers are introducing a new line of car production that runs on electricity, a renewable source. Waste emissions in the form of greenhouse gases are less than 5% in electric-powered vehicles. Manufacturing plants can install air-cleaning techniques that reduce the severity of toxins released into the environment. Alternative sources of energy, such as solar, have proven to be practical and economical. Research on the capability of establishing solar-powered machines in firms is still under development. Soon, the use of petroleum products as a fuel source will be reduced as firms operate with environmental considerations.

Conclusion

The main focus of most, if not all humans, are to generate income through various economic activities. The methodology used in achieving the goal may not be the most efficient or safe for the environment. However, the initiative to having a pollution-free ecosystem begins with sensitization of the public on the effects of human activities on the environment. The awareness will deter many from irresponsible behavior. The government and other jurisdictions should enact policies that promote the growth of the green energy environment.

References

Galloway, T., Haward, M., Mason, S. A., Babayemi, J. O., Hardesty, B., Krause, S., & Horton, A. (2020). Science-based solutions to plastic pollution. One Earth, 5-7.

Guatam, D., & Bolia, N. B. (2020). Air pollution: impact and interventions. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 209-223.

Jacobson, M. Z. (2012). Air pollution and global warming: history, science, and solutions. Cambridge University Press.

Perera, F. (2018). Pollution from fossil-fuel combustion is the leading environmental threat to global pediatric health and equity: Solutions exist. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16.

Yu, Y., Yu, Z., Sun, P., Lin, B., Li, L., Wang, Z., & Guo, S. (2018). Effects of ambient air pollution from municipal solid waste landfill on children’s non-specific immunity and respiratory health. Environmental pollution, 382-390.

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