Environmental Pollution

Table of Contents
1. Pollution (definition)
2. Water Pollution
3. Thermal Pollution
4. Land Pollution
5. Pestiside Pollution
6. Radiation Pollution
7. Noise Pollution
8. Air Pollution
Pollution - Environmental pollution is any discharge of material or energy into water, land, or
air that causes or may cause acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term) detriment to the Earth's
ecological balance or that lowers the quality of life. Pollutants may cause primary damage, with
direct identifiable impact on the environment, or secondary damage in the form of minor
perturbations in the delicate balance of the biological food web that are detectable only over long
time periods.

Different Types of Pollution
WATER POLLUTION
Water pollution is the introduction into fresh or ocean waters of chemical, physical, or biological
material that degrades the quality of the water and affects the organisms living in it. This process
ranges from simple addition of dissolved or suspended solids to discharge of the most insidious
and persistent toxic pollutants (such as pesticides, heavy metals, and nondegradable,
bioaccumulative, chemical compounds).
THERMAL POLLUTION
Thermal pollution is the discharge of waste heat via energy dissipation into cooling water and
subsequently into nearby waterways. The major sources of thermal pollution are fossil-fuel and
nuclear electric-power generating facilities and, to a lesser degree, cooling operations associated
with industrial manufacturing, such as steel foundries, other primary-metal manufacturers, and
chemical and petrochemical producers.
LAND POLLUTION
Land pollution is the degradation of the Earth's land surface through misuse of the soil by poor
agricultural practices, mineral exploitation, industrial waste dumping, and indiscriminate
disposal of urban wastes.
PESTICIDE POLLUTION
Pesticides are organic and inorganic chemicals originally invented and first used effectively to
better the human environment by controlling undesirable life forms such as bacteria, pests, and
foraging insects.
RADIATION POLLUTION
Radiation pollution is any form of ionizing or nonionizing radiation that results from human
activities. The most well-known radiation results from the detonation of nuclear devices and the
controlled release of energy by nuclear-power generating plants (see nuclear energy). Other
sources of radiation include spent-fuel reprocessing plants, by-products of mining operations,
and experimental research laboratories. Increased exposure to medical X rays and to radiation
emissions from microwave ovens and other household appliances, although of considerably less
magnitude, all constitute sources of environmental radiation.
NOISE POLLUTION
Noise pollution has a relatively recent origin. It is a composite of sounds generated by human
activities ranging from blasting stereo systems to the roar of supersonic transport jets. Although
the frequency (pitch) of noise may be of major importance, most noise sources are measured in
terms of intensity, or strength of the sound field.
AIR POLLUTION
Air pollution is the accumulation in the atmosphere of substances that, in sufficient
concentrations, endanger human health or produce other measured effects on living matter and
other materials. Among the major sources of pollution are power and heat generation, the
burning of solid wastes, industrial processes, and, especially, transportation. The six major types
of pollutants are carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, particulates, sulfur dioxide,
and photochemical oxidants.









Air Pollution

Photo Source
According to the dictionary, air pollution is the contamination of air by
smoke and harmful gases, mainly oxides of carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen.
Some examples of air pollution include:
Exhuast fumes from vehicles
The burning of fossil fuels,
such as coal, oil or gas
Harmful off-gasing from things
such as paint, plastic
production and so on
Radiation spills or nuclear
accidents
Air pollution is linked to asthma, allergies and other respiratory illnesses.
Land Pollution

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Land pollution is the degradation of the Earth's surface caused by a
misuse of resources and improper disposal of waste.
Some examples of land pollution include:
Litter found on the side of the
road
Illegal dumping in natural
habitats
Oil spills that happen inland
The use of pesticides and
other farming chemicals
Damage and debris caused
from unsustainable mining
and logging practices
Radiation spills or nuclear
accidents
Land pollution is responsible for damage done to natural habitat of
animals, deforestation and damage done to natural resources, and the
general ugly-ing up of our communities
Light Pollution

Light pollution is the brightening of the night sky inhibiting the visibility of
stars and planets by the use of improper lighting of communities.
Some examples of what causes light pollution:
Street lamps that shine light in
all directions, instead of with a
hood to point light downward
toward the street.
Unnecessary lights, especially
around the home
Light pollution uses more energy (by shining more light up instead of
down), may affect human health and our sleep cycles and most
importantly, corrupts our kids telescopes and their curiosity.
Noise Pollution

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Noise pollution is any loud sounds that are either harmful or annoying to
humans and animals.
Some exmaples of noise pollution:
Airplanes, helicopters and
motor vehicles
Construction or demolition
noise
Human activities such as
sporting events or concerts
Noise pollution is disruptive to humans' stress levels, may be harmful to
unborn babies, and drives animals away, causing nervousness and
decreasing their ability to hear prey or predators.
Thermal Pollution

Thermal pollution is the increase of temperature caused by human
activity.
Warmer lake water from
nearby manufacturing (using
cool water to cool the plant
and then pump it back into the
lake)
Included in thermal pollution
should also be the increase in
temperatures in areas with
lots of concrete or vehicles,
generally in cities
These kinds of environmental pollution can cause aquatic life to suffer or
die due to the increased temperature, can cause discomfort to
communities dealing with higher temperatures and can even affect plant-
life in and around the area.
These kinds of environmental pollution can cause aquatic life to suffer or
die due to the increased temperature, can cause discomfort to
communities dealing with higher temperatures and can even affect plant-
life in and around the area.
Visual Pollution

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Visual pollution is what you would call anything unattractive or visualiing
damaging to the nearby landscape. This tends to be a highly subjective
topic, as we all find different things attractive and unattractive.
Some examples of visual pollution:
Skyscrapers might block the
view of a mountain
Graffiti or carving on trees,
rocks or other natural
landscapes
Billboards, litter, abandoned
homes and junkyards could
also be considered among
three kins of environmental
pollution
Water Pollution

Photo Source: Alan Liefting
Water pollution is the contamination of any body of water (lakes,
groundwater, oceans, etc).
Some examples of water pollution:
Raw sewage running into lake
or streams
Industrial waste spills
contaminating groundwater
Radiation spills or nuclear
accidents
Illegal dumping of substances,
or items in bodies of water
Biological contamination, such
as bacteria growth
These kinds of environmental pollution are linked to health issues in
humans, animals and plant-life.

Environmental pollution, problems and control measures Overview
A. Introduction and definition of environmental pollution We know that, a living organism
cannot live by itself. Organisms interact among themselves. Hence, all organisms, such as plants,
animals and human beings, as well as the physical surroundings with whom we interact, form a
part of our environment. All these constituents of the environment are dependent upon each
other. Thus, they maintain a balance in nature. As we are the only organisms try to modify the
environment to fulfill our needs; it is our responsibility to take necessary steps to control the
environmental imbalances.