Pollution

Types of Pollution

Here are the types we are going to cover today, these are:

1. Air pollution
2. Water pollution
3. Soil pollution
4. Light pollution
5. Plastic pollution
6. Noise pollution

Air Pollution

Air pollution involves the release of gaseous molecules and particulates that alter the composition of the atmosphere. Air pollution is can be directly harmful to humans, plants, and animals, but also indirectly by contributing to the greenhouse effect.

Causes of Air Pollution

Here are the causes of air pollution:

• Polluting gases: dangerous gaseous by-products can be released from the burning of fossil fuels, industrial processes, and the decomposition of waste. These gases include carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulphur dioxide.
• Particulates: small particulates can be released as by-products from industrial processes and from vehicles. These include soot, metal particulates, smoke, and aerosols.

Effects of Air Pollution

Here are the resulting effects of air pollution:

• Humans: nitrogen and sulphur oxides cause acid rain and erode limestone buildings. Small particulates can cause respiratory problems, genetic mutations, and cardiovascular diseases.
• Environment: carbon dioxide will contribute to the greenhouse effect and cause global warming, while acid rain from nitrogen and sulphur oxides will pollute waterways. Athatls which have a strong absorbing effect will also contribute to warming.
• Ecosystems: acid rain damages ecosystems, while consequences of global warming like melting ice sheets, forest fires, and migration to cooler regions reduce habitats and shift ecosystem dynamics.

Water Pollution

Water pollution concerns the runoff or diffusion of chemicals or wastes into oceans, rivers, and other watercourses. Pollution of water is very dangerous because aquatic ecosystems require certain conditions and will be affected by small changes in chemical concentrations.

Causes of Water Pollution

Let's have a look at the causes of water pollution:

• Agricultural runoff: Agricultural practices have intensified in the last century, along with using nitrogen and phosphorus fertilisers. Overuse of these fertilisers can lead to an excess of nutrients in the soils, which then leach into nearby waterways when it rains.
• Urban waste: industrial discharge and chemicals used in gardening may run off in coastal areas, while littering near oceans and waterbodies is a problem.
• Waste treatment: Sewage treatment plants and septic tanks are often designed to remove dangerous and poisonous particulates rather than nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, so nutrient-rich water will often be discharged. Poorly managed waste can release all types of contaminants too.
• Acid rain: by-products from fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes like nitrous oxide and sulfur dioxide cause acid rain, which can pour into oceans and other bodies of water.

Effects of Water Pollution

Here are some of the alarming effects of water pollution:

• Humans: Declining aquatic ecosystems will negatively affect the livelihoods of people working in coastal areas, while toxins released from the breakdown of algal blooms will dirty drinking water.
• Ecosystems: leaching nutrients from over-fertilised soils and urban waste can cause eutrophication of nearby waters, which leads to anoxia. Poisonous toxins from algal blooms will harm fish assemblages, and invasive species will be better adapted to high-nutrient environments and drive out the original species, which may lead to a loss in ecosystem functionality.
• Environment: acid rain will devastate landscapes, while atmospheric deposition of carbon dioxide will cause ocean acidification.

Soil Pollution

Soil pollution is the contamination of soils by the addition of chemicals or physical disruption. This type of pollution is a huge concern in agriculture, as pollution of soils can cause infertility and inhibit crop growth.

Causes of Soil Pollution

So what are the causes of soil pollution?

• Agrochemicals: the overuse of artificial agrochemicals like fertilisers and pesticides can make soils infertile and affect nearby aquatic ecosystems.
• Physical disturbances: intensive agricultural practices disturb soils and make them more vulnerable to contaminating chemicals.
• Industrial discharge: inconsiderate disposal of industrial waste can contaminate soils with poisonous chemicals like hydrocarbons, solvents, and metal particulates. Leaching from landfills is a major threat to soil health.

Effects of Soil Pollution

Here are the effects of soil pollution:

• Humans: agricultural industries are heavily impacted by soil pollution. Polluted soils will become unhealthy and sometimes even infertile, meaning crop growth and yield is limited. Polluted soils can contaminate grazing pastures and poison livestock. These impacts threaten global food security and the livelihoods of many agricultural workers.
• Environment: polluted soils will be unable to support as large producer populations as non-polluted ones, so less carbon dioxide will be taken up by photosynthesis and more will stay in the atmosphere and contribute to the greenhouse effect.
• Ecosystems: the leaching of polluted soils will cause eutrophication of nearby watercourses and consequent anoxia. This will have ramifications for the entire aquatic ecosystem and can cause drinking water to be tarnished by toxins released from the breakdown of algal blooms.

Other Types of Pollution

Let's go over some other types of pollution which can be just as problematic for humans and the environment.

Noise Pollution

Noise pollution is the increase in amount of noise in an area away from the norm. This can stem from a variety of things and can be extremely annoying for people and stressful for animals. Booming speakers, revving vehicles, and heavy machinery all make huge amounts of noise. Elderly people will be particularly susceptible to ear damage and headaches, while nearby civilians may struggle with sleep. Ecosystems can be affected by noise as well; a consistent new source of noise can force certain species to migrate to quieter regions.

Light Pollution

Light pollution involves any abnormal brightening of the sky by artificial lighting. Additional light is a problem in highly developed cities and can have polluting effects on the whole planet. Light pollution can cause eye damage to humans and some animals may become confused by changing light intensities in the sky. Ecosystems near large cities may struggle to distinguish between daylight and night, while some birds depend on the moon and star constellations for migration, which will be impaired by more light.

Heat pollution

Heat pollution coincides with air pollution, as the release of greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide) causes global temperatures to rise. Increasing temperatures are leading to climate change all over the world, with many habitats being fragmented and destroyed by wildfires, rising sea levels, and melting ice sheets.

Heat pollution can also stem from 'cooling water' from power plants being released into waters (this cooling water is much warmer than the body of water). Organisms become stressed in warmer conditions and water is unable to hold as much oxygen. In highly developed areas, waste heat from large buildings can become trapped in urban areas and create microclimates, which will impact any wildlife and human populations in this area.