Pollution occurs when harmful substances are added to the environment. It can cause problem for all living things, ie, humans, animals and plants. Pollution can be divided into 3 types:
Air Pollution
when harmful substances, such as smoke and toxic gas from the factory and forest firesk are released to the surrounding air.
Causes
- Smoke from the forest fires and volcanic eruption. For example: forest fires in Kalimantan in 1997. They are burning the forest for agriculture purposes. It affect all the country in southeast asia.
- Greenhouse gases:
- Carbon dioxide - this is the major cause of global warming. Carbon dioxide is created from the burning of fossil fuels, vehicles and etc.
- Methane - from the swamps and livestock
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) - gas which causes depletion of ozone layer, used in refrigerators, air-conditioner and aerosol
- Industrialisation process release sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, smoke and smog which can create an acid rain and affect human's health
Water Pollution
Water pollution is created when harmful substances are released into the water such as in the river, lake and sea.
Causes
- Sewage - factories, housing and agriculture produce sewage (wastewater that contain faeces, urine and alundry waste) which can contaminate the environment if it is not treated well.
- Marine dumping and radioactive waste - litter and nuclear waste from industrial and scientific purposes are dumped in the sea, causing the deaths and damages of marine animals and plants.
- Oil spills - a large amount of oil spills from the tanker, shipping travels and dumping of oils. Oil in the sea blocks the sunlight and affect the marine life.
- Industrial waste - mercury, lead, oil and many other harmful substances are being thrown to the river and sea creating problem to the environment.
It refers to the contamination of the soil caused by realising harmful substances to the soil.
It affect mosst of the people and living things and even caused several health and deaths.
Causes
- Increase in urbanisation - land and raw material is neede to construct more buildings and homes as more people are coming in these area. land also neede for agricultural purposes. Exploitation and destruction of forests might occur.
- Waste - a large amount of waste from homes, offices and industries cannot be recycled nor be burned. These result in dumping waste in certain areas.
- Agricultural activities - farmers using fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides in order to maintain their crops output. These harmful substances are carried away into the soil.
- Industrial activities - poisonous waste, such as mercury, oil and other chemical waste, from this activities are dumped in a certain areas.
Health
- Air pollution can kill many living things. Such as ozone epletion, can ause respiratory and cardiovascular disease, throat inflammation and chest pain.
- Water pollution can reduce the quality of drinking water by untreated sewage. skin irritation occur because of oil spills and dumping of waste. Clean water is contaminated
- Mercury and other harmful chemicals dumped in the sea are consumed by the aquatic animals, these animals that we eat will damage our health.
- Land pollution from pesticides kill vegetation and other animals such as birds, animals and fish. Poisoned animals and vegetation that we eat can damage our health. Diarrhea, liver and kidney damage may occur.
- Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides can cause acid rain. pH of the soil will be lowered causing the soil become infertile and unsuitable for agriculture. This will affect the food web.
- Oil contaminated in the sea will have an unpleasant odor and thick layer of oil in the sea surface will kill the marine lifes.
- Planting more trees - plants can purify harmful gases such as carbon dioxie, carbon monoxide and etc. Furthermore, plants release oxygen that are needed by all living things.
- Industrial treatment and septic tanks - sewage went through several processes to reduce the amount of toxic inside. Septic tank are used to separate the solid from the liquid in the untreated sewage. Septic tanks are usually used in the individual buildings.
- Recycling - paper, plastic and glass are example of inorganic material which can be recycled. This can reuce land pollution
- Reducing the use of fertilisers - by planting organic crops, fertilisers are not needed. Thus, reduced land pollution.
references:
- Gabrial, V. (2000). Environmental Degradation: Pollution. Geography Elective (pp.188-190). Singapore: Pearson Education Asia Pte Ltd.
- National Geographic: Air pollution, comes from many sources. retreived April 2, 2010, from national geographic: http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/pollution-overview.html
- The causes of water pollution. retreived april 2, 2010, from water pollution guide: http://www.water-pollution.org.uk/causes.html
- P. Prabhakar. Causes and Effects of Land Pollution. retreived April 2, 2010, from Buzzle.com: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/causes-and-effects-of-land-pollution.html
- Pollution. retreived April 2, 2010, from wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollution#Effects
- Treating water pollution. retreived april 3, 2010, from water pollution guide: http://www.water-pollution.org.uk/treating.html
image references:
- Hicker, R. Land pollution Province of Jaen Andalusia Spain. retreive April 3, 2010, from Rolf Hicker Photography: http://www.hickerphoto.com/land-pollution-province-of-jaen-andalusia-spain-31600-pictures.htm
- Air Quality. retreive April 3, 2010, from exponent: http://www.exponent.com/air_quality/
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