Environmental Pollution(Part-1 of 4) Air Pollution, Pollutant And Control

 

                                                          Fig- Environmental pollution

Environmental Pollution

                                   Environmental pollution is defined as "The contamination of the physical and biological components of the earth/atmosphere system to such an extent that normal environmental processes are adversely affected."

Environmental pollution is not a new phenomenon, yet it remains the world’s greatest problem facing humanity, and the leading environmental causes of morbidity and mortality.

Environmental pollution is unwarranted disposal of mass or energy into earth’s natural resource pool such as water, land, or air that results in long- or short-term detriment to the atmosphere and its ecological health to negatively impact the living beings and their life both quantitatively and qualitatively.
The pollutants may yield primary or secondary damages, of which the primary damage can be quantified and its impact monitored. 

Man’s activities through urbanization, industrialization, mining, and exploration are at the forefront of global environmental pollution. 

The secondary damage, on the other hand, occurs as a marginal disturbance to the delicately poised biological food web pyramid balance and can be noticed only over prolonged durations
Some environmental consequences of mining and processing coal deposits are deforestation, land damage, water pollution and hydrological damage, air pollution, noise pollution, ground vibration and rock dispersal, and visual impact. Environmental pollution is increasing gradually and causing a serious impact on living organisms including humans.

Human activities have an adverse effect on the environment by polluting the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the soil in which plants grow. Although the industrial revolution was a great success in terms of technology, society, and the provision of multiple services, it also introduced the production of huge quantities of pollutants emitted into the air that are harmful to human health. Without any doubt, the global environmental pollution is considered an international public health issue with multiple facets. Social, economic, and legislative concerns and lifestyle habits are related to this major problem. Without a doubt, all of the aforementioned are closely associated with climate change, and in the event of danger, the consequences can be severe for mankind.

Nature of pollutants

Depending on the nature of pollutants and also subsequent pollution of environmental components, the pollution may be categorized as follows:

Air Pollution

Water Pollution

Soil/Land Pollution

Noise Pollution

Radioactive Pollution

Thermal Pollution

Among these types of pollution, air pollution is the main type threatening the environment, humans, plants, animals, and all living organisms.

Air pollution

Air pollution has various health effects. Extreme air pollution is recorded in India, where the air quality reaches hazardous levels. This leads to poor air quality, especially in countries with social disparities and a lack of information on sustainable management of the environment. 

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Major air pollutants

• Particle pollution
• Ground-level ozone 
• Carbon monoxide 
• Sulfur oxides
• Nitrogen oxides, and 
• Lead

Pollution is occurring both in urban and rural areas in India due to the fast industrialization, urbanization, and rise in use of motorcycle transportation. More specifically, devices with online capabilities such as computers or mobile phones are being used as a way to pursue change in political and social affairs. 

In developing countries, the women of the household seem to carry the highest risk for disease development due to their longer duration exposure to the indoor air pollution. There is spatial heterogeneity in India, as areas with diverse climatological conditions and population and education levels generate different indoor air qualities, with higher PM2.5 observed in North Indian states (557–601 μg/m3) compared to the Southern States (183–214 μg/m3). 

Radical environmental activism actions and movements have been created. Household air pollution in India is associated with major health effects, especially in women and young children, who stay indoors for longer periods. 

The use of fuels such as wood fuel or solid fuel for domestic needs due to low incomes exposes people to bad-quality, polluted air at home. The rise of the new information and communication technologies (ICTs) are many times examined as to whether and in which way they have influenced means of communication and social movements such as activism. 

Nevertheless, biomass combustion associated with heating and cooking needs and practices is a major source of household air pollution in India and in Nepal. In every case, it seems that mortality was closely related to the levels of fine, inhalable, and sulfate particles more than with the levels of total particulate pollution, aerosol acidity, sulfur dioxide, or nitrogen dioxide.

Furthermore, extremely high levels of pollution are reported in Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro, followed by Milan, Ankara, Melbourne, Tokyo, and Moscow. The development of environmental governance, along with technological progress, has initiated the deployment of a dialogue. Since the 1990s, the term “digital activism” has been used increasingly and in many different disciplines. It is of note that three billion people around the world are using the above sources of energy for their daily heating and cooking needs . As stated already, long-term exposure is associated with deleterious effects on the cardiovascular system. 

The cold climate of the North Indian areas may be the main reason for this, as longer periods at home and more heating are necessary compared to in the tropical climate of Southern India. Moreover, air pollution seems to have various malign health effects in early human life, such as respiratory, cardiovascular, mental, and perinatal disorders , leading to infant mortality or chronic disease in adult age. 

Nowadays, multiple digital technologies can be used to produce a digital activism outcome on environmental issues. Air pollution mainly affects those living in large urban areas, where road emissions contribute the most to the degradation of air quality. Short-term exposure to air pollutants is closely related to COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, asthma, respiratory disease, and high rates of hospitalization (a measurement of morbidity).
The long-term effects associated with air pollution are chronic asthma, pulmonary insufficiency, cardiovascular diseases, and cardiovascular mortality. However, it is interesting to note that cardiovascular diseases have mostly been observed in developed and high-income countries rather than in the developing low-income countries exposed highly to air pollution. 

An association of pollution with mortality was reported on the basis of monitoring of outdoor pollution in six US metropolitan cities. The lung cancer mortality observed in China is associated with fine particles. Due to its fast industrial development and overpopulation, 

China is one of the Asian countries confronting serious air pollution problems. According to a Swedish cohort study, diabetes seems to be induced after long-term air pollution exposure. Chronic obstructive respiratory disease (CORD) and lung cancer are mostly observed in women, while acute lower respiratory disease is seen in young children under 5 years of age.

Accumulation of air pollution, especially sulfur dioxide and smoke, reaching 1,500 mg/m3, resulted in an increase in the number of deaths (4,000 deaths) in December 1952 in London and in 1963 in New York City (400 deaths). There is also a danger of industrial accidents, where the spread of a toxic fog can be fatal to the populations of the surrounding areas. 

New Delhi is one of the more polluted cities in India. The dispersion of pollutants is determined by many parameters, most notably atmospheric stability and wind. Environmental politics has created objections and points of opposition between different political parties, scientists, media, and governmental and non-governmental organizations. Flights in and out of New Delhi International Airport are often canceled due to the reduced visibility associated with air pollution. The health of susceptible and sensitive individuals can be impacted even on low air pollution days. In developing countries , the problem is more serious due to overpopulation and uncontrolled urbanization along with the development of industrialization.

Air pollution control

👉Avoid usage of crackers

👉Use of fans instead of Air Conditioner

 👉Reduction of forest fires and smoking

 👉No to plastic bags

 👉Recycle and Reuse

👉Turn off the lights when not in use

 👉Using public transports

For my readers;

                  Last week, I had seen Google's doodles, dramatic change has been occurred in earth over a few years only. If this condition persist definitely leads to earth is going to be not fit for survival. We should think of it, avoid hazards activity. Lets come, Put our hands together and step forward to retrieval our Earth.

Thank you for reading, see you soon in Environmental Pollution(Part-2).