Pollution

People have long used the sea as a dump for our wastes. Most of the pollution dumped into the ocean comes from human activities on land. Marine pollution is defined as the introduction into the ocean by humans of substance or energy that changes the quality of the water or affects the physical, chemical, or biological environment. There are different types of pollution. One of them is natural pollutants. An example would be a volcanic eruption which can produce immense quantities of carbon dioxide, methane, sulfur compounds, and oxides of nitrogen. Excess amounts of these substances produced by human activity may cause global warming and acid rain. No one is sure to what extent we have contaminated the ocean. By the time the first oceanographers began widespread testing, the Industrial Revolution was well underway and changes had already occurred. Traces of synthetic compounds have now found their way into every oceanic corner. Pollutants cause damage by interfering directly or indirectly with the biochemical processes of an organism. Some pollution-induced changes may be instantly lethal; other changes may weaken an organism over weeks or months, alter the dynamics of the population of which it is a part, or gradually unbalance the entire community. Oil is a natural part of the marine environment. Oil seeps have been leaking large quantities of oil into the ocean for millions of years. The amount of oil entering the ocean has increased greatly in recent years, however, because of our growing dependence on marine transportation for petroleum products, offshore drilling, near shore refining, and street runoff carrying waste oil from automobiles. Oil reaches the ocean in runoff from streets or as waste oil poured down drains, into dirt, in trash destined for a landfill. Every year more than 908 million liters of used motor oil finds its way into the ocean. Motor oil that has been used is more toxic than crude oil or new oil because it has developed carcinogenic and metallic components from the heat and pressure within internal combustion engines. Spills of crude oil are generally larger in volume and more frequent than spills of refined oil. Most components of crude oil do not dissolve easily in water, but those that do can harm the delicate juvenile forms of marine organisms even in minute concentrations. The remaining insoluble components from sticky layers on the surface that prevent free diffusion of gases, clog adult organisms feeding structures, kill larvae, and decrease the sunlight available for photosynthesis.

Environmental Pollution
Environmental pollution is the biggest menace to the human race on this planet today. It means adding impurity to environment. The environment consists of earth, water, air, plants and animals. If we pollute them, then the existence of man and nature will be hampered. It is true that trees are being cut down rapidly. Our earth is becoming warmer. If pollution continues, the day is not far when our earth will be a boiling pan and become a desert. Or it will be covered with sea water causing destruction of mankind. Pure air is always needed for inhaling. If we take pure air, our health improves. On the other hand impure air causes diseases and impairs our health and causes our death. Smoke pollutes the air. It is the root of air pollution. The smoke which is discharged from industries, automobiles and kitchens is the mixture of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane etc. These are all poisonous gases. These cause lung-cancer, tuberculosis etc. which take a heavy toll of life. The glaring incident is the Bhopal gas leak in December 1984. Thousands of the residents of Bhopal died due to lungs problem which was caused by methylamine gas from the Union Carbide Plant. The garbage emitting foul smell, the decaying plants and animals also cause air pollution. Hence the doctors advise the patients having lungs trouble to settle in some rural places because the air of villages is pure and free from population. Then comes sound pollution. The harsh sounds of buses, its, mopeds etc. affect our power of hearing and causes fart trouble. It has been reported that there are two villages named Biraspalli and Devadas Palli near Dum Dum airport m Calcutta where a large number of people have lost their power of hearing. This is because of the frequent sounds of planes coming in and going out of Dum Dum Airport. The evils of sound pollution can be imagined from this example. The water of rivers and seas is being constantly polluted all over the world by various dangerous chemical and biological wastes. Mills and factories discharge very harmful waste waters into many rivers and sea. The water of the Ganges flowing by the side of both Varanashi and Calcutta is extremely polluted and contains all sorts of dangerous bacteria. It is really very strange and laughable that large number of the Indians regard this water as holy. They even drink this water for salvation. There is no doubt that the fish that grow in such waters are poisonous too. Reckless application of chemical fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides pollutes the soil. Vegetables and fruits are quite injurious today, because they contain the poison of insecticides and pesticides. If the air we breathe, the water we drink and the soil which produces our crops, vegetables and fruits, all become more and more impure, then our chances of good health and longevity

will be very less and less. Environment pollution is a serious menace to our existence. Realising the danger, we must plant trees in large number to absorb impure air. Impure water from industries can be sent back for purification and then it can be used for irrigation purpose. Our government is well aware of the fact and is taking steps to save environment from pollution. We have also I minister to look after the environment.

Air Pollution
This essay is about Air Pollution, Sources of Air Pollution and Effects of Air Pollution Air pollution is the presence of abnormal concentration and abnormal constituents in air. We know that Fresh air is needed for a healthy life. That is why people go out for morning walks so that they can breathe as much fresh air as possible. But the quality of the air has been deteriorating in urban areas. It is being polluted by smoke, harmful gasses, dust articles and other matters. The burning of petrol and diesel in running vehicles emits carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and unburnt hydrocarbon particles. These pollutants are released in the air breathe. They are very harmful for out health. The burning of various fuels in factories and power plants emit carbon monoxide carbon dioxide and other poisonous gases that are left off in the atmosphere. Yet without burning fuel, the production of goods in industries is not possible. So the growth of industrial production is at the cost of polluting air. Various chemical industries such as those manufacturing acids, plastics, dyes and paint, paper, pesticides, petrochemical emit hazardous fumes and gases such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and fluorocarbons. Industrial dust also causes air pollution. Dust coming out from the cement kilns, lime kilns, stone crushing and asbestos factories are the main causes of breathing problems and lung diseases in our country. Smoking of cigarettes and bedis is very injurious to health. It causes heart diseases, various respiratory problems and cancer. Tobacco smoke is a pollutant particularly in closed spaces such as buses, trains, cinema halls and restaurants. Smoke emitted by a smoker but inhaled by a non-smoker is known as secondary or they are in the vicinity of a smoker. That is why smoking is banned in public places. Air pollution affects the health of people adversely. The presence of carbon monoxide in the air we breathe causes headache nausea and suffocation. Various other respiratory diseases such as tuberculosis, bronchitis and asthma are common in our country due to poor air quality. Dust in air causes asthma and allergies. In winter days fogs containing particulate matter causes bronchitis and cough.

A different dimension of air pollution is the problem of ozone depletion. The presence of pollutants like fluorocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) in the air has depleted ozone in the atmosphere. This has created a hole in the ozone layer of the atmosphere. CFC is chemicals used in refrigerators and air-conditioners and cooking agents. The ozone layer protects life on earth by preventing harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun from entering the atmosphere. This layer has now become too thin and has developed a hole exposing human life to the dangerous ultraviolet rays of sun. Long exposure to ultra-violet rays of sun causes cancer and other genetic disorders in human beings. Gases like carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and methane in the atmosphere trap the heat waves of the sun and cause melting of polar ice has increased the water level in oceans and seas causing frequent floods and droughts across the world. The global climatic change has mostly affected the agriculture. This increase in the average temperature of the atmosphere is known as the green-house effect.

Noise Pollution
By definition, noise is "sound without value" or "any noise that is undesired by the recipient". Thus, the kind of environmental impact of noise pollution is slightly different from other kinds of pollution. Generally, there is much more noise in the urban areas because of larger concentration of population as well as industrial and other activities like transportation vehicular movements, etc. Non-industrial sources of noise can come from public address systems for religious or political propaganda, recreation, hawkers or other street noise. Noise can also arise from the natural sources like thunder. Noise as a potent menace can be evaluated in terms of a 'noise level' scale, or in decibels (dB). However, the health hazard is a matter of perceived noise level decibels (pNdB), which according to the W.H.O.'s prescribed optimum noise level as 45 dB by day and 35 by night; and anything above 80 dB is hazardous. Table 10.2 lists noise sources and their intensity. The hazards of noise pollution are many and varied. For example, people exposed to noise levels reaching 110 db may reveal mental trauma, deafness, physical fatigue and hypertension, cardiovascular disease, insomnia, peptic ulcer, eczema and asthma. Psychologists are of the opinion that prolonged exposure to noise for a day alone, may lead to severe mental disorientation, and in a few cases, result in a violent behavior. The noise properties and their reasonable level, in general, can be controlled only through enlightened and co-operative authorities. However, in a few cases, noise pollution can be minimized only through rigorous law and conscious efforts of the law enforcement department.

Land Pollution
Land is the main resource for agriculture and we have to produce more and more from less and less land to feed our growing population. There are numerous sources for soil pollution, but the important among them are: (i) Indiscriminate discharge of industrial effluents on land. (ii) Waste disposal in rural and urban settlements. (iii) Soil pollution due to fertilizers and pesticides. All these three are important sources for soil pollution. Urban wastes, particularly solid wastes, pesticides and fertilizers are the main threat to our environment. Urban solid waste which comprises biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials is assuming notoriety. They are mostly: (i) Domestic refuse: Putrescible, kitchen and food washes, plastic bags, papers and floor sweepings. (ii) Market refuse: Mostly putrescible vegetable animal and fish remnants. (iii) Hospital refuse: Waters from wards, operation theatre wastes, needles, cotton, gauzes, plaster, pantries, bottles, ampoules, food wastes etc. (iv) Road sweeping: Animal excreta, leaves, papers, human excreta, dust etc. (v) Trade refuse: Cloth cuttings from tailoring shops, car repairing garages. (vi) Road construction rubbish: Rubbish heaped on roads and streets. , (vii) Industrial wastes: Oil soaked rags, thermoplastic wastes, timber wastes, chemical refuse including toxic matters.

(viii) Garden refuse: Leaves, branches, plants, broken pots, stones, soil etc. The per capita refuse production in Indian cities varies from 0.15 to 0.35kg/day. Growing unplanned urbanization coupled with lack of sense of sanitation, technological shortcomings and inapt management in metropolitan cities make people suffer badly by solid wastes. Agricultural practices introduce fertilizers and pesticides resulting in both biological and chemical pollution. Persistent pesticides are serious threats to our environment. Among them, DDT, triaging herbicides, benzoic acid herbicide, urea herbicides, organophosphate insecticides, carbonates and organ chloride insecticides poise serious land hazards.

Water Pollution
Pollution has become a major issue over the years. It has caused death, disease, and many health problems. It is a major concern of our world today and not much is being done to prevent it. If not all, a lot of pollution is caused by humans. There are different types like industrial, agricultural, etc. Many people are realizing now the threat that pollution poses to humans. There are three main types of pollution. They are land, air, and water pollution. Land pollution deals with dumps or other harmful substances. Strip mining, digging, and irrigation are types of land pollution also. They arent as harmful to us but they scar and hurt the land. Landfills are a major source of pollution. Most are infested with disease or with animals carrying disease. Many contain harmful chemicals that seep into the land or gasses that cause explosions or fires. Solid and hazardous wastes are found in landfills and dumps. Solid wastes are the most visible form of land pollution. Every year, humans dispose of billions of tons of solid wastes. Most of our disposal methods cause harm to the environment. Hazardous wastes are substances released into the environment that can cause death or harm to people and their surroundings. These wastes are very hard to dispose of and usually contaminate the environment quickly. This research examines the concept of environmental protection in relation to the prevention of groundwater pollution. While a variety of approaches have been proposed to protect the purity of groundwater, all of these approaches may be grouped into market solutions and non-market solutions. In this research, examples of both market and non-market solutions are examined. The three primary origins of groundwater contamination are (1) urban living, (2) industrial operations, and (3) agricultural activities. Urban living creates groundwater contamination primarily through the use of water as a medium for carrying sewage effluent and the subsequent return of the water to the supply pool. Urban living also creates groundwater contamination through automobile and household lawn wastes carried to the supply pool

through surface runoff. Industrial operations create groundwater contamination through the discharge of contaminants and wastes from industrial processes, and through the use of water as a part of industrial processes. In the former case, contamination occurs through the addition of harmful substances to groundwater (such as chemicals suspended in tailings from mining operations), while, in the latter case, contamination may occur through either the addition of harmful substances to groundwater, or thermal pollution. Industrial processes may contaminate ground water by discharging contaminant.

Global Warming
Our planets atmosphere is warming up rapidly. Researchers are certain that emissions from human activities have caused this unnatural change. Using the latest computer models, their forecast are worrisome of what might global warming mean to our planet. Fortunately, everyone can be a part of the solution in slowing down global waming. It requires strong commitment from big corporations down to everyday people. This combined effort can make a significant difference. All of us can play vital part of the climate change solution. As a citizen, you can ensure that governments recognize the importance of global warming and follow through on their promises. As a consumer, you can support companies that are making the biggest strides in fighting climate change and encourage other companies to make reducing greenhouse gases a priority. If youre really passionate about having your voice heard, you might even want to consider joining a group dedicated to spreading the word about global warming. You can also make many changes in your daily life some that seem small, some less so that cut back on the carbon emissions for which youre responsible. Youre probably already familiar with many of the little steps you can take to be more climate friendly: Making your home more energy efficient: Better insulate your roof, basement, and walls; seal your windows; and replace your old light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Reducing the amount of garbage you produce: Take a reusable bag with you when you shop, buy unpackaged goods, and recycle and reuse materials. Using energy wisely: Turn off lights and appliances when youre not using them, use the air conditioner less in the summer, and turn down the heat in the winter.

Greenhouse Effect
The greenhouse effect plays a crucial part in preserving the environment on earth. The use of chemicals given off from different material objects such as cars and aerosol cans throw off the greenhouse effect. Scientists believe that this may offset the earths climate in the future by creating holes in the atmosphere. This is known as global warming. Global warming can effect numerous aspects of the environment including water resources, coastal resources, agriculture, forests, and energy consumption. In short, the greenhouse effect traps infrared rays given off by the sun under the earths atmosphere keeping the earth at a constant temperature allowing it to be habitable. Without it, the earth would stay at a constant temperature of 18 Celsius. It inherited its name because it resembles the way a greenhouse works; the atmosphere imitating the glass from the windows in a greenhouse. Carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, cholorofluorocarbons, and tropospheric ozone are the major gases that help keep the earth at a constant temperature. . Carbon dioxide is the most important because it is responsible for fifty five percent of the change of the intensity of the earths greenhouse effect. The increase of these gases are a result of population growth, industrial development, the increase of cities, and the cutting down of forests. Although the greenhouse effect is important, the increase in all of these things create an unexpected rise in temperature for the ecosystem. By doing this, polar ice caps, scientists believe, may melt creating worldwide flooding. The greenhouse effect is a somewhat basic process. About fifty-one percent of the incoming solar radiation is absorbed by the earths surface and nineteen percent is absorbed by atmosphere and clouds. Of that, four percent is reflected by the surface, twenty percent is reflected by clouds, and six percent is reflected by the atmosphere itself. This emission of energy is mostly directed to space, however, only a minute amount actually makes it. The atmosphere uses greenhouse gases to absorb all the radiation. The greenhouse gases have increased greatly since the beginning of the industrial revolution. Many believe that due to this, the greenhouse effect may become enhanced and create an increase in the earths climate. Once this long wave energy is absorbed, the atmosphere just reflects it back to the earths surface and the cycle repeats itself until no more radiation is available for absorption. With the earths current state of affairs (growth in population etc.), the greenhouse effect will gradually enhance creating a massive increase in the earths temperature. Eventually, global warming will set in disintegrating the earths atmosphere and causing the temperature to drastically drop. Scientists are now basing much of their research on making resources that are environmentally safe.