Article On Pollution

Anything added into the environment that results in producing harmful or poisonous effect on living things is called pollution. Pollution is the process that makes nature’s resources such as land, water, air or other parts of the environment unsafe or unsuitable to use. Pollution can be of many types: soil, air, water, thermal, radioactive, noise, and light. The toxins released are inhaled by each one of us while we breathe.

Pollution contributes to the harmful environments that result in adverse effect on living beings. It is one of the major concern areas for the whole world. It is a global issue involving the United Nations, governments, voluntary institutions and the media

Pollution and its Causes:
Inhaling poisonous air is as hazardous as smoking. It is not only the humans who are affected from this polluted environment but also the animals. Air is filled with highly toxic gases. These dangerous gases in environment are released by the power industries that burn fossil fuels, industries that dispose wastes in the water, farmers using pesticides, high usage of artificial lights and loud sounds, etc. Each of these leads to generation of the life threatening cause – pollution.

Any use of natural resources at a rate higher than the nature’s capacity to restore itself can result in pollution of air, water, and land. Other than human activities, there are a few periodic natural cycles that also result in release of dangerous stuff. Natural activities other than the human activities like volcanic eruption, dust wildfires, etc. also result in creation of pollution.

Globalization is another major cause of pollution. Globalization has become an effective facilitator of environmental degradation.

Preventive measures:

• Plant trees/cultivate garden to curb polluted air and release more oxygen.
• Switch off electricity-based equipment’s when not in use: lights, fans, machines, etc.
• Make high use of natural energy than electric energy: dry the clothes naturally.
• Use recyclable products, wherever possible.
• Avoid plastic bags and use paper bags.
• Avoid wastage of paper and use both the sides.
• Restrict usage of hazardous chemicals.
• Don’t overuse heaters and air conditioners.
• Use public transport to reduce noise, air and light pollution.
• Protect Mother Earth by not spilling oil, garbage, sewage water, etc. at undesirable places.
• Stop burning of crackers during marriages, Diwali, etc.
• Don’t dispose of eatables, packaging in oceans, rivers, etc.
•  Types of Pollution:

Major pollutions and their causes:

• Land Pollution – Wastes collated at Earth’s surface, garbage on roads, industrial debris, pesticides, insecticides, etc. Unwanted wastes lying and being decomposed release harmful gases and lead to pollution.
• Water Pollution – Wastes disposed of in rivers, oceans act as pollutant in water bodies. Raw sewage, oil spills, chemical refuse, etc. create poisonous water and hence lead to water pollution.
• Air pollution – Burning of fossil fuels, release of gases from vehicles release mono-oxide, carbon-di-oxide, industrial pollution, nuclear radiations etc. lead to air pollution.
• Noise Pollution – Vehicle horns, loud music, construction machinery sounds, and other human activities create noise. This affects humans and animals, their natural vegetation and creates Noise Pollution.
• Thermal Pollution – Manufacturing activities lead to rise in the temperature of water and land. This affects marine and plant life. Such activities lead to thermal pollution.

Conclusion:
Every individual owns certain responsibility of maintaining few points such as not throwing garbage all around, growing trees, using public transport instead of their own, etc. We must shun excessive consumption and avoid careless and deliberate disposal of post-consumption waste resources which could otherwise be recycled and would led to pollution control.

Pollution cannot be reduced or controlled if a sense of responsibility towards our Mother Earth is not felt by all concerned.

By – Assistant Professor – Himanshu Thpaliyal
B.sc MLT Department
Uttaranchal (P.G.) College Of Bio-Medical Sciences & Hospital