POLLUTION

POLLUTION INTRODUCTION:

In the recent times we hear many a concerns from social activists and groups regarding pollution crisis. In fact there is immediate requirement to contain it and minimize for better health and prevent endanger to valuable species on the earth.

Pollution is drastically rising in all the countries due to rise in human activity associated with modern technology and population growth. Even the daily normal livelihood requirements are high contributing factors to never ending pollution of all sorts. Pollution poses health hazards, endangers wild life and makes the planet unsafe for future human survival. The present technology and desire for development adds more to pollution but the steps taken to control or decrease it are very meager.

Definition:

Pollution is an undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of air, water and soil that may harmfully affect the life or create potential health hazard of any living organism. Pollution is thus direct or indirect change in any component of the biosphere that is harmful to the living components and in particular undesirable for man, affecting adversely the industrial progress, cultural and natural assets or general environment of living society.

Meaning

pollution, contamination of the environment as a result of human activities. The termpollution refers primarily to the fouling of air, water, and land by wastes (see air pollution; water pollution; solid waste). In recent years it has come to signify a wider range of disruptions to environmental quality. Thus litter, billboards, and auto junkyards are said to constitute visual pollution; noise excessive enough to cause psychological or physical damage is considered noise pollution; and waste heat that alters local climate or affects fish populations in rivers is designated thermal pollution.

The 20th cent. has seen pollution approach crisis proportions throughout the world. At issue is the capacity of the biosphere to disperse, degrade, and assimilate human wastes (see ecology). The biosphere is a closed ecological system with finite resources and is maintained in equilibrium by grand-scale recycling. Under natural conditions organic and certain inorganic materials in the biosphere are continually recycled by processes including photosynthesis and respiration, nitrogen fixation and denitrification (see nitrogen cycle), evaporation and precipitation, and diffusion by wind and water action. But the introduction of massive quantities of waste matter at any point in the biosystem may "overload" it, disrupting the natural recycling mechanisms.

TYPES OF POLLUTION:

The natural resources which are freely available a gift of nature are polluted and they can be broadly divided into following types like

Air pollution: The contamination of air with dangerous gases like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, methane and other harmful gases due to emission from automobiles (powered by petroleum), industries and sometimes by natural calamities like volcanoes. Another type is particulate air pollution, seems quite unaware to many but if you stay near any industry, you will notice that there is always some sort of particulate dust from the chimneys of the factory. This is harmful especially to the respiratory system.

Water pollution: Contamination of both drinking water from rivers, ponds and also sea water by discharge of large amounts of human, industrial wastes leads to water pollution. This makes the water harmful to drink, endanger lives of sea animals etc.

Land pollution: Land pollution is one where there is excess dumping. This can be a chemical or waste material. Polluting the land by harmful chemicals can lead to entry of pollutants into food chain. This is commonly caused by excess use of fertilizers in agriculture, irresponsible disposable of industrial wastes etc. Even defecating in the open spaces also causes pollution. This leads to health issues like malnutrition as pollutants pass through plants to humans and animals.

Sound pollution: Also called as noise pollution is a disturbance of silent environment with harsh loud noises. This is mostly due to automobile sounds, the audio systems used for fun or public speeches, temples, mosques, churches etc. This pollution has severe impact especially on old people, small children. Even horn from vehicles and industrial sirens also contribute to this noise pollution.

Dust pollution: This is pollution where in the contamination is due to dust particles in air. This can be from soil, roads, farming, and even due to mining etc. From farms this dust pollution occurs due to pollen grains as a part of pollination. While on the roads it is due to unclean road over run by vehicles. This air contamination by dust creates trouble for proper breathing leading to infections, congestion of breath etc.

Radiation pollution: This is the pollution due to abnormal radiation in the environment. This occurs due to use of radioactive elements from atomic energy stations.  From cell and mobile towers, by use of wireless Internet access modems etc. This is one of the serious types of pollutions and also neglected one with the interest of business. Even it is said that birds like sparrows and insects like honey bees seem to be getting extinct from human areas due to these radiations.

Thermal pollution: This pollution arises due to release of excess heat from thermal power plants, industries involved in metals molding etc. The heat is released into the surrounding air rising the temperature of the locality drastically. This can be especially troublesome during summers.

Light pollution: This might seem quite strange but it is one of the common pollutions. Have you ever tried to see the sky for stars or for lunar eclipse when there is a cricket or football match going on in a nearby stadium? It is quite impossible. Even heavy light of opposite vehicles on the same road can lead to distractions for drivers. Light pollution effects especially disturbing to sleep of humans, birds and other animals. This might some times affect the natural body rhythm or circadian clock.

Plastic pollution: This is quite not a type but it deserves to be said one. The plastic and polythene due to their ability to withstand decomposition for years together add up to pollution. Plastic pollution can contribute to air, water and soil pollution.

Disadvantages:

·         Noise pollution. Constantly, even at late hours, major highways have heavy truck traffic. Controls such as trees and sound walls can only partially mitigate the noise, or perhaps redirect it. It is also possible to build in sound-proofing with good insulation and double-paned windows, but opening the windows for ventilation instantly negates any such improvements. Most of it is white noise, meaning some may be able to "get used to it", but some freeway noise can be very loud. I used to live by a freeway off-ramp, and trucks would come slamming down it using their jake brakes (engine braking), which makes a loud bang-bang-bang sound. Noise pollution, in turn, may result in less restful sleep or interrupt concentration or studying. 

·         Air pollution. I'm sure the traffic on all highways and freeways contributes to air pollution in general, but living in proximity to the source might mean being exposed to a continual and higher concentration of it, especially depending on wind and weather conditions. This may have particular effects on children, not only in the usual symptoms of exposure to air pollution (e.g. asthma), but may affect their overall lung development, as well: 

Advantages: 

• Depending on your area and the nearest on-ramp, you'll have a shorter trip to get onto the highway. If you are renting out or selling your home, you can advertise it as "convenient to major thoroughfares" or similar.
• If you like white noise, you have a steady supply of it.
• Home sound-proofing measures may also improve energy efficiency.

CONCLUSIONS

Indoor environment is a complex issue in terms of toxicology and health risk assessment. There are many different types of pollutants which may give rise to combined effects. The exposed population is the general public including vulnerable groups. Many different factors influence air quality, e.g. ventilation, cleaning conditions, properties of buildings, products used in house-holds, cultural habits, climate, outdoor air etc. Thus, large variations in indoor environments can be expected across the EU.

The SCHER considers that the health risk assessment of the pollutants in indoor environments should be done according to the principles used in the EU for risk assessment of chemicals as this is an evidence based approach. Those principles should be applied on the data available and the specific features related to indoor environment taken into account. The risk assessment paradigm should be used flexibly, taking into account that complaints and diseases related to indoor exposures may have a complex cause-effect relationship.