Water and air pollution have had a significant impact on the history of the planet. The Industrial Revolution of the mid-19th century brought with it incredible technological advancements, but it also brought with it new sources of air and water pollution. These changes were beginning to have an impact on countries all over the world by the middle of the twentieth century, according to the World Bank. In the 1960s, the beginnings of an environmental movement emerged, with the goal of stemming the tide of pollutants that was washing into the planet’s ecosystems. Earth Day and legislative victories such as the Clean Air Act (1970) and the Clean Water Act (1982) arose as a result of the environmental movement (1972). Global warming, which is caused by air pollution, continues to be a threat that scientists all over the world are racing to find solutions to.
Air Pollution
According to the World Health Organisation, air pollution is described as the occurrence of substances in the atmosphere that are toxic to humans including the health of other living creatures. Pollution of the atmosphere also has a negative impact on Earth’s climate, often exacerbating natural disasters such as drought and flooding on the planet.
Causes of Air Pollution
To begin preventing air pollution in the surrounding area, it is necessary to first understand the sources of pollution. The primary reasons for this are as follows:
Burning of Fossil Fuels
When fossil fuels are burned, they release harmful gases into the atmosphere, including sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide, which are harmful to human health. sulphur dioxide is one of the most significant contributors to air pollution.
Automobiles
The excessive use of automobiles contributes to the release of harmful gases into the atmosphere.
Agricultural Activities
Agriculture involves many different processes, including the emission of ammonia as well as an excessive use of pesticides and fertilisers as well as the use of insecticides and herbicides.They release potentially hazardous chemicals into the atmosphere and have the potential to pollute water supplies.
Factories and Industries
Increased emissions of hazardous gases and chemicals into the atmosphere as a result of increased industrial activity. Chemicals, hydrocarbons, organic compounds, and other pollutants are emitted into the atmosphere by manufacturing companies, degrading the quality of the surrounding environment.
Mining Activities
Mining activities are increasing the emission of harmful substances into the environment. Mining is the process of extracting minerals from beneath the surface of the earth with the help of heavy machinery. During the course of the process, dust and chemicals are released into the atmosphere, resulting in significant air pollution.
Water Pollution
Essentially, water pollution is the presence of extremely high concentrations of pollutants (hazards) in a water body to such an extent that it is no longer suitable for regular human activities such as bathing, cooking, and drinking. People’s activities such as waste disposal, industrial and agricultural effluents, and chemical discharge, among others, are frequently associated with polluting water. Because of this, water quality is degraded, and aquatic life is adversely affected.
Causes of Water Pollution
Despite the fact that there are numerous sources of water pollution, the following are some of the most significant pollutants in today’s modern environment:
Industrial Waste
There are numerous routine industrial activities that cause massive amounts of toxic chemicals such as lead and mercury to be released into the environment. When humans use this contaminated product on a regular basis, they can spread to other living species.
Sewage and Waste
Thousands of tonnes of sewage waste are dumped into water bodies each year. This not only pollutes the environment, but it also releases pathogens that are dangerous to human health.
Mining
Mining is a major contributor to the major lake and river pollution that is occurring today. This procedure extracts potentially hazardous chemicals that have been buried deep beneath the earth’s surface. When this substance comes into contact with water, the consequences are potentially lethal to any living creature.
Marine Dumping
Garbage generated on a daily basis is dumped into the seas and oceans, sometimes reaching the point of forming garbage islands in the process. Water pollution levels can be reduced by more than half by taking the simple step of putting waste products in the garbage canister.
Urbanization and Population Growth
Urban areas are unable to keep up with the demand for water created by their expanding populations. This has resulted in contamination and water loss as a result of overuse.
Conclusion
Both air pollution and water pollution are extremely detrimental to human survival on this planet. Air and water are two of the most valuable natural resources on the planet, and they are both abundant, but we misuse and abuse them. Pollution in any of these areas has a negative impact on the lives of humans and animals alike. It is impossible to turn back the clock on air and water pollution once it has been abused to the utmost degree. Several diseases and disorders that were previously unknown to humans have been identified as a result of air and water being polluted with poisonous substances that are released from chemical and other such environment-degrading industries. When we pollute the air that the planet breathes and pollute the water that flows on it, the health of the planet suffers just as much as that of human beings.