Pollution; Consequenses And Control

 Pollution; Consequenses And Control :

                                                                   For better life, human society is becoming more and more dependent on technology and industries. Technology and industry are making life easier and convenient for humans but are also contributing towards the pollution of environment. 
Pollution is defined as any undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of air, water and land that may harmfully affect living organisms and natural resources.

The substances that actually cause pollution are called the Pollutants. They may be the industrial effluents, domestic wastes, medical wastes etc. 
Pollutants are of two types i.e. Biodegradable and Non-Biodegradable.

1. Air Pollution:

                           Air pollution is one of the major environmental issues of today. It is Defined as the change of composition of air by the addition of harmful substances (e.g. industrial and automobile gases and particulate matter). 
All sources of air pollution are related to human activities. Burning of coal produces a lot of smoke and dust whereas burning of petroleum produces sulphur dioxide. In addition to these, air pollutants include carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, particulate matter and traces of metals. Different industries produce air pollution in the following way.

        Fertilizer industries release oxides of sulphur and nitrogen, hydrocarbons, particulate matter and fluorine. 
       Thermal industries are coal based and their pollutants are fly ash, soot and sulphur dioxide.
       Textile industries release cotton dust, nitrogen oxides, chlorine, smoke and sulphur dioxide. 
       Steel industries release carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, phenol, fluorine, cyanide, particulate matter etc.
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2. Water Pollution:

                                          It is the change in the composition of water by the addition of harmful substances. Water pollution severely affects the health of people. Sewage is one of the major pollutants of water. It contains organic matter and the excreta of human and other animals. Organic matter encourages the growth of microorganisms which spread diseases. The wastes of industries (acids, alkalis, dyes and other chemicals) are disposed in nearby water bodies. These wastes change the pH of water and are harmful or even fatal to aquatic organisms. Certain industries release a lot of hot water from their cooling plants. It results in heating up of water bodies and kills aquatic life. Fertilizers and pesticides enter into water bodies with the rain water flow and the ground water by seepage. These chemicals remain in water for a long time and can enter food chains. They cause a number of diseases in animals. 
       Oil tankers and offshore petroleum refineries cause oil leakage into water.Oil floats on the water surface and prevents atmospheric oxygen from mixing in water. So, aquatic animals begin to die due to oxygen shortage.
         Some Heavy metals e.g. lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium also make the water polluted. Such metals can be present in the water, released from industrial and urban areas. If water with such heavy metals is given to plants, the metals enter the vegetables that grow on these plants. Such contaminated vegetables are harmful for human health. Heavy metals reduce growth and development, and cause cancer and nervous system damage. Mercury and lead can cause joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, and diseases of kidneys, circulatory system and nervous system.

There are more than 200 tanneries (industry where raw skin is treated to make leather) operating in Kasur city. The industry discharges 9000 cubic metres of waste water daily into the nearby water bodies. This water contains heavy metals and becomes a part of the underground water. In 2003, a survey showed that two-thirds of residents and 72 percent of tannery workers suffered cancer, infections of the kidney, or loss of eyesight. Tests showed that the drinking water was contaminated with lead, mercury and chromium. The Pakistan government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched the Kasur Tannery Pollution Control Project. The project has established an effluent treatment plant, chromium plant and a solid waste disposal site.
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3. Land Pollution:

                               Land (soil) is an important resource as it is the basis for the growth of producers. In the recent times, soil has been subjected to pollution.
         The pesticides used in agriculture have chemicals that stay in soil for long times. The acid rains change the pH of soil making it unsuitable for cultivation. The household and other city garbage lies scattered in soil in the absence of a proper disposal system. Materials like polythene block the passage of water into soil and so decrease the waterholding capacity of soil.
         Many industries produce harmful chemicals which are disposed of without being treated. Improper disposal of nuclear wastes also causes radioactive substances to remain in soil for a long time. Open latrines in villages and some parts of cities are also the source of land pollution
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