The environment is the sum total of human surroundings consisting o atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the lithosphere and the biota. Human beings aim dependent on the environment for life itself. The atmosphere provides us with the air we breathe, the hydrosphere provides the water we drink and the soil of the lithosphere provides us with the vegetables that we eat. In addition, the environment provides with the raw materials to fulfil our other needs. In view of these important functions, it is imperative that we maintain the environment in as pristine a state as is possible. Fouling of the environment (i.e. pollution) can have many harmful consequences, Damage to human health being of greatest concern.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Pollution according to the dictionary is the action of making the air, water, soil etc, dangerously impure or unfit for use. On a scientific note, pollution is commonly defined as the addition of a substance by activity to the environment which can cause injury to human health or damage to natural ecosystems. This definition excludes “natural pollution”, although natural processes can also release harmful substances into the environment. Such natural processes include volcanic eruption, forest fire, ocean releases and bacterial decay in swamps and marshes.
Pollution is particularly terrifying because more often than not, it is unseen. Air may appear fresh and pure and yet be radioactive; food and water may appear wholesome and yet be full of chemical poisons. Of a truth, pollution is often an invisible killer. Although pollution may be invisible, its deadly harvest is not. You can see it wherever you look; people dying of cancer and respiratory diseases; defaced building and monuments; decimated animal and plant life; rivers depleted of fish; dead and dying forests; Acid rain; ozone layer depletion and Global warming.
POLLUTANTS
Pollution is aided by agents called pollutants. A reasonable definition of a pollutant is a substance present in greater than natural concentration as a result of human activity that has a net detrimental effect upon its environment or upon something of value in that environment. Pollutants in the environment include smoke, dust, soot, liquid wastes, solid wastes, odours, radioactive materials, noxious chemicals, carbon fumes, gases such as carbon monoxide (CO2), Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), Ozone (0,), Ammonia (N H,), etc.
Every pollutant always originates from a #SOURCE. The source is particularly important because it is generally the logical place to also eliminate the pollution. After a pollutant is released from a source, it may act upon a receptor. The RECEPTOR is anything that is affected by the pollutant. Humans whose eyes smart from oxidants in the atmosphere are receptors. The fishes that may die after exposure to dieldrin in water are also receptors.
SOURCES OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
The number of pollution sources is constantly rising throughout the world as a consequence of growing industrial development. The driving force behind the increase in pollution is the rapidly growing population of the world. The world's population has more than doubled over the last 40 years, and over the next 30 years, it is expected to increase by another 2-4 billion. The consequent demand for energy and resources required to feed, clothe and house the increasing population will be accompanied by a parallel morease in waste production. Not only is the population rising, but the standard of living is also rising, placing additional stress on the environment. In the future we may expect environmental problems to become more widespread and more severe unless measures are taken to control pollution.
Scientifically speaking however, there are two basic sources of pollution. The sources are anthropogenic (Man-made) and Natural sources. It's important we take our health first in everything we do. This will reduce the high rate of pollution in the world.