Nowadays, people use different methods of mass media to express their concern about which sources cause pollution and which consequences will result from it. Indeed, pollution has become a serious environmental and societal issue that nobody can deny or ignore anymore. Above all, pollution is defined as the introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment. We will examine three main parts of pollution: water, air, and land.
The factors that contribute to water pollution can be categorized into two different groups. Firstly, the point sources which include the waste products from factories, the waste from sewage systems, the waste from power plants, the waste from underground coalmines, and the waste from oil wells. They are called point sources because they are direct sources of water pollution and can be reduced and monitored. The term non-point source encompasses a large range of sources such as when rain or snow moves through the ground and picks up pollutants as it moves towards a major body of water or the runoff of fertilizers from farm animals and crop land. Another example is the air pollutants getting washed or deposited to earth and the storm water drainage from lawns, parking lots, and streets (Leed).
Concerning the air pollution, one of the main causes is the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which happens because of deforestation and fossil fuel burning. Furthermore, Sulfur dioxide is another air polluter that is released into the atmosphere by the burning of sulfur containing compounds of fossil fuels. Another cause of air pollution is the Chlorofluorocarbons that also contribute to air pollution by reducing the amount of ozone in the stratosphere. This organic compound comes from a variety of places such as the burning of plastic foam items, leaking refrigerator equipment, and spray cans. However, air pollution isn’t necessarily linked to humans, but can also be natural. For instance, smoke from wild fires, methane released from livestock, and volcanic eruptions (Hill).
The latest form of pollution that we will develop is land pollution that results from four main causes. The first cause is the construction of buildings that take up resources and land; the trees are chopped down and used to make buildings. Besides, it takes away from places for animals and other organisms to live. The second cause is agriculture. As there are more and more people inhabiting the earth, food is in higher demand and so forests are chopped down and turned into farmland. In addition, herbicides, pesticides, artificial fertilizers, and animal manure are washed into the soil and pollute it. The third cause is the tons of domestic waste that are dumped every day. Even though some waste from homes, offices and industries can be recycled or burnt in incinerators, there is still a lot of garbage, such as refrigerators and washing machines that are dumped in landfills simply because they cannot be reused in anyway, nor recycled. The fourth and last cause of land pollution is industrial waste such as plastics factories, chemical plants, oil refineries, nuclear waste disposal activity, large animal farms, coal-fired power plants, metal production factories and other heavy industry that all contribute to land pollution (Causes).
Because of the causes mentioned above, our environment is changing. The air becomes less clean than ever before. With the introduction of petroleum to replace coal economies in countries, photochemical smog has become predominant in many cities which are located in sunny, warm, and dry climates with many motor vehicles. Consequently, many people wear masks when they walk in the streets in these cities. Moreover, the temperature becomes higher, the air in the cities becomes hotter, and water in oceans becomes warmer. Indeed, CO2 is a good transmitter of sunlight, but it also partially restricts infrared radiation going back from the earth into space, which produces the so-called greenhouse effect that prevents a drastic cooling of the Earth during the night. Therefore, increasing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere reinforces this effect and is expected to result in a warming of the Earth's surface.
Many old green forests are like a bald hill when you see them from an airplane. The effects cannot be good for the environment itself and neither for the people. Indeed, land pollution exterminates wild life, acid rain kills trees and plants, and the vegetation that provides food and shelter is destroyed. Land pollution can seriously disrupt the balance of nature, and, in extreme cases, can cause human fatalities. In addition, pesticides can damage crops, kill vegetation, and poison birds, animals, and fish. Most pesticides kill or damage life forms other than those intended. For example, pesticides used in an effort to control or destroy undesirable vegetation and insects often destroy birds and small animals. Nevertheless, some life forms develop immunity to pesticides used to destroy them.
There are many efforts which are being started to protect the environment. However, there is one more important thing which must be performed. We must stop causing harm to the environment by our actions before making any effort to protect it. Ways to stop or reduce pollution are multiple. We can help to reduce global air pollution and climate change by driving a car that gets at least 35 mpg, or by walking, biking, and using public transportation. Buying only energy efficient appliances, recycling products (newspaper, aluminum, etc.), planting trees, and not purchasing products that contain CFCs are many solutions to start the reduction of environment pollution.
Works Cited
Causes Of Land Pollution." Knowledge Galaxy. N.p.. Web. 22 Apr 2013.
Hill, Adam. "What Causes Air Pollution?." wiseGEEK: clear answers for common questions. N.p., 14 Aug 2009. Web. 22 Apr 2013.
Leed, Mauro. "Causes and Effects of Water Pollution." Go Green Academy. N.p., 06 Jun 2012. Web. 22 Apr 2013.
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