Pollution

We explain what pollution is and what its causes and consequences are. Also, its general characteristics and solutions.

What is pollution?

Pollution is the presence in the environment of substances or materials that cause direct or indirect adverse effects on human health and living beings in general.

It occurs when natural ecosystems cannot absorb and eliminate the substances they receive and they begin to accumulate. Pollution can have serious and long-lasting effects on people, wildlife, flora, soil and water.

Pollution can be caused by many human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, the production and disposal of waste, the use of agrochemicals in agriculture and industrial activity.

Pollution can be classified according to the media in which it is concentrated: air, soil or water. In recent decades, pollution has also been classified depending on the aspect of the ecosystem it modifies: light, acoustic, or thermal.

Causes of pollution

Since the Industrial Revolution, in the 18th and 19th centuries, pollution has intensified around the world. With the appearance of the steam engine and other technological advances, there was a significant increase in industrial production and burning of fossil fuels .

During this period, industries began to mass produce, leading to an increase in waste and pollutants. Additionally, the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, increased significantly. At the end of the 19th century there were already many cities, mainly in Europe, that were beginning to show high levels of air, soil and water pollution.

During the 20th century, pollution intensified throughout the world. The increase in world population generated the need to produce more food and the amount of agrochemicals used in the practice of intensive agriculture also raised pollution levels.

On the other hand, the increase in consumption patterns in the most developed countries resulted in a considerable increase in industrial production, which had a negative impact on the environments, especially in large cities.

Currently, the levels of pollution experienced by the planet are alarming, and produce ecological and environmental alterations that affect all living beings that inhabit the Earth.

air pollution

Air pollution is the presence of toxic substances and pollutants in the atmosphere, which can affect humans, ecosystems and the climate. It is mainly produced by the burning of fossil fuels, industry, agriculture, transportation and energy production.

The main polluting gases emitted by these activities are:

• Carbon dioxide (CO₂) . It is one of the main greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere. It is produced by burning fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal.
• Methane (CH₄). It is another very important greenhouse gas. It is produced by the decomposition of organic matter. Animal fecal matter from livestock farming and the accumulation of organic waste are the main source of methane emissions on the planet.
• Carbon monoxide (CO) . It is an odorless, colorless gas that is mainly emitted by the incomplete combustion of fuels in vehicles and heating equipment.
• Nitrogen oxide (NOx) . It is mainly emitted by vehicles, power plants and industry. It contributes to the formation of smog and acid rain.
• Sulfur dioxide ( SO₂ ) . It is mainly issued by industry. It also contributes to the formation of acid rain.
• Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) . It is emitted by refrigeration devices, such as refrigerators and air conditioners, and by aerosols. Its emission has practically stopped because it was proven that it negatively affected the ozone layer.

Soil pollution

All living beings depend on the organic and inorganic balance of the soil, since plants are born from it, which start the food chain. Soil contamination can produce negative effects on plants and animals, and also on people who consume food produced in contaminated soils.

Soil contamination is mainly caused by:

• Toxic waste discharges. Improper treatment of chemicals, metals and oils can seriously contaminate the soil.
• The use of agrochemicals . The inappropriate use of herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture is one of the main causes of soil contamination in rural environments.

The presence of toxins in the soil can also result in water contamination of underground water layers.

Water pollution

Water pollution is the presence of substances or materials in water that can cause adverse effects on human health, aquatic life and the environment in general.

It is considered that Water is contaminated when it is not suitable for human or animal consumption. . Since the beginning of industrialization, factories used rivers to dispose of chemical substances resulting from their economic activity. This has increased, in the last two centuries, water pollution levels throughout the world.

Many cities They also deposit their sewage waste in the water . When this waste is not properly treated, it can contain bacteria, viruses and chemicals that are very dangerous to health. Several of the most serious epidemics in history began due to the consumption of contaminated water, such as the cholera epidemic in Paris in the mid-19th century.

Radioactive contamination

Radioactive contamination is mainly caused by industries associated with nuclear energy, but also by the military use of nuclear bombs whose radioactive contamination persists long after its detonation. Radioactive contamination can also occur due to nuclear accidents, such as Chernobyl in 1986.

Exposure to high levels of radiation can cause skin burns and damage the genetic material of cells. The latter produces diseases and genetic malformations that can be transmitted for generations. In Japan today, people are still being born with genetic malformations as a result of the detonation of the atomic bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

Light pollution

Light pollution is the excess of artificial light in the environment . This can have negative consequences on human and animal health. In addition to preventing people from seeing the night sky, it causes disorders in sleep rhythms and cycles and significantly affects nocturnal ecosystems, since numerous animal species depend on light and dark cycles for their biological balance.

The main cause of light pollution is artificial lighting Used in cities and urban areas, such as street lights, buildings, monuments and illuminated signs.

Thermal pollution

Thermal pollution is defined as the increase in air or water temperature as a result of human activities. Heat emission from factories and the construction of urban infrastructure, such as streets and highways, increases ambient temperatures and generates thermal pollution.

The removal of trees and forests and elements that provide shade It also contributes to the increase in thermal pollution. Rising water temperatures in rivers, lakes and oceans can also be caused by tree removal, urbanization and the use of water to cool nuclear power plants and other industrial processes.

Thermal pollution can have adverse effects on the health of living beings and people. It can cause the death of aquatic species, a decrease in water quality and the proliferation of algae. . Rising air temperatures can cause respiratory illnesses in people and even deaths from heat waves in the summer months.

Consequences of pollution

Pollution is one of the biggest threats to life on the planet . It affects both humans and animals and plants. The effects of pollution can manifest themselves immediately, but also in the long term.

Exposure to toxic gases can cause respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases and even cancer. Air pollution can also affect crops and biodiversity and cause changes in weather patterns and cycles. .

It can also cause deterioration in aquatic life. Industrial and household waste can contaminate rivers, lakes and oceans and making the water toxic to animals and humans. Ingestion of contaminated water can cause diseases such as cholera, dysentery and typhoid fever.

For its part, toxic chemicals and hazardous waste can seep into the soil and affect crops and animal life. Humans can also be affected by eating contaminated food.

In addition, pollution can affect biodiversity by altering natural ecosystems and reducing the ability of living beings to adapt to environmental changes. Pollution can also affect ecological balance by altering natural nutrient and water cycles.

Possible solutions for pollution

Since the Stockholm summit in 1972, States from around the world have met periodically to design strategies to reduce pollution levels on a global scale. However, in recent decades the planet's environmental conditions have systematically worsened. This is because companies do not meet their pollution reduction goals, and controls by the State are deficient.

Some of the strategies that environmental pollution specialists suggest to improve living conditions on the planet are:

• Promote the use of renewable energies . Energies such as solar or wind, to the detriment of fossil fuels, can contribute to reducing levels of atmospheric pollution.
• Promote energy efficiency . The use of cleaner and more sustainable technologies in industry can contribute to reducing the production and emission of polluting gases that are produced by the production of electrical energy and fuels.
• Implement recycling and proper waste management measures . Improving waste management can help reduce the amount of urban waste and minimize its environmental impact.
• Promote environmental education. Educational practices focused on environmental education contribute to reinforcing the importance of caring for the environment both in schools and in public and private settings.
• Promote research. The development of more advanced and less polluting technologies, as well as the implementation of public policies to regulate and control polluting emissions, can also contribute to improving the planet's environmental conditions.
• Reduce the use of private cars . Encouraging the use of public transport and vehicles such as bicycles contributes to fewer cars on the streets and reduces polluting gas emissions.

References

• DKV (2022). Radioactive contamination: what it is, why it occurs, what are its consequences. https://dkv.es/
• Institute for Geoenvironmental Health (sf). Air pollution causes around 400,000 premature deaths in Europe. https://www.saludgeoambiental.org/
• Ecolec (2021). What is water pollution? https://ecolec.es/
• FAO (2018). Soil pollution is contaminating our future. https://www.fao.org/
• Martin, E (2022). Thermal pollution. Causes and consequences. https://www.narasolar.com/
• UNAM (sf). Light pollution. http://www2.astroscu.unam.mx/