The Menace of Environmental Pollution - The Way Forward

The environment is referred to as man's best friend in articles by great authors whom I had contact with before putting up this article. David McBash Phd, when asked what the environment is to man says "The environment is man's greatest resources regarding the fact that man also evolved from it according to evolutionary science".

Also environmental biologist, Theodore Finley says "Man is a complex organism made up of non-living components found in the environment and this in turn supports man".

In view of the mind striking excerpts from my tete-a-tete with these great people I decided to start off this month with man's best friend, "the environment". Finley's excerpt says that the environment supports man and in no way hazardous. This is a special feature of man as a higher animal, that is, being able to alter the surrounding to support or suit it. This is sometimes not the case where the environment becomes hazardous due to man's activities and the negligence to the menace of environmental pollution.

Here are some of the problems posed by environmental pollution and the way forward.

Noise pollution could be seen as unorganized sound that is unpleasant to the listener. Whether organized or unorganized, any sound that irritates the hearer is noise. The magnitude of sound is measured in decibels. Experts in this field measured the magnitude at which sound could be hazardous to be setting off from 45db. In homes, people now use theater systems whose magnitude is more than 45db. In the short term it is luxury or prestige but in the long term is sure to be hazardous ranging from minor hearing problems to deafness as a result of too much vibration of the middle and inner ear leading to the damage of the auditory nerves. Others are noise from road side record sellers, heavy factories and so on.

The way forward is controlling the sound systems in homes to a minimal no damage level. In case of industries they should be sited away from residential homes. Constant exposures to noise pollution should be avoided.

Research show that hearing problems are increasing at a geometric progression.

Refuse and sewage pollution is another great challenge to our environment. This is more seen in under-developed countries and third world countries where the level of poverty is higher.

Irregular disposal of refuse into culvert, around homes and along roads. Sewage such as waste water disposed directly into culvert, around homes and channeling through open surface canals. These are breeding grounds of disease causing pathogens and infections and disease the dwellers in such surroundings. No wonder malaria is so common in Africa.

Refuse can be burnt in incinerators in places some distances away from residential homes. Research shows that some of these gases irritates the lining of the nostrils and eyes giving rise to the multiple ocular problems. Sewage should be treated to harmlessness and surface channels closed properly. In homes dust and dirt should be disposed off properly in bins or trashes.

Industrial chemicals and fertilizers are also harmful to human population. Direct disposal of industrial chemicals into water bodies and washing of fertilizers into rivers and lakes by rain water poison the planktons on which fishes depend and in turn passes onto the fishes and to man as the food chain continues.

Air pollutants include gaseous pollutants like oxides of Carbon, Nitrogen, Sulphur and so on. The chlorofluorocarbons (easily referred to as CFCs) are no exception. This results in the greenhouse effect; the depletion of the ozone layer by greenhouse gases. The emission of these gases are increasing by the day with less green life to make use of them as a result of development. The amazon forest seems to be the forest standing whose conservation is a global challenge.

Like David McBash Phd said "the environment is man's greatest resources.."must be cherished as much as man would cease not to continue into the future generation.

Save the environment today and stay healthy

Car Pollution and Global Warming - Effects of Car Exhaust on the Environment

Although emissions from an individual car are generally low, relative to the smoke many people associate with air pollution, economies of scale make the personal automobile the single, greatest polluter in big cities due to millions of vehicles being added on the road. Each time we drive we engage in probably the most "polluting" activity of the day.

Emissions produced by vehicles have significant effects on our health as well as the environment, namely, the ozone. Although our car produces several types of pollutants, the following are amongst the most potent:

• Hydrocarbons: These are known to cause liver damage and even cancer in humans. They are also a major contributor of smog in urban setting. Motor vehicles produce hydrocarbons as a result of unburned or partially burned fuel.
• Carbon monoxide: This is the stuff that kills you when you fall asleep in the garage with a running car engine. A product of incomplete combustion, carbon monoxide has nothing to do with the smoky colour and smell that comes out of the tail pipe: carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas which is lighter than air. Carbon monoxide reduces the blood's ability to carry oxygen; overexposure as you know may be fatal.
• Nitrogen Oxide: This pollutant destroys our bodies' capacity to resist infections of the respiratory system. In cars, nitrogen oxide is a result of a reaction of nitrogen from the air and oxygen at the high temperature and pressure that occurs during combustion.
• Particulates: This is the visible smoke or soot that we see coming out of the exhaust pipe and it is made up of very minute particles. Like smoking, this causes respiratory health effects in humans and affect animals, too.
• Sulphur oxides: These are emitted from motor vehicles burning fuel containing a high concentration of sulphur. Exposure to sulfur dioxide affects the lungs and, at high levels, may result in burning of the nose and throat, breathing difficulties as well as severe airway obstructions.
• Carbon Dioxide: Although it is a product of "perfect" combustion and does not directly impair human health, it is a "greenhouse gas" that traps the earth's heat and contributes to the potential for global warming.

Although advances in engine and vehicle technology have seen a major reduction on motor vehicle emissions but the sheer numbers of vehicles on the road is arresting this progress. It is therefore imperative for each person to do what they can to further reduce, if not eliminate, motor vehicle pollution altogether, Here are a few things you could do to save the earth:

• Consider a green car or, at least, an environmentally friendly car for your next car purchase. This could be a hybrid vehicle or any car that is specifically designed to reduce exhaust emission. Depending on pricing, electric cars will be the best option when they go into production in a few years' time, since they produce zero emissions.
• Switch to clean fuels or biofuel - fuels derived from plant and biomass. Where available, low-sulphur diesel is also a good, green option.
• Consider adding engine cleaning additives, like EnviroTabs, on your next fuel purchase. Also known as car vitamins, these are added to your tank each time you fill up and they clean the carbon residue in your engine resulting in high reduction of tail pipe emissions as well as more mileage per gallon/liter due to the resultant engine efficiency. You can also sell these

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Air Pollution and Global Warming

Global warming has scared the entire world in last few years. Well, it has done all good, at least people now know what they have done till now and how harmful it would be for our earth if we continue doing like this. Our Earth has abundant natural resources and till now we have been using it indiscriminately without realizing that one day all these may just vanish.

Ever since the human civilization has taken place the man kind has been playing with the environment. The human activities and technological advancement has lead to serious consequences.

Global warming is a resultant effect of green house gases. Greenhouse gases contain carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, sulfur dioxide all these gases are trapped in the atmosphere causing a rise in the earth's temperature. Air pollution is directly proportional to global warming. Industrialization, automobile fumes, burning of fossil fuels all these are responsible for air pollution, and it has been depleting the ozone layer in pockets of southern hemisphere over Australia. Depletion of ozone rays allows the harmful ultraviolet rays to reach Earth's surface and therefore, many cases of skin cancer and other diseases have been reported from these parts of the world.

Air pollution is known to cause asthma and other forms of respiratory ailments. In many countries, air pollution has reached such dangerous levels that people are forced to use masks to avoid respiratory ailments. The flora and fauna of the Earth are reducing at an alarming rate, and if it continues like this, it would destroy everything very soon.

www.made-from-india.com maintains a trade directory that contains information on pollution control equipment exporter from India, pollution monitoring equipment supplier from India, air pollution control equipment exporters in India, air cleaning equipment, water treatment plant exporters, environment protection products supplier form business to business trade from India.

Air Pollution and Global Warming

Global warming has scared the entire world in last few years. Well, it has done all good, at least people now know what they have done till now and how harmful it would be for our earth if we continue doing like this. Our Earth has abundant natural resources and till now we have been using it indiscriminately without realizing that one day all these may just vanish.

Ever since the human civilization has taken place the man kind has been playing with the environment. The human activities and technological advancement has lead to serious consequences.

Global warming is a resultant effect of green house gases. Greenhouse gases contain carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, sulfur dioxide all these gases are trapped in the atmosphere causing a rise in the earth's temperature. Air pollution is directly proportional to global warming. Industrialization, automobile fumes, burning of fossil fuels all these are responsible for air pollution, and it has been depleting the ozone layer in pockets of southern hemisphere over Australia. Depletion of ozone rays allows the harmful ultraviolet rays to reach Earth's surface and therefore, many cases of skin cancer and other diseases have been reported from these parts of the world.

Air pollution is known to cause asthma and other forms of respiratory ailments. In many countries, air pollution has reached such dangerous levels that people are forced to use masks to avoid respiratory ailments. The flora and fauna of the Earth are reducing at an alarming rate, and if it continues like this, it would destroy everything very soon.

What Are the Causes of Environmental Pollution?

Environmental pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the environment that makes the environment unhealthy for habitation and on the extreme, can harm the ecosystem. The causes of pollution depend on the type of pollution under view.

Air pollution This is the release of polluting chemicals and particulates into the atmosphere. These pollutants makes it unhealthy to breathe in such air. Common air pollutants are sulfur dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides produced by industry and motor vehicles. When hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides react to sunlight, smog and photochemical ozone are formed when nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons react to sunlight.

Water pollution When waste products and potential contaminants are released into river drainage systems and other water bodies making the water unfit or compromising the quality of the water for use by man or habitation of water fauna and flora, we have water pollution.

Soil Contamination occurs when chemicals are released by spill or underground leakage. Among The most significant soil contaminants are hydrocarbons, heavy metals, herbicides, pesticides and chlorinated hydrocarbons.

Radioactive contamination, resulting from 20th century activities in atomic physics, such as nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons research, manufacture and deployment.

Noise pollution, which encompasses roadway noise, aircraft noise, industrial noise as well as high-intensity sonar.

Light pollution, includes light trespass, over-illumination and astronomical interference.

Visual pollution, which can refer to the presence of overhead power lines, motorway billboards, scarred landforms , open storage of trash or municipal solid waste.

Thermal pollution, is a temperature change in natural water bodies caused by human influence, such as use of water as coolant in a power plant.

Lesser-Known Effects of Pollution

Pollution is the introduction of elements into any environment that upset the equilibrium of the environment and cause instability, discord or harm.

Pollution can take many different forms: air pollution, water pollution, soil contamination, radioactive contamination, noise, light, visual, and thermal pollution are a few of the well-known forms of pollution.

The main effects of pollution have been well documented and debated. Higher incidences of respiratory and cardiovascular ailments caused by air pollutants have become ubiquitous and alarming. A very high number of deaths in developing countries are due to the consumption of contaminated water. Hearing loss, high blood pressure, sleep disturbances, cancer, and birth defects are some other effects of different forms of pollution.
Over and above these "usual" effects of pollution, some lesser-known effects have also started emerging. For example, a recent study links air pollution to low IQ in children. Researchers have established that mothers who breathe in air with higher pollution levels during their pregnancy are likely to bear children with lower IQs. The implication of this study seems to be that while toxins pollute the environment as a whole, they also pollute our bodies and make us mentally slower. Chemicals, preservatives, and additives that go into packaged food, and pesticides that go into natural food, all qualify as pollutants.

Another study claims that air pollution appears to cause genetic changes that make infants more prone to asthma in later life. The researchers believe that air pollution induces changes in gene expression without changing the structure of the gene itself. While there has long been a link between pollution and the higher incidence of asthma, the effect on a gene is definite cause for concern.

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Types of Environmental Pollution

Pollution is the result of progression and development that is occurring on a regular basis. With the growth of technology more and more development is taking place in order to improve the quality of human life. This series is certainly giving high level of comfort and a rich lifestyle to all humans but is sadly diminishing the worth of human health; the need to have a good and healthy environment is ignored.

Many new inventions and introductions are causing a danger to human life as they are done artificially. This artificial and unsystematic way of generating high level of comforts is producing components that are inevitable to human life. Be it any thing including the basic needs of life like clothing and even food is now being produced synthetically. Just one insight into the depth of ecology will make us realize that the increasing need of the present day lifestyle is eventually creating an imbalance in the ecology.

Here are some of the most common types of environmental pollution that are gradually bringing people to a morbid stage:

Noise Pollution

Any kind of noise that is unpleasant to human ears is considered as noise pollution. Loud and hard sounds coming from factories, machinery, automobiles, trains, fire crackers, and explosives are also contributing to noise pollution. It is also caused by some natural calamities like harsh winds and volcanic eruptions. Both natural and artificial factors contributing to noise or sound pollution have their impact on human health. This kind causes irritation, hearing issues, and headache. However these are not major issues but extremely unpleasant sounds can be very harmful as they can cause an increase in the cholesterol, constrict arteries, an increase in the flow of adrenaline, and also forces the heart to function at a faster pace. All these can be life threatening as these factors can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

Water Pollution

Any kind of harmful components or contaminants entering the water bodies like river, oceans, lakes, ponds, and streams cause water pollution. Many human activities like washing cleaning, and dumping waste significantly contribute to water pollution. The soaps and detergents used these days are also made of harmful chemicals and synthetic materials that produce more contaminants in water. Furthermore, dumping waste like cans, bottles, and plastic materials also pose danger. It not only destroys marine life but is also hazardous to human life. This kind of polluted water is not safe for drinking, agriculture or even industrial use.

Air Pollution

Air pollution is caused by discharge of harmful substances in the air. One of the key contributing factors is automotive pollution. With the growing technology, the number of vehicles on road is dramatically increasing which is eventually giving a pushing up the level of air pollution. Apart from this, industries indulged into thermal power plant, cement, steel, mines, petro-chemicals, and steel also generate harmful substances that are released into the atmosphere. This kind of pollution has caused harm to the protective ozone layer in the atmosphere. This layer protects the earth from the harmful effects of ultra-violet rays but thinning of this layer is causing a danger to human life.

Radioactive Pollution

Radioactive pollution is a rare kind but is detrimental. It is caused by accidents in the nuclear power plant, improper disposal of nuclear waste, and operations of uranium mining. Radioactive pollution causes cancer, various kinds of birth defects, and many other serious health issues.

Soil Pollution

Soil pollution, also known as land pollution, is defined as the contamination of soil. These days many artificial substances and synthetic pesticides are used for agriculture. Such substances release contaminants that create an imbalance in the soil and also prevent natural growth of the plants cultivated on polluted land. Key factors contributing to soil pollution are sewage pills, hazardous waste, non-sustainable agriculture practice, use of inorganic pesticides, deforestation, strip mining, and certain human activities like dumping and littering.

www.made-from-india.com maintains a trade directory that contains information on pollution control equipment exporter from India, pollution monitoring equipment supplier from India, air pollution control equipment exporters in India, air cleaning equipment, water treatment plant exporters, environment protection products supplier form business to business trade India.