Meaning of Pollution

The Meaning of Pollution

Introduction to the meaning of pollution

Any unwanted or undesirable change in the state of natural environment through contaminated and harmful substances is called "Pollution". This is normally as a consequence of human activities which are intentional or accidental in nature. It is also understood to be as any substance or activity which damages the ecosystem and tend to disbalance the same. As a result it creates health hazards to human beings and animals. For example, harmful gases released by industries in air results into polluting air which has set imbalance in the composition of air and made it unworthy to breathe - thereby causing innumerable health problems to human and animal life. Excessive use of pesticides on crops has caused imbalance in ecosystems of lands besides causing drinking water pollution.

Pollution is therefore a phenomena where natural ingredients of environment are affected or damaged by the presence of dangerous unnatural ingredients which causes imbalance to the natural system and create number of health hazards to animals and human beings. These unnatural ingredients may be gases (causing air pollution), different kinds solids or liquids (causing water, food and land pollution) or different form of sound (causing sound pollution).

It is mainly caused by human activities like discharge of domestic, industrial and agricultural waste; excessive use of pesticides by farmers; leaks of radioactive materials; factories emitting gases into the atmosphere etc.
Types of Pollution - the Meaning of Pollution

Air Pollution: It is the release of harmful gases, chemicals and particulates into the atmosphere. Common examples include carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and nitrogen oxides produced by industry and motor vehicles. Burning of fuels like coal petrol or diesel in vehicles and factories releases harmful gases which makes the air dirty and unfit for breathing.

Water Pollution: It happens due to contamination of ground water through various unwanted activities. Drains and sewerage from towns and cities carrying dirty and filthy water mixed with soap, detergent and other harmful chemicals are all discharged into rivers, lakes or seas causing heavy water pollution. Some amount of fertilizers and agricultural fields also pollute the water.

Water pollution can be defined in many ways. Usually, it means one or more substances have built up in water to such an extent that they cause problems for animals or people. Oceans, lakes, rivers, and other inland waters can naturally clean up a certain amount of pollution by dispersing it harmlessly. If you poured a cup of black ink into a river, the ink would quickly disappear into the river's much larger volume of clean water. The ink would still be there in the river, but in such a low concentration that you would not be able to see it. At such low levels, the chemicals in the ink probably would not present any real problem. However, if you poured gallons of ink into a river every few seconds through a pipe, the river would quickly turn black. The chemicals in the ink could very quickly have an effect on the quality of the water. This, in turn, could affect the health of all the plants, animals, and humans whose lives depend on the river. Causes of Water Pollution

Unlike air pollution, water pollution has to be studied in the spatial perspective to understand the causes. Hence, causes of water pollution can be classified as

* Main source of pollution - where in pure water is mixed with pollutant for first time

* Secondary source of pollution - where polluted water is further polluted when the water is traversing on the surface or below the surface of soil.

The causes in main source and secondary source of pollution may be same or different, the pollutant of main source and secondary source may be same or different. When the same pollutant pollutes the water two or more times during main and secondary source, the concentration of pollutant increases. But, as the concentration has inverse relationship with distance traversed the pollutant concentration is also subjected to constant decrease.

When two or more pollutants cause pollution, then, their concentrations are independent of each other.
how to control water pollution?Water pollution is the change or alteration caused to the natural water resources due to the release of pollutants in it. Major water bodies like sea, rivers, lakes, ponds, and ocean and also the underground is affected due to water pollution. The major causes for the water pollution is release of industrial wastes and sewage into the water bodies, excess fertilizers and other chemicals washed away from the land and mixing with water, releases of oil and other non soluble substances in water, fecal release in water, etc. Conclusion about pollution of water is it affects the life of aquatic plants and animals, eutrophication, land plants as water is required for their survival, biomagnifications, and causes several diseases in animals and human beingsIntroduction to strategies to control environmental pollution:

Strategies to control environmental pollutions are many. Each environmental pollution will be dealt separately. For example water pollution which is caused by both the point sources and non point sources are to be dealt with separately. Air pollution which is caused by the release of unwanted gases such as oxides of sulfur and nitrogen are to be dealt with different strategies. So for environmental pollution different strategies are to be used and the strategies differ with country to country. For example the strategy used in the developing country is not useful for the developed country.
Strategy to Control Air Pollution:

The use of non conventional energy sources would greatly help in reducing the air pollution. The strategy for the air pollution is make the air clear of many unwanted gases in the atmosphere. The atmosphere is most important in that it gives oxygen to the breathing if the unwanted gases goes into the body it may cause various diseases. Lung cancer and some other type of cancer is the most important types of diseases which is caused by the air pollution.

The use of green technology to produce energy and product which does not use the coal and other conventional type of energy is most important.

Strategy to Control Water Pollution:

Water is the important to all the living thing in the world. The strategy to control the water pollution will be find out the point sources of pollution and cutting down the point source. Domestic sewage should not be directed to the water bodies. They should be treated and all the solid waste from the water are to disposed properly. The presence of bacteria is to be checked from time to time in the water bodies and the total dissolved solids are to be checked and it should be kept in minimum.

strategy to control Soil pollution

The strategy includes the proper disposal of waste, non disposable waste and disposable waste should be properly treated. Plastics should be recycled and the use of plastic should be made into minimum.
land pollution: the solution on the soil erosion?
Soil or Land Pollution and Sound Pollution

Soil pollution is the kind of pollution of land or soil due to contamination by salts, chemicals, radioactive materials. Some of the most common pollutants are the metals such as mercury and chemicals from fertilizers and pesticides as discussed in water pollution. Industrial disposal and sewage disposal including plastic also results in soil pollution. The cutting down of trees , causes soil erosion lead to infertility of the soil. Soil pollution can lead to water pollution. The crops grown on such land can carry the pollutant into the consumers’ body. Soil pollution may make the land barren . It can collect toxic elements and be harmful to people living in the area.

Besides these pollution there is also another type pollution such as sound pollution which is caused by loud music , sonic boom from jets , aircrafts .It can effect a person’s ability to hear and may cause mental sickness such as sleeplessness , depression etc. This is more of a social pollution than an environmental pollution.
Control of Land Soil Pollution

Soil pollution can be minimised by collecting the wastes properly. Several materials discarded from homes and industries such s metals, paper, certain types of plastics, glass can be reused. They can be separated, melted and reused.

Paper products are converted to pulp and can be used again to make paper. This not only reduces pollution but also saves trees (as paper is made from bark and wood of trees).

Biological wastes such as discarded food, vegetables and fruits, can be used for the production of manure. Wastes containing pathogenic organisms and those which cannot be easily reduced are burnt in a careful manner in places far away from residential areas.

Developing hygienic habits minimises the pollution due to excretory material. As responsible citizens, it is our duty to prevent the pollution of mother earth.

Soil or Land Pollution: Mixing of harmful substances with soil is called land pollution. It is caused by domestic, industrial and agricultural wastes. Agricultural waste includes not only parts of plants but also fertilizers and chemicals used to destroy weeds and pests. Animal waste too pollutes land.Pictures of Soil Pollution
Introduction to pictures of soil pollution

Soil pollution is the alteration in soil caused by removal or addition of substances and factors that decreases its productivity, quality of plants and ground water.

Negative soil pollution is reduction in soil productivity due to erosion and over-use.

Positive soil pollution is reduction in soil productivity due to addition of undesirable substances.

Pesticides and fertilizers are the two types of agrochemicals.

Landscape pollution is converting fertile land into barren one by dumping wastes over it.
Causes of Soil Pollution : Pictures of Soil Pollution

Pesticides: they include insecticides, pesticides, fungicides, algicides, rodenticides, and weedicides. Pesticides are generally broad spectrum and function as biocides.

Fertilizers: excessive use causes soil deterioration through decrease of natural microflora. Leaching of soil causes pollution of underground water. Salts when in excess amount enter the crop plants may prove harmful to them. For example, nitrate rich leaves, fruits and water produce nitrite in alimentary canal that enters blood, combines with haemoglobin forming met-haemoglobin and reducing oxygen transport.

Industrial effluents: they include scraps, effluents, sludge, fly ash and radioactive wastes. Industrial solid wastes and sludge add a lot of toxic chemical into soil. Fly ash is fall-out from testing laboratories and other sources also pollute the soil.

Municipal wastes: they include domestic or kitchen wastes, market wastes, sweepings, wastes from commercial complexes, rubbish, hospital slaughterhouse livestock/poultry wastes and trash like waste metals, plastics, pet bottles, polyethylene carry bags. Municipal wastes are partly degradable and partly non-degradable.

Mining waste: they include mine dust, rock tailing, slack and slag. Open cast mining completely spoil the surrounding soil. Toxic metals and chemicals present in the mining wastes destroy vegetation and produce many deformities in animals and human beings.

soil pollution due to fertilizers

It involves safer land use, planned urbanization, controlled development activities, safe disposal and management of solid wastes. The last one involves – collection and categorization of wastes, transport to disposal site and disposal of waste.
Conclusion of Picture of Soil Pollution

Disposal of wastes contain three main Rs: recovery, recycling and reuse. The articles that can be recovered and recycled are tins, ans and other metal wastes, glass, plastic, polyethylene, rags, paper and cardboard. Garbage and other organic wastes can be taken out of urban areas and used for formation of compost, biogas and manure.


Noise Pollution: The presence of any displeasing sound in the environment created by human, animal or machine which disrupts the normal activity or balance of human or animal life is called Noise pollution. The major source of this pollution is transport systems like motor vehicles, rail, aircraft noise, motor horn sound, sirens, office equipment, factory machinery, construction work, audio entertainment systems, loudspeakers etc.
Effects of Pollution - the Meaning of Pollution

Polluted air causes various kinds of respiratory diseases, Chest problems and other lungs related problems in human beings. Animals and birds are equally affected by the polluted air. Water pollution give rise to various water born disease and adversely affects aquatic animals and fish. Soil or land pollution results into contaminating plants and other living beings causing various health problems.