Understanding How Pollution is Hurting Our World

What is pollution, and what can we do to combat it?

Pollution has become a major problem in this world. It is continually damaging the earth’s environment and our physical health. The pollution issues will only continue to get worse, unless certain changes and decisions are made to minimize pollution as much as possible.

By examining what pollution is, what it does, what it affects, what types there are, and how to fix it, then it should become much easier to understand why it is such a big issue in the world today.

What Causes Pollution?

Pollution is defined as the release of harmful materials, known as pollutants, into the air and surrounding environment. Pollutants can be released into the air in many different ways. Methods of pollutant production include burning coal, production of sewage and garbage, the running of gasoline machines and vehicles, and the use of pesticides.

Vehicles and machines are some of the major polluters in the world. They release harmful chemicals into the air through the burning of gasoline. The production of electricity is another substantial contributor to pollution, but it pollutes by burning coal instead of gasoline.

The production of garbage and sewage pollutes the environment in a slightly different way. It does not pollute the air, but instead, it pollutes the land and water. Pesticides, which are used to kill and control insects, are a great example of this type of pollution.

Natural Pollution

Most types of pollution are man-made, but there are a few types of pollution that can occur from natural sources. One natural cause of pollution is a volcanic eruption. A volcanic eruption releases masses of volcanic ash and harmful gases into the air. Volcanic ash can stay in the atmosphere for a long time and block the sun for several days, which causes crops to die. The gases released from a volcanic eruption can be much more harmful and deadly than volcanic ash.

One of the main gases released from a volcanic eruption is sulfur dioxide. Sulfur dioxide is an extremely toxic gas that can do a significant amount of damage to the environment. It can make soil infertile for years to come, it can form toxic clouds that kill plants and animals, and it can even kill people if too much is inhaled.

Another type of natural pollution comes from petroleum seeps. Petroleum seeps are areas underground that leak out oil and natural gas into lakes and oceans. A large enough petroleum leak can severely damage bodies of water in the surrounding environment.

Types of Pollution

Land pollution is caused by the culmination of solid and liquid waste materials that damage the earth’s land surfaces. Several studies have been conducted with pesticides, a contributor to land pollution, that show they could be linked to the development of cancer and many other health issues. The use of pesticides is not only a threat to humans, but it is also a threat to animals and soil fertility.

Garbage pollution is by far the largest contributor to land pollution. According to recyclecoach.com, globally to date, there are about 8.3 billion tons of plastic in the world — some 6.3 billion tons of that is trash. Imagine 55 million jumbo jets and that’s how much plastic exists here.

A large amount of this garbage is just thrown on the ground. The amount that gets thrown away is either put in a landfill or it is incinerated. The problem with landfills is that they fill up and sit on the earth’s surface taking up space. The problem with incineration is that the burning of certain metals and plastics releases chemicals into the air that further pollute the atmosphere.

Water pollution occurs when waste and hazardous materials accumulate in the earth’s bodies of water. Plastic, fertilizers, pesticides, and sewage are all major pollutants to the earth’s water. Many people in the world do not have access to filtered water or proper sanitation of their water. This results in many people being forced to drink that nasty water endangering their health. Water pollution is not only a threat to people, but it is also a threat to the marine life of the world. Hazardous waste materials thrown into the ocean are eaten by fish, raising oceanic toxicity levels, and trapping marine life thereby killing the animals.

Air pollution occurs when gases and chemicals that do not belong in the atmosphere are added to it. The biggest player in air pollution comes from the burning of fuels. Automotive vehicles and industrial factories burn large amounts of fuel that release harmful chemicals and gases into the air. Some of the main gases that contribute to air pollution are sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and carbon monoxide.

How Can We Fix It?

Pollution has become a huge threat to the environment and to our health, which is why steps must be taken to reduce it. There are numerous ways in which we can reduce pollution. One method that has been taught and pushed for a long time is recycling. If everyone just put a little bit of effort into recycling and reusing their items, then a huge reduction in pollution would be seen.

Cleaner forms of energy such as wind, solar, and geothermal energy are also great pollution reducers. This helps to reduce the number of fossil fuels burned, which decreases air pollution. Using cleaner forms of transportation can also contribute to a healthier environment. Walking, running, and riding a bike are much better for the environment, and it is also a much healthier form of transportation.

We can also help minimize pollution by picking up garbage. When you see trash sitting on the ground, do not just leave it there. Make sure you do something about it by picking it up and throwing it away.

Pollution is never going to completely go away overnight. It is going to take a conscious group effort to take on this mountainous task. It will be a very slow process, but I believe that with enough push and motivation it can be done. Making the world a cleaner, better, safer, and healthier place through the elimination of pollution will benefit everybody and everything on this earth in so many ways. Now, why wouldn’t you want to do that?

Let’s rid the earth of pollution together!

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