Ch - The Environment ( Notes)

Different Types of Pollution



There are different types of pollution, which are either caused by natural events (like forest fires) or by man-made activities (like cars, factories, nuclear wastes, etc.) These are further classified into the following types of pollution:

  1. Air Pollution
  2. Water Pollution
  3. Soil Pollution
  4. Noise Pollution

What is Air Pollution ? 

Air pollution refers to the release of harmful contaminants (chemicals, toxic gases etc.) into the earth’s atmosphere.

Some causes of air pollution are:

  • Burning fossil fuels
  • Mining operations
  • Exhaust gases from industries and factories
  • Smoke coming out of vehicles

The effects of air pollution vary based on the kind of pollutant. But generally, the impact of air pollution ranges from:

  • Increased risk of respiratory illness and cardiovascular problems
  • Increased risk of skin diseases
  • May increase the risk of cancer
  • Global warming
  • Acid rain
  • Ozone depletion
  • Hazards to wildlife

What is Water Pollution? 

Water pollution is said to occur when toxic pollutants are introduced into water bodies such as lakes, rivers and seas. These contaminants are generally introduced by human activities like improper sewage treatment and oil spills.

Other significant causes of water pollution include:
  • Dumping solid wastes in water bodies
  • Disposing untreated industrial sewage into water bodies
  • Human and animal wastes
  • Agricultural runoff containing pesticides and fertilisers

Among the other types of pollution, water pollution has severe consequences on humans.

Other consequences of water pollution include:
  • Disruption of the ecosystem
  • Threats to marine life
  • Increased risk of water-borne diseases
  • Increases toxic chemicals (such as mercury) in water bodies
  • Eutrophication

What is Soil Pollution ? 

Soil pollution, also called soil contamination, refers to the degradation of land due to the presence of chemicals or other man-made substances in the soil.

 Any toxic chemicals present in the soil will get absorbed by the plants. Since plants are producers in an environment, it gets passed up through the food chain. 

Some of the common causes of soil pollution are:

  • Improper industrial waste disposal
  • Oil Spills
  • Acid rain which is caused by air pollution
  • Mining activities
  • Intensive farming and agrochemicals (like fertilisers and pesticides)
  • Industrial accidents

Other effects of soil pollution include:

  • Loss of soil nutrients, which renders the soil unfit for agriculture
  • Impacts the natural flora and fauna residing in the soil
  • Degrades vegetation due to the increase of salinity of the soil
  • Toxic dust (such as silica dust) can cause respiratory problems or even lung cancer

What is Noise Pollution? 

Noise pollution refers to the excessive amount of noise in the surrounding that disrupts the natural balance. Usually, it is man-made, though certain natural calamities like volcanoes can contribute to noise pollution.

In general, any sound which is over 85 decibels is considered to be detrimental. Also, the duration an individual is exposed plays an impact on their health. 

For perspective, a normal conversation is around 60 decibels, and a jet taking off is around 15o decibels. Consequently, noise pollution is more obvious than the other types of pollution.

Noise pollution has several contributors, which include:

  • Industry-oriented noises such as heavy machines, mills, factories, etc.
  • Transportation noises from vehicles, aeroplanes, etc.
  • Construction noises
  • Noise from social events (loudspeakers, firecrackers, etc.)
  • Household noises (such as mixers, TV, washing machines, etc.)

Noise pollution has now become very common due to dense urbanisation and industrialisation. Noise pollution can bring about adverse effects such as :

  • Hearing loss
  • Tinnitus
  • Sleeping disorders
  • Hypertension (high BP)
  • Communication problems