prepare a pictorial presentation on pollution and its kinds

Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment. These harmful materials are called pollutants.

Biology, Ecology, Health, Earth Science, Geography

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Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment . These harmful materials are called pollutants . Pollutants can be natural, such as volcanic ash . They can also be created by human activity, such as trash or runoff produced by factories. Pollutants damage the quality of air, water, and land. Many things that are useful to people produce pollution. Cars spew pollutants from their exhaust pipes. Burning coal to create electricity pollutes the air. Industries and homes generate garbage and sewage that can pollute the land and water. Pesticides —chemical poisons used to kill weeds and insects— seep into waterways and harm wildlife . All living things—from one-celled microbes to blue whales—depend on Earth ’s supply of air and water. When these resources are polluted, all forms of life are threatened. Pollution is a global problem. Although urban areas are usually more polluted than the countryside, pollution can spread to remote places where no people live. For example, pesticides and other chemicals have been found in the Antarctic ice sheet . In the middle of the northern Pacific Ocean, a huge collection of microscopic plastic particles forms what is known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch . Air and water currents carry pollution. Ocean currents and migrating fish carry marine pollutants far and wide. Winds can pick up radioactive material accidentally released from a nuclear reactor and scatter it around the world. Smoke from a factory in one country drifts into another country. In the past, visitors to Big Bend National Park in the U.S. state of Texas could see 290 kilometers (180 miles) across the vast landscape . Now, coal-burning power plants in Texas and the neighboring state of Chihuahua, Mexico have spewed so much pollution into the air that visitors to Big Bend can sometimes see only 50 kilometers (30 miles). The three major types of pollution are air pollution , water pollution , and land pollution . Air Pollution Sometimes, air pollution is visible . A person can see dark smoke pour from the exhaust pipes of large trucks or factories, for example. More often, however, air pollution is invisible . Polluted air can be dangerous, even if the pollutants are invisible. It can make people’s eyes burn and make them have difficulty breathing. It can also increase the risk of lung cancer . Sometimes, air pollution kills quickly. In 1984, an accident at a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, released a deadly gas into the air. At least 8,000 people died within days. Hundreds of thou sands more were permanently injured. Natural disasters can also cause air pollution to increase quickly. When volcanoes erupt , they eject volcanic ash and gases into the atmosphere . Volcanic ash can discolor the sky for months. After the eruption of the Indonesian volcano of Krakatoa in 1883, ash darkened the sky around the world. The dimmer sky caused fewer crops to be harvested as far away as Europe and North America. For years, meteorologists tracked what was known as the “equatorial smoke stream .” In fact, this smoke stream was a jet stream , a wind high in Earth’s atmosphere that Krakatoa’s air pollution made visible. Volcanic gases , such as sulfur dioxide , can kill nearby residents and make the soil infertile for years. Mount Vesuvius, a volcano in Italy, famously erupted in 79, killing hundreds of residents of the nearby towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Most victims of Vesuvius were not killed by lava or landslides caused by the eruption. They were choked, or asphyxiated , by deadly volcanic gases. In 1986, a toxic cloud developed over Lake Nyos, Cameroon. Lake Nyos sits in the crater of a volcano. Though the volcano did not erupt, it did eject volcanic gases into the lake. The heated gases passed through the water of the lake and collected as a cloud that descended the slopes of the volcano and into nearby valleys . As the toxic cloud moved across the landscape, it killed birds and other organisms in their natural habitat . This air pollution also killed thousands of cattle and as many as 1,700 people. Most air pollution is not natural, however. It comes from burning fossil fuels —coal, oil , and natural gas . When gasoline is burned to power cars and trucks, it produces carbon monoxide , a colorless, odorless gas. The gas is harmful in high concentrations , or amounts. City traffic produces highly concentrated carbon monoxide. Cars and factories produce other common pollutants, including nitrogen oxide , sulfur dioxide, and hydrocarbons . These chemicals react with sunlight to produce smog , a thick fog or haze of air pollution. The smog is so thick in Linfen, China, that people can seldom see the sun. Smog can be brown or grayish blue, depending on which pollutants are in it. Smog makes breathing difficult, especially for children and older adults. Some cities that suffer from extreme smog issue air pollution warnings. The government of Hong Kong, for example, will warn people not to go outside or engage in strenuous physical activity (such as running or swimming) when smog is very thick.

When air pollutants such as nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide mix with moisture, they change into acids . They then fall back to earth as acid rain . Wind often carries acid rain far from the pollution source. Pollutants produced by factories and power plants in Spain can fall as acid rain in Norway. Acid rain can kill all the trees in a forest . It can also devastate lakes, streams, and other waterways. When lakes become acidic, fish can’t survive . In Sweden, acid rain created thousands of “ dead lakes ,” where fish no longer live. Acid rain also wears away marble and other kinds of stone . It has erased the words on gravestones and damaged many historic buildings and monuments . The Taj Mahal , in Agra, India, was once gleaming white. Years of exposure to acid rain has left it pale. Governments have tried to prevent acid rain by limiting the amount of pollutants released into the air. In Europe and North America, they have had some success, but acid rain remains a major problem in the developing world , especially Asia. Greenhouse gases are another source of air pollution. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane occur naturally in the atmosphere. In fact, they are necessary for life on Earth. They absorb sunlight reflected from Earth, preventing it from escaping into space. By trapping heat in the atmosphere, they keep Earth warm enough for people to live. This is called the greenhouse effect . But human activities such as burning fossil fuels and destroying forests have increased the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This has increased the greenhouse effect, and average temperatures across the globe are rising. The decade that began in the year 2000 was the warmest on record. This increase in worldwide average temperatures, caused in part by human activity, is called global warming . Global warming is causing ice sheets and glaciers to melt. The melting ice is causing sea levels to rise at a rate of two millimeters (0.09 inches) per year. The rising seas will eventually flood low-lying coastal regions . Entire nations, such as the islands of Maldives, are threatened by this climate change . Global warming also contributes to the phenomenon of ocean acidification . Ocean acidification is the process of ocean waters absorbing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Fewer organisms can survive in warmer, less salty waters. The ocean food web is threatened as plants and animals such as coral fail to adapt to more acidic oceans. Scientists have predicted that global warming will cause an increase in severe storms . It will also cause more droughts in some regions and more flooding in others. The change in average temperatures is already shrinking some habitats, the regions where plants and animals naturally live. Polar bears hunt seals from sea ice in the Arctic. The melting ice is forcing polar bears to travel farther to find food , and their numbers are shrinking. People and governments can respond quickly and effectively to reduce air pollution. Chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are a dangerous form of air pollution that governments worked to reduce in the 1980s and 1990s. CFCs are found in gases that cool refrigerators, in foam products, and in aerosol cans . CFCs damage the ozone layer , a region in Earth’s upper atmosphere. The ozone layer protects Earth by absorbing much of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation . When people are exposed to more ultraviolet radiation, they are more likely to develop skin cancer, eye diseases, and other illnesses. In the 1980s, scientists noticed that the ozone layer over Antarctica was thinning. This is often called the “ ozone hole .” No one lives permanently in Antarctica. But Australia, the home of more than 22 million people, lies at the edge of the hole. In the 1990s, the Australian government began an effort to warn people of the dangers of too much sun. Many countries, including the United States, now severely limit the production of CFCs. Water Pollution Some polluted water looks muddy, smells bad, and has garbage floating in it. Some polluted water looks clean, but is filled with harmful chemicals you can’t see or smell. Polluted water is unsafe for drinking and swimming. Some people who drink polluted water are exposed to hazardous chemicals that may make them sick years later. Others consume bacteria and other tiny aquatic organisms that cause disease. The United Nations estimates that 4,000 children die every day from drinking dirty water. Sometimes, polluted water harms people indirectly. They get sick because the fish that live in polluted water are unsafe to eat. They have too many pollutants in their flesh. There are some natural sources of water pollution. Oil and natural gas, for example, can leak into oceans and lakes from natural underground sources. These sites are called petroleum seeps . The world’s largest petroleum seep is the Coal Oil Point Seep, off the coast of the U.S. state of California. The Coal Oil Point Seep releases so much oil that tar balls wash up on nearby beaches . Tar balls are small, sticky pieces of pollution that eventually decompose in the ocean.

Human activity also contributes to water pollution. Chemicals and oils from factories are sometimes dumped or seep into waterways. These chemicals are called runoff. Chemicals in runoff can create a toxic environment for aquatic life. Runoff can also help create a fertile environment for cyanobacteria , also called blue-green algae . Cyanobacteria reproduce rapidly, creating a harmful algal bloom (HAB) . Harmful algal blooms prevent organisms such as plants and fish from living in the ocean. They are associated with “ dead zones ” in the world’s lakes and rivers, places where little life exists below surface water. Mining and drilling can also contribute to water pollution. Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a major contributor to pollution of rivers and streams near coal mines . Acid helps miners remove coal from the surrounding rocks . The acid is washed into streams and rivers, where it reacts with rocks and sand. It releases chemical sulfur from the rocks and sand, creating a river rich in sulfuric acid . Sulfuric acid is toxic to plants, fish, and other aquatic organisms. Sulfuric acid is also toxic to people, making rivers polluted by AMD dangerous sources of water for drinking and hygiene . Oil spills are another source of water pollution. In April 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, causing oil to gush from the ocean floor. In the following months, hundreds of millions of gallons of oil spewed into the gulf waters. The spill produced large plumes of oil under the sea and an oil slick on the surface as large as 24,000 square kilometers (9,100 square miles). The oil slick coated wetlands in the U.S. states of Louisiana and Mississippi, killing marsh plants and aquatic organisms such as crabs and fish. Birds, such as pelicans , became coated in oil and were unable to fly or access food. More than two million animals died as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Buried chemical waste can also pollute water supplies. For many years, people disposed of chemical wastes carelessly, not realizing its dangers. In the 1970s, people living in the Love Canal area in Niagara Falls, New York, suffered from extremely high rates of cancer and birth defects . It was discovered that a chemical waste dump had poisoned the area’s water. In 1978, 800 families living in Love Canal had to a bandon their homes. If not disposed of properly, radioactive waste from nuclear power plants can escape into the environment. Radioactive waste can harm living things and pollute the water. Sewage that has not been properly treated is a common source of water pollution. Many cities around the world have poor sewage systems and sewage treatment plants. Delhi, the capital of India, is home to more than 21 million people. More than half the sewage and other waste produced in the city are dumped into the Yamuna River. This pollution makes the river dangerous to use as a source of water for drinking or hygiene. It also reduces the river’s fishery , resulting in less food for the local community. A major source of water pollution is fertilizer used in agriculture . Fertilizer is material added to soil to make plants grow larger and faster. Fertilizers usually contain large amounts of the elements nitrogen and phosphorus , which help plants grow. Rainwater washes fertilizer into streams and lakes. There, the nitrogen and phosphorus cause cyanobacteria to form harmful algal blooms. Rain washes other pollutants into streams and lakes. It picks up animal waste from cattle ranches. Cars drip oil onto the street, and rain carries it into storm drains , which lead to waterways such as rivers and seas. Rain sometimes washes chemical pesticides off of plants and into streams. Pesticides can also seep into groundwater , the water beneath the surface of the Earth. Heat can pollute water. Power plants, for example, produce a huge amount of heat. Power plants are often located on rivers so they can use the water as a coolant . Cool water circulates through the plant, absorbing heat. The heated water is then returned to the river. Aquatic creatures are sensitive to changes in temperature. Some fish, for example, can only live in cold water. Warmer river temperatures prevent fish eggs from hatching. Warmer river water also contributes to harmful algal blooms. Another type of water pollution is simple garbage. The Citarum River in Indonesia, for example, has so much garbage floating in it that you cannot see the water. Floating trash makes the river difficult to fish in. Aquatic animals such as fish and turtles mistake trash, such as plastic bags, for food. Plastic bags and twine can kill many ocean creatures. Chemical pollutants in trash can also pollute the water, making it toxic for fish and people who use the river as a source of drinking water. The fish that are caught in a polluted river often have high levels of chemical toxins in their flesh. People absorb these toxins as they eat the fish. Garbage also fouls the ocean. Many plastic bottles and other pieces of trash are thrown overboard from boats. The wind blows trash out to sea. Ocean currents carry plastics and other floating trash to certain places on the globe, where it cannot escape. The largest of these areas, called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, is in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean. According to some estimates, this garbage patch is the size of Texas. The trash is a threat to fish and seabirds, which mistake the plastic for food. Many of the plastics are covered with chemical pollutants. Land Pollution Many of the same pollutants that foul the water also harm the land. Mining sometimes leaves the soil contaminated with dangerous chemicals. Pesticides and fertilizers from agricultural fields are blown by the wind. They can harm plants, animals, and sometimes people. Some fruits and vegetables absorb the pesticides that help them grow. When people consume the fruits and vegetables, the pesticides enter their bodies. Some pesticides can cause cancer and other diseases. A pesticide called DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) was once commonly used to kill insects, especially mosquitoes. In many parts of the world, mosquitoes carry a disease called malaria , which kills a million people every year. Swiss chemist Paul Hermann Muller was awarded the Nobel Prize for his understanding of how DDT can control insects and other pests. DDT is responsible for reducing malaria in places such as Taiwan and Sri Lanka. In 1962, American biologist Rachel Carson wrote a book called Silent Spring , which discussed the dangers of DDT. She argued that it could contribute to cancer in humans. She also explained how it was destroying bird eggs, which caused the number of bald eagles, brown pelicans, and ospreys to drop. In 1972, the United States banned the use of DDT. Many other countries also banned it. But DDT didn’t disappear entirely. Today, many governments support the use of DDT because it remains the most effective way to combat malaria. Trash is another form of land pollution. Around the world, paper, cans, glass jars, plastic products, and junked cars and appliances mar the landscape. Litter makes it difficult for plants and other producers in the food web to create nutrients . Animals can die if they mistakenly eat plastic. Garbage often contains dangerous pollutants such as oils, chemicals, and ink. These pollutants can leech into the soil and harm plants, animals, and people. Inefficient garbage collection systems contribute to land pollution. Often, the garbage is picked up and brought to a dump, or landfill . Garbage is buried in landfills. Sometimes, communities produce so much garbage that their landfills are filling up. They are running out of places to dump their trash. A massive landfill near Quezon City, Philippines, was the site of a land pollution tragedy in 2000. Hundreds of people lived on the slopes of the Quezon City landfill. These people made their living from recycling and selling items found in the landfill. However, the landfill was not secure. Heavy rains caused a trash landslide, killing 218 people. Sometimes, landfills are not completely sealed off from the land around them. Pollutants from the landfill leak into the earth in which they are buried. Plants that grow in the earth may be contaminated, and the herbivores that eat the plants also become contaminated. So do the predators that consume the herbivores. This process, where a chemical builds up in each level of the food web, is called bioaccumulation . Pollutants leaked from landfills also leak into local groundwater supplies. There, the aquatic food web (from microscopic algae to fish to predators such as sharks or eagles) can suffer from bioaccumulation of toxic chemicals. Some communities do not have adequate garbage collection systems, and trash lines the side of roads. In other places, garbage washes up on beaches. Kamilo Beach, in the U.S. state of Hawai'i, is littered with plastic bags and bottles carried in by the tide . The trash is dangerous to ocean life and reduces economic activity in the area. Tourism is Hawai'i’s largest industry . Polluted beaches discourage tourists from investing in the area’s hotels, restaurants, and recreational activities. Some cities incinerate , or burn, their garbage. Incinerating trash gets rid of it, but it can release dangerous heavy metals and chemicals into the air. So while trash incinerators can help with the problem of land pollution, they sometimes add to the problem of air pollution. Reducing Pollution Around the world, people and governments are making efforts to combat pollution. Recycling, for instance, is becoming more common. In recycling, trash is processed so its useful materials can be used again. Glass, aluminum cans, and many types of plastic can be melted and reused . Paper can be broken down and turned into new paper. Recycling reduces the amount of garbage that ends up in landfills, incinerators, and waterways. Austria and Switzerland have the highest recycling rates. These nations recycle between 50 and 60 percent of their garbage. The United States recycles about 30 percent of its garbage. Governments can combat pollution by passing laws that limit the amount and types of chemicals factories and agribusinesses are allowed to use. The smoke from coal-burning power plants can be filtered. People and businesses that illegally dump pollutants into the land, water, and air can be fined for millions of dollars. Some government programs, such as the Superfund program in the United States, can force polluters to clean up the sites they polluted. International agreements can also reduce pollution. The Kyoto Protocol , a United Nations agreement to limit the emission of greenhouse gases, has been signed by 191 countries. The United States, the world’s second-largest producer of greenhouse gases, did not sign the agreement. Other countries, such as China, the world’s largest producer of greenhouse gases, have not met their goals. Still, many gains have been made. In 1969, the Cuyahoga River, in the U.S. state of Ohio, was so clogged with oil and trash that it caught on fire. The fire helped spur the Clean Water Act of 1972. This law limited what pollutants could be released into water and set standards for how clean water should be. Today, the Cuyahoga River is much cleaner. Fish have returned to regions of the river where they once could not survive. But even as some rivers are becoming cleaner, others are becoming more polluted. As countries around the world become wealthier, some forms of pollution increase. Countries with growing economies usually need more power plants, which produce more pollutants. Reducing pollution requires environmental, political, and economic leadership. Developed nations must work to reduce and recycle their materials, while developing nations must work to strengthen their economies without destroying the environment. Developed and developing countries must work together toward the common goal of protecting the environment for future use.

How Long Does It Last? Different materials decompose at different rates. How long does it take for these common types of trash to break down?

• Paper: 2-4 weeks
• Orange peel: 6 months
• Milk carton: 5 years
• Plastic bag: 15 years
• Tin can: 100 years
• Plastic bottle: 450 years
• Glass bottle: 500 years
• Styrofoam: Never

Indoor Air Pollution The air inside your house can be polluted. Air and carpet cleaners, insect sprays, and cigarettes are all sources of indoor air pollution.

Light Pollution Light pollution is the excess amount of light in the night sky. Light pollution, also called photopollution, is almost always found in urban areas. Light pollution can disrupt ecosystems by confusing the distinction between night and day. Nocturnal animals, those that are active at night, may venture out during the day, while diurnal animals, which are active during daylight hours, may remain active well into the night. Feeding and sleep patterns may be confused. Light pollution also indicates an excess use of energy. The dark-sky movement is a campaign by people to reduce light pollution. This would reduce energy use, allow ecosystems to function more normally, and allow scientists and stargazers to observe the atmosphere.

Noise Pollution Noise pollution is the constant presence of loud, disruptive noises in an area. Usually, noise pollution is caused by construction or nearby transportation facilities, such as airports. Noise pollution is unpleasant, and can be dangerous. Some songbirds, such as robins, are unable to communicate or find food in the presence of heavy noise pollution. The sound waves produced by some noise pollutants can disrupt the sonar used by marine animals to communicate or locate food.

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The importance of storytelling in fighting climate change

In a webinar on April 19, we'll explore how climate organizations are currently using storytelling in their work, the impacts of these stories, and lessons learned from other movements.

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Yale Climate Connections

How to effectively show climate change in 25 images

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For decades, polar bears and melting ice were the face of climate change. Now, however, the heat-trapping blanket that we’ve wrapped around our planet by burning fossil fuels has begun to do much more harm than just melt ice and starve polar bears.

Wildfires have decimated parts of Canada and the Pacific Northwest. Deadly floods struck the  subways  of Zhengzhou and London. Climate change is wreaking havoc on millions of people around the world. 

Images via  Dino Adventure ,  Jack Dredd/Shutterstock , and  A Lesik .

However, many people are still confused about the root cause of these extreme weather events and how we can limit them by switching from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy. 

In America, for instance, the majority of citizens accept that pollution from cars, trucks, and factories is warming the planet and causing drastic shifts in weather patterns – but there are still many people who believe that increasingly severe wildfires, drought, and flooding are merely  evidence  of land mismanagement, biblical prophecy, or natural cycles. 

Visual images have a critically important role to play in engaging and informing the public about the problem and its solutions. That’s, in part, because the human brain is incredibly  fast and efficient  at processing visual information, which aids learning.

But it’s also because, for climate change in particular, visual imagery adds concrete detail and context to an issue that often feels distant in time and space. 

Strong visuals of the causes, impacts, and solutions to climate change can give the issue meaning and help people understand how and why it’s affecting our daily lives and what we can do about it. 

But, how can you tell which images are most effective?

Know your audience

A project called Climate Visuals has identified  seven principles  for effective climate change images, and the first one is “understanding your audience.” Engaging people on climate must begin with the recognition that every person has different psychological, cultural, and political reasons for acting – or not acting – to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

Images via  Ringo H W Chiu/AP/Shutterstock  and  Isopix/Shutterstock .

Within the United States, for instance, social scientists have identified “ Global Warming’s Six Americas ” – six unique audiences within the American public that each respond to the issue in their own distinct way.*

• The Alarmed:  This group, which makes up 26% of the public, are convinced that global warming is happening, caused by humans, and an urgent threat, and they’re strongly supportive of aggressive policies designed to reign in carbon pollution. 
• The Concerned:  This group, which makes up 29% of the public, also knows global warming is real and caused by human activities, but they tend to believe that severe impacts are not yet “here and now.” 
• The Cautious:  This group, which makes up 19% of the population, are the fence-sitters. They’re unsure whether the temperatures are rising or not, what’s causing it if they are, or how serious global heating may be. 
• The Disengaged:  This group, which makes up 6% of the public, know little about the problem as they rarely or never hear or talk about it. 
• The Doubtful:  This group, which makes up 12% of the public, doesn’t think the planet is warming or if it is, that the changes are natural and the risk is greatly exaggerated. 
• The Dismissive:  This group, which makes up 8% of the public, is convinced that the climate is  not  changing, and most endorse conspiracy theories. For example, they may believe that climate change is a hoax.

(See which group you fall into by taking a four-question quiz  here .)

Researchers haven’t yet tested which images resonate most within each group, but existing surveys and experiments provide insights into what sort of imagery might engage a diverse range of audiences.

Go beyond stock

Images via  Ringo H W Chiu/AP/Shutterstock ,  Isopix/Shutterstock , and  N a than Howard/AP/Shutterstock .

Climate Visuals recommends showing real people rather than staged photos. In discussion groups that explored the cognitive and emotional impacts of different photos, “authentic” images were preferred over those that were staged, which were deemed less credible and trustworthy.

Images via  Yorgos Karahalis/AP/Shutterstock ,  LNP/Shutterstock , and  Shafkat Anowar/AP/Shutterstock .

Expand the narrative

Climate Visuals also advises telling new stories. Researchers found that conventional images that identify the causes of climate change (think smokestacks and deforestation) or the impacts (the familiar polar bear or melting ice) were easily understood and positively rated.

But, some discussion group participants were more interested in less familiar images that helped tell new stories about climate change. 

Images via  Muntaka Chasant/Shutterstock ,  Andre Penner/AP/Shutterstock ,  Nathan Howard/AP/Shutterstock , and  DEAN LEWINS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock .

Don’ t shame individuals

Fighting climate change requires changing the behavior of hundreds of countries, millions of companies, and billions of people. The most effective solutions don’t require each of us to rethink every meal, trip, and purchase – they require collective actions by corporations, governments, and institutions. 

With that in mind, you might represent positive change by choosing an image of, say, a clean and efficient public transportation system, or an urban area with pedestrian- and bike-friendly designs (as opposed to a single individual using a metal straw, for example).

Images via  Egor_Kulinich ,  Roberto Westbrook / Blend Images , and  Rachid Jalayanadeja .

On the flip side, if you want to call out problematic behaviors – like our over-reliance on cars, for instance – you might show a congested highway rather than a single driver.

Tap into emotions (but carefully)

Confronting the devastation wrought by floods and wildfires can move people to action, but it can also overwhelm them. To avoid creating feelings of hopelessness, Climate Visuals recommends coupling emotional or disturbing images with something positive, like a concrete behavioral action people can take or images of survivors.

Images via  Action Press/Shutterstock ,  Noah Berger/AP/Shutterstock ,  Noah Berger/AP/Shutterstock , and  Mike Eliason/AP/Shutterstock .

A final principle suggests that public protest imagery should be used with caution, as people are drawn more to imagery that they identify with, and few people identify as environmental activists, although it’s vital for more people to join the climate movement.

But, there are many other actions besides street protests that people can take, including having a conversation with a neighbor or sharing an article with a friend.

The more people understand the importance of working together to improve the health and beauty of our planet, the more likely it is to happen. Picture that.

This article first appeared on  Shutterstock.com  and is republished with permission.

Jennifer R. Marlon, Ph.D., is a research scientist at the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication , publisher of this site and organization that led the research cited* above.

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Towards a pollution-free planet

• Level 1: Highlights
• Level 2: Long Summary

Introduction

Pollution has significant impacts on human health , the environment, and even on how some of the Earth’s systems, such as the climate, are functioning. Pollution touches all parts of the planet. It is affecting our health through the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. Approximately 19 million premature deaths are estimated to occur annually as a result of the way we use natural resources to support global production and consumption and which impact the environment.

Pollution touches all parts of the planet. It is affecting our health through the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. Approximately 19 million premature deaths are estimated to occur annually as a result of the way we use natural resources and impact the environment to support global production and consumption.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the United Nations in 2015 commits to “ensure that all human beings can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives and that economic, social and technological progress occurs in harmony with nature”. How does pollution fit in that picture?

What are the sources of pollution?

Pollution can take many forms, ranging from organic compounds and other chemical substances to different types of energy. Some types of pollution are easily noticed, such as certain forms of contaminated water, poor air quality, industrial waste, litter , light, heat and noise. Others are less visible, for example pesticides in food, mercury in fish, excess nutrients in the sea and lakes, endocrine-disrupting chemicals in drinking water, and other micro- pollutants in fresh and marine water. Some, such as those coming from abandoned industrial sites, armed conflict zones, nuclear power stations, pesticide stockpiles and waste landfills , form part of a longer-term legacy.

The sources and types of pollution are highly diverse, as are the solutions to deal with them. For example, hazardous chemicals in paints, cleaning compounds, dyes, electronic products, and many other household substances can become pollutants if not managed correctly. Ecosystem functions are put at risk as well. There are also many emerging and novel products, such as some therapeutic drugs and nanomaterials , for which data on potential pollution effects are sparse.

On the other hand, food waste globally has been estimated to be as high as one third of all food produced for human consumption – nearly 1.3 billion tons.

Figure 3: Major sources of today's pollution

Market demand on one side of the planet is often satisfied by labour, production and natural resources originating from halfway across the globe. Fossil fuels now account for 50 per cent of the global trade volume. Research finds that trade leads to a redistribution of environmental burden towards countries that extract and produce resources. As such, the environmental impacts and pollution generated by global consumption habits are disassociated from those most impacted locally. Trade patterns, policies and agreements can play a crucial role in internalizing some of the environmental and social costs of production in order to minimize pollution at a global scale .

Air pollution

One important source of air pollution is indoor air pollution produced by the use of solid fuels for cooking in the house. The other major source of air pollution is outdoor pollution resulting from the burning of fossil fuels . Wildfires, the burning of waste, and tobacco smoke, all also contribute to air pollution. It is estimated that nine out of ten people in the world are breathing air that is polluted beyond the World Health Organisation (WHO) acceptable standards.

Land and soil pollution

Land and soil pollution is largely due to agricultural practices, to improper irrigation, to solid waste management problems such as landfills , and to a range of industrial, military and extractive activities. Globally, estimates indicate that at least 1 million people are unintentionally poisoned every year by excessive exposure and inappropriate use of pesticides , with health effects on all.

The waste products of industrial processes or mining activities are another source of pollution as they may contain heavy metals , pharmaceuticals and microorganisms , which can be difficult to remove once they find their way into the environment. Former industrial or military sites that are no longer in use can also be the sources of pollutants if they are not decontaminated properly. While some high-income countries have programs and regulations to deal with soil pollution, many poorer nations lack such programs, and are at risk to form ‘pollution hotspots’.

Freshwater pollution

Rivers and lakes are heavily affected by pollution, especially by the excess nutrients that come from the use of fertilisers in agriculture, one of the most pervasive water quality issues on a global scale , interfering with many human water uses and causing major shifts of species in ecosystems and loss of biodiversity .

Over 80 per cent of the world's wastewater is released to the environment without treatment creating a pollution from pathogens as well as from chemicals such as heavy metals from mining and industrial waste. These lead to a loss of biodiversity and to water that is improper for human consumption.

Marine and coastal pollution

Oceans receive most of their pollutants from land through rivers in the form of nutrients , waste, heavy metals and plastic debris which fragment into pieces of less than 5 mm but do not biodegrade in the marine environment. The rest comes from the fishing, shipping, and energy industries. The impacts of ocean acidification, which are for a large part associated with the dissolution of carbon dioxide emissions, are most visible on marine species with calcareous skeletons, such as corals and plankton which form the base of many marine food webs.

What are the impacts of pollution?

The severity of a pollutant for human health and ecosystems is dependent on its chemical nature and intrinsic toxicity, quantities emitted, exposure concentrations and persistence. Highly hazardous chemicals, such as mercury , ammonium, ozone, and some organic compounds used in a range of industries have the potential to cause cancer , birth defects , induce genetic damage, cause miscarriage, injury or death from relatively small exposures , if released into the environment. The specific harm caused by different pollutants depends not only on the environment where it is emitted (air, water or soil) but also possibly on the mix of pollutants that are present and the actual level of exposure. For example, about 125 million people in the world are exposed to asbestos at the workplace with over 100,000 still dying annually from such exposure.

Pollution poses a direct threat to respecting, protecting and promoting human rights and gender equality, international human rights obligations related to health, life, food and water. Due to their general health status, potential higher exposures and reduced resilience to social, environmental and economic risks, pollution can have a particularly disproportionate and negative effect on the poor, the disadvantaged, the marginalized, indigenous peoples, the disabled and the vulnerable . For instance, children poisoned by mercury and lead develop problems
in their nervous and digestive systems and kidney damage. In addition, many toxic dumpsites are located in poor areas, leading to environmental injustice.

Figure 1: Examples of impacts on human health and ecosystem

Safeguarding a healthy and sustainable environment for present and future generations and achieving the 2030 Agenda’s pledge to “leave no one behind”.

Pollution has also significant economic costs from the point of view of health, productivity losses, health-care costs and ecosystem damages. If consumption and production patterns continue as they are, the linear economic model of “take-make-dispose” will seriously burden an already polluted planet, affecting current and future generations.

For instance, in 2013 it was estimated that the cost of air pollution was more than 5 000 billion USD, which is more than the annual budget of the United States. These substantial costs, are expected to rise over time, not only because of the direct effect of pollution on health, but also because of the impact of weakened livelihoods, as well as the longer-term impact on ecosystem services , that in turn affect local communities , societies and economies. With a better understanding of the economic costs of pollution, the human costs of pollution are critical information for decision-making and to support more effective policies.

If consumption and production patterns continue as they are, the linear economic model of “take-make-dispose” will seriously burden an already- polluted planet, affecting current and future generations.

What is currently being done to address pollution?

Pollution is not a new phenomenon; it is largely controllable and often avoidable, but still considerably neglected. Thanks to better knowledge, alternative consumption and production models, as well as innovative technological solutions, many countries, cities, and businesses can now successfully tackling serious pollution issues.

Today, a majority of UN Member States recognize environmental rights. The first Principles of both the 1972 Stockholm and 1992 Rio Declarations focused on the human right to a safe and clean environment. The Stockholm Declaration describes “the fundamental right to freedom, equality and adequate conditions of life, in an environment of a quality that permits a life of dignity and well-being...”, while the Rio Declaration states that humans “are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature”. These declarations have, together with other principles, informed many national constitutions over the past three decades.

At the same time, voluntary environmental initiatives have supported more formal environmental agreements, resulting in progress in some areas. But even more robust governance frameworks are required to bring us closer to a pollution-free planet. In particular, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 1 provide an opportunity to accelerate the implementation of targeted and time-bound actions on pollution, which have been hitherto limited and inadequate.

With regards to chemicals and waste, legally binding approaches at the global level are essential to addressing the most critical and complex pollution challenges.

Existing multilateral environmental agreements already enable actions. This was notably in relation to the ban and substitution of ozone-depleting substances achieved in 2015, to the elimination of persistent organic pollutants and of most hazardous industrial chemicals and pesticides in international trade, as well as to hazardous and household waste and in particular to mercury with the entry into force of the Minamata Convention in 2017. Several of the multilateral environmental agreements were ratified worldwide or nearly worldwide.

The Convention on Biological Diversity’s Aichi Biodiversity Targets 2 also calls for a decrease in pollution and demands specific actions on excess nutrients . Today, a majority of UN Member States recognizes environmental rights. As of 2015, over 100 countries guaranteed their citizens a right to a healthy environment, with the majority of countries building this into their national constitutions. Although no international agreement explicitly recognizes the right to a healthy environment, national constitutions have played a vital role at the forefront of human rights and environmental protection . The majority of constitutional environmental rights include substantive, procedural, and emerging rights, such as the right to health and food, while others refer to policy-based, reciprocal-duty, and miscellaneous provisions.

Encouragingly, more governments, industries and citizens are moving towards sustainable materials management, greater resource efficiency, less environmentally damaging chemistry, clean technologies, and circular economies, as part of a more comprehensive transformation towards a sustainable economy. Trade can lead to greater environmental burdens in countries that extract and produce resources, as such activities generate waste and emissions. But trade can also provide solutions in terms of improved environmental goods and services . However, the capacity to adequately tackle pollution varies hugely across regions, social groups and genders.

At the same time, responses by governments, business and citizens to pollution remain sometimes limited in scope and scale and to date, there are no legally binding agreements that systematically address pollution in all its forms. If global and regional environmental agreements provide a partial framework, there are many gaps. For example, some agreements are only target-based, some are time-bound, while others cover also compliance-related actions, monitoring and reporting. For example, voluntary initiatives and global alliances – on topics such as fuel efficiency improvements, cleaner air and lead in paint – have addressed some of the more urgent issues, yet much more remains to be done to control and prevent pollution.

What are the benefits of addressing pollution?

It is obvious from many case studies that tackling pollution has already brought multiple benefits even if current responses may still be limited and inadequate. Projections indicate that further actions have the potential to enhance both health, well-being, and the economy. Two success stories show what can be achieved: the healing of the ozone layer and the phasing out of lead in fuel.

• The Montreal Protocol ensured that to date more than 99 per cent of the historic baseline levels of consumption and production of harmful ozone-depleting substances have been phased out and its Multilateral Fund provided roughly $3.7 billion to more than 140 countries to phase out ozone-depleting substances, with lasting influence on innovation, technology transfer, strengthening of environmental governance , and training of customs officers and technicians. As a result, the ozone layer is healing and is expected to be restored by the middle of the century. Consequently, up to two million cases of skin cancer may be prevented each year by 2030, decreases in agricultural and fisheries yields will be avoided and up to 0.5°C of global warming will be avoided by the end of the century as ozone-depleting susbstances were also responsible of about 20% of the greenhouse gas emissions.
• For lead additives in fuels the phase out is now almost complete, with only three countries still using some lead in fuel, all of which are set to stop by the end of 2017. Governments, the oil and auto industries, and civil society have worked together to support a global shift to unleaded fuels. This massive shift prevents an estimated 1.2 million premature deaths every year, and it also has a positive impact on children’s intellectual ability as lead is known to affect children’s IQ (United Nations Environment Programme 2016a).

Traditional pollution control that relies on “end-of-pipe” technologies has been shown to reduce polluting substances, such as in the case of sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) and nitrogen oxides (NO x ) emissions from heating and energy production units. However, these technologies also require materials and energy upfront to produce the equipment, and as a consequence, may increase environmental impacts.

What actions can be taken to make the world truly pollution-free?

Solutions to help remove pollutants and detoxify our environment exist around the world. These need to be expanded, shared, and scaled up in order to avoid risking further exposure of humans and ecosystems to current and future pollution as well as increasing the costs of clean up. Improved risk assessment of new pollution sources is also urgently needed. Transitioning to a pollution-free world can drive innovation and social equity throughout the economy, by seeing pollution prevention and regulation compliance as an opportunity to clean up everyone’s environment, create new jobs, improve economic productivity and protect the rights of this and future generations.

Resource efficiency over the whole production -consumption system in particular can generate products which are identical or have the same functionality as when using traditional technologies and processes, while also reducing critical emissions and mitigating resource requirements and environmental impacts in the upstream processes.

Moving to less-polluting and nature-based technologies also offers economic and employment opportunities. Renewable energy provided jobs for 9.8 million people worldwide in 2016, compared to 5.7 million in 2012. Waste recycling and reuse also offers the chance to convert waste into economic opportunities, including jobs. As secondary materials replace virgin materials (for example phosphate from fertilizer nutrient recovery), they reduce the resource and environmental footprint of growth, but they can also have income and job impacts on primary exporting countries. Thus, careful and inclusive transition planning is required for those affected by these transformations. It is estimated that the global market for environmental goods and services reached $866 billion in 2011, and is expected to rise to $1.9 trillion by 2020.

However, challenges and gaps still limit the effectiveness of current actions. The key gaps are:

• implementation,
• infrastructure,
• limited financial and industry leadership,
• pricing and fiscal, and
• behavioural.

Implementation gaps are in particular due to a lack of resources; inadequate administrative, financial, institutional and technical capacity, and the absence of inter-ministerial coordination and political will. Absence of inter-ministerial coordination being a key reason why action does not happen.

There is also insufficient recognition by different actors that producer and consumer choices have pollution consequences. Such choices – even in the presence of pollution policies and regulations – can be made out of habit, a feeling that one person or firm cannot make a difference.

This report “Towards a pollution-free planet” is about encouraging a synergetic mix of actions and a whole-system, multi-beneficial policymaking approach that builds directly on existing internationally agreed environmental goals, including those relating to climate change , disaster and risk reduction and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development , with its numerous pollution-reducing targets. As already underlined, existing international environmental agreements and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development present significant opportunities to accelerate actions to tackle pollution and improve the well-being of humans and ecosystems . The international framework for the Sustainable Development Goals encourages synergies between the Goal 3 and its associated target to “substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination”, and others such as the targets for climate change, air quality, nutrient pollution and marine debris. These links are detailed in the appendices of the report.

A pollution-free planet is by far and away the best insurance for the survival and well-being of current and future generations of humans and ecosystems . To advance this goal, this report has the following five overarching messages

• A global compact on pollution would make prevention a priority for all. It would also encourage policymakers to integrate prevention into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and national accounts;
• Environmental governance needs to be strengthened at all levels – with targeted action on “hard-hitting” pollutants through risk assessments and enhanced implementation of environmental legislation (including multilateral environmental agreements) and other measures;
• Sustainable consumption and production should be promoted through improved resource efficiency and lifestyle changes, waste reduction and management being prioritized;
• Investment in cleaner production and consumption will help to counter pollution , alongside increased funding for pollution monitoring , infrastructure, management and control;
• Multi- stakeholder partnerships and collaboration are vital for the innovation, knowledge-sharing and transdisciplinary research needed to develop technological and ecosystem -based solutions.

To reach these objectives, this report suggests a dual track of actions as framework for actions on pollution that UN Member States and other stakeholders may wish to consider to curb pollution around the world. This dual framework consists in the following combination:

• Targeted interventions , based on risk assessments and scientific evidence of impacts, to address “hard-hitting” pollutants as well as areas of pollution (air, water, marine and coastal, land/soil), including cross-cutting categories (chemicals, waste);
• System-wide transformations to shift the economy toward greater resource efficiency and equity , circularity and sustainable consumption and production , and improved ecosystem resilience to support cleaner and more sustainable development .

This dual track of actions is guided and underpinned by the two other elements of the framework:

• The five principles drawn from the Rio Declaration and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development : universality, sustainability , integration, precaution and inclusiveness.
• Enablers, or broader supporting actions, to shift incentives, correct market and policy failures and address some of the gaps and issues that make pollution so pervasive and persistent .

The report then present in more details the actions that should be undertaken to tackle the challenges in the various areas and lead to a “pollution-free planet”.

• Accidental poisoning
• Acrylamide in food
• Acupuncture
• Agriculture
• Aids Epidemic
• Air Pollution Europe
• Air quality in Europe
• Allergenic fragrances
• Aluminium exposure
• Animal testing
• Antibiotic resistance
• Antibiotics Research
• Antimicrobial resistance
• Aquatic environment
• Arctic Climate Change
• Artificial Light
• Artificial Light and Health
• Aspartame Reevaluation
• Aspirin & Cancer
• Benzodiazepines
• Biodiversity
• Biological Diversity
• Biosecurity
• Bisphenol A
• CO 2 Capture & Storage
• Cancer rates and mortality, types and causes
• Chemical Mixtures
• Children & Screens
• Chlorine Sodium Hypochlorite
• Chlorpyrifos pesticide
• Chronic Diseases on Labour Practices
• Circular Economy
• Climate Change
• Climate Change Mitigation
• Climate impact of shale gas
• Climate impacts adaptation
• Dental Amalgams
• Dental Fillings
• Desertification
• Diet & Nutrition
• Ecosystem Change
• Effects of cannabis
• Electromagnetic Fields
• Electronic Cigarettes
• Endocrine Disruptors
• Endocrine disrupting properties of pesticides
• Endocrine disruptors risks
• Energy Saving Lamps
• Energy Technologies
• Epidemic diseases
• Estrogen-progestogen cancer risk
• Europe Green Deal
• Evaluation of endocrine disruptors
• Exposure to chemical mixtures
• Fisheries and aquaculture
• Fluorinated gases
• Food & Agriculture
• Food Wastage
• Forests & Energy
• Forests & agriculture land use
• Fukushima Consequences
• Fukushima accident
• Genetically Modified Crops
• Geothermal Energy
• Global Biodiversity Outlook 4
• Global Public Health Threats
• Global Warming
• Gluten intolerance
• Glyphosate and cancer
• Hazardous chemicals
• Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields
• Health Environment Management
• Illicit drugs in Europe
• Impacts of a 4°C global warming
• India Millennium Development Goals
• Indonesian forests
• Indoor Air Quality
• Land Degradation and Desertification
• Lyme Disease
• Marine Litter
• Marine litter
• Mercury from dental amalgam
• Mercury in CFL
• Metal-on-Metal hip implants
• Methylene glycol
• Mineral extraction risks
• Multiple vaccinations
• Nano-silica
• Nanomaterials
• Nanotechnologies
• Neonicotinoids
• Nitrogen Dioxide
• Non-human primates
• Organic Food
• Ozone layer depletion
• Parabens used in cosmetics
• Particulate Matter
• Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
• Personal Music Players & Hearing
• Pesticides occupational risks
• Pharmaceuticals environment
• Phosphate resources
• Phthalates Comparison
• Phthalates in school supplies
• Poly brominated flame retardant decaBDE
• Power lines
• Psychoactive Drugs
• Radiological nuclear emergency
• Respiratory Diseases
• Safety of Cosmetics
• Safety of sunscreens
• Sand Extraction
• Security Scanners
• Silver Nanoparticles
• Single-use plastics
• Soils degradation
• Solar Energy
• State of the European Environment
• Static Fields
• Substitution of harmful chemicals
• Sulfaxoflor Pesticide
• Sunbeds & UV radiation
• Sustainable oceans
• Synthetic Biology
• Thorium nuclear fuel
• Tidal Energy
• Titanium dioxide nanoparticles
• Tooth Whiteners
• Transgenic salmon
• Tuberculosis
• Wastewater management
• Water Disinfectants
• Water Resources
• Water Resources Assessments
• Water resources
• Wind Resources
• X-Ray Full-Body Scanners

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Air Pollution PPT | Free Download | 17 Slides

Table of contents.

To live, we need to breathe. To breathe, we need fresh air. Fresh air is one of the basic and essential things we need to live on earth. Fresh air is equally important to every one us as food and water. Even plants need oxygen to convert food into energy. From these things, we can understand the importance of oxygen and fresh air. A place without oxygen will be a dead zone with no humans, animals, and plants. Without oxygen, nobody can survive on earth.

All these facts point the fingers at the importance of keeping air pollution-free. But the truth is, the air is getting polluted at a massive rate every day. There are hundreds of causes. In these, there are some which are very harmful to us. But how can we reduce the rate of air pollution? Well, there are different ways that we could try to stop air pollution. Before that, let us find out what are the utmost causes of air pollution. Here are they. 

What Do We Mean By Air Pollution?

It’s simple. Air pollution refers to the release of pollutants into the air like Nitrogen Oxide, Volatile Organic Compounds, Carbon Dioxide, Sulphur Oxide, dioxins, and other harmful gases. Once these gases are released, they become a colossal threat to the environment and human health.

How Do We Know the Quality of Air?

The purity of air measured using an AQI thermometer that runs on a scale from 0 to 500. The AQI refers to Air Quality Index. It measures how pure or polluted the surrounding air is. If the numeric value on the scale is between 0-50, the quality of the surrounding air is considered healthy and satisfactory. As the values increase, the quality of the air decreases. If AQI is showing a value of 500, that means you are standing in a hazardous surrounding. Have a look at the AQI chart below for more details.

Major Causes Of Air Pollution

It is well known to everyone how air pollution happens. It happens in many ways. Sometimes careless and reckless human activities lead to the major reasons for air pollution. Even though, here are some of the common causes of air pollution.

Burning of Plastic Wastes.

How do we avoid plastics from our houses? Either we throw them or light them up, right? These careless acts will lead to the worst pollution ever. Burning them releases toxic gases like dioxins, furans, mercury, and polychlorinated. These gases are a threat to the atmosphere, vegetation, humans, and animal health. If we throw them out, they can remain in the soil for 20-500 years before fully decomposing based on the material and structure. Over these years, it pollutes the soil and harms the earth. 

So, burning and throwing plastic does not work and leads to air pollution or soil pollution in the long term perspective. Then what will we do? Well, we can recycle and reuse plastic to an extent. But once the plastic is melted and reformed into new products, the quality of plastic gets reduced. In addition, the quality of plastic will keep reducing with every successive recycling. Furthermore, recycling is limited to a number 3 or 4 times because of the quality compromise of plastic. 

In fact, we only have a limited number of opportunities in the case of plastic. Either we reduce the use of plastic or recycle and reuse them as much as we can. 

Limiting the use of plastic seems more practical and smooth in our day-to-day life. There are many instances where we can reduce the use of plastic. Here are some of the tracts where we can instantly act to limit the usages of plastic

• Use cloth bags instead of plastics bags while going to the shops.
• Use paper plates and tumblers instead of plastic ones when you arrange a tea party or get-togethers. 
• Use paper straws in restaurants and coffee shops.
• Use paper bottled soft drinks.

There are more and more situations where we can reduce the unnecessary use of plastic covers and materials. It can turn out well when more people come forward with the same mindset of bringing down plastic use. 

Are there any alternatives for plastic?

Yes, there are. But literally, there are no materials with the exact matching properties with plastic. For instance, properties like durability, strength, water-resistant, lightweight, and inexpensive are rare to find in materials without polymer as an ingredient. Scientists and researchers are trying to formulate materials with the matching properties as plastic but with less pollution.

As said earlier, there are many instances where we can reduce the use of plastic and always try to avoid it as much as we can. Even if they are baby steps towards reducing plastic, take it and help our environment. Moreover, be a part of keeping the city and your premises clean.

Industrial Emission

Industries play a colossal role in all kinds of pollutions. They contribute almost one-third to the overall when we compare industrial pollution with other causes. Industries will be the 2nd largest cause of air pollution, water pollution, and sound pollution. Pollutants like carbon monoxide, Nitrogen dioxide, and Sulfur dioxide are released when they operate factories and industries. The volume of pollutants released into the atmosphere is way more than we imagine and the problems they can make are huge.

It is necessary to know where the pollution happens and who pollutes the air the most. Studies say that industries that produce electricity pollute the atmosphere more than any other industry.

A considerable amount of pollutants is kicked from the industries when the continuous burning of fossil fuels happened. These emitted gases make the most of the troubles to the ozone layer and cause ozone layer depletion. We need both electricity and the earth. We can not avoid one or the other for any reason. The only way is to protect both without harming each other. The only solution for this will be the rise of green energy. Only the challenge facing is the continuous supply of energy. Green energy like solar and wind are very cost-effective and pollution-free when comparing to the traditional ones.

Each and every individual can contribute and can be a part of saving the earth from air pollution and global warming. Switch to green energy as much as we can and reduce the consumption of traditional electricity from the government or private companies. Nowadays, everybody has inverters in the home as a standard facility. It will not cost you much to connect 2 or 3 solar panels to the battery and save 60% power usage from the traditional electric supply.

How can we reduce industrial air pollution?

As we said earlier, industries and factories are essential for the growth of the people and nation. We can’t stop factories in the name of air pollution. What we can do is, we can find some ways to reduce the amount of air pollution. For instance, we should try to convert these harmful gases to regular gases with the help of proper techniques and setups.

Most importantly, people living near industrial areas are very likely to have many allergies and lung diseases. Always wear a mask when you are going out or going near industrial and factory areas. If you are working in an industrial area, always wear a mask and other safety gear to ensure maximum safety.

Wildfires can take place at any time. It is an unplanned and uncontrolled fire caused by lightning strikes. As the name says, it occurs largely in forest areas. Mostly, the lighting strikes on the trees, branches, dry grass, and then the fire is generated. Eventually, this fire will spread to other trees, branches, and grasses and becomes wildfires, and causes air pollution.

Wildfires are common forested areas of the United States and Canada. It is one of the causes of air pollution, deforestation, and animal extinction. In a wildfire, many animals lose their lives and shelter. Some get burns and wounds in the running through the wildfire. 

All these will continue until fire settles down. Sometimes it takes 2-3 days to settle down completely. But in the end, we lose animals, trees, the environment, and what not?

Also, sometimes the causes of wildfire can be different. Sometimes it happens due to the carelessness of people living around the forest. For instance, even trash burning and campfires can spread fire if not concerned well. So it is always recommended to take precautions while doing wildfire potential activities.

Wildfires get worse when unattended. If you notice any fires or burns that need attention, call the authorities. Sometimes the fire can be controlled before getting worse.

Transportation

Transportation holds a neck-to-neck position with industries in the rate of air pollution. As we all know, the number of vehicles on the road is increasing day by day. Just look around, we could see houses with more than three vehicles even if they don’t need all of them. As the number of vehicles increases, the rate of pollution also tends to be increased. Old model vehicles are more likely to produce more pollution than new ones. Because when the vehicles get older and older, the amount of carbon emission increases. The rate of pollution is still on the rise even after the government and authorities made pollution laws strict. 

Every country has its own vehicle emission standards or norms for the safety of the environment and people living in the country. But still, transportation holds the position for the majority of air pollutions happening around the world.

How can we reduce pollution caused by vehicles?

Earlier, it was challenging to find an alternative for fuels like petrol or diesel. Right now, technology has improved – researchers found a better alternative solution for the petrol and diesel engines for automobiles. Yes, they are EV’s. Electric vehicles are completely different from traditional vehicles. They are pollution-free and highly efficient than fuel engines. Electric vehicles can be charged from the house or charging stations in and around the city. EV’s have 5x efficiency more than the regular diesel or petrol-fueled automobiles and 4x lesser reduced pollution.

EV’s are on the rise. By 2025, at least 50% of the new vehicles coming out from the factories will be electric vehicles. It will seriously help to reduce the rate of pollution to some extend. People will switch to EV’s when companies launch better models with luxury and comfort.

It may sound crazy to most of us. But think about walking a little every day and avoid taking cars or bikes for smaller distances. Or, use a bicycle to travel nearby. It will help us to improve both our health and the earth’s health.

What are the health issues due to air pollution?

The quality of the air we breathe is very crucial. Poor quality can cause many health diseases in both adults and kids. Especially to the people living in cities, the chances of getting a disease like heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, and acute lower respiratory infections are very high.

Long-term exposure to polluted air in kids can lead to loss of lung capacity, asthma and emphysema. In addition, senior citizens are more likely to get allergies and breathing difficulties since they are less immune to the conditions. As a precaution to all of these, we can wear a mask while going out and traveling. If you are living in a highly polluted area, consider buying an air purifier for your home. An air purifier can help to improve the quality of air by filtering and thereby enabling a healthy environment inside our home for everyone.

How does air pollution affect environmental health?

The toxic gases also affect the environment in the same way. As the amount of harmful gases increases in the earth, the uncertainty of the environment’s health also increases. Changes in climates like temperature hikes, monsoon pattern shifts, and unexpected cyclones are a few examples. In these, ozone layer depletion is being the most complicated one.

We already know what is an ozone layer, and whats does it do? Let’s recall them for a while. The ozone layer is a part of the earth’s atmosphere, and it absorbs almost all of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet light. Guess what will happen when the ozone layer gets holes. All the harmful rays will fall into the animals, plants, and people on earth through the ozone layer holes. Studies say that by 2064 the ozone layer concentration levels may come to zero if the rate of pollution continues invariably. If that happens, the earth will not be a suitable place to live. The fun factor is, we don’t have any space other than earth to live right now. So, we have to protect the planet from being a desert.

Day by day, the rate of pollution is increasing. The hard truth is, nobody is really caring about the future of our planet. Even the government and authorities are keeping their eyes closed on social issues like global warming, air pollution, and soil erosion. If it keeps going like this, the earth will become uninhabitable.

Protecting the earth from pollutions is not deputed on somebody else. Each one of us should take responsibility and behave sensibly to protect the earth from pollution.

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Encyclopedia of Humanities

The most comprehensive and reliable Encyclopedia of Humanities

Environmental pollution

We explain what environmental pollution is, and explore its causes and effects. In addition, we discuss its characteristics and types.

What is environmental pollution?

Pollution is the presence of substances or materials in the environment that cause direct or indirect adverse effects on human health and living beings in general. This phenomenon occurs when ecosystems are unable to absorb and eliminate the toxic substances introduced into them , resulting in their accumulation and subsequent environmental degradation.

The effects of environmental pollution may be severe and long-lasting , impacting not only humans but also plant and animal life, as well as soil and water quality. These effects may be observed either directly or indirectly, and may vary in magnitude—from minor environmental issues to the death of plant and animal species.

Moreover, pollution may have negative economic impacts such as reduced agricultural production, lower tourism activity, and the degradation of natural resources.

• See also: Atmospheric pollution

Water pollution

Water pollution is an environmental issue that has negative consequences on human health, aquatic life, and the natural environment in general. It occurs when substances or materials are introduced into water affecting its quality and making it unfit for human or animal consumption.

Factories often use rivers and other bodies of water to dispose of the waste generated by their activities. The absence of adequate regulation and pollution control measures has led to a significant increase in water pollution levels worldwide.

Likewise, a large number of communities discharge raw sewage into water without adequate treatment. Wastewater not properly treated contains bacteria, viruses, and other hazardous chemicals that may have adverse effects on human and animal health.

Water pollution also has a significant impact on the biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems . Chemical substances present in water can kill aquatic organisms and alter natural ecosystems. Furthermore, water pollution may affect food chains and biological processes, which in turn will impact both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

Air pollution

Air pollution is linked to the burning of fossil fuels, industry, agriculture, transportation, and energy production . It is caused by the accumulation of gaseous pollutants in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide, chlorofluorocarbon, nitrogen oxide, and sulfur oxide.

The main effect of air pollution is climate change . Most gas emissions come from greenhouse gases (GHGs), which increase the amount of heat retained in the atmosphere, causing the planet's global temperature to rise. This rise in temperature has intensified other severe weather phenomena such as droughts , floods , and hurricanes .

• See also: Air pollution

Land pollution

The health and life of all living beings depend on the balance between organic and inorganic matter in soils. Plants, being the base of the food chain, extract nutrients and water from the soil, meaning that any source of pollution in this medium may have negative effects on the health of animals and humans.

The discharge of toxic waste like chemicals, metals, and oils may seriously contaminate soils . They may even seep, accumulate, and remain there for long periods of time, negatively affecting soil quality and all the biodiversity depending on it.

The inadequate use of chemicals in agriculture (such as herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers) is also a major cause of soil pollution. These substances are used to increase production and protect crops, though if used excessively or inappropriately, they can alter the natural balance of the soil and cause serious environmental issues.

Causes of pollution

Pollutants can be classified into:

• Industrial chemicals . These are waste materials or by-products of industrial and materials transformation processes which, when dumped into the soil or water, alter their chemical balance.
• Greenhouse gases . These are gases that contribute to the rise in the temperature of the planet. The major greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide and methane.
• Radioactive materials . These are toxic radioactive elements capable of causing diseases and genetic mutations.
• Non-biodegradable waste . It includes plastics and petroleum by-products with long biodegradation cycles. They are abundant in the garbage produced daily, degrade plant and animal life, and unbalance ecosystems.

Types of pollution

According to the extent of its source, pollution can be classified into:

• Point source . The pollution source is easily defined and is located at a specific point.
• Linear source . The source of pollution extends along a line or sequence.
• Diffuse . Pollutants are introduced into the environment in a dispersed, multiple, or varied way.

According to the natural environment where it occurs:

• Water or hydric . It occurs when foreign or harmful substances are introduced into the waters of seas, rivers, lakes and lagoons, or into groundwater reservoirs.
• Soil or land . It takes place when foreign or toxic substances spread through soils altering their physical and chemical properties.
• Air or atmospheric . It occurs when gases and suspended solids are dispersed in the atmosphere, degrading air quality.

According to the type of contaminant:

• Chemical pollution. Produced by industrial waste, toxic substances or compounds that alter the chemical and biological properties of the environment.
• Radioactive contamination. Caused by the presence of radioactive materials that can damage the genetic material of living beings.
• Thermal pollution. Caused by air or water temperature rise as a result of human activities.
• Noise pollution. Produced by constant high noise levels that negatively affect living beings.
• Electromagnetic pollution. Produced by electromagnetic waves emitted by telephone antennas, high-voltage towers, radio and television stations, and satellite communication systems that may have negative effects on human health.
• Light pollution. Caused by the excess of artificial light in the environment, which is harmful to human and animal health.
• Visual pollution. Occurs due to the presence of disturbing elements in the urban landscape which impair its visual perception and which, in excess, may generate discomfort and stress, affecting the quality of life.

Degradability

Degradability is a material’s capacity to be decomposed and return to its original state in nature . A material is degradable when it is capable of being broken down by living organisms or by natural processes and is reintroduced into the environment without causing environmental damage or degradation.

Nowadays, degradability has become a major issue due to the negative impact that a large number of materials have on the environment. Most materials used in everyday life (such as plastic or glass) are non-biodegradable , taking hundreds of years to decompose.

This means that once they are discarded, they remain in the natural environment for a long time, generating long-term pollution and ecosystem degradation.

Effects of pollution

Pollution has consequences on life and the balance of ecosystems. Among the most important effects are species extinction, loss of biodiversity, the emergence of diseases (in humans, animals, and plants), increased acid rain , and the worsening of climate change.

Explore next:

• Environmental impact
• Greenhouse effect
• Water cycle
• Academia Mexicana de Ciencias (2007) Los efectos de la contaminación ambiental sobre nuestra salud . https://www.amc.edu.mx/
• DKV (2022) La contaminación radiactiva: qué es, por qué se produce, cuáles son sus consecuencias . https://dkv.es/
• Instituto para la Salud Geoambiental (s.f) La contaminación atmosférica provoca unas 400.000 muertes prematuras en Europa . https://www.saludgeoambiental.org/
• Ecolec (2021) ¿Qué es la contaminación hídrica? https://ecolec.es/
• FAO (2018) La contaminación de los suelos está contaminando nuestro futuro . https://www.fao.org/
• Martín, E (2022) La contaminación térmica. Causas y consecuencias . https://www.narasolar.com/
• Organización de Naciones Unidas (s.f) ¿Qué es el cambio climático? https://www.un.org/
• UNAM (s.f) Contaminación lumínica . http://www2.astroscu.unam.mx/

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Action Plan for Water Pollution Prevention Infographics

Free google slides theme and powerpoint template.

Welcome to this comprehensive collection of infographics focused on the vital topic of water pollution prevention! In a world where water is our most precious resource, understanding the causes, effects, and preventive measures is crucial. These infographics are thoughtfully designed to provide you with clear insights into the sources of water pollution, its impact on ecosystems, and actionable steps we can take to preserve and protect our waters for generations to come. And what’s more, they integrate seamlessly into our “Action Plan for Water Pollution Prevention” presentation! Download and join in the fight against water pollution.

Features of these infographics

• 100% editable and easy to modify
• 32 different infographics to boost your presentations
• Include icons and Flaticon’s extension for further customization
• Designed to be used in Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint
• 16:9 widescreen format suitable for all types of screens
• Include information about how to edit and customize your infographics
• Supplemental infographics for the template Action Plan for Water Pollution Prevention

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