• increased urban development

• health services for aboriginal communities.

Environmental Health; Air and Water Pollution

Air Pollution Definition

“Air Pollution is the release of pollutants such as gases, particles, biological molecules, etc.
into the air that is harmful to human health and the environment.”

OR

Air pollution refers to any physical, chemical or biological change in the air. It is the
contamination of air by harmful gases, dust and smoke which affects plants, animals and humans
drastically.

There is a certain percentage of gases present in the atmosphere. An increase or decrease in the
composition of these gases is harmful to survival. This imbalance in the gaseous composition has
resulted in an increase in earth’s temperature, which is known as global warming.

Types of Air Pollutants

There are two types of air pollutants:

1. Primary Pollutants
1. The pollutants that directly cause air pollution are known as primary pollutants. Sulphur-
dioxide emitted from factories is a primary pollutant. Primary pollutants are usually
produced by processes such as ash from a volcanic eruption. Other examples include
carbon monoxide gas from motor vehicle exhausts or sulphur dioxide released from the
factories.
2. Secondary Pollutants
The pollutants formed by the intermingling and reaction of primary pollutants are known as
secondary pollutants. Smog, formed by the intermingling of smoke and fog, is a secondary
pollutant.

1. Secondary pollutants are not emitted directly. Rather, they form in the air when primary
pollutants react or interact. Ground level ozone is a prominent example of secondary
pollutants. Some pollutants may be both primary and secondary: they are both emitted
directly and formed from other primary pollutants. Substances emitted into the atmosphere
by human activity include:
Carbon Monoxide (CO): is an odourless, colourless gas. After being inhaled, CO molecules
can enter the bloodstream, where they inhibit the delivery of oxygen throughout the body.
Low concentrations can cause dizziness, headaches, and fatigue; high concentrations can
be fatal.

Causes of Air Pollution

The following are the important causes of air pollution:

1. Burning of Fossil Fuels

The combustion of fossil fuels emits a large amount of sulphur dioxide. Carbon monoxide
released by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels also results in air pollution.

2. Automobiles

The gases emitted from vehicles such as jeeps, trucks, cars, buses, etc. pollute the environment.
These are the major sources of greenhouse gases and also result in diseases among individuals.

3. Agricultural Activities

Ammonia is one of the most hazardous gases emitted during agricultural activities. The
insecticides, pesticides and fertilisers emit harmful chemicals in the atmosphere and contaminate
it.

4. Factories and Industries

Factories and industries are the main source of carbon monoxide, organic compounds,
hydrocarbons and chemicals. These are released into the air, degrading its quality.

5. Mining Activities

In the mining process, the minerals below the earth are extracted using large pieces of
equipment. The dust and chemicals released during the process not only pollute the air, but also
deteriorate the health of the workers and people living in the nearby areas.

6. Domestic Sources

The household cleaning products and paints contain toxic chemicals that are released in the air.
The smell from the newly painted walls is the smell of the chemicals present in the paints. It not
only pollutes the air but also affects breathing.

Effects of Air Pollution

The hazardous effects of air pollution on the environment include:

1. Diseases

Air pollution has resulted in several respiratory disorders and heart diseases among humans. The
cases of lung cancer have increased in the last few decades. Children living near polluted areas
are more prone to pneumonia and asthma. Many people die every year due to the direct or
indirect effects of air pollution.

2. Global Warming

Due to the emission of greenhouse gases, there is an imbalance in the gaseous composition of the
air. This has led to an increase in the temperature of the earth. This increase in earth’s
temperature is known as global warming. This has resulted in the melting of glaciers and an
increase in sea levels. Many areas are submerged underwater.

3. Acid Rain
The burning of fossil fuels releases harmful gases such as nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides in
the air. The water droplets combine with these pollutants, become acidic and fall as acid rain
which damages human, animal and plant life.

4. Ozone Layer Depletion

The release of chlorofluorocarbons, halogens (e.g carbon, bromine, chlorine and fluorine ), and
hydrochlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere is the major cause of depletion of the ozone layer.
The depleting ozone layer does not prevent the harmful ultraviolet rays coming from the sun and
causes skin diseases and eye problems among individuals.
Effect on Animals

The air pollutants suspend in the water bodies and affect aquatic life. Pollution also compels the
animals to leave their habitat and shift to a new place. This renders them stray and has also led to
the extinction of a large number of animal species.

Air Pollution Control

The following are the measures to control air pollution:

1. Avoid Using Vehicles for shorter distances

People should avoid using vehicles for shorter distances. Rather, they should prefer public modes
of transport to travel from one place to another. This will not only prevents pollution, but also
conserves energy.

2. Energy Conservation

A large number of fossil fuels are burnt to generate electricity. Therefore, people should not
forget to switch off their electrical appliances when not in use. Thus, they can save the
environment at the individual level. Use of energy-efficient devices such as CFLs(Compact
Fluorescent lightbulbs) also controls pollution to a greater level.

3. Use of Clean Energy Resources

The use of solar, wind and geothermal energies reduce air pollution at a larger level. Various
countries, including India, have implemented the use of these resources as a step towards a
cleaner environment.

Other air pollution control measures include:

4. By minimizing and reducing the use of fire and fire products.

5. Since industrial emissions are one of the major causes of air pollution, the pollutants can
be controlled or treated at the source itself to reduce its effects. For example, if the
reactions of a certain raw material yield a pollutant, then the raw materials can be
substituted with other less polluting materials.
6. Fuel substitution is another way of controlling air pollution. Nigeria government is now
talking about instead of using petrol and diesel, they should be replaced by CNG –
Compressed Natural Gas fueled vehicles. These are mostly adopted by vehicles that
aren’t fully operating with ideal emission engines.
7. Vehicles should be tested for vehicle emissions.
8. Another way of controlling air pollution caused by industries is to modify and maintain
existing pieces of equipment so that the emission of pollutants is minimized.
9. Sometimes controlling pollutants at the source is not possible. In that case, we can have
process control equipment to control the pollution.
10. A very effective way of controlling air pollution is by diluting the air pollutants.
11. The last and the best way of reducing the ill effects of air pollution is tree plantation.
Plants and trees reduce a large number of pollutants in the air. Ideally, planting trees in
areas of high pollution levels will be extremely effective.

Water Pollution

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies, usually as a result of human activities. Water
bodies include for example lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and groundwater.

Water pollution results when contaminants are introduced into the natural environment. For
example, releasing inadequately treated wastewater into natural water bodies can lead to
degradation of aquatic ecosystems. In turn, this can lead to public health problems for people living
downstream.

Water is undoubtedly the most precious natural resource that exists on our planet. Without the
seemingly invaluable compound comprised of hydrogen and oxygen, life on Earth would be non-
existent.

Water pollution occurs when a body of water is adversely affected due to the addition of large
amounts of materials to the water. When it is unfit for its intended use, water is considered polluted.

Water pollution can be grouped into surface water pollution. Marine pollution and nutrient
pollution

It may cause diseases, allergies and even death to humans; it may also cause harm to other living
organisms such as animals and food crops, and may damage the natural or built environment. Both
human activity and natural processes can generate water pollution.

Major Water Pollutants

There are several classes of water pollutants:

a) Sewage systems and untreated waste.

b) Oxygen-demanding wastes; wastes that can be decomposed by oxygen-requiring bacteria.

When large populations of decomposing bacteria are converting these wastes, it can deplete
oxygen levels in the water. This causes other organisms in the water, such as fish, to die.

c) Water-soluble inorganic pollutants, such as acids, salts and toxic metals. Large quantities
of these compounds will make water unfit to drink and will cause the death of aquatic life.

d) Organic compounds such as oil, plastics and pesticides, which are harmful to humans and
all plants and animals in the water. A very dangerous category is suspended sediment, because it
causes depletion in the water's light absorption and the particles spread dangerous compounds such
as pesticides through the water.

e) Water-soluble radioactive compounds can cause cancer, birth defects and genetic damage
and are thus very dangerous water pollutants.
Health Impacts of Water Pollution

It is a well-known fact that clean water is absolutely essential for healthy living. Adequate supply
of fresh and clean drinking water is a basic need for all human beings on the earth, yet it has been
observed that millions of people worldwide are deprived of this. Freshwater resources all over the
world are threatened not only by over exploitation and poor management but also by ecological
degradation.

The health effects caused by air pollution may include difficulty in breathing, wheezing, coughing,
asthma and worsening of existing respiratory and cardiac conditions.

Air pollution caused premature deaths

Polluted water like chemicals in drinking water causes problem to health and leads to water-borne
diseases which can be prevented by taking measures even at the household level.

Water borne diseases

Water-borne diseases are infectious diseases spread primarily through contaminated water.

Though these diseases are spread either directly or through flies or filth, water is the chief medium
for spread of these diseases and hence they are termed as water-borne diseases.

Examples of water borne diseases include cholera, typhoid, dysentery, hepatitis A, and various
forms of gastroenteritis caused by bacteria, parasites, or viruses.