ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

A Project Report Submitted

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for Environmental
Studies Project
BACHELOR OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

Submitted by
YAZHINI.M(212201809)
UNDER THE GUIDANCE BY
Mr. N. SUNDAR, M. Sc., [Link]., PGDCA, SET.,

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER APPLICATION

[Link] NADAR COLLEGE OF ARTS &SCIENCE
(Belongs to S.V.H.N.A. Dharma Fund)
Affiliated to University of Madras Co Education
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Accredited with A Grade by NAAC
96, Ellaya Street, [Link], Chennai-21.
 BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the Environmental Studies project

work entitled “ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ” is a
bonafide project work done by YAZHINI.M(212201809)
in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the
Environmental Studies Project of BACHELOR OF
COMPUTER APPLICATIONS during the academic
year 2022 - 2025
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

 INTRODUCTION
An organism's environment is made up of various components such as air, water, land, and
so on. These components are found in predetermined proportions to create a harmonious
balance in the organism's environment. Pollution is defined as any undesirable and
unwelcome change in the proportions of these components. With each passing year, this
problem worsens. It is a problem that causes financial, physical, and social problems. The
environmental crisis, which is worsening by the day, must be addressed so that its negative
effects on humans and the planet can be avoided. The issue of adequate housing and
unclean living conditions has been steadily getting worse as companies have grown and
people have moved from rural to cities in pursuit of employment. These causes have given
rise to pollution-causing factors. Environmental pollution is one of the most pressing
challenges facing the world today. It is an issue that troubles us economically, physically,
and every day of our lives. Pollution is the contamination of the environment by the
introduction of contaminants that cause damage to the environment and harm or discomfort
to humans or other living species. Pollution has become a major global issue and it is one
of the biggest threats to our environment and health.

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 Various types of environmental pollution

 Air pollution: caused by emissions from vehicles, industrial facilities, and power plants,
which can lead to respiratory problems and other health issues.
 Water pollution: caused by industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and sewage, which can
contaminate drinking water and harm aquatic life.
 Soil pollution: caused by the presence of toxic chemicals and heavy metals in the soil,
which can make it difficult for plants to grow and can contaminate food sources.
 Noise pollution: caused by excessive noise from traffic, construction, and other sources,
which can lead to hearing loss and other health problems.
 Light pollution: caused by excessive artificial light, which can disrupt ecosystems and
make it difficult for people to see stars at night.
 Thermal pollution: caused by the discharge of warm water into lakes and rivers, which can
harm aquatic life. Plastic pollution: caused by the accumulation of plastic waste in the
environment, which can harm wildlife and damage ecosystems.
 Chemical pollution: caused by the release of toxic chemicals into the environment, which
can harm wildlife and people

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 AIR POLLUTION

Air pollution is the contamination of air due to the presence of substances called
pollutants in the atmosphere that are harmful to the health of humans and other living
beings, or cause damage to the climate or to materials. It is also the contamination of
the indoor or outdoor environment either by chemical, physical, or biological agents
that alters the natural features of the atmosphere. There are many different types of
air pollutants, such as gases (including ammonia, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide,
nitrous oxides, methane and chlorofluorocarbons), particulates (both organic and
inorganic), and biological molecules. Air pollution can cause diseases, allergies, and
even death to humans; it can also cause harm to other living organisms such as
animals and crops, and may damage the natural environment (for example, climate
change, ozone depletion or habitat degradation) or built environment (for example,
acid rain). Air pollution can be caused by both human activities and natural
phenomena. 51% of the pollution is caused by industrial pollution, 27% by vehicles,
17% by crop burning and 5% by other sources. Air pollution contributes to the
premature deaths of 2 million Indians every year.

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 Effects of air pollution
Air pollution is now the world’s fourth-Largest risk factor for early death. According
to the 2020 State of Global Air report-which summarizes the latest scientific
understanding of air pollution around the world-4.5 million deaths were linked to
outdoor air pollution exposures in 2019, and another 2.2 million deaths were caused
by indoor air pollution. The world’s most populous countries, China and India,
continue to bear the highest burdens of disease.“Despite improvements in reducing
global average mortality rates from air pollution, this report also serves as a sobering
reminder that the climate crisis threatens to worsen air pollution problems
significantly,” explains Vijay Limaye, senior scientist in NRDC’s Science Office
Air pollution is a familiar environmental health hazard. We know what we’re looking
at when brown haze settles over a city, exhaust billows across a busy highway, or a
plume rises from a smokestack. Some air pollution is not seen, but its pungent smell
alerts [Link] is a major threat to global health and prosperity. Air pollution, in all
forms, is responsible for more than 6.5 million deaths each year globally, a number
that has increased over the past two [Link] pollution is a mix of hazardous
substances from both human-made and natural [Link] emissions, fuel oils
and natural gas to heat homes, by-products of manufacturing and power generation,
particularly coal-fueled power plants, and fumes from chemical production are the
primary sources of human-made air [Link] releases hazardous substances
into the air, such as smoke from wildfires, which are often caused by people; ash and
gases from volcanic eruptions; and gases, like methane, which are emitted from
decomposing organic matter in soils.

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 Air Pollution and Climate Change

Air pollution and climate change affect each other through complex interactions in the
atmosphere. Air pollution is intricately linked with climate change because both problems
come largely from the same sources, such as emissions from burning fossil fuels. Both are
threats to people’s health and the environment [Link] change affects air
quality, which in turn can lead to adverse health outcomes. Disruptions to weather patterns
influence our air quality by increasing and distributing air pollutants, such as ground-level
ozone, fine particulates, wildfire smoke, and dust. Changes to weather seasons also impact
the production, distribution, and severity of airborne allergens. The EPA’s Air Quality
National Summary Report states that around 100 million people living in the U.S. reside
in communities where air pollution exceeds health-based air quality standards1 . While
primarily affecting outdoor air quality, these pollutants and allergens can also impair indoor
air quality by entering homes, schools, and buildings. Additionally, climate change may
contribute to the increased prevalence of indoor pollutants like mold.

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 How does air pollution affect our health?

When the National Ambient Air Quality Standards were established in 1970, air
pollution was regarded primarily as a threat to respiratory health. In 1993, NIEHS
researchers published the landmark Six Cities Study, which established an association
between fine particulate matter and [Link] pollution exposure is associated
with oxidative stress and inflammation in human cells, which may lay a foundation
for chronic diseases and cancer. In 2013, the International Agency for Research on
Cancer of the World Health Organization (WHO) classified air pollution as a human
[Link] rates related to air pollution are a concern. Exposure to the air
pollutant PM2.5 is associated with an increased risk of death.A team of researchers,
partially funded by NIEHS, found that deaths decreased after air pollution
regulations were implemented and coal-powered plants were retired. The study data
covered 21 years. More specifically, they found exposure to PM2.5 from coal was
associated with a mortality risk that was twice as high as the risk from exposure to
PM2.5 from all sources. PM2.5 from coal is high in sulfur dioxide, black carbon, and
[Link] health concerns include cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory
diseases, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and reproductive, neurological, and immune
system [Link] on air pollution and health effects continually advances.

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 Cancer

A large study of more than 57,000 women found living near major roadways may
increase a woman’s risk for breast cancer.
The NIEHS Sister Study found other airborne toxic substances, especially methylene
chloride, which is used in aerosol products and paint removers, are also associated
with increased risk of breast [Link] exposure to benzene, an industrial
chemical and component of gasoline, can cause leukemia and is associated with non-
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.A long-term study, 2000-2016, found an association between
lung cancer incidence and increased reliance on coal for energy generation.

 Cardiovascular Disease

Fine particulate matter can impair blood vessel function and speed up calcification in
arteries.
NIEHS researchers established links between short-term daily exposure by post-
menopausal women to nitrogen oxides and increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke.
For some older Americans, exposure to TRAP can result in lowered levels of high-
density lipoprotein, sometimes called good cholesterol, increasing their risk for
cardiovascular disease.
According to a National Toxicology Program (NTP) report, TRAP exposure also
increases a pregnant woman’s risk for dangerous changes in blood pressure, known
as hypertensive disorders, which are a leading cause of pre-term birth, low birth
weight, and maternal and fetal illness and death.

 Respiratory Disease

Air pollution can affect lung development and is implicated in the development of
emphysema, asthma, and other respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD).
Increases in asthma prevalence and severity are linked to urbanization and outdoor
air pollution. Children living in low-income urban areas tend to have more asthma
cases than others. Research published in 2023 tied two air pollutants, ozone and
PM2.5, to asthma-related changes in children’s airways.
PM and nitrogen oxide are linked to chronic bronchitis.
In 2020, a major public health challenge was confluence of the COVID-19 pandemic
and wildfires across the western

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 Why improving air quality matters
Air pollution and birth outcomes are linked as global public health concerns. Researchers
analyzed indoor and outdoor air pollution data from all inhabited continents along with key
pregnancy outcomes. Their findings indicate efforts to reduce PM2.5 exposure could lead
to significant reductions in the number of low-birth weight and pre-term birth infants
worldwide. Air pollution reduction would be especially beneficial for children born in low-
and middle-income [Link] children in Southern California, decreases in ambient
nitrogen dioxide and PM2.5 were associated with fewer cases of [Link] NIEHS-
funded study found that a mixture of several B vitamins may protect DNA from changes
attributable to PM 2.5 air [Link] symptoms declined as pollution levels
dropped in the Los Angeles [Link] air quality may improve cognitive function
and reduce dementia risk,according to studies supported in part by NIH and the
Alzheimer's [Link] fossil-fuel power plants close, nearby air pollution is
reduced. A study found the incidence of preterm births went down within 5 kilometers of
retired coal and oil-powered plant locations.

 What you can do about air pollution

There are many small, but critical sources of air pollution in our homes and neighborhoods.
Such sources — vehicles, construction equipment, lawn mowers, dry cleaners, backyard
fires, and auto-body shops — are located where we live and work. Total emissions from
these smaller but widespread sources are significantly greater than all the industrial sources
in the state [Link] prevent pollution from these sources, the MPCA provides
education, guidance, and incentives for reducing air pollution. We have programs for
businesses, cities, nonprofits, and communities that address a range of environmental
problems, including air quality.

Drive your car less:

Vehicle exhaust is a major source of air pollution in Minnesota. Carpool. Bike. Bus.
Telecommute. Electric vehicles. How could you burn less fuel?
Keep your car in good repair. Fix exhaust and oxygen sensor problems ASAP. Check your
tire pressure monthly; under-inflated tires have been shown to lower gas mileage,
particularly at lower speed.

Turn off your engine:

An idling engine creates a hot spot of pollution. Buses and big trucks produce particularly
unhealthy exhaust. Parents and teachers can help their schools and daycares develop and
implement no-idling policies.

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Don’t burn your garbage:
Burning your household garbage is dangerous to your health and our environment, and
generally against the law in Minnesota. If you’re still using a burn barrel, wood stove, or
fire-pit for your trash, contact your county about arranging for trash hauling services.

Limit backyards fire in the city:

Smoke from backyard fires can cause unhealthy conditions for hundreds of people,
especially during stagnant weather conditions. Since cities have elevated levels of pollution
compared to rural areas, urban fires are more of a nuisance to people with asthma and other
lung conditions.

If you do have a campfire:

Keep fires brief and small — 3 feet across or [Link] only dry fire wood. In the Twin
Cities it is illegal to burn any waste in a fire, even yard [Link] start campfires during
an air quality alert. Sign up for texts or emails about elevated air pollution levels.

Plant and care for trees:

Trees filter pollutants and absorb carbon dioxide. Trees also release oxygen into the
atmosphere and help cool our homes.

Switch to electric or hand-powered lawn equipment:

Gas-powered engines like those on lawnmowers and leaf or snow blowers often lack
pollution control devices. An hour running a lawn mower can produce nearly the same
amount of pollution as a 100-mile car trip! Use hand-powered or electric lawn care
equipment instead.

Use less energy:

Choose efficient appliances and heating systems. Get an energy audit and follow the
advice. Turn off electrical stuff you are not using. It all adds up.

Become a champion for clean air:

Direct local businesses, city offices, and school districts toward programs that can help
them reduce air pollution and become more sustainable.

GreenStep Cities:
City and county officials governments can help by passing local ordinances, creating
incentives for beneficial behaviors, and promoting and educating residents on best
practices.

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Small business assistance:
The Small Business Environmental Assistance Program helps Minnesota businesses
comply with environmental rules, reduce wastes and emissions, and reduce regulatory
[Link] GreenCorps: An AmeriCorps program coordinated by the MPCA
places members with organizations around the state to address environmental issues,
including air quality. Nonprofit, government and school districts are eligible to host
members to work on qualified projects.

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 Greenhouse Gases and Air Pollution

Although they may seem like two different issues, climate change and air pollution are
closely linked; in UNEP’s words, these two issues are two sides of the same coin (UNEP,
2019). Air pollutants and greenhouse gases are one of the most critical concerns of our age,
leading to climate change and causing health problems worldwide. Many factors contribute
to their increase. Besides natural causes, we produce and consume more than ever before,
and as a result, we also contribute to air pollution and global warming through our lifestyles
(UNEP, 2019).Air pollution and climate change have many familiar sources. However, the
increase in air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions that trigger climate change,
population growth, industrialization/industrial activities, energy need, an increase in the
use of motor vehicles, and the need brought by urbanization/urbanization are the factors
that come to the fore (Değirmenci & Yavuz, 2021).

 What is a greenhouse gas?

Greenhouse gases occur naturally in the atmosphere. According to the Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA), the most important greenhouse gases are water vapor (H2O),
carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Greenhouse gases that
trap heat from the sun have made Earth’s climate habitable for humans and millions of
other species. Without these gases, Earth’s average surface temperature would drop from
about 14°C to minus 18°C (Care4Air).
The exchange of incoming and outgoing radiation that warms the Earth is often called the
greenhouse effect. The most significant cause of greenhouse gas emissions is using fossil
fuels as an energy source. The increase in the amount of CO2 and other heat-trapping
greenhouse gases causes the temperature in the atmosphere to rise, which is called “global
warming.” This has serious consequences, such as melting glaciers and rising oceans
(Nuclear Academy, 2022).
The most common greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, CO2, has the most significant heat-
holding capacity. Today, CO2 is the primary greenhouse gas, responsible for about three-
quarters of emissions (EPA, 2022). Carbon dioxide emissions originate mainly from
burning organic matter: coal, oil, gas, wood, and solid waste (National Geographic, 2019).
Another primary source of CO2 is deforestation. According to NASA’s Global Climate
Change portal, CO2 has increased by about 50% since the Industrial Revolution
began in the 1750s (NASA, 2022).

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Global greenhouse gas emissions by economic sector (EPA,
2022)

Greenhouse gases have a wide range of environmental and health effects. By trapping heat,
they cause climate change and contribute to respiratory diseases from smoke and air
pollution (National Geographic, 2019).

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Total GHG emissions from fuel combustion per product, World
(IEA, 2022)

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 WATER POLLUTION

Water pollution occurs when harmful substances-often chemicals or microorganisms-

contaminate a stream, river, lake, ocean, aquifer, or other body of water, degrading water
quality and rendering it toxic to humans or the [Link] widespread problem of
water pollution is jeopardizing our health. Unsafe water kills more people each year than
war and all other forms of violence combined. Meanwhile, our drinkable water sources are
finite: Less than 1 percent of the earth’s freshwater is actually accessible to us. Without
action, the challenges will only increase by 2050, when global demand for freshwater is
expected to be one-third greater than it is now.

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 What are the causes of water pollution?

Water is uniquely vulnerable to pollution. Known as a “universal solvent,” water is able to

dissolve more substances than any other liquid on earth. It’s the reason we have Kool-Aid
and brilliant blue waterfalls. It’s also why water is so easily polluted. Toxic substances from
farms, towns, and factories readily dissolve into and mix with it, causing water pollution.

Here are some of the major sources of water pollution worldwide:

 Agricultural
 Sewage and wastewater
 Oil pollution
 Radioactive substances

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 Agricultural:

Not only is the agricultural sector the biggest consumer of global freshwater resources,
with farming and livestock production using about 70 percent of the earth’s surface water
supplies, but it’s also a serious water polluter. Around the world, agriculture is the leading
cause of water degradation. In the United States, agricultural pollution is the top source of
contamination in rivers and streams, the second-biggest source in wetlands, and the third
main source in lakes. It’s also a major contributor of contamination to estuaries and
groundwater. Every time it rains, fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste from farms and
livestock operations wash nutrients and pathogens—such bacteria and viruses—into our
waterways. Nutrient pollution, caused by excess nitrogen and phosphorus in water or air,
is the number-one threat to water quality worldwide and can cause algal blooms, a toxic
soup of blue-green algae that can be harmful to people and wildlife.

Toxic green algae in Copco Reservoir, northern CaliforniaCredit:Aurora Photos/Alamy

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 Sewage and wastewater:

Used water is wastewater. It comes from our sinks, showers, and toilets (think sewage)
and from commercial, industrial, and agricultural activities (think metals, solvents, and
toxic sludge). The term also includes stormwater runoff, which occurs when rainfall
carries road salts, oil, grease, chemicals, and debris from impermeable surfaces into our
waterwaysMore than 80 percent of the world’s wastewater flows back into the
environment without being treated or reused, according to the United Nations; in some
least-developed countries, the figure tops 95 percent. In the United States, wastewater
treatment facilities process about 34 billion gallons of wastewater per day. These facilities
reduce the amount of pollutants such as pathogens, phosphorus, and nitrogen in sewage,
as well as heavy metals and toxic chemicals in industrial waste, before discharging the
treated waters back into waterways. That’s when all goes well. But according to EPA
estimates, our nation’s aging and easily overwhelmed sewage treatment systems also
release more than 850 billion gallons of untreated wastewater each year.

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 Oil pollution:

Big spills may dominate headlines, but consumers account for the vast
majority of oil pollution in our seas, including oil and gasoline that
drips from millions of cars and trucks every day. Moreover, nearly half
of the estimated 1 million tons of oil that makes its way into marine
environments each year comes not from tanker spills but from land-
based sources such as factories, farms, and cities. At sea, tanker spills
account for about 10 percent of the oil in waters around the world,
while regular operations of the shipping industry—through both legal
and illegal discharges—contribute about one-third. Oil is also naturally
released from under the ocean floor through fractures known as seeps.

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 Radioactive substances:

Radioactive waste is any pollution that emits radiation beyond what is naturally released
by the environment. It’s generated by uranium mining, nuclear power plants, and the
production and testing of military weapons, as well as by universities and hospitals that
use radioactive materials for research and medicine. Radioactive waste can persist in the
environment for thousands of years, making disposal a major challenge. Consider the
decommissioned Hanford nuclear weapons production site in Washington, where the
cleanup of 56 million gallons of radioactive waste is expected to cost more than $100
billion and last through 2060. Accidentally released or improperly disposed of
contaminants threaten groundwater, surface water, and marine resources.

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 What are the effects of water pollution?

To put it bluntly: Water pollution kills. In fact, it caused 1.8 million

deaths in 2015, according to a study published in The Lancet.
Contaminated water can also make you ill. Every year, unsafe water
sickens about 1 billion people. And low-income communities are
disproportionately at risk because their homes are often closest to the
most polluting [Link] pathogens, in the form of
disease-causing bacteria and viruses from human and animal waste,
are a major cause of illness from contaminated drinking water.
Diseases spread by unsafe water include cholera, giardia, and typhoid.
Even in wealthy nations, accidental or illegal releases from sewage
treatment facilities, as well as runoff from farms and urban areas,
contribute harmful pathogens to waterways.

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Meanwhile, the plight of residents in Flint, Michigan—where cost-cutting measures
and aging water infrastructure created a lead contamination crisis—offers a stark look at
how dangerous chemical and other industrial pollutants in our water can be. The problem
goes far beyond Flint and involves much more than lead, as a wide range of chemical
pollutants—from heavy metals such as arsenic and mercury to pesticides and nitrate
fertilizers—are getting into our water supplies. Once they’re ingested, these toxins can
cause a host of health issues, from cancer to hormone disruption to altered brain function.
Children and pregnant women are particularly at risk.

Even swimming can pose a risk. Every year, 3.5 million Americans contract health issues
such as skin rashes, pinkeye, respiratory infections, and hepatitis from sewage-laden
coastal waters, according to EPA [Link] order to thrive, healthy ecosystems rely on
a complex web of animals, plants, bacteria, and fungi—all of which interact, directly or
indirectly, with each other. Harm to any of these organisms can create a chain effect,
imperiling entire aquatic environments

When water pollution causes an algal bloom in a lake or marine environment, the
proliferation of newly introduced nutrients stimulates plant and algae growth, which in
turn reduces oxygen levels in the water. This dearth of oxygen, known as eutrophication,
suffocates plants and animals and can create “dead zones,” where waters are essentially
devoid of life. In certain cases, these harmful algal blooms can also produce neurotoxins
that affect wildlife, from whales to sea turtles.

Chemicals and heavy metals from industrial and municipal wastewater contaminate
waterways as well. These contaminants are toxic to aquatic life—most often reducing an
organism’s life span and ability to reproduce—and make their way up the food chain as
predator eats prey. That’s how tuna and other big fish accumulate high quantities of toxins,
such as mercury.

Marine ecosystems are also threatened by marine debris, which can strangle, suffocate,
and starve animals. Much of this solid debris, such as plastic bags and soda cans, gets
swept into sewers and storm drains and eventually out to sea, turning our oceans into trash
soup and sometimes consolidating to form floating garbage patches. Discarded fishing
gear and other types of debris are responsible for harming more than 200 different species
of marine life.

Meanwhile, ocean acidification is making it tougher for shellfish and coral to survive.
Though they absorb about a quarter of the carbon pollution created each year by burning
fossil fuels, oceans are becoming more acidic. This process makes it harder for shellfish
and other species to build shells and may impact the nervous systems of sharks, clownfish,
and other marine life.

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 What can you do to prevent water pollution?

We’re all accountable to some degree for today’s water pollution problem. Fortunately,
there are some simple ways you can prevent water contamination or at least limit your
contribution to it:

Learn about the unique qualities of water where you live. Where does your water come
from? Is the wastewater from your home treated? Where does stormwater flow to? Is your
area in a drought? Start building a picture of the situation so you can discover where your
actions will have the most impact—and see if your neighbors would be interested in
joining in!

Reduce your plastic consumption and reuse or recycle plastic when you can.

Properly dispose of chemical cleaners, oils, and nonbiodegradable items to keep them
from going down the drain.

Maintain your car so it doesn’t leak oil, antifreeze, or coolant.

If you have a yard, consider landscaping that reduces runoff and avoid applying pesticides
and herbicides.

Don’t flush your old medications! Dispose of them in the trash to prevent them from
entering local waterways.

Be mindful of anything you pour into storm sewers, since that waste often won’t be treated
before being released into local waterways. If you notice a storm sewer blocked by litter,
clean it up to keep that trash out of the water. (You’ll also help prevent troublesome street
floods in a heavy storm.)

If you have a pup, be sure to pick up its poop.

One of the most effective ways to stand up for our waters is to speak out in support of the
Clean Water Act, which has helped hold polluters accountable for five decades—despite
attempts by destructive industries to gut its authority. But we also need regulations that
keep pace with modern-day challenges, including microplastics, PFAS, pharmaceuticals,
and other contaminants our wastewater treatment plants weren’t built to handle, not to
mention polluted water that’s dumped untreated.

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24
 SOIL POLLUTION
Soil pollution refers to the contamination of soil with anomalous concentrations of toxic
[Link] is a serious environmental concern since it harbours many health hazards.
For example, exposure to soil containing high concentrations of benzene increases the risk
of contracting leukaemia. An image detailing the discolouration of soil due to soil
pollution is provided [Link] is important to understand that all soils contain compounds
that are harmful/toxic to human beings and other living organisms. However, the
concentration of such substances in unpolluted soil is low enough that they do not pose
any threat to the surrounding ecosystem. When the concentration of one or more such
toxic substances is high enough to cause damage to living organisms, the soil is said to be
[Link] contamination, soil pollution, or land pollution as a part of land
degradation is caused by the presence of xenobiotic (human-made) chemicals or other
alteration in the natural soil environment. It is typically caused by industrial activity,
agricultural chemicals or improper disposal of waste. The most common chemicals
involved are petroleum hydrocarbons, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (such as
naphthalene and benzo(a)pyrene), solvents, pesticides, lead, and other heavy metals.
Contamination is correlated with the degree of industrialization and intensity of chemical
substance. The concern over soil contamination stems primarily from health risks, from
direct contact with the contaminated soil, vapour from the contaminants, or from
secondary contamination of water supplies within and underlying the soil. Mapping of
contaminated soil sites and the resulting clean ups are time- consuming and expensive
tasks, and require expertise in geology, hydrology, chemistry, computer modelling, and
GIS in Environmental Contamination, as well as an appreciation of the history of

industrial chemistry.

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This invisible affliction appears when the concentration of pollutants on the surface
becomes so high that it harms land biodiversity and endangers health, particularly through
food. Activities such as stock breeding and intensive farming use chemicals, pesticides and
fertilisers that pollute the land, just as happens with heavy metals and other natural and
man-made chemical substances.
Soil pollution is a global threat that is particularly serious in regions like Europe, Eurasia,
Asia and North Africa, as indicated by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the
United Nations (FAO). The FAO also affirms that both intense and even moderate
degradation is already affecting one third of the world's soil. Moreover, recovery is so slow
that it would take 1,000 years to create a few centimetres layer of arable soil.

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 Causes and types of soil pollution:

Phenomena such as erosion, loss of organic carbon, increased salt content, compacting,
acidification and chemical pollution are the major causes of current soil
degradation. Moreover, the FAO distinguishes between two types of soil pollution:

Specific pollution:

accounted for by particular causes, occurring in small areas the reasons for which can be
easily identified. Land pollution such as this is normally found in cities, old factory sites,
around roadways, illegal dumps and sewage treatment stations.

Widespread pollution:

covers extensive areas and has several causes the reasons for which are difficult to identify.
Cases such as these involve the spreading of pollutants by air-ground-water systems and
seriously affect human health and the environment.

Among the most common causes of soil contamination caused by human activity, the FAO
highlights industry, mining, military activities, waste — which includes technological
waste — and wastewater management, farming, stock breeding the building of urban and
transport infrastructures.

 Consequences of soil pollution:

The toxic substances that are deposited on the earth’s surface harm our health and well-
being and affect food, water and air quality. The most important effects of soil pollution
according to IPBES and the FAO are indicated below:

Damage to health
Soil pollutants enter our body through the food chain, causing illnesses to appear.
Moreover, the spread of antibiotics in the environment increases the pathogens’ resistance
to these drugs.

Poorer harvests

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Soil pollution agents jeopardise world food security by reducing the amount and quality of
harvests.

Climate change
From 2015 to 2050, 69 gigatonnes of CO2 will be emitted as a result of land use change
and land degradation, a figure that represents 17% of current greenhouse gas emissions
each year

Water and air pollution

Soil degradation affects the quality of air and water, particularly in developing countries.

Population displacement
Soil degradation and climate change will have driven between 50 and 700 million people
to emigrate by 2050.

Species extinction
Soil contamination is one of the main causes that could trigger the sixth mass extinction
event in history —wildlife populations fell by 69% between 1970 and 2018, according to
WWF’s Living Planet Report

Desertification
The number of inhabitants in the most arid areas of the earth could account for 45 % of the
world’s population in 2050, while world wetland areas have decreased in size by 87 % over
the last three centuries.

Economic impact
Global economic losses caused by soil degradation are expected to be more than half of
the world’s annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

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 Solutions to reduce soil pollution:
Soil degradation is a complex problem that requires governments, institutions,
communities and individuals to take joint measures. The following are just some of the
things we can do to improve its health:
Eat sustainable foodstuffs, properly recycle batteries, produce homemade compost and
dispose of drugs in the places authorised for this purpose.
Encourage a more eco-friendly model for industry, farming and stock breeding, among
other economic activities.
Improve urban planning and transport planning and waste water treatment.

Improve the management of mining waste, restore the landscape and conserve topsoil.

Involve local communities and indigenous peoples in the design, implementation and
assessment of sustainable land and soil management.

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 NOISE POLLUTION

Not all sound is considered noise pollution. The World Health Organization (WHO)
defines noise above 65 decibels (dB) as noise pollution. To be precise, noise
becomes harmful when it exceeds 75 decibels (dB) and is painful above 120 dB.
As a consequence, it is recommended noise levels be kept below 65 dB during the
day and indicates that restful sleep is impossible with nighttime ambient noise
levels in excess of 30 [Link] honking the horn, groups of workers drilling the
road surface, aircraft flying over us in the sky... Noise, noise and more noise. Cities
have become the epicentre of a type of pollution, acoustics, which, although its
invisibility and the fact that coronavirus crisis reduced it until almost yearn it, is
severely damaging to human beings. So much so that the European Environment
Agency estimates that noise is responsible for 12,000 premature deaths and 48,000
new cases of ischaemic heart disease.

Not only does it hurt humans, it is bad for animals, too. According to the National
Park Service (NPS) in the United States, noise pollution has an enormous
environmental impact and does serious damage to wildlife. Experts say noise
pollution can interfere with breeding cycles and rearing and is even hastening the
extinction of some species.

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 Causes of noise pollution:

There are many sources of noise pollution, but here are some of the main ones:
Traffic noise
Traffic noise accounts for most polluting noise in cities. For example, a car horn
produces 90 dB and a bus produces 100 dB.
Air traffic noise
There are fewer aircraft flying over cities than there are cars on the roads, but the
impact is greater: a single aircraft produces 130 dB.
Construction sites
Building and car park construction and road and pavement resurfacing works are
very noisy. For example, a pneumatic drill produces 110 dB.
Catering and night life
Bars, restaurants and terraces that spill outside when the weather is good can
produce more than 100 dB. This includes noise from pubs and clubs.
Animals
Noise made by animals can go unnoticed, but a howling or barking dog, for
example, can produce around 60-80 dB.

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 Effects of noise pollution:
As well as damaging our hearing by causing — tinnitus or deafness —, constant
loud noise can damage human health in many ways, particularly in the very young
and the very old. Here are some of the main ones:

Physical
Respiratory agitation, racing pulse, high blood pressure, headaches and, in case of
extremely loud, constant noise, gastritis, colitis and even heart attacks.

Psychological
Noise can cause attacks of stress, fatigue, depression, anxiety and hysteria in both
humans and animals.

Sleep and behavioural disorders

Noise above 45 dB stops you from falling asleep or sleeping properly. Remember
that according to the World Health Organization it should be no more than 30 dB.

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 Solutions to reduce noise pollution
International bodies like the WHO agree that awareness of noise pollution is
essential to beat this invisible enemy. For example: avoid very noisy leisure
activities, opt for alternatives means of transport such as bicycles or electric
vehicles over taking the car, do your housework at recommended times, insulate
homes with noise-absorbing materials, etc. Educating the younger generation is
also an essential aspect of environmental education.
Governments can also take measures to ensure correct noise management and
reduce noise pollution. For example: protecting certain areas — parts of the
countryside, areas of natural interest, city parks, etc. — from noise, establishing
regulations that include preventive and corrective measures — mandatory
separation between residential zones and sources of noise like airports, fines for
exceeding noise limits, etc. —, installing noise insulation in new buildings, creating
pedestrian areas where traffic is only allowed to enter to offload goods at certain
times, replacing traditional asphalt with more efficient options that can reduce
traffic noise by up to 3 dB, among others.
In recent years, the European Union has been promoting the use of new barriers
that allow changes in sound waves, mainly for motorways and other forms of
transport such as trains. Tests have been carried out in the Benelux and it seems that
this is going to be extended to northern Europe. At the same time, work is being
done on new, spongier and quieter asphalts, which are also better for the
environment.

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 LIGHT POLLUTION

Light pollution, unwanted or excessive artificial light. Like noise pollution, light
pollution is a form of waste energy that can cause adverse effects and degrade
environmental quality. Moreover, because light (transmitted as electromagnetic
waves) is typically generated by electricity, which itself is usually generated by the
combustion of fossil fuels, it can be said that there is a connection between light
pollution and air pollution (from fossil-fueled power plant emissions). e light.
Although light pollution may not appear to be as harmful to public health welfare
as pollution of water resources or the atmosphere, it is an environmental quality
issue of no small [Link] pollution adversely affects professional and
amateur astronomers, as well as casual observers of the night sky, because it
severely reduces the visibility of stars and other celestial objects. The reduction in
night sky visibility is a result of “skyglow,” upward-directed light emanating from
poorly designed or directed lamps and security floodlights. This wasted light is
scattered and reflected by solid or liquid particles in the atmosphere and then
returned to the eyes of people on the ground, obliterating their view of the night
sky. The effect of skyglow from a town or city is not necessarily localized; it can

be observed far from the main source.

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 Types of light pollution:

Light pollution is caused by inefficient or unnecessary use of artificial light.

Specific categories of light pollution include light trespass, over-illumination, glare,
light clutter, and skyglow. A single offending light source often falls into more than
one of these categories.

 Light trespass
 Over-illumination
 Glare
 Light clutter
 Light trespass:
Light trespass occurs when unwanted light enters one’s property, for instance, by
shining over a neighbour’s fence. A common light trespass problem occurs when a
strong light enters the window of one’s home from the outside, causing problems
such as sleep deprivation. A number of cities in the U.S. have developed standards
for outdoor lighting to protect the rights of their citizens against light trespass. To
assist them, the International Dark-Sky Association has developed a set of model
lighting ordinances.
The Dark-Sky Association was started to reduce the light going up into the sky
which reduces the visibility of stars (see Skyglow below). This is any light that is
emitted more than 90° above nadir. By limiting light at this 90° mark they have also
reduced the light output in the 80–90° range which creates most of the light.

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 Over-illumination:
In the US, commercial building lighting consumes in excess of 81.68 terawatt-hours
(1999 data) of electricity per year,according to the Department of Energy. Even
among developed countries there are large differences in patterns of light use.
American cities emit three to five times more light to space per capita compared to
German cities.

Over-illumination stems from several factors:

Consensus-based standards or norms that are not based on vision science;Improper

design, by specifying higher levels of light than needed for a given visual task;

Inadequate lighting maintenance resulting in increased stray light and energy costs;
“Daylight lighting” demanded by citizens to reduce crime or by shop owners to
attract customers;
Substitution of old lamps with more efficient LEDs using the same electrical power;
and
In certain cases, an over-illumination lighting technique may be needed. For
example, indirect lighting is often used to obtain a “softer” look, since hard direct
lighting is generally found less desirable for certain surfaces, such as skin. The
indirect lighting method is perceived as cozier and suits bars, restaurants, and living
quarters. It is also possible to block the direct lighting effect by adding softening
filters or other solutions, though intensity will be reduced

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 Galre:

Glare can be categorized into different types. One such classification is described
in a book by Bob Mizon, coordinator for the British Astronomical Association’s
Campaign for Dark Skies, as follows:

Disability glare describes effects such as being blinded by oncoming car lights, or
light scattering in fog or in the eye, reducing contrast, as well as reflections from
print and other dark areas that render them bright, with a significant reduction in
sight capabilities.
According to Mario Motta, president of the Massachusetts Medical Society, “...
glare from bad lighting is a public-health hazard—especially the older you become.
Glare light scattering in the eye causes loss of contrast and leads to unsafe driving
conditions, much like the glare on a dirty windshield from low-angle sunlight or
the high beams from an oncoming car.” In essence bright and/or badly shielded
lights around roads can partially blind drivers or pedestrians and contribute to
accidents.
The blinding effect is caused in large part by reduced contrast due to light scattering
in the eye by excessive brightness, or to the reflection of light from dark areas in
the field of vision, with luminance similar to the background luminance.

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 Light cutter:

Light clutter refers to excessive groupings of lights. Groupings of lights may

generate confusion, distract from obstacles (including those that they may be
intended to illuminate), and potentially cause accidents. Clutter is particularly
noticeable on roads where the street lights are badly designed, or where brightly lit
advertisements surround the roadways. Depending on the motives of the person or
organization that installed the lights, their placement and design can even be
intended to distract drivers, and can contribute to accidents.

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 Reducing light pollution:
Reducing light pollution implies many things, such as reducing sky glow, reducing
glare, reducing light trespass, and reducing clutter. The method for best reducing
light pollution, therefore, depends on exactly what the problem is in any given
instance. Possible solutions include:
Utilizing light sources of minimum intensity necessary to accomplish the light’s
purpose.
Turning lights off using a timer or occupancy sensor or manually when not needed.
For example, wind turbines have blinking lights that warn aircraft, to prevent
collision Residents living near windfarms, especially those in rural areas, have
complained that the blinking lights are a bothersome form of light pollution. light
mitigation approach involves Aircraft Detection Lighting Systems (ADLSs) by
which the lights are turned on, only when the ADLS’s radar detects aircraft within
thresholds of altitude and distance.
Improving lighting fixtures, so they direct their light more accurately towards
where it is needed, and with fewer side effects.
Adjusting the type of lights used, so the light waves emitted are those that are less
likely to cause severe light pollution problems. Mercury, metal halide and above all
first generation of blue-light LED road luminaires are much more polluting than
sodium lamps: Earth’s atmosphere scatters and transmits blue light better than
yellow or red light. It is a common experience observing “glare” and “fog” around
and below LED road luminaires as soon as air humidity increases, while orange
sodium lamp luminaires are less prone to showing this phenomenon.
Evaluating existing lighting plans, and re-designing some or all the plans depending
on whether existing light is actually [Link] use of full cutoff lighting fixtures,

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 as much as possible, is advocated by most campaigners for the reduction of light
pollution. It is also commonly recommended that lights be spaced appropriately for
maximum efficiency, and that number of luminaires being used as well as the
wattage of each luminaire match the needs of the particular application (based on
local lighting design standards)
A full cutoff fixture, when correctly installed, reduces the chance for light to escape
above the plane of the horizontal. Light released above the horizontal may
sometimes be lighting an intended target, but often serves no purpose. When it
enters into the atmosphere, light contributes to sky glow. Some governments and
organizations are now considering, or have already implemented, full cutoff
fixtures in street lamps and stadium lighting.

 The conclusion:

In conclusion, environmental pollution poses a significant threat to ecosystems,

human health, and the planet’s overall well-being. Urgent action is required at
individual, local, national, and global levels to mitigate pollution, preserve natural
resources, and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come. Through
collective efforts, including policy interventions, technological innovations, and
widespread public awareness, we can strive towards a cleaner, healthier
environment for all.

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