Environmental Pollutants Types and Causes

Van Emmerik, Department of Life Science, Jacobs University Bremen, Bremen, Germany, Email: emmerik48@yahoo.com

Received: 10-Oct-2022, Manuscript No. JENVOH-22-83026; Editor assigned: 13-Oct-2022, Pre QC No. JENVOH-22-83026 (PQ); Reviewed: 27-Oct-2022, QC No. JENVOH-22-83026; Revised: 04-Nov-2022, Manuscript No. JENVOH-22-83026 (R); Published: 14-Nov-2022

Description

The introduction of toxins into the environment that has a negative impact on it is known as pollution. Any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy can cause pollution (such as radioactivity, heat, sound, or light). Both naturally occurring contaminants and imported substances/ energies can be considered pollutants, which are the elements of pollution. Despite the fact that natural disasters can result in environmental contamination, the word pollution often suggests that the toxins came from an artificial source, or a source made possible by human activity. Point source and nonpoint source pollution are two common categories for pollution. Air pollution, light pollution, litter, noise pollution, plastic pollution, soil contamination, radioactive contamination, thermal pollution, visual pollution, and water pollution are some of the most significant types of pollution.

Air pollution

The atmospheric discharge of chemicals and particles such as, Carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and nitrogen oxides are typical gaseous pollutants that are created by industry and automobiles. As nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons react with sunlight, ozone and smog are produced photochemically. Particulate matter, or fine dust, is distinguished by its micrometre size, which ranges from PM10 to PM2.5.

Electromagnetic pollution

An excess of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation from sources like radio and television broadcasts, Wi-Fi, etc. Although there is no discernible influence on humans, radio-astronomy and the safety systems of cars and aeroplanes may be affected.

Light pollution

Includes light trespass, over-illumination and astronomical interference.

Littering

Littering is basically tossing of inappropriate, unmoved, man-made objects onto public and private property.

Noise pollution

This includes high-intensity sonar, aviation noise, industrial noise, and traffic noise.

Plastic pollution

Plastic pollution involves the environmental buildup of plastic waste and micro-plastics that has a negative impact on wildlife, wildlife habitat, or people. When chemicals are released by a spill or an underground leak, soil contamination happens. Hydrocarbons, heavy metals, MTBE, herbicides, pesticides, and chlorinated hydrocarbons are some of the most significant soil pollutants. Nuclear weapons production, nuclear power generating, and other 20th century atomic physics operations resulted in radioactive pollution. Temperature changes in natural water bodies brought on by human activity, such as the use of water as a coolant in a power plant, are known as thermal pollution. Overhead power lines, highway billboards, scarred landscapes (as from strip mining), open trash storage, municipal solid waste, or space debris are all examples of visual pollution.

Water pollution is brought on by the intentional or unintentional discharge of industrial wastewater from commercial and industrial waste into surface waters, the discharge of untreated sewage and chemical pollutants like chlorine from treated sewage, and the release of waste and contaminants into surface runoff flowing to surface waters.

Natural causes

Volcanoes, which spew massive amounts of dangerous gases into the sky during eruptions, are one of the most important natural causes of pollution. Volcanic gases include carbon dioxide, which can be deadly in high concentrations and affects climate change, hydrogen halides, which can result in acid rain, sulphur dioxides, which are bad for animals and deplete the ozone layer, and hydrogen sulphides, which can kill people at concentrations of less than 1 part per thousand. Fine and ultrafine particles, which may contain harmful compounds and substances including arsenic, lead, and mercury, are another component of volcanic emissions. Wildfires, which can occasionally be started by lightning are a substantial cause of air pollution. Smoke from wildfires contains significant concentrations of both suffocation- causing carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. In addition, the smoke from wildfires contains a lot of small particulates that are unhealthy for animals.

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