Types Types of Pollution
Table of Contents
What is Pollution?
Types of Pollution
Air Pollution
Water Pollution
Soil Pollution
Noise Pollution
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There are various types of pollution chiefly arising as a result of anthropogenic causes. Also contributing to
pollution is globalisation, where humanity’s constant need for natural resources has slowly started to change the
face of the earth.
Though the quality of living has drastically improved, other new issues have risen that gradually impact human
health and the environment. In this article, we shall explore the meaning, causes and types of pollution. Also,
we shall analyse the repercussions of pollution on human health and the environment.
Types of Pollution
What is Pollution?
“Pollution is the introduction of substances (or energy) that cause adverse changes in the environment and
living entities .”
Pollution need not always be caused by chemical substances such as particulates (like smoke and dust). Forms
of energy such as sound, heat or light can also cause pollution. These substances that cause pollution are called
pollutants.
Pollution, even in minuscule amounts, impacts the ecological balance. Pollutants can make their way up the
food chain and eventually find their way inside the human body. Read on to explore the types of pollution and
their implications.
Also Read: Industrial Melanism
Types of Pollution
As stated before, there are different types of pollution, which are either caused by natural events (like forest
fires) or by man-made activities (like cars, factories, nuclear wastes, etc.) These are further classified into the
following types of pollution:
Air Pollution
Water Pollution
Soil Pollution
Noise Pollution
Besides these 4 types of pollution, other types exist such as light pollution, thermal pollution and radioactive
pollution. The latter is much rarer than other types, but it is the deadliest.
Air Pollution
Air Pollution
Air pollution refers to the release of harmful contaminants (chemicals, toxic gases, particulates, biological
molecules, etc.) into the earth’s atmosphere. These contaminants are quite detrimental and in some cases, pose
serious health issues. Some causes that contribute to air pollution are:
Burning fossil fuels
Mining operations
Exhaust gases from industries and factories
The effects of air pollution vary based on the kind of pollutant. But generally, the impact of air pollution ranges
from:
Increased risk of respiratory illness and cardiovascular problems
Increased risk of skin diseases
May increase the risk of cancer
Global warming
Acid rain
Ozone depletion
Hazards to wildlife
Among the other types of pollution, air pollution is theorized to have a planet-wide implication. Scientists have
even speculated an apocalypse-like scenario where air pollution if left unchecked, can bring about an extreme
form of global warming called the runaway greenhouse effect. Though this is purely speculative, it is a
phenomenon that has already occurred on Venus.
More to Read: Steps to Control Air Pollution
Water Pollution
Water Pollution
Water Pollution
Water pollution is said to occur when toxic pollutants and particulate matter are introduced into water bodies
such as lakes, rivers and seas. These contaminants are generally introduced by human activities like
improper sewage treatment and oil spills. However, even natural processes such as eutrophication can cause
water pollution.
Other significant causes of water pollution include:
Dumping solid wastes in water bodies
Disposing untreated industrial sewage into water bodies
Human and animal wastes
Agricultural runoff containing pesticides and fertilisers
The effects of water pollution are very pronounced in our environment. Furthermore, toxic chemicals can
bioaccumulate in living beings, and these chemicals can travel their way up the food chain, ultimately reaching
humans.
Among the other types of pollution, water pollution has severe consequences on humans. For instance, in 1932,
a grave case of water pollution incapacitated the inhabitants of an entire city in Japan with neurological diseases
and mental illness for many decades. However, the immediate cause was not apparent but was eventually
attributed to acute mercury poisoning. Methylmercury was dumped into the surrounding bay and had ultimately
bioaccumulated inside the fish. The local population then consumed these fish, and this resulted in the
manifestation of ill effects and neurological diseases.
Read More: A grave case of water pollution
Other consequences of water pollution include:
Disruption of the ecosystem
Threats to marine life
Increased risk of water-borne diseases
Increases toxic chemicals (such as mercury) in water bodies
Eutrophication
Soil Pollution
Soil Pollution
Soil pollution, also called soil contamination, refers to the degradation of land due to the presence of
chemicals or other man-made substances in the soil. The xenobiotic substances alter the natural composition of
soil and affect it negatively. These can drastically impact life directly or indirectly. For instance, any toxic
chemicals present in the soil will get absorbed by the plants. Since plants are producers in an environment, it
gets passed up through the food chain. Compared to the other types of pollution, the effects of soil pollution are
a little more obscured, but their implications are very noticeable.
Some of the common causes of soil pollution are:
Improper industrial waste disposal
Oil Spills
Acid rain which is caused by air pollution
Mining activities
Intensive farming and agrochemicals (like fertilisers and pesticides)
Industrial accidents
The effects of soil pollution are numerous. Specific wastes, such as radioactive waste become particularly
hazardous when they are not well-contained. A well-documented example is a nuclear accident in Chernobyl,
which has left an area of 2,600 km2 uninhabitable for several thousand years.
Other effects of soil pollution include:
Loss of soil nutrients, which renders the soil unfit for agriculture
Impacts the natural flora and fauna residing in the soil
Degrades vegetation due to the increase of salinity of the soil
Toxic dust (such as silica dust) can cause respiratory problems or even lung cancer
Read More: Soil Profile
Noise Pollution
Noise Pollution
Noise pollution refers to the excessive amount of noise in the surrounding that disrupts the natural balance.
Usually, it is man-made, though certain natural calamities like volcanoes can contribute to noise pollution.
In general, any sound which is over 85 decibels is considered to be detrimental. Also, the duration an individual
is exposed plays an impact on their health. For perspective, a normal conversation is around 60 decibels, and a
jet taking off is around 15o decibels. Consequently, noise pollution is more obvious than the other types of
pollution.
Noise pollution has several contributors, which include:
Industry-oriented noises such as heavy machines, mills, factories, etc.
Transportation noises from vehicles, aeroplanes, etc.
Construction noises
Noise from social events (loudspeakers, firecrackers, etc.)
Household noises (such as mixers, TV, washing machines, etc.)
Noise pollution has now become very common due to dense urbanisation and industrialisation. Noise pollution
can bring about adverse effects such as :
Hearing loss
Tinnitus
Sleeping disorders
Hypertension (high BP)
Communication problems
