Impacts of Pollutants on human health - People, Development and Environment Notes

Pollutant

Impacts of pollutants on human health:

• Pollutants harm humans as well as wildlife and the environment.
• Destroyed landscapes, poison soils and waterways, or kill plants and animals. Humans are also regularly harmed by pollution.
• Long-term exposure to  pollution affects us in various ways, such as  chronic respiratory disease, lung cancer and other diseases.

Pollution can be classified as :

• Automobiles
• Electrical Power Plants
• Industrial Processes
• Heating Plants
• forest fires
• large scale agricultural waste

Harmful gases and substances that are poisonous for human beings. :

• sulphur tropospheric ozone
• sulphur dioxide
• nitrogen dioxide
• suspended particulate matter

Effects of air pollution on human health

• Respiratory diseases
• Cardiovascular damage
• Fatigue, headaches and anxiety
• Irritation of the eyes, nose and throat
• Damage to reproductive organs
• Harm to the liver
• Damage of nervous system

Health impacts of some specific air pollutants

• Tobacco smoke – cancer to the smoker and burning sensation in the eyes or nose, throat irritation to others
• Volatile organic compounds – irritation of the eyes, throat, nose, headaches and nausea, Damage the liver and other parts of the body.
• Lead – Damages the nervous system, digestive problems, cancer.
• Ozone – Itching on the eyes, asthma, cold and pneumonia.
• Nitrogen oxide – respiratory diseases
• Carbon monoxide – affected organs like the brain and cardiovascular system and affects the concentration level, makes one sleepy.
• Sulphur dioxide – diseases of lungs with wheezing and shortness of breath.
• Suspended particulate matter (SPM) – affects our lungs causing lung damage & respiratory problems.

2. Water pollution
It is the contamination of pollutants in water bodies like lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and groundwater without treatment very often by human activities which leads to harmful effects.
Sources Of Water Pollution

• Natural Sources: Dead and decay composition of plants and animals, volcanic eruptions, coastal, cliff erosion, landslides and soil erosion
• Anthropogenic Sources: These include industry, urban, agricultural and cultural sources.

Sources of water pollutants

• Industrial pollutants such as heavy metals wastes
• Agricultural pollutants such as Insecticides, pesticides, chemical fertilizer etc
• Urban pollutants
• Natural pollutants such as Volcanic dust, decomposed organic matter etc
• Physical pollutants such as Oil, grease etc
• Acid Rain

Effects of Water Pollution

• Death of aquatic (water) and marine life
• Plants health and natural life
• Food-chains disruption
• Health diseases such as hepatitis, cholera, typhoid, jaundice, diarrhoea and skin diseases.
• Destruction of natural ecosystems and biosphere
• Contaminated water affects our health as 
• It causes amoebiasis, typhoid, hookworm etc
• Hormonal and reproductive problems damage the nervous system, liver and kidney
• Diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, heart disease and death because of exposure to mercury
• Rashes, hepatitis, gastroenteritis, diarrhoea, stomach aches, vomiting etc.

3. Soil pollution
Soil pollution is the destruction of the earth’s land surfaces, directly or indirectly as a result of man’s activities.
Sources of Soil pollution

• Agricultural sources
• Ashes
• Mining sources
• Industrial sources
• Sewage Treatment
• Garbage, Household or municipal waste 
• Deforestation
• Chemical And Nuclear Plants

Effects Of Soil Pollution 

• Hazardous chemicals wipe out living organisms in the soil
• Landfills, mining and industry activities destroy vegetation
• Arsenic poisoning and affects liver with skin, heart, cancers and neurological damage
• Effects on ecosystems, human beings and plants

4. Noise pollution
Noise pollution is termed as the unwanted sound or unpleasant sound which makes discomfort on the ears.
Sources of Noise Pollution

• Household sources such as TV, Loudspeakers, grinder, food mixer, dryer, vacuum cleaner, washing machine AC etc.
• Social events such as parties, discos etc.
• Industrial and Commercial activities such as Printing presses, construction & manufacturing industries
• Transportation: Aeroplanes, trains and road vehicles

Effects Of Noise Pollution

• hearing loss,
• sleep disruption
• stress-related illnesses
• speech interference
• lost productivity
• Cardiovascular issues
• Trouble in communicating

5. Radioactive pollution
Radioactive pollution is caused due to the presence of radioactive materials in the environment caused by the emission of harmful radiations like alpha, beta or gamma rays.
Source of radioactive pollution

• Nuclear accidents 
• Nuclear weapons 
• Mining
• Spillage of radioactive chemicals
• Tests on radiation
• Cosmic rays

Effects of radioactive pollution

• Genetic mutations
• Diseases like cancer
• Infertility in soils
• Cell destruction

6. Light pollution
Light pollution is caused by flashy and unwanted sparkling artificial lighting.
Source/Cause of light pollution

• Industrialization
• Modernization

Effects of light pollution:

• Over-illumination causes headache, fatigue, stress and anxiety.
• Light trespass during night causes the sleeping disorder.
• Glaring to bright outdoor lights decreases our eyesight and affects vision.

Other impacts of the pollutants

• Global temperature rise
• Warming oceans
• Shrinking ice sheets
• Glacial retreat
• Decreased snow cover
• Sea level rise
• Declining Arctic sea ice
• Ocean acidification

Source/Causes Of Climate Change

• Increased Greenhouse Effect
• Burning of fossil fuels
• Industrial activities
• Future Effects Of Climate Change
• Sea level rise
• The Arctic Ocean is likely to become ice-free.
• More intense and stronger Hurricanes
• More droughts & heat waves.
• Affect on precipitation patterns.
• Frost-free season
• Earth’s temperatures will rise.

Environmental Issues due to Pollution

• Waste Disposal
• Water Scarcity
• Desertification
• Endangered Species
• Global warming
• Ocean Acidification
• Pollution
• Acid Rain
• Ozone Depletion
• Polar Melting