NAME: IYAMU OSARENOMASE

MAT.NO: 18CL024838
COURSE: ESM 415
PROG: ESTATE MANAGEMENT

POLLUTION: TYPES, CAUSES,

EFFECTS, SOLUTIONS

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural

environment that cause adverse change. Pollution can take the
form of any substance or energy. Pollutants, the components of
pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or naturally

There are various types of pollution such as;

1. Air pollution
2. Noise pollution
3. Land pollution
4. Water pollution
5. Radioactive pollution

AIR POLLUTION
Air pollution is the presence of substances in the atmosphere
that are harmful to the health of humans and other living beings,
or cause damage to the climate or to materials. There are many
different types of air pollutants, such as gases, particulates, and
biological molecules.

CAUSES OF AIR POLLUTION

1. The Burning of Fossil Fuels

Sulfur dioxide emitted from the combustion of fossil fuels like
coal, petroleum for energy in power plants, and other factory
combustibles is one the major cause of air pollution. Billions of
vehicles run on roads are powered by gasoline and diesel
engines that burn petroleum for releasing energy. Petroleum is
made up of hydrocarbons, and engines don’t burn them well.
As a result, pollutants such as PM, nitric oxide and NO2
(together referred to as NOx), carbon monoxide, organic
compounds, and lead emit from vehicles including trucks, jeeps,
cars, trains, airplanes, causing a high level of pollution.

2. Agricultural Activities
Ammonia is a very common byproduct of agriculture-related
activities and is one of the most hazardous gases in the
atmosphere. The use of insecticides, pesticides, and fertilizers in
agricultural activities has grown quite a lot. They emit harmful
chemicals into the air and can also cause water pollution.
Farmers also set the field and old crops on fire in order to keep
them clean for the next round of sowing. The burning to clean
fields is said to cause pollution by releasing harmful gases in the
air.

3. Waste in Landfills
Landfills are land areas in which waste is deposited or buried.
These deposited or buried wastes generate methane. Methane is
a major greenhouse gas that is highly flammable and very
hazardous.
E-waste is another grave concern involving a lot of unscientific
dismantlings such as chemical leaching, burning wires and
others.

4. Exhaust From Factories and Industries

Manufacturing industries release a large amount of carbon
monoxide, hydrocarbons, organic compounds, and chemicals
into the air, thereby depleting the quality of air.
Manufacturing industries can be found at every corner of the
earth, and there is no area that has not been affected by it.
Petroleum refineries also release hydrocarbons and various other
chemicals that pollute the air and also cause land pollution.

5. Mining Operations
Mining is a process wherein minerals below the earth are
extracted using large equipment. During the process, dust and
chemicals are released in the air causing massive air pollution.
This is one of the reasons which is responsible for the
deteriorating health conditions of workers and nearby residents.

6. Indoor Air Pollution

Household cleaning products, painting supplies emit toxic
chemicals in the air and cause air pollution. Have you ever
noticed that once you paint the walls of your house, it creates
some sort of smell that makes it literally impossible for you to
breathe?
Suspended particulate matter popular by its acronym SPM, is
another cause of pollution. Referring to the particles afloat in the
air, SPM is usually caused by dust, combustion, etc.
Around seven million premature deaths caused every year due
to the combined effects of ambient (outdoor) and household air
pollution cause, WHO says.

7. Natural Events
There are certain natural events such as volcanoes, forest fires,
and dust storms, which are nature-born and cause air pollution.
EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION

1. Respiratory and Heart Problems

The effects of air pollution are alarming. They are known to
create several respiratory and heart conditions like asthma,
chronic bronchitis, emphysema, heart attacks and strokes along
with cancer, among other threats to the body. Several million are
known to have died due to the direct or indirect effects of Air
pollution.

2. Child Health Problems

Air pollution is detrimental to your health even before you take
your first breath. Exposure to high air pollution levels during
pregnancy causes miscarriages as well as premature birth,
autism, asthma and spectrum disorder in young children.
It also has the potential to damage early brain development in a
child and cause pneumonia that kills almost a million children
below 5 years. Children are at a greater risk of short term
respiratory infections and pulmonary diseases in areas exposed
to air pollutants.

3. Global Warming
Another direct effect is the immediate alterations that the world
is witnessing due to global warming.
With increased temperatures worldwide, an increase in sea
levels and melting of ice from colder regions and icebergs,
displacement, and loss of habitat have already signaled an
impending disaster if actions for preservation and normalization
aren’t undertaken soon.

4. Acid Rain
Harmful gases like nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides are
released into the atmosphere during the burning of fossil fuels.
When it rains, the water droplets combine with these air
pollutants, becomes acidic and then falls on the ground in the
form of acid rain. Acid rain can cause great damage to humans,
animals, and crops.
5. Eutrophication
Eutrophication is a condition where a high amount of nitrogen
present in some pollutants gets developed on the sea surface and
turns itself into algae and adversely affects fish, plants, and
animal species.

6. Depletion of the Ozone Layer

Ozone exists in the Earth’s stratosphere and is responsible for
protecting humans from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Earth’s
ozone layer is depleting due to the presence of
chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons in the
atmosphere.
As the ozone layer becomes thin, it will emit harmful rays back
on earth and can cause skin and eye-related problems. UV rays
also have the capability to affect crops.

SOLUTIONS TO AIR POLLUTION

1. Use the Public Mode of Transportation

Encourage people to use more and more public modes of
transportation to reduce pollution. Also, try to make use of
carpooling. If you and your colleagues come from the same
locality and have the same timings, you can explore this option
to save energy and money.

2. Better Household Practices

Discard fireplaces and/or wooden stoves used for heating
homes. Use gas logs in place of wood. Also, eliminate the use of
gas-powered lawn and gardening equipment. Avoid setting fire
to garbage, dry leaves, or other materials in your yard, and
lighting bonfires in the open. Try to mulch or compost your yard
waste. Use cleaning products and paints that are
environmentally friendly.

3. Conserve Energy
Switch off fans and lights when you are going out. A large
number of fossil fuels are burnt to produce electricity. You can
save the environment from degradation by reducing the number
of fossil fuels to be burned.

4. Understand the Concept of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

Do not throw away items that are of no use to you. Instead,
reuse them for some other purpose. For example, you can use
old jars to store cereals or pulses.

5. Emphasis on Clean Energy Resources

Use of Clean energy technologies like solar, wind and
geothermal is on the rise these days. Governments of various
countries have been providing grants to consumers who are
interested in installing solar panels for their homes.
Undoubtedly, this can go a long way to curb air pollution.

NOISE POLLUTION

Noise pollution, also known as environmental noise or sound

pollution, is the propagation of noise with ranging impacts on
the activity of human or animal life, most of them harmful to a
degree. The source of outdoor noise worldwide is mainly caused
by machines, transport, and propagation systems.

CAUSES OF NOISE POLLUTION

There are many sources of noise pollution, but here are some of
the main ones:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Construction sites
Building and car park construction and road and pavement
resurfacing works are very noisy. For example, a pneumatic drill
produces 110 dB.

4. 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.

5. Animals
Noise made by animals can go unnoticed, but a howling or
barking dog, for example, can produce around 60-80 dB.

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:

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

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

3. 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. Loud noise can
have latent effects on our behaviour, causing aggressive
behaviour and irritability.

4. Memory and concentration

Noise may affect people's ability to focus, which can lead to low
performance over time. It is also bad for the memory, making it
hard to study.
Interestingly, our ears need more than 16 hours' rest to make up
for two hours of exposure to 100 dB.

SOLUTIONS TO NOISE POLLUTIONS

1. 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.

2. 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.
LAND POLLUTION
Soil contamination, soil pollution, or land pollution as a part of
land degradation is caused by the presence of xenobiotic
chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment. It
is typically caused by industrial activity, agricultural chemicals
or improper disposal of waste.

CAUSES OF LAND POLLUTION

There are various causes which contribute to this pollution. The

various substances that spill on the land cause land pollution.
Similarly, these substances have different sources of origin. The
most common ones are:

1. Garbage
This is one of the most common causes of land pollution. You
will find garbage in every household. Tonnes of garbage is
produced by common households annually. When such massive
amount gets generated, the ways to dispose of it falls short.
Therefore, all this garbage gets dumped onto land. This land of
disposal is referred to as a landfill. It is basically a wastage of
free land which also gives birth to new problems. For instance,
these landfills release toxic gases that harm living beings as well
as the ozone layer.

2. Factories
Factories contribute largely to land pollution. They produce
toxic waste products and chemical which prove very damaging
to land.
Furthermore, these factories dump off their waste in lands and
water bodies. While some countries have stringent laws against
this, some do not. This increases land pollution.

3. Farming
We know farming is very important for every person. They
fulfill our food demands. However, irresponsible farming
becomes very harmful sometimes.
Clearing of forests for land area in order to farm makes way for
land pollution. Moreover, the insecticides and fertilizers sprayed
on crops also damage the land.

4. Mining
It is yet another activity that contributes to land pollution. In
order to obtain coal and minerals, we dig holes into the land.
This results in land erosion.
Similarly, it also produces harmful gases and toxins which
results in contaminated land as well as the air.

EFFECTS OF LAND POLLUTION

1. Soil Pollution
Soil pollution is another form of land pollution, where the upper
layer of the soil or the topsoil’s composition is damaged or
becomes altered.
This is caused by the overuse of chemical fertilizers, soil erosion
triggered by running water and other pest control measures,
leading to loss of fertile land for agriculture, forest cover, fodder
patches for grazing, etc

2. Groundwater Poisoning
When harmful substances from industrial processes, chemicals
are improperly disposed of on the land or in illegal landfills or
storages, the chemicals and other substances could end up in the
groundwater system.
The process is called leaching. It can happen on farms, industrial
sites, and landfills and affect the health of animals, plants and
also humans.

3. Drinking-Water Problem
Drinking water is highly affected by land pollution. Nearly 50%
of the world’s population does not have access to safe drinking
water, and each year water-based diseases cause up to 10
million deaths.

4. Change in Climate Patterns

The effects of land pollution are very hazardous and can lead to
the loss of ecosystems. When land is polluted, it directly or
indirectly affects the climate patterns.

5. Environmental Impact
When deforestation is committed, the tree cover is
compromised. This leads to a steep imbalance in the rain cycle.
A disturbed rain cycle affects a lot of factors.
Most importantly, the green cover is reduced. Trees and plants
help balance the atmosphere; without them, we are subjected to
various concerns like Global warming, the greenhouse effect,
irregular rainfall and flash floods, among other imbalances.

SOLUTIONS OF LAND POLLUTION

1. Make people aware of the concept of Reduce, Recycle and

Reuse.

2. Reusing materials help to reduce the requirement of

harvesting resources. The products that cannot be reused can
likely be recycled.

3. Reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers in agricultural

activities.

4. Reduce the use of non-biodegradable materials. By simply

switching to a reusable cloth bag for groceries instead of plastic
shopping bags will help cut down on the need for non-
biodegradable materials.

5. Avoid buying packaged items as they will lead to creating

garbage and end up in the landfill site.
5. Ensure that you do not litter on the ground and do proper
disposal of garbage.
WATER POLLUTION

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies, usually as

a result of human activities, in such a manner that negatively
affects its legitimate uses. Water pollution reduces the ability of
the body of water to provide the ecosystem services that it
would otherwise provide.

CAUSES OF WATER POLLUTION

1. Industrial Waste
Industries produce a tremendous amount of waste, which
contains toxic chemicals and pollutants, causing air pollution
and damage to our environment and us. They contain harmful
chemicals, including lead, mercury, sulfur, nitrates, asbestos,
and many others.
Many industries, not having a proper waste management system,
drain the waste in the freshwater, which goes into canals, rivers,
and later into the sea.

2. Sewage and Wastewater

The sewage and wastewater that is produced in each household
are treated chemically and released into the sea along with fresh
water. The sewage water carries pathogens, a typical water
pollutant, other harmful bacterias, and chemicals that can cause
serious health problems and thereby diseases.
Microorganisms in water are known to cause some of the very
deadly diseases and become the breeding grounds for creatures
that act as carriers. These carriers inflict these diseases onto an
individual via various forms of contact. A typical example
would be Malaria.

3. Mining Activities
Mining is the process of crushing the rock and extracting coal
and other minerals from the underground. These elements, when
extracted in the raw form, contain harmful chemicals and can
increase the number of toxic elements when mixed up with
water, which may result in health problems. Mining activities
emit a large amount of metal waste and sulfides from the rocks,
which is harmful to the water.

4. Marine Dumping
The garbage produced by households in the form of paper,
plastic, food, aluminum, rubber, glass, is collected and dumped
into the sea in some countries. These items take 2 weeks to 200
years to decompose.
When such things enter the sea, they not only cause water
pollution but also harm animals in the sea.

5. Accidental Oil Leakage

Oil spill poses a huge threat to marine life when a large amount
of oil spills into the sea and does not dissolve in water. It causes
problems for local marine wildlife, including fish, birds, and sea
otters.
A ship carrying a large quantity of oil may spill oil if met with
an accident. Such an oil spill can cause varying damage to
species in the ocean, depending on the amount of oil spill, the
toxicity of pollutants, and the size of the ocean

6. The burning of fossil fuels

Fossil fuels like coal and oil, when burnt, produce a substantial
amount of ash in the atmosphere. The particles which contain
toxic chemicals when mixed with water vapor result in acid rain.
Also, carbon dioxide is released from the burning of fossil fuels,
which results in global warming.

TREATMENT OF POLLUTED WATER

1. Industrial Treatment
The raw sewage needs to be adequately treated in a water
treatment plant before it is released into the environment. Water
is passed through several chambers and chemical processes in
the water treatment plant to reduce the amount and toxicity of
waste.

2. Denitrification
When nitrates present in the water get converted into gas, it is
known as denitrification. It is an ecological approach that
prevents leaching of nitrates in the soil. It stops groundwater
from getting contaminated.

3. Ozone Waste Water Treatment

The ozone wastewater treatment method has become very
popular. In this method, an ozone generator breaks down the
pollutants in water. Ozone oxidizes bacteria, organic material,
molds, and other contaminants in water.

4. Septic Tanks
Septic tanks treat sewage right at the place of the location where
it originates instead of treating it in any far-away plant or
sewage system. This system is usually put to use at the
individual building level. The sewage gets separated into solid
and liquid components and treated separately.

RADIOACTIVE POLLUTION

Radioactive contamination, also called radiological

contamination, is the deposition of, or presence of radioactive
substances on surfaces or within solids, liquids or gases, where
their presence is unintended or undesirable.

CAUSES OF RADIOACTIVE POLLUTION

1. Nuclear Accidents From Nuclear Energy Generation Plants

In the postmodern world, various forms of energy are being
discovered. Among them is nuclear energy, which is touted to
be the most potent source of energy due to its high latent power.
Reports indicate that the high latent power is due to its high
level of radiation.

2. The Use of Nuclear Weapons as Weapons of Mass

Destruction (WMD)
The use of nuclear missiles and atomic bombs, a form of nuclear
energy, in the Second World War explains not only the cause
but also the damaging nature of radioactive pollution or
contamination.

3. Use of Radioisotopes
Radioisotopes are used to make detectors and in other industrial
activities. Isotopes such as uranium have high concentrations of
radiation in them. On the other hand, common Isotopes such as
carbon-containing radioactive material are easily found in
waterways through sewage lines.

4. Mining
Mining mostly involves the excavation of the mineral ores,
which are then broken into smaller, manageable pieces. Radium
and Uranium, for instance, are naturally occurring in the
environment and are equally radioactive.
Hence, mining increases the natural geological processes by
moving these materials from underneath the earth to the surface.
Other minerals with a hint of radiation are thorium, plutonium,
radon, potassium, carbon and phosphorus

5. Spillage of Radioactive Chemicals

There have been instances of spillages over oceans when ships
hit glaciers or coral reefs and end up releasing chemicals on
waterways and in the atmosphere. The majority of these
chemicals, including petroleum products, have a significant
level of radiation, which can be detrimental to the environment.

6. Tests on Radiation
Radiation has been seen to have a lot of interesting properties,
which has promoted a lot of scientists to conduct tests to learn
more about it. It is one of the key elements in the cure and
treatment of cancer.

EFFECTS OF RADIOACTIVE POLLUTION

1. Genetic Mutations
Radiation has adverse effects when it comes to genetics. It leads
to damage to DNA strands leading to the genetic break up over
time. The degree of genetic mutation leading to changes in DNA
composition varies due to the level of radiation one has been
exposed to and the kind of exposure.
In the event that a human or an animal is exposed to too much
radiation from the atmosphere, the food consumed, and even
water used then, the chances are that their bodies have already
absorbed the radiation. Once in the body, it remains active
because energy cannot be destroyed.

2. Diseases
Cancer is the most dominant radiation-related disease. It has
developed over the years and poses a great risk in global health.
Others include leukemia, anemia, hemorrhage, a reduction in the
life span leading to premature aging and premature deaths as
well as others such as cardiovascular complications. Leukemia,
for instance, is caused by radiation in the bone marrow.

3. Soil Infertility
Exposure of radiation to the atmosphere means it is present even
in soils. Radioactive substances in the soil react together with
the various nutrients leading to the destruction of those
nutrients, thus rendering the soil infertile and highly toxic.
Such soil leads to the harvest of crops that are riddled with
radiation and thus, unfit for consumption by both humans and
animals.

4. Cell Destruction
Radioactive pollution has diverse effects, such as the alteration
of cells. The bodies of living organisms are unique as within it,
there are millions of cells in one single body, where each has its
own purpose to fulfill. Radiation distorts the cells present,
leading to permanent damage of the various organs and organ
systems. In the face of too much radiation, permanent illnesses
and death are inevitable.

5. Burns
Radiation is not easy to feel, but it is easy to realize that you
have been affected by it. The immediate presence of burns, red
lesions and sores is evidence. To make it worse, this can lead to
skin cancer.

6. Effects on Wildlife
The animals at different levels suffer differently. The higher-
level organisms get more affected than insects and flies.
Herbivores, such as cattle, when grazing the contaminated land,
the deposited Ce-13 and I-131 get accumulated on the animal
tissues in a large amount.

SOLUTIONS TO RADIOACTIVE POLLUTION

1. Proper Method of Disposing of Radioactive Waste

Radioactive waste still has some level of radiation. Accordingly,
it cannot be disposed of in the same way as normal waste. It
cannot be incinerated or buried. Since there is a likelihood of
seepage, this waste should be stored in heavy and thick concrete
containers.
Another option is to dilute the radiation since storage may not
be possible. Since there are no easy ways of disposing of
radioactive material, professional assistance should always be
sought.

2. Proper Labeling
It is necessary for any material with radioactive content to be
labeled, and the necessary precautions advised on the content of
the label. The reason for this is because radiation can enter the
body by a mere touch of radioactive material. Containers with
such elements should be well labeled in order to make one use
protective gear when handling them.

3. Banning of Nuclear Tests

It has already been proven that nuclear power has a lot of latent
power that is very destructive. Nevertheless, the tests done to
perfect the energy contribute greatly to the overall presence of
radioactive substances. Moreover, these tests, though done in
the deserts, end up escaping from one ecosystem to another,
eventually affecting the lives of many people.

4. Alternative Energy Sources

The evolution and use of nuclear power was not a bad thing
initially. However, considering the damage and threats it has on
the environment, it is high time for its use to be discontinued
and for the world to perhaps focus on alternative and
environmentally friendly energy sources – like renewable
sources of energy namely solar, hydro-electric and wind power.

5. Proper Storage
It is mandatory for containers carrying radioactive material to be
stored properly. For starters, such substances should be stored in
radiation proof containers to ensure no seeping or leakage
during handling. Proper storage means no harm and can
minimize cases of accidental leakage.