Do you know that we are harming our environment?
Environmental pollution is basically the contamination of the environment which affects the normal functioning of the environment.
From the last few decades, we all are facing the threats of global warming, climate change, air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution and the most injurious plastic pollution. The air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat all are contaminated.
A drastic rise in climate change has been noticed. We are also concerned about noise pollution and plastic pollution.
Who is responsible for this? None other than we, humans!
By the middle of the 20th century, there has been a significant rise in environmental pollution. Since then awareness about the need to protect air water and land has developed.
Environmental pollution has created an imbalance in nature. This imbalance affects the quality of life for plants, animals and humans.
In the next few decades, what are we going to gift our future generation?
A polluted environment! Where there would be no safe air to breathe, no pure water to drink and no safe land to live.
This pollution has spread its toxic elements in our basic needs. Mother Earth provides us with so many natural resources which are necessary for our growth and survival but we are polluting them due to our own selfish needs.
How are we unable to understand that this pollution will affect our health and the future too?
Types of environmental pollution
- Air pollution
- Water pollution
- Soil pollution
- Noise pollution
- Plastic pollution
Causes
We have cut down many trees to fulfil our needs and greed but never thought to plant one. The harmful gases released by the industries and plants contaminate the air.
Air pollution is also caused by the burning of fossil fuels and natural gas which are used to produce electricity.
Industrial effluents are also discharged into water bodies causing water pollution.
Use of pesticides is the major cause of soil pollution.
Effects
Environmental pollution is a big challenge not only in India but also in other countries. It has adverse effects causing harm to human health.
Air pollution has resulted in the destruction of the Ozone layers in the atmosphere. Water pollution has caused harm to aquatic life. Soil pollution has resulted in imbalance soil, which affected plant growth. Natural calamities like cyclones and earthquakes are the result of increased environmental pollution.
Some regions receive heavy rainfall which causes flood and some regions receive no rain and remain dry. The melting Iceberg in Antarctica has resulted in rising sea levels.
So, basically, every basic thing we need for our survival on earth is contaminated.
When the contaminated elements reach inside our body, we get trapped in various diseases like asthma, lung cancer, skin cancer, cardiovascular diseases, allergies kidney infections etc. The list is unending.
Let's dive into more to know about the biggest challenge in the form of pollution, the whole world is facing:
Plastic pollution
Plastic is an integral part of our daily lives. Research says that 1 million plastic drinking bottles are purchased every minute, while up to 5 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide every year. Half out of these are designed to reuse, only once, and then thrown away.
Now, plastics are made up of toxic materials which are known to cause cancer and contaminate air and soil. It is impossible for nature to completely breakdown the plastic properties and hence, they persist in the environment for centuries.
About 8 million tonnes of plastic end up in oceans every year. These plastic particles are swallowed by marine animals causing to death. Also, when the plastic is dumped in the garbage it is swallowed by street animals which again is harmful to their lives.
The production and use of plastic goods are growing day by day and so is the wastage. Often plastics are burnt which leads to air pollution because poisonous chemicals are released. When inhaled by humans and animals, can cause respiratory disorders. However, some countries have started banning plastic goods but still a long way to go. More and more awareness has to be spread. We should educate people about its demerits and start using better alternatives to it.
Conclusion
So, the time has come to spread awareness as much as possible. Let's educate people about the hazards and how to overcome this threat. We have to adopt greener ways of living.
Use of eco-friendly vehicles, solar energy, planting more trees, recycling of natural waste and minimal use of pesticides are some of the ways to adapt to save the earth, human, plant and animal species. Let us all take the responsibility to save our environment from being polluted.
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