Health Effects Of Air And Water Pollutants

When you think of problems in the world today, water pollution isn’t one that would normally come up. In fact it is one of the worst problems in the world today. Water pollution, by definition, is the contamination of streams, lakes, underground water, bays, or oceans by any substances harmful to living things. All living things contain water and most need water to survive, so water pollution is a big problem. If severe, the pollution can kill off birds, fish, and any animals that use the water source. In some cases even killing an entire species.

Not only is pollution the cause of the death of many organisms essential to ecological balance, but human drinking water has also been affected.

Water pollution impacts how humans and other living organisms live their life. Most common way humans are effected by water pollution is through diseases while drinking the water. Scientists have found over “five hundred different types of diseases” that can affect humans. (Book). These diseases get into the water streams by human and animal wastes. The diseases in the water can often lead to death for humans. Recent research has shown that that each year

For the past few years, the American Lung Association has been releasing its annual reports on the “State of The Air” that lists the most polluted cities in the United States. For instance, in 2014, out of the seven cities ranked to have the worst air quality, six of them are in California. The two major air pollution culprits in California are from the transportation sources such as trucks and cars, or from the stationary sources such as industrial facilities and refineries (Ierodiakonou, et al. 392). However, the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association includes other pollutants in their reports such as Sulphur(IV) oxide, Carbon(II) Oxide gas and Nitrogen(IV) Oxide from chemical industries, which also causes harm to human beings and the environment at large.

Air pollution has been recognized as a major threat to environmental health, and the effects that it can have on the population are extremely varied. In the environmental aspects, air

At present, pollution of water resources has become an invisible enemy of human health. The studies of the World Health Organization shows that 80% of all diseases in the

Water pollution is the contamination of water by untreated sewage as well as human waste, often to the point when water becomes undrinkable or usable. According to Woodford C, around one-half of all ocean contamination is caused by sewage and waste. “Each year, the world generates perhaps 5–10 billion tons of industrial waste, much of which is pumped untreated into rivers, oceans, and other waterways.” (“Woodford C.” 19). “Many water bodies near urban areas (cities and towns) are highly polluted. This is the result of both garbage dumped by individuals and dangerous chemicals legally and illegally dumped by manufacturing industries, health center, schools and market places.” (“ESchooltoday” page 4, (3)). As a result of all this pollution in water, a lot of people are dying. Furthermore, Britain tried to force the government to take some kind of action to purify the water so that people can get no illnesses with safe drinking water in 1990’s. “In the early 1990s, when surfers in Britain grew tired of catching illnesses from

Water Pollution is one of the most serious ecological threat faced in this modern era. Water pollution is a result of toxic substances entering water bodies such as lakes, rivers and oceans etc. These toxins can either dissolve in the water, lay suspended in the water, deposit on the water bed or contaminate ground water. This not only results in degradation of water quality but also means destruction of aquatic ecosystem.

There is an array of pollutants capable of contaminating freshwater in different ways (Schiedek et al., 2007). Some of these contaminants include fertilizers and pesticides from agriculture farms, heavy metals such as mercury which are prone to long-range transport and oil spills from pipes in the course of transport of fossil fuels (Kundu et al., 2007). Human activities have also been identified as the most prominent cause of freshwater contamination (Liu et al., 2004). Some of these human activities include improper management of agricultural runoff and sewage disposal methods and the use of energy sources that can emit particulates into the atmosphere, which may eventually end up in freshwater bodies (Li et al., 1999). Approximately 50% of untreated waste water is dumped in freshwater bodies. The consumption of contaminated water may cause illnesses such as cholera and

Water is a critical source that is utilized by most living things on Earth to support it ways of live. The usage of water ranges from basic household needs to agricultural purposes. Water is one of the resources on the Earth that is becoming more and more scarce and the water available for usage is being further contaminated by pollution causing sickness and death.(World Health Organization).Countries are experiencing droughts affecting the water supply needed to maintain irrigation, thermoelectric power, and public supply. The definition of water pollution is the result of when too many toxic materials are present, in which negatively impact the water to be unsafe for its intended purpose, which may be drinking to industrial processes

Water pollution effects are not always immediate. We as human beings continue to pollute water in ignorance or knowingly that it will affect us in the long run. More than two thirds of the overall population of the earth is occupied by water bodies and the rest human beings. This shows the great extent on the importance of keeping water bodies clean. Water pollution eventually has led to decline in quality of water, causing problems for human beings and animals. In other words, polluted water poses a threat to human beings and animals. Unfortunately, we as human beings have played a big role in water pollution. Water

Air pollution is caused by the combustion of motor vehicle fuel. This fills the air with small, unnoticeable particles of soot and dust (Reese). This is a major health concern for the entire world population. Air pollution causes immediate health problems including cardiovascular illness and stress to the lungs. There are also serious long term, permanent health effects such as accelerated lung aging, brain damage, learning disabilities, and overall shortened life span (Reese and Spare the Air). These issues are already affecting lives today, therefore can only further affect the lives of our children and generations after them. In order to sustain human life, we need to take this issue into our own hands to protect the planet. This is as simple as creating standards of how much greenhouse gasses can be emitted per city, even per country.

A reason that water pollution is a problem today is because many people don’t realize that they are hurting out water supplies when they really are. There are many pollutants that hurt our water supply such as farming. When farmers spray their fields with chemicals and apply fertilizers. Some of these chemicals reach the river, and animal urine and manure may be washed into the river. Another cause of water pollution is from accidents, such as tanker spills. Accidents with chemicals may cause river pollution as well. Mining can be another cause because the dusts and minerals get washed into the rivers. Seepage is another cause of water pollution. Because chemicals from waste dumps join the groundwater flow into the river. Urban Wastes is a major cause because the sewage comes from toilets, sinks, and industrial processes. This causes many human diseases such as diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis, and cholera.

Pollution is a term applied to any environmental state or manifestation which is harmful or unpleasant to life, resulting from failure to achieve or maintain control over the chemical, physical or biological consequences or side effects of human scientific, industrial and social habits (Feugo, 2008; Anderson et al., 2005). From another perspective, water pollution refers to any physical, biological or chemical change in water quality that adversely affects living organisms and makes water unsuitable for desired uses as a result of anthropogenic activities (Cunningham and Saigo, 2003; Anderson et al., 2005). Many human activities from water supply and sanitation to transport, mining and the chemical industry have the potential to pollute

Even though many do not care about the pollution in the environment, society is not doing enough to prevent pollution. Everyone could have a better quality of life and many diseases could be prevented. Air pollution is one of many types of pollutions, but one of the most harmful form of pollution to come upon. Air pollution has many causes. People wonder how we could lower this risk of this air pollution and overall every type of pollution. Of course, there are many things to do, but what's best for the environment? "Air pollution is by far the most harmful form of pollution in our environment. Air pollution is caused by the injurious smoke emitted by cars, buses, trucks, trains, and factories, namely sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides."(as cited in http://www.uccee.org. 2006).