Air pollution comes mainly from sources related to technological advances

Air Pollution

Pollution as a worldwide problem comes from a number of sources.
These sources have grown through the years, and are still increasing over time, as the world develops into a highly industrialized sphere. Unfortunately, technological innovation is partnered with intensifying sources of pollutants.

Air Pollution

Air pollution comes mainly from sources related to technological advances. Vehicles, especially powered by diesel, produce harmful chemicals. Moreover, when these air chemicals come in contact and react with the sunlight,
it forms a pollutant called Ozone (O3). Industries and other products also produce Ozone. At home, stoves and fireplaces create particulate matters as well as dusts from construction sites and roads. The elements called carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) comes from things that burn fuel,
whereas sulfur dioxides (SO2) are produced by industrial plants powered by coal and oil. These sources include vehicles, equipments with motor engines, which are usually used for constructions and agriculture, as well as devices present in homes.
Using residential devices will always have their disadvantage, as these will somehow release toxic air contaminants.
These devices may consist of heaters, cooking stoves and dry cleaners.

Water Pollution

Water pollution may come from the direct and indirect introduction of contaminants in bodies of water such as lakes, rives and oceans.

If upon the introduction of harmful substances and nothing is done to clean or treat the area, it will eventually alleviate the problem. The most common sources of water pollution include inappropriate disposal of excretion in sewage and pipes from establishments.
There are some instances wherein water pollution extends from one area to another by the process of water evaporation in the atmosphere and rainfalls, aside from contaminants being carried out by flowing waters in rivers and creeks. In water pollution, an alarming percentage of disease causing pathogens and chemicals is present.
This will also determine the severity of the contamination.


Soil Pollution

A solid source of soil pollution in a certain area, aside from industrial wastes are the actual wastes of humans (human excreta), nuclear wastes that contain radioactive substances, improper disposable of garbage in both residential and commercial area as well as acid rains. When soil pollution occurs,
the nutrients and living organisms (e.g. earthworms) beneficial to the environment as a whole will be destroyed.

Air pollution comes mainly from sources related to technological advances

Other types of pollution, for the most part, affect human beings. An example of this is the light pollution that comes from illumination abuse and light trespasses. Noise pollution which can damage the auditory function of our body is created by high-intensity noise from roadways, sonar and industrial establishments.
Visual pollution is frequent for highly industrialized and urban areas where there is an exaggerated construction of power lines, billboards as well as careless disposal of wastes.

Types of water pollution

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Types of water pollution

What is the source of the pollution?


What types of pollution comes from those sources?

Keeping with a dual question theme, the source of water pollution is usually identified as either a point source or a non-point source problem.

Point source water pollution refers to specific, identifiable sources, such as sewage treatment plants or industrial plants, that directly discharge material into the water. Because they are easily identified, point source forms of water pollution are the easier of the two water pollution sources to regulate.

Non-point sources refers to the sources of water pollution that can not be traced to one definitive source. Agriculture run-off, for example, largely refers to the pesticides and fertilizers used in farming that get washed into local waterways such as rivers and lakes. However, since pesticides and fertilizers are also used by many household gardeners and local landscape services, determining or regulating the exact source of any river's pesticide and nutrient related pollution is problematic.

The types of pollution that come from both point sources and non-point sources often gets divided into four categories:


Toxic pollution:

Toxic pollution refers to both the organic or carbon based man-made compounds such as pesticides and PCBs, along with inorganic or heavy metals such as mercury and lead, that are used in ever day life and eventually end up in waterways. Toxic pollutants in the water represent a human health concern.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for example, discusses arsenic in drinking water as follows: "Arsenic is a semi-metal element in the periodic table...It enters drinking water supplies from natural deposits in the earth or from agricultural and industrial practices. Non-cancer effects can include thickening and discoloration of the skin, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting; diarrhea; numbness in hands and feet; partial paralysis; and blindness. Arsenic has been linked to cancer of the bladder, lungs, skin, kidney, nasal passages, liver, and prostate."

 Nutrient pollution:


Nutrient pollution refers primarily to the nutrients or fertilizers used in agriculture. While they represent necessary ingredients for plant growth, their overabundance in water causes excessive plant growth in water known as algal blooms. Algal blooms then lead to eutrophication (oxygen starved water) and ecosystem problems. The articles on Great Lakes Algal Blooms and the Mississippi River provide further examples of nutrient pollution.

Sediment pollution:

Sedimentation or sediment pollution refers to soil erosion that causes water quality problems. Excess soil in waterways such as rivers can cause ecosystem problems. Excessive sediment in western creeks and rivers, for example, has been linked to decreases in salmon spawning. Sediment containing toxins also creates additional health problems.

Bacterial pollution:

Bacterial pollution refers mainly to the human and animal waste bacteria that ends up in the water and causes health problems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explained a recent outbreak of E. Coli poisoning related to spinach by saying, "Potential environmental risk factors for E.coli O157:H7 contamination at or near the field included the presence of wild pigs, the proximity of irrigation wells used to grow produce for ready-to-eat packaging, and surface waterways exposed to feces from cattle and wildlife."