WATER, AIR, AND SOIL ENVIRONMENT POLLUTION

Introduction
• Any undesirable change in the Physical, Chemical, and Biological characteristics of the air, water,
and land or soil which is harmful to the man directly or indirectly through animals, plants,
industrial units or Raw materials.
• The Waste products of human activities are not efficiently assimilated decomposed or
otherwise removed by natural , biological and physical processes( recycling) and the system is
unable to utilize properly so that the balance of the system gets altered by the addition of such
un degradable pollutants .
•
Pollution is mainly man made, but it can be natural as well
1. Anthropogenic ( Man Made Pollution) - Industrial pollution, Agricultural pollution
2. Natural- Volcanic Eruption, UV Radiation, Soil erosion, Dust Storm, Decomposition Of Organic
Matter , Forrest Fires etc.

What is Water, Air, and Soil Pollution?

• Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans, and
groundwater caused by human activities, which can be harmful to organisms and plants that
live in these water bodies. It occurs when pollutants are discharged directly into water bodies
without treating it first.
• Air pollution occurs when harmful substances including particulates and biological
molecules are introduced into Earth's atmosphere. It may cause diseases, allergies or death of
humans; it may also cause harm to other living organisms such as animals and food crops, and
may damage the natural or built environment. Human activity and natural processes can both
generate air pollution.
• Soil contamination or soil pollution as part of land degradation is caused by the presence
of xenobiotic (human-made) chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment. It is
typically caused by industrial activity, agricultural chemicals, or improper disposal of waste. The
most common chemicals involved are petroleum hydrocarbons, polynuclear aromatic
hydrocarbons (such as solvents, pesticides, lead, and other heavy metals. Contamination is
correlated with the degree of industrialization and intensity of chemical usage.

Causes of Pollution
Source of water pollution
• Sewage and waste water
• Industrial waste
• Marine dumping
• Radioactive waste
• Atmospheric Depositon
• Underground storage leakages
 • Water containing chemicals insecticides and manures washed out the field can pollute the water
of river, lakes, ponds, wells etc.,
• Physical pollution such as heat and ionic radiation,
• Effluents from the factories,
Source of soil pollution
• Excreta of human beings and animals in the field,
• Harmful chemical insecticides and manures,
• Non-degradable plastic materials and cups, plates etc. prepared from foams.
Sources of Air pollution
• Gases coming out from various factories such as metal or oil refineries, factories where chemical
fertilizers and pesticides are manufactured, power plants, etc.
• From the factories through burning of coal, oil, etc., smoke, dust and various chemicals pollute
the air,
• Smokes coming out of motor vehicles containing lead and many other harmful chemicals. This is
the main source of air pollution in the cities.

Effects of Pollution
• . Effects on Humans: The effects of environmental pollution on humans are mainly physical, but
can also turn into neuro-affections in the long term. The best-known troubles to us are
respiratory, in the form of allergies, asthma, irritation of the eyes and nasal passages, or other
forms of respiratory infections. Notably, these well spread affections can be observed when air
pollution is high in cities, when the weather gets hot, for instance. On top of that, environmental
pollution has been proven to be a major factor in the development of cancer. This can happen
for example when we eat reminiscences of pollutants used in the production of processed
foods, or pesticides from the crops. Other, rarer, diseases include hepatitis, typhoid affections,
diarrhoea and hormonal disruptions.
• . Effects on Animals: Environmental pollution mainly affects animal by causing harm to their
living environment, making it toxic for them to live in. Acid rains can change the composition of
rivers and seas, making them toxic for fishes, an important quantity of ozone in the lower parts
of the atmosphere can cause lung problems to all animals. Nitrogen and phosphates in water
will cause overgrowth of toxic algae, preventing other forms of life to follow their normal
course. Eventually, soil pollution will cause harm and sometimes even the destruction of
microorganisms, which can have the dramatic effect of killing the first layers of the primary food
chain
• . Effects on Plants: As for animals, plants, and especially trees, can be destroyed by acid rains
(and this will also have a negative effect on animals as well, as their natural environment will be
modified), ozone in the lower atmosphere block the plant respiration, and harmful pollutants
can be absorbed from the water or soil.
• Effects on the Ecosystem: In short, environmental pollution, almost exclusively created by
human activities, has a negative effect on the ecosystem, destroying crucial layers of it and
causing an even more negative effect on the upper layers.
Preventions of Pollution
Preventing Air Pollution:
• Switching from fossil fuels to clean energy can reduce emissions and provide clean fuel for
heating and cooking. Moreover, clean energy sources are also renewable which do not deplete
natural resources or cause environmental harm
• Switch off the lights, fans, air conditioners, televisions, and other appliances, when not in use.
You can also share a room with others when the air conditioner or fan is on, instead of switching
them on in every room.
• Whenever possible, try to travel by public transports. This helps in two ways, prevents air
pollution and increases public income.
Preventing Water Pollution:
• Avoid plastics by reducing, reusing and recycling as much as possible.
• Chemical fertilizers use should be avoided or reduced in farms and gardens. These are a major
source of nutrient pollution
• Reduce burning fossil fuels since the pollutants can cause acid rain that ends up polluting water
ways and harming humans and wildlife.
• Prevent littering as much as possible as 80% of ocean pollution starts on land.
• Use advocacy and spread awareness of the problems of ocean pollution
Preventing Soil Pollution
• Domestic waste: Follow the same steps used to prevent water pollution, in terms of waste
disposal to reduce land pollution.
• Reduce size of landfills: Proper segregation, recycling and reuse of materials can reduce the size
of landfills that affect not only soil, but also water and air quality.
• Industrial waste: Mining and waste from many industrial process must be dealt with, by
afforestation to reclaim land. Moreover waste disposal from industries should be monitored and
regulated by policy by governments that must be strictly adhered to by industries.
• Soil conservation: Soil erosion not only affects fertility but can be a pollution source, when it
carries chemicals in it and deposits soil matter elsewhere downstream. Deforestation, over-
grazing, and use of chemicals in farms are the main causes and they can be controlled through
small and large scale soil conservation measures.

Reporters:
Bon Arje Agupitan
John Marvin Abelarde
Khinna Lynn Aguilar
Juluis Arceno