Pollution and Its Types Essay Example

of contaminants from a large area.

Problems Associated with Fertilizers

Fertilizers, when excessively used, can cause runoff during rainfall and enter rivers and lakes. This excessive nutrient load results in the growth of water plants, leading to competition for light and subsequent death of some plants. Bacteria decompose these dead plants and consume oxygen in the water. Consequently, fish suffocate and die due to oxygen depletion caused by excessive fertilizer use.

The entry of raw sewage and pesticides into rivers causes eutrophication, which results in a decrease in water quality. Pesticides have the dual purpose of eliminating harmful insects that can damage crops while unintentionally harming beneficial insects and polluting rivers. In certain situations, these pollutants can even infiltrate the food chain, posing a danger to bird populations as exemplified by the DDT incident in the 1960s.

During a three-month oil spill in 2010, numerous birds of prey faced the risk of extinction as around 4.9 million barrels (780,000 m3) of crude oil were released, causing various detrimental effects. This disaster led to over 14,000 daily deaths and a concerning rate of 1,000 children per day in India. Moreover, diseases such as Cholera, Malaria, and Typhoid thrive during the rainy season. In addition to the impact on human lives, aquatic life has also experienced significant destruction, particularly in India's rivers which are internationally acknowledged as highly polluted.Approximately 80% of urban waste in India is believed to contaminate the country's rivers, including the sacred Ganges River. Pollution levels in certain areas of the Ganges have been found to be 3,000 percent higher than the safe

limit for bathing. The main sources of water pollution include acid rain, garbage dumping, hazardous industrial wastes, mining activities, fertilizer usage, air pollution transforming into water pollution, methane gas emissions from decaying organic matter, and contamination of groundwater with soil degradation. Mining disrupts both ground and surface waters through acid mine drainage which harms aquatic life with toxic chemicals. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides also pollute the soil while posing serious health risks for humans. Control measures for pollution can involve reducing chemical usage and afforestation by covering the soil before cultivation with wet newspapers or plastic sheets. Waste disposal should be done in designated pits and industrial waste should go through treatment to ensure it remains within permissible levels. In some areas, up to 33% of air pollution comes from road dust caused by vehicles while cities like Bangalore experience a high prevalence of asthma among children. Furthermore, a significant portion of rivers and lakes in America are too polluted for recreational activities or supporting aquatic life.The Gulf of Mexico receives approximately 1.5 million metric tons of nitrogen pollution annually from the Mississippi River, which accounts for nearly 40% of the land drainage in the continental United States.

Each summer, the Gulf encounters a dead zone that is similar in size to New Jersey. Every year, around 1.2 trillion gallons of sewage, storm water, and industrial waste are discharged into US waters. About half of the world's population confronts contaminated drinking water, causing an estimated 250 million cases of waterborne diseases and resulting in 5 to 10 million deaths annually.

Across the country, vehicle exhaust accounts for approximately 60% of carbon monoxide emissions and up to 95%

in urban areas. High levels of hydrogen sulfide, emitted by large hog farms, can cause flu-like symptoms and brain damage in humans. Moreover, U.S. factories release 3 million tons of toxic chemicals into the air, land, and water every year.

41% of all insecticides are used on corn, with 80% of these insecticides specifically applied to control a pest that could be effectively managed by rotating a different crop for just one year. Additionally, every year, each American produces over 3,285 pounds of hazardous waste.

Regrettably, over 80% of items in landfills are not recycled, despite the potential for recycling. Annually, the United States produces a significant amount of waste including 30 billion foam cups, 220 million tires, and 1.8 billion disposable diapers. Out of the total annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of 186 billion tons from various sources, only 6 billion tons can be attributed to human activity. The remaining 90 billion tons stem from biological processes in Earth's oceans and another 90 billion tons originate from sources such as volcanoes and decomposing land plants.

The text enclosed within the includes a paragraph stating that at 380 parts per million, CO2 is a small component of the Earth's atmosphere, accounting for less than 4/100ths of 1% of all gases present. It is followed by an h2 heading titled "Bibliography" and an ordered list containing six items with URLs as references.

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