Lesson 3 - Environmental Pollution and Waste Management

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Health Hazards due to Factors other than Pollution

OCCUPATION AND HEALTH

There are many underprivileged people who engage in risky and hazardous jobs and live in unhealthy
environments such as slums. As a result, they suffer from severe health problems. Even the
privileged people who work in comfortable offices are not free from health problems as they have to
deal with physical illness and psychological stress. Health problems associated with work
environment are called occupational hazards. The common health problems associated with different
occupations have been discussed in the following subsections.
 
Mining and Factory Work

People working in factories and mines inhale chemical particles and dust evolved during various
operations. As they are exposed to these particles for several years, they become prone
to pneumoconiosis, a disease caused by dust inhalation. Workers inhaling silicon dust suffer from
silicosis, which is one of the oldest diseases in the world responsible for the death of thousands of
people every year. It is an incurable disease, and its severity depends on the extent of inhalation. The
frequent causes of death in the mining industry are lung fibrosis, emphysema, and pulmonary
tuberculosis. These diseases are common in workers engaged in mining coal, gold, silver, lead, zinc,
manganese, and other metals; pottery and ceramic industries; and iron, cement, and steel industries.
Table 1 lists various types of lung diseases and their causes, and Table 2 gives health hazards and
industries associated with them.
 
  
 
Agriculture
Farmers use agrochemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides. The adverse effects of agrochemicals to
living organisms and environment. In addition, farmers are also exposed to the risk of
infection carried by farm animals. Farms are also the breeding ground for mosquitoes due to
irrigation activities responsible for malaria, dengue, and filaria, and farmers are exposed to these
diseases.

 Agrochemicals
Agrochemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides (insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides) are
commonly used for agricultural crops. It has already been stated that the use of excess fertilizers
makes the soil acidic or alkaline (depending on the nature of the fertilizer used); these fertilizers are
also responsible for eutrophication.
 Pesticides are used to kill pests that damage crops. According to the World Health Organization
(WHO), about 750,000 people are poisoned by pesticides every year resulting in about 14,000 deaths.
Agrochemicals find their way into the food chain and are responsible for a variety of health hazards
 
Profession

People having white-collar jobs often suffer from spondylosis  and backache because of using
uncomfortable furniture, improper sitting posture, and lack of movement. Besides these
disorders, they also suffer from psychological stress, which is responsible for hypertension, ulcer, and
cardiovascular diseases. These problems can be reduced to a great extent by doing regular exercises,
walking, yoga, and meditation. Tobacco chewing is also responsible for health hazards. People
working in offices generally consume tea and coffee in excessive amounts resulting in acidity.
Continuous driving, as in the case of drivers of the public transport system and taxis, increases stress
leading to high blood pressure, indigestion, and hyperactivity. Most occupational hazards can
be avoided by adopting appropriate safety measures, some of which are as follows:
 Workers in factories should use gloves and masks and should wash their hands or take bath after
work.
 People in white-collar jobs should do regular exercises.
 In agricultural practice, water should not be allowed to stagnate except where required.
 In industries producing noise, workers must use ear plugs.
 
STRESS AND HEALTH
Humans invariably look forward to achieving some goals in their life. However, these goals vary from
person to person. Students want to get high marks in examinations and subsequently pursue a career
of their choice, followed by a high-paid job and getting settled. In case any of these goals are not
achieved, the person gets stressed. Other factors that cause stress include poverty, unemployment,
death of a close relative, and tensions resulting from competitions in life. In fact, all people face
stressful situations throughout their lives. Stress is responsible for a number of physical and mental
disorders, including neurosis, coronary heart ailments, gastric ulcers, high blood pressure, allergies,
asthma, and so on. It also results in heart attack, headache, insomnia, loss of sexual interest, and
weakness.
Most people deal with stress on a routine basis. However, unmanageable stress causes illnesses. For
example, emotional distress activates the immune and endocrine systems. This results in the release
of more adrenalin, a hormone responsible for increasing blood pressure. The immune system is
affected by long-term activation of the nervous and endocrine systems. Unable to cope with stress, the
person suffers from anxiety, depression, fatigue, frustration, irritability, bad temper, and low self-
esteem leading to drug addiction, alcohol abuse, and smoking. In extreme cases, people even think
of committing suicide.
 
 
GLOBAL WARMING AND HEALTH
An increase in the average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere due to the greenhouse effect can
have far-reaching effects on the climate and consequently on the key life-support systems of the
planet. Global warming can lead to serious medical problems. A rise in temperature will melt glaciers,
resulting in floods and subsequent  scarcity of food and drinking water. These disasters
promote  infectious diseases such as cholera and jaundice. Flooding also  increases breeding of
mosquitoes leading to the spread of malaria,  dengue fever, yellow fever, and encephalitis. Vector-
borne diseases which affect more than 700 million people in a year, are the outcome  of climate and
environment conditions.
 
 
OZONE LAYER DEPLETION AND HEALTH

 
It is now well known that depletion of the ozone layer in the  stratosphere by chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs) is responsible for the  formation of the ozone hole. Due to the depletion of  the ozone layer,
ultraviolet radiations from the sun reach the earth. These radiations are responsible for causing
cataract and skin cancer in humans. It also increases the risk of infectious diseases. Light-
skinned people can also develop non-melanoma skin cancer on exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
 Lesson 3 - Environmental Pollution and Waste Management
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Environmental Pollution and Control

With the progress of industrial revolution, many developed as well as developing countries where
environmental problem is gradually growing day by day. Due to population explosion and
urbanization there has been an excess use of natural resources and natural wealth which resulted to
the depletion of natural resources. Man started cutting down trees for construction of buildings. With
this all the waste accumulated during the course of construction of these buildings has caused serious
damages in pollution and in depletion of natural resources.
 
Environmental pollution is defined as any undesirable change in physical, chemical and biological
characteristics of air, land and water. Pollution can be natural as well as man-made. Pollution occurs
when the natural environment cannot destroy an element without creating harm or damage to itself.
Pollution affects the entire ecosystems where it disrupted marine life, cause a lot of harm to human
and animal health, plants and trees and has a major effect on the depletion of the natural flora and
fauna. Furthermore, it has a negative effect on natural elements that are very important to life, such
as water and air. Pollution takes place when nature does not know how to decompose an element that
has been brought to it an unnatural way.
 
Pollution on Earth can be identity in several types:

1. Air pollution,
2. water pollution,
3. soil pollution,
4. radioactive pollution,
5. thermal pollution, and
6. industrial pollution.
 
Air Pollution
 

 
Air pollution is the contamination of natural air with the mixture of different pollutants. Some of the
most excessive sources of air pollution includes gases emitted by vehicles or manufacture exhaust,
forest fires, dry soil erosion, and even building constructions and demolition. Some of the effects
include higher rain acidity, increase in smog, crop depletion from in adequate oxygen, as well as
higher rates of asthma.
 
Water Pollution
 
  
Water pollution is the contamination of the water on Earth. The contamination is caused by
pollutants such as chemicals and bacteria. Some of the cause also include increased sediment from
soil erosion, improper waste disposal and littering, leaching of soil pollution and organic material
decay in water supplies. This type of pollution is one of the most dangerous as it decreases the amount
of drinkable water is available.
 
Soil Pollution
 

 
Soil pollution or land pollution is the contamination of soil or the land that prevents the growth of
natural life. Soil or land pollution takes place when there is an improper disposal of waste and garbage
which introduces toxins and chemical on the land. Aside from this other sources of soil or land
pollution include hazardous waste and sewage spills, strip mining and deforestation and heavy use of
organic pesticides. One of the majors effects of this type of pollution result in reduced growth of
agriculture. Furthermore, increased soil contamination will primarily lead to poisoning of the land
and nearby water.
 
Radioactive Pollution
 
  
Radioactive pollution is considered as one of the most dangerous and extremely harmful forms of
pollution. In the 20th century, this type of pollution has risen since this has been used as a nuclear
weapons. Some of the sources of radioactive contamination includes nuclear power plant accidents or
leakage, improper nuclear waste disposal, and Uranium mining operations. Harmful effects results to
pollution of air and land, birth defects, cancer and even death.
 
Thermal Pollution
 

 
Thermal Pollution refers to the excessive temperature increase. This excess heat creates undesirable
effects over long periods of time. Thermal pollution maybe caused by power plants, urban sprawl, air
pollution particulates that trap the earth, deforestation and loss of temperature moderating water
supplies.

Industrial Pollution
 
  
Industrial pollution is the release of wastes and pollutants generated by industrial activities. This
pollutants generated by industries may cause contamination on air, water and land. Some of the
leading industries that contributes to this type of pollution are the power plants, steel mill, sewage
treatment plants, heating plants, and processing and manufacturing companies which releases
smoke, material wastes, contaminated residues, and toxic by –products. Industrial pollution can
cause ecosystem imbalance, adversely damage plants, and even kill animals.
 
Watch the  video on Causes and Effects of Climate Change
 
 
 
 
 
Causes of Environmental Pollution

1. Industries
2. Transportation
3. Agricultural activities
4. Trading activities
5. Residences
Effects of Environmental Pollution
As we identified some of the main causes of environmental pollution, let us now evaluate the negative
effects to the following:
 Effects on Humans
 Respiratory infections such as allergies, asthma, irritation of the eye, and nasal passages;
 Major factor in the development of cancers;
 Diseases like hepatitis, typhoid affections, diarrhea, and hormonal disruptions.
  Effects on Animals
 It causes harm to the living environment thus, making I toxic for them to live in.
 Acid rains can change the composition of rivers and seas, making them toxic for fishes;
 An essential quantity of ozone in the lower parts of the atmosphere can cause lung
problems to all animals;
 Nitrogen and phosphates in water will cause the overgrowth of toxic algae, preventing other
forms of life to follow their normal course;
 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
 Acid rains modifies the natural environment of the plants;
 Ozone in the lower atmosphere block the plant respiration, and harmful pollutants can be
absorbed from the water or soil.                                                                     
 Effects on the Ecosystem
 Destroys crucial layers of it and causing an even more negative effect on the upper layers.

 
Environmental Pollution Control
 
  
Our environment is deteriorating day by day due to industrial pollution, toxic chemicals, automobile
emission and natural resource depletion.  Pollution in its various forms is increasing tremendously
which has caused severe damaged to the ecosystems as well as enhances human diseases and death
rates of various plants and animals.
 
Pollution prevention is a major global concern because of its harmful effects on person’s health and
on the environment. People should understand the importance of the environment for our own
survival and of other life forms. In order to do so, we need to identify main steps that can be followed
to prevent the different types of pollution.
 
Here are some essential ways that will help prevent pollution:

1. Using smokeless sources of energy;

2. Plant trees;
3. Industries should be far from residential areas;
4. Strict monitoring of automobiles’ exhaust emission;
5. Adequate sewage and industrial waste treatment;
6. Re-use, Reduce and Recycle
7. Proper solid waste disposal;
8. Avoid using of fertilizers and pesticides;
9. Avoiding polythene bags;
10. Proper noise and smoke precipitators should be used to bring down the amount of lethal smoke and
noise produced to help protect the environment.
 Solid Waste Management

Solid waste refers to the range of garbage materials—arising from animal and human activities—that
are discarded as unwanted and useless. Solid waste is generated from industrial, residential, and
commercial activities in a given area, and may be handled in a variety of ways. As such, landfills are
typically classified as sanitary, municipal, construction and demolition, or industrial waste sites. We
should ensure best environmental practices regardless of the origin, hazard potential of theses solid
waste.
 
Waste can be categorized based on material, such as plastic, paper, glass, metal, and organic waste.
Categorization may also be based on hazard potential, including radioactive, flammable, infectious,
toxic, or non-toxic wastes. Categories may also pertain to the origin of the waste, whether industrial,
domestic, commercial, institutional, or construction and demolition.

Categories of Waste:
 Organic waste: Kitchen waste, waste from food preparation, vegetables, flowers, leaves, fruits, and
market places.
 Combustibles: Paper, wood, dried leaves, packaging for relief items etc. that are highly organic and
having low moisture content.
 Non-combustibles: Metal, Tins, Cans, bottles, stones, etc.
 Toxic waste: Old medicines, paints, chemicals, bulbs, spray cans, fertilizer and pesticide containers,
batteries, shoe polish.
 Recyclables: Paper, glass, metals, plastics.
 Ashes or Dust: Residue from fires that are used for cooking.
 Construction waste: Rubble, roofing, broken concrete etc.
 Hazardous waste: Oil, battery acid, medical waste, industrial waste, hospital waste.
 Dead animals: Carcasses of dead livestock or other animals.
 Bulky waste: Tree branches, tires etc.
 Soiled waste: Hospital waste such as cloth soiled with blood and other body fluids.
 
Every day, tons of solid waste are disposed of at various landfill sites. This waste comes from homes,
offices, industries and various other agricultural related activities. These landfill sites produce foul
smell if waste is not stored and treated properly. It can pollute the surrounding air and can seriously
affect the health of humans, wildlife and our environment.
 
  
Here some effects of Poor Solid Waste Management
 Litter Surroundings. Though people clean their surroundings, we cannot deny the fact that they litter
their surroundings due to improper waste disposal system.
 Impact on Human Health. Exposure to waste can cause several illnesses or diseases which includes
respiratory problems, blood infections, growth problems, reproductive issues and even skin irritations.
 Impact on the environment. Hazardous waste and chemical that has been released to the
environment can cause biological and physicochemical impact to the environment.
 Disease-causing Pest. Due to improper waste disposal decomposition of biodegradable waste
produces foul smell and become a breeding ground for disease-causing insects.
 Soil and groundwater Pollution. The improper disposal of toxic materials and chemicals may be the
source of pollution of groundwater.
 Emission of Toxic Gases. Improper disposal of hazardous waste may cause the emission of toxic
gases which may cause various diseases including cancer.
 Impact on Land and Aquatic Animals. Improper disposal of garbage also affects land and aquatic
animals which would lead to poisoning.
 
Solid Waste Management
 
 
Solid-waste management refers to the collecting, treating, and disposing of solid material that is
discarded. Improper disposal of municipal solid waste can create unsanitary conditions, and these
conditions in turn can lead to pollution of the environment and to outbreaks of vector-borne disease—
that is, diseases spread by rodents and insects.
 
The tasks of solid-waste management present complex technical challenges. They also pose a wide
variety of administrative, economic, and social problems that must be managed and solved.
Furthermore, solid-waste management reduces and eliminates impacts on human health and
environment.
 
The sources of solid waste include residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial activities.
Certain types of wastes that cause immediate danger to exposed individuals or environments are
classified as hazardous; these are discussed in the article hazardous-waste management. Garbage is
mostly decomposable food waste; rubbish is mostly dry material such as glass, paper, cloth, or wood.
Garbage is highly putrescible or decomposable, whereas rubbish is not. Trash is rubbish that includes
bulky items such as old refrigerators, couches, or large tree stumps. Trash requires special collection
and handling.
 
 Methods of Solid Waste Management
 
Watch the video on solid waste management
 
 
 
 
Proper solid waste management is an integral part of environmental conservation that should be
observed by both individuals and companies globally. 
In order to minimize the harmful effect of improper waste disposal, here are some of the following
methods of solid waste management:
 

1. Efficient management of sanitary landfills.

2. A process which involves burning of solid waste at high temperatures until turned into ashes.
3. Don’t forget the 3R’s: Re-use, Reduce, and Recycle.
4. A biological process in which micro-organisms convert degradable organic waste into humus.
5. A method where solid wastes are chemically decomposed by heat without the presence of oxygen.