Pollution: Essay on Pollution for Students

Introduction

Pollution is the introduction of substances or materials that are considered harmful or poisonous, to the environment. It is basically introduction of dirt to the environment that is going to have harmful effects against the environment.

Pollution extends its effects to all the occupants of the environment including human beings, animals as well as plants.

Pollution is mainly caused by ignorance at different levels which drive people to do things they know would have a negative impact on the environment.

Types of pollution

The different types of pollution are due to different causative agents but the bottom line is that they all have a negative impact on the environment. They include:

1. Air pollution- This is basically the contamination of natural air due to introduction of harmful fumes or even chemicals that end up mixing with the air.
2. Water pollution- Involves introduction of substances or materials to water. These materials have a contamination effect on the water which by extension ends up affecting the aquatic life.
3. Soil pollution- This is the introduction of contaminants to soil. Soil pollution ends up altering the desired soil composition making soil unable to generate the kind of product or deliver the expected results.
4. Noise pollution- This is basically the abuse of sound. It is mostly due to appliances meant for fun or work but actually end up disturbing the peace of the occupants of that particular environment.
5. Radioactive pollution- Involves exposing the environment to radioactive materials, possibly metals or chemicals that end up releasing radiation to the environment.
6. Light pollution- Involves misuse of light to make the environment uncomfortable for occupants. Showing too much light that actually makes it difficult to see is pollution of light.
7. Thermal pollution- This is basically misuse of heat in the sense that heat is used to cause harm to environmental occupants including plants and animals and even water.
8. Visual pollution- Involves the disturbance that makes visualization either impossible or uncomfortable.

Causes of pollution

1. Water pollution is mainly cause by factors such as oil spillage on water bodies when ships have accidents or accidental spillage of oil or fuel.
2. Water pollution is also caused by depositing of toxic wastes into water bodies as a way of getting rid of them.
3. Air pollution is caused by industrial emissions which introduce acidic fumes or rather, corrosive fumes that end up destroying the roofing of houses particularly iron sheets.
4. Mining is also a cause of pollution as it exposes the environment sometimes to radioactive materials that end up causing cancer.
5. Deforestation is an act of soil pollution as it makes the soil lose hence soil erosion where fertile soil is washed away. It also makes the land lose and therefore susceptible to other forms of environmental hazards.
6. Use of fossil fuels has been associated to air pollution particularly because the combustion of these fuel releases harmful gases or products to the atmosphere which ones inhaled, are a health risk.
7. Agricultural activities are also a cause of pollution particularly in soil pollution. Agricultural products and utilities like fertilizers alter the acidity or alkalinity of soil which overtime, culminates to making the soil harmful.
8. Burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, natural gas and also gasoline with the aim of producing electricity and also for purposes of powering vehicles causes air pollution. This is because carbon (IV) oxide is released to the atmosphere and as science has it, this air is harmful when it combines with blood hemoglobin reducing the overall capacity of red blood cells to carry oxygen.

How to control pollution

1. Using safe fuel will help reduce the risks and effects of air pollution making the air safe for breathing.
2. Avoiding oil spillage in water bodies will protect aquatic life as well as make water safe for use.
3. Proper disposing of toxic wastes is also a way of controlling pollution. This could mean burning them or taking them to places where they could be properly disposed.
4. Carrying out proper agricultural practices that are soil and generally environment friendly.
5. Industries converting their emissions to safer products before emitting them will be a very strategic way of controlling air pollution.
6. Carrying out routine checks on ships and containers carrying oil before they are transported through water bodies.
7. Creating compost yard which will serve as a place to dispose of wastes.
8. Recycling everything that can possibly be recycled thus spare the environment from pollution.
9. Proper disposal of trash is also a responsible way of controlling various forms of pollution.

Conclusion

Pollution is the principle enemy to a prosperous environment. The best way therefore to control pollution in a cheap but successful way is to emphasize on the relevance of responsibility towards environmental management. Everyone should ensure that they play an active role in controlling pollution so that we can save our environment and make this planet a safe place for our future generations.