Industrial pollution

Industrial pollution is pollution which can be directly linked with industry, in contrast to other pollution sources. This form of pollution is one of the leading causes of pollution worldwide; in the United States, for example, the Environmental Protective Agency estimates that up to 50% of the nation's pollution is caused by industry. Because of its size and scope, industrial pollution is a serious problem for the entire planet, especially in nations which are rapidly industrializing, like China. This form of pollution dates back to antiquity, but widespread industrial pollution accelerated rapidly in the 1800s, with the start of the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution mechanized means of production, allowing for a much greater volume of production, and generating a corresponding increase in pollution. The problem was compounded by the use of fuels like coal, which is notoriously unclean, and a poor understanding of the causes and consequences of pollution. There are a number of forms of industrial pollution. One of the most common is water pollution, caused by dumping of industrial waste into waterways, or improper containment of waste, which causes leakage into groundwater and waterways. Industrial pollution can also impact air quality, and it can enter the soil, causing widespread environmental problems. Because of the nature of the global environment, industrial pollution is never limited to industrial nations. Samples of ice cores from Antarctica and the Arctic both show high levels of industrial pollutants, illustrating the immense distances which pollutants can travel, and traces of industrial pollutants have been identified in isolated human, animal, and plant populations as well. Industrial pollution hurts the environment in a range of ways, and it has a negative impact on human lives and health. Pollutants can kill animals and plants, imbalance ecosystems, degrade air quality radically, damage buildings, and generally degrade quality of life. Factory workers in areas with uncontrolled industrial pollution are especially vulnerable. A growing awareness of factory pollution and its consequences has led to tighter restrictions on pollution all over the world, with nations recognizing that they have an obligation to protect themselves and their neighbors from pollution. However, industrial pollution also highlights a growing issue: the desire of developing nations to achieve first world standards of living and production. As these countries industrialize, they add to the global burden of industrial pollution, triggering serious discussions and arguments about environmental responsibility and a desire to reach a global agreement on pollution issues. There are many causes of industrial pollution, the negative byproducts of human industry. One of the main sources is the pollution caused by energy production. Byproducts produced through industry is another major component of this type of pollution. Besides pollution unique to

specific sources, the release of carbon dioxide gas from various industrial sources is a key cause of global warming. Since human beings started burning wood to stay warm, they have been releasing pollution into the environment. Not until the 18th century, though, when the Industrial Revolution began, did humans begin to have a significant effect on Earth's environment. Steam-powered factories needed an endless supply of burning wood to run. Coal and oil became the predominant source of energy as industry spread across the world. Forms of pollution became varied: radioactive waste, greenhouse gases, heavy metals and medical waste. The first main source of industrial pollution is the production of electricity. In coal-burning power plants, fly ash is the byproduct of burned coal. Once incinerated directly into the atmosphere, most fly ash in the 21st century is either recycled or stored in vast holding ponds. This latter option, though more environmentally friendly than burning, is not without its own set of hazards. In 2008, more than a billion gallons of fly ash were released when a dike ruptured in a storage pit in Kingston, Tennessee. The rupture destroyed more than 300 acres (121 hectares) of farmland; as of the summer of 2011, litigation over the spill continues. A more controversial form of industrial pollution formed due to energy production is nuclear waste. Spent nuclear fuel rods require proper disposal due to continued radioactivity. In the United States, spent nuclear fuel rods are stored in water baths at nuclear power plants. The water that keeps the fuel rods from melting becomes radioactive, creating more industrial waste. With the United States and other industrialized countries debating the best way to store nuclear waste, the issue remains unresolved. Outside of energy production, all factories produce some form of pollution. Some of the most harmful to humans and the environment are heavy metals produced as a result of metal refining. Copper, mercury and lead can accumulate in animals throughout the food chain. One of the most infamous examples is Minamata disease, a neurological disorder that occurred when residents of Minamata, Japan, ate fish containing large amounts of mercury obtained from a nearby chemical factory. Since the 1950s, more than 1,700 individuals have died as a direct result of mercury poisoning. One of the most harmful forms of industrial pollution is carbon dioxide gas released through the burning of coal and oil. Its increasing presence in Earth's atmosphere is a direct cause of global warming. Despite efforts of developed nations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the lax industrial regulations of developing countries have led to a continued increase in emissions Prevention taken by the companies Factories throughout the world that want to help stop pollution have two basic options: working to control existing pollution and trying to prevent future pollution. In many countries, factories are obligated to abide by certain environmental laws; others must implement their own selfimposed methods to stop pollution. Usually, their goals are to minimize the damage done by existing pollutants and to attempt to prevent further pollution by modifying their industrial practices. A related option is to sell specific by-products as raw materials to other industries.

Air pollution usually takes the form of smoke or smog, but sometimes the pollutants are invisible to the naked eye. Contaminants can include particles in the air, as well as solid and liquid aerosols; other common air pollutants include sulfur oxides, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide, which are produced by industrial activities such as burning coal. To help stop pollution, a factory can modify its procedures or use different equipment. For example, filters on smokestacks can help stop pollution by catching harmful substances and cleaning fumes before they reach the air. In addition, a factory might reduce carbon monoxide emissions, for instance, by burning natural gas instead of Water pollution harms animals and plants that live in rivers, streams, and oceans. Factories can help stop pollution by treating sewage and other waste before releasing it into the environment. Furthermore, water treatment plants clean polluted water and add chemicals in order to make it considered safe for wildlife and, often, for human use. In the U.S. and abroad, dumping hazardous materials into ocean water is prohibited by international regulations. The U.S. is also one of many countries subject to federal legislation that mandates specific anti-pollution practices. In addition to modifying their industrial practices, many factories try to stop pollution by selling certain pollutants as by-products. Rather than being dumped, the by-products are recycled or reused as raw materials for another product. A recently documented example demonstrates the conversion of "slag," a steel-making by-product, into a useful raw material for making cement. The most notable environmental benefit of these sales was a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. While these efforts to stop pollution might have alleviated some problems, they have not eliminated them. Climate change, for instance, continues to be a concern for all countries, and it is often unclear whether certain anti-pollution measures have been effective. In many industrialized countries, the ultimate goal is to prevent pollution altogether, rather than having to manage it..