School of social sciences and Languages

Report on

Pollution and its forms

Submitted to
Department of English
School of Social Sciences and Languages
VIT University
Tamilnadu
India

Under the guidance of

Dr.Laxmi Dhar Dwivedi
Associate Professor-School of Social Sciences and Languages
Submitted by:
1) Batchu Mohith 17BIT0321
2) G Sai Saketh 17BME0183
3) D Bhavishya 17BMA0045
4) L Nithya Sai Reddy 17BMA0038
5) P Satya Vamsi 17BME0685
6) Syed Rabbani 17MIS0429
POLLUTION AND ITS FORMS

INTRODUCTION TO POLLUTION:
DEFINITION OF POLLUTION:

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural

environment that causes adverse change. Pollution can take the
form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light.
Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign
substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants. Pollution is
often classed as point source or nonpoint source pollution. In 2015,
pollution killed 9 million people in the world.

HISTORY ABOUT POLLUTION:

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural

environment that causes adverse change. Pollution can take the
form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light.
Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign
substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants. Pollution is
often classed as point source or nonpoint source pollution. In 2015,
pollution killed 9 million people in the world.

MAIN POLLUTANTS

A pollutant is a waste material that pollutes air, water or soil. Three

factors determine the severity of a pollutant: its chemical nature, the
concentration and the persistence.
EFFECTS OF POLLUTION ON HUMANS:

Adverse air quality can kill many organisms including humans. Ozone
pollution can cause respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease,
throat inflammation, chest pain, and congestion. Water pollution
causes approximately 14,000 deaths per day, mostly due to
contamination of drinking water by untreated sewage in developing
countries. An estimated 500 million Indians have no access to a
proper toilet, Over ten million people in India fell ill with waterborne
illnesses in 2013, and 1,535 people died, most of them children.
Nearly 500 million Chinese lack access to safe drinking water. A 2010
analysis estimated that 1.2 million people died prematurely each
year in China because of air pollution. The WHO estimated in 2007
that air pollution causes half a million deaths per year in India.
Studies have estimated that the number of people killed annually in
the United States could be over 50,000.

Oil spills can cause skin irritations and rashes. Noise pollution induces
hearing loss, high blood pressure, stress, and sleep disturbance.
Mercury has been linked to developmental deficits in children and
neurologic symptoms. Older people are majorly exposed to diseases
induced by air pollution. Those with heart or lung disorders are at
additional risk. Children and infants are also at serious risk. Lead and
other heavy metals have been shown to cause neurological
problems. Chemical and radioactive substances can cause cancer and
as well as birth defects.

An October 2017 study by the Lancet Commission on Pollution and

Health found that global pollution, specifically toxic air, water, soils
and workplaces, kill nine million people annually, which is triple the
number of deaths caused by AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria
combined, and 15 times higher than deaths caused by wars and
other forms of human violence. The study concluded that "pollution
is one of the great existential challenges of the Anthropogenic era.
Pollution endangers the stability of the Earth’s support systems and
threatens the continuing survival of human societies."

EFFECTS OF POLLUTION ON ENVIRONMENT:

Pollution has been found to be present widely in the environment.

There are a number of effects of this:

Biomagnifications describes situations where toxins (such as heavy

metals) may pass through tropic levels, becoming exponentially
more concentrated in the process.
Carbon dioxide emissions cause ocean acidification, the ongoing
decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans as CO2 becomes dissolved.
The emission of greenhouse gases leads to global warming which
affects ecosystems in many ways.
Invasive species can out compete native species and reduce
biodiversity. Invasive plants can contribute debris and biomolecules
(allelopathy) that can alter soil and chemical compositions of an
environment, often reducing native species competitiveness.
Nitrogen oxides are removed from the air by rain and fertilize land
which can change the species composition of ecosystems.
Smog and haze can reduce the amount of sunlight received by plants
to carry out photosynthesis and leads to the production of
tropospheric ozone which damages plants.
Soil can become infertile and unsuitable for plants. This will affect
other organisms in the food web.
Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides can cause acid rain which lowers
the pH value of soil.
FORMS OF POLLUTION:

The major forms of pollution are listed below along with the
particular contaminant relevant to each of them:

Air pollution: the release of chemicals and particulates into the

atmosphere. Common gaseous pollutants include carbon monoxide,
sulfur dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and nitrogen oxides
produced by industry and motor vehicles. Photochemical ozone and
smog are created as nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons react to
sunlight. Particulate matter, or fine dust is characterized by their
micrometer size PM10 to PM2.5.

Light pollution: includes light trespass, over-illumination and

astronomical interference.
Littering: the criminal throwing of inappropriate man-made objects,
unresolved, onto public and private properties.
Noise pollution: which encompasses roadway noise, aircraft noise,
industrial noise as well as high-intensity sonar.
Soil contamination occurs when chemicals are released by spill or
underground leakage. Among the most significant soil contaminants
are hydrocarbons, heavy metals, MTBE, herbicides, pesticides and
chlorinated hydrocarbons.
Radioactive contamination, resulting from 20th century activities in
atomic physics, such as nuclear power generation and nuclear
weapons research, manufacture and deployment. (See alpha
emitters and actinides in the environment.)
Thermal pollution is a temperature change in natural water bodies
caused by human influence, such as use of water as coolant in a
power plant.
Visual pollution, which can refer to the presence of overhead power
lines, motorway billboards, scarred landforms (as from strip mining),
open storage of trash, municipal solid waste or space debris.
Water pollution, by the discharge of wastewater from commercial
and industrial waste (intentionally or through spills) into surface
waters; discharges of untreated domestic sewage, and chemical
contaminants, such as chlorine, from treated sewage; release of
waste and contaminants into surface runoff flowing to surface
waters (including urban runoff and agricultural runoff, which may
contain chemical fertilizers and pesticides); waste disposal and
leaching into groundwater; eutrophication and littering.
Plastic pollution: involves the accumulation of plastic products in the
environment that adversely affects wildlife, wildlife habitat, or
humans.

Our focuses:

There are different types of pollution like air pollution, noise

pollution ,water pollution , radioactive pollution, nuclear pollution
,and finally light pollution now a days.

BUT our team mainly focused on those type of pollution which are
now becoming a big threat to the society and the nature and world.
So they are in our opinion, they are:
Noise pollution

Water pollution

Radioactive pollution

We decided they are more threatening because now-a-days due to

high population vehicles are increasing so they are increasing noise
everywhere. So NOISE POLLUTION.
Next coming to water pollution we clearly know that pure holy river
GANGA became a place for dead bodies to bury and further neglects
and bad municipality systems. So WATER POLLUTION.

Last radioactive pollution now a days so many countries are fighting

on the basis on their weapons they are producing, so many countries
chosen a wrong path like nuclear weapons and further leads to a
radioactive pollution. So RADIOACTIVE POLLUTION.

SO THE FOLLOWING REPORT SHOW THE DETAIL DESCRIPTION ABOUT THE ABOVE
MENTIONED THREE MAIN POLLUTION THAT WE ARE DISCUSSED
ABOVE…………………………..
Report on Noise
pollution

Abstract
The recognition of noise as an environmental problem
and its impact both on community and occupational
environment is rapidly growing. The present survey is aimed
to report about the existing noise environment. Sound, a
typical element of our life, is the methods for
correspondence and diversion in many creatures like animals,
including people. It is also a very effective alarm system. A
low sound is always creates some peace of mind and is
always pleasant and loud sound is always referred to noise.
Noise can be defined as an unpleasant and unwanted sound
at a wrong time and place.

Noise is a physical form of pollution and is not directly

harmful to the life supporting systems namely air, soil and
water. Its effects are more directly on the receiver i.e., man.
Noise pollution is the result of modern industrialised urban
life and congestion due to over population.
Even though noise pollution is not fatal to human life, yet its
importance cannot be overlooked because repeated exposure to
noise reduces the sleeping hours and productivity or efficiency of
human beings. It affects the peace of mind and invades the privacy of
a human beings.
Decibel of noise pollution:
Unit of measurement of sound. It is represented by
dB is ratio expressed as the logarithmic scale relative to
a reference sound pressure level.

dB = 10 log I/I0
where
I = Intensity of unknown sound in watt/m2
I0 = Reference sound intensity in watt/m2
Sources of noise pollution:
There are many sources of noise pollution.
Some of them are
i. Industrial Sources:

Development in technology and industrialisation

has resulted in creating noise pollution. Textile
mills, printing. contribute presses, engineering
establishments and metal works etc heavily
towards noise pollution.
ii. Transport Vehicles:
Automobile revolution in urban centres has
proved to be a big source of noise pollution. Increasing
traffic has given rise to traffic jams in congested areas
where the repeated hooting of horns by impatient drivers
pierce the ears of all road users. Noise from airplanes
constitutes an increasing serious problem in big cities like
Delhi and Mumbai.

Airport situated in the vicinity of population centres and

the airplanes pass over residential areas. Heavy trucks,
buses, trains, jet-planes, motorcycles, scooters, mopeds,
and jeeps the list of vehicles is endless but the outcome is
same-noise pollution.
iii. Household:
The household is an industry in itself and is a source of
many indoor noises such as the banging of doors, noise of
playing children, crying of infants, moving of furniture, loud
conversation of the inhabitants etc.
Besides these are the entertainment equipment’s in the
house, namely the radio, record-players and television sets.
Domestic gadgets like the mixer grinders, pressure cookers,
desert coolers, air-conditioners, exhaust fans, vacuum
cleaners, sewing and washing machines are all indoor sources
of noise pollution.
iv. Public Address System:
In India people need only the slightest of an excuse for
using loud speakers. The reason may be religious function,
birth, death, marriage, elections, demonstration, or just
commercial advertising. Public system, therefore, contributes
in its own way towards noise pollution.
v. Road Traffic Noise:
Vehicles on road produce irritation for more
people than any other noise source. Traffic noise has been
increasing over the years continuously. This is because of
steady increase of the number of road vehicles and
consequently increase of road traffic density.
Traffic speed is one of the major causes of noise. The noise
volume increases with increase in traffic speed. Modern
highway and traffic systems encourage higher speeds.
Road traffic noise varies depending on a number of
operating factors of vehicle and also on traffic density and
the hour of day in general, on Urban roads there are distinct
traffic peaks in the morning and evening as people travel to
and from work (e.g., 10: hrs. and 18:00hrs). Heavy diesel-
engine trucks are the noisiest vehicles on roads now.
Traffic noise is accurately measured in dB and noise levels
given on the L (18 hr) index.

This situation is in UK. The actual noise

limits in force in residential areas are obvi-
ously different in different countries. Thus,
the limits for diesel or petrol engine cars are
70 dB in U.K. 83 dB in France, 70 dB in
Switzerland and 80 dB in India.

The central pollution board (India) has prescribed permissible

sound levels for cities, divided into four zones.

Effects of noise pollution

Noise is generally harmful and a serious health hazard. It
has far reaching consequences and has many physical,
physiological as well as psychological effects on human
beings.
i. Physical Effects:
The physical manifestation of noise pollution is
the effects on hearing ability. Repeated exposure to noise
may result in temporary or permanent shifting of the
hearing threshold of a person depending upon the level
during the exposure.

The immediate and acute effect of noise pollution is

impairment of hearing (i.e., total deafness). Human ears
have sensory cells for hearing, if these cells are subjected
to repeated sound of high intensity before they have an
opportunity to recover fully can become permanently
damage leading to impairment of hearing.

ii. Physiological Effects:

The physiological manifestation of noise pollution is as
mentioned below:
(a) Headache by dilating blood vessels of the brains.

(b) Increase in the rate of heart – beat.

(c) Narrowing of arteries.

(d) Fluctuations in the arterial blood pressure by increasing the level

of cholesterol in the blood.
(e) Decrease in heart output.
(f) Pain in the heart.
(g) Digestive spasms through anxiety and dilution of the
pupil of the eye, thereby causing eye-strain.
(h) Muscular strain and nervous breakdown.

iii. Psychological Effects:

The psychological manifestation of noise pollution is:
(a) Depression and fatigue which considerably reduce the
efficiency of a person.

(b) Insomnia as a result of lack of undisturbed and refreshing

sleep.

(c) Straining of senses and annoyance as a result of slow but

persistent noise from motorcycle alarm clocks, call bells,
telephone rings etc.

(d) Affecting of psychomotor performance of a sudden loud

sound.

(e) Emotional disturbance.

Table gives the acceptable noise level for buildings and human health.
Boiling point of the ear the intensity exceeds 120 db.
such as 130 is very painful sensation which is termed as
boiling point of the ear.
It is evident that noise is not merely a nuisance but
is a serious environmental problem and a health
hazard. Like all other pollutions, noise pollution
needs to control by measures which will maintain
the acceptable levels of noise pollution for human
beings and buildings.
Noise pollution can be effectively controlled by taking the
following measures:

i. Control at Receiver’s End:

For people working in noisy installations ear-protection
aids like earplugs, ear-muffs, noise helmets, headphones etc.
must be provided to reduce occupational exposure.
Ear plugs are simple to use, inexpensive and can be
relatively comfortable.
Ear Muffs – provides a complete cushion entirely
surrounding and isolating each ear.
Helmets – normally consists of a shells of reinforced and glass
fibre lined with sound proofing material formed into a close
filling seal around the face and neck together with fitted ear
pad or ear proofs.
ii. Sound Insulation at Construction Stages:
(a) Sound travels through the cracks that get left between the
door and the wall. For reducing noise, this space (jamb frame
gap) should be packed with sound absorbing material.

(b) Sound insulation can be done by constructing windows

with double or triple panes of glass and filling the gaps with
sound absorbing materials.

(c) Acoustical tiles, perforated plywood etc. can be fixed on

walls, ceilings, floors etc. to reduce noise (especially for sound
proof recording rooms etc.)

iii. Planting of Trees:

Planting green trees and shrubs along roads,
hospitals, educational institutions etc., help in
noise reduction to a considerable extent.

iv. Legislative Measures:

Strict legislative measures need to
be enforced to curb the menace of
noise pollution.

Some of these measures could be:

(a) Minimum use of loud speakers and
amplifiers especially near silence
zones.

(b) Banning pressure horns in

automobiles.

(c) Framing a separate Noise Pollution

Act.
Conclusion:

The present study explores the different sources,

effects, reactions and suggestions for controlling
the noise pollution. The analysis shows that
automobile and loud speakers are major sources
of the noise pollution. The survey also includes the
different affects of noise pollution on humans and
about the problems humans will face because of
noise pollution. The adverse impact of noise may
result in improper communication, sleepless and
hearing impairment.
In the majority of cases the affected arty prefers
a request to stop the noise. In this survey public
education is found to be the most important tool
to control the noise pollution. Besides this the
NGOs and government can also play a significant
role in process of controlling excess noise.
 RADIOACTIVE POLLUTION

Radioactive pollution (also radioactive contamination) is the

presence of radioactive substances in the environment.
These substances are known as pollutants because they can
cause damage to the environment. Animals, plants and
humans can all fall ill due to radioactive pollution.

Alternative names for radioactive pollution include

‘radioactive contamination’ and ‘radiological contamination’.
These terms all mean the same thing: radioactive matter
polluting the environment.

It is also good to know precisely what radioactive substances

are. A substance is radioactive when the nuclei of its atoms
start to decay. When this happens, the atom becomes
unstable and releases particles which form radiation.

Radiation can be made up of several different particles,

including gamma rays, alpha particles, beta particles and a
type of electron known as ‘conversion electrons’.

Radiation can be undetectable when it touches a person’s

skin. However, it is very hazardous. With alpha radiation, a
living thing will need to be within centimetres of the
radiation source to be affected by the radiation. However,
other forms of radiation can travel long distances and affect
plants, animals and people for miles around.
Sources of radiation pollution

1. Natural sources
2. Anthropogenic sources

Natural sources of radiation

o One of the sources of radioactive pollution is atomic

radioactive material. These occur during mining of radon or
uranium gases that are released into gases. Radioactive
radiations from these sources are also called natural
radiations.
o Cosmic rays are also natural sources those causes
radioactive emission. The origin of cosmic rays is stars in
our galaxy. These rays are constantly reaching the surface
of earth, and are very harmful for our health.
o In the environment where we live in natural radiations are
almost present. These natural radiations are rarely harmful
for us because the radiations are quite low.

Anthropogenic sources of radiation

o These activities are caused by humans.

o Caused by diagnostic medical applications such as x-rays
are used in CT scan, gamma rays are used for cancer
treatment.
o Nuclear tests are also responsible for these radiations.
Nuclear explosion tests cause radiation pollution. In this
test numbers of radionuclides are exposed into atmosphere
those are responsible for radioactive pollution and causes
cancer. These are very harmful for human health.

o Nuclear reactors can release harmful radiations even in the

normal condition of their operation. Dangers of leakages
may cause from accidents. Once accident took place in
‘Chernobyl nuclear power plant’ which caused a huge
damages and people there suffered from cancer.Leakage
at Chernobyl was responsible for death of many workers.
And the radiations can be sensed now as well.
o Causes of radioactive pollution.

o Radioactive pollution is caused when radioactive matter is

allowed to contaminate the environment. There are
several main ways in which this can happen.

o A key cause of radioactive pollution is breaches at nuclear

power plants, which can result in leakages of radioactive
 matter into the environment. As nuclear energy becomes
a big alternative to fossil fuels, this risk increases.

o Another cause is chemical spills. Radioactive chemicals

can, whether due to improper transport or to containers
breaking, spill out into the atmosphere and onto the
ground.

o Another cause of radioactive pollution is when scientific

experiments involving radiation are not conducted with the
proper care. A famous case is the scientist Marie Curie,
whose studies into the curative effects of radiation actually
caused her to fall ill from radiation poisoning.
Nevertheless, her discoveries helped us to make great
strides towards treating and curing cancer.

o In sum, wherever there is radioactive material, there is the

danger of radioactive pollution. Radioactive material must
be handled with great care. Below, the effects of
radioactive pollution are explained. These effects are what
will occur if radioactive material is not handled properly.
After that, you will find a list of preventative measures that
can be taken to keep living beings safe from radioactive
pollution.
Effects of radioactive pollution.

Radiation alters and destroys cells in living organisms. Whether an

organism is a plant or an animal (including a human), radiation can
result in illness or death.

Radioactive pollution can cause genetic mutations in living organisms,

and in their descendants. If an animal is exposed to radioactive pollution,
for example, it may give birth to babies that have severe congenital
defects. These mutations can also cause cancer, sometimes several
years in the future, as well as conditions such as infertility and

Radiation can also have a burning effect: chemical burns are slightly
different from the burns that come from excessive heat as chemicals
need not be at a high temperature for an organism to feel a burning
sensation when they come into contact with them. However, radioactive
burns can cause blistering, reddening, pain and damage to skin tissue.

Damage to the soil and plants is another key effect of radioactive

pollution. Radioactive pollution can leave soil infertile and unfit for crops
for several decades. It can leave the air unsafe to breathe, too.

Preventative and control measures to take for

radioactive pollution.

1. Safe storage: radioactive pollution needs to be stored in specialized

containers, which do not break easily and which do not allow radiation to
seep out.

2. Clear warnings: radioactive material can contaminate a person’s

clothing or their skin. Then, as that person moves through the
environment, they can contaminate other living organisms in their turn.
Clear warnings about the presence of radioactive material will prevent
this from happening. Of course, animals are not able to read these
warnings, and this is why adequate containers are also needed.

3. Alternative sources of energy: seeking alternatives to nuclear energy

will reduce the number of nuclear power plants in the world and thus
reduce the risks that are associated with radioactive material.
Radioactive material is present in various places in a nuclear power
plant. Radioactive materials are used to produce nuclear power.
Moreover, the waste that is produced by nuclear power plants is also
radioactive.
4. Nuclear disarmament: disarming and getting rid of nuclear weapons is
a very significant way of eliminating the hazards associated with
radioactive material.

5. Proper disposal of radioactive waste: radioactive waste needs to be

disposed of in a particular way. It cannot just be buried in the soil or
thrown into the garbage bin as it would contaminate the environment.
Moreover, though it does gradually deactivate over time, radioactive
waste stays radioactive for a long time. How long depends on what is
called the ‘half life’ of the atoms that are emitting the radiation. However,
most of the time, radioactive waste will take several centuries or even
millennia to completely deactivate. There are several ways of disposing
of radioactive waste. One way is to encase it in very thick concrete
containers and bury it deep under the sea. Scientists have suggested
that the motion of the deep sea waves actually helps to deactivate
radioactive waste more quickly. Some radioactive waste can also be
‘recycled’ and used to generate more nuclear energy. However, in all
cases, it is crucial that radioactive waste is disposed of safely and by
trained professionals.
Conclusion.

As science advanced, radiation became an increasingly important part of

human society. Though atomic decay has been used for what can be
argued to be positive means, such as generating nuclear energy,
radioactive material can be a very hazardous pollutant.

As has been explained above, radioactive pollution can be very

damaging to living organisms. It can cause illnesses that can be seen for
several generations in the future. It can halt agriculture in affected
regions by making the soil dangerous and sterile, and it can also cause
immediate damage to the skin such as burns and sores.

So, it is very important to ensure that radioactive pollution does not

occur. This can be done by taking the preventative measures described
above.
 WATER POLLUTION

Water pollution is a major global problem which requires ongoing

evaluation and revision of water resource policy at all levels (international
down to individual aquifers and wells). It has been suggested that water
pollution is the leading worldwide cause of deaths and diseases, and that it
accounts for the deaths of more than 14,000 people daily.
An estimated 580 people in India die of water pollution related illness
every day. Around 90% the water in the cities of China is polluted, and as of
2007, half a billion Chinese had no access to safe drinking water. In
addition to the acute problems of water pollution in developing countries,
developed countries also continue to struggle with pollution problems.
For example, in the most recent national report on water quality in the
United States, 45 percent of assessed stream miles, 47% of assessed lake
acres, and 32 percent of assessed bays and estuarine square miles were
classified as polluted. The head of China's national development agency
said in 2007 that one quarter the length of China's seven main rivers were
so poisoned the water harmed the skin.
Water is typically referred to as polluted when it is impaired by
anthropogenic contaminants and either does not support a human use,
such as drinking water, or undergoes a marked shift in its ability to support
its constituent biotic communities, such as fish. Natural phenomena such
as volcanoes, algae blooms, storms, and earthquakes also cause major
changes in water quality and the ecological status of water.
Categories
Although interrelated, surface water and groundwater have often been
studied and managed as separate resources. Surface water seeps through
the soil and becomes groundwater. Conversely, groundwater can also feed
surface water sources. Sources of surface water pollution are generally
grouped into two categories based on their origin.

Point sources
Point source water pollution refers to contaminants that enter a waterway
from a single, identifiable source, such as a pipe or ditch. Examles of
sources in this category include discharges from a sewage treatment plant,
a factory, or a city storm drain. The U.S. Clean Water Act (CWA) defines
point source for regulatory enforcement purposes. The CWA definition of
point source was amended in 1987 to include municipal storm sewer
systems, as well as industrial storm water, such as from construction sites.

Nonpoint sources
Nonpoint source pollution refers to diffuse contamination that does not
originate from a single discrete source. NPS pollution is often the
cumulative effect of small amounts of contaminants gathered from a large
area.
A common example is the leaching out of nitrogen compounds from
fertilized agricultural lands. Nutrient runoff in storm water from "sheet
flow" over an agricultural fi ed or a forest are also cited as examples of NPS
pollution.
Contaminated storm water washed off of parking lots, roads and highways,
called urban runoff, is sometimes included under the category of NPS
pollution. However, because this runoff is typically channeled into storm
drain systems and discharged through pipes to local surface waters,
becomes a point source

Groundwater pollution
Interactions between groundwater and surface water are complex.
Consequently, groundwater pollution, sometimes referred to as
groundwater contamination, is not as easily classified as surface water
pollution.
 By its very nature, groundwater aquifers are susceptible to contamination
from sources that may not directly affect surface water bodies, and the
distinction of point vs. non-point source may be irrelevant.
A spill or ongoing release of chemical or radionuclide contaminants into soil
(located away from a surface water body) may not create point or non-
point source pollution but can contaminate the aquifer below, creating a
toxic plume.
The movement of the plume, called a plume front, may be analyzed
through a hydrological transport model or groundwater model. Analysis of
groundwater contamination may focus on soil characteristics and site
geology, hydrogeology, hydrology, and the nature of the contaminants.

WORLD WATER QUALITY FACTS AND

STATISTICS
Global Water Pollution
● Every day, 2 million tons of sewage and industrial and agricultural waste
are discharged into the world’s water (UN WWAP 2003), the equivalent of
the weight of the entire human population of 6.8 billion people.
● The UN estimates that the amount of wastewater produced annually is
about 1,500 km3, six times more water than exists in all the rivers of the
world. (UN WWAP 2003)
Human Waste
● Lack of adequate sanitation contaminates water courses worldwide and
is one of the most significant forms of water pollution. Worldwide, 2.5
billion people live without improved sanitation. (UNICEF WHO 2008)
● Over 70% of these people who lack sanitation, or 1.8 billion people, live
in Asia.
● Sub-Saharan Africa is slowest of the world’s regions in achieving
improved sanitation: only 31 percent of residents had access to improved
sanitation in 2006.
● 18% of the world’s population, or 1.2 billion people (1 out of 3 in rural
areas), defecate in the open. Open defecation significantly compromises
quality in nearby water bodies and poses an extreme human health risk.
(UNICEF WHO 2008)
● In Southern Asia, 63% of rural people – 778 million people – practice
open defecation.
Human Health Impacts
● Worldwide, infectious diseases such as waterborne diseases are the
number one killer of children under five years old and more people die
from unsafe water annually than from all forms of violence, including war.
(WHO 2002)
● Unsafe or inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene cause
approximately 3.1 percent of all deaths worldwide, and 3.7 percent of
DALYs (disability adjusted life years) worldwide. (WHO 2002)
● Unsafe water causes 4 billion cases of diarrhea each year, and results in
2.2 million deaths, mostly of children under five. This means that 15% of
child deaths each year are attributable to diarrhea – a child dying every 15
seconds. In India alone, the single largest cause of ill health and death
among children is diarrhea, which kills nearly half a million children each
year. (WHO and UNICEF 2000)
Ecosystem Impacts
● There has been widespread decline in biological health in inland (non-
coastal) waters. Globally,
24 percent of mammals and 12 percent of birds connected to inland waters
are considered threatened.
(UN WWAP 2003)
● In some regions, more than 50% of native freshwater fish species are at
risk of extinction, and nearly one-third of the world’s amphibians are at risk
of extinction. (Vié et al. 2009)
● Freshwater species face an estimated extinction rate five times greater
than that of terrestrial species. (Ricciardi and Rasmussen 1999)
● Freshwater ecosystems sustain a disproportionately large number of
identified species, including a quarter of known vertebrates. Such systems
provide more than US$75 billion in goods and ecosystem services for
people, but are increasingly threatened by a host of water quality
problems. (Vié et al. 2009)
● The greatest single service freshwater ecosystems provide––marshes in
particular––is water purification and the assimilation of wastes, valued at
US$ 400 billion (2008$) worldwide (Costanza et al. 1997).
● With the Millennium Development Goals, the international community
committed to halving the proportion of people without access to safe
water and sanitation by 2015. Meeting this goal means some 322 million
working days per year gained, at a value of nearly US$ 750 million (SIWI
2005), and an annual health sector cost saving of US$ 7 billion. Overall, the
total economic benefits of meeting the MDG target have been estimated at
US$ 84 billion (SIWI 2005).
● Poor countries with access to clean water and sanitation services
experienced faster economic growth than those without: one study found
the annual economic growth rate of 3.7 percent among poor countries
with better access to improved water and sanitation services, while
similarly poor countries without access had annual growth of just 0.1
percent (Sachs 2001).
Drinking Water Quality
● Point-of- use drinking water treatment through chlorine and safe storage
of water could result in 122.2 million avoided DALYs (Disability Adjusted
Life Years, a measure of morbidity), at a total cost of US$ 11.4 billion. (UN
WWAP 2003)
● Nearly 70 million people living in Bangladesh are exposed to
groundwater contaminated with arsenic beyond WHO recommended limits
of 10 ug/L. (UN WWAP 2009)
The naturally occurring arsenic pollution in groundwater now affects nearly
140 million people in 70 countries on all continents. (UN WWAP 2009)
 ● Even drinking water quality in developed countries is not assured. In
France, drinking water testing uncovered that 3 million people were
drinking water whose quality did not meet WHO standards, and 97% of
groundwater samples did not meet standards for nitrate in the same study.
(UN WWAP 2009)
Costs and Benefits of Water Quality
● Sanitation and drinking water investments have high rates of return: for
every $1 invested, there is a projected $3-$34 economic development
return. (UN WWAP 2009)
● Economic losses due to the lack of water and sanitation in Africa as a
result of the mortality and morbidity impacts is estimated at $28.4 billion
or about 5% of GDP. (UN WWAP 2009)
Pollution from Industry and Mining
● 70% of industrial wastes in developing countries are disposed of
untreated into waters where they contaminate existing water supplies.
(UN-Water 2009)

Common causes of water pollution

 Sewage and wastewater: Out of sight, out of mind? Surfers will tell you
that sewage contains all kinds of horrific nasties, from sanitary
products, condoms, paper, and plastics, to bacteria and viruses that can
make you extremely ill.
 Soaps and washing detergents: Phosphates in detergents can fertilize
rivers and seas, causing algal blooms that use up oxygen and kill fish life.
  Oil poured down the drain: You might think oil tankers make the most
oil pollution, but quite a lot of oil enters water simply by being tipped
(or washing) down the drain.
 Invasive species: Often carried around the world by ships, they suddenly
appear in rivers, lakes, and seas where they have no predators, quickly
wiping out their natural rivals.
 Atmospheric deposition: This is air pollution that returns to Earth as
land and water pollution, including acid rain that falls into oceans,
rivers, and seas, chemical discharges from chimneys (smokestacks), and
fly ash from waste incinerators.
 Highway and street runoff: Cars obviously wear out as they drive down
roads—but it's less obvious that they wear out and leave toxic residues
on the roads themselves. Heavy storms wash poisoned sludge off roads
into surrounding land where it drains into rivers or groundwater.
 Agricultural runoff: Fertilizers, weedkillers, and other farm chemicals
wash into rivers and groundwater, causing algal blooms and potentially
contaminating drinking water.
 Litter: Plastic bottles and bags can last up to 500 years in the
environment without biodegrading (breaking down naturally). If you've
ever done a beach clean and studied the waste you collect, you will
have noticed that the vast majority of it is small, random bits of plastic.
 Oil production: Most oil is produced offshore and transported by ships,
so it's no surprise that the oil industry is a big polluter. Despite the huge
media attention they gain, tanker accidents account for only about 10
percent of the total amount of oil that enters the oceans.
Unfortunately, they often create a huge amount of pollution in one
place, overwhelming the local ecosystem.
 Ship pollution: Several decades after important international
agreements to stop marine pollution were signed, oil leakage and waste
disposal from ships (including cruise ships, warships, and tankers)
remains a significant cause of ocean pollution.

Water pollution solutions

 Understanding causes: If we don't understand why pollution happens,
how can we hope to stop it? We need to know whether pollution is
point source or nonpoint source—and what causes it in each case.
 Legislation: There are many different anti-pollution laws and
agreements in operation in the United States, Europe, and worldwide.
Examples include the US Clean Water Act, the EU Bathing Water
 Directive, and the MARPOL International Convention for the Prevention
of Pollution from Ships.
 Regulation: Sometimes pollution seems unavoidable: from papermaking
to oil refining, many industrial processes create pollution as a byproduct.
But instead of accepting that as a fact, we can regulate factories and
allow them to emit or discharge only limited amounts of carefully
controlled pollutants. By slowly reducing the levels of permitted
discharges, year by year and decade by decade, we can gradually bring
pollution under control.
 Effective enforcement: Laws and regulations are worth nothing unless
we're prepared to enforce them—and punish offenders with fines or jail
sentences. This is part of an idea known as the polluter pays principle,
which means people who produce pollution should have to pay the costs
they inflict on society.
 Public awareness: The more people know about the causes and effects
of pollution, the more likely they're going to be to avoid adding to the
problem. Community action to tackle pollution, such as voluntary
cleanups of rivers and beaches, is very important.
 Education: If we teach schoolchildren that pollution is a problem,
perhaps we can avoid turning them into future polluters?
 Political pressure: If we want to create laws and regulations that
effectively tackle pollution, against the wishes of powerful companies,
we're going to need ordinary people to apply considerable pressure to
their elected political representatives. That's where campaigning groups
and activists can play an important role.
 Cooperation: It's easy to point fingers and blame "greedy corporations"
for polluting the planet, but we all have a share of the responsibility for
pollution: if you drive a car, travel by bus, or buy any goods that have
been transported, you use oil, directly or indirectly, and you're partly to
blame for oil spillages in the ocean.
 Science: Understanding how pollution travels and persists in the
environment can play an important part in public awareness, education,
and applying political pressure. Good science can inform policy and
legislation and empower campaigners, but science alone rarely makes
much difference.
 Technology: There may be superb technological ways of cleaning-up
pollution we haven't yet discovered; similarly, there may be ways of
avoiding pollution (for example, by switching from gasoline-powered
cars to electric ones to reduce our dependence on oil).
The end