One of the most serious environmental problems generated by human intervention in the natural environment is pollution, as it harms the environment, makes the cultivation and consumption of natural resources unfeasible, causes ecological imbalances and can threaten human health. For this reason, it is very important to clarify this issue in order to develop ways to combat this occurrence.
For didactic purposes, there is a generic classification of pollution that seeks to segment its main actions, as well as its causative agents, in order to better understand the problem. The types of pollution that can be cited are: air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, noise pollution and visual pollution.
Atmospheric pollution: involves air pollution in general, caused mainly by the emission of toxic pollutants from factory chimneys and also from vehicle exhaust. The burning of fossil fuels, such as oil and its derivatives, in addition to mineral coal, is the main cause of this type of pollution.
Atmospheric pollution generated by industrial activity
The effects of air pollution are diverse and act on a global and local scale. According to data from many analysts and also from the Panel on Climate Change of the UN (IPCC), human activities have generated a greater concentration of gases that cause the greenhouse effect, intensifying the problem of Global Warming. On a local scale, the environmental problems generated in cities, such as Heat Islands and Thermal Inversion, deserve to be highlighted.
Water pollution: characterized by the degradation of water resources, resulting in the pollution of lakes, rivers, streams and also the seas and oceans. It is mainly caused by the undue spillage of sewage, but also by the pollution of watersheds, since, during the rains, garbage is conducted to the bed of watercourses. In oceans and seas, a frequent cause is oil spills.
Pollution of watercourses causes environmental problems
The pollution of river waters results in the loss of natural resources, mainly drinking water, also causing an increase in fish mortality. Therefore, it is important to conserve watercourses both in urban areas and in environments far from areas of human occupation. In the oceans, pollution also generates the loss of species, greatly affecting the environment inside and outside the seas.
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soil pollution: occurs through contamination or widespread pollution of soils, affecting economic activities and also the surrounding environment. The main occurrences are the garbage stored in sanitary landfills, where there is the production of a toxic liquid called manure, which penetrates underground and can reach the water table. In cemeteries, the occurrence is similar.
Excessive use of pesticides harms the soil.
In agriculture, the exaggerated use of pesticides to combat the emergence of pests in crops can also generate soil pollution. With excess toxic waste accumulated, the affected area can become infertile, disrupting agriculture and aggravating local environmental problems. Therefore, the careful use of chemical products, in addition to the preference for organic fertilizers, are more than necessary measures to reduce the damage caused.
Noise pollution: urban environments or environments with large crowds of people that generate excessive noise, especially in traffic, construction equipment and others, are common. The main damages are to human health, as the maximum volume of sounds that we should hear, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is 65 decibels, and, often, the environment of cities produces sounds greater than this.
Works and constructions, in addition to traffic, increase noise pollution in cities
Visual pollution: is caused by too much advertising on billboards, billboards, signs and others scattered in urban environments, characterizing the high concentration of visual stimuli. Despite being apparently non-aggressive, visual pollution can intensify or generate stress, in addition to making the environment less comfortable for human occupation. During election periods, this problem extends to the maximum, although recent laws have been designed to mitigate these effects.
Visual pollution creates problems in urban space
By Me. Rodolfo Alves Pena