Category Science

What are the effects of air pollution?

              Clean air is the most vital aspect of life. If the level of oxygen decreases in the air, there will be disastrous after-effects in the biosphere. Polluted air can bring about diseases and even death to human and other life forms.

              Air pollution can cause health problems including burning eyes and nose, itchy irritated throat, and breathing problems. Some chemicals found in polluted air can cause cancer, birth defects, brain and nerve damage, and long-term injury to the lungs and breathing passages in certain circumstances.

              Apart from the personal injury to individuals, air pollution can also damage the environment and property. Trees, lakes and animals have been harmed by air pollution. Air pollution can damage buildings, monuments, statues, and other structures. Sometimes, air pollution results in a haze in the atmosphere, which reduces visibility so that drivers and pilots cannot see properly.

              In the blind rush in the name of development, if Man does not take proper care of the environment, his survival would be at high risk.

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How can we prevent air Pollution?

            Fresh air is probably the most important commodity in our life. Air pollution can cause various diseases and lead us eventually to death. Therefore, clear air is a necessity to lead a happy and comfortable life. People living in the rural areas often think that they have cleaner air; however, any part of the atmosphere can be contaminated by  pollutants.

            Many products that we use at home, in the yard or at the office are made with smog-forming chemicals. These chemicals can escape into the ail and pollute it. Products such as cleaning agents, paints and glues often contain harmful chemicals. If we do not use them sparingly and carefully, they might poison the air.

            Conserving energy helps reduce air pollution. Whenever we burn fossil fuels, we pollute the air. Use less petrol, natural gas and electricity. Be especially careful to turn off lights and fans so as not to waste electricity. You can also use recycled paper and other recycled products.

            We can reduce the air pollution by determined and concerted effort. However, to begin with, we must think of more and more innovative ways to prevent air pollution.

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How does pollution affect the oceans?

            The vastness and volume of oceans often make us think if oceans can be really polluted. However, Man’s wayward interventions and irresponsible use of natural resources have had alarming effects on the pollution levels of the hydrosphere.

            Pollution of the oceans is quickly becoming a disturbing problem. The world’s oceans are a virtual dumping ground for trash. Sometimes the garbage includes the junked fishing nets, plastics and even general household garbage.

            Garbage in the oceans is a serious issue as fish and other marine organisms entangle themselves in fishing nets. Many sea animals eat trash products and die.

            Sewage is yet another major cause of ocean pollution. When people dispose of sewage in the ocean, there will often be algae blooms in the water. Algae blooms lead to the loss of dissolved oxygen. When the oxygen level in the water comes down, many organisms in the ocean die from being unable to breathe properly.

            Another key cause of water pollution is the release of heavy metals into the water by industries. These elements collect in the tissues of predator animals such as whales and sharks.

            Pollution affects the fish that we consume too. You may have heard that some kind of fish has high mercury level in its body; and therefore, is harmful to humans when consumed.

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What is pollution?

               Recently, Delhi, our capital city, had been in the news due to the high levels of pollution in its atmosphere. Flights had to be cancelled as visibility was reduced to alarmingly low levels. It also caused health issues in the people of the city.

               Pollution happens when water, air, and land become very dirty and pose a danger to the health and wellbeing of living things in general. It can come in four different ways affecting various types of areas in the world.

              Air pollution affects the air in the atmosphere. The use of the automobiles and fossil-fuel-run machines has led to air pollution. Statistics say that fumes from traffic are responsible for releasing over 225,000 tonnes of lead into the atmosphere every year. Lead is harmful for humans and animals.

             Water pollution affects the aquatic life. Harmful factory Wastes dumped in the water bodies pollute water and kill the first level organisms in food chains, thereby putting the lives of other animals in peril. Land pollution, on the other hand, affects the land, destroying soil and environment. There is also noise pollution, which can affect our hearing. Pollution is the most dreadful environmental problem that our planet is facing today.

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What is population explosion?

            Humans have dominated the world for thousands of years. Our superior intelligence has enabled us to adapt to adverse situations. Human ability to adapt coupled with Man’s scientific advancement has allowed him to grow and multiply uncontrollably.

            The growing human population has adversely affected the environment in various ways. The demand for resources increases with the growth in population. To meet this demand, human beings never hesitate to exploit the environment.

            We cut trees to make way for the towns and cities. Plants and trees are usually the first link in all food chains. Felling trees disturbs food chains and affects ecosystems. Population explosion is really a threat to the environment.

            Humans are increasing in number across the globe with great speed. Our growth at an exponential rate is depleting the natural resources available to us. Cutting trees and destroying forests will gradually wipe away the wild life and pollute he healthy living environment. We are destroying the natural habitats of wildlife to create space for towns and cities.

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Did the industrial revolution cause the increase in the greenhouse effect?

            The Industrial Revolution, which began in the mid-18th century, set the wheel of rapid economic growth in motion world over. Scientific advancement and inventions of innumerable machines greatly emphasized this development. However, there were disadvantages to  this high-speed growth rate.

            During the time of Industrial Revolution, numerous factories had sprung up. Coal and wood were used in these factories as fuel. People cut trees extensively and destroyed forests. The period witnessed burning of more and more fossil fuels, deforestation and the adoption of new industrial processes and agricultural practices.

            While there are naturally occurring greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that help keep the earth warm, additional amounts of these gases in the atmosphere lead to more heat being trapped in the planet. That is exactly what the Industrial Revolution did.

            More and more carbon dioxide was released into the atmosphere by these factories. This increased the level of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases. These gases enhanced the greenhouse effect and warmed up our planet. This phenomenon is still happening and our earth is going to face disastrous consequences.

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