Environmental Pollution and Its Effects

Definition: Presence of harmful substances in the atmosphere.
Sources:
- Vehicle emissions
- Industrial discharges
- Burning of fossil fuels
Effects:
- Respiratory diseases (asthma, lung cancer)
- Cardiovascular problems
- Climate change (greenhouse gas emissions)
- Ozone layer depletion

Definition: Introduction of harmful chemicals or pathogens into water bodies.
Sources:
- Industrial waste disposal
- Agricultural runoff (pesticides and fertilizers)
- Sewage and wastewater discharge
Effects:
- Drinking water shortages
- Aquatic ecosystem disruption
- Spread of waterborne diseases (cholera, dysentery)
- Bioaccumulation in food chains

Definition: Deterioration of soil quality and productivity.
Sources:
- Overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides
- Deforestation and land clearing
- Overgrazing by livestock
Effects:
- Reduced agricultural productivity
- Loss of soil fertility and structure
- Increased erosion
- Contamination of groundwater

Direct Health Effects:
- Respiratory diseases from air pollutants
- Gastrointestinal illnesses from contaminated water
- Skin diseases from polluted soil
Long-term Effects:
- Increased risk of chronic conditions (cancer, heart disease)
- Developmental disorders in children
- Mental health issues linked to environmental stressors
Vulnerable Populations:
- Children
- Elderly individuals
- Low-income communities with limited access to clean environments

Definition: Decrease in the variety and variability of life forms.
Causes:
- Habitat destruction due to urbanization and deforestation
- Pollution affecting species survival
- Climate change altering habitats
Effects:
- Ecosystem instability
- Loss of species essential for ecological balance
- Disruption of food chains
- Reduced resilience to environmental changes

Air pollution is the presence of harmful substances in the atmosphere.
Major sources include vehicle emissions, industrial discharges, and burning fossil fuels.
Effects include respiratory diseases like asthma and lung cancer, cardiovascular problems, climate change due to greenhouse gas emissions, and ozone layer depletion.

Water contamination occurs when harmful chemicals or pathogens enter water bodies.
Sources include industrial waste disposal, agricultural runoff containing pesticides and fertilizers, and sewage and wastewater discharge.
This can lead to drinking water shortages, aquatic ecosystem disruption, the spread of waterborne diseases like cholera and dysentery, and bioaccumulation of toxins in food chains.

Soil degradation is the deterioration of soil quality and productivity.
Causes include overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, deforestation and land clearing, and overgrazing by livestock.
Impacts include reduced agricultural productivity, loss of soil fertility and structure, increased erosion, and contamination of groundwater.

Air pollution causes respiratory diseases, contaminated water leads to gastrointestinal illnesses, and polluted soil can cause skin diseases.
Long-term effects include increased risk of chronic conditions like cancer and heart disease, developmental disorders in children, and mental health issues linked to environmental stressors.
Vulnerable populations include children, elderly individuals, and low-income communities with limited access to clean environments.

Biodiversity loss refers to the decrease in the variety and variability of life forms.
Causes include habitat destruction due to urbanization and deforestation, pollution affecting species survival, and climate change altering habitats.
Effects include ecosystem instability, the loss of species essential for ecological balance, disruption of food chains, and reduced resilience to environmental changes.