Pollution is the introduction of pollutants into the environment natural environment that cause unfavorable changes. Pollution can take the form chemical substances or energy such as noise, heat or light. Components of pollution can be either foreign substances/energy or natural pollutants.

Main types and causes of environmental pollution:

Air pollution

Coniferous forest after acid rain

Smoke from chimneys, factories, Vehicle or from burning wood and coal make the air toxic. The effects of air pollution are also clear. The release of sulfur dioxide and hazardous gases into the atmosphere causes global warming and acid rain, which in turn increases temperatures, causing excessive rainfall or droughts around the world and making life more difficult. We also breathe every contaminated particle in the air and as a result, the risk of asthma and lung cancer increases.

Water pollution

Caused the loss of many species of flora and fauna of the Earth. This happened due to the fact that industrial waste discharged into rivers and other water bodies causes an imbalance in aquatic environment, resulting in severe pollution and death of aquatic animals and plants.

In addition, spraying insecticides, pesticides (such as DDT) on plants, contaminates the system groundwater. Oil spills in the oceans have caused significant damage to water bodies.

Eutrophication in the Potomac River, USA

Eutrophication is another important cause of water pollution. Occurs due to untreated Wastewater and the leaching of fertilizers from the soil into lakes, ponds or rivers, causing chemicals to leach into the water and block sunlight, thereby reducing the amount of oxygen and making the water uninhabitable.

Pollution of water resources harms not only individual aquatic organisms, but also the entire water supply, and seriously affects the people who depend on it. In some countries of the world, due to water pollution, outbreaks of cholera and diarrhea are observed.

Soil pollution

Soil erosion

This type of pollution occurs when harmful substances enter the soil. chemical elements, usually caused by human activity. Insecticides and pesticides suck nitrogen compounds from the soil, making it unsuitable for plant growth. Industrial waste also has a negative impact on the soil. Since plants cannot grow as required, they are unable to hold the soil, resulting in erosion.

Noise pollution

Appears when unpleasant (loud) sounds come from environment affect the human hearing organs and lead to psychological problems, including voltage, high blood pressure, hearing impairment, etc. It can be caused by industrial equipment, airplanes, cars, etc.

Nuclear pollution

This is a very dangerous type of pollution, it occurs due to malfunctions nuclear power plants, improper storage of nuclear waste, accidents, etc. Nuclear pollution can cause cancer, infertility, loss of vision, birth defects; it can make the soil infertile, and also negatively affects air and water.

Light pollution

Light pollution on planet Earth

Occurs due to noticeable excess illumination of an area. It is usually common in big cities, especially from billboards, in gyms or entertainment venues at night. In residential areas, light pollution greatly affects people's lives. It also interferes with astronomical observations, making the stars almost invisible.

Thermal/heat pollution

Thermal pollution is the deterioration of water quality by any process that changes the temperature of the surrounding water. The main reason Thermal pollution is the use of water as a refrigerant by power plants and industrial plants. When water used as a refrigerant is returned to the natural environment at more high temperature, temperature changes reduce the oxygen supply and affect the composition. Fish and other organisms adapted to a particular temperature range may be killed abrupt change water temperature (either rapid increase or decrease).

Thermal pollution is caused by excess heat in the environment creating undesirable changes over long periods of time. This is due to huge amount industrial enterprises, deforestation and air pollution. Thermal pollution increases the Earth's temperature, causing dramatic climate change and the loss of wildlife species.

Visual pollution

Visual pollution, Philippines

Visual pollution is aesthetic problem and refers to the effects of pollution that impair the ability to enjoy the world around us. It includes: billboards, open garbage storage, antennas, electrical wires, buildings, cars, etc.

Overcrowding of the territory with a large number of objects causes visual pollution. Such pollution contributes to absent-mindedness, eye fatigue, loss of identity, etc.

Plastic pollution

Plastic pollution, India

Includes the accumulation of plastic products in the environment that have adverse effects on wildlife, the habitat of animals or people. Plastic products are inexpensive and durable, which has made them very popular among people. However, this material decomposes very slowly. Plastic pollution can adversely affect soil, lakes, rivers, seas and oceans. Living organisms, especially marine animals, become entangled in plastic waste or suffer from chemicals in plastic that cause disruptions in biological functions. People are also affected by plastic pollution by causing hormonal imbalance.

Objects of pollution

The main objects of environmental pollution are air (atmosphere), water resources(streams, rivers, lakes, seas, oceans), soil, etc.

Pollutants (sources or subjects of pollution) of the environment

Pollutants are chemical, biological, physical or mechanical elements (or processes) that harm the environment.

They can cause harm in both the short and long term. Pollutants come from natural resources or are produced by humans.

Many pollutants have toxic effects on living organisms. Carbon monoxide ( carbon monoxide) is an example of a substance that causes harm to humans. This compound is absorbed by the body instead of oxygen, causing shortness of breath, headache, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, and in severe cases can lead to serious poisoning, and even death.

Some pollutants become dangerous when they react with other naturally occurring compounds. Oxides of nitrogen and sulfur are released from impurities in fossil fuels during combustion. They react with water vapor in the atmosphere, turning into acid rain. Acid rain negatively affects aquatic ecosystems and leads to the death of aquatic animals, plants, and other living organisms. Terrestrial ecosystems are also affected by acid rain.

Classification of pollution sources

Based on the type of occurrence, environmental pollution is divided into:

Anthropogenic (artificial) pollution

Deforestation

Anthropogenic pollution is the impact on the environment caused by human activities. The main sources of artificial pollution are:

• industrialization;
• invention of automobiles;
• global population growth;
• deforestation: destruction natural environment a habitat;
• nuclear explosions;
• overexploitation of natural resources;
• construction of buildings, roads, dams;
• creation of explosive substances that are used during military operations;
• use of fertilizers and pesticides;
• mining.

Natural (natural) pollution

Eruption

Natural pollution is caused and occurs naturally, without human intervention. It can affect the environment for a certain period of time, but is capable of regeneration. Sources of natural pollution include:

• volcanic eruptions, releasing gases, ash and magma;
• forest fires emit smoke and gaseous impurities;
• sandstorms raise dust and sand;
• decomposition organic matter, during which gases are released.

Consequences of pollution:

Environmental degradation

Photo on the left: Beijing after the rain. Photo on the right: smog in Beijing

The environment is the first victim of air pollution. An increase in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere leads to smog, which can prevent penetration sunlight to the surface of the earth. In this regard, it becomes much more difficult. Gases such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide can cause acid rain. Water pollution in terms of oil spills can lead to the death of several species of wild animals and plants.

Human health

Lung cancer

Decreased air quality leads to several respiratory problems, including asthma or lung cancer. Pain in chest, sore throat, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases can be caused by air pollution. Water pollution can cause skin problems, including irritation and rashes. Similarly, noise pollution leads to hearing loss, stress and sleep disturbance.

Global warming

Male, the capital of the Maldives, is one of the cities facing the prospect of being flooded by the ocean in the 21st century

The release of greenhouse gases, especially CO2, leads to global warming. Every day new industries are created, new cars appear on the roads, and the number of trees is reduced to make way for new houses. All these factors, directly or indirectly, lead to an increase in CO2 in the atmosphere. Rising CO2 is causing the polar ice caps to melt, raising sea levels and creating dangers for people living near coastal areas.

Ozone depletion

The ozone layer is a thin shield high in the sky that blocks ultraviolet rays from reaching the ground. Human activities release chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons into the atmosphere, which contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer.

Badlands

Due to the constant use of insecticides and pesticides, the soil can become infertile. Different kinds chemicals generated from industrial waste enter the water, which also affects the quality of the soil.

Protection (protection) of the environment from pollution:

International protection

Many are particularly vulnerable because they are exposed to human influence in many countries. As a result, some states are coming together and developing agreements aimed at preventing damage or managing human impacts on Natural resources. These include agreements that affect the protection of the climate, oceans, rivers and air from pollution. These international environmental treaties are sometimes mandatory documents, which have legal consequences in case of non-compliance, and in other situations are used as codes of conduct. The most famous include:

• The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), approved in June 1972, provides for the protection of nature for the present generation of people and their descendants.
• The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was signed in May 1992. The main goal This agreement is to "stabilize the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system"
• The Kyoto Protocol provides for the reduction or stabilization of the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere. It was signed in Japan at the end of 1997.

State protection

Discussions of environmental issues often focus on the government, legislative and law enforcement levels. However, in the actual in a broad sense protecting the environment can be seen as the responsibility of the entire people, not just the government. Decisions that impact the environment will ideally involve a wide range of stakeholders, including industry, indigenous groups, environmental groups and communities. Environmental decision-making processes are constantly evolving and becoming more active in different countries.

Many constitutions recognize the fundamental right to protect the environment. In addition, in various countries there are organizations and institutions dealing with environmental issues.

Although protecting the environment is not just a responsibility government agencies, most people consider these organizations to be paramount in creating and maintaining basic standards that protect the environment and the people who interact with it.

How to protect the environment yourself?

Population and technological advances based on fossil fuels have severely impacted our natural environment. Therefore, we now need to do our part to eliminate the consequences of degradation so that humanity continues to live in an environmentally friendly environment.

There are 3 main principles that are still relevant and more important than ever:

• use less;
• reuse;
• convert.

• Create a compost heap in your garden. This helps to recycle food waste and other biodegradable materials.
• When shopping, use your eco-bags and try to avoid plastic bags as much as possible.
• Plant as many trees as you can.
• Think about ways to reduce the number of trips you make using your car.
• Reduce vehicle emissions by walking or cycling. Not only are these great alternatives to driving, but they also have health benefits.
• Use public transport, whenever you can, for everyday mobility.
• Bottles, paper, used oil, old batteries and used tires must be disposed of properly; all this causes serious pollution.
• Do not pour chemicals and waste oil onto the ground or into drains leading to waterways.
• If possible, recycle selected biodegradable waste, and work to reduce the amount of non-recyclable waste used.
• Reduce the amount of meat you consume or consider a vegetarian diet.

When you think about the many environmental issues facing modern world, what ways to solve them come to your mind? Perhaps you are thinking about latest warnings scientists about global warming, about endangered species of animals and plants, about the disappearance of forests or about air and water pollution. Of course, the list of environmental threats is endless, and your children have no doubt already learned about many of them at home or at school.

Many adults may be intimidated by studying scientific data detailing the state of the environment. How to teach your children the importance of caring for the environment and not put into them the idea of ​​the inevitable end of the world and a universal catastrophe? First, draw your children's attention to what your family and friends can do to protect nature. If you help your children care environmental protection from the early age, they will be able to see that their actions actually make a difference, and that if they act together with other people, they can play an important role in changing and improving the whole world.

This article provides simple, easy-to-do activities with children that you can incorporate into your daily schedule that will help them become responsible stewards of the environment.

Save water

Did you know that one person uses, on average, about 200 liters of water per day? You can probably guess that in the bathroom people use more water than any other room in the house, or that a dripping tap can spill up to 7,500 liters of water per year. But while you're likely aware of these statistics, your kids probably have no idea how much water is wasted every day.

How can we teach children to conserve our water resources? Consider the following suggestions:

1. When brushing your teeth, washing your face or washing your hands, turn off the water rather than running it constantly;
2. make it a rule to reduce the time you spend in the shower (use a timer if necessary);
3. If it is the children's turn to wash the dishes, do not let them constantly pour water while they are soaping or rinsing the dishes;
4. If you ask children to wash garden paths, give them a mop, not a hose;
5. In spring and summer, have your children water the plants early in the morning to avoid evaporation and therefore waste less water;
6. Do not throw garbage into the toilet, because you have to flush the water every time.

Recycling

In all likelihood, your bins are now much lighter than they were a few years ago. Today, recycling bins are already available in many cities, and most houses also have trash cans with such waste, which are taken away by special vehicles once a week.

Your children may have also taken part in school programs waste paper collection and world day environmental protection (celebrated annually around the world on June 5), which promote environmental protection. Maybe they even help their family collect and recycle aluminum cans and plastic bottles and get paid for it. Since waste recycling has become so widespread in last years, what else can be done to reduce environmental pollution?

Reduce waste

Perhaps the simplest thing your family can do first and foremost is to reduce the amount of waste you produce. Because the handful of trash that each individual produces adds up to huge mountains of global trash, and reducing your personal trash can have a significant impact on the environment. The following ideas will help you:

1. save paper, write letters and do homework on both sides of the sheet;
2. make a stack of note paper that your kids can use for their rough work - it helps to reuse the paper;
3. when preparing lunch, use reusable dishes;
4. encourage children to use reusable containers rather than plastic bags, wrapping paper or aluminum foil;
5. Place grass clippings, leaves and food scraps in a compost bin in your garden rather than throwing them away with your trash, which will also reduce the amount of waste going to city landfills;
6. buy things made from recycled paper and other recycled materials;
7. Show your kids how much packaging is wasted when you buy individually packaged items instead of buying large packages and then portioning what you buy into reusable containers;
8. Buy rechargeable batteries and other devices that are ultimately better for the environment and last much longer than regular batteries;
9. If you are in a store and buy a small item, put it in your pocket, purse or other shopping bag, rather than asking for a separate bag for it;
10. Bring a reusable shopping bag that your family can use for weeks on end, or just a shopping bag.

Reusing old things

Old unwanted clothes, toys or household items can get a second or even a third life if you start using them for other purposes. For example, an old tire can make a great garden bed, or torn clothes can be used as rags. Parts of broken toys may become new life as a material for crafts. You can also donate a still usable item to a charity.

Recycling outside the home

Many people carefully collect trash at home and completely forget about it outside. For example, what do you do with empty plastic bottles and soda cans? Do you throw them in a recycling bin if there is one nearby? Or do you just throw it in the trash?

Remind your children that all they need to do is make sure the can or bottle is empty, put it in their backpack, and then throw it in the recycling container when they get home. You can also consult with the administration of gardens and parks in your city whether it is possible to place such containers in areas of heavy urban traffic. Some gardens and parks and beaches already have special containers for plastic bottles and metal cans.

Reduce air pollution, slow global warming

If your children are in middle or high school, they may have already been taught about global warming. While it may seem like only governments and big businesses can do anything to reduce gas emissions, there are some things you and your family can do, not to mention that will help you at the same time. and save money. For example, you can offer your children the following:

1. If you need to get somewhere, walk, bike, or take the bus instead of driving. Maybe you live close enough to a school that your children can walk to it? Can you agree with your neighbors to take turns driving their children? Can your children walk or bike to a friend's house instead of using the car?
2. Save electricity (turn off the TV, lights, radio and other electrical appliances when not in use).
3. Help conserve energy and raw materials by recycling, reusing, and reducing the amount of food you consume.
4. Plant trees and other plants to help absorb excess carbon dioxide(they also provide shade and protection from the wind, which helps to better keep homes more or less constant temperature and, therefore, reduce energy costs for heating or cooling).

Less effort - more results

Our small everyday actions are the most different ways can have significant positive effects on the environment. To get children to think about the environment on a regular basis, let them see everything you do to protect it every day and explain why you do it. For example, children may not understand why using energy saving lamps or a manual lawn mower is better for the environment until you explain it to them. Show your children that you don't litter and explain the impact pollution has on the environment. Don't throw away unnecessary things, but donate them to charities. Stay up to date with environmental projects in your area and you might be able to plant a tree or pick up trash at your local park with your kids.

Environmental pollution is global problem modernity, which is regularly discussed in the news and scientific circles. Many created international organizations aimed at combating the deterioration natural conditions. Scientists have long been sounding the alarm about the inevitability of an environmental disaster in the very near future.

On this moment a lot is known about environmental pollution - written a large number of scientific works and books, numerous studies have been conducted. But humanity has made very little progress in solving the problem. Nature pollution still remains important and topical issue, the shelving of which can turn tragic.

History of biosphere pollution

Due to the intensive industrialization of society, environmental pollution has become particularly acute in recent decades. However, despite this fact, natural pollution is one of the most ancient problems in human history. Even in the primitive era, people began to barbarously destroy forests, exterminate animals and change the landscape of the earth to expand their territory of residence and obtain valuable resources.

Even then, this led to climate change and other environmental problems. The growth of the planet's population and the progress of civilizations was accompanied by increased mining, drainage of water bodies, as well as chemical pollution of the biosphere. Industrial Revolution marked not only new era in the social order, but also new wave pollution.

With the development of science and technology, scientists received tools that made it possible to accurately and detailed analysis ecological state of the planet. Weather reports, monitoring of the chemical composition of air, water and soil, satellite data, as well as ubiquitous smoking pipes and oil spills on the water indicate that the problem is rapidly worsening with the expansion of the technosphere. It is not for nothing that the emergence of man is called the main environmental disaster.

Classification of nature pollution

There are several classifications of natural pollution based on their source, direction, and other factors.

So, they highlight the following types environmental pollution:

• Biological – the source of pollution is living organisms; it can occur due to natural causes or as a result of anthropogenic activities.
• Physical – leads to changes in the corresponding characteristics of the environment. Physical pollution includes thermal, radiation, noise and others.
• Chemical – an increase in the content of substances or their penetration into the environment. Leads to a change in the normal chemical composition of resources.
• Mechanical – pollution of the biosphere with garbage.

In reality, one type of pollution may be accompanied by another or several at once.

The gaseous shell of the planet is an integral part natural processes, determines the thermal background and climate of the Earth, protects against harmful cosmic radiation, and affects relief formation.

The composition of the atmosphere has changed throughout historical development planets. The current situation is such that part of the volume of the gas shell is determined by human economic activity. The composition of the air is heterogeneous and differs depending on geographical location– in industrial areas and major cities high level harmful impurities.

The main sources of chemical pollution of the atmosphere:

• chemical plants;
• enterprises of the fuel and energy complex;
• transport.

These pollutants cause the presence of heavy metals in the atmosphere, such as lead, mercury, chromium, and copper. They are permanent components of air in industrial areas.

Modern power plants emit hundreds of tons of carbon dioxide, as well as soot, dust and ash, into the atmosphere every day.

Increase in the number of cars in populated areas led to an increase in the concentration of a number of harmful gases in the air, which are part of machine exhaust. Due to anti-knock additives added to transportation fuels, emissions occur. large quantities lead. Cars produce dust and ash, which pollute not only the air, but also the soil, settling on the ground.

The atmosphere is also polluted by very toxic gases emitted by enterprises chemical industry. Waste from chemical plants, for example, nitrogen and sulfur oxides, causes acid rain and can react with components of the biosphere to form other dangerous derivatives.

As a result human activity Forest fires occur regularly, during which colossal amounts of carbon dioxide are released.

Soil is a thin layer of lithosphere formed as a result natural factors, in which it flows most of exchange processes between living and non-living systems.

Due to the extraction of natural resources, mining operations, the construction of buildings, roads and airfields, large areas of soil are destroyed.

Irrational economic activity humans have caused the degradation of the fertile layer of the earth. His natural is changing chemical composition, mechanical contamination occurs. Intensive development Agriculture leads to significant land loss. Frequent plowing makes them vulnerable to flooding, salinity and wind, which causes soil erosion.

The abundant use of fertilizers, insecticides and chemical poisons to destroy pests and clear weeds leads to the release of toxic compounds that are unnatural for it into the soil. As a result of anthropogenic activities, chemical pollution of land occurs heavy metals and their derivatives. The main harmful element is lead, as well as its compounds. When processing lead ores, about 30 kilograms of metal are released from every ton. Car exhaust containing large amounts of this metal settles in the soil, poisoning the organisms living in it. Liquid waste discharges from mines contaminate the ground with zinc, copper and other metals.

Power plants, radioactive fallout from nuclear explosions, research centers for the study of atomic energy are the cause of the release into the soil radioactive isotopes, which then enter the human body with food.

Metal reserves concentrated in the bowels of the earth are dissipated as a consequence of human production activity. Then they concentrate in the top layer of soil. In ancient times, man used 18 elements, from those found in earth's crust, and today - all are famous.

Today, the water shell of the earth is much more polluted than one can imagine. Oil slicks and bottles floating on the surface are just what can be seen. A significant part of pollutants is in a dissolved state.

Water spoilage can occur naturally. As a result of mudflows and floods, magnesium is washed out of the continental soil, which enters water bodies and harms fish. As a result of chemical transformations in fresh waters aluminum penetrates. But natural pollution makes up a negligibly small proportion compared to anthropogenic pollution. Due to human fault, the following gets into the water:

• surfactants;
• pesticides;
• phosphates, nitrates and other salts;
• medicines;
• petroleum products;
• radioactive isotopes.

The sources of these pollutants are farms, fishing, oil platforms, power plants, chemical plants, sewage.

Acid rain, which is also the result of human activity, dissolves the soil and washes away heavy metals.

In addition to chemical pollution of water, there is physical, namely thermal. The largest use of water is in the production of electricity. Thermal stations They use it to cool turbines, and the heated waste liquid is discharged into reservoirs.

Mechanical deterioration of water quality due to household waste in populated areas leads to a reduction in the habitats of living beings. Some species are dying.

Polluted water is the main cause of most diseases. As a result of liquid poisoning, many living beings die, the ocean ecosystem suffers, and the normal course of natural processes is disrupted. The pollutants ultimately enter the human body.

Anti-pollution

To avoid environmental disaster, combating physical pollution must be a top priority. The problem must be solved at the international level, because nature has no state borders. To prevent pollution, it is necessary to impose sanctions on enterprises that discharge waste into the environment, and impose large fines for placing waste in the wrong place. Incentives to comply with standards environmental safety can also be done financial methods. This approach has proven effective in some countries.

A promising direction to combat pollution is the use of alternative sources energy. Usage solar panels, hydrogen fuel and other energy-saving technologies will reduce the emission of toxic compounds into the atmosphere.

Other methods of combating pollution include:

• construction of treatment facilities;
• Creation national parks and nature reserves;
• increasing the amount of green space;
• population control in third world countries;
• attracting public attention to the problem.

Environmental pollution is a massive world problem, which can only be solved with the active participation of everyone who calls planet Earth their home, otherwise ecological catastrophy will be inevitable.

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