Home Useful Tips Dirty nature. Types, sources and causes of environmental pollution. Vancouver Island, once covered in coniferous forests

Dirty nature. Types, sources and causes of environmental pollution. Vancouver Island, once covered in coniferous forests

Many people have learned from their own experience that the power of positive thinking is great. Positive thinking allows you to achieve success in any business, even the most hopeless. Why does not everyone have a positive mindset, since it is a direct path to success?

If someone calls you selfish, that is definitely not a compliment. This makes it clear that you are paying too much attention to your own needs. Selfish behavior is unacceptable to most people and is considered immoral.

There are times when a series of problems falls on a person and a black streak comes in life. It feels like the whole world has rebelled against him. How to get out of a losing streak and start enjoying life again?

There are over seven billion people on Earth. All of them are unique and differ from each other not only in appearance, but also in a set of psychological traits. There is a category of people who easily communicate with strangers, easily fit into unfamiliar companies and know how to please almost any person. Such people are more successful in their personal life and in their careers than others. Many people want to become just such people, a kind of “soul of the company”. Today we will talk about what to do to please people and become a more successful person.

Conflicts can arise everywhere, regardless of the people around them and the circumstances. An angry boss or unscrupulous subordinates, demanding parents or dishonest teachers, grandmothers at bus stops or angry people in public places. Even a conscientious neighbor and a dandelion grandmother can cause a lot of conflict. How to get out of the conflict correctly without incurring damage - moral and physical - and will be discussed in this article.

It is impossible to imagine a modern person who is not subject to stress. Accordingly, each of us is in such situations every day at work, at home, on the road, some sufferers do experience stress several times a day. And there are people who constantly live in a stressful state and do not even know about it.

Life is a strange and complex thing that can throw dozens of troubles in one day. However, it is worth remembering: any trouble is a lesson that will definitely come in handy sometime in the future. If a person is an honest student, then he will remember the lecture the first time. In the event that the lesson was incomprehensible, life will collide with it again and again. And many people take this literally, making life difficult for themselves! But sometimes you shouldn't put up with certain things while looking in those life lessons! What specific situations should be prevented?

Everything seems dull and gray, close people are annoying, work enrages and there is a wash, that all life is going downhill somewhere. In order to change your own life, you do not have to do something supernatural and difficult. Sometimes the simplest and most accessible actions for everyone can significantly increase energy levels and make you feel much better. Try to implement 7 effective practices in your life that will drastically change your life for the better.

Everyone who is engaged in self-development knows that he cannot do without a feeling of discomfort. Quite often, people confuse discomfort with a black streak in life and start complaining, or even worse, trying to avoid change. But as experience shows, only by going beyond comfort can we find and acquire all the benefits that we need.

Environmental pollution is a global problem of our time, which is regularly discussed in the news and academia. Many international organizations have been created to combat the deterioration of natural conditions. Scientists have long been sounding the alarm about the inevitability of an environmental catastrophe in the very near future.

At the moment, a lot is known about environmental pollution - a large number of scientific works and books have been written, numerous studies have been carried out. But in solving the problem, humanity has made very little progress. Pollution of nature is still an important and urgent issue, the postponement of which can turn out to be tragic.

Biosphere pollution history

In connection with the intensive industrialization of society, environmental pollution has become especially aggravated 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 the 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 were accompanied by increased mining, drainage of water bodies, as well as chemical pollution of the biosphere. The Industrial Revolution marked not only a new era in the social order, but also a new wave of pollution.

With the development of science and technology, scientists received the tools with which it became possible to accurately and detailed analysis of the ecological state of the planet. Weather reports, control of the chemical composition of air, water and soil, satellite data, and ubiquitous smokestacks and oil spills on the water indicate that the problem is rapidly aggravating with the expansion of the technosphere. It is not for nothing that the appearance of man is called the main ecological catastrophe.

Classification of environmental pollution

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

So, the following types of environmental pollution are distinguished:

  • Biological - the source of pollution is living organisms, it can occur for natural reasons or as a result of anthropogenic activity.
  • Physical - leads to a change 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 the resource.
  • Mechanical - pollution of the biosphere with garbage.

In fact, one type of pollution can be accompanied by another or several at once.

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

The composition of the atmosphere has changed during the entire historical development of the planet. The current situation is such that part of the volume of the gas envelope is determined by human economic activity. The composition of the air is heterogeneous and differs depending on the geographic location - in industrial regions and large cities there is a high level of harmful impurities.

The main sources of chemical pollution of the atmosphere:

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

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

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

The increase in the number of cars in settlements has led to an increase in the concentration of a number of harmful gases in the air, which are part of the engine exhaust. Large quantities of lead are released due to the anti-knock additives added to transport fuels. Cars generate dust and ash that pollute not only the air but also the soil, settling on the ground.

The atmosphere is also polluted by highly toxic gases emitted by chemical industries. Waste from chemical plants, for example, nitrogen and sulfur oxides, cause acid rain and can react with components of the biosphere to form other hazardous derivatives.

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

Soil is a thin layer of the lithosphere, formed as a result of natural factors, in which most of the exchange processes between living and nonliving systems take place.

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

Irrational human economic activity has caused the degradation of the fertile layer of the earth. Its natural chemical composition changes, mechanical pollution occurs. The intensive development of agriculture leads to significant land losses. Frequent plowing makes them vulnerable to flooding, salinization and winds that cause soil erosion.

The abundant use of fertilizers, insecticides and chemical poisons to destroy pests and remove weeds leads to the ingress of toxic compounds unnatural for it into the soil. As a result of anthropogenic activity, the land is chemically contaminated with 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 emitted from each ton. Car exhaust, which contains large amounts of this metal, settles in the soil, poisoning the organisms that live in it. Liquid waste from mines contaminates the earth with zinc, copper and other metals.

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

The reserves of metals concentrated in the bowels of the earth are scattered as a result of human production activity. Then they concentrate in the upper soil layer. In ancient times, man used 18 elements from those found in the earth's crust, and today all are known.

Today, the earth's water envelope is much more polluted than one might imagine. Oil spills and bottles floating on the surface are just what you can see. A significant part of the pollutants is in a dissolved state.

Water deterioration can occur naturally. As a result of mudflows and floods, magnesium is washed out of the mainland soil, which enters water bodies and harms fish. As a result of chemical transformations, aluminum penetrates into fresh water. But natural pollution is negligible compared to anthropogenic pollution. Through the fault of a person, the following fall into the water:

  • surface active compounds;
  • pesticides;
  • phosphates, nitrates and other salts;
  • medicines;
  • petroleum products;
  • radioactive isotopes.

Sources of these pollutants are farms, fisheries, oil platforms, power plants, chemical plants, and sewage.

Acid rain, which is also a result of human activity, dissolves the soil, washing out heavy metals.

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

Mechanical deterioration of water quality by household waste in settlements leads to a reduction in the habitats of living beings. Some species die.

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

Pollution control

To avoid environmental disaster, combating physical pollution must be a top priority. The problem must be resolved at the international level, because nature has no state borders. To prevent pollution, it is necessary to impose sanctions on enterprises that dispose of waste into the environment, to impose large fines for placing garbage in the wrong place. Financial incentives can also be used to incentivize compliance with environmental safety standards. This approach has proven to be effective in some countries.

A promising direction in the fight against pollution is the use of alternative energy sources. The use of solar panels, hydrogen fuel and other energy-saving technologies will reduce the release of toxic compounds into the atmosphere.

Other pollution control methods include:

  • construction of treatment facilities;
  • creation of national parks and reserves;
  • an increase in the number of green spaces;
  • population control in third world countries;
  • drawing public attention to the problem.

Environmental pollution is a large-scale global problem, which can only be solved with the active participation of everyone who calls the planet Earth their home, otherwise an ecological catastrophe will be inevitable.

From elementary grades we are taught that man and nature are one, that one cannot be separated from the other. We learn about the development of our planet, the features of its structure and structure. These areas affect our well-being: the atmosphere, soil, water of the Earth - these are, perhaps, the most important components of a normal human life. But why, then, every year environmental pollution goes further and on an ever larger scale? Let's take a look at the main environmental issues.

Environmental pollution, which also refers to the natural environment and the biosphere, is an increased content in it of physical, chemical or biological reagents that are not characteristic of this environment, brought in from the outside, the presence of which leads to negative consequences.

Scientists have been sounding the alarm about an imminent environmental disaster for several decades in a row. The studies carried out in various fields lead to the conclusion that we are already faced with global climate and environmental changes under the influence of human activities. The pollution of the oceans due to the leakage of oil and oil products, as well as garbage has reached enormous proportions, which affects the decline in the populations of many animal species and the ecosystem as a whole. The growing number of cars every year leads to large emissions into the atmosphere, which, in turn, leads to land drainage, heavy rainfall on the continents, and a decrease in the amount of oxygen in the air. Some countries are already forced to bring water and even buy canned air, as production has damaged the environment in the country. Many people have already realized the danger and are very sensitive to negative changes in nature and major environmental problems, but we still perceive the possibility of a disaster as something unrealizable and distant. Is this really so or the threat is close and something needs to be done immediately - let's figure it out.

Types and main sources of environmental pollution

The main types of pollution are classified by the sources of environmental pollution:

  • biological;
  • chemical
  • physical;
  • mechanical.

In the first case, environmental pollutants are the activities of living organisms or anthropogenic factors. In the second case, there is a change in the natural chemical composition of the polluted area by adding other chemicals to it. In the third case, the physical characteristics of the environment change. These types of pollution include thermal, radiation, noise and other types of radiation. The latter type of pollution is also associated with human activities and the release of waste into the biosphere.

All types of pollution can be present either separately by themselves, or flow from one to another, or exist together. Let us consider how they affect individual areas of the biosphere.

People who have come a long way in the desert will surely be able to name the price of every drop of water. Although most likely these drops will be priceless, because human life depends on them. In ordinary life, alas, we do not attach such great importance to water, since we have a lot of it, and it is available at any time. Only in the long term this is not entirely true. In percentage terms, only 3% of the world's fresh water supply remained unpolluted. Understanding the importance of water for people does not prevent a person from contaminating an important source of life with oil and oil products, heavy metals, radioactive substances, inorganic pollution, sewage and synthetic fertilizers.

The polluted water contains a large amount of xenobiotics - substances that are alien to the human or animal body. If this water enters the food chain, it can lead to serious food poisoning and even death for everyone in the chain. Of course, they are also contained in the products of volcanic activity, which pollute water even without human help, but the activities of the metallurgical industry and chemical plants are of predominant importance.

With the advent of nuclear research, nature has suffered quite significant harm in all areas, including water. Charged particles trapped in it are very harmful to living organisms and contribute to the development of oncological diseases. Wastewater from factories, ships with nuclear reactors, and simple rain or snow in a nuclear test area can contaminate water with decomposition products.

Sewer drains, which carry a lot of garbage: detergents, food residues, small household waste and others, in turn contribute to the reproduction of other pathogenic organisms, which, when ingested, give a number of diseases, such as typhoid fever, dysentery and others.

Perhaps it makes no sense to explain how the soil is an important part of human life. Most of the food that humans eat comes from the soil: from cereals to rare types of fruits and vegetables. For this to continue in the future, it is necessary to maintain the condition of the soil at the proper level for the normal water cycle. But anthropogenic pollution has already led to the fact that 27% of the planet's land is subject to erosion.

Soil pollution is the ingress of toxic chemicals and debris into it in high quantities, which interfere with the normal course of the cycle of soil systems. The main sources of soil pollution:

  • residential buildings;
  • industrial enterprises;
  • transport;
  • Agriculture;
  • nuclear power.

In the first case, soil pollution occurs due to ordinary garbage that is thrown out in the wrong places. But the main reason should be called landfills. The incinerated waste leads to the clogging of large areas, and the combustion products spoil the soil irrevocably, contaminating the entire environment.

Industrial enterprises emit many toxic substances, heavy metals and chemical compounds that affect not only the soil, but also the life of living organisms. It is this source of pollution that leads to technogenic soil pollution.

Transport emissions, hydrocarbon, methane and lead, getting into the soil, affect food chains - they enter the human body through food.
Excessive plowing, pesticides, pesticides and fertilizers, which contain enough mercury and heavy metals, lead to significant soil erosion and desertification. Abundant irrigation also cannot be called a positive factor, since it leads to soil salinization.

Today, up to 98% of radioactive waste from nuclear power plants is buried in the ground, mainly uranium fission products, which leads to the degradation and depletion of land resources.

The atmosphere in the form of a gaseous shell of the Earth is of great value, since it protects the planet from cosmic radiation, affects the relief, determines the Earth's climate and its thermal background. It cannot be said that the composition of the atmosphere was homogeneous and only with the advent of man began to change. But it was after the beginning of vigorous activity of people that the heterogeneous composition was “enriched” with dangerous impurities.

The main pollutants in this case are chemical plants, the fuel and energy complex, agriculture and cars. They lead to the appearance of copper, mercury, and other metals in the air. Of course, air pollution is felt the most in industrial areas.


Thermal power plants bring light and heat to our homes, however, in parallel, they emit a huge amount of carbon dioxide and soot into the atmosphere.
Acid rain is caused by waste discharged from chemical plants, such as sulfur or nitrogen oxide. These oxides can react with other elements of the biosphere, which contributes to the appearance of more destructive compounds.

Modern cars are good enough in design and technical characteristics, but the problem with the atmosphere has not yet been resolved. Ash and fuel products not only spoil the atmosphere of cities, but also settle on the soil and make it unusable.

In many industrial and industrial areas, use has become an integral part of life precisely because of the pollution of the environment from factories and vehicles. Therefore, if you are concerned about the state of the air in your apartment, with the help of a breather you can create a healthy microclimate at home, which, unfortunately, does not eliminate gliding problems of environmental pollution, but at least helps to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Man is called the main and only cause of environmental pollution. It would seem that nature has created an intelligent two-legged creature that could support and protect her. But something went wrong.

Today conscientious people around the world are sounding the alarm, because the pollution of the planet is growing at an alarming rate. If nothing is changed, then we will leave our grandchildren not a beautiful "blue planet", but a lifeless dump.

And today we will discuss. In this case, we will talk about such a seemingly harmless thing as a plastic bag. Yes, the very packages with which we see thousands of people on the streets every day.

Pollution of nature

Plastic bags became popular in the United States just a couple of decades ago. Customers quickly appreciated the convenience of the new material and "plastic" has become a part of everyday life. Plastic bags seemed like a revolution - strong, comfortable, cheap. It was only years later that it became clear what great harm they do to the environment.

The fact is that discarded used bags do not decompose for more than 100-150 years. In other words, the very first plastic bags released in the 50s are not yet half decomposed. It is not surprising that many places and bodies of water on the planet have turned into real plastic landfills.

Scientists say that humanity uses about 4 trillion plastic bags every year. All this huge mass enters the ecosystem and destroys it. Plastic bags annually kill over 1 million birds, 100,000 marine mammals and countless fish.

About 6.5 million tons of garbage enter the oceans annually, most of which is plastic waste. Marine research organization Algalita says about a quarter of the water surface is already covered in floating plastic waste.

Such a frightening circumstance cannot but cause concern, which is why many countries are already seriously restricting and even prohibiting the use of plastic bags in everyday life, offering instead more eco-friendly analogues: durable cloth bags or paper bags (which decompose in a couple of weeks).

How plastic waste is dealt with in different countries


Since October 1, Georgia has limited the use of plastic bags, the thickness of which is less than 15 microns. Each company was obliged to put its name and logo on the issued package.

But on April 1, 2019, a law came into force according to which plastic bags were completely banned. Moreover, you can neither produce, nor sell, nor distribute them for free. All containers that are not biodegradable are now illegal.

For the use of plastic bags in Georgia today, a fine of 500 lari (about 200 dollars) is envisaged. For unrepentant violation, the amount of punishment is doubled.

I am glad that the majority of ordinary citizens support such an initiative of the government and deliberately sacrifice their comfort in order to stop environmental pollution.

Perhaps we should stop inventing a second life and stop using


Recently, more and more people are talking about the need to consume and recycle less waste, that it is necessary to preserve nature. Pope Francis even raised this topic in his recent speech. However, no matter how much people listen to these advice, the damage to our planet has already been done, and the damage is enormous.

1. Garbage from electronics from all over the world is taken to Ghana, where the local population disassembles it into valuable parts, and the rest is burned


2. Mexico City is one of the most populous cities in the Western Hemisphere


3. In the Eastern Hemisphere, New Delhi has the same problem, with a population of about 25 million.


4. Los Angeles is known for having more cars than people


5. Oil field in California


Two organizations - The Foundation for Deep Ecology and the Population Media Center have released a series of photographs that illustrate the shocking consequences of human consumption of natural resources, as well as environmental pollution. " This is what worries people in the first place, and at the same time, what is not talked about in the top press news., "explains Missy Thurston, co-manager of Population Media Center.

6. Once an old forest was completely cut down in Oregon


7. Coal power plant in the UK


8. Due to global warming, the ecology is changing dramatically and irrevocably


9. The world's largest diamond quarry


10. Burning out the Amazon jungle to create cattle grazing fields


In everyday life, it is difficult to predict the consequences of our usual choices - be it a plastic bottle of water in a supermarket or another TV or computer. However, if we consider that the population of the Earth is almost 7.5 billion people, and each of them, on average, throws out 2 kg of garbage every day (this data has changed by almost 60% since 1960), then it becomes obvious that the problem is really very, very important, and it must be solved together.

11. Tar sands and open mines occupy so much territory that they can be seen from space


12. Tire dump in Nevada


13. Vancouver Island, once covered with coniferous forests


14. Industrial agriculture in Spain, stretching for many kilometers


15. Tar sands in Canada


In September 2015, world leaders will gather to discuss the problems of human development that need to be solved by 2030. In December, a UN meeting is to take place in Paris, at which restrictions on environmental pollution will be set. Much depends on influential people who will solve global problems, but no less depends on an ordinary person, in whose hands there is every opportunity to help nature by his own example.

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