4.2 Types of Pollution

• Water Pollution refers to the substances added to water bodies, and these may be chemicals or heat reaching a particular level, which is unfavorable for living organisms(humans, animals, and aquatic organisms)
• Water pollution also refers to different aquatic contamination, such as enrichment of nutrients from excessive application of fertilizers that cause eutrophication and toxic chemicals that are introduced to an extent detrimental to aquatic life
• Air pollution is a result from the release of air pollutants coming from industries, automobiles, burning of fossil fuels, agricultural wastes
• Air pollution can bring harmful global effects, such as climate change
• Soil pollution is the result of the pollutants originated from mining corporations, improper wastes, and sewage disposal as well as agricultural wastes. This type of pollution can bring harmful effects on the environment, mainly on aquatic communities and human health
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
• According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), soil pollution is the alteration of soil properties due to the presence of substances at a higher concentration than the average level in which it brings detrimental effects.
• Majority of soil pollutants are of anthropogenic origins but still, some naturally exist in soil as components of rocks and minerals in which can be toxic at an elevated level of concentration
• Domestic Wastes are a source of waste that significantly contributes to water pollution.
• Domestic Wastes includes coming from houses and different commercial establishments.
• Domestic wastes usually contain nitrates and phosphates that are usually responsible for eutrophication
• Eutrophication refers to the phenomenon in which enrichment of nutrients leading to the increase of the algal population. It affects living organisms, specifically aquatic organisms, as the bacteria and fungi consume enormous amounts of dissolved oxygen by degrading organic wastes coming from domestic sources.
• Lesser oxygen in different water bodies, such as lakes and rivers, may lead to fish kill and death of other aquatic organisms
• Industrial Wastes refers to the pollutants that originates from industrial wastes that are being treated mishandly or are illegally thrown.
• Industries can also be considered as major sources of water pollution
• Considerable number of factories are known to release effluents to different bodies of water without being adequately treated. In this way, industrial chemical wastes discharged can accumulate within the living tissues of aquatic organisms living in those areas. This process threatens human health through the food chain
• Agricultural Wastes such as fertilizers, farm animal wastes, and sediments contribute to the pollution of water. These wastes can move to adjacent water bodies, especially after raining as they are carried away by water runoff. These wastes containing nitrates and phosphates can cause enrichment of nutrients leading to eutrophication
• Effects of Water Pollution:

  Pollution of water is responsible for numerous water-borne infectious diseases such as cholera and typhoid.
• Effects of Water Pollution:

  Nutrients from plants and agricultural wastes contribute nitrate, phosphate, and ammonia, enhancing the growth of algae in the water leading to eutrophication.
• Effects of Water Pollution:

  Nitrates present in drinking water are known to cause methemoglobinemia in babies (blue babies).
• Effects of Water Pollution:

  The heavy metals coming from industries and factories can accumulate within the living tissues of aquatic organisms, altering different physiological functions and their growth
• Causes of Air Pollution

  Industrials Pollutants from industrial chimneys ad powerhouses release CO, CO2, SO2, H2S, and hydrocarbons.
• Causes of Air Pollution:

  These pollutants are the usual result of processes such as the burning of fossil fuels.
• Causes of Air Pollution:

  Phosphate fertilizer manufacturing plants release fluorine compounds (HF, F2, SiF4, H2SiF6)
• Causes of Air Pollution:

  Various chemical industries are also known to release hydrochloric acid, chlorine, oxides of nitrogen, Zn, Pb, As, oxides of Cu, and SO2, CO, and H2S
• Causes of Air Pollution:

  Automobiles are considered as the most significant contributor to air pollution. According to research, automobiles release about two-thirds of the carbon monoxide and one-half of the hydrocarbons and nitrous oxide. The combustion process occurring in automobiles produces lead compounds found to bring harmful effects on living organisms.
• Causes of Air Pollution:

  It was also found out that the atmosphere in urban areas contains benzene, toluene, and xylene, which are the three volatile organic compounds (VOC) mainly because of the usage of petrol and diesel in automobiles, to which benzene is shown to have strong correlations with cancer
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) – Benzene, Toluene, and Xylene
• Causes of Air Pollution:

  Burning of Fuels. Diesel and petroleum came from the combustion of fossil fuels. The three volatile organic compounds, such as xylene, benzene, and toluene, are found in the  atmosphere of urban areas.
• Causes of Air Pollution:

  Power plants producing electricity has been found  to produce two-thirds of sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere. These air pollutants are linked to acid rain, destroying buildings and establishments in cities
• Causes of Air Pollution:

  Agricultural activities are associated with the burning of forest areas  and grasslands to provide pastures and croplands for production. This activity alone can  produce 60 to 65% of CO2
• Causes of Air Pollution:

  Methane is also produced from biomass burning, paddy fields,  and guts of livestock.
• Causes of Air Pollution:

  Application of crop sprays and dusting for pest and weed control has  been found to release organic phosphates, chlorinated hydrocarbons, arsenic, and lead into the air
• Effects of Air Pollution:

  According to research, one of the effects of air pollution includes the atmosphere's capability to reduce solar radiation by 15 to 20% due to the presence of particulate matter. Air pollution can also cause photochemical smog that usually occurs in urban areas.
• Effects of Air Pollution:

  The greenhouse effect is also a direct consequence of air pollution. The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon; however, the enhanced greenhouse effect occurs due to elevated air pollutants.
• Effects of Air Pollution:

  Condense concentration of a pollutant in the troposphere can be dangerous. This particular situation, when there is an elevated level of air pollutants in the atmosphere like carbon dioxide, can lead to global warming.
• Effects of Air Pollution:

  The temperature of the earth's surface is regulated by two factors: the heat entering and the heat that is re-radiated back outside the atmosphere. When heat enters the atmosphere, carbon dioxide molecules tend to absorb it, eventually creating another layer of extra warmth.
• Causes of Soil Pollution:

  The major contributor to soil pollution has been observed to be chemicals or substances released as wastes or by-products of domestic, industrial, and municipal wastes, including agrochemicals, wastewater, and Petrol-derived products.
• Causes of Soil Pollution:

  There are accidental cases where those wastes are released in the environment, such as oil spills or landfill leaching, or intentional cases like the improper application of pesticides, fertilizers, and untreated irrigated water
• Causes of Soil Pollution:

  Mining activities. Mining processes and activities like metal smelting have been contributing many pollutants into the soil. The types of machinery used are capable of releasing a significant amount of heavy metals and many other toxic substances detrimental to the environment.