Types of Environmental Pollution That Can Damage the Earth – Various kinds of environmental pollution have many forms and causes. Environmental pollution is a big problem for the world. Various kinds of environmental pollution are the entry of pollutant substances into the environment that cause harm or inconvenience to humans or other living organisms.
Pollution can damage the environment. Various kinds of environmental pollution can be in the form of chemicals, or energy such as noise, heat, or light. All kinds of environmental pollution occur when the environment is unable to process and neutralize harmful by-products of human activities. Various kinds of environmental pollution must be taken seriously. Pollution has a negative impact on natural elements which are an absolute necessity for life on earth. Various types of environmental pollution have several classifications.
Types of environmental pollution: air
Air pollution is pollution caused by human activities, whether intentional or not, that affects air quality. The following are the various types of air pollution:
Forest fires
Smoke from forest fires is a type of environmental pollution. Some pollutants from forest fires that can pollute the air, including hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, sulfur oxide compounds, nitrogen oxides and nitrogen dioxide compounds.
Electrical energy production
Energy production from power plants is responsible for emissions of about 65% of the total national emission of sulfur oxides, 45% of the total national emissions of nitrogen oxides, and 38% of the total emissions. Energy production from coal-fired power plants is considered the most polluting.
Industry
In addition to energy production, the main industrial sectors responsible for air pollution are the petrochemical industry, chemical industry, mineral industry (mining and quarrying), and metal production and processing industry, as well as ancillary activities related to sewage treatment, food industry, and dry cleaning. .
Vehicle
The most common types of air pollution are pollution due to vehicle fumes. The main pollutants emitted from vehicles and from gas stations during filling are particulates, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds. High concentrations of these vehicle air pollutants are associated with increased morbidity and mortality in the population.
Waste treatment
Burning waste in landfill is one of the causes of air pollution. The gas produced from the final disposal process in the landfill, which is generally methane gas which is harmful to health. The activity of burning garbage becomes more risky during the dry season, because it can trigger fires.
household activities Aktivitas
Household activities such as using polluting fuels (wood, coal, kerosene) and inefficient technologies can cause air pollution. Smoke from the use of paint, hair spray, and other types of solvents also includes air pollution.
Agricultural activities
Chemical dust and particles as a result of the agricultural and plantation industries are included in various kinds of environmental pollution. Air pollution caused by agricultural activities occurs in the form of ammonia (NH3), which enters the air as gas from highly fertile fields and livestock waste.
Types of environmental pollution: soil
Soil pollution is a condition in which various chemical substances enter the soil layer, thereby changing the structure and environment in the soil. The following are the types of soil pollution:
Radioactive Pollution
Radioactive materials can trigger soil pollution. This radioactive contamination can cause cancer and tumors. Usually this radioactive pollution comes from bombs or nuclear reactors.
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Organic pollution
Organic pollution is generally man-made chemical compounds such as pesticides or other industrial materials which may be difficult or not decomposed by the activities of soil microorganisms. The results of this decomposition are to a certain extent also as a pollutant so that the soil is polluted.
Organic pollution that is a problem for the environment and humans is the pollutant originating from industry and agriculture (pesticides).
Inorganic Pollutants
Inorganic pollutants, especially heavy metals, tend to be in the soil for a long time, although their chemical status may change with time. Inorganic pollutants are divided into three main groups, namely salt, neutral and phosphate pollution, and heavy metals.
Microbiological Contaminants
Soil naturally contains microorganisms in it. Variations in types and numbers are very diverse, this is because soil is a living environment for microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa and nematodes. Excessive concentrations of microorganisms are usually the result of contamination. Bacteria along with fungi are the most important microorganisms in the transformation of pollutants in the soil. The causes of microorganism contamination in soil are domestic wastewater, septic tanks, sewer pipes or imperfect sewage treatment effluents.