Introduction

The environment comprises of everything present around us with which we are surrounded with and that may include living organisms along with non-living things. It also includes natural forces, natural resources like water, air, soil, various minerals, plants, trees etc. It includes both physical and biological world as well as interactions that take place between them. Weather, resources, climate are the factors in the environment which needs to be faced by living beings so that they can survive.

Environment pollution

Nature had gifted us a world or perhaps the whole universe which was free of pollution. It is we who are responsible for polluting it and as we are responsible for creating pollution, it is now time for us to face hazardous effects of this pollution. Pollution is caused when we try to interfere with anything that is natural. Contamination that we cause results in adverse effects and contamination when reaches a certain extent result in disrupting stability causing harm and discomfort to everything present in its original form. It is like causing a disorder. Both physical and biological components are contaminants. As a result, human beings which are part of the environment along with other living beings experience discomfort as a natural ecosystem is been disturbed. Pollution can occur on its own too. The environment has the ability to wipe down that pollution and regain its health. Similarly, pollution that we cause or contaminants that we introduce into the environment if it is of the safe level then environment can filter it down in various ways like recycling or by breaking it down. But the levels have to be acceptable. Today we have introduced contaminants into the environment at a rate that is much higher than the environment can afford. Thus, its immunity isn't working as its defensive line has been disrupted widely. At this higher rate, it cannot disperse or store this much of waste in some form which is harmless.

Causes of environment pollution

Environment pollution has been occurring for many centuries but the levels were acceptable and thus mother nature recovered from it gracefully. Today it is a matter of concern as advancement and progress made us blind and we have done the harm on such a level that recovery is rarely possible. The real problem started with the beginning of industrialization. Pollution is actually dumping or addition of a substance that is harmful to various forms of energy like air, water, sound etc. Advancement in the modern age in each and every field resulted in the emission of by-products and this is where pollution begins as the environment is not able to neutralize or degrade these products at a rate of which they are dumped in the environment. Also, natural resources if used at a rate which is way higher than the rate at which environment can replenish them back then this is also a significant cause of pollution. Change if it is gradual, adaptation becomes simple and normal. However, mankind has resulted in drastic changes overnight. The environment could not absorb and adapt the changes resulted in mankind. It is always seen that mankind in advancement age produces many by-products which are the outcome of his development and thereby dumps them in nature. Now either he has to give time to nature so that it decomposes what is already been dumped for thousands of years are required for its decomposition. Once decomposition is done and then next disposal should be done. If he cannot wait for so long when he has to find some artificial means by which he can destroy his harmful by-products then it will result in pollution. As he is the one who is responsible for creating by-product then its neutralization responsibility should also be taken by him over his shoulder.

When did pollution begin?

Pollution began when man discovered the use of fire. It was a huge discovery in the history of mankind and this discovery changed everything. From then till now there is no stopping for man. However, until 19th century whatever pollution that was occurring in the environment was accepted as it was in the minimal range. It hardly caused any harm or disturbed ecosystem. In the 19th century, an industrial revolution took place. This was the phase when everything changed and the change was all abrupt. Technological progress that took place during industrialization was the main cause for depletion of natural resources. This phase led to the discovery of oil. It was then used for different purposes in various industries. Progress was helped by practices led by capitalist business and it all resulted in overproduction of goods as production costs were very less. Excessive production of goods resulted in excessive consumption by common man. Thus as production was increased, there was increased production of harmful by-products which resulted in over pollution.

Why is it so important to stop environment pollution?

Environment pollution matters because it exerts negative or ill-effects on different forms of energy we have like air, water, soil, sound etc. It is the necessity of our lives that we require these forms of energy in purest form like the air has to be clean, water has to be pure as it will ensure healthy living. However, today our energy forms are contaminated to such an extent that it's showing clear direct effects on our health. Life of human beings, as well as other living beings on this earth, is at stake. Many species of birds and animals today have become extinct and many are at risk and have been labeled endangered. If the same thing continues then we will rarely find any life on this earth. The air we are breathing is fully contaminated, the water we are drinking is completely contaminated and thus these contaminants reaching our body in one form or the other are responsible for causing a number of ailments. Respiratory-related disorders and cardiac problems are at high rise today. There is no place to dispose of wastes caused due to overpopulation, industrialization, and urbanization. Our ecosystem which we perfectly balanced before the 19th century is today completely imbalanced. Thus, both the intensity as well as the frequency of disasters resulting in nature have increased. These natural disasters risk life as well as all the possessions one has. Rapid depleting of natural resources have caused a lot of problems like the ground water level is decreasing day by day. Soft water resources are depleting. Land degradation is been seen. Forest resources are used at such a rapid rate that is causing global warming as well as soil erosion. The ill effect is seen by emissions of greenhouse gases. Environment pollution causes a serious impact, particularly on human beings. It reduces food security. They are put at high risk for a number of diseases. They are the one who is at high risk of losing all they have acquired along with their lives during the time of natural hazards. It also reduces the scope for financial growth opportunities. With every passing year in fact with every passing day, environmental pollution is causing damage and destruction of the earth which is irreversible.

Environmental contaminants

Contaminants or pollutants are the by-products obtained that may be from industries, vehicles, use of insecticides and pesticides in farming etc. They are executing elements that can be in any state. They may be in solid state, liquid or even in gaseous form. Most of them are very harmful, toxic and are known to destroy habitation. They do not undergo quick degradation and thus dwell in the ecosphere for years together. They are the products introduced into the environment by mankind himself and he himself is the one who gets affected the most by them.

Contaminants are of two types. Once is biodegradable and the other one is non-biodegradable. Biodegradable pollutants are not very harmful. They can easily be decomposed and the resultant product so obtained will be not at all harmful. These products undergo neutralization or degeneration which is done by living organisms as they can obtain energy required to them from these products from proteins, fats, and carbohydrates present in them. In other words, they feed on them. Some of the examples of the biodegradable contaminant are inorganic salts and phosphates. Waste products which are usually organic are also biodegradable. However, they too should be disposed of properly. If disposal is done without proper care or without following proper technique then it may become a matter of concern as it will challenge the ability of the earth to assimilate them. On the other hand, non-biodegradable contaminants are one which cannot be broken down by living organisms and thus they remain in the environment for years together. They are very harmful and toxic and pose a matter of concern as they are the ones mainly responsible for causing environmental pollution. Some of such non-biodegradable contaminants are plastics, mercury, pesticides, radioactive materials etc.

Harm to mother nature

Advancement and development that took place in the field of natural sciences helped us to understand what actually are we doing to mother nature. Thie type of harm and damage we are creating to it result in pollution exerts ill effects on the environment. Environment pollution is not the problem that is only faced by developed countries. It is an issue which is popular in both developed and developing countries. Population explosion is creating tons of demands whereas mother nature is unable to replenish the resources quickly as it requires a number of years to do so and thus resources are been used at a much higher rate when compared with their replenishment process resulting in degradation of nature. For millions of years, these resources were safe in the lapse of mother nature and were left unused. With the rapid growth and progress seen during the industrial age, resources are seen to be used to the maximum rate. As a result, degradation is seen and waste resulting from these industries as by-products are not treated well or artificially neutralized, in fact, they are dumped in the environment as it is which result in further worsening of the whole scenario.