Pollution Effects On Humans, Animals, Plants and The Environment

Pollution Effects

On Humans, Animals, Plants and The

Environment

Pollution effects are indeed many and wide-ranging. There is no doubt that excessive

levels of pollution are causing a lot of damage to human & animal health, plants & trees including

tropical rainforests, as well as the wider environment.

Children Playing in Polluted Water

All types of pollution – air, water and soil pollution – have an impact on the living environment.

The effects in living organisms may range from mild discomfort to serious diseases such as cancer to

physical deformities; ex., extra or missing limbs in frogs.Experts admit that pollution effects are quite

often underestimated and that more research is needed to understand the connections between pollution

and its effects on all life forms.

Environmental Pollution Effects on Humans

We know that pollution causes not only physical disabilities but also psychological and

behavioral disorders in people. The following pollution effects on humans have been reported:

I. Effects of Air Pollution

• Reduced lung functioning

• Irritation of eyes, nose, mouth and throat

• Asthma attacks

• Respiratory symptoms such as coughing and wheezing

• Increased respiratory disease such as bronchitis

• Reduced energy levels

• Headaches and dizziness

• Disruption of endocrine, reproductive and immune systems

• Neurobehavioural disorders

• Cardiovascular problems

• Cancer

• Premature death

II.Effects of Water Pollution

a. Waterborne diseases caused by polluted drinking water:

• Typhoid

• Amoebiasis

• Giardiasis

• Ascariasis

• Hookworm

b. Waterborne diseases caused by polluted beach water:

• Rashes, ear ache, pink eye

• Respiratory infections

• Hepatitis, encephalitis, gastroenteritis, diarrhoea, vomiting, and stomach aches

c. Conditions related to water polluted by chemicals (such as pesticides, hydrocarbons, persistent

organic pollutants, heavy metals etc):

• Cancer, incl. prostate cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

• Hormonal problems that can disrupt reproductive and developmental processes

• Damage to the nervous system

• Liver and kidney damage

• Damage to the DNA

• Exposure to mercury (heavy metal):

• In the womb: may cause neurological problems including slower reflexes, learning

deficits, delayed or incomplete mental development, autism and brain damage

• In adults: Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, and

even death

d. Other effects:

• Water pollution may also result from interactions between water and contaminated soil, as well

as from deposition of air contaminants (such as acid rain)

• Damage to people may be caused by fish foods coming from polluted water (a well known

example is high mercury levels in fish)

• Damage to people may be caused by vegetable crops grown / washed with polluted water

(author’s own conclusion)

III. Effects of Soil Pollution

• Causes cancers including leukaemia

• Lead in soil is especially hazardous for young children causing developmental damage to the

brain

• Mercury can increase the risk of kidney damage; cyclo dienes can lead to liver toxicity

• Causes neuro muscular blockage as well as depression of the central nervous system

• Also causes headaches, nausea, fatigue, eye irritation and skin rash

• Contact with contaminated soil may be direct (from using parks, schools etc) or indirect (by

inhaling soil contaminants which have vaporized)

• Soil pollution may also result from secondary contamination of water supplies and from

deposition of air contaminants (for example, via acid rain)

• Contamination of crops grown in polluted soil brings up problems with food security

• Since it is closely linked to water pollution, many effects of soil contamination appear to be

similar to the ones caused by water contamination.

IV. Effects of Noise Pollution

Decreases the efficiency of a man-Regarding the impact of noise on human efficiency there are

number of experiments which shows that human efficiency increases with noise reduction.

Lack of concentration-For better quality of work there should be concentration , Noise causes lack of

concentration. In big cities , mostly all the offices are on main road. The noise of traffic or the

loud speakers of different types of horns divert the attention of the people working in offices.

Fatigue:Because of Noise Pollution, people cannot concentrate on their work. Thus they have to give

their more time for completing the work and they feel tiring.

Abortion is caused-There should be cool and calm atmosphere during the pregnancy. Unpleasant

sounds make a lady of irritative nature. Sudden Noise causes abortion in females.

Causes Blood Pressure-Noise Pollution causes certain diseases in human. It attacks on the person’s

peace of mind. The noises are recognized as major contributing factors in accelerating the already

existing tensions of modern living. These tensions result in certain disease like blood pressure or

mental illness etc.

Temporary of permanent Deafness-The effect of noise on audition is well recognized. Mechanics ,

locomotive drivers, telephone operators etc. All have their hearing impairment as a result of noise

at the place of work. Physicians & psychologists are of the view that continued exposure to noise

level above. 80 to 100 db is unsafe, Loud noise causes temporary or permanent deafness.

Environmental Pollution Effects on Animals

I. Effects of Air Pollution

• Acid rain (formed in the air) destroys fish life in lakes and streams

• Excessive ultraviolet radiation coming from the sun through the ozone layer in the upper

atmosphere which is eroded by some air pollutants, may cause skin cancer in wildlife

• Ozone in the lower atmosphere may damage lung tissues of animals

II. Effects of Water Pollution

• Nutrient pollution (nitrogen, phosphates etc) causes overgrowth of toxic algae eaten by other

aquatic animals, and may cause death; nutrient pollution can also cause outbreaks of fish

diseases

Oil Coated Duck

• Chemical contamination can cause declines in frog biodiversity and tadpole mass

• Oil pollution (as part of chemical contamination) can negatively affect development of marine

organisms, increase susceptibility to disease and affect reproductive processes; can also cause

gastrointestinal irritation, liver and kidney damage, and damage to the nervous system

• Mercury in water can cause abnormal behavior, slower growth and development, reduced

reproduction, and death

• Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may cause declines, deformities and death of fish life

• Too much sodium chloride (ordinary salt) in water may kill animals

• We also assume that some higher forms of non-aquatic animals may have similar effects from

water pollution as those experienced by humans, as described above

III. Effects of Soil Pollution

• Can alter metabolism of microorganisms and arthropods in a given soil environment; this may

destroy some layers of the primary food chain, and thus have a negative effect on predator

animal species

• Small life forms may consume harmful chemicals which may then be passed up the food chain

to larger animals; this may lead to increased mortality rates and even animal extinction.

IV. Effects of Noise Pollution

• Noise pollution damage the nervous system of animal.

• Animal looses the control of its mind.

• They become dangerous.

Environmental Pollution Effects on Trees and Plants

I. Effects of Air Pollution

Trees Damaged by Acid Rain

• Acid rain can kill trees, destroy the leaves of plants, can infiltrate soil by making it unsuitable

for purposes of nutrition and habitation

• Ozone holes in the upper atmosphere can allow excessive ultraviolet radiation from the sun to

enter the Earth causing damage to trees and plants

• Ozone in the lower atmosphere can prevent plant respiration by blocking stomata (openings in

leaves) and negatively affecting plants’ photosynthesis rates which will stunt plant growth;

ozone can also decay plant cells directly by entering stomata.

II. Effects of Water Pollution

• May disrupt photosynthesis in aquatic plants and thus affecting ecosystems that depend on these

plants

• Terrestrial and aquatic plants may absorb pollutants from water (as their main nutrient source)

and pass them up the food chain to consumer animals and humans

• Plants may be killed by too much sodium chloride (ordinary slat) in water

• Plants may be killed by mud from construction sites as well as bits of wood and leaves, clay and

other similar materials

• Plants may be killed by herbicides in water; herbicides are chemicals which are most harmful to

plants.

III. Effects of Soil Pollution

• May alter plant metabolism and reduce crop yields

• Trees and plants may absorb soil contaminants and pass them up the food chain

IV. Effects of Noise Pollution

Noise pollution causes poor quality of crops in a pleasant atmosphere.