Environmental Pollution: Causes, Effects and Control

Abstract

Environmental pollution is on the increase. Exhaust emissions from vehicles are adversely affecting the air quality in cities. Toxic elements have started entering the food chain. Inefficient water management is leading to increase in various communicable and water-borne diseases. Solutions devised to protect and regenerate the environment have not shown any tangible results so far. Industries, power generation plants, automobiles are the major cause of air pollution. Some of the highly polluting industries are metal smelting, cement, dyes, fertilizers, steel, leather, pesticides, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, paper, and refineries. Serious- health problems are cuased by the presence of fly ash in the air. Since fly ash production is only going to increase rapidly, the situation is only going to get worse. Fly ash is responsible fo~ air pollution and wastage of land that could be used to grow crops. This same fly ash can be put to good use for building roads and pavements. It can be used to fill mines and make cement. Although technology is available to put fly ash to good use it is hardly being used for this purpose. Small scale industries located in residential areas are also major causes of pollution and related health risks. The government should have an incentive scheme for industries that install pollution control devices. Certain areas have crossed the maximum limit for allowable pollution while some areas can bear an additional pollution load. The government should identify such areas and carry out pollution carrying capacity studies of these areas. Despite the worsening environmental situation, developing countries like India cannot afford to discourage expansion of industries or reduce automobile production. Here is what can be done we need to adopt a clean technology or environmentally friendly technology. Such technology is also more efficient as clearly demonstrated by Japan. Such technology ensures optimal utilization of natural resources and adopts a preventive rather than a corrective approach towards pollution. Green belts, natural partks should be developed. Vacant land should not be released for additional industrial or commercial activity.