Environmental Pollution Cause and Effect

1. Environmental Pollution
Uday Kumar Shil
12-3-20-0025
Department of Applied Sociology
ASA University Bangladesh (ASAUB)

2. Introduction
• Pollution has become the first enemy of the
mankind. Industrial revolution of 19th century
led to environmental disaster. The whole world
is now more afraid of pollution rather than
nuclear blast. Technological advancement has
brought revolutionary changes in life style and
national economy with overwhelming power
over nature. The protection of environment
has become a major issue around the global
for the well being of the people and economic
development.

3. What is Pollution?
• Pollution, we hear it every other day at school,
college and read about it in newspapers. So what is
it? Pollution occurs when pollutants contaminate the
natural surroundings; which brings about changes
that affect our normal lifestyles adversely. Pollutants
are the key elements or components of pollution
which are generally waste materials of different
forms. Pollution disturbs our ecosystem and the
balance in the environment. With modernization and
development in our lives pollution has reached its
peak; giving rise to global warming and human
illness.

4. Environmental Pollution
• Environmental pollution is “the contamination of the physical and
biological components of the earth/atmosphere system to such an
extent that normal environmental processes are adversely
affected”.
• Environmental pollution is defined as the undesirable change in
physical, chemical and biological characteristics of our air, land
and water. As a result of over-population, rapid industrializations,
and other human activities like agriculture and deforestation etc.,
earth became loaded with diverse pollutants that were released as
by-products.
• Environmental pollution is the introduction of harmful pollutants
into a certain environment that make an environment unhealthy to
live in. The widespread pollutants are usually chemicals, garbage,
and wastewater. Environmental pollution is happening in multifold
parts of Earth usually in the form of air and water pollution.

5. Causes of Environmental Pollution
• 1. Industries: Industries have been polluting our environment especially since
the beginning of the industrial revolution, as mentioned above, notably due to
the increasing use of fossil fuels. In the 19th
century and for a significant part of
the 20th
century, coal has been use to make machines work faster, replacing
human force. Though pollution by industries mainly causes air pollution, soil
and water contamination can also occur. This is particularly the case for power-
generating industries, such as plants producing electricity (May they be a dam,
a nuclear reactor or some other type of plant).
• Also, the transportation of this energy can be harmful to the environment. We
can take as an example the transportation of petrol through pipelines; if there is
a leak in the pipeline, soil will automatically be polluted. At the same time, if the
tanker transporting the petrol from its production plant to the place where it will
be consumed leaks or sinks, the water will get contaminated.
• 2. Transportation: Ever since men abandoned animal power to travel,
pollution of the environment has become higher and higher. Its levels have only
been increasing until now. Similarly to industries, pollution caused by transport
can mainly be attributed to fossil fuels. Indeed, humans went from horse
carriages to cars, trains (which, before electricity, used to be propelled by coal),
and airplanes. As the traffic is increasing every day, pollution follows that
evolution.

6. Causes of Environmental Pollution (Cont…)
• 3. Agricultural Activities: Agriculture is mainly responsible for the contamination
of water and soil. This is caused by the increased use of pesticides, as well as by
the intensive character of its production. Almost all pesticides are made from
chemical substances and are meant to keep diseases and threatening animals
away from the crops. However, by keeping these forms of life away, harm is
almost always made to the surrounding environment as well.
• Furthermore, as agriculture gets more and more intensive to feed the increasing
world population, more environments and ecosystems are destroyed to make
space for the crops. Some of them, like rapeseed –used to make oil – demand a
lot of space for a relatively small output.
• 4. Trading Activities: Trading activities including the production and exchange of
goods and services. Concerning goods, pollution can be caused by packaging
(which often involves the use of plastic, which is made from fossil fuels) or
transport, mainly.
• 5. Residences: Finally, residential areas provide their fair share of pollution as
well. First, to be able to build homes, natural environment has to be destroyed in
one way or another. Wildlife and plants are driven away and replaced by human
constructions. As it requires the work of industries, construction itself is also a
source of contamination of the environment. Then, when people settle in, they will
produce waste every day, including a part that cannot be processed by the
environment without harm yet.

7. Effects of Environmental Pollution
• 1. Effects on Humans: The effects of environmental pollution on humans are
mainly physical, but can also turn into neuro-affections in the long term. The
best-known troubles to us are respiratory, in the form of allergies, asthma,
irritation of the eyes and nasal passages, or other forms of respiratory infections.
Notably, these well spread affections can be observed when air pollution is high
in cities, when the weather gets hot, for instance. On top of that, environmental
pollution has been proven to be a major factor in the development of cancer.
This can happen for example when we eat reminiscences of pollutants used in
the production of processed foods, or pesticides from the crops. Other, rarer,
diseases include hepatitis, typhoid affections, diarrhoea and hormonal
disruptions.
• 2. Effects on Animals: Environmental pollution mainly affects animal by causing
harm to their living environment, making it toxic for them to live in. Acid rains can
change the composition of rivers and seas, making them toxic for fishes, an
important quantity of ozone in the lower parts of the atmosphere can cause lung
problems to all animals. Nitrogen and phosphates in water will cause overgrowth
of toxic algae, preventing other forms of life to follow their normal course.
Eventually, soil pollution will cause harm and sometimes even the destruction of
microorganisms, which can have the dramatic effect of killing the first layers of
the primary food chain.

8. Effects of Environmental Pollution (Cont…)
• 3. Effects on Plants: As for animals, plants, and
especially trees, can be destroyed by acid rains
(and this will also have a negative effect on animals
as well, as their natural environment will be
modified), ozone in the lower atmosphere block the
plant respiration, and harmful pollutants can be
absorbed from the water or soil.
• 4. Effects on the Ecosystem: In short,
environmental pollution, almost exclusively created
by human activities, has a negative effect on the
ecosystem, destroying crucial layers of it and
causing an even more negative effect on the upper
layers.

9. Ranking Position in Bangladesh of Environmental
Pollution
• Bangladesh has been ranked fourth among 91
countries with worst urban air quality in the latest
air pollution monitoring report of World Health
Organisation (WHO).
• Moreover, three Bangladeshi cities have been
put among the top 25 cities with poorest air.
The 2014 version of the Ambient Air Pollution
(AAP) database consists mainly of urban air
quality data of 1600 cities from 91 countries.
(Source: The Daily Star, May 09, 2014)

10. GOVERNMENTAL STEPS FOR POLLUTION CONTROL IN BANGLADESH
The ‘Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF)’ of Bangladesh is primarily responsible for
environmental protection. It was created in 1989. The MOEF has taken some steps to control the
environmental pollution of Bangladesh.
National Environmental Management Action Plan (NEMAP): The government has taken a project
named NEMAP to integrate environment with the development in a policy framework. It provides a
guideline for promoting effective management of resources, raising awareness among the people
and improvement of environmental degradation.
Environmental Acts, Rules and Laws: The government of Bangladesh has modified environmental
acts, rules and laws to improve environmental condition. Environment court has already been
established to take prompt legal action against environmental pollution. The DOE has been
empowered to punish the offenders of environmental rules.
Control of Air Pollution: Recently the DOE has taken some measures to carry out surveys on
identification and control of polluting industries, protecting habitats, examining the use of
compressed natural gas in industries, setting environmental standards and controlling river and
automobile pollution on environmental management. It also conducts vehicular emission
measurements at Dhaka city.
Banning of Polyethylene Bags: Most of the sewage lines of Dhaka city have been blocked by
indiscriminate dumping of polyethylene bags over the years. As such, the government has banned
the production, marketing and use of polyethylene bags up to 20 microns thick or less from 01
March 2002.
Urban Transport Project: A Urban Transport Project has been launched by the Government to
improve traffic system, envisage good bus services, improve road networks by constructing over-
bridges, fly-overs, underpasses and envisages a positive role for non-motorized transport.
• 2003 to implement the facilitation, construction and installation of twin pit latrine. It improves rural
sanitation coverage and reduces infectious diseases in rural areas.

11. GOVERNMENTAL STEPS FOR POLLUTION CONTROL
IN BANGLADESH (Cont…)
Embargo on Import of Items: The government has banned the import of leaded petrol,
high sulfur diesel and high sulfur coal. The government has also encouraged to use
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to the automobiles. Bangladesh Road Transport
Authority (BRTA) has restricted the registration on two stroke three wheelers.
Control of Arsenic Pollution: The Government has taken four Strategies to mitigate the
arsenic problem. These are as follows:
(1). Immediate detection of the arsenic effected patients and ensure their proper treatment.
(2). Identify the arsenic contaminated tube wells, labeled them with red colour for danger
ones and green with safe ones.
(3). Detect the reasons for arsenic contamination in soil water and find out the sources of
safe drinking water.
(4). Conduct health education campaigns and grow awareness among the people.
Knowledge Enrichment Programme: Environmental education program has been
incorporated in primary and higher education. Many universities have introduced
various curriculum and projects on environmental issue. Government organizations as
well as NGOs present meetings and seminars to arise public awareness on the
environmental issue.
Rural Sanitation Programme: The Bangladesh Government has taken a rural sanitation
programme from October

12. SUGGESTED STEPS FOR POLLUTION CONTROL
The government has taken some steps to improve the pollution control
of Bangladesh. But the steps are not adequate. As such, few more
steps may also be taken to improve the environmental degradation:
Use of Environmental Technologies and Methods: Environmental
technologies and methods such as Geographic Information Systems
(GIS), remote sensing and environmental impact assessment might
be used for integrated policy formulation, decision-making,
evaluation and monitoring of environment.
Development of Environmental Database: A comprehensive
environmental database may be made and the environmental
planners might have the access for environmental up-gradation,
planning and management The database is to be updated regularly.
Environmental Education and Awareness: Formal and informal
methods of education might be adopted through local media,
seminars, celebrations, workshops, walks and student competitions
to aware the people regarding the process of environmental

13. SUGGESTED STEPS FOR POLLUTION CONTROL (Cont…)
Industrial and Solid Waste Management: The government might take appropriate
measures to monitor emission limits and Market Based Incentives (MBI) for
reducing pollution control. The industries might be given both technical and
financial support for introducing mitigation measures, promoting green
technologies, using less pollution technologies and recycling the waste.
Enforcement of Rules and Regulation: Environmental Conservation Rules of 1997,
traffic rules and other relevant environmental laws might be enforced further to
punish the violation of the emission limits.
Urban Transport Management: Government must strengthen vehicle emission
standards, complete the emission inventory and conduct an investigation on the
emission control measures. Auto-rickshaw must be restricted in Dhaka city.
Government must replace old vehicles, two-stroke engine vehicles, improve
traffic conditions and promote an equivalent and efficient alternative public
transportation services to improve urban transport management.
Reduce Sulfur in Diesel: Government must take necessary steps to remove sulfur
content from diesel through hydro-desulphurization (HDS) process. The
government must also enforce the vehicle manufacturers to install catalytic
converters in every vehicle to reduce the vehicular emissions.

14. Conclusion
• Environmental pollution is causing a lot of distress not only to humans
but also animals, driving many animal species to endangerment and
even extinction.
• The transboundary nature of environmental pollution makes it even
more difficult to manage it – you cannot build brick walls along the
borders of your country or put customs cabins at every point of entry to
regulate its flows into your country.
• Everything on our planet is interconnected, and while the nature
supplies us with valuable environmental services without which we
cannot exist, we all depend on each other’s actions and the way we
treat natural resources.
• It’s widely recognized that we are hugely overspending our current
budget of natural resources – at the existing rates of its exploitation,
there is no way for the environment to recover in good time and continue
“performing” well in the future.
• Perhaps we should adopt a holistic view of nature – it is not an entity
that exists separately from us; the nature is us, we are an inalienable
part of it, and we should care for it in the most appropriate manner. Only
then can we possibly solve the problem of environmental pollution.