In a recent documentary by one of the leading media stations in Nigeria, TVC, which centred on the experience of Kabira, a 28-year-old lady who was born and bred in the Apapa area of Lagos, Southwest, Nigera, Kabira gave birth to a baby early this year and after two months, she observed that the baby could not cry out loud, the baby also had difficulty in in breathing according to report, the innocent baby was later diagnosed of a lung infection which apparently led to the death of the child.
Report later disclosed that the infections were the aftermaths of the pollution and the nitrogen inhaled by the mother and child which was discharged by a leading manufacturing industry in the community (Flour Mills of Nigeria).
The case of Kabira and her child is among millions of the challenges that environmental pollution is posing to billions of lives across the world and this has become a norm to every society especially the continent of Africa in particular where the lives f common means nothing to the government and every business minded organisations and Individuals in as much there is a maximum profit turnover.
Understanding the concept of 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”.
“Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the environment that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or that damage the environment” which can come “in the form of chemical substances, or energy such as noise, heat or light”. “Pollutants can be naturally occurring substances or energies, but are considered contaminants when in excess of natural levels.”
Pollution is “the addition of any substance or form of energy (e.g., heat, sound, radioactivity) to the environment at a rate faster than the environment can accommodate it by dispersion, breakdown, recycling, or storage in some harmless form”.
Kinds of pollution
Air Pollution: According to the dictionary, air pollution is the contamination of air by smoke and harmful gases, mainly oxides of carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen. (And maybe by that smelly uncle.) Some examples of air pollution include:
Exhuast fumes from vehicles
The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, or gas
Harmful off-gasing from things such as paint, plastic production, and so on
Radiation spills or nuclear accidents
Air pollution is linked to asthma, allergies and other respiratory illnesses. You can more about how the environment affects human health here.
Land Pollution:Land pollution is the degradation of the Earth's surface caused by a misuse of resources and improper disposal of waste. Some examples of land pollution include:
Litter found on the side of the road
Illegal dumping in natural habitats
Oil spills that happen inland
The use of pesticides and other farming chemicals
Damage and debris caused from unsustainable mining and logging practices
Radiation spills or nuclear accidents
Land pollution is responsible for damage done to natural habitat of animals, deforestation and damage done to natural resources, and the general ugly-ing up of our communities. (So stop being a litterbug, eh?)
Light Pollution: Light pollution is the brightening of the night sky inhibiting the visibility of stars and planets by the use of improper lighting of communities. Light pollution uses more energy (by shining more light up instead of down, meaning you need brighter bulbs for the same amount of light), may affect human health and our sleep cycles, and most importantly, corrupts our kids telescopes and their curiosity. (I grew up in a city. My first no-light night in the country blew my mind. Let's not make that such a rare occasion!)
Noise Pollution: Noise pollution is any loud sounds that are either harmful or annoying to humans and animals. Some exmaples of noise pollution:
Airplanes, helicopters, and motor vehicles
Construction or demolition noise
Human activities such as sporting events or concerts
Noise pollution can be disruptive to humans' stress levels, may be harmful to unborn babies, and drives animals away by causing nervousness and decreasing their ability to hear prey or predators.
Thermal Pollution: warm lake water from thermal pollution
Thermal pollution is the increase of temperature caused by human activity. A few examples of this include:
Warmer lake water from nearby manufacturing (using cool water to cool the plant and then pump it back into the lake)
Included in thermal pollution should also be the increase in temperatures in areas with lots of concrete or vehicles, generally in cities
These kinds of environmental pollution can cause aquatic life to suffer or die due to the increased temperature, can cause discomfort to communities dealing with higher temperatures, and will affect plant-life in and around the area.
Visual Pollution: Visual pollution is what you would call anything unattractive or visualing damaging to the nearby landscape. This tends to be a highly subjective topic. Some examples of visual pollution:
Skyscrapers that blocks a natural view
Graffiti or carving on trees, rocks, or other natural landscapes
Billboards, litter, abandoned homes, and junkyards could also be considered among three kinds of environmental pollution
Mostly, visual kinds of environmental pollution are annoying and ugly, although some may say they are also depressing, and they of course affect the surrounding landscape with the changes they cause.
Water Pollution:Water pollution is the contamination of any body of water (lakes, groundwater, oceans, etc). Some examples of water pollution:
Raw sewage running into lake or streams
Industrial waste spills contaminating groundwater
Radiation spills or nuclear accidents
Illegal dumping of substances or items within bodies of water
Biological contamination, such as bacteria growth
Farm runoff into nearby bodies of water
Negative implications of pollution
It is has been confirmed over the years that environmental pollution does more harms much more than expected and these include:
Rise in Diseases
Although disease is by no means new (the first description of cancer was recorded in 1600 BC), the current rates of disease are increasing at alarming speeds and most are closely linked with known carcinogens that have become abundant in our environment in the last several decades (such as pesticides, artificial hormones, chemical cleaners, etc). The information below shows the conditions of the environment affecting human health in countless ways.
Some cancer rate statistics according to the Cancer Prevention Coalition:
Cancer incidence rates have risen an overall total of 60% from 1950-98, specifically:
Non-Hodgkins lymphoma has increased nearly 100%
Brain cancer up 80-90%
Breast cancer up 60%
Testicular cancer up 300%
Childhood cancers up 40-50%
Cancer rates are estimated to double by 2050
While cancer rates may be the most talked about, there are other more disturbing trends that all point to the environment affecting human health:
Asthma increased 75% between 1980-1994; 150% in children.1 According to the EPA, this was also the timeframe when air pollution was increasing the most.
Type 1 diabetes rates have doubled since the 1980's2; Type 2 diabetes rates doubled between the 1970's and 1990's.
Autism cases have increased an alarming 56% between 2002 and 2006 alone.
Approximately 50 million people are affected by autoimmune diseases, with an estimated one in nine women affected in their lifetime.
Infertility rates are expected to increase over the coming decades.
Birth defects affect approximately 150,000 newborns annually. Of the 70% of unknown causes, most experts believe environmental issues are to blame.
Of 413 chemicals tested for, 287 were found in the umbilical cord blood of newborn babies.
In one study, various breastmilk samples showed the presence of pesticides, herbicides, household and industrial cleaners and more.
It's obvious something it going on with our bodies as our cells mutate, break down or attack themselves and more and more of our natural world is contaminated with pollutants or toxins. Likewise, science has repeatedly shown that it is in fact our impact on the environment affecting human health with numerous studies and an urgent call for more research, stricter health standards and a banning of dangerous substances.
Pregnancy, Birth Defects and Infants: Birth defects have been linked to pollution, herbicides, antibiotics, air pollution, agricultural chemicals, beauty products, plastics, dry cleaning, and household products and cleaners.
Male factor infertility has been linked to pesticides, air pollution, exposure to lead, water pollution, household flame retardants and surfactants (found in many soaps detergents, fabric softners, paint, certain waxes, shampoo, conditioners, toothpastes, and more).
Female factor infertility has been linked to household flame retardants, herbicides, pesticides, heavy metals, solvents, plastics, and industrial chemicals.
Artificial infant formulas are linked to a higher rate of SIDS, Parkinsons' disease, and obesity, as well as diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure and heart disease.
Human Illness and Disease
medication bottles
Childhood leukemia has been linked to electrical wiring, spray paint, dyes, household pesticides, and incense, as well as vehicle exhaust, insecticides, and nitrites, such as those found in processed meats.
In combating environmental pollution, it is the responsibility of every individual, government, corporate organisations and the media. Sometimes in February this year, the Federal government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari took a giant step to clean up the oil region of Niger-Delta, this is a step in a right direction.
To reduce environmental pollution in the country, all hands must be on deck, there must be a greater awareness and sensitisation of the public on the danger of pollution to humans lives and the climate.
This is the time to rise to these challenges and make our environment a better place for the generation unborn.
Save the environment and secure the future!
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