Modern problems of environmental pollution. Environmental pollution

The most common type of negative human impact on the biosphere is pollution, which is associated in one way or another with the main most acute environmental situations. by pollution refers to the entry into the environment of any solid, liquid, gaseous substances, microorganisms, energy (in the form of sound waves, radiation) in quantities that are harmful to human health, animals, plants and other life forms.

pollutant- this is a substance, physical factor, biological species that are in the environment in an amount that goes beyond their natural content in nature. In other words, a pollutant is everything that is present in the environment in the wrong place, at the wrong time, in the wrong quantity.

Any substance or factor can become a pollutant under certain circumstances. For example, sodium cations are necessary for the body to maintain electrolytic balance, conduct nerve impulses, and activate digestive enzymes. However, sodium salts are poisonous in large quantities; so, 250 g of table salt is a lethal dose for humans.

Consequences of pollution of any type can become:

- violation of life support systems at the local, regional, global levels: climate change, a decrease in the natural rate of circulation of substances and energy necessary for the normal functioning of humans and other living beings;

- harm to human health: the spread of infectious diseases, irritation and diseases of the respiratory tract, changes at the genetic level, changes in reproductive function, cancerous cell transformations;

– causing damage to vegetation and wildlife; reduced productivity of forests and food crops, harmful effects on animals, leading to their extinction;

– damage to property: corrosion of metals, chemical and physical destruction of materials, buildings, monuments;

– unpleasant and aesthetically unacceptable impact: unpleasant smell and taste, reduced visibility in the atmosphere, soiling of clothes.

Pollution of the natural environment can be controlled at the entrance and exit. Inlet control prevents a potential pollutant from entering the environment or drastically reduces its entry. For example, sulfur impurities can be removed from coal before it is burned, which will prevent or drastically reduce the release of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, which is harmful to plants and the respiratory system. Exit control aims to eliminate waste already released into the environment.

Classification of pollutants

Distinguish natural and anthropogenic sources of pollution. Natural pollution is associated with the activity of volcanoes, forest fires, mudflows, the release of polymetallic ores to the surface of the earth; the release of gases from the bowels of the earth, the activity of microorganisms, plants, animals. Anthropogenic pollution is associated with human activities.

Classification of anthropogenic (technogenic) impacts caused by environmental pollution includes the main categories:

1.Material and energy characteristics of impacts: mechanical, physical (thermal, electromagnetic, radiation, acoustic), chemical, biological factors and agents, their various combinations. In most cases, emissions (i.e. emissions - emissions, sinks, radiation, etc.) of various technical sources act as such agents.

2.Quantitative characteristics of the impact: strength and degree of danger (intensity of factors and effects, masses, concentrations, characteristics such as "dose-effect", toxicity, acceptability according to environmental and sanitary and hygienic standards); spatial scales, prevalence (local, regional, global).

3.Time parameters of impacts by the nature of the effects: short-term and long-term, persistent and unstable, direct and indirect, with pronounced or hidden trace effects, reversible and irreversible, actual and potential, threshold effects.

4.Categories of impact effects: various living recipients (capable of perceiving and responding) - people, animals, plants, as well as environmental components, which include: the environment of settlements and premises, natural landscapes, soil, water bodies, atmosphere, near-Earth space; structures.

Within each of these categories, a certain ranking of the environmental significance of factors, characteristics and objects is possible. In general, in terms of the nature and scale of actual impacts, chemical pollution is the most significant, and the greatest potential threat is associated with radiation. Recently, not only the growth of pollution, but also their total impact, often exceeding in the final effect the simple summation of impacts, which has a “peak” effect, is of particular danger. synergy. As for the objects of influence, the person is in the first place.

Sources anthropogenic environmental pollution are enterprises of industry, energy, agriculture, construction, transport, production and consumption of food, the use of household items.

Sources of technogenic emissions can be organized And unorganized, stationary and mobile. Organized sources are equipped with special devices for directional emission of emissions (pipe, ventilation shafts, waste channels), emissions from unorganized sources are arbitrary. The sources also differ in geometric characteristics (point, line, areal) and in the mode of operation - continuous, periodic, salvo.

Sources of chemical and thermal pollution are thermochemical processes in the energy sector - fuel combustion and related thermal and chemical processes. Associated reactions are associated with the content of various impurities in the fuel, with the oxidation of air nitrogen and with secondary reactions already in the environment.

All these reactions accompany the operation of thermal power plants, industrial furnaces, internal combustion engines, gas turbine and jet engines, metallurgy processes, and the firing of mineral raw materials. The greatest contribution to energy-dependent pollution of the environment is made by energy and transport. On average, about 150 kg of pollutants are emitted per 1 ton of standard fuel in the fuel heat power industry.

Consider the balance of substances of an "average" passenger car with a fuel consumption of 8 liters (6 kg) per 100 km. With optimal engine operation, burning 1 kg of gasoline is accompanied by the consumption of 13.5 kg of air and the emission of 14.5 kg of waste substances. Up to 200 compounds are registered in emissions. The total mass of pollution - an average of about 270 g per 1 kg of gasoline burned, in terms of the entire volume of fuel consumed by passenger cars in the world, will be about 340 million tons; for all road transport - up to 400 million tons.

By scale pollution can be local, local, characterized by an increased content of pollutants in small areas (city, industrial enterprise); regional when large areas are affected (river basin, state); global when pollution is found anywhere on the planet (pollution of the biosphere) and space(garbage, spent spacecraft stages).

As a rule, many anthropogenic pollutants are no different from natural ones, with the exception of xenobiotics, substances alien to nature. These are artificial and synthetic compounds produced by the chemical industry: polymers, surfactants. In nature, there are no agents for their decomposition, assimilation, so they accumulate in the environment.

Distinguish primary and secondary pollution. At primary In pollution, harmful substances are formed directly in the course of natural or anthropogenic processes. At secondary pollution, harmful substances are synthesized in the environment from primary ones; the formation of secondary pollutants is often catalyzed by sunlight (photochemical process). As a rule, secondary pollutants are more toxic than primary ones (phosgene is formed from chlorine and carbon monoxide).

All types of environmental pollution can be combined into groups: chemical, physical, physico-chemical, biological, mechanical, informational and complex.

chemical pollution associated with the release of chemicals into the environment. physical pollution associated with a change in the physical parameters of the environment: temperature (thermal pollution), wave parameters (light, noise, electromagnetic); radiation parameters (radiation and radioactive). form physical and chemical pollution is aerosol (smog, smoke).

biological pollution is associated with the introduction into the environment and reproduction of organisms undesirable for humans, with the penetration or introduction of new species into natural systems, which causes negative changes in biocenoses. Clogging of the environment with materials that have an adverse mechanical effect without physical and chemical consequences (garbage) is called mechanical pollution. Complex pollution environments - thermal and and informational, due to the combined action of various types of pollution .

Some pollutants acquire toxic properties after entering the body during the chemical transformations taking place there. The same substance or factor can cause multiple effects on the body.

The effect of pollutants on the human body manifests itself differently. Poisons act on the liver, kidneys, hematopoietic, blood, respiratory systems. Carcinogenic and mutagenic effects - as a result of changes in the information properties of germ and somatic cells, fibrogenic- the appearance of benign tumors (fibromas); teratogenic- deformities in newborns; allergenic- causing allergic reactions: damage to the skin (eczema), respiratory tract (asthma); n neuro- and psychotropic effect associated with the effect of a toxicant on the central nervous system of the human body.

According to the mechanism of action of the pollutant on the body, there are:

- irritant substances that change the pH of the mucous membrane or irritate nerve endings;

- substances or factors that change the ratio of oxidative and reduction reactions in the body;

- substances that irreversibly bind to organic or inorganic compounds that make up tissues;

- fat-soluble substances that disrupt the functions of biological membranes;

- substances that replace chemical elements or compounds in the cell;

– factors affecting electromagnetic and mechanical oscillatory processes in the body.

On nature on the part of human society has increased dramatically. So, over the past 30 years, as many natural resources have been used in the world as in the entire previous history of mankind. In this regard, there was a threat of depletion and even exhaustion of some types of resources. This primarily applies to mineral raw materials, water and other types of resources.

At the same time, the scale of the return of waste to nature increased, which caused the threat of environmental pollution. According to scientists, today there are (conditionally) 200 kg for every inhabitant of the planet. waste. Nowadays, anthropogenic landscapes already occupy 60% of the earth's land.

Society does not just use natural resources, but transforms the natural environment. The interaction of man and nature becomes a special area of activity, which is called "nature management".

Nature management is a set of measures taken by society to study, develop, transform and protect the environment.

It can be:

rational, in which the interaction between society and nature develops harmoniously, a system of measures has been created aimed at reducing and preventing the negative consequences of human intervention in nature.
irrational - the attitude of man to nature is consumer, the balance in the relationship between society and nature is disturbed, the requirements for environmental protection are not taken into account, which leads to its degradation.

Pollution is growing, into which up to 100 million tons of waste enters, the ocean is especially affected by oil pollution. According to some estimates, from 4 to 16 million tons enter the ocean annually.

The main sources of environmental pollution are artificial and man-made. Speaking facts, here are just some of the consequences of a thoughtless attitude towards nature:

Thermal pollution of the environment and harmful gases from cars have led to the fact that about 250 thousand people in Europe alone die annually from diseases associated with this phenomenon;
Every year, about 11 million hectares of tropical forests are cut down on Earth, while the rate of reforestation is ten times lower;
9 million tons of waste is dumped annually into the Pacific Ocean, and more than 30 million tons into the Atlantic;
For 40 years, the amount of drinking water per capita on the planet has decreased by 60%;
Discarded glass will take 1000 years to decompose, plastics 500 years.

Consequences of an oil spill

In recent years, environmental pollution is only gaining momentum, and many scientists around the world have begun to turn to this problem. Until recently, nothing like this was observed, since the level of consumption of goods by the population of the entire planet was at a low level. But with the constant increase in the standard of living, the purchasing power of people, the construction of more and more dangerous industries, the issue of preserving nature began to manifest itself more and more acutely.

Today, the problem of environmental pollution is an edge - a person negatively affects the whole world in many areas and there are no unambiguous solutions for this situation yet. In progressive countries they are already trying to fight this by creating advanced waste processing plants, but in most countries they have not yet reached this level of culture.

Interesting fact. One passenger car produces in a year the amount of carbon dioxide that is equal to its own weight. This gas contains about 300 substances hazardous to people and nature.

Environmental pollution - what does it mean

Due to deforestation, many animals lose their homes and die out - like this koala

Under the pollution of nature, it is customary to understand such human behavior, as a result of which dangerous and harmful substances and materials, chemical compounds and biological agents are introduced into nature. The consequences of environmental pollution affect not only the properties of soil, water, vegetation, air quality, but can also affect a host of other factors, including the overall quality of life of people.

The release of hazardous substances into nature can occur in natural, artificial or anthropogenic ways. Examples of the first option include volcanic eruptions, when dust and magma covers the earth, destroying all life, disruption of the population of any animals in a certain area, which leads to problems in the existing food chain, increased solar activity, provoking droughts and similar phenomena.

Artificial ways of negative impact on the environment are inextricably linked with humans: the ever-growing number of hazardous industries, the accumulation of non-recyclable garbage and household waste, vehicle emissions, deforestation and urbanization. It is even difficult to enumerate all the negative factors that affect the normal state of nature as a result of human actions.

Classification of types of environmental pollution

Penguin caught in dirty water after oil spill

In addition to the above division into artificial and natural, types of environmental pollution are also divided into the following categories:

Violation of normal biocenosis or biological impact. Occurs as a result of uncontrolled catching or hunting of certain types of animals, the negative impact on animals by anthropogenic activities. Uncontrolled activity of hunters and fishermen, poachers leads to forced or spontaneous migration of a large number of animals to other habitats, etc. As a result of such processes, the normal biocenosis is disrupted, which sometimes provokes catastrophic problems. This also includes cutting down forests, drying up rivers or changing their course, the development of huge quarries, large forest and steppe fires;
Mechanical, implying the release into nature of a huge amount of garbage obtained as a result of human activity, which negatively affects both the inhabitants of the region and the physico-chemical structure and properties of soil, groundwater, etc.;
Physical pollution of the environment is a complex of impact factors, as a result of which some physical parameters change: its temperature, the level of radioactive, light, noise state. This includes electromagnetic effects from satellites, antennas;
Chemical negative impact, which manifests itself in a change in the normal chemical composition in the earth, water, air, which provokes destructive processes in it and deprives organisms of normal habitual conditions for their life.

Interesting fact. Due to excessive electromagnetic radiation in some developed countries, the number of insects has dramatically changed. The negative impact of electromagnetic radiation on bees, which prefer to migrate to places cleaner from radiation, has been noticed.

Environmental tax payment

Many countries, especially in the civilized world, have come to the conclusion that companies must pay certain taxes for environmental pollution by their activities. The money collected in this way is used to combat the consequences of the problem in one area or another, for example, in the country's water management.

Pollution of the environment occurs everywhere, so it is reasonable for the state to develop a unified approach and a common tax in this matter. However, at the moment there is still no clear definition of the environmental tax.

Usually, the interaction of the government with the owners of hazardous production goes like this: the facility checks for compliance with environmental safety standards and, in case of exceeding the established standards, undertakes to pay a certain tax, for example, on each ton of hazardous substances generated.

Therefore, it is worth speaking rather not about some kind of tax common to the entire state, but about various kinds of payments from the manufacturer to the state in the event that an object generates harmful substances. Let's take a closer look at the situations in which this happens.

What taxes are related to environmental taxes?

Transport tax. In 2016, it must be paid if it is proven that the vehicle is harmful to the environment.
Mining tax. For example, in the extraction of natural resources, including coal and oil, which are among the exhaustible.
Water tax. Paid in Russia for introducing an imbalance into the environment when using water resources.
Fee for the exploitation of aquatic biological resources in Russia, objects of the animal world. This tax is paid if the damage to nature is caused as a result of hunting or other types of catching animals.
Land.

How does all this affect the human body?

Wave with debris on the island of Java - the most populous island of the planet

Many people treat the issue under consideration rather superficially and do not take any action to protect the environment from pollution, believing that the problem does not concern them. In fact, this is a completely wrong and unconscious approach.

The result of a changed environment affects a person very strongly, since he is an inextricable part of nature. It is possible to single out the most important areas that, due to the negative influence of man, have undergone changes that are dangerous:

Climate. The constant increase in temperature, the melting of glaciers, the change in some global currents in the world's oceans, the presence of dangerous chemical compounds in the air - this is only a small part of what everyone faces. Even the most minimal changes in climate: temperature, pressure, precipitation or strong gusts of wind can bring with them a lot of problems of a very different nature: from exacerbated rheumatism to destroyed crops, drought and hunger strike (see);

Biological and chemical factors. Harmful substances enter the soil, penetrate into groundwater, into the air in the form of vapors, are absorbed into plants, which animals and people then feed on. Dangerous chemicals, even in small concentrations, can provoke allergies, coughs, diseases, rashes on the body, and even mutations. In chronic poisoning, a person becomes weaker and more tired;

Nutrition also has a strong effect on human health. Cultures grown on impure land, saturated with a large amount of chemical fertilizers and poisons, lose many of their positive properties, becoming a real poison. Bad food causes obesity, loss of taste and appetite, lack of essential vitamins and minerals in the body.

Environmental pollution, as defined above, can have a very negative impact on the health of millions of people.

Genetic danger

Mutations among animals caused by environmental change

One of the most important nuances of the issue under consideration is the so-called genetic danger. It lies in the fact that under the influence of harmful chemicals, various mutations can accumulate in the body, which can provoke cancerous tumors and introduce serious defects into future generations, sometimes even incompatible with life.

The manifestation of mutations and changes in the body and its descendants does not appear immediately. This may take years or decades. That is why the consumption of GMO food, exposure to radiation and strong radiation, smoking, which also causes cell mutations, manifest themselves in the form of the same cancer and other pathologies not immediately, but after 10-20 years.

Fighting a problem

Waste recycling plant Spittelau in Vienna, Austria

Anthropogenic pollution of the environment, the causes and consequences of which have already been discussed in general terms, is a serious concern for many thinking people around the world. It is enough to visit at least once on which there is no end in sight to understand that the situation is going too far and it is necessary not to hide it in abandoned quarries, but to radically solve it.

Since nature has no boundaries, the fight against the problem of its pollution is international. There are now many organizations around the world that are trying to influence manufacturers, governments and people in order to educate them in a more conscious attitude towards nature and their actions. In some countries, green energy sources are being actively promoted, popular car companies are starting to produce electric cars that should replace gasoline and diesel engines.

Important components of the struggle for the conservation of nature:

Promotion of abandoning the consumer lifestyle and the constant purchase of things that can be completely abandoned and which will quickly end up in the nearest garbage dump;

Construction of waste processing plants capable of producing new materials from recycled materials, which will be re-used in production;

Garbage sorting. In cultural countries, this issue has already been practically resolved and people throw different types of garbage into different containers. This simplifies the process of their disposal and recycling.

One of the serious causes of environmental pollution is the irresponsible attitude of the inhabitants to the problem and their unwillingness to understand these issues.

How to prevent the problem

The fight against environmental pollution is a complex task that must be solved in the following complex:

Bringing the issue to the attention of governments of all countries;
Enlightenment of the masses in order to educate them in consciousness in this matter;
Impact on manufacturers and their control. All this should be regulated by thoughtful and rigid legislation;
Prevention of environmental pollution should also be accompanied by the creation of a full-fledged infrastructure for the removal, disposal and processing of waste.

Only all these points together can produce a positive effect and reverse the current negative trend, make our world cleaner.

General consequences of nature pollution

Garbage-filled territories of Bangladesh

At the moment, the consequences of the constant increase in consumption, the development of the industry and the corresponding amount of waste and garbage are already quite tangible, and this applies to the whole world. Suffice it to recall the recently erupted "garbage" riots in the suburbs of Moscow, when people began to massively complain about the terrible smell from the landfill next to their homes, the deterioration of air and water quality.

Interesting fact. About 40 million Russians living in cities live in conditions of 10 times the level of air pollution exceeding what is prescribed by sanitary standards.

As a conclusion, it is worth noting that the environmental consequences of environmental pollution are catastrophic for every person on Earth. But only a conscious approach to the problem can change something.

The main factors of environmental pollution depend on the person, so if all people unite to solve this problem, then you can be sure that a solution will be found. The matter remains for small things - for the strong-willed decision of the authorities of all countries to start moving in this direction.

Sources of environmental pollution can be divided into two categories: natural and artificial. Pollution is the entry into the environment of any element unusual for it. The history of the origin of the Earth and the changes taking place on it can also be attributed to pollution. Pollution is an external influence. The environment reacts to it and changes. That is, pollution causes change. One such change was the emergence of life on Earth. I wonder what kind of pollution it was caused by?

It is generally accepted that natural sources of pollution for the environment are the waste products of organisms, volcanic eruptions, forest fires, sandstorms, and so on. Is it so? Is it possible to consider as pollution of the system what the system itself produces? Or can pollution occur only when an unusual and unfamiliar element enters the system? Yes, as a result of these natural phenomena, there is an excess or lack of any substances. For example, combustion products after fires, sulfur, ash and excess heat after volcanic eruptions, water after excessive precipitation or floods, and so on. And outwardly, all this can be mistaken for pollution. In any case, according to external signs. But all these phenomena, firstly, are the result of the activity of the planet or its biosphere. And secondly, in the process of this “activity”, no new, previously unknown elements and substances are produced on the planet. And only “alien” can pollute.

They call him an agent. It is not included in the system and its internal structure, and therefore is unusual for it. Such for the Earth is solar radiation. Some of its spectra, like ultraviolet, are still detrimental to the biosphere. She developed a whole system of protection against it, reducing the penetration and influence of these rays.

The Earth from the beginning of its existence has always been exposed to various cosmic processes and objects. And from many of them she found protection. But the "attacks" did not stop, and this is quite natural. Meteorites penetrating through the protective layer of the atmosphere, and such large space objects should initially be, cause not only visible destruction. They bring extraterrestrial substances to Earth. Can this be considered pollution? Of course yes. It is difficult to assess the extent of such pollution and the consequences they may cause. Only destruction is visible immediately after the fall of a meteorite, which occurs at the atomic level, can only become known after a significant period of time. It is no coincidence that there are a lot of supporters of the theory of the extraterrestrial origin of life, that is, bringing it from space, including on meteorites or other space objects that fell to Earth.

And the increasing impact of solar radiation on the Earth is happening every day, and we are witnessing it. The atmosphere has recently undergone such changes that it can no longer perform its protective functions as before. We are talking about the warming of the planet's climate, caused by the appearance of "ozone holes" and the "greenhouse effect". The amount of ultraviolet radiation, as a result of a decrease in the amount of ozone in the atmosphere, penetrates more into the areas of the planet inhabited by living organisms. This type of light spectrum carries the greatest amount of energy and is detrimental to some types of microorganism. The "greenhouse effect" is associated with an increase in the amount of another light spectrum - infrared. This is thermal radiation originating from objects on the surface of the Earth. It returns to the atmosphere and is delayed by it. If the heat did not linger in the lower layers of the atmosphere, then sharp temperature drops would be inevitable, at which the existence of living organisms is impossible.

The definition of the biosphere says that living organisms affect the environment and transform it. They secrete waste products, which, probably, can be mistaken for clogging. However, the biosystem is built in such a way that if this "pollution" did not exist, then the system itself would not exist. Yes, and the products produced by living organisms are agents within the system and are characteristic of it. Any kind of natural or internal pollution is an integral and mandatory element of the existence of the biosphere as an integral, unified and self-regulating system.

Internal “pollution” was useful until another component and a living organism of the biosphere, a person, began to actively interfere in the process. He invented a new method of pollution and new elements of pollution, previously unknown to nature. That is, now the definition of the biosphere has sounded fully. Impact, change and transformation has become full and tangible. In the process of his life, or rather, to ensure his life, a person began to create such forms and methods of such provision, which resulted not only in an increase in the volumes and concentrations of elements known to nature, but also in the creation of new, artificial, and therefore unknown, named xenobiotics. The form of human impact on the biosphere was called anthropogenic, and the type of pollution was called artificial, that is, it did not appear as a result of natural phenomena or processes.

Types of artificial pollution

In order to live, a person must work, that is, engage in certain activities. Firstly, it is the provision of water for consumption and industrial needs. Secondly, meet the requirements in food. The remaining activities are aimed at solving household needs for housing and clothing. For these purposes, natural resources and minerals are extracted and processed, transportation and transportation are carried out, and additional energy is generated. In the struggle for life or improving its quality, a person expands the space for his existence, for which he conducts military operations, engages in science, explores space, and so on. All these activities are the main sources of environmental pollution, because they lead to the production of industrial and domestic waste.

Sources of environmental pollution, as a rule, correspond to industries. The greatest danger to nature is oil and gas production, metallurgy and the chemical industry, transport, agriculture, and energy.

Waste is generated not only at the end of the production cycle or after the complete processing of manufactured products. They are also produced during the technological process. Waste itself is a source of pollution, as a result of accumulation, improper storage, lack of processing and disposal, and so on. All types of environmental pollution can be divided into three main ones. Physical, chemical and biological pollution. The physical includes dust, ash and other products of combustion, radiation, electromagnetic fields, noise, and so on. To the chemical - substances and compounds, such as heavy metals, salts, acids, alkalis, aerosols, and the like. Biological is contamination by bacteriological or microbiological materials.

Each source, with its waste, simultaneously pollutes several types of the natural environment. That is, its pollution is complex. For example, any industrial production for its needs consumes water, which, having fulfilled its functions, is discharged back into the reservoir. At the same time, passing through the stages of the technological process, it is “enriched” with substances and elements involved in production. Returning back, it mixes with the waters of a river or lake and "shares" these substances. As a result, both the water itself and all organisms participating in the food chain of this biocenosis are exposed to pollution.

Production is usually an energy consumer. For these needs, various types of fuel are used - peat, coal, fuel oil or gas. Burning, these substances transfer energy to production units and mechanisms, setting them in motion, and the products released as a result of combustion enter the atmosphere. Exhaust gases, ash, suspended particles, and so on with air enter the respiratory system of living beings. In addition, over time, these substances with precipitation fall on the soil and water. And again they move along the food chain. Products manufactured by enterprises are delivered to consumers, after which waste is generated. In addition, the products themselves may fall out of their consumer turnover and end up in waste in finished form. Both products and their waste contain substances that are unusual for nature, either in terms of qualitative composition or quantitative concentration. Waste, even after disposal, the global percentage of which is very small, accumulates in landfills and landfills. There they are not recycled, but rot and burn. The products of decay and combustion, and these are pollutants, enter the soil, water and air in the ways already described and begin their circulation.

Types of sources and their features

Some sectors of the economy have their own specifics. For example, agriculture, the oil and chemical industry, the military complex and energy.

The specificity of agriculture lies in the fact that in order to intensify production and increase crop yields, a large amount of pesticides and mineral fertilizers are introduced into the soil. Studies have shown that up to 10% of the introduced substances are productively used. That is, it is precisely such a small amount that is absorbed by plants and affects pests. Mineral fertilizers, pesticides, plant protection products, pesticides are substances with a high content of nitrogen and phosphorus. Wherever these substances are located, in storage areas, in fields or landfills, the substances contained in them enter the environment in various ways. This mainly occurs during the period of floods, heavy rains, snowmelt or blown by the wind. In the full sense of the word, nitrogen and phosphorus cannot be called pollutants, because they can be almost completely consumed by plants. In this case, too rapid growth of green mass has a negative impact on the natural environment. Filling almost the entire volume of the biome with it and squeezing out the rest of the living world. In such places, the animal world dies or leaves it, plants significantly reduce their species diversity, water resources gradually disappear, giving way to organic deposits.

Chemical industry. Its main originality is the synthesis of elements, substances and compounds unknown to nature. This means that there is no organism capable of converting such a substance into a "suitable" for inclusion in the trophic chain. Xenobiotics, without decomposing and not being processed, accumulate in various natural environments and animal organisms. They cause various types of diseases, up to changes in the gene structure.

The oil industry, which must include all its stages from extraction to refining. This industry deals a double polluting blow to the environment. Firstly, oil itself is, in its physical and chemical properties, a substance close to poisonous. Secondly, the process of its extraction, transportation and processing is extremely dangerous for nature. For example, during exploration and production of hydrocarbons, forests are cut down, soils are destroyed. At this stage of work, as well as during transportation, spills of oil and oil products are frequent. This is where the harmful qualities of the oil itself come into play. Processing of hydrocarbons is a process associated with the use and production of flammable, poisonous substances of this kind, which, by themselves and when used in other industries, emit chemicals that adversely affect the atmospheric air, soil and water resources.

Energy. The main sources affecting the environment of this branch of human activity are: water with elevated temperature, discharged after being used for cooling the technological equipment of stations and hydraulic structures that regulate river flows. In these cases, no specific chemical substances enter nature, but warm water and a regulated flow are such that they cause deep changes in the ecosystems of the regions, up to their destruction.

. Its peculiarity is that in the presence of almost all types of production, including weapons of mass destruction, chemical, bacteriological and nuclear, it is closed to external inspections. In addition, in a number of countries with a powerful military potential, the maintenance of this complex is not enough to carry out sufficient measures to protect the environment, modernize treatment and control equipment, as well as dispose of hazardous substances and store them.

Transport and, above all, automobile. With the invention of the internal combustion engine and the desire of man to live in cities, the nature of settlements has changed dramatically. First of all, it concerns air. In some large cities, road transport accounts for up to 90% of all pollutant emissions. Urbanization and enlargement of cities only contributes to the worsening of the situation. Exhaust engine gases contain more than 280 types of various harmful substances. The main ones are: benzapyrene, oxides of nitrogen and carbon, lead, mercury, sulfur, soot and hydrocarbons. In addition, transport companies, car repair shops and private cars also mean thousands of tons of various rubber products, used oils and lubricants, scrap metal, glass, contaminated water after washing vehicles and sites for their repair and storage. All this flows into the water, gets into the soil and air. Most car engines use fuels with a high lead content. Exhaust gases from diesel engines are much more toxic than gasoline engines.

. Both the first and the second are a concentrated accumulation of all possible pollutants. More and more surface-active additives, which are part of washing powders and detergents, are getting into municipal drains. And the distinctive quality of landfills is that absolutely most of them are unauthorized and are formed randomly. This makes it impossible to control the composition of the substances contained in the waste, and hence the degree and danger of their impact on the environment and human health.

For the environment, the sources and types of pollution can be listed indefinitely. Name the types of production, the formulas of chemical compounds and their quantities, the consequences that they cause in living organisms and the harm that brings human health. You can also list legislative acts, regulatory bodies, events adopted and conferences held. But who has not heard, does not know or does not understand? Why, then, do we leave trash after a vacation in the woods, or throw a plastic bottle farther into the river, or pour used oil into a nearby ravine? And so on. The main, first and main source of environmental pollution is not an industrial enterprise, but we are with you and each of us. And here you don’t have to be clever, but just try to do it right at least once.

Video - Life after people

Stopping pollution is essential to save our planet and to ensure the health and well-being of people. The air and water are poisoned with dangerous chemicals, and if nothing is done, the Earth will lose its beauty and diversity. This article will tell you some of the ways you can do your part to stop pollution.

Steps

Vehicle selection

If possible, walk or ride a bike. Ditching your car for short trips is a great way to improve the environment. If you don't have much distance to go and the weather is nice, go for a walk or bike. So you will not only help stop environmental pollution, but also get useful physical activity.

Use public transport. Traveling by bus or subway will help reduce your carbon footprint because you won't be using your own car. If public transport works well where you live, use it. This will allow you to take your mind off the road and read or just relax.

Combine trips. Daily trips by private car have a negative impact on the environment. Therefore, when you need to travel for several things, try to combine your trips into one. It will also save you money, as starting a cold engine uses 20% more fuel than driving a car.

Get your vehicle serviced regularly to ensure that the engine and components are working properly. Keeping your car in excellent condition will reduce your carbon footprint and will also help prevent other problems with your car.

Change oil every 3 months or every 5000 km.
Maintain the recommended tire pressure.
Change air, oil and fuel filters regularly.

Drive carefully because dangerous driving style contributes to environmental pollution. Driving safely will also save you money by reducing your fuel consumption.
- Accelerate gradually, lightly pressing on the gas pedal.
- Do not exceed the permitted speed.
- Maintain a constant speed (try using cruise control if you have one).
- Get ready to slow down.
Buy a hybrid car or an electric car. Electric vehicles run entirely on electricity, so they don't produce any emissions. A hybrid car has an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. Both electric and hybrid vehicles help reduce pollution. Although a hybrid car uses gasoline, such cars save fuel and produce fewer emissions (compared to conventional cars).
- Keep in mind that electric and hybrid vehicles are more expensive than most conventional vehicles.
Choice of food
1. Buy local produce whenever possible. Transporting food around the country and around the world consumes a significant amount of fuel, which leads to air pollution. Therefore, buy products made locally and grown on nearby farms, and not food that is brought in from other regions. If a farmer or gardener sells their own produce, ask how they grow it to learn about their efforts to prevent pollution.
  - Go to the farmers' market to interact with the direct food producers.
  - Find products made or grown locally at a nearby store.
  - In large grocery stores, look for products made in your area.
2. Limit or eliminate the consumption of animal products made in large factories. This refers to meat, milk, cheese and eggs. Such enterprises greatly pollute the environment - the waste of some of them is comparable to the waste of a small city. To do your part in protecting the environment, do not buy or eat food from animal sources produced by large enterprises.
  - If you cannot give up animal products, reduce your consumption of them, for example, to 1-2 times a week.
  - If you want to do even more to help keep the environment clean, consider becoming a vegetarian or vegan.
3. Eat organically grown fruits and vegetables. Such products are grown by farmers using production methods that do not harm the environment. For example, such farmers do not use chemical pesticides that pollute groundwater. By buying organically grown fruits and vegetables, you are contributing to the development of sustainable farming practices.
  - Look for fruits, vegetables, and other products labeled Organic.
4. Grow your own fruits and vegetables. Set up a garden or garden on your own plot, and you will contribute to the protection of the environment. Plants and trees convert carbon into oxygen, which reduces the amount of polluted air. Moreover, the fruits and vegetables you grow will replace the products from the store, which require a lot of fuel to transport.
  - If you are unfamiliar with gardening, start small. Start by planting some tomatoes, lettuce, and cucumbers in your yard. With the acquisition of experience and skills, gradually expand the area of \u200b\u200byour garden.
Choice of energy source
1. When leaving the room, turn off the lights and electrical appliances. To save more energy, you can unplug electrical appliances from the outlet. Or connect all electrical appliances to the surge protector so that when it is turned off, all electrical appliances are turned off at once.
  
  Make small changes that will result in significant energy savings. It is recommended to do the following:
  
  If you have the ability to control the temperature in the room, set the thermostat to 25°C during the warm season and 20°C during the cold season. You will save energy if you properly regulate your heating and air conditioning system.
  
  Improve the insulation of your home. To do this, caulk the gaps around the window frames or replace the old frames with new ones. In winter, you can use special tools. If you have old-style frames, and not double-glazed windows, they can be sealed for the winter so that the heat does not leave your house.
  
  Think about alternative energy sources. If you live in your own home or are planning to build one, consider installing solar panels or a wind turbine.
  
  Consider switching to a different energy source. This means switching from a non-renewable source (such as gas) to a renewable source (electricity). Let's say if you're designing your own home, consider installing an electric boiler instead of a gas one. In a city apartment, you can replace a stove with a gas oven with a stove with an electric one, if the electrical wiring allows.
Recycle, reuse and reduce waste
1. Recycle everything that can be recycled. If possible, do not buy products that do not have a triangle with arrows on their packaging, which indicates that these products can be recycled. Also avoid products made from several different materials (these products are difficult to recycle).
  - Find out if your waste collection company offers recycling services. If not, there may be special centers in your city where you can take recyclable waste. Find out on the Internet where you can donate, for example, waste paper or plastic bottles.
2. Buy products made from recycled materials. In this way, you will help reduce the demand for new materials that pollute the environment.
  - Look for products labeled "Made from recycled materials."
  - Products made from recycled materials often carry percentages indicating the amount of recycled material from the total raw material. Look for items with high percentages.
Preventing chemicals from entering the water supply
1. Use fewer chemicals. The chemicals we use in cleaning, hygienic care, and car washing are washed down the drain, but often end up in the water supply. Such chemicals are harmful not only to plants and animals that make up the ecosystem of our planet, but also to humans. If possible, use natural analogues of chemicals.
  - For example, to clean a bathroom, you can make a solution of vinegar and water or baking soda, salt and water. These natural ingredients are great cleaners, but they don't contaminate the water when flushed down the drain.
  - Try making your own laundry detergent and dishwashing detergent. If you don't have time, buy a cleanser made from natural ingredients.
  - If you can't find a natural alternative, use chemicals as little as possible.
2. Do not use pesticides and herbicides. These chemicals are sprayed above the ground and enter the groundwater when it rains. Pesticides and herbicides protect crops from pests, but they harm the environment by seeping into the groundwater that humans and animals need to survive.
3. Do not flush medicines down the drain. Disinfection systems cannot completely remove drug residues from water, which negatively affects every person who drinks such water. Each medicine has specific disposal instructions. If you need to throw away your medications, figure out how to do it the right way (don't flush your medications down the drain!).
  - Some medicines are recommended to be rinsed off so that they do not fall into the hands of a certain category of people (for example, children). But remember that this is an exception to the rule.