ISSN: 2574-1241 Volume 5- Issue 4: 2018

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.08.001671
Mara Madaleno. Biomed J Sci & Tech Res

Opinion Open Access

Environmental Pollution, Waste Generation

and Human Health
Mara Madaleno*
Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and Tourism, University of Aveiro, Portugal
Received: August 23, 2018; Published: August 30, 2018
*Corresponding author: Mara Madaleno, University of Aveiro, Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and
Tourism (DEGEIT), Research Unit in Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policy (GOVCOPP), Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-
193, Aveiro, Portugal

Abstract

Environmental pollution exists since the very beginning of life, for which waste generation contributes. Waste management and treatment is
an important way to fight environmental pollution and contribute to human health improvments, provided that air, water, soil, waste and noise
pollution all contribute in a negative way to increase environmental pollution provided the high level of urbanization and life standards nowadays.

Opinion
agricultural land, destruction of the ozone layer, global warming
Environmental pollution exists since the very beginning
of the planet, climate changes, natural disasters, accumulation of
of life. However, it turned itself a serious problem today that
various wastes (including radioactive), eradication of certain plant
threatens mankind survival [1]. It influences the air we breathe,
and animal species. These seriously endanger human’s survival and
the food we eat and the water we drink, causing the lack of natural
it may be argued that today we live in a world of waste considering
resources, extinction of plant and animal species, damages in global
the huge amount of waste being produced every day. Figure 1
ecosystems and the earth is threathned by biochemical processes.
shows for the EU (current composition) the generation of waste by
In this sense, waste generation and management have a great
waste category as a percentage of total waste produced (in tonne)
impact on the environment and consequently over human health.
in 2014. In the Figure 1 it is evident that recyclable wastes are
Negative consequences of human activities include air and water
only 9.41% of the total waste generation, being mineral and solid
pollution, uncontrolled deforestation and their conversion into
wastes, a great part of total waste produced (71.98%).

Figure 1: Percentage of total waste by waste category in the European Union (current composition), 2014, in tonne.
Source: http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=env_wasgen&lang=en, acessed on 23 August 2018.

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Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research Volume 8- Issue 4: 2018

From the wastes produced 47.41% have disposal in landfill stress, anxiety, headache, dizziness, nausea, eye and respiratory
and others and 40.72% go to incineration whereas only 36.24% irritation. Long-term health effects are those related to chronic
turn recovered through recycling (see Figure 2 with respect to EU, respiratory, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and brain, nerves,
in 2014, treatment of waste by waste category as a percentage of liver, lymph hematopoietic, lung and kidneys diseases [3]. In fact,
total waste treatment (in tonne). [2] addressed a review of the burning wastes is not the most appropriate solution to solve the
up-to-date literature on the “triangle of death” (environmental environmental pollution problem. As stated by [3] the illegal
pollution, illegal waste disposal, and health effects) to declare that burning of wheels, plastics, textiles or other industrial residuals
environmental pollution of waste dumping affects health through and toxic substances dumping, still represent major concerns for
both short and long-term effects. Among the short-term effects we environmental pollution and population health.
have those of congenital anomalies, asthma, respiratory infections,

Figure 2: Percentage of total waste treatment by waste category in the European Union (current composition), 2014, in tonne.
Source: http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=env_wastrt&lang=en, acessed on 23 August 2018.

Population education for environmental pollution decreases related to environmental pollution management and reduction
does not even seems to be a short-run solution provided there is should take into account that the generation of waste should be
evidence that a higher level of education does not result in more decreased but for that we need a proper waste management to be
responsible waste management [4]. Moreover, [4] also reveal a undertaken to ensure it does not affect the environment and not
positive correlation between higher education levels and the rate of cause health hazards to people.
dumping waste in Slovakia, where there are many detected illegal
Population (consumers) should be aware that organic waste
dumping places [5]. Another damaging consequence of excessive
can be decomposed and then used as a fertilizer, also having an
pollution, with clear effects over human health, is that of water
important role in the reduction of pollution levels, waste generation
pollution [6]. As such, domestic and agriculture waste should not
and in the fight against environmental degradation. Producers
be disposed of without treating. Major sources of water pollution
should bear in mind the important role they also have in the
include industrialization, discharge of domestic waste, radioactive
economy and thus promote the production of goods which minimize
waste, population growth, excessive use of pesticides, fertilizers
waste generation after use. Both producers and consumers should
and leakage from water tanks, urbanization and weak management
bet in increased levels of material recycling and recovering, thus
systems [6]. For all that has been said previously, environmental
leading to reduced levels of waste generation and consequently
degradation can have a significant impact on human health.
allow to improve human health. Namely, the promotion of the use
Important causes of the environment-related burden of disease is
of plastic recycling (despite the already existent policies of pay for
air pollution and exposure to hazardous chemicals.
plastic bags in supermarkets at some European country national
With respect to sources of chemical pollution we may identify level) identification codes and labels, in order to turn easier, the
agriculture, industry, waste disposal and incineration, whereas the sorting and recycling of plastic packaging. Municipalities should
major contributors to air pollution are the transport and energy also play an important role by increasing their level of service to
sectors [7] all over the world. However, there are opportunities to the public regarding sorting of waste, whereas also reinforcing the
reduce environmental-related health risks and the benefits gathered legislation in the waste sector, bearing in mind that the collection
from environmental policies related to health care costs reduction of hazardous waste at collection points should be safe, secure and
and increased productivity surpass the costs of implementing these done in an environmentally friendly way.
policies [8,9]. Identify the sources and components of solid waste,
Not always education plays the role it should [4] but education
highlighting the type and the quantity of solid waste disposed,
of producers, general public and people who work in the waste
methods of solid waste disposal and the impact of improper waste
sector should be increased, since it will, for example, promote the
management on health, which lead to the spread of infectious
use of less hazardous alternatives to hazardous chemicals during
diseases. As such, governments and policy makers, especially those

Cite this article: Mara Madaleno. Environmental Pollution, Waste Generation and Human Health. Biomed Sci&Tech Res 8(4)- 2018. BJSTR
MS.ID.001671. DOI: 10.26717/ BJSTR.2018.08.001671. 2/3
Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research Volume 8- Issue 4: 2018

production of goods. Thus, manufacturers should take greater 4. Šedová B (2016) On causes of illegal waste dumping in Slovakia. Journal
responsibility for recycling, where also the general public should of Environmental Planning and Management 59(7): 1277-1303.

promote more recycling, and policies should be formulated to 5. TrashOut (2018) website.
encourage recycling of waste. Moreover, and provided that transport 6. Haseena M, Malik MF, Asma Javed, Sidra Arshad, Nayab Asif, et al. (2017)
and energy sectors are the most polluting ones, policies should be Water pollution and human health. Environmental Risk Assessment and
redirected towards the use of more renewable energy sources or Remediation 1(3): 16-19.
less polluting energy sources, and the private transport use should 7. (2018) Air pollution. European Environment Agency, 2018.
be substituted by public means of transport, which will certainly 8. OECD (2001) OECD environmental outlook. Chapter 21: Human Health
contribute to lower pollution levels, improve the environment and and the Environment, pp. 249-255. OECD PUBLICATIONS, Paris, France,
contribute positively to human health [10,11]. ISBN 92-64-18615-8 – No. 51591 2001.
9. Alam P, Ahmade K (2013) Impact of solid waste on health and the
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Cite this article: Mara Madaleno. Environmental Pollution, Waste Generation and Human Health. Biomed Sci&Tech Res 8(4)- 2018. BJSTR
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