ENVIRONMENT & POLLUTION

CONTROL
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.
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.
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.
POLLUTANTS

• Pollutants are the elements, molecules and particles involved in pollution - life can be harmed

when exposed to these materials, and the effects of them on humans and plants are well
known. Pollutants can be introduced into the environment in many ways, both naturally and
by humans. What pollutants do once they are emitted into the atmosphere, soil or water supply
is dependent on the type of pollutant, however it is useful to characterize them in the
following way: Primary pollutants are emitted directly into the environment, while 
secondary pollutants are formed from primary pollutants and external factors
PRIMARY POLLUTANT

• Primary pollutants are any type of pollutant directly into the environment. They differ from 
secondary pollutants because secondary pollutants must form in the atmosphere, whereas
primary pollutants do not. Primary pollutants can be emitted from many sources including
cars, coal-fired power plants, natural gas power plants, biomass burning, natural forest fires
, volcanoes, and many more. The effects of primary pollutants are of concern as they can be
harmful to humans, animals and plants.Their contribution to the formation of secondary
pollutants is also concerning, as this is what causes harmful ground level ozone to form, along
with different smogs, especially in densely populated cities such as Los Angeles.
PRIMARY POLLUTANT
• The emission of primary pollutants has decreased considerably in the past years, due to
improved regulations, technology and economic changes.
Types of primary pollutants include:
• Nitrogen oxides (NOx)
• Carbon monoxide (CO)
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• Sulfur oxides (SOx)
• Particulate matter (PM)
• Mercury
• and more
SECONDARY POLLUTANT

• Secondary pollutants are pollutants which form in the atmosphere. These pollutants

are not emitted directly from a source (like vehicles or power plants). Instead, they form as a
result of the pollutants emitted from these sources reacting with molecules in the atmosphere.
Pollutants that are emitted into the environment from a source are called primary pollutants.
Secondary pollutants are concerning as they can be formed from many different compounds.
The phenomena of photochemical smog is a result of the interactions of primary pollutants
with other molecules in the air such as molecular oxygen, water and hydrocarbons. These
combine to form yellow clouds that are harmful to humans. Photochemical smog is made up
of various secondary pollutants like ozone, peroxyacyl nitrates (PANs), and nitric acid .
 SECONDARY POLLUTANT

Different types of secondary pollutants include:

• Ozone (O3)
• Sulfuric acid and nitric acid (component of acid rain)
• Particulate matter
• Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
• Peroxyacyl nitrates (PANs)
• and more
SECONDARY POLLUTANT
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
• The effect that humanity is having on the environment is becoming ever-more important.
Through our actions we are destroying habitats and endangering the lives of future
generations.
• At this point there is no denying the fact that our environment is changing. Hundreds of
studies have been conducted to demonstrate that this is happening and it is having an effect on
life around us.
• However, many may be unaware of the specific issues that have led to these changes. Terms
like “climate change” and “genetic modification” are commonplace, but without additional
information it is difficult to see why they actually matter.
• To complicate the matter, many of these issues are linked to one another. The key is that they
are all important challenges that need to be confronted.
THE BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

• Genetic Modification of Crops

Environmental issues caused by man-made chemicals are becoming clearer. For example, there
has been a 90% reduction in the Monarch butterfly population in the United States that can be 
linked to weed killers that contain glyphosate. There is also some speculation that genetically-
modified plants may leak chemical compounds into soil through their roots, possibly affecting
communities of microorganisms.
THE BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

• Waste Production
The average person produces 4.3 pounds of waste per day, with the United States alone
accounting for 220 million tons per year. Much of this waste ends up in landfills, which generate
enormous amounts of methane. Not only does this create explosion hazards, but methane also
ranks as one of the worst of the greenhouse gases because of its high global warming potential.
THE BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

• Population Growth
Many of the issues listed here result from the massive population growth that Earth has
experienced in the last century. The planet’s population grows by 1.13% per year. This results in
a number of issues, such as a lack of fresh water, habitat loss for wild animals, overuse of natural
resources and even species extinction. The latter is particularly damaging, as the planet is now
losing 30,000 species per year.
THE BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

• Water Pollution
Fresh water is crucial to life on Earth, yet more sources are being polluted through human
activities each year. On a global scale, 2 million tons of sewage, agricultural and industrial waste
enters the world’s water every day. Water pollution can have harmful effects outside of
contamination of the water we drink. It also disrupts marine life, sometimes altering reproductive
cycles and increasing mortality rates.
THE BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

• Deforestation
The demands of an increasing population has resulted in increasing levels of deforestation.
Current estimates state that the planet is losing 80,000 acres of tropical forests per day. This
results in loss of habitat for many species, placing many at risk and leading to large-scale
extinction.
THE BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

• Urban Sprawl
The continued expansion of urban areas into
traditionally rural regions is not without its
problems. Urban sprawl has been 
linked to environmental issues like air and
water pollution increases, in addition to the
creation of heat-islands. Satellite images
 produced by NASA have also shown how
urban sprawl contributes to forest
fragmentation, which often leads to larger
deforestation.
THE BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

• Overfishing
Overfishing leads to a misbalance of ocean life, severely affecting natural ecosystems in the
process. Furthermore, it also has negative effects on coastal communities that rely on fishing to
support their economies.
THE BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

•  Acid Rain
Acid rain comes as a result of air pollution, mostly through chemicals released into the
environment when fuel is burned. Its effects are most clearly seen in aquatic ecosystems, where 
increasing acidity in the water can lead to animal deaths. It also causes various issues for trees.
Though it doesn’t kill trees directly, acid rain does weaken them by damaging leaves, poisoning
the trees and limiting their available nutrients.
THE BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

• Ozone Layer Depletion

Ozone depletion results in more UVB radiation reaching the Earth’s surface. UVB has been
linked to skin cancer and eye disease, plus it affects plant life and has been linked to a reduction
of plankton in marine environments.
THE BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

• Ocean Acidification
Ocean acidification is the term used to describe the continued lowering of the pH levels of the
Earth’s oceans as a result of carbon dioxide emissions. It is estimated that ocean acidity will 
increase by 150% by 2100 if efforts aren’t made to halt it.
THE BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

• Air Pollution
Air pollution is becoming an increasingly dangerous problem, particularly in heavily-populated
cities. The World Health Organization (WHO) has found that 80% of people living in urban areas
 are exposed to air quality levels deemed unfit by the organization. It is also 
directly linked to other environmental issues, such as acid rain .Animals and humans are also at
risk of developing a number of health problems due to air pollution.
THE BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

• Lowered Biodiversity
Continued human activities and expansion has led to lowered biodiversity. A lack of biodiversity
means that future generations will have to deal with increasing vulnerability of plants to pests
 and fewer sources of fresh water. Some studies have found that lowered biodiversity has as
pronounced an impact as climate change and pollution on ecosystems, particularly in areas with 
higher amounts of species extinction.
THE BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

• The Nitrogen Cycle

With most of the focus being placed on the carbon cycle, the effects of human use of nitrogen
often slips under the radar.
• It is estimated that agriculture may be responsible for half of the nitrogen fixation on earth,
primarily through the use and production of man-made fertilizers.
• Excess levels of nitrogen in water can cause issues in marine ecosystems, primarily through
overstimulation of plant and algae growth. This can result in blocked intakes and less light
getting to deeper waters, damaging the rest of the marine population.
THE BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

• Natural Resource Use

Increased resource use is linked to a number of other environmental issues, such as air pollution
and population growth. Over time, the depletion of these resources will lead to an energy crisis,
plus the chemicals emitted by many natural resources are strong contributors to climate change.
THE BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

• Transportation
An ever-growing population needs transportation, much of which is fueled by the natural
resources that emit greenhouse gases, such as petroleum. Transportation also contributes to a
range of other environmental issues, such as the destruction of natural habitats and increase in air
pollution.
THE BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

• Polar Ice Caps

There is strong evidence to suggest that sea levels are rising, with the Arctic ice caps melting
being a major contributor. Over time, this could lead to extensive flooding, contamination of
drinking water and major changes in ecosystems.
THE BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

• Climate Change
The majority of the issues previously listed contribute or are linked to climate change.
Statistics created by NASA state that global temperatures have risen by 
1.7 degrees Fahrenheit since 1880, which is directly linked to a reduction in Arctic ice of 13.3%
per decade.
The effects of climate change are widespread, as it will cause issues with deforestation, water
supplies, oceans and ecosystems. Each of these have widespread implications of their own,
marking climate change as the major environmental issue the planet faces today
CAUSES OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

• 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.
CAUSES OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

• 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.
CAUSES OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

• 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.
CAUSES OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

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.
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.
EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

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.
EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

• 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.
EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

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.
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.
OVERVIEW OF TEXTILES SUPPLY CHAIN
FEW EXAMPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL
POLLUTIONS FROM TEXTILE PROCESSING
ARE :
• Cotton is a water intensive crop and is often grown in water –scarce areas. Cotton requires a
lot of toxic pesticides to grow and accounts for 16% of the global pesticides use, even though
it’s only 25 % of all crops. These pesticides run off and pollute local ground water.
• Most textiles used today are man made, so all synthetic fabrics come from oil (petroleum
derivatives).
• After fabric manufacturing ,finishing agents and dyes are the next problem. Billions of gallons
of water is used annually to infuse and rinse finishing agents and dye into fabrics.
• Textile dye contains highly toxic chemicals including arsenic,mercury and other heavy metals
which cannot be removed from the waste water.
THE FOUR HEAVIEST IMPACT AREAS OF
TEXTILES/APPAREL AND FASHION
INDUSTRIES:
• Raw materials: Use of pesticides in cotton field has an enormous negative environmental impact,Dust
stroms are caused by cashmere goat over-grazing.
• Manufacturing: Textile dyeing and finishing is a particularly high-volume, high-impact source of water
pollution and co2.
• Goods movement : Shipping long distance by air emits more than 40 times the co2 in using a container
ship.
• Consumer care: Washing clothes in hot water has large environmental costs and dry cleaning requires a
toxic, persistent solvent
RESOURCES

• http://www.globalactionplan.org.uk/
• http://eu.earthwatch.org/
• http://www.rff.org/home
• J.M.K.C. Donev et al. (2019). Energy Education - Secondary pollutant [Online]. Available:
https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Secondary_pollutant. [Accessed: October 7, 2020].