Introduction To Pollution And Its Environmental Effects

Environmental Pollution is one of the most alarming problems facing mankind and other life forms on our planet today. Environmental Pollution is defined as 'the undesirable change of the physical and biological components of the earth system to such an extent that normal environmental processes are negatively affected'. Pollutants can be naturally occurring substances or energies, but they are considered contaminants when in excess of natural levels. Any use of natural resources at a rate higher than nature's capacity to restore itself results in pollution of air, water, and land.

Although pollution has been existing since life began, it is growing to a global proportion since the beginning of the industrial revolution during the 19th century. Environmental pollution is not only rampant in developed countries but also in developing countries which is causing irreparable damage to the atmosphere. The mechanization of society, urbanization, the introduction of motorized vehicles, and the explosion of the human population has caused exponential growth in the increase of waste by-products.

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The indiscriminate discharge of untreated industrial and domestic wastes into waterways and the 'Throw away 'attitude towards thousands of tons of solid resulted in major environmental disasters.

Pollutants can be classified as primary or secondary which are the substances that are directly emitted into the atmosphere from sources. The main primary pollutant known to be harmful to the atmosphere are: carbon compounds, nitrogen compounds, sulphide compounds, and halogens compounds.

Secondary pollutants are not directly emitted from sources but instead form in the atmosphere from primary pollutants.

The main secondary pollutants known to be reactive are the NO2, HNO3 from NO, Ozone (O3) formed from the photo-chemical reaction of nitrogen oxide.