Since the start of the industrial evolution, environmental pollution has become an ecological problem around the globe. Most countries are struggling to cope up with the problem of air and water pollution. Clean air and water are the two essential elements needed for the survival of human beings. Unfortunately, water and air pollution have become a major threat to these survival elements, which is endangering the lives of humans globally. According to a report by the World Health Organization, about 1.1 billion of people across the globe cannot have access to clean air and water, and this leads to premature deaths (World Health Organization). When water and air are contaminated, they severely affect the health of human beings and other living things. Moreover, air and water pollution also harms the environment. Water and air pollution can be caused by human activities as well as naturally.
The most prominent and dangerous type of pollution is air pollution. Air pollution is caused by several reasons. For instance, air pollution can come from the unwarranted burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas, which transmits carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides to the atmosphere thus contaminating it. Moreover, air pollution can be as a result of industrial activities, smoke from non-green vehicles, and population growth. Methane emanating from raising livestock is also a major air pollutant. Nonetheless, the release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere is the leading cause of air pollution. Air pollution therefore adversely affects the lives of human beings, animals, and other living things.
Water pollution is the physical or chemical change in water that can be detrimental to all living things. Water pollution occurs due to several factors, which can be caused by human activity or by natural causes. The main causes of water contamination are industrial wastes, domestic effluents, sewage disposal, oil leakages, and agricultural wastes. Most water bodies are receivers of wastes that are produced by human activity. For example, agricultural and industrial works use chemicals that later on end up in water, thus polluting it. In addition, water may be contaminated with human and animal waste if not well disposed of. It occurs naturally, whereby there can be a leakage of petroleum or oil from the ground and finds itself in water reserves thus polluting the water.
Water and air pollution can have disastrous effects on human beings, the indigenous flora and fauna, and on animals. Contaminated water is unfit to drink and swim in. Hence, water pollution is linked to health problems such as typhoid, cholera, and hepatitis for consuming contaminated water and poisoned seafood. Moreover, contaminated water can lead to the destruction of the ecosystem.
On the other hand, the effects of air pollution are too evident. For instance, air pollution is also linked to health issues such as the lung disease, respiratory illnesses, coronary diseases, and cardiovascular disease (Fisher-Vanden and Olmstead 149).When we breathe contaminated air, it results in the health mentioned earlier problems. Apart from the health issues, air pollution has adverse effects on the ozone layer thus a contributor to global warming. Additionally, air pollution caused by chemical reactions can form acidic compounds, which are harmful to buildings and vegetation. Besides, if the acidic compounds find their way to the clouds, the water droplets become acidic, which forms acidic rain, and this can be harmful to the vegetation, humans, and wildlife. In essence, water and air pollution have adverse effects on the atmosphere, environment, human beings, vegetation, and animals. Therefore, air and water pollution affects not only the health of humans, but also the plants, nature, rivers, oceans, animals, forests, and the atmosphere (Fisher-Vanden and Olmstead 165).
In conclusion, air and water pollution is a global concern. Water and air pollution can bring devastating effects on all living things in any contaminated environment. Water and air are two basic things that are essential for the sustenance of the life of every human being and all other living things. Water and air pollution can be man-made or can occur naturally. Caused by human activities whereby there is the release of waste materials, chemical pollutants, and poisonous gases to water reserves and the atmosphere. Water and air pollution can cause serious health and ecological issues; therefore, their contamination can be hazardous. However, this can be avoided by avoiding the human causes of air and water pollution. The 3R’S are vital in reducing air and water pollution. Going green is the key to avoiding the major types of pollution including air and water pollution. It is important to control water, and air pollution as the human life, nature, and animals are precious to humanity.
Works Cited
Brauer, Michael, et al. "Exposure assessment for estimation of the global burden of disease attributable to outdoor air pollution." Environmental science & technology 46.2 (2012): 652-660.
Fisher-Vanden, Karen, and Olmstead Sheila. "Moving pollution trading from air to water: Potential, problems, and prognosis." The Journal of Economic Perspectives (2013): 147-171.
WHO. Burden of disease from ambient air pollution. Global Health Observatory. 2014. Web. 25 Jan. 2016. <http://www.who.int/gho/phe/outdoor_air_pollution/burden_text/en/>
