What are the types of Pollution?

Pollution refers to any component that adversely impacts the planet. Air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, plastic pollution, and noise pollution are among the main types of pollution. 

• Air Pollution

According to the World Wide Quality Report, the biggest global threat to environmental health is air pollution. Asthma, cancer, and heart diseases are just a few illnesses made worse by air pollution. It is also linked to the fatality of 40,000 children in 2021, particularly due to PM2.5 air pollution. PM2.5 are minute particles resulting from fuel combustion, including that gasoline, oil, diesel, or wood. These emissions cause dangerous smogs, a thick cloud of hazy air containing toxic gasses like nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and hydrocarbons that degrade the air quality.

Smog can be extremely harmful to people, animals, and plants. It is most prevalent in large cities where industries thrive, and traffic is frequent, such as Los Angeles. The city was designated as the smog capital of 2021. In fact, according to the State of the Air 2022 report by the American Lung Association, 11 out of the 24 worst polluted cities in the United States are Californian cities. The air in the country continues to be highly harmful, putting around  137 million Americans at risk. Another side effect of air pollution is acid rain. It contains acidic elements like sulfuric acid or nitric acid, an effect of the burning of fossil fuels. Acid rain threatens lives beyond those who live close to the sources because winds carry them over great distances. The impact of air pollution triggers greenhouse effects which, in return, worsen global warming. We must all put efforts to reduce chlorofluorocarbon emissions (CFC) to lessen air pollution and global warming.

Major Freight Highway Bottlenecks Based Upon Truck Hours of Delay per Mile, 2019 NPMRDS, Source: DOT

• Water Pollution

Water pollution is a pervasive issue that endangers ecosystems and human health. While water is a daily requirement for survival, unsafe drinking water takes more lives than war. The limited access to less than 1% of the freshwater on the planet further makes the global water supply more concerning. 

Source: SDG6

Water pollution comes from several sources, including:

• Agriculture: The agricultural industry consumes around 70% of water, which contributes massively to water quality deterioration. The waste from the industry's operation such as animal feces, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides, wash into the waterways, contaminating the water on a heavy scale. 

• Sewage and wastewater: Over 80% of the wastewater produced worldwide returns to the environment untreated. The accountable sources include sinks, toilets, and commercial, industrial, and agricultural operations (among others). The sewage and toxic sludge run off into our waterways and pollute them, making them unsafe to utilize. 

• Oil spills: The impacts of oil spills require decades to recover. The aquatic ecosystem and marine life are still suffering from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill (2010). Unfortunately, land-based sources like factories, farms, and cities keep releasing more oil-based pollutants, making water pollution worse. 

• Radioactive substances: Radioactive waste pollution is considered a hazardous threat as it emits radioactive particles. It is produced by the mining of uranium, nuclear power plants, the development and testing of military weapons, and even research and medical practices. Radioactive waste pollution can linger in the environment for a very long time. The cleanup of the Hanford nuclear weapons production site in Washington, anticipated to cost $107 billion and last through 2060, is a testimony of that. 

• Soil Pollution

Landfill waste, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, etc., pollute soil. Other sources of contaminants can also include metals, inorganic ions and salts, mercury, hydrocarbons, and rainwater. The high levels of ammonia in landfill leachate seep into the soil. It releases nitrate that damages the soil and causes eutrophication of nearby water sources. Eutrophication produces dead zones where no living creature can survive owing to the lack of oxygen. The soil degrades and loses its capacity to produce food, having a significant detrimental effect on our system of food production. Long-term contact with such contaminated soil impacts livestock causes food poisoning, and may even impact the genetic make-up of humans. 

• Noise Pollution

A noisy environment is a threat to both humans and animals. It can cause hearing loss, stress, and high blood pressure. The most susceptible species to the effects of noise pollution are whales and dolphins, as they rely on echolocation for survival (their plight is primarily caused by ship noise and human activity on the ocean). Exposure to continuous noise levels above 85 dB beyond an hour can be fatal. In Western Europe, the noise from traffic has cost at least 1.6 million human lives. 

Noise pollution is flooding the modern world, impacting our everyday lives. The only problem is, we don't pay as much attention to it as noise pollution is not visible to the eyes. However, it is a detrimental hazard that taxes our mental and physical health. While we cannot personally stop factories and machines from making noises, the most we can do is to be cognizant of our actions and refrain from activities that contribute to noise pollution. And, take steps to protect ourselves, such as using earplugs, staying away from busy areas, or avoiding jobs that require us to work in loud settings.

• Plastic Pollution

About 50% of plastic is produced for single-use, and they remain in the environment for many years. But while at it, they continue to damage the surroundings for hundreds of years. Vinyl chloride (PVC) and bisphenol A (BPA), the most common plastic elements, are also linked to insulin resistance and heart diseases.

Plastic pollution is most noticeable in developing nations in Asia and Africa, where garbage collection systems are frequently ineffective or nonexistent. This doesn't negate the fact that developed nations with low recycling rates also contribute to plastic pollution. The world produces around 400 million tonnes of plastic waste annually as a result of various plastic-associated items including containers, straws, single-use bags, etc. 

At Gallant, we are doing our part to reduce plastic

Gallant is on a mission to make a difference by assisting businesses in reducing their plastic consumption. We offer 100% wholesale organic cotton products free of polyester, nylon, or other plastic-affiliated materials. Plastic-derived materials go through intensive chemical processes, release phthalates into the air and water, and even cause health problems. Our certified organic products help minimize the environmental impact of businesses that deal with bulk orders and retail stocks.