Types of Pollution

• Water Pollution - Water pollution is caused by industrial dumping, littering, oil spills, sewage waste and the burning of fossil fuels. Polluted water sources can spread water-borne diseases such as typhoid and cholera. Nearly two million people die from water-borne diseases per year. In most cases, these fatalities occur in less economically developed countries where clean, safe drinking water isn't available for most people.

• Air Pollution - Air pollution is caused by particles and chemicals of solids, liquid and gas being suspended in the air. These particles and chemicals can come naturally for example through volcanoes and wildfires, but for the most part, come from man-made sources such as from car exhausts or factories. In regard to health, air pollution can severely damage the lungs and can even develop cancer in cells.

• Soil Pollution - This is caused by chemicals and pesticides seeping into the soil. It can have effects on animals, killing pests which come in contact with it, but can also have effects on human health too. Soil pollutants can contain toxins, which can seep into plants and vegetables. When eaten, these toxins can harm the developing brain of young children, and damage the kidney and liver. In severe cases, if a person is exposed to a lot of the chemicals and toxins found commonly in soil pollution, such as mercury, a person may also develop cancer. 

• Radioactive Pollution - The properties of radiation have interested scientists due to there uses to treat cancers. As a result, many tests can cause radioactive pollution. Aside from this, nuclear accidents, radioactive spills and cosmic rays also cause radioactive pollution. In serious cases, radioactive pollution can cause cell damage, genetic mutation, and diseases such as Leukaemia, haemorrhages, and anaemia.

 

Why is it important and interesting?

 

Well, the effects of pollution on human health needs to be talked about and discussed. In China, air pollution is a major issue, and major cities are often cased in smog. The Berkeley Earth Project researched the air condition of China and found that over a four-month period in mid-2014, 92 %of China’s population were exposed to at least 120 hours of unhealthy, polluted air (https://chinapower.csis.org/air-quality/). Below you will find photographs showing cities cased in smog in China and India.

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Developing countries like China and India, whos industries are growing at an extraordinary pace are struggling to balance their economic growth with environmental conservation. Issues of environmental conservation and the impact of pollution on health are often overlooked if the cost of changing for the better would impact a large industry and source of economic income. I believe that we can't expect developing countries to be environmentally friendly, as we built our economy and influence through similar industries. But for the sake of health, I believe industries need to look more deeply into the social impacts raised concerning pollution. Although pollution can have a physical impact on health, it can also impact mental health, going back to the example of Chinas issue with air pollution in major cities, evidence has suggested that breathing in pollutants in the air can increase stress, anxiety and depression. 

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The impact of pollution on physical and mental health does interest me. Before undergoing this research I was unaware that pollution could impact mental health and cause illnesses such as anxiety or depression. I'm now interested in researching and understanding in greater detail how pollution could impact human health. This side of pollution is often overlooked which I think makes it more interesting and I believe it says something about how societies and cultures prioritise an economic trade and industry over environmental issues and impacts on physical and mental health.