Pollution Effects
On
Humans,
Animals, Plants and
The Environment
Pollution effects are indeed many and wide-ranging.
There is no doubt that excessive levels of pollution are causing a lot of damage to human & animal health, tropical rainforests, as well as the wider environment.
All types of pollution – air, water and soil pollution – have an impact on the living environment.
The effects in living organisms may range from mild discomfort to serious diseases such as cancer to physical deformities; ex., extra or missing limbs in frogs.
Experts admit that pollution effects are quite often underestimated and that more research is needed to understand the connections between pollution and its effects on all life forms.
Environmental Pollution Effects on Humans
We know that pollution causes not only physical disabilities but also psychological and behavioral disorders in people.
We are discussing the effects of air pollution and specific air pollutants in more detail in our
Air Pollution Effects article.
The following pollution effects on humans have been reported:
Air Pollution Effects (Ref.
1, 2)
pollution effects, philippines
Air Pollution in
Philippines
Photo: Jim D
Stitch
Reduced lung functioning
Irritation of eyes, nose, mouth and throat
Asthma attacks
Respiratory symptoms such as coughing and wheezing
Increased respiratory disease such as bronchitis
Reduced energy levels
Headaches and dizziness
Disruption of endocrine, reproductive and immune systems
Neurobehavioral disorders
Cardiovascular problems
Cancer
Premature death
Water Pollution Effects (Ref. 3)
water pollution effects Water Pollution,
California
Waterborne diseases caused by polluted drinking water:
Ascariasis
Hookworm
Waterborne diseases caused by polluted beach water:
Rashes, ear ache, pink eye
Respiratory infections
Hepatitis, encephalitis, gastroenteritis, diarrhoea, vomiting, and stomach aches
Conditions related to water polluted by chemicals (such as pesticides, hydrocarbons, persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals etc):
Cancer, incl. prostate cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Exposure to mercury (heavy metal):
In the womb: may cause neurological problems including slower reflexes, learning deficits, delayed or incomplete mental development, autism and brain damage
In adults:
Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis,
Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, and even death
Lead in soil is especially hazardous for young children causing developmental damage to the brain
Effects of Pollution on Animals - Air Pollution (Ref. 5)
Acid rain (formed in the air) destroys fish life in lakes and streams
Excessive ultraviolet radiation coming from the sun through the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere which is eroded by some air pollutants, may cause skin cancer in wildlife
Ozone in the lower atmosphere may damage lung tissues of animals
Oil pollution (as part of chemical contamination) can negatively affect development of marine organisms, increase susceptibility to disease and affect reproductive processes; can also cause gastrointestinal irritation, liver and kidney damage, and damage to the nervous system
(Ref. 7)
Other notes:
We also assume that some higher forms of non-aquatic animals may have similar effects from water pollution as those experienced by humans, as described above
Effects of Pollution on Animals -
Soil Pollution (Ref. 8)
Small life forms may consume harmful chemicals which may then be passed up the food chain to larger animals; this may lead to increased mortality rates and even animal extinction
Environmental Pollution Effects on
Trees and Plants
Air Pollution (Ref. 9)
pollution effects, acid rain damaged trees Trees
Damaged by
Acid Rain
Acid rain can kill trees, destroy the leaves of plants, can infiltrate soil by making it unsuitable for purposes of nutrition and habitation
Ozone holes in the upper atmosphere can allow excessive ultraviolet radiation from the sun to enter the
Earth causing damage to trees and plants
Ozone in the lower atmosphere can prevent plant respiration by blocking stomata (openings in leaves) and negatively affecting plants’ photosynthesis rates which will stunt plant growth; ozone can also decay plant cells directly by entering stomata
Plants may be killed by too much sodium chloride (ordinary slat) in water (Ref. 11)
Plants may be killed by mud from construction sites as well as bits of wood and leaves, clay and other similar materials (Ref. 12)
Plants may be killed by herbicides in water; herbicides are chemicals which are most harmful to plants (Ref. 13)
Pollution of water may cause oxygen depletion in marine environments and severely affect the health of whole ecosystems.
Source:
http://www.tropical-rainforest-animals.com/pollution-effects
.html
Music:
“Higekitekina (悲劇的な)” (by
Fabian Measures)
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
4.0/
http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Fabian_Measures/Emotion_Music/Higekitekina_
- published: 29 Jul 2015
- views: 8925