Journal of Natural History, 2015, Vol. 11: Page no.

4 -11

Impact of Environmental Pollution on Animal and Human

Health
Mahendra Pal*, Metages Yirgalem*, Ashok KUMAR**, R.A.HAZARIKA*** and Ritwick
DASGUPTA****
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine
and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University,P.B.No.34,Debre Zeit, Ethiopia
**Division of Veterinary Public Health, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243122,
India
***Department of Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary Science, AAU, Khanapara,
Guwahati-781022, India
****Department of Zoology, Bangabasi Evening College, Kolkata-700141, India

Corresponding author: Prof.M.Pal, Email ID: palmahendra2@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Environment is the sum total of all external conditions and influences, which affect the life and
development of any living being. A wide variety of contaminants such as gaseous, biological, and
particulate are commonly being poured into the air. The pollutants present in atmospheric air
originates from natural sources ( dust, forest fire, fog, volcanic eruptions, radiation fall outs,
change in climate conditions, etc),and also by human induced activities such as use of coal,
wood, gas, petroleum products, and incineration. Epidemiological studies have indicated that a
sudden increase in air pollution is associated with an increase in morbidity, and mortality in
humans and animals. Many zoonotic and non-zoonotic diseases are transmitted through
contaminated air. Magnitude of the air pollution problem in mammals, and avians is yet to be
fully appreciated. It is emphasized that monitoring and surveillance programme will help in
identifying any emerging air borne disease and its source.
Key words: Air pollution, Animal, Bird, Environment, Humans, Pollutants, Surveillance

1
INTRODUCTION
Environment is a complex system that forms a range of physical and/or chemical factors and their
combination. The physical components of the natural environment such as air, water and land
provide basic means for sustaining the living organisms. The condition that reaction of these
living organisms with these physical components is in equilibrium, will sustain the life and the
environment in harmony. In the last decades, the man’s dominance over environment broke off
such harmony between living organisms and the environment components, which has resulted in
several environmental problems, including pollution (Swarup et al., 2002).

Environmental pollution is any discharge of material or energy into water, land, or air that
resulting water, land (soil), and air pollution, which may cause acute (short-term) or chronic
(long-term) detriment to the earth's ecological balance or that lowers the quality of life. Some
forms of pollution exert a destructive effect on humans, animals, plants and wildlife by killing or
impairing the health of their individuals (Patra and Swarup, 2000). Animals develop cancer,
encephalitis, respiratory and cardiac problem when they are exposed to toxic environmental
pollutant (Reif et al., 1992).

Pollution can be made by human activity and by natural forces as well (Fereidoun et al., 2007). In
addition, selfish private enterprise and their lack of awareness of public well-being and social
costs and natural disasters (Huppert and Sparks, 2006) are the one of the main reason of
pollution. Indian cities are among the most polluted cities in the world (Gautam et al.,
2009).Environmental health problems are not simply a conglomerate of concerns about
radiological health, water and wastewater treatment, air pollution control, solid waste disposal,
occupational health made attempt to detail many of the specific environmental health problems
which confront contemporary man (Lynn and Metzler, 1986).Pollution prevention and control
program evolves as a nationwide fixed cost-sharing effort relying upon voluntary participation.
At present, the adoption of environmental auditing in any economic sector is voluntary but future
legislation could well make it mandatory (Goodall, 1995).The present paper highlights the
growing impact of environmental pollution on animal health.

ENVIRONMETAL POLLUTION

2
Environmental pollution is reaching worrying proportions worldwide. Urbanization and
industrialization along with economic development have led to increase in energy consumption
and waste discharges. The global environmental pollution, including air, soil, radioactive and
noise pollution and acid deposition, as well as water pollution and waste management is
considered as health problems, which should be investigated from multiple perspectives
including social, economic, legislation, and environmental engineering systems, as well as
lifestyle habits helping health promotion and strengthening environmental systems to resist
contamination (Csillag, 2000).
There are several types of pollution, and while they may come from different sources and have
different consequences, understanding the basics about pollution can help environmentally
conscious individuals minimize their contribution to these dangers. These includes, air, water,
soil, noise, thermal and radiation pollution. The air we breathe is an essential ingredient for our
wellbeing and a healthy life. Unfortunately, polluted air is common throughout the world
especially in developed countries from 1960s (Kan, 2009). Rapid growth in urban population,
increasing industrialization, and rising demands for energy and motor vehicles are the worsening
air pollution levels. Other factors, such as poor environmental regulation, less efficient
technology of production, congested roads, and age and poor maintenance of vehicles, also add to
the problem (Harendra, 2012).The water we drink is essential ingredients for our wellbeing and a
healthy life. Water pollution is caused by human activity, and industrialization (Park, 2009).

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that one sixth of the world’s population;
approximately 1.1 billion people do not have access to safe water and 2.4 billion lack basic
sanitation. The waste discharged by industries contains compounds of metals, organic
compounds, alkalis, and phenols etc., which make water to be polluted. It is well known that
some heavy metals are harmful and cause tonic effects to human and animal (Palin, 1997).

Sewage is produced everyday by human activities like bathing, washing of clothes, excreting
urine and faeces and it appears as source of water pollution. Solid waste comprises all the waste
arising from human and animal activities . This poor quality water causes health hazard and death
of human being, aquatic life and also disturbs the growth of different plants, which have impact
on food chain. Some water pollution effects are recognized immediately, whereas others do not

3
show up for months or years . The effects of water pollution are said to be the leading cause of
death for humans and animal across the globe. Water pollution affects our oceans, lakes, rivers,
and drinking water, making it a widespread and global concern (Harendra, 2012).
The introduction of substances, biological organisms, and energy into the soil,which may cause
soil pollution, and which inversely affect the society and environment. It is one of the major
forms of environmental catastrophe our world is facing today (Khan, 2004).Contaminated soils
can pose a problem for society if agricultural functions, human health or ecological systems are
adversely affected (Daniel, 2005). Soil pollution is caused by the presence of man-made
chemicals or other alteration in the soil environment. This type of pollution is typically arises
from the rupture of underground storage links, application of pesticides, percolation of
contaminated surface water to subsurface strata, oil and fuel dumping, leaching of wastes from
landfills or direct discharge of industrial wastes, and solid waste including plastic bag, cloth,
glass, organic matter etc. to the soil. The most common chemicals involved are petroleum
hydrocarbons, solvents, pesticides, lead and other heavy metals (Kimani, 2007).

EFFECT OF POLLUTION ON ANIMAL HEATH

Environmental pollution has a significant impact on living organisms, including health and
physiology of man and animals. Pesticides, heavy metals, fluorine and other agro-chemicals are
the major cause of environmental toxicity, which affect humans, animals, plants and wildlife
(Patra and Swarup, 2000).Environmental pollutants have various adverse health effects starting
from early life. Some of the most important harmful effects are prenatal disorders, infant
mortality, respiratory disorders, allergy, malignancies, cardiovascular disorders, increase in stress
oxidative, endothelial dysfunction, mental disorders, and various other harmful effects (Kelishadi
and Poursafa, 2010). Numerous studies have exposed that environmental particulate exposure has
been linked to increased risk of morbidity and mortality from many diseases, organ disturbances,
cancers, and other chronic diseases (Coogan et al., 2012).Under-nourished, young, old,
physiologically stressed and debilitated animals are more susceptible to pollution effects
(Humphreys, 1991).

Effect of air pollution

4
Along with humans, animals ranging from tiny microbes to large mammals are also dependent on
oxygen that is derived from the air. When contaminated air is inhaled for breathing oxygen,
several harmful gases are also inhaled along with it. These harmful gases are believed to affect
animals in the same manner as they affect humans. Experts also suggest that the particulate
matter that the animals inhale over a prolonged period can get accumulated in their tissues.

Outdoor air pollution could affect farm animals kept at pastures in urban and peri-urban areas. In
the past 1952, a severe smog disaster in London was reported to have caused respiratory distress
of prize cattle that were housed in the city for a cattle exhibition. It was likely the high level of
sulphur dioxide that was responsible for acute bronchiolitis and the accompanying emphysema
and right-sided heart failure. Since some of the city farms are located rather in the periphery of
cities than in the centre, the inhaled concentrations of pollutants by production animals is likely
less than the concentrations inhaled by pet animals living in the city centers or close to industrial
estates (Reif et al., 1992).

Bladder cancer, mesothelioma (Harbison and Godleski, 1993), lung and nasal cancer (Reif et al.,
1992) in dogs are strongly associated with carcinogens released by human in-door activities. In
cats, passive smoking increased the incidence of malignant lymphoma (Bertone et al., 2002).
Air pollutants can also indirectly affect human and animal health through acid rain, by polluting
drinking water and entering the food chain, and through global warming and associated climate
change and sea level rise. Acid rain destroys fish life in lakes and streams and kill trees, destroy
the leaves of plants, can permeate soil by making it inappropriate for reasons of nutrition and
habitation, unwarranted ultraviolet radiation through the ozone layer eroded by some air
pollutants, may cause skin cancer in wildlife and damage to trees and plants, and ozone in the
lower atmosphere may damage lung tissues of animals (Harendra, 2012).

Effect of water pollution

Polluted drinking water or water polluted by chemicals produced waterborne diseases like,
giardiasis, amoebiasis, hookworm, ascariasis, typhoid, liver and kidney damage, alzheimer’s
disease, lymphoma, multiple sclerosis, hormonal problems that can disorder development and

5
reproductive processes, cancer, heart disease, damage to the nervous system, different type of
damages on babies in womb, damage to the DNA and even death, meanwhile, polluted beach
water contaminated people like stomach aches, encephalitis, hepatitis, diarrhoea, vomiting,
gastroenteritis, respiratory infections, ear ache, and pink eye (Water Pollution Effects, 2006).

Effect of soil pollution

Soil pollution causes cancer including leukemia and it is danger for young children as it can
cause developmental damage to the brain furthermore it illustrated that mercury in soil increases
the risk of neuromuscular blockage, causes headaches, kidney failure, depression of the central
nervous system, eye irritation and skin rash, nausea and fatigue. Soil pollution closely associated
to air and water pollution, so its numerous effects come out as similar as caused by water and air
contamination.
Effect of some toxic pollutants
Heavy metals such as arsenic, lead and chromium in soil present increased incidents of cancer,
birth defects and leukemia. There is a trend in home gardening to use only organic methods to
avoid the dangers of noxious pesticides, toxic herbicides and commercial fertilizers (Klaassen,
1996).
Chemical pesticides were introduced as important tool for pest control since late 1940's (Patra
and Swarup, 2000). The widespread uses, solubility in lipids, environmental persistence and
biomagnifications potential of pesticides have soon precipitated health hazards in domestic
animals and wildlife. It is thought that every one born since mid 1940's has had a lifetime
exposure to the slow degradation of the chemical insecticide DDT (Klaassen, 1996)
Heavy metals pollution of environment is a serious problem in most countries of the world.
Various anthropogenic activities, such as burning of fossil fuel, mining metallurgy, industries and
transport redistribute toxic heavy metals into the environment, which persist for long period and
translocate to different components of the environment, including biotic segment. These toxicants
accumulate in the vital organs, including liver and kidney, and exert adverse effects on domestic,
and wild animal’s populations (Liu, 2003).
Arsenic is a widely distributed environmental pollutant that is released into the environment
through industrial processes and agricultural usage. Arsenic contamination of ground water is an
important cause of poisoning in many countries. The recommended permissible limit of arsenic

6
in drinking water is less than 50 ug/1 (WHO, 1993). Ingestion of arsenic contaminated drinking
water is associated with skin lesions like spotted melanosis, hyperkeratosis, leucomelanosis,
raindrop de-pigmentation, and gangrenous extremities. In addition, hepatomegally, splenomagaly
as well as cancer of different organs (WHO,1993).
Lead is a highly toxic heavy metal, which has no beneficial biological action in the body.
Contamination of pasture with industrial emissions and other sources such as discarded batteries,
empty paint tins and machinery grease are the main causes of humans, domestic and wild animals
lead exposure (Chowdery and Naha, 2002). Grazing animals suffer from plumbism by ingestion
of contaminated herbage and soils. The toxicity is associated with high mortality in animals in
polluted areas with no long term or a few premonitory signs of depression, violent movement,
blindness and salivation (Dwivedi et al., 2001). Metallic lead in the form of spent gunshots is a
common source of poisoning to birds. Ingestion of spent gunshots as grits or feed particles has
resulted in high mortality rates among waterfowl in many parts of the world. The acidic stomach
pH (2.5) of the fowl facilitates the acidification and dissolution of leaded shots that cause lead
poisoning (Pain, 1996).

Lead concentration above 100 μg/dL in blood, 15-20 ppm in liver on dry matter basis induces
severe clinical toxicities and death in waterfowl. Lead poisoning was recorded as one of the
causes of death in vulture in India . High concentration of lead in puppy causes lung perfusion,
parenchymatous degeneration and perfusion of the liver, nephrotic kidneys, grayish urinary
bladder mucosa, catarrhal enteritis, and hyperemia and edema of the brain (Humphrey, 1991).
Toxicity of mercury has been reported since long time ago as a cause of death. The metal is
biologically non-essential, but is used in various industries. It is released in the environment from
natural and anthropogenic sources. The man-made sources include coal combustion, non-ferrous
metal production and waste disposal. The last century witnessed several incidents of mercury
poisoning due to pollution, which cause deaths among humans and animals in Japan, Guatemala,
Iraq and Pakistan (Dwivedi et al., 2001). Methyl mercury is the toxic and stable form of mercury
from which most avian and mammalian predators suffer. High mercury levels had been detected
in India in some metropolis and near towns areas, where chlor-alkali and paper industries were
located (Chandra, 1980).

7
PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF ENVIRONMETAL POLLUTION
Based on the strength of the scientific knowledge regarding the adverse health effects of
environmental pollution and the magnitude of their public and animal health impact, different
kinds of interventions should be taken into account. In addition to industrial aspects, the public
awareness should be increased in this regard. Likewise, health professionals have an exclusive
competency to help for prevention and reduction of the harmful effects of environmental factors.
(Li et al., 2004). The use of natural gas for cooking/heating, provision of disposal facilities, the
use of electric energy, solid waste management, maintenance and operating practices; product
reformulation and raw material substitution; relatively simple process modifications employing
currently available technologies; more fundamental process modifications, mainly requiring
technological innovation and external recycling.Targeting specific sources that contribute
significantly to air pollution is an important strategy in improving air quality (Van Erp et al.,
2008). Indoor pollutant exposure can also be lowered through the use of air cleaners (Bell et
al.,2009). Attempts should be made to reduce the amount of substance, pollutant, or contaminant
entering any waste stream, or otherwise released into the environment, prior to recycling,
treatment, or disposal (Hocking, 1998).Industrial wastes can be treated physically, chemically
and biologically until they are less hazardous (Hocking, 1998;Ruston,2003). Of all the
decontamination methods, bioremediation appears to be the least damaging and most
environmentally acceptable technique (Pierzynski, 2000).

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The quality of life on earth is linked to the overall quality of the environment. Thus, growing
pressures on air, water and land resources and the increasing incidents of human and animal
health problems due to industrial pollution and man-made environmental alteration, have drawn
global attention to find new ways to sustain and manage the environmental components. Policy
makers in developing countries should design programs, set standards, and take action to mitigate
adverse health effects of pollution. Healthy people mean human resources that are the main
object of any successful business or country. These societal beneficial efforts need to carefully
adapt available knowledge from other settings, keeping in mind the differences in pollutant
mixtures, concentration levels, exposure patterns, and various underlying population
characteristic.Public awareness should be created how environment is polluted, impact and

8
preventive measure.Well-designed research should be conducted to increase understanding of
potential impact of environmental pollution on human and animal health, as well as developing
and enhancing early warning, surveillance and response system to mitigate impact of pollution.

REFERENCES
Bell, M., Ebisu, K., Peng, R. and Dominici, F. (2009): Adverse health effects of particulate air
pollution: modification by air conditioning. Epidemiology, 20: 682-686.
Bertone, E., Snyder, L. and Moore, A. (2002): Environmental tobacco smoke and risk of
malignant lymphoma in pet cats. American Journal of Epidemioogy, 156: 268-273.
Chandra, S.V. (1980): Toxic metals pollution in environment. Industrial Toxicology Research
Center, Lucknow, India. P. 65.
Chowdery, A. and Naha, N. (2002): Effect of agro-chemical toxicity in human and animal.
Indian Journal of Toxicology, 9: 61-67.
Coogan, P., White, L. and Jerrett, M. (2012): Air pollution and incidence of hypertension and
diabetes mellitus in black women living in Los Angeles. Circulation, 125: 767-772.
Csillag, C. (2000): Turning point of environmental health in Brazil. Environmental Health
Perspective, 108: 504.
Daniel, R. (2005): The metagenomics of soil. Nature of Revolutinary Microbiology, 3: 470-478.
Dwivedi, S., Swarup, D., Dey, S. and Pata, R. (2001): Lead poisoning in cattle and buffalo near
primary lead-zinc smelter in India. Veterinary and Human Toxicology, 43: 93-94.
Fereidoun, H., Nourddin, M., Rreza, N., Mohsen, A., Ahmad, R. and Pouria, H. (2007): The
effect of long-term exposure to particulate pollution on the lung function of Teheranian and
Zanjanian students. Pakistan Journal of Physiology, 3: 1-5.
Gautam, A., Mahajan, M. and Garg, S. (2009): Impact of air pollution on human health in Dehra
Doon City, World Resource Institute, Washington, U.S. Pp. 1-5.
Goodall, B. (1995): Environmental auditing: A tool for assessing the environmental performance
of tourism firms. Geographical Journal, 161: 29-37.
Harbison, M.L. and Godleski, J.J. (1983): Malignant mesothelioma in urban dogs. Veterinary
Pathology, 20: 531-540.
Harendra, K. (2012): Quality of life in relation to environmental pollution. Advances in Asian
Social Science, 1: 72-75.

9
Hocking, M.B. (1998): Handbook of Chemical Technology and Pollution Control. Academic
Press, Sandiiego. P. 546.
Humphrey, D.J. (1991): Effect of exposure to excessive quantities of lead on animal. British
Veterinary Journal, 147: 18-30.
Huppert, H. and Sparks, R. (2006): Extreme natural hazards: Population growth, globalization
and environmental change. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, 364: 1875-1888.
Kan, H. (2009): Environment and health in China: Challenges and opportunities. Environmental
Health Perspectives, 117: 530-531.
Kelishadi, R. and Poursafa, P. (2010): Air pollution and non-respiratory health hazards for
children. Archives of Medical Science. 6: 483-495.
Khan, S.I. (2004): Dumping of solid waste. A Threat to Environment. Journal of Environment
and Natural Resource, 25: 49-50.
Kimani, N.G. (2007): Environmental pollution and impacts on public health: Implications of the
dandora dumping site. United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi, Kenya. Pp. 1-31.
Klaassen, C.D. (1996): The pharmacological basis of therapeutics. McGraw-Hill Publisher, New
York, U.S. Pp. 1649-1671.
Li, J., Guttikunda, S., Carmichael, G., Streets, D., Chang, Y. and Fung, V. (2004): Quantifying
the human health benefits of curbing air pollution in Shanghai. Journal of Environmetal
Management, 70: 49-62.
Liu, Z.P. (2003): Lead poisoning combined with cadmium in sheep and horse. Science of the
Total Environment, 309: 117-126.
Lynn, W.R. and Metzler, D.F. (1986): Environmental health decision-making. Journal of Water
Pollution Control Federation, 40: 1311-1313.
Pain, D.J. (1996): Environmental Contaminants in Wildlife: Interpreting Tissue Concentrations.
CRC Press, Boca Raton, Finland. Pp. 251-264.
Palin, R. (1997): Power from solid waste using cyclone classifier bioenergy. News letter. Vol:3,
London. Pp. 13-15.
Park, K. (2009): Preventive and Social Medicine. Banarsidas Bhanot Publishers, Jabalpur, India.
P. 160.
Patra, R. and Swarup, D. (2000): Environmetal pollution and its impact on domestic animals
and wild life. Indian Journal of Animal Science, 75: 231-240.

10
Pierzynski, G.M., Sims, J.T. and Vance, G.F. (2000): Soils and Environmental Quality, 2nd ed.
CRC Press, Boca Raton, Finland. P. 459.
Reif, J., Dunn, K., Ogilvie, G. and Harris, C. (1992): Passive smoking and canine lung cancer
risk. American Journal of Epidemiology, 135: 234-239.
Rushton, L. (2003): Health hazards and waste management. British Medical Bulletin, 68: 183-
198.
Swarup, D., Dey, S., Patra, R., Dwivedi, S. and Ali, S. (2002): Clinicoepidemiological
observations of industrial bovine fluorosis in India. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 71: 1111-
1116.
Van Erp, A., Keefe, R., Cohen, A. and Warren, J. (2008): Evaluating the effectiveness of air
quality interventions. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, 71: 583-587.
Water Pollution Effects (2006): In grinning planet, saving the planet one joke at a time.
http://www.grinningplanet.com/2006/12-05/water-pollution-effects.htm. Accessed on 24 March
2013.
WHO.(1993): A guideline for drinking water quality: Recommendations. Vol. I, 2nd ed. World
Health Organization,Geneva, Switzerland.

://

11
12