IMPACT ANALYSIS OF

“ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ON HUMAN HEALTH”

 WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION?

Environmental pollution refers to “contamination of the physical and

biological components of the earth/atmosphere system to such an extent
that normal environmental processes are adversely affected.”

Pollution is often viewed as an external problem that exists "out there" in

the environment. However, pollution is also a human health issue. Every
day, people are exposed to various forms of pollution, which can have a
negative impact on their health.

All forms of environmental pollution pose a serious threat to human

health. The health effects of exposure to pollutants can be acute
(immediate) or chronic (long-term). They can be mild or severe, and they
can range from short-term annoyances like itchy eyes and coughing to life-
threatening conditions like cancer and heart disease.

Environmental Pollution may be classified as under:

I. Air pollution: -
Air pollution refers to the injection of harmful substances into
the Earth’s atmosphere that results in detrimental impacts to the
environment and humanity. 
II. Water pollution: -
Water pollution refers to the emission of foreign harmful
materials like chemicals, waste matters and other
contaminations which harms aquatic life.
III. Noise pollution: -
Noise pollution refers to the undesirable sound usually
considered above 75 decibels which could cause hearing
impairments and even permanent hearing disability in severe
cases.

IV. Land pollution: -

Land pollution is the destruction or decline in the quality of the
earth’s land surfaces in terms of use, landscape, and ability to
support life forms. Many times, it is directly and indirectly
caused by human activities and abuse of land resources.
RELATION BETWEEN THE ENVIRONMENT AND
HUMAN LIFE

A clean environment is essential for human health and well-being. At the

same time, the local environment can also be a source of stressors - for
example air pollution, noise, hazardous chemicals - that negatively affect
health. The health of the EU population is also adversely affected by
climate change, through heatwaves, floods and changes in the distribution
of vector-borne diseases. At a broader level, climate change, loss of
biodiversity, and land degradation can also impact on human well-being
by threatening the delivery of ecosystem services, such as access to
freshwater and food production.

Human health and well-being are intimately linked to the state of the
environment. Good quality natural environments provide basic needs, in
terms of clean air and water, fertile land for food production, and energy
and material inputs for production. Green infrastructure also serves to
regulate climate and prevent flooding. Access to green and blue spaces
also provides important opportunities for recreation and supports well-
being. 
 CASE SCENARIOS EXPLAINING IMPACT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ON HUMAN LIFE

 Air pollution and the skin: -

The increase of air pollution over the years has major effects on the human
skin. The skin is exposed to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and environmental
air pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile
organic compounds (VOCs), oxides, particulate matter (PM), ozone (O3),
and cigarette smoke. Although human skin acts as a biological shield
against pro-oxidative chemical and physical air pollutants, the prolonged
or repetitive exposure to high levels of these pollutants may have profound
negative effects on the skin. Exposure of the skin to air pollutants has been
associated with skin aging and inflammatory or allergic skin conditions
such as atopic dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis or acne, while skin cancer is
among the most serious effects. On the other hand, some air pollutants
(i.e., O3, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide) and scattering particulates
(clouds and soot) in the troposphere reduce the effects of shorter
wavelength UVR and significant reductions in UV irradiance have been
observed in polluted urban areas.

 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster: -

It was a nuclear accident occurred in the year 2011in fukushima,
Japan. It was triggered when a powerful earthquake leading to a
huge tsunami damaging the nuclear power plant’s emergency diesel
generator, leading to a loss of electrical power. It was classified as
level 7 on INES (international nuclear event scale). In days after the
mishappening, radiations released into the atmosphere making it a
ever larger evacuated zone near the plant. Large amount of water
contaminated with radioactive isotopes were released into the
pacific ocean which was estimated to be about 18,000 
terabecquerel (TBq) of radioactive caesium-137
On 5 July 2012, the National Diet of Japan Fukushima Nuclear
Accident Independent Investigation Commission (NAIIC) found that
the causes of the accident had been foreseeable, and that the plant
operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), had failed to
meet basic safety requirements such as risk assessment, preparing
for containing collateral damage, and developing evacuation plans.
At a meeting in Vienna three months after the disaster,
the International Atomic Energy Agency faulted lax oversight by the
Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, saying the
ministry faced an inherent conflict of interest as the government
agency in charge of both regulating and promoting the nuclear
power industry.[24] On 12 October 2012, TEPCO admitted for the
first time that it had failed to take necessary measures for fear of
inviting lawsuits or protests against its nuclear plants.
 Noise pollution and human health in Delhi: -

Noise pollution, an urban territorial phenomenon, is assuming

serious proportions in Delhi, the third largest urban centre of India.
The frequency and intensity of pollution has been increasing day by
day. The present study reviews the data on sources, intensity and
health implications of pollutants collected through household
survey using questionnaires from two contrasting density areas; one
from high-density area and another from low-density area. The
analysis reveals that tremendous increase in population, industrial
activities, unchecked growth in vehicular traffic and rapidly changing
life style are the major factors that have created and aggravated the
problem of pollution in the study area. The major health
implications include annoyance, disturbance in sleep, interference
with communication and other harmful effects. With the help of
regression analysis, the cause and effect relationship between the
intensity of pollution and occurrence of diseases among sampled
households of Delhi has been established by this study. Some
suggestions such as land use and transportation planning are also
given in this paper for mitigating and managing the noise pollution
problem in the sustainable urban development perspectives.
 Water pollution and diarrhea: -
Water pollution is the major cause of diarrhea which is a common
symptom of gastrointestinal diseases. It is a leading cause of illness
and death in young children in low income nations. It accounts for
about 21% of annual deaths among children under 5 years of age. It
was found that treated water from water treatment facilities was
associated with a lower risk of diarrhea than untreated water for all
ages For example, in the southern region of Brazil, a study found
that factors significantly associated with an increased risk of
mortality from diarrhoea included lack of plumbed water, lack of
flush toilets, poor housing conditions, and overcrowded households.
Households without access to piped water had a 4.8 times higher
risk of infant death from diarrhea than households with access to
piped water.

v
 Soil pollution along kalwa bridge at thane: -
The present investigation deals with the assessment of pollution
status along the wetland of Thane Creek, which has been subjected
to a lot of pollution from the Asia's biggest Thane—Belapur
Industrial Complex located at the south of Mumbai harbor along the
west coast of India. This paper advocates habitat conservation and
ecological studies with special reference to the physico-chemical
characteristics and heavy metal pollution in the soil along the creek
area. In the present investigation, the pH, electrical conductivity,
bulk density, alkalinity and chlorinity values recorded were observed
to be high during dry seasons and low during rainy season. The soil
samples were also analyzed for their heavy metal contents like
nickel, zinc, cadmium, copper, iron, arsenic and mercury. It was
observed that, the concentration of these heavy metals increases
gradually in dry seasons, followed by sharp decrease during rainy
season. These heavy metals have a marked effect on the aquatic
flora and fauna which through bio magnification enter the food
chain and ultimately affect the human beings as well. The present
experimental data on heavy metal pollution in soil samples collected
along Kalwa bridge of Thane Creek points out to the need of regular
monitoring of water resources and further improvement in the
industrial waste water treatment methods. If the present conditions
continue for a long period, the creek may soon become ecologically
inactive.
How Can Communities Reduce Environmental Pollution?
There are a few things that you, as an individual, can do to help reduce
environmental pollution.

You can start by reducing the amount of water you use on a daily basis.
Turn the faucet off while you brush your teeth, take shorter showers, and
water your plants during the cooler hours of the day. You can also save
water (and money!) by installing low-flow toilets and showerheads.

When it comes to energy consumption, try to use energy-efficient

lightbulbs and appliances, and make an effort to unplug electronics that
aren't in use. You can also lower your carbon footprint by carpooling,
walking, or biking instead of driving whenever possible.

Every little bit helps when it comes to reducing environmental pollution.

By making some small changes in your daily routine, you can make a big
difference for our planet!

What Can You Do to Reduce Your Contribution to

Environmental Pollution?
There are a number of things you can do to reduce your contribution to
environmental pollution.

You can start by recycling as much as possible. This includes everything

from paper and plastic to metal and glass. You can also reduce your use of
pesticides and herbicides in your home and garden, and opt for natural
alternatives instead.

another way to reduce your impact is to simply use less energy. This
means turning off lights when you leave a room, unplugging electronics
when you’re not using them, and wearing layers of clothing instead of
cranking up the heat.

Every little bit counts when it comes to reducing environmental pollution.

By making small changes in your daily life, you can make a big difference!
What Are the Public Health Initiatives in Place to Address
Environmental Pollution?
As we've seen, environmental pollution has a huge impact on human
health. So what are the public health initiatives in place to address this
problem?

There are many different initiatives that have been created in order to
address environmental pollution and its impact on human health. Some
of these initiatives include:

-Creating awareness about the issue through campaigns and educational

programs

-Working towards reducing the sources of pollution

-Improving air and water quality

-Providing healthcare and support to those who have been affected by

pollution

These initiatives are just a few of the ways in which the public health
sector is working to address environmental pollution. By continuing to
work together, we can make a difference and protect our health!
Conclusion
So, what does this all mean for the average person? Well, it means that
we all need to be aware of the dangers that environmental pollution can
pose to our health, and take steps to reduce our exposure whenever
possible. It's also important to support policies that aim to improve the
quality of the environment, and to raise awareness about the health risks
associated with pollution.