INDUSTRIAL

POLLUTION
COURSE No. 604
 INTRODUCTION TO INDUSTRIAL
POLLUTION
• Starting in the 18th century and gaining popularity in the 19 th century,
the Industrial Revolution brought about drastic changes in the social
and economic lives of humans. The benefits of the revolution are felt
even today, but so are the adverse effects. The introduction of
industrialization brought about industrial pollution.
• During the revolution, technology, manufacturing, and science all began
rapidly increasing, and continue to grow even today. Before the
industrial revolution, industries remained small, and their primary
pollutant was smoke. The plants had limited time and size, which
meant pollution was minor. It was not until companies turned into huge
plants and industries that the harmful effects of pollution became
known.
 INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION
• While there are many different types of pollution, industrial
pollution refers explicitly to any contamination caused by industrial
activities. Industrial pollution is a big issue because most pollution
is caused by some industry, making it the most significant form of
pollution on the planet.
• The effects of industrial pollution are vast, causing water
contamination, a release of toxins into soil and the air, and it is the
cause of some of the most significant environmental disasters of all
time.
 Causes of Industrial Pollution
1. Industrial Growth that is Unplanned
A lot of air and water pollution has occurred from companies who ignored rules or
standard practices to facilitate rapid growth. Industrial growth has been a frequent
culprit for pollution
2. Lack of Effective Policies
Many industries have been able to ignore or entirely bypass pollution laws because the
policies are either not valid, or not adequately enforced by pollution control boards.
The result has been significant pollution that has had a direct effect on many people.
3. The Sheer Number of Industries
There are many industries and factories, and most of them are polluting the air every
day. Small sectors that have to rely on grants from the government to keep operating
are often able to avoid following environmental regulations. Those companies have
been discovered to release significant amounts of toxic gas, making pollution an even
more substantial issue from those smaller industries.
.
4. Using Old and Outdated Technology
Updating technology is expensive, and there are many companies and plants which are
relying on outdated technology to continue operating their business successfully. Older
technologies tend to produce large amounts of waste.
Even when companies realize the harmful effect they are having on the environment,
they choose to save money by keeping their old systems instead of upgrading.
5. Natural Resource Use
Raw material is necessary for a lot of industries, which requires them to pull
underground elements. One of the most common forms of leaching from natural
resources is fracking for oil. When industries pull minerals, the process causes pollution
in the soil and also causes oil leaks and spills that are harmful and deadly to people and
animals.
6. Improper Disposal of Waste
One of the most common forms of soil and water pollution are because of companies who
do not dispose of their waste correctly. This is one of the most significant causes of
pollution because the effects include severe and chronic health issues and lower air
quality.
 Major pollutants in Industrial
Pollution:
Poisonous Gases like nitrous oxide, Sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide,
Sulphurous oxide, chlorine gas, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, Sulphuric
acid, mercury, particulate matter, smoke col dust , fly ash, fluorine, inorganic
waste pigments, Alkalis, phenols, chromates, organic wastes, heavy
metals and even hot water.
• Types of wastes
• Process wastes– The waste generated in an industry during washing and
processing of raw materials. This may be organic or inorganic depending on
the raw materials. Both are toxic to living organisms
• Chemical wastes– The chemical substance generated as a by-product
during the preparation of a product are the chemical waste product. These
include heavy metals and their ions, detergents, acids and alkalis etc.
 The Effects of Industrial Pollution
1. Water Pollution
• The ecosystem has been significantly impacted because of pollution, and
the consequence will affect many future generations. Big industries and
manufacturing plants use significant amounts of water from nearby
lakes, rivers, and oceans to operate.
• During the manufacturing process, the water is exposed to chemicals,
heavy metals, organic sludge, and radioactive waste. That water is then
dumped back into its original water source. Not only does this process
affect the plants, animals, and insects in their habitat, farmers also use
that water for irrigation, causing harmful effects to the food we eat.
• Water pollution has caused many different groundwater sources to be
labeled as unsafe for people and animals alike. Once it is rendered
dangerous, the only use for that water is for it to be reused in the plants
that initially harmed it.
2. Soil Pollution
• Soil pollution is the result of land degradation, and it is caused because of
human-made (xenobiotic) chemicals as a result of industrial activity, the
improper disposing of waste and various agricultural chemicals. Soil
pollution poisons agriculture and sometimes kills local vegetation.
• The results of soil pollution include chronic health concerns for people
who work with soil, for farmers, and for people who consume the fruits
and vegetables from contaminated land.
3. Air Pollution
• Similar to water and soil pollution, air pollution has been the culprit for
many illnesses, increasingly frequent over time. The effects of air
pollution have an impact on everyone, every day. It is caused by the
smoke released by various industries.
4. Animal Extinction
• Pollution is one of the most significant contributors to global warming. There
are conspiracy theories and people who believe global warming doesn’t exist,
but scientists and environmentalists have proven the existence of global
warming.
• The rapid increase of global warming is of concern to many people. The
greenhouse gasses, and the smoke that causes it is released into the air daily
and causing consequential problems. Glaciers are melting, polar animals are
becoming extinct, tsunamis, hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters are
increasing, and all of those are the effects of global warming.
5. Natural Resource Use
• Industrial pollution continues to cause significant damage to the earth and all
of its inhabitants. It disrupts natural habitats and rhythms, affecting wildlife
and ecosystems. Animals are becoming extinct, and habitats are being
destroyed.
• Pollution is the culprit for oil spills and radioactive material leaks, and both of
those types of disasters take years to decades to clean up.
 Facts About Industrial Pollution
Industrial pollution is wreaking havoc on the planet. Every nation is
affected, and there are many people who are working tirelessly to
increase awareness and advocate for change. The activities that are
causing pollution include:
• Burning fossil fuels like oil, natural gas, and petroleum.
• Burning coal.
• Chemical solvents used in dyeing and tanning industries.
• Untreated gas and liquid waste being released into the environment.
• Improper disposal of radioactive material.
 Reducing Industrial Pollution
As the harmful effects of industrial pollution increase, there are many
agencies and individuals who are working to reduce carbon footprints
and live and work eco-friendlier. Here are some of the different steps
being taken to reduce and eliminate pollution:
• Development of better technology for waste disposal.
• Increased recycling efforts.
• Development of cooling rooms or bins that allow industries to recycle
the water they need instead of pushing it back into the natural water
source it came from.
• Adopting organic water and soil cleaning methods, like using microbes
that feed off of metal and waste.
• Creating policies that prevent land misuse.
 Other Ways to Control or Reduce
Industrial Pollution.
Here are some of the ways companies are working to reduce industrial pollution.
1. Source Control
• Adopting new technology, efficiently training employees for safe use and
disposal of waste, and being more conscientious about the raw materials used
can help control industrial pollution at the source.
2. Industry Site Selection
• Putting more consideration into where new sites are located, and the potential
impact of the environment surrounding it can help reduce harmful
consequences.
3. Proper Treatment of Industrial Waste
• By developing and implementing adequate treatment habits for handling
industrial waste, pollution can be reduced.
4. Planting and Rebuilding
• Rebuilding habitats by planting more trees and plants can help give wildlife back
their homes and the trees can help purify air, output oxygen, and act as a buffer
against the environment.
5. Stricter Laws and Enforcement
• While we do have the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) working to correct
the damage from pollution, they need more ability to take action against the
companies who do not follow proper protocol. Rule enforcement needs to have
stronger consequences and more significant rewards for the companies who do
operate properly.
6. Regular Environmental Impact Assessments
• Being a responsible company or industry should require regular environmental
impact assessments that are reported for evaluation. If there are harmful impacts
discovered during the review, actions to correct the negative consequences should be
developed and enforced.