POLLUTION…

DEFINITION…
Pollutions the introduction of contaminants into an environment that causes instability, disorder, harms or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms.
                It is created mostly by human actions, but can also be a result of natural disasters. Pollution has a detrimental effect on any living organism in an environment, making it virtually impossible to sustain life.

CAUSES OF POLLUTION…
The main causes of pollution are :


1. Sewage…

The household sewage usually is taken to and fall in rivers, large tanks and lakes. Urine has urea which produces ammonia by hydrolysis. It is also produced by decay of other nitrogenous substances present in sewage. Thus water gets polluted giving rise to foul smell and becomes useless for drinking and bathing purposes because it may cause various skin diseases.


2. Household detergents…

There are such chemicals which are used for wash­ing clothes, clearing bathrooms, hospitals, etc. These include soaps, surf, nirma, fab etc. Because they are not completely oxidized, they produce CO2, alcohol and or­ganic acids which pollute water and harm living organisms.


3. Pesticides…

These chemicals are sprayed on fields, garden, sewage outlets to kill rats and insects. These chemicals are gases, liquids or solids. DOT is a white colored substance used to kill insects, flies and worms. SO2 is a colorless gas used to kill insects. Formaldehyde, chlorine, carbolic acid, phenyl, potassium per magnate are other such substances. Lime is used for whitewash of buildings and sewage out­lets to kill insects and worms, Bleaching powder (a mixture of chlorine and lime) is used to purify water reservoirs and wells.



4. Weedicides…

Weedicides get mixed with the soil and cause soil pollution.


5. Smoke…

Smoke released from industrial plants, fuel and railway engines cause air pollution. Smoke mostly consists of CO2 and water vapour. Along with these carbon monoxide and other carbon containing compounds, nitrogen are also present which cause air pollution if their amount increases. These cause respiratory trouble and ill effects on eye.


6. Automobile exhausts…

Jet planes, tractors, motor, buses and scooters etc in which petrol, diesel and kerosene is burnt produce different gases which are cause of air pollution.


7. Chemical discharge from industries…

Industrial effluents decreases oxy­gen in water. The amount of chlorides, nitrates and sulphates increases. By discharge of effluents into rivers most rivers of country become polluted and water becomes toxic to fishes and aquatic plants. Lead, Zinc and Iron compounds specially contri­bute to the pollution.


8. Decay and putrefaction of household wastes and dead bodies…

With death of animals, certain anaerobic bacteria putrefy the dead body as a result of which am­monia and H2S are produced giving foul smell. This causes air pollution.



9. Radioactive substance…          

10. Biopollutants…

Some of the allergic diseases like asthma, common cold, eczema and other skin ailments are caused by biological organisms like fungal spores, pollen, bacteria. Some higher plants that are allergic are, kikar, mulberry, castor (Ricinus), carrot weed (Parthenium) and Chilbil (Holoptelea).

TYPES OF POLLUTION…

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.
Air Pollution…

Water Pollution…
Soil Pollution…
Noise Pollution…
Radioactive Pollution…
Thermal Pollution…
Land pollution…

WATER POLLUTION…

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans, and groundwater caused by human activities, which can be harmful to organisms and plants which live in these water bodies.
Waste or industrial runoff from factories can pollute streams that are near the place of discharge. Oils, inorganic minerals, and chemical compounds are the primary types of waste runoff. In the case of industrial runoff, there are three ways the water can be treated to solve the pollution problem before it ever reaches the water source. First, control over the discharge can take place at the point of generation within the plant itself. Second, the polluted water can be sent to water treatment plants before it’s is released into the surrounding water sources. Third, the waste water can be treated within the plant and recycled again, or treated in the plant and released.
Acid rain also soaks into ground and dissolves nutrients from the soil. When the plants call upon these nutrients to grow, the absences kills the vegetation. Over a short period of time plants begin to die, harming surrounding animal life.


Causes and Effects Of Water Pollution…

Water pollution has been seriously affecting the life of humans, plants as well as animals. The eco-system of rivers, streams, lakes, seas and oceans is also getting deteriorated due to the contamination of water, through various sources. This condition also leads to the outbreak of numerous diseases, majority of them being lethal and contagious. However, before going about finding a solution to the problem, we need to look into its underlying causes. In the following lines, we have provided information on the causes and harmful effects of water pollution. Go through them and then decide on your course of action.

Sources of Water Pollution…
· Dumping of industrial wastes, containing heavy metals, harmful chemicals, by-products, organic toxins and oils, into the nearby source of water is one of the visible causes of water pollution.
·  Another cause for the contamination of water is the improper disposal of human and animal wastes.
· Effluents from factories, refineries, injection wells and sewage treatment plants are dumped into urban water supplies, leading to water pollution.
· A number of pollutants, both harmful and poisonous, enter the groundwater systems through rain water.
· The residue of agricultural practices, including fertilizers and pesticides, are some of the major sources of water pollution.
· Untreated pollutants are drained into the nearest water body, such as stream, lake or harbor, causing water pollution.
·  Another major source of water pollution comprises of organic farm wastes. When farm land, treated with pesticides and fertilizers, is irrigated, the excess nitrogen and poisons get mixed into the water supply, thereby contaminating it.
·  Pathogens, sediments and chemical pollutants are other sources of water pollution.
· The corporeal wastes produced by humans and farmed organisms pollute rivers, lakes, oceans and other surface waters.

Harmful Effects Of Water Pollution…
·  A number of waterborne diseases are produced by the pathogens present in polluted water, affecting humans and animals alike.
·   Pollution affects the chemistry of water. The pollutants, including toxic chemicals, can alter the acidity, conductivity and temperature of water.
·  Polluted municipal water supplies are found to pose a threat to the health of people using them.
·  As per the records, about 14000 people perish or incur various communicable diseases due to the consumption of contaminated drinking water.
· The concentration of bacteria and viruses in polluted water causes increase in solids suspended in the water body, which, in turn, leads to health problems.
· Marine life becomes deteriorated due to water pollution. Lethal killing of fish and aquatic plants in rivers, oceans and seas is an aftereffect of water contamination only.
· Diseases affecting the heart, poor circulation of blood and the nervous system and ailments like skin lesion, cholera and diarrhea are often linked to the harmful effects of water pollution.
· Carcinogenic pollutants found in polluted water might cause cancer.
· Alteration in the chromosomal makeup of the future generation is foreseen, as a result of water pollution.
· Discharges from power stations reduce the availability of oxygen in the water body, in which they are dumped.
·  The flora and fauna of rivers, sea and oceans is adversely affected by water pollution.
Effects of Agricultural Water Pollution…
Rain and irrigation water drains off cultivated land that has been fertilized and treated with pesticides, the excess nitrogen and poisons are mixed with it into the water supply. These pesticides are toxic and pollute the water in a different mode. Aquatic plants' growth cause de-oxygenation of water and annihilate flora and fauna in a stream, lake and river. Fertilizers enhance the growth of bacteria that are in water and increase the concentration of bacteria to hazardous levels.

Effects of Thermal Water Pollution…

Machinery in the industries are cooled with water from lakes and rivers. This water reaches the river in a heated state. The water decreases the ability of the aquatic system to hold oxygen and raises the growth of warm water species.
Effects of Heavy Metal Water Pollution…
Heavy metals like lead, mercury, iron, cadmium, aluminum and magnesium are present in water sources. If these metals are present in the sediment, these reach the food chain through plants and aquatic animals. This causes heavy metal poisoning in case their level in the water is very high.

Water Pollution Effects on humans…

Waterborne diseases caused by polluted drinking water:
Typhoid
Amoebiasis
Giardiasis
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
Hormonal problems that can disrupt reproductive and developmental processes
Damage to the nervous system
Liver and kidney damage
Damage to the DNA
Exposure to mercury (heavy metal):
Effects of Water Pollution on Animals…
Nutrient pollution (nitrogen, phosphates etc) causes overgrowth of toxic algae eaten by other aquatic animals, and may cause death; nutrient pollution can also cause outbreaks of fish diseases

Effect of Water Pollution on trees and plants…

May disrupt photosynthesis in aquatic plants and thus affecting ecosystems that depend on these plants
Terrestrial and aquatic plants may absorb pollutants from water (as their main nutrient source) and pass them up the food chain to consumer animals and humans
Plants may be killed by too much sodium chloride (ordinary slat) in water
Plants may be killed by mud from construction sites as well as bits of wood and leaves, clay and other similar materials
Plants may be killed by herbicides in water; herbicides are chemicals which are most harmful to plants

REMEDIAL MEASUREMENTS…

When you think of problems in the world today, water pollution isn't one that would normally come up. In fact it is one of the worst problems in the world today. Water pollution, by definition, is the contamination of streams, lakes, underground water, bays, or oceans by any substances harmful to living things. All living things contain it, live in it, and most need it to survive, so water pollution is a big problem, if not the biggest. If severe, the pollution can kill off birds, fish, and any animals that use the water source. In some cases even killing an entire species.

How to Prevent Water Pollution…?

The best way to prevent water pollution is to not throw trash and other harmful chemicals into our water supplies. Here are a few more ways you can prevent water pollution:
·         Wash your car far away from any stormwater drains
·         Don’t throw trash, chemicals or solvents into sewer drains
·         Inspect your septic system every 3-5 years
·         Avoid using pesticides and fertilizers that can run off into water systems
·         Sweep your driveway instead of hosing it down
·         Always pump your waste-holding tanks on your boat
·         Use non-toxic cleaning materials
·         Clean up oil and other liquid spills with kitty litter and sweet them up
·         Don’t wash paint brushes in the sink

AIR POLLUTION…

Air pollution is the accumulation of hazardous substances into the atmosphere that danger human life and other living matter.
What are the sources of air pollution…?
Some of the main contributors to air pollution are:
·         Automobile emissions
·         Tobacco smoke
·         Combustion of coal
·         Acid rain
·         Noise pollution from cars and construction
·         Power plants
·         Manufacturing buildings
·         Large ships
·         Paint fumes
·         Aerosol sprays
·         Wildfires
·         Nuclear weapons


Facts about Air Pollution…

Here are a few facts about air pollution:
Almost 232 million different types of vehicles are driven by U.S. citizens every day, adding greenhouse gases into the air
U.S. vehicle emissions contribute 45% to global warming
The average adult consumes 3,000 gallons of polluted air every day
Vehicle exhaust contributes to 60% of carbon monoxide emissions in the U.S. and up to 95% in large cities
Every year 335,000 Americans die of lung cancer, which is a direct result of air pollution.
How to Prevent Air Pollution…
The number one way to prevent air pollution is to walk or bike more and drive less. This will prevent fossil fuels from polluting the air. Here are some other ways to prevent air pollution:
Carpool or join a ride share with friends and coworkers
Don’t smoke
Keep your car maintenance up-to-date
If you have to drive, do your errands at one time
Don’t buy products that come in aerosol spray cans
Avoid using lighter fluid when barbecuing outside
When you drive accelerate slowly and use cruise control
Always replace your car’s air filter
Use a push or electric lawnmower rather than a gas-powered one
Don’t use harsh chemical cleaners that can emit fumes
Inspect your gas appliances and heaters regularly

LAND POLLUTION…

Land pollution is basically about the contamination and degradation of the land surface and soil of the earth, due to misuse. This contamination is caused by a number of factors. Read more about it in the following paragraphs.
Land Pollutants Comprise: Solid Waste and Soil Pollution

Solid Waste…

Semisolid or solid matter that are created by human or animal activities, and which are disposed because they are hazardous or useless are known as solid waste. Most of the solid wastes, like paper, plastic containers, bottles, cans, and even used cars and electronic goods are not biodegradable, which means they do not get broken down through inorganic or organic processes. Thus, when they accumulate they pose a health threat to people, plus, decaying wastes also attract household pests and result in urban areas becoming unhealthy, dirty, and unsightly places to reside in. Moreover, it also causes damage to terrestrial organisms, while also reducing the uses of the land for other, more useful purposes. Some of the sources of solid waste that cause soil pollution are:

Soil Pollution…

Soil pollution is chiefly caused by chemicals in pesticides, such as poisons that are used to kill agricultural pests like insects and herbicides that are used to get rid of weeds. Hence, soil pollution results from:
Unhealthy methods of soil management.
Harmful practices of irrigation methods.
Land pollution is caused by farms because they allow manure to collect, which leaches into the nearby land areas. Chemicals that are used for purposes like sheep dipping also cause serious pollution as do diesel oil spillages.
What are the Consequences of Land Pollution?
Land or soil pollution can affect wildlife, plants, and humans in a number of ways, such as:
Cause problems in the respiratory system
Cause problems on the skin
Lead to birth defects
Cause various kinds of cancers
The toxic materials that pollute the soil can get into the human body directly by:
Coming into contact with the skin
Being washed into water sources like reservoirs and rivers
Eating fruits and vegetables that have been grown in polluted soil
Breathing in polluted dust or particles

How can Land Pollution be prevented?

People should be educated and made aware about the harmful effects of littering
Items used for domestic purposes ought to be reused or recycled. Personal litter should be disposed properly organic waste matter should be disposed in areas that are far away from residential places. Inorganic matter such as paper, plastic, glass and metals should be reclaimed and then recycled. It has become the need of the hour to protect the earth from the harmful effects of pollution, so that the generations to come will be able to a live a decently healthy life. Every individual will have to take the onus on himself and work towards bettering the environment and keep the earth green and healthy.

NGO’s factors involved to improve environment in Pakistan…

Pakistan Energy and Environment Management Centre…
Pakistan Energy and Environment Management Centre, PEEMAC is a Non Government Organization involved in Energy and Environment Conservation activities in Pakistan. PEEMAC is one of the first NGO's working in these field. PEEMAC's major objective is to raise the awareness level of the people of Pakistan towards the dangers involved in using energy inefficiently and thus endangering the environment. PEEMAC is focusing in involving the youth of Pakistan in its activities. PEEMAC believes that if the youth are motivated sufficiently towards environmental conservation they will practice it and make it a habit. PEEMAC is a non government organization involved in energy and environment conservation activities in Pakistan.

Society for Conservation and Protection of Environment (SCOPE)…

Vision…
"Sustainable development based on clean environment and rich biodiversity leading to sustainable and socio-economically viable human settlements".

Mission…
Following is SCOPE's mission which was developed with the participation of members and staff of SCOPE.
"Protection of Environment at local, national and global level to implement certain provisions of global environment Agenda for the 21st century, in their true spirit and words through networking, advocacy, capacity building, research, community organization, legal actions to achieve self-sustainability. Achieving the mission objectives through non-political, non-religious, non-racial, non ethnic, democratic, transparent, commitment driven approach."


PAKISTAN ENVIRONMENTALISTS ASSOCIATION…

MISSIONS STATEMENT…

Pakistan Environmentalists Association is the national professional body in Pakistan. It is committed to lead, promote, develop and represent the profession of Environment in order to maximize the contribution of Environmentalists to conserve, restore and sustainable development in the Environment of Pakistan.


OBJECTIVES…

1- To promote Environment as an essential component of Environmentalists throughout the country.
2- To guide and support new Environmentalists for the scope of jobs opportunities.
3- To enhance knowledge of already engaged Environmentalists in jobs through Environment programmers.
4- To promote high standards of professional behavior among Environmentalists in order to improve technologies.
5- To provide leadership in the identification, development and implementation of Environmental policies in all sectors of society.
6- To conduct seminars, symposiums, exhibitions and conferences in order to develop interaction between Environmentalists at national and international level.
7- To liaise with Environmental professional organizations and others in order to achieve aforesaid objectives.

Majlis Tahaffaz Maholiat (MTM)…
Vision…
Developed Society

Mission Statement…

To work for environmental protection and to ensure the access of people to health, education & justice without any discrimination of sex, colour, creed or religion. And being a gender conscious civil society organization to work for basic human rights especially for women rights and VAW.  

Objectives…

To take steps for environmental protection
To educate to people about health care, to create awareness about the communicable diseases (like Malaria, TB, HIV/AIDS, etc) and facilitate the local community with first aid in case of emergency, to take harm reduction steps and to provide referral services for very serious cases.
To conduct research work, to analyze the situation regarding basic human rights, basic needs and other related issues.
To create awareness in marginalized sections of community about their rights and to work for elimination of the violence against women.To bridge the gaps between community and Govt. Institutions and to ensure the public – private partnership.

Subh-e-Nau: An Environment and Public Health Concern…
Vision…
To foster healthier and higher standards of living, based on the ideals of sustainable development, while targeting poverty and health considerations to provide a sound socio-economic basis for meaningful change.

Mission Statement…
Our mission is to research, implement and advocate sustainable solutions to outstanding global environmental and public health issues. We firmly believe that any meaningful development must be done in accordance with careful understanding of its impact on the environment and health of all living beings, as we are all connected. Informed by state-of-the-art research, we approach problems by locally implementable, cost-effective, and practically viable solutions.
For health, relief and rehabilitation work, whether involving disability related issues or in the aftermath of calamities, we again formulate need-based, locally adaptable solutions.

National Energy Conservation Centre (ENERCON)…
The World Conservation Union (IUCN-Pakistan)…
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)…
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Pakistan)…
Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (PEPA)…

What is being done to improve environment in Pakistan…?

Poor natural resource management over many years and continuing high population growth have had a negative impact on Pakistan’s environment. Agricultural runoff-caused by ongoing deforestation-and industrial runoff have polluted water supplies, and factory and vehicle emissions have degraded air quality in the urban centers. Similar to other developing countries, Pakistan has focused on achieving self-sufficiency in food production, meeting energy demands, and containing its high rate of population growth rather than on curtailing pollution or other environmental hazards. As a result, “green” concerns have not been the government’s top priority.
Yet, as Pakistan’s cities suffer from the effects of air pollution and unplanned development has caused degradation, environmental issues have become more salient. Safeguarding public health, as well as preserving Pakistan’s natural wonders, has made environmental protection increasingly important. In an attempt to redress the previous inattention to the nation’s mounting environmental problems, in 1992 the government issued its National Conservation Strategy Report (NCSR) outlining Pakistan’s state of environmental health, its sustainable goals, and viable program options for the future with the National Conservation Goals.
The level of air pollution in Pakistan’s two largest cities, Karachi and Lahore, is estimated to be 20 times higher than World Health Organization standards, and continuing to rise. Islamabad, the capital, is perpetually smothered by a thick cloud of smog that hides views of the Margalla Hills that tower over the city’s tree-lined streets.
As industry has expanded, factories have emitted more and more toxic effluents into the air. Also, as in other developing countries, the number of vehicles in Pakistan has swelled in recent years–from 680,000 in 1980 to 3.8 million in 1998. Although the number of motor vehicles (1 per 143 people) in Pakistan is still well below that of the U.S. (1 per 1.3 people), the 1992 National Conservation Strategy Report claims that the average Pakistani vehicle emits 25 times as much carbon dioxide as the average U.S. vehicle, as well as 20 times as many hydrocarbons and more than 3.5 times as many nitrous oxides in grams per kilometer.
With few controls on vehicular emissions and little enforcement, reports show that motor vehicle exhaust accounts for 90% of the pollutants in Pakistan’s air. The government has begun to take notice of the degrading air quality in the capital, which adversely affects the health of some 16 million people. A recent advertisement placed by the government in a newspaper warned, “Take care of your tune-ups before the poison in the air takes care of you.”
Many Pakistani environmentalists say that poor fuel quality is also to blame for the country’s serious air pollution problems. Fuel consumption rose by 188% in Pakistan from 1980 to 1998. An estimated 550 metric tons per year of lead emissions are generated by vehicles in Pakistan burning poor-quality fuel, with the resulting air pollution adding about $500 million per year in related health care costs.

A lack of funding is evident in Pakistan’s environmental protection efforts. The former government cited lack of funds as the reason for delay in establishing the Pakistan Environment Protection Council, an environmental protection watchdog group that the government had agreed to set up several years ago (but only recently established). However, the SDPI has estimated that the government allocates just 0.04% of the total public sector development program budget on the environment, and 70% of the funds for environment are loans from foreign lenders. The SDPI has estimated the staggering cost of environmental neglect in Pakistan as between 3%-5% of GDP, projected to reach 4%-8% by 2010.

PRESENT PROJECTS…

EPA Sindh presently is working on a project “ Vehicular Emissions Control Programme” (VECoP). The aim is initiation of a sustainable campaign for monitoring vehicles that could be classifies as polluting, both in terms of emissions and noise levels. Field monitoring teams will be formed at three cities (Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur) for monitoring the traffic at various pre-selected locations for identifying and penalizing the vehicles emitting smoke from their exhaust and producing noise that seems to be in excess to the premisible limits. Beside field monitoring teams, the Green Squads for Vehicluar Emission Testing Station (VETS) will also be established. Each Green Squad will include a nominee from SEPA (inspector), a field analyst, inspector, and necessary persons from traffic or other law enforcing agencies.