por The anthropogenic pollution It is the introduction by human beings into the environment of polluting elements that alter its quality, causing a negative effect. Said introduction of contaminants is a consequence of the activities or processes triggered by the human being.
In most cases, anthropogenic contamination has a great impact due to its frequency and magnitude. This makes the natural remediation mechanisms to regain balance insufficient.
The sources of anthropogenic pollution are varied, the main ones being those related to industrial activities, transport and urban activity. The consumption of merchandise is perhaps one of the most important sources of pollution that exists.
Anthropogenic pollution can be chemical, physical and biological, with serious consequences for natural ecosystems and for the human being himself. Among other things, it produces a massive extinction of biodiversity and the deterioration of vital ecosystems for human survival.
The solution lies in a change in the model of human development, which requires a new ethical attitude towards nature and towards ourselves.
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Sources of anthropogenic pollution
All human activity is likely to be a source of anthropogenic contamination, however, there are some activities that are especially impactful.
– Industry
From the first Industrial Revolution in the mid-nineteenth century, the human being began to venture into mass production. Since then, technological development has made it possible to increase production at an industrial level that generates all kinds of waste.
The industry is a source of pollution by generating solid waste, effluents and gases, which contaminate the soil, water and air.
Oil and petrochemical industry
This is one of the most polluting industrial sectors, since oil generates pollution during its extraction, transportation, refining, and use. Together with coal, it forms the so-called fossil fuels that contribute the greatest amount of carbon, heavy metals and other pollutants to the environment.
thermoelectric industry
Coal-burning power plants are one of the main sources of CO2 and atmospheric mercury. CO2 is a potent greenhouse gas responsible for a high percentage of global warming.
On the other hand, mercury is a highly toxic element for living organisms, including humans.
– Mining
Mineral extraction activity is highly polluting, both due to the physical alteration it generates in the landscape and its residues. The processes of excavation and fragmentation of soil and rocks release heavy metals that pass into bodies of water.
Many products that are used to facilitate the extraction of minerals are highly polluting, such as mercury and arsenic in gold mining.
– Transport
The activities of transporting people and goods are based on the burning of fossil fuels, particularly the automotive transit of large cities. A high proportion of the CO2 expelled into the atmosphere originates from automobile exhaust.
– Agriculture and breeding
Modern agriculture and breeding are based on high levels of energy subsidies, with the use of machinery and the application of agrochemicals.
Agriculture
Industrial monocultures such as wheat, cotton, corn, soybeans and others lead to the deforestation of vast natural areas. On the other hand, guaranteeing commercial yield levels requires the application of large amounts of pesticides and fertilizers.
Most of these compounds are washed by runoff waters and end up in bodies of water. The excess of agrochemicals is one of the main causes of eutrophication of bodies of water, causing the death of aquatic fauna.
Breeding
Animal production is another source of anthropogenic contamination, due to the high amount of inputs used and the impact of production itself. The large concentrations of livestock caused by humans are one of the largest sources of methane gas, which is one of the main greenhouse gases.
– Cities, consumption and life habits
Big cities are gigantic sources of solid waste and polluting effluents. The consumption model of modern society generates a very high rate of use and disposal.
In the same way, sewage carries detergents, oils, paints and other substances that are highly toxic to life.
plastics
One of the biggest pollutants of the environment are plastics, whose waste in its largest proportion is produced in large cities. The bags and a wide variety of containers are thrown and end up on the ground and in the water.
Types of anthropogenic pollution
There are various ways of classifying the types of anthropogenic contamination, which can be done by sources of contamination or by the nature of the pollutants. As for this last type we have physical, chemical and biological contamination.
– Physical contamination
This consists of objects, fragments or material particles that are produced as waste from human activities. There are several types of physical contamination:
Solid waste pollution
It is what is commonly known as garbage and includes a whole range of objects. Among these plastic containers, electronic waste, paper, cardboard and solid organic waste.
Contamination by sewage and sediments
The human being also generates liquid waste that is the product of the use of water for industrial and domestic activities. Sewage carries polluting chemical substances in the paper industry, automotive paint shops, paint and lacquer factories, and others.
On the other hand, domestic sewage, the product of washing clothes, floors and belongings, ends up in the environment. In the same way, the water used for personal bathing and evacuating organic waste contains detergents, surfactants and other substances that are harmful to the environment.
Air pollution by material particles
Many industrial and even domestic activities generate small material particles that end up in the air. For example, the application of paints, the sanding of metals or the cutting of wood, as well as the burning of fuels and other materials.
Blast furnaces, the textile industry, car exhausts and thermoelectric plants emit particulate matter into the air. These particles are highly harmful to human health, as they affect wild plants and animals.
noise pollution
Another form of anthropogenic pollution is the noise generated by many human activities. Noise invades both the room and the work environment, causing serious hearing and nervous problems.
In addition, excessive and recurring noises cause serious problems in natural environments. This is because they alter animal behavior patterns and even cause the abandonment of natural areas.
thermal pollution
The excess heat artificially generated by certain human activities is also a polluting factor. The heating of water due to its use as a coolant in certain industrial plants and its reincorporation into the environment produces negative effects.
In the same way, the heat generated by blast furnaces is detrimental in work environments, even taking the appropriate measures.
Light pollution
Artificial light in natural environments produces alterations in animal behavior because it alters the circadian rhythm or biological clock. This affects sleep and wake patterns that affect reproduction and feeding processes.
Electromagnetic pollution
Although it is a recent field of study with little conclusive information, there is some evidence indicating that low intensity electromagnetic waves are harmful. For example, electromagnetic waves generated by telecommunications antennas have a proven negative effect on the reproductive behavior of some bird species.
– Chemical contamination
The introduction of chemical substances into the environment is one of the most harmful forms of pollution that exist. There are several types of chemical contamination:
Industrial and combustion gases
Industries emit a large amount of gases into the atmosphere that, when reacting in it, cause various environmental damage. Among the most alarming are the greenhouse effect and acid rain.
effluents
Many chemical pollutants reach the environment dissolved in industrial and domestic wastewater that is not adequately treated. These untreated waters contaminate surface and underground water bodies, as well as the soil.
heavy metals
Heavy metals are one of the most problematic pollutants due to their persistence in the environment and their high toxicity. The main polluting heavy metals are cadmium, lead, mercury and arsenic.
– Biological contamination
Human beings also generate biological contaminants, from their own waste to those produced in the food industry and in the medical field. Another form of anthropogenic biological contamination is the introduction of species and genetic engineering.
biological waste
The human being produces biological waste naturally, the problem arises from the high human concentrations and the disposal of this waste. On the other hand, medical and research centers, as well as animal production units also generate biological waste.
Introduction of alien species
One factor that causes great environmental impacts, threatening biological diversity, is the introduction of exotic species. When human beings transfer species from their natural ecosystem to another that is foreign to them, they cause an imbalance.
For example, the introduction of exotic fish into rivers for fishing purposes may end up causing the extinction of local species. Likewise, the introduction of the African snail in American lands has caused serious problems for native snails.
genetic engineering
The introduction of genes from other species into cultivated species can lead to their transmission to other organisms. For example, the passage of introduced genes in cabbage species to wild related species has been verified.
Consequences of anthropogenic pollution
Currently it is recognized that the world faces a global environmental crisis caused mainly by anthropogenic pollution.
– Global warming
One of the most alarming consequences of anthropogenic pollution is the increase in global average temperature. It is the so-called global warming that is generating serious climatic imbalances, affecting the security and food of humanity.
Greenhouse effect
Today it is accepted that the fundamental cause of overheating is the increase in the greenhouse effect caused by industrial gases. Among them CO2 and methane…