Pollution: Our actions and their consequences

By Elizza Miriam Mathew

9.5 billion metric tons of carbon are released into the atmosphere each year just by burning fossil fuels. 14 million tons of plastic end up in the oceans each year. All this damage to the environment, caused by human activity, not only has drastic effects on our planet but it is also found to affect our bodies.

Air pollution particularly has the biggest impact on our health, both short- and long-term exposure to air pollution has been found to increase the chance of developing a stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, aggravated asthma and lower respiratory infections. The World Health Organization (WHO) even found links between air pollution and type 2 diabetes, obesity, systemic inflammation, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. This type of pollution has even been classified as a leading cause for cancer by The International Agency for Research on Cancer. Not only does it give rise to new diseases it is also seen to aggravate existing health conditions.

The shocking part is there are many different types of pollution with various negative effects on our health. Contact with polluted or contaminated water through drinking, skin contact or even consumption (regardless of whether it was accidental), may cause disease or can sometimes even act as poison.

Sound pollution also plays a role in our overall well being. Affecting millions of people on a daily basis, the issue that most commonly arises is Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). Exposure to loud noise, caused due to noise pollution, may end up resulting in high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep disturbances, and stress. Don’t be fooled though, these health problems have been found to be nondiscriminatory, therefore affecting all age groups, especially children.

Many are not feeling the urgency to take action against climate change even though it’s negative impact on animals and our very own Mother Earth is very well known. Therefore, it is essential people are educated on the negative effects this has on our bodies so that they take necessary precautions and we start to work together as humanity to undo our many wrongs.

References

Jambeck, J. R. (n.d.). How Does Water Pollution Affect Human Health? – Svalbarði Polar Iceberg Water. Svalbarði Polar Iceberg Water. Retrieved July 27, 2023, from https://svalbardi.com/blogs/water/pollution-effect

Muegel, T. (2022, July 1). Air Pollution. National Geographic Society. Retrieved July 27, 2023, from https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/air-pollution/#

National Geographic Society. (2023, July 18). Noise Pollution. National Geographic Education. Retrieved July 27, 2023, from https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/noise-pollution/#