Pollution is a problem that has affected the world for a long time. Although most people may fail to understand the long-term effects of pollution like global warming, its short-term effects are easy to discern. Such effects include diseases or death of both human beings and animals (Houghton, 2010, p.1). Among the many types of pollutants, chemical pollutants form the worst pollutants on the earth. This is mainly because of their adverse effects on the entire environment. Most chemicals result from the day to day activities of man such as farming, manufacturing, washing just to mention but a few.
For instance, Pesticides contain chemical elements that are used in preventing infections by pests either in plants or in animals. Although pesticides are advantageous to farmers, they always pose a threat to water resources. This is because only a small amount of the pesticides that are applied is actually used. The rest of it falls out to the atmosphere and eventually finds its way into water reservoirs as they get washed away by rain water down into lakes and rivers and finally into the sea.
At the same time Industries manufacturing, these pesticides may as well dispose of solid wastes containing pesticide residues which end up being washed by rain water and into the nearest water bodies. In order to avoid the possible effects of pesticide water pollution, it is advisable to use them only when there is a need to do so. Practicing the use of pesticides when there is no rain can be quite helpful in preventing the washing of these chemicals into water bodies (Houghton, 2010, p.1).
Users should be careful when administering these chemicals to ensure that they only apply the recommended amount. Proper disposal of all unused pesticides as well as containers is essential to prevent leaching of the chemicals during the rainy season. Farmers are, as well, encouraged to use organic manure which only requires natural materials to be produced (Singh 1). Crop rotation is also important in preventing chemical runoffs from the farm.
Other chemicals in the form of gases are released into the air thus polluting it. When large volumes of gases are released into the atmosphere, they form a blanket that holds both heat and pollutant gases in the lower atmosphere. When human beings breathe these gases, they can experience lung problems. These include asthma, coughing, choking, or even reduce the protection of the lungs against infections.
Some of these gases include nitrogen oxides that are as a result of burning fuel at high temperatures, carbon monoxide, produced from incomplete combustion, and which reduces the capacity of blood to distribute oxygen in the body, and carbon dioxide which is among the main causes of global warming since it is produced in large volumes. In order to reduce chemical air pollution, it is advisable that automobiles and industries use environmentally friendly fuel.
From the discussion above, environmental pollution has many undesirable effects on the lives of humans and that of animals. It also affects the environment that humans and animals live, and also affects the resources used by humans negatively. It is thus of essence that human beings gain a good understanding of the effects of environmental pollution on life, so that appropriate policy can be developed to reduce these effects.
Each individual person and government should take responsibility for ensuring that the levels of pollution are minimized as much as possible since the negative effects of pollution are alarming. In the event that the levels of pollution are significantly reduced, the world would definitely be a better place since there will be less global warming, which implies less drought and less famine, there will also be less chemical pollution in water bodies, which means that fewer animals living in water will die, and air pollution will also be minimal, which translates to less respiratory complications in human beings.
Reference List
Houghton. J. (2010). Global Pollution and Climate Change. Web.