Environmental issues: pollution

Environmental issues: pollutions

A pollutant is a substance or energy introduced into the environment that has undesired effects, or adversely affects the usefulness of a resource. 

A pollutant may cause long- or short–term damage by changing the growth rate of plant or animal species, or by interfering with human amenities, comfort, health, or property values. 

Some pollutants are biodegradable and therefore will not persist in the environment in the long term. However, the degradation products of some pollutants are themselves polluting such as the products DDE (Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene) and DDD (Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane) produced from degradation of DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)

Pollutant may be defined as “constituent in the wrong amount at the wrong place or at the wrong time.” According to the Indian Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, 

“A pollutant has been defined as any solid, liquid or gaseous substance present in such concentration as may be or tend to be injurious to the environment”.

Commonly, the term pollutant is applied to non–living , man–made substances and other nuisances and it refers to their being in excess in a particular location. 

For exam­ple, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are extensively used in agriculture to increase crop yield but sometimes, these in higher concentration cause pollution in lakes and rivers promoting algal growth. This adverse effect of pollution is more severe when the pollutants are man-made rather than natural preparation.

In short, the unserviceable or residues of things which the humanity manufactures, uses and throws away, can also be regarded as pollutants.