FACULTY OF EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF SINDH

ASSIGNMENT: DISEASES CAUSED BY POLLUTION

SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

SUBMITTED TO:

ZUBAIR AHMED CHACHAR

SUBMITTED BY: ASIA KAINAT

2K12/BEDES/27

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DISEASES CAUSED BY POLLUTION

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into an environment that causes

instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems

or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or

energy, such as noise, heat, or light. These contaminants can have dire

effects on entire ecosystems, making life more difficult for humans, plants and

animals. Children and the elderly are particularly susceptible to the health

effects from these toxins. In many cases, exposure to pollution has a

cumulative effect on the body.

There are different types of pollution such as Air Pollution, Water Pollution,

Noise Pollution, Land Pollution, Radio Active Pollution, Noise pollution which

are constantly contributing in various chronic diseases.

1. Diseases Caused by Air Pollution

Air pollution consists of solid particles and gases. It has to be mentioned that

although air pollutants get in our bodies through the respiratory tract and

lungs, they could get absorbed in our bloodstream and circulate affecting

various other parts and organs.

The effects of air pollution involve a large variety of illnesses, starting with the

simple irritation of eyes, nose mouth and throat or reduced energy levels,

headache and dizziness, but also involving more serious conditions of which

the most common are:

• Respiratory and lung diseases including:

o Asthma attacks

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o Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease –COPD

o Reduced lung function

o Pulmonary cancer – caused by a series of carcinogen chemicals that

through inhalation

o Mesothelioma – a particular type of lung cancer, usually associated

with exposure to asbestos (it usually occurs 20-30 years after the initial

exposure)

o Pneumonia

o Bronchitis

o Emphysema

• Leukemia – a sort of blood cancer usually associated to exposure of

benzene vapors (through inhalation)

• Birth defects and immune system defects

• Cardiovascular problems, heart diseases and stroke: Second hand smoke

has been shown to increase the incidence of heart diseases, and carbon

monoxide and nitrogen dioxide are also contributors. Air pollution has been

shown to cause heart disease as air pollutants enter into the lungs and

seep into the blood vessels, producing an inflammatory response and

raising heart rate (an increased risk especially due to particulate matter)

• Neurobehavioral disorders - neurological problems and developmental

deficits due to air toxins such as mercury (which is the only volatile metal in

elemental form)

• Liver and other types of cancer – caused by breathing carcinogenic volatile

chemicals

• Premature death

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According to a Cornell University study, air pollution from smoke and various

chemicals kills 3 million people a year!

2. Diseases Caused by Water Pollution

Water pollution can affect us directly or indirectly. We can be subjected to

waterborne diseases directly through consumption of contaminated water or

through bathing in a polluted area. Conversely, we can be affected indirectly

by consuming produce that was irrigated with polluted water or by eating fish

or other animals that have been contaminated.

While the most common water pollution diseases involve poisoning

episodes affecting the digestive system and human infectious diseases, water

pollution may cause a large variety of health diseases including:

• Infectious diseases caused by pathogens (usually microorganisms) from

animal fecal origins, of which the most common occur in developing

countries involving:

o Typhoid

o Giardiasis

o Amoebiasis

o Ascariasis

o Hookworm

• Diseases caused by polluted beach water including:

o Gastroenteritis

o Dhiarrhea Diarrhoeal diseases account for about 3 million deaths

throughout the world and India accounts for approximately a third of

this tragedy

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o Encephalitis

o Stomach cramps and aches

o Vomiting

o Hepatitis

o Respiratory infections

• Liver damage and even cancer (due to DNA damage) – caused by a series

of chemicals (e.g., chlorinated solvents, MTBE)

• Kidney damage caused by a series of chemicals

• Neurological problems - damage of the nervous system – usually due to

the presence of chemicals such as pesticides (i.e., DDT)

• Reproductive and endocrine damage including interrupted sexual

development, inability to breed, degraded immune function, decreased

fertility and increase in some types of cancers – caused by a series of

chemicals including endocrine disruptors – which

• Thyroid system disorders (a common example is exposure through

perchlorate which is a chemical contaminating large water bodies such as

Colorado River)

• Increased water pollution creates breeding grounds for malaria-carrying

mosquitoes killing 1.2-2.7 million people a year

• Minamata Disease

• A series of less serious health effects could be associated by bathing into

contaminated water (i.e, polluted beach water) including:

o Rashes

o Ear aches

o Pink eyes

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According to a Cornell University study, water pollution accounts for 80% of

all infectious diseases! According to the same study, unsanitary living

conditions account for more than 5 million death a year! The Worldwide water

pollution diseases account for 25 million deaths annually.

3. Diseases Caused by Soil Pollution

Heavy metals, pesticides, solvents and other man-made chemicals, lead and

oil spills are some of the common contaminants that lead to soil pollution. Soil

pollution changes the natural environment of the soil, killing beneficial

microorganisms and creating a pathogenic soil environment. Diseases

caused by soil pollution are contracted from direct contact with the

contaminated soil, from inhaling airborne contaminants, from water run-off or

from crops grown in the contaminated soil. While exposure to soil pollutants is

in general less problematic than that to air and water pollution, it may have

serious effects to children who usually play in the ground, being in closer

proximity to potential pollution. Additionally, children may accidentally swallow

soil particles while playing in the ground. Soil pollution may cause a variety of

health problems starting with headaches, nausea, fatigue, skin rash and/or

eye irritation and potentially resulting in more serious conditions, of which, the

most common soil pollution diseases include:

Cancer: Exposure to benzene, chromium, weed killers and pesticides

are carcinogenic, and prolonged benzene exposure may lead to

leukemia. Benzene is a liquid chemical that comes from natural sources

including forest fires and is found in gasoline, crude oil and cigarette

smoke and is used in chemical synthesis, according to the Centers for

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Disease Control and Prevention. Benzene interferes with cellular

function, decreases red blood cell production and compromises the

body's immunity by decreasing white blood cells and antibodies. Long-

term effects of benzene exposure include anemia, irregular menstrual

cycles in women and leukemia as reported by the Department of Health

and Human Services. High levels of benzene exposure are fatal.

Brain and Nerve Damage: Some children exposed to lead-

contaminated soil have experienced brain and nervous system damage,

which has impeded their brain and neuromuscular development.

Nervous system damage is caused especially by Pb in soil and affecting

especially children.

Kidney and Liver Disease: Lead exposure from soil also puts people

at risk for kidney damage. Exposure to soil contaminated with a

combination of mercury and cyclodienes increases the risk of

developing incurable kidney damage. Exposure to PCBs and

cyclodienes may cause liver toxicity as well.

Malaria: In tropical regions where rainfall is heavy and raw sewage or

contaminated water may mix with the soil that people and children come

in direct contact with, malaria outbreaks are common. Malaria is caused

by protozoa that thrive in soil. Rain water helps the protozoa and its

mosquito carriers propagate, resulting in malaria outbreaks.

Other Diseases: Human deforestation activities disturb and diminish

the natural habitat of many disease-carrying animal species, bringing

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them into closer proximity to human and domesticated animal

environments for alternative food sources and shelter. Diseases caused

by bat, rodent and ape droppings that cause soil pollution include the

Ebola virus in the Congo, the Nipah virus in Malaysia and the hantavirus

and West Nile virus in the United States, as related in "The Spread of

New Diseases: The Climate Connection" by science journalist Sonia

Shah. As long as soil pollution exists from chemical irresponsibility and

climactic disturbances caused by humans, humans will remain

vulnerable to diseases caused by soil pollution.

4. Diseases caused by radioactive pollution

Radioactivity is toxic because it forms ions when it reacts with biological

molecules. These ions can form free radicals, which damage proteins,

membranes, and nucleic acids. Radioactivity can damage DNA

(deoxyribonucleic acid) by destroying individual bases (particularly thymine),

by breaking single strands, by breaking double strands, by cross-linking

different DNA strands, and by cross-linking DNA and proteins. Damage to

DNA can lead to cancers, birth defects, and even death.

Others diseases includes The Diseases include blood in cough, Ulcer,

Swelling of bone joints, Cancer, Lung Cancer, Skin Cancer, Bone Cancer,

Eye Problems.

5. Harmful Effects and Diseases caused by Noise Pollution

On Human Being, Animal and Property: Noise has always been with the

human civilization but it was never so obvious, so intense, so varied & so

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pervasive as it is seen in the last of this century. Noise pollution makes men

more irritable. The effect of noise pollution is multifaceted & inter related. The

effects of Noise Pollution on Human Being are as follows:

It decreases the efficiency of a man:- Regarding the impact of noise on

human efficiency there are number of experiments which print out the fact

that human efficiency increases with noise reduction. A study by Sinha &

Sinha in India suggested that reducing industrial booths could improve the

quality of their work. Thus human efficiency is related with noise.

Lack of concentration: - For better quality of work there should be

concentration, Noise causes lack of concentration. In big cities, mostly all the

offices are on main road. The noise of traffic or the loud speakers of different

types of horns divert the attention of the people working in offices.

Fatigue:- Because of Noise Pollution, people cannot concentrate on their

work. Thus they have to give their more time for completing the work and they

feel tiring

Abortion is caused: - There should be cool and calm atmosphere during the

pregnancy. Unpleasant sounds make a lady of irriative nature. Sudden Noise

causes abortion in females.

It causes Blood Pressure:- Noise Pollution causes certain diseases in

human. It attacks on the person’s peace of mind. The noises are recognized

as major contributing factors in accelerating the already existing tensions of

modern living. These tensions result in certain disease like blood pressure or

mental illness etc.

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Temporary or permanent Deafness:- The effect of noise on audition is well

recognized. Mechanics, locomotive drivers, telephone operators etc. All have

their hearing. Impairment as a result of noise at the place of work. Physicist,

physicians & psychologists are of the view that continued exposure to noise

level above. 80 to 100 db is unsafe, loud noise causes temporary or

permanent deafness.

According to a recent research by the World Health Organization, noise

pollution has been found to be one of triggers leading to heart disease. In the

U.K. alone, 101,000 people died of coronary heart disease in 2006. The study

suggests that 3,030 of these heart deaths were caused by chronic noise

exposure. Not just heart disease, the WHO study also suggests that noise

pollution is also the cause of disturbed sleep, tinnitus, and severe irritation

among people.

Research in recent years has shown that exposure to constant noise can

cause an increase of the stress hormones like adrenaline, noradrenalin,

and cortisol in the body. Stress, as we know can cause heart failure, immunity

problems, hypertension, and strokes.

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REFERENCES

[1] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; About Air Toxics,

http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/allabout.html , Date Accessed: 25/3/2012

[2] Air Pollution Diseases, http://www.environmentalpollutioncenters.

org/air/diseases/ , Date Accessed: 25/3/2012

[3] Diseases Caused By Water Pollution, http://www.exhibitingourselves.org

/health-info/diseases-caused-by-water-pollution, Date Posted: 2nd July 2010,

Author: Abi Elfath, Date Accessed: 25/3/2012

[4] Water Pollution Diseases, http://www.environmentalpollutioncenters.org/

water/diseases/, Date Accessed: 27/3/2012

[5] Diseases Caused by Soil Pollution, http://www.gardenguides.com/90493-

diseases-caused-soil-pollution.html, Date Accessed: 27/3/2012

[6] Noise Pollution, http://sharvani-shukla.blogspot.com/2008/01/noise-

pollution.html, Date Posted: 5 Jan 2008

[7] Noise pollution triggers heart disease: WHO Study,

http://www.cardioblog.org/entry/noise-pollution-triggers-heart-disease-who-study/

Date Posted: January 20, 2012

[8] Radioactive Pollution - Biological Effects of Radioactivity,

http://science.jrank.org/pages/5691/Radioactive-Pollution-Biological-effects-

radioactivity.html, Date Accessed: 6/4/2012