Pollution related. Types of environmental pollution. Major harmful substances

Environmental pollution is understood as the ingress of harmful substances into the external space, but this is not a complete definition. Environmental pollution also includes radiation, temperature increase or decrease.

In other words, the global pollution of the environment and the ecological problems of mankind are caused by any material manifestations present in an undesirable place in an undesirable concentration.

Even beneficial substances of natural origin in excess concentration can be harmful. For example, if you eat 250 grams of ordinary table salt in one sitting, death will inevitably occur.

Consider the main types of pollution, their causes and consequences, as well as ways to solve the problem of environmental pollution.

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Objects of environmental pollution

A person and everything that surrounds him is exposed to harmful effects. Most often, the following objects of environmental pollution are highlighted:

• air;
• soil layer;
• water.

Main types of environmental pollution

1. Physical pollution of the environment. It causes a change in the characteristics of the surrounding space. These include thermal, noise or radiation pollution.
2. Chemical. Provides for the ingress of impurities that can change the chemical composition.
3. Biological. Living organisms are considered pollutants.
4. Mechanical pollution of the environment. This refers to pollution.

All pollutants in the most general form can be divided into two groups:

• natural;
• anthropogenic.

Causes of environmental pollution can occasionally be part of natural phenomena. With rare exceptions, natural pollution does not lead to disastrous consequences and is easily neutralized by the forces of nature itself. The remains of dead plants and animals rot, becoming part of the soil. The release of gases or polymetallic ores also does not have a significant destructive effect.

For many thousands of years, even before the appearance of mankind, nature has developed mechanisms that contribute to countering such pollutants and effectively coping with them.

Of course, there are natural contaminants that create serious problems, but this is the exception rather than the rule. For example, the famous Death Valley in Kamchatka, located near the Kikhpinych volcano. The local ecology suffers greatly from it. Hydrogen sulfide emissions periodically occur there, causing environmental pollution. In calm weather, this cloud kills all life.

Death Valley in Kamchatka

But, nevertheless, the main cause of pollution is a person. Most intensively it occurs as a result of human activity. It is called anthropogenic and requires more attention than natural. Most often, the concept of environmental pollution is associated precisely with the anthropogenic factor.

Anthropogenic environmental pollution

Anthropogenic pollution of the environment, which we see today, is often associated with industrial production. The bottom line is that its avalanche-like growth began to occur when a person chose the path of industrial development. Production factors of environmental pollution played a decisive role. Then there was a sharp jump in production and consumption. Human economic activity was inevitably accompanied by undesirable changes not only in its habitat, but also in the entire biosphere.

The intensity of environmental pollution has constantly increased over a number of historical epochs. Initially, people did not even think about the dangers of industrial emissions, but over time, the problem of environmental pollution has acquired impressive dimensions. Only then did we begin to realize the consequences of environmental pollution and think about how to solve these global problems, how to avoid turning our planet into a garbage dump, what chances our descendants have to survive.

Petrochemical complex in Bashkiria

It cannot be argued that a person has been polluting the environment since the advent of industry. The history of environmental pollution goes back tens of thousands of years. This happened in all eras, starting with the primitive communal system. When a person began to cut down forests for building dwellings or plowing, to use an open flame for heating and cooking, then he began to pollute the surrounding space more than any other biological species.

Today, more than ever, the urgency of environmental problems has increased, the main of which is global human pollution.

The main types of environmental pollution associated with human activities

All biological species taken together that cause environmental pollution are not capable of causing such damage to it as is caused by human activity. To understand how a person pollutes the environment, consider the main types of anthropogenic pollutants. It should be borne in mind that some of the main types of environmental pollution are difficult to attribute to a specific category, since they have a complex effect. They are of the following types:

• aerosols;
• inorganic;
• acid rain;
• organic;
• thermal effect;
• radiation;
• photochemical fog;
• noises;
• soil pollutants.

Let's take a closer look at these categories.

Aerosols

Among these types, aerosol is perhaps the most common. Aerosol pollution of the environment and the environmental problems of mankind are caused by production factors. This includes dust, fog and smoke.

The consequences of environmental pollution by aerosols can be deplorable. Aerosols disrupt the functioning of the respiratory system, have a carcinogenic and toxic effect on the human body.

Catastrophic air pollution is produced by metallurgical plants, thermal power plants, and the mining industry. The latter affects the surrounding space at various technological stages. Explosive work results in a significant release of large amounts of dust and carbon monoxide into the air.

Development of the Bisha gold deposit (Eritrea, Northeast Africa)

Rock heaps also cause air pollution. An example is the situation in coal mining areas. There, next to the mines, there are waste heaps, under the surface of which invisible chemical processes and combustion constantly occur, accompanied by the release of harmful substances into the atmosphere.

When coal is burned, thermal power plants pollute the air with sulfur oxides and other impurities present in the fuel.

Another dangerous source of aerosol emissions into the atmosphere is road transport. The number of cars is increasing every year. The principle of their operation is based on the combustion of fuel with the inevitable release of combustion products into the air. If we briefly list the main causes of environmental pollution, then vehicles will be in the first lines of this list.

Everyday life in Beijing

Photochemical fog

This air pollution is more commonly known as smog. It is formed from harmful emissions that have been affected by solar radiation. It provokes chemical pollution of the environment with nitrogen compounds and other harmful impurities.

The resulting compounds adversely affect the respiratory and circulatory systems of the body. Significant air pollution from smog can even cause death.

Caution: increased radiation

Radiation emissions can occur during emergencies at nuclear power plants, during nuclear tests. In addition, small leaks of radioactive substances are possible in the course of research and other work.

Heavy radioactive materials settle into the soil and, together with groundwater, can spread over long distances. Light materials rise up, are carried along with air masses and fall to the earth's surface along with rain or snow.

Radioactive impurities can accumulate in the human body and gradually destroy it, so they are of particular danger.

Inorganic contaminants

Wastes generated during the operation of plants, factories, mines, mines, vehicles are released into the environment, polluting it. Home life is also a source of pollutants. For example, every day, tons of detergents enter the soil through sewers, and then into water bodies, from where they return to us through the water supply.

Arsenic, lead, mercury and other chemical elements contained in household and industrial waste are very likely to enter our bodies. From the soil, they enter the plants that animals and people feed on.

Harmful substances that have not entered the sewer from water bodies can enter the body along with sea or river fish that are eaten.

Some aquatic organisms have the ability to purify water, but due to the toxic effects of pollutants or changes in the pH of the aquatic environment, they can die.

organic contaminants

The main organic pollutant is oil. As you know, it has a biological origin. The history of environmental pollution with oil products began long before the appearance of the first cars. Even before it began to be actively extracted and processed, oil from sources at the bottom of the seas and oceans could get into the water and pollute it. But some types of bacteria are able to quickly absorb and process small oil slicks before they harm marine life and flora.

Oil tanker accidents and leaks during production lead to massive pollution of the water surface. There are numerous examples of such man-made disasters. Oil slicks form on the surface of the water, covering a vast area. Bacteria are not able to cope with this amount of oil.

The largest in terms of environmental pollution is the wreck of the Amoco Cadiz supertanker off the coast of France

This pollutant kills all plants and animals living in the coastal zone. Fish, waterfowl and marine mammals are especially affected. Their bodies are covered with a thin, sticky film, clogging all the pores and holes, disrupting the metabolism. Birds lose their ability to fly because their feathers stick together.

In such cases, nature itself is not able to cope, so people must fight environmental pollution and eliminate the consequences of oil spills themselves. This is a global problem, and the ways to solve it are connected with international cooperation, because no state is able to find ways to cope with it alone.

Soil contaminants

The main soil pollutants are not landfills and industrial wastewater, although they also make a significant “contribution”. The main problem is the development of agriculture. To increase productivity and control pests and weeds, our farmers do not spare their habitat. A huge number of pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers enter the soil. Intensive farming, aimed at quickly maximizing profits, makes the soil poisoned and depleted.

acid rain

Human economic activity has caused the occurrence of the phenomenon of acid rain.

Some harmful substances entering the atmosphere react with moisture and form acids. Because of this, the water that falls in the form of rain has an increased acidity. It can poison the soil and even cause skin burns.

Harmful substances mix with groundwater, eventually entering our body and causing various diseases.

Thermal pollutants

Wastewater can be a pollutant even if it does not contain foreign matter. If the water performed the function of cooling, it returns to the reservoir heated.

Elevated wastewater temperature can slightly increase the temperature in the reservoir. And even a slight increase can upset the balance of the ecosystem and even lead to the death of some biological species.

Consequences of wastewater discharges

The negative impact of noise

Throughout its history, mankind has been surrounded by a variety of sounds. The development of civilization has created noises that can cause serious damage to human health.

Particularly significant harm is caused by the sounds emitted by vehicles. It can interfere with sleep at night, and irritate the nervous system during the day. People who live near railroads or freeways are in a state of constant nightmare. And near airfields, especially those serving supersonic aviation, it can be almost impossible to live.

Discomfort can be created by the noise produced by the equipment of industrial enterprises.

If a person is regularly exposed to loud noises, they are at great risk of premature aging and death.

Pollution control

As strange as it may sound, but pollution and environmental protection are the work of the same hands. Mankind has brought the planet to a state of ecological catastrophe, but only man is able to save it. The main cause of the current state of ecology is various pollution. These problems and ways to solve them are in our hands.

It's all up to us

Therefore, the fight against environmental pollution is our primary task.

Let's look at three ways to combat pollution that help solve the problem:

1. construction of treatment facilities;
2. planting forests, parks and other green spaces;
3. population control and regulation.

In fact, there are many more such methods and methods, but they will not lead to high results if you do not fight the cause. It is necessary not only to deal with cleaning, but also to solve the problem of how to prevent environmental pollution. According to Russian folk wisdom, it is clean not where they sweep, but where they do not litter.

Prevention of environmental pollution is a top priority. To solve the problem and prevent further disfigurement of the planet, it is necessary, for example, to apply financial leverage. Solving the problems of environmental pollution will be more effective if we make it profitable to respect nature, provide tax incentives to enterprises that strictly comply with environmental safety standards. The application of substantial fines to violating enterprises will simplify the solution of the problem of environmental pollution.

The use of more environmentally friendly energy sources is also the prevention of environmental pollution. It is easier to filter wastewater than to clean the reservoir from impurities.

To make the planet clean, to provide comfortable conditions for the existence of mankind - these are priority tasks, and the ways to solve them are known.

Environmental pollution is a global problem of our time, which is regularly discussed in the news and scientific circles. Many international organizations have been created to combat the deterioration of natural conditions. Scientists have long sounded the alarm about the inevitability of an environmental catastrophe in the very near future.

At the moment, much is known about environmental pollution - a large number of scientific papers and books have been written, numerous studies have been carried out. But in solving the problem, mankind has advanced very little. Pollution of nature still remains an important and urgent issue, the postponement of which can be tragic.

History of biosphere pollution

In connection with the intensive industrialization of society, environmental pollution has become especially aggravated in recent decades. However, despite this fact, natural pollution is one of the most ancient problems in human history. Even in the era of primitive life, people began to barbarously destroy forests, exterminate animals and change the landscape of the earth to expand the territory of residence and obtain valuable resources.

Even then, this led to climate change and other environmental problems. The growth of the planet's population and the progress of civilizations was accompanied by increased mining, drainage of water bodies, as well as chemical pollution of the biosphere. The Industrial Revolution marked not only a new era in society, but also a new wave of pollution.

With the development of science and technology, scientists have received tools that make it possible to accurately and thoroughly analyze the ecological state of the planet. Weather reports, monitoring of the chemical composition of air, water and soil, satellite data, as well as smoking pipes everywhere and oil slicks on the water, indicate that the problem is rapidly aggravating with the expansion of the technosphere. No wonder the appearance of man is called the main ecological catastrophe.

Classification of nature pollution

There are several classifications of environmental pollution based on their source, direction, and other factors.

So, the following types of environmental pollution are distinguished:

• Biological - the source of pollution is living organisms, it can occur due to natural causes or as a result of anthropogenic activities.
• Physical - leads to a change in the corresponding characteristics of the environment. Physical pollution includes thermal, radiation, noise and others.
• Chemical - an increase in the content of substances or their penetration into the environment. Leads to a change in the normal chemical composition of resources.
• Mechanical - pollution of the biosphere with garbage.

In fact, one type of pollution may be accompanied by another or several at once.

The gaseous shell of the planet is an integral participant in natural processes, determines the thermal background and climate of the Earth, protects against destructive cosmic radiation, and affects relief formation.

The composition of the atmosphere has changed throughout the historical development of the planet. The current situation is such that part of the volume of the gas envelope is determined by human economic activity. The composition of the air is heterogeneous and differs depending on the geographical location - in industrial areas and large cities, a high level of harmful impurities.

The main sources of chemical pollution of the atmosphere:

• chemical plants;
• enterprises of the fuel and energy complex;
• transport.

These pollutants cause heavy metals such as lead, mercury, chromium, and copper to be present in the atmosphere. They are permanent components of the air in industrial areas.

Modern power plants emit hundreds of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every day, as well as soot, dust and ash.

The increase in the number of cars in settlements has led to an increase in the concentration of a number of harmful gases in the air, which are part of the engine exhaust. Anti-knock additives added to vehicle fuels release large amounts of lead. Cars produce dust and ash, which pollute not only the air, but also the soil, settling on the ground.

The atmosphere is also polluted by very toxic gases emitted by the chemical industry. Wastes from chemical plants, such as nitrogen and sulfur oxides, are the cause of acid rain and are capable of reacting with biospheric components to form other hazardous derivatives.

As a result of human activity, forest fires regularly occur, during which huge amounts of carbon dioxide are released.

Soil is a thin layer of the lithosphere, formed as a result of natural factors, in which most of the exchange processes between living and non-living systems take place.

Due to the extraction of natural resources, mining, the construction of buildings, roads and airfields, large-scale areas of soil are being destroyed.

Irrational human economic activity has caused the degradation of the fertile layer of the earth. Its natural chemical composition changes, mechanical pollution occurs. The intensive development of agriculture leads to significant losses of land. Frequent plowing makes them vulnerable to flooding, salinization and winds, which cause soil erosion.

The abundant use of fertilizers, insecticides, and chemical poisons to kill pests and cleanse weeds leads to the ingress of toxic compounds that are unnatural for it into the soil. As a result of anthropogenic activity, chemical pollution of lands by heavy metals and their derivatives occurs. The main harmful element is lead, as well as its compounds. When processing lead ores, about 30 kilograms of metal is thrown out from each ton. Automobile exhaust containing a large amount of this metal settles in the soil, poisoning the organisms living in it. Drains of liquid waste from mines contaminate the earth with zinc, copper and other metals.

Power plants, radioactive fallout from nuclear explosions, research centers for the study of atomic energy cause radioactive isotopes to enter the soil, which then enter the human body with food.

The reserves of metals concentrated in the bowels of the earth are dissipated as a result of human production activity. Then they concentrate in the topsoil. In ancient times, man used 18 elements from the earth's crust, and today - all known.

Today, the water shell of the earth is much more polluted than one can imagine. Oil slicks and bottles floating on the surface are just what you can see. A significant part of the pollutants is in a dissolved state.

Water damage can occur naturally. As a result of mudflows and floods, magnesium is washed out of the mainland soil, which enters water bodies and harms fish. As a result of chemical transformations, aluminum penetrates into fresh water. But natural pollution is negligible compared to anthropogenic pollution. Through the fault of man, the following fall into the water:

• surface-active compounds;
• pesticides;
• phosphates, nitrates and other salts;
• medicines;
• oil products;
• radioactive isotopes.

The sources of these pollutants are farms, fisheries, oil platforms, power plants, chemical industries, and sewage.

Acid rain, which is also the result of human activity, dissolves the soil, washing away heavy metals.

In addition to chemical pollution of water, there is physical, namely thermal. Most of the water is used in the production of electricity. Thermal stations use it to cool turbines, and the heated waste liquid is drained into reservoirs.

Mechanical deterioration of water quality by household waste in settlements leads to a reduction in the habitats of living beings. Some species are dying.

Polluted water is the main cause of most diseases. As a result of liquid poisoning, many living beings die, the ocean ecosystem suffers, and the normal course of natural processes is disturbed. Pollutants eventually enter the human body.

Pollution control

In order to avoid an ecological catastrophe, the fight against physical pollution must be a top priority. The problem must be solved at the international level, because nature has no state borders. To prevent pollution, it is necessary to impose sanctions on enterprises that emit waste into the environment, to impose large fines for placing garbage in the wrong place. Incentives to comply with environmental safety standards can also be implemented through financial methods. This approach has proven effective in some countries.

A promising direction in the fight against pollution is the use of alternative energy sources. The use of solar panels, hydrogen fuel and other energy-saving technologies will reduce the release of toxic compounds into the atmosphere.

Other pollution control methods include:

• construction of treatment facilities;
• creation of national parks and reserves;
• increase in the number of green spaces;
• population control in third world countries;
• drawing public attention to the problem.

Environmental pollution is a large-scale global problem, which can be solved only with the active participation of everyone who calls the planet Earth their home, otherwise an ecological catastrophe will be inevitable.

Pollution is the introduction of pollutants into the natural environment that cause adverse changes. Pollution can take the form of chemicals or energy such as noise, heat or light. Pollution components can be either foreign substances/energy or natural pollutants.

The main types and causes of environmental pollution:

Air pollution

Coniferous forest after acid rain

Smoke from chimneys, factories, vehicles, or from burning wood and coal makes the air toxic. The effects of air pollution are also obvious. The release of sulfur dioxide and dangerous gases into the atmosphere causes global warming and acid rain, which in turn increase temperatures, causing excessive rainfall or droughts around the world, and making life difficult. We also breathe every polluted particle in the air and as a result, the risk of asthma and lung cancer increases.

Water pollution

It caused the loss of many species of flora and fauna of the Earth. This was due to the fact that industrial wastes discharged into rivers and other water bodies cause an imbalance in the aquatic environment, which leads to serious pollution and death of aquatic animals and plants.

In addition, spraying insecticides, pesticides (such as DDT) on plants pollute the groundwater system. Oil spills in the oceans have caused significant damage to water bodies.

Eutrophication in the Potomac River, USA

Eutrophication is another important cause of water pollution. Occurs due to untreated sewage and fertilizer runoff from the soil into lakes, ponds or rivers, due to which chemicals enter the water and prevent the penetration of sunlight, thereby reducing the amount of oxygen and making the reservoir uninhabitable.

Pollution of water resources harms not only individual aquatic organisms, but the whole, and seriously affects people who depend on them. In some countries of the world, due to water pollution, outbreaks of cholera and diarrhea are observed.

Soil pollution

soil erosion

This type of pollution occurs when harmful chemical elements enter the soil, usually caused by human activities. Insecticides and pesticides absorb nitrogen compounds from the soil, after which it becomes unsuitable for plant growth. Industrial waste, and also adversely affect the soil. Because plants cannot grow as they should, they are unable to hold the soil, resulting in erosion.

Noise pollution

Occurs when unpleasant (loud) sounds from the environment affect a person's hearing and lead to psychological problems, including tension, high blood pressure, hearing loss, etc. It can be caused by industrial equipment, aircraft, cars, etc.

Nuclear pollution

This is a very dangerous type of pollution, it occurs due to failures in the operation of nuclear power plants, improper storage of nuclear waste, accidents, etc. Radioactive contamination can cause cancer, infertility, loss of vision, birth defects; it can make the soil infertile, and also adversely affects the air and water.

light pollution

Light pollution of planet earth

Occurs due to noticeable over-illumination of the area. It is common, as a rule, in large cities, especially from billboards, in gyms or entertainment venues at night. In residential areas, light pollution greatly affects people's lives. It also interferes with astronomical observations by making the stars almost invisible.

Thermal/thermal pollution

Thermal pollution is the degradation of water quality by any process that changes the temperature of the surrounding water. The main cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a refrigerant by power plants and industrial plants. When water used as a refrigerant is returned to the natural environment at a higher temperature, the change in temperature reduces the supply of oxygen and affects the composition. Fish and other organisms adapted to a particular temperature range can be killed by sudden changes in water temperature (or rapid increases or decreases).

Thermal pollution is caused by excess heat in the environment creating unwanted changes over long periods of time. This is due to the huge number of industrial enterprises, deforestation and air pollution. Thermal pollution increases the Earth's temperature, causing drastic climate change and extinction of wildlife species.

Visual pollution

Visual pollution, Philippines

Visual pollution is an aesthetic problem and refers to the effects of pollution that impair the ability to enjoy the outside world. It includes: billboards, open dumps, antennas, electrical wires, buildings, cars, etc.

Overcrowding of the territory with a large number of objects causes visual pollution. Such pollution contributes to distraction, eye fatigue, loss of identity, and so on.

plastic pollution

Plastic pollution, India

Includes the accumulation of plastic products in the environment that have adverse effects on wildlife, animal or human habitats. Plastic products are inexpensive and durable, which has made them very popular among people. However, this material decomposes very slowly. Plastic pollution can adversely affect soil, lakes, rivers, seas and oceans. Living organisms, especially marine animals, become entangled in plastic waste or are affected by chemicals in plastic that cause interruptions in biological function. People are also affected by plastic pollution, causing a hormonal imbalance.

Objects of pollution

The main objects of environmental pollution are such as air (atmosphere), water resources (streams, rivers, lakes, seas, oceans), soil, etc.

Pollutants (sources or subjects of pollution) of the environment

Pollutants are chemical, biological, physical or mechanical elements (or processes) that harm the environment.

They can be harmful both in the short and long term. Pollutants originate from natural resources or are produced by humans.

Many pollutants have a toxic effect on living organisms. Carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide) is an example of a substance that harms humans. This compound is taken up by the body instead of oxygen, causing shortness of breath, headache, dizziness, heart palpitations, and in severe cases can lead to serious poisoning, and even death.

Some pollutants become hazardous when they react with other naturally occurring compounds. Nitrogen and sulfur oxides are released from impurities in fossil fuels during combustion. They react with water vapor in the atmosphere to form acid rain. Acid rain adversely affects aquatic ecosystems and leads to the death of aquatic animals, plants, and other living organisms. Terrestrial ecosystems also suffer from acid rain.

Classification of pollution sources

According to the type of occurrence, environmental pollution is divided into:

Anthropogenic (artificial) pollution

Deforestation

Anthropogenic pollution is the impact on the environment caused by the activities of mankind. The main sources of artificial pollution are:

• industrialization;
• the invention of automobiles;
• the growth of the world's population;
• deforestation: destruction of natural habitats;
• nuclear explosions;
• overexploitation of natural resources;
• construction of buildings, roads, dams;
• the creation of explosive substances that are used during military operations;
• use of fertilizers and pesticides;
• mining.

Natural (natural) pollution

Eruption

Natural pollution is caused and occurs naturally, without human intervention. It can affect the environment for a certain period of time, but it can be regenerated. Sources of natural pollution include:

• volcanic eruptions, with the release of gases, ash and magma;
• forest fires emit smoke and gas impurities;
• sandstorms raise dust and sand;
• decomposition of organic matter, during which gases are released.

Consequences of pollution:

environmental degradation

Left photo: Beijing after the rain. Right photo: smog in Beijing

The environment is the first victim of atmospheric pollution. An increase in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere leads to smog, which can prevent sunlight from reaching the earth's surface. As a result, it becomes much more difficult. Gases such as sulfur dioxide and nitric oxide can cause acid rain. Water pollution in terms of an oil spill can lead to the death of several species of wild animals and plants.

Human health

Lung cancer

Decreased air quality leads to some respiratory problems, including asthma or lung cancer. Chest pain, sore throat, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease can be caused by air pollution. Water pollution can create skin problems, including irritation and rashes. Similarly, noise pollution leads to hearing loss, stress and sleep disturbance.

Global warming

Male, the capital of the Maldives, is one of the cities facing the prospect of being flooded by the ocean in the 21st century.

The release of greenhouse gases, especially CO2, leads to global warming. Every day new industries are created, new cars appear on the roads, and the number of trees is reduced to make room for new homes. All these factors, directly or indirectly, lead to an increase in CO2 in the atmosphere. Rising CO2 is causing the polar ice caps to melt, which raises sea levels and endangers people living near coastal areas.

Ozone layer depletion

The ozone layer is a thin shield high in the sky that prevents ultraviolet rays from reaching the earth. As a result of human activity, chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons are released into the atmosphere, which contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer.

Badlands

Due to the constant use of insecticides and pesticides, the soil can become infertile. Various types of chemicals from industrial waste end up in water, which also affects soil quality.

Protection (protection) of the environment from pollution:

International protection

Many of these are particularly vulnerable as they are subject to human influence in many countries. As a result, some states unite and develop agreements aimed at preventing damage or managing human impact on natural resources. They include agreements that affect the protection of the climate, oceans, rivers and air from pollution. These international environmental treaties are sometimes binding instruments that have legal consequences in case of non-compliance, and in other situations are used as codes of conduct. The most famous include:

• The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), approved in June 1972, provides for the protection of nature for the present generation of people and their descendants.
• The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was signed in May 1992. The main goal of this agreement is "stabilizing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system"
• The Kyoto Protocol provides for the reduction or stabilization of the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere. It was signed in Japan at the end of 1997.

State protection

The discussion of environmental issues often focuses on the level of government, legislation and law enforcement. However, in the broadest sense, the protection of the environment can be seen as the responsibility of the whole people, and not just the government. Decisions that affect the environment will ideally include a wide range of stakeholders, including industrial sites, indigenous groups, representatives of environmental groups and communities. Decision-making processes in the field of environmental protection are constantly evolving and becoming more active in different countries.

Many constitutions recognize the fundamental right to protect the environment. In addition, in various countries there are organizations and institutions dealing with environmental issues.

While protecting the environment is not simply the responsibility of government agencies, most people consider these organizations paramount in creating and maintaining basic standards that protect the environment and the people who interact with it.

How to protect the environment yourself?

Population and technological advances based on fossil fuels have seriously affected our natural environment. Therefore, now we need to do our part to eliminate the consequences of degradation, so that humanity continues to live in an ecologically safe environment.

There are 3 main principles that are still relevant and important more than ever:

• use less;
• reuse;
• recycle.

• Create a compost heap in your garden. This helps to recycle food waste and other biodegradable materials.
• When shopping, use your eco-bags and try to avoid plastic bags as much as possible.
• Plant as many trees as you can.
• Think about how you can reduce the number of trips you make with your car.
• Reduce car emissions by walking or cycling. These are not just great alternatives to driving, but also health benefits.
• Use public transport whenever you can for your daily commute.
• Bottles, paper, waste oil, old batteries and used tires must be properly disposed of; All this causes serious pollution.
• Do not pour chemicals and used oil onto the ground or down drains leading to waterways.
• If possible, recycle selected biodegradable waste, and work to reduce the amount of non-recyclable waste used.
• Reduce the amount of meat you consume or consider a vegetarian diet.

At present, such concepts as ecology, environmental pollution have already firmly entered our consciousness, and we can confidently say that the negative impact on the state of the environment is largely due to anthropogenic (human) activities.

The main sources of environmental pollution are concentrated mainly in cities, where a significant number of industrial facilities are concentrated on a relatively small area. At the same time, the nature of the production impact is complex, i.e. applies to all natural components: water bodies, air basin, soil cover, flora and fauna and, of course, concerns the main culprit of the unfavorable situation - man.

So, the main sources of environmental pollution are:

Energy facilities;

Industrial enterprises: chemical, petrochemical, metallurgical;

Transport.

Energy is the leading sector of the economy, which determines not only the level of development of industrial production, but also the standard of living of people in certain regions and settlements. The bad thing is that in our country the energy industry is mainly based on the use of "dirty" energy sources such as coal and oil, and the situation will not change in the near future. For this reason, energy is one of the "leaders" in terms of contribution to environmental pollution. The combustion of high-ash solid fuels causes emissions of significant amounts of suspended solids, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen. Moreover, if the existing technologies make it possible to effectively clean emissions from solid substances, then the capture of gaseous substances is rather difficult and costly. However, the impact of energy is not limited to atmospheric air; numerous ash dumps are a serious pollutant of water bodies and land resources.

One of the most "dirty" industries in our country is the metallurgical industry, its share in the total emissions in Russia is about 40%. Non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgy enterprises, as the main sources of air pollution, are one of the main suppliers of dust, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, phenol, hydrogen sulfide, and non-ferrous metallurgy, among other things, various metals, including copper, nickel, lead. Ferrous metallurgy is one of the largest water consumers, about 40% of wastewater discharged is highly polluted.

Non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises, among other things, are the most powerful sources of soil pollution, therefore, in settlements where non-ferrous metallurgy facilities are located, elevated concentrations of heavy metals in the soil cover are found.

Oil producing and oil refineries also have a significant negative impact on all components of the environment. Oil industry facilities emit a whole range of pollutants, including sulfur and nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrocarbons, mercaptans and unburned solid particles containing benzo(a)pyrene. Serious harm is caused by accidental oil spills on drilling platforms, as well as main oil pipelines.

Urbanized territories are inextricably linked with such a concept as road transport. The main types of its impact include emissions of pollutants with exhaust gases, as well as the use of large areas for the construction of garages, service stations, utility facilities.

In general, the main sources of environmental pollution include most industrial facilities, as well as the transport complex, without which modern life is impossible. However, it is in our power to take steps to ensure that their impact on the environment, and ultimately our health, is minimal.

Atmospheric pollution is caused by the emission of harmful substances. There are more and more cars on the roads every year, and the exhaust gases produced by cars every day pollute the air. Industry also has a strong negative impact on the atmosphere. Huge amounts of harmful emissions enter the atmosphere every day from plants and factories. The cement, coal, and steel industries pollute the atmosphere the most, which leads to the destruction of the ozone layer, which protects the planet from aggressive ultraviolet rays.

Contamination with radioactive elements

This type of environmental pollution causes the most serious damage. Accidents that occur at nuclear power plants, nuclear waste stored in the earth for decades, the development of nuclear weapons and work in uranium mines affect both human health and pollution of the entire planet.

Soil pollution

Pesticides and harmful additives that are commonly used in agriculture heavily pollute the soil. Waste from agricultural enterprises, which are dumped into the sewers, also has an extremely negative impact on its condition. Deforestation and mining also damage the soil.

Water pollution

Reservoirs are exposed to severe toxic effects due to garbage discharges into rivers. Tons of human waste enter the water every day. In addition, plastic bottles and plastic products, which pose a great danger to fauna, are very harmful to nature. Rivers and other bodies of water in large cities with developed industry are especially affected.

Noise pollution

This type of pollution is specific. Unpleasant, loud, harsh sounds that factories, cars, trains make every day cause noise pollution. Natural phenomena such as volcanic eruptions and hurricanes also cause noise pollution. Because of these processes, people develop headaches and other health problems.

In terms of scale, pollution can be global, regional and local. However, any of them leads humanity to health problems, as well as a reduction in life by about 8-12 years. Unfortunately, every year environmental pollution progresses, and only humanity itself can cope with this problem.