Causes and Effects of Air Pollution and Water Pollution
Do you ever hear about increasing air and water pollution in news channels and wonder what is it? And why is everyone around you - right from your neighbours to teachers to global leaders - so much concerned about it? Here is the answer for you, specifically the difference between air pollution and water pollution.
The word ‘pollution’ has been heard commonly in our day-to-day life. In that, the most severe ones are air and water pollution as it has adverse effects on human health. Let us discuss some details about the terms air and water pollution before we get into our topic - what is the difference between air pollution and water pollution?
What is Air Pollution?
The presence of harmful substances or particles and certain kinds of gases in the atmosphere which leads to health disorders for living beings is called air pollution. The particles and gases are from vehicles, industries, dust, wood fires.
The latest example that you may have heard of is the burning of stubble in the states of Haryana and Western UP. This has led to very serious problems of air pollution in the region of Delhi.
What is Water Pollution?
Water pollution can be defined as the contamination of water bodies like rivers, lakes and oceans due to human activities. The sources of water pollution are sewage, industrial waste, chemicals, and fertilizers.
The Yamuna river that flows in Delhi is considered to be one of the most polluted in the country. Stench smell, dark colour and foam formation are observed by people living in the vicinity.
Difference between Air Pollution and Water Pollution
Now we will see what is the difference between air pollution and water pollution? based on some characteristics.
The air pollution not only spoils human health, but it can also affect the monuments as well;, one of the examples is the Taj Mahal. The industries which are present around the Agra are responsible for releasing the pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. These pollutants react with water vapor in the atmosphere in the form of Nitric acid and Sulphuric acid. This acid drops on the monument along with rain, which is called acid rain. The marble of the monument is corroded due to this acid rain and this phenomenon is called “marble cancer.”.
Water pollution can lead to a phenomenon of eutrophication. Due to the leaching of water from various sources such as sewage and farms (contaminated with fertilizers), the nutrient content of the water body increases. This leads to the formation of algal bloom on the surface of the water body. The formation of algal bloom hinders the path of sunlight and also reduces dissolved oxygen content available for the animals and plants that may be present thereby killing them.
Ways to Control Water and Air Pollution
We are all aware of the kinds of threats posed by air and water pollution to our existence. Hence it becomes very important to also learn about the methods of coping with this threat.
Ways of controlling air and water pollution are given below:
How to Control air Pollution?
There are many methods of controlling air pollution at various levels. Some of them are as follows:
Burn lesser firecrackers during festivals as they emit harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. People can also switch to using eco-friendly firecrackers
Buy products that are labeled as environment-friendly
Promote usage of public transport over private vehicles. Also, the concept of carpooling should be practiced
Governments and other institutions should provide finances for funding projects that aim at designing and manufacturing environment-friendly products. This will ensure that fewer pollutants are emitted into the environment.
How to Control Water Pollution?
Following methods can be employed for reducing water pollution:
Proper devices and mechanisms should be implemented to store and utilise rainwater at all levels.
Government regulators should inspect and ensure that all the polluting industries have installed wastewater treatment plants.
All the broken and damaged pipes should be repaired or replaced at the earliest by the civic authorities.
Regular awareness programmes should be designed through various channels of connecting with people
International cooperation should be encouraged by signing various protocols and treaties.
To combat pollution cooperation is needed at all levels right from individual to international.
Conclusion
After reading this article, one can conclude that air and water pollution have a very far-reaching impact and affect not just humans but also plants, animals and non-living things negatively. Thus, efforts from all levels are required to curb this menace.
FAQs on Air Pollution vs Water Pollution: What Sets Them Apart?
1. What is the fundamental difference between air pollution and water pollution?
The fundamental difference lies in the medium they affect. Air pollution is the contamination of the Earth's atmosphere with harmful substances, such as sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. Water pollution, on the other hand, is the contamination of water bodies like rivers, lakes, and oceans, typically by substances like sewage, industrial chemicals, and agricultural runoff. While air pollution disperses quickly over large areas, water pollution tends to be more concentrated along waterways.
2. What are some common examples of sources for air and water pollution?
Both types of pollution stem from natural and human activities, but the primary sources differ.
For Air Pollution:
- Emissions from vehicles and industrial factories (e.g., carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides).
- Burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil for electricity generation.
- Natural sources like volcanic eruptions and forest fires.
- Discharge of untreated sewage and industrial effluents into rivers.
- Runoff of pesticides and fertilisers from agricultural fields.
- Accidental oil spills from tankers and offshore rigs.
3. How are air pollution and water pollution connected to each other?
Air and water pollution are interconnected, most notably through the phenomenon of acid rain. Pollutants like sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) released into the air react with water vapour in the atmosphere to form sulphuric and nitric acids. When this falls as acid rain, it contaminates lakes, rivers, and soil, thus turning air pollution into water pollution. Similarly, airborne particulate matter can settle on water surfaces, directly polluting them.
4. How do the environmental impacts of air and water pollution compare?
While both are harmful, their primary impacts differ. Air pollution has direct, widespread effects on a global scale, contributing to issues like the greenhouse effect and ozone layer depletion, and causing respiratory diseases in humans. Water pollution's effects are often more localised but devastating for aquatic ecosystems. It leads to phenomena like eutrophication, creates dead zones in water bodies, and makes water unsafe for consumption, spreading waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid.
5. What is eutrophication and how is it a prime example of water pollution?
Eutrophication is the process where a water body becomes overly enriched with minerals and nutrients, typically from fertiliser runoff and sewage. This enrichment fuels the explosive growth of algae, a phenomenon known as an algal bloom. When this massive amount of algae dies and decomposes, the process consumes a large amount of dissolved oxygen in the water. This oxygen depletion suffocates fish and other aquatic organisms, severely damaging the ecosystem and demonstrating a key impact of water pollution.
6. Can water pollution affect the air we breathe?
Yes, water pollution can indirectly affect air quality. When large bodies of water, like oceans or lakes, are heavily polluted with chemicals and organic waste, certain processes can release harmful gases into the atmosphere. For example, the decomposition of organic matter in polluted, stagnant water can release methane (CH₄), a potent greenhouse gas. Similarly, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from industrial water pollutants can evaporate and enter the atmosphere.
7. Why is controlling industrial discharge important for both air and water quality?
Controlling industrial discharge is crucial because industries are a major source of both pollutants. Industrial smokestacks release particulate matter and harmful gases like sulphur dioxide into the air. At the same time, industrial processes produce liquid waste (effluents) containing heavy metals and toxic chemicals that are often discharged into rivers. Therefore, implementing measures like installing scrubbers in chimneys and establishing effluent treatment plants is essential to protect both the atmosphere and our water resources from industrial contamination.
