Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment. These harmful materials are called pollutants.

Biology, Ecology, Health, Earth Science, Geography

Loading ...

Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment . These harmful materials are called pollutants . Pollutants can be natural, such as volcanic ash . They can also be created by human activity, such as trash or runoff produced by factories. Pollutants damage the quality of air, water, and land. Many things that are useful to people produce pollution. Cars spew pollutants from their exhaust pipes. Burning coal to create electricity pollutes the air. Industries and homes generate garbage and sewage that can pollute the land and water. Pesticides —chemical poisons used to kill weeds and insects— seep into waterways and harm wildlife . All living things—from one-celled microbes to blue whales—depend on Earth ’s supply of air and water. When these resources are polluted, all forms of life are threatened. Pollution is a global problem. Although urban areas are usually more polluted than the countryside, pollution can spread to remote places where no people live. For example, pesticides and other chemicals have been found in the Antarctic ice sheet . In the middle of the northern Pacific Ocean, a huge collection of microscopic plastic particles forms what is known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch . Air and water currents carry pollution. Ocean currents and migrating fish carry marine pollutants far and wide. Winds can pick up radioactive material accidentally released from a nuclear reactor and scatter it around the world. Smoke from a factory in one country drifts into another country. In the past, visitors to Big Bend National Park in the U.S. state of Texas could see 290 kilometers (180 miles) across the vast landscape . Now, coal-burning power plants in Texas and the neighboring state of Chihuahua, Mexico have spewed so much pollution into the air that visitors to Big Bend can sometimes see only 50 kilometers (30 miles). The three major types of pollution are air pollution , water pollution , and land pollution . Air Pollution Sometimes, air pollution is visible . A person can see dark smoke pour from the exhaust pipes of large trucks or factories, for example. More often, however, air pollution is invisible . Polluted air can be dangerous, even if the pollutants are invisible. It can make people’s eyes burn and make them have difficulty breathing. It can also increase the risk of lung cancer . Sometimes, air pollution kills quickly. In 1984, an accident at a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, released a deadly gas into the air. At least 8,000 people died within days. Hundreds of thou sands more were permanently injured. Natural disasters can also cause air pollution to increase quickly. When volcanoes erupt , they eject volcanic ash and gases into the atmosphere . Volcanic ash can discolor the sky for months. After the eruption of the Indonesian volcano of Krakatoa in 1883, ash darkened the sky around the world. The dimmer sky caused fewer crops to be harvested as far away as Europe and North America. For years, meteorologists tracked what was known as the “equatorial smoke stream .” In fact, this smoke stream was a jet stream , a wind high in Earth’s atmosphere that Krakatoa’s air pollution made visible. Volcanic gases , such as sulfur dioxide , can kill nearby residents and make the soil infertile for years. Mount Vesuvius, a volcano in Italy, famously erupted in 79, killing hundreds of residents of the nearby towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Most victims of Vesuvius were not killed by lava or landslides caused by the eruption. They were choked, or asphyxiated , by deadly volcanic gases. In 1986, a toxic cloud developed over Lake Nyos, Cameroon. Lake Nyos sits in the crater of a volcano. Though the volcano did not erupt, it did eject volcanic gases into the lake. The heated gases passed through the water of the lake and collected as a cloud that descended the slopes of the volcano and into nearby valleys . As the toxic cloud moved across the landscape, it killed birds and other organisms in their natural habitat . This air pollution also killed thousands of cattle and as many as 1,700 people. Most air pollution is not natural, however. It comes from burning fossil fuels —coal, oil , and natural gas . When gasoline is burned to power cars and trucks, it produces carbon monoxide , a colorless, odorless gas. The gas is harmful in high concentrations , or amounts. City traffic produces highly concentrated carbon monoxide. Cars and factories produce other common pollutants, including nitrogen oxide , sulfur dioxide, and hydrocarbons . These chemicals react with sunlight to produce smog , a thick fog or haze of air pollution. The smog is so thick in Linfen, China, that people can seldom see the sun. Smog can be brown or grayish blue, depending on which pollutants are in it. Smog makes breathing difficult, especially for children and older adults. Some cities that suffer from extreme smog issue air pollution warnings. The government of Hong Kong, for example, will warn people not to go outside or engage in strenuous physical activity (such as running or swimming) when smog is very thick.

When air pollutants such as nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide mix with moisture, they change into acids . They then fall back to earth as acid rain . Wind often carries acid rain far from the pollution source. Pollutants produced by factories and power plants in Spain can fall as acid rain in Norway. Acid rain can kill all the trees in a forest . It can also devastate lakes, streams, and other waterways. When lakes become acidic, fish can’t survive . In Sweden, acid rain created thousands of “ dead lakes ,” where fish no longer live. Acid rain also wears away marble and other kinds of stone . It has erased the words on gravestones and damaged many historic buildings and monuments . The Taj Mahal , in Agra, India, was once gleaming white. Years of exposure to acid rain has left it pale. Governments have tried to prevent acid rain by limiting the amount of pollutants released into the air. In Europe and North America, they have had some success, but acid rain remains a major problem in the developing world , especially Asia. Greenhouse gases are another source of air pollution. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane occur naturally in the atmosphere. In fact, they are necessary for life on Earth. They absorb sunlight reflected from Earth, preventing it from escaping into space. By trapping heat in the atmosphere, they keep Earth warm enough for people to live. This is called the greenhouse effect . But human activities such as burning fossil fuels and destroying forests have increased the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This has increased the greenhouse effect, and average temperatures across the globe are rising. The decade that began in the year 2000 was the warmest on record. This increase in worldwide average temperatures, caused in part by human activity, is called global warming . Global warming is causing ice sheets and glaciers to melt. The melting ice is causing sea levels to rise at a rate of two millimeters (0.09 inches) per year. The rising seas will eventually flood low-lying coastal regions . Entire nations, such as the islands of Maldives, are threatened by this climate change . Global warming also contributes to the phenomenon of ocean acidification . Ocean acidification is the process of ocean waters absorbing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Fewer organisms can survive in warmer, less salty waters. The ocean food web is threatened as plants and animals such as coral fail to adapt to more acidic oceans. Scientists have predicted that global warming will cause an increase in severe storms . It will also cause more droughts in some regions and more flooding in others. The change in average temperatures is already shrinking some habitats, the regions where plants and animals naturally live. Polar bears hunt seals from sea ice in the Arctic. The melting ice is forcing polar bears to travel farther to find food , and their numbers are shrinking. People and governments can respond quickly and effectively to reduce air pollution. Chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are a dangerous form of air pollution that governments worked to reduce in the 1980s and 1990s. CFCs are found in gases that cool refrigerators, in foam products, and in aerosol cans . CFCs damage the ozone layer , a region in Earth’s upper atmosphere. The ozone layer protects Earth by absorbing much of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation . When people are exposed to more ultraviolet radiation, they are more likely to develop skin cancer, eye diseases, and other illnesses. In the 1980s, scientists noticed that the ozone layer over Antarctica was thinning. This is often called the “ ozone hole .” No one lives permanently in Antarctica. But Australia, the home of more than 22 million people, lies at the edge of the hole. In the 1990s, the Australian government began an effort to warn people of the dangers of too much sun. Many countries, including the United States, now severely limit the production of CFCs. Water Pollution Some polluted water looks muddy, smells bad, and has garbage floating in it. Some polluted water looks clean, but is filled with harmful chemicals you can’t see or smell. Polluted water is unsafe for drinking and swimming. Some people who drink polluted water are exposed to hazardous chemicals that may make them sick years later. Others consume bacteria and other tiny aquatic organisms that cause disease. The United Nations estimates that 4,000 children die every day from drinking dirty water. Sometimes, polluted water harms people indirectly. They get sick because the fish that live in polluted water are unsafe to eat. They have too many pollutants in their flesh. There are some natural sources of water pollution. Oil and natural gas, for example, can leak into oceans and lakes from natural underground sources. These sites are called petroleum seeps . The world’s largest petroleum seep is the Coal Oil Point Seep, off the coast of the U.S. state of California. The Coal Oil Point Seep releases so much oil that tar balls wash up on nearby beaches . Tar balls are small, sticky pieces of pollution that eventually decompose in the ocean.

Human activity also contributes to water pollution. Chemicals and oils from factories are sometimes dumped or seep into waterways. These chemicals are called runoff. Chemicals in runoff can create a toxic environment for aquatic life. Runoff can also help create a fertile environment for cyanobacteria , also called blue-green algae . Cyanobacteria reproduce rapidly, creating a harmful algal bloom (HAB) . Harmful algal blooms prevent organisms such as plants and fish from living in the ocean. They are associated with “ dead zones ” in the world’s lakes and rivers, places where little life exists below surface water. Mining and drilling can also contribute to water pollution. Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a major contributor to pollution of rivers and streams near coal mines . Acid helps miners remove coal from the surrounding rocks . The acid is washed into streams and rivers, where it reacts with rocks and sand. It releases chemical sulfur from the rocks and sand, creating a river rich in sulfuric acid . Sulfuric acid is toxic to plants, fish, and other aquatic organisms. Sulfuric acid is also toxic to people, making rivers polluted by AMD dangerous sources of water for drinking and hygiene . Oil spills are another source of water pollution. In April 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, causing oil to gush from the ocean floor. In the following months, hundreds of millions of gallons of oil spewed into the gulf waters. The spill produced large plumes of oil under the sea and an oil slick on the surface as large as 24,000 square kilometers (9,100 square miles). The oil slick coated wetlands in the U.S. states of Louisiana and Mississippi, killing marsh plants and aquatic organisms such as crabs and fish. Birds, such as pelicans , became coated in oil and were unable to fly or access food. More than two million animals died as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Buried chemical waste can also pollute water supplies. For many years, people disposed of chemical wastes carelessly, not realizing its dangers. In the 1970s, people living in the Love Canal area in Niagara Falls, New York, suffered from extremely high rates of cancer and birth defects . It was discovered that a chemical waste dump had poisoned the area’s water. In 1978, 800 families living in Love Canal had to a bandon their homes. If not disposed of properly, radioactive waste from nuclear power plants can escape into the environment. Radioactive waste can harm living things and pollute the water. Sewage that has not been properly treated is a common source of water pollution. Many cities around the world have poor sewage systems and sewage treatment plants. Delhi, the capital of India, is home to more than 21 million people. More than half the sewage and other waste produced in the city are dumped into the Yamuna River. This pollution makes the river dangerous to use as a source of water for drinking or hygiene. It also reduces the river’s fishery , resulting in less food for the local community. A major source of water pollution is fertilizer used in agriculture . Fertilizer is material added to soil to make plants grow larger and faster. Fertilizers usually contain large amounts of the elements nitrogen and phosphorus , which help plants grow. Rainwater washes fertilizer into streams and lakes. There, the nitrogen and phosphorus cause cyanobacteria to form harmful algal blooms. Rain washes other pollutants into streams and lakes. It picks up animal waste from cattle ranches. Cars drip oil onto the street, and rain carries it into storm drains , which lead to waterways such as rivers and seas. Rain sometimes washes chemical pesticides off of plants and into streams. Pesticides can also seep into groundwater , the water beneath the surface of the Earth. Heat can pollute water. Power plants, for example, produce a huge amount of heat. Power plants are often located on rivers so they can use the water as a coolant . Cool water circulates through the plant, absorbing heat. The heated water is then returned to the river. Aquatic creatures are sensitive to changes in temperature. Some fish, for example, can only live in cold water. Warmer river temperatures prevent fish eggs from hatching. Warmer river water also contributes to harmful algal blooms. Another type of water pollution is simple garbage. The Citarum River in Indonesia, for example, has so much garbage floating in it that you cannot see the water. Floating trash makes the river difficult to fish in. Aquatic animals such as fish and turtles mistake trash, such as plastic bags, for food. Plastic bags and twine can kill many ocean creatures. Chemical pollutants in trash can also pollute the water, making it toxic for fish and people who use the river as a source of drinking water. The fish that are caught in a polluted river often have high levels of chemical toxins in their flesh. People absorb these toxins as they eat the fish. Garbage also fouls the ocean. Many plastic bottles and other pieces of trash are thrown overboard from boats. The wind blows trash out to sea. Ocean currents carry plastics and other floating trash to certain places on the globe, where it cannot escape. The largest of these areas, called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, is in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean. According to some estimates, this garbage patch is the size of Texas. The trash is a threat to fish and seabirds, which mistake the plastic for food. Many of the plastics are covered with chemical pollutants. Land Pollution Many of the same pollutants that foul the water also harm the land. Mining sometimes leaves the soil contaminated with dangerous chemicals. Pesticides and fertilizers from agricultural fields are blown by the wind. They can harm plants, animals, and sometimes people. Some fruits and vegetables absorb the pesticides that help them grow. When people consume the fruits and vegetables, the pesticides enter their bodies. Some pesticides can cause cancer and other diseases. A pesticide called DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) was once commonly used to kill insects, especially mosquitoes. In many parts of the world, mosquitoes carry a disease called malaria , which kills a million people every year. Swiss chemist Paul Hermann Muller was awarded the Nobel Prize for his understanding of how DDT can control insects and other pests. DDT is responsible for reducing malaria in places such as Taiwan and Sri Lanka. In 1962, American biologist Rachel Carson wrote a book called Silent Spring , which discussed the dangers of DDT. She argued that it could contribute to cancer in humans. She also explained how it was destroying bird eggs, which caused the number of bald eagles, brown pelicans, and ospreys to drop. In 1972, the United States banned the use of DDT. Many other countries also banned it. But DDT didn’t disappear entirely. Today, many governments support the use of DDT because it remains the most effective way to combat malaria. Trash is another form of land pollution. Around the world, paper, cans, glass jars, plastic products, and junked cars and appliances mar the landscape. Litter makes it difficult for plants and other producers in the food web to create nutrients . Animals can die if they mistakenly eat plastic. Garbage often contains dangerous pollutants such as oils, chemicals, and ink. These pollutants can leech into the soil and harm plants, animals, and people. Inefficient garbage collection systems contribute to land pollution. Often, the garbage is picked up and brought to a dump, or landfill . Garbage is buried in landfills. Sometimes, communities produce so much garbage that their landfills are filling up. They are running out of places to dump their trash. A massive landfill near Quezon City, Philippines, was the site of a land pollution tragedy in 2000. Hundreds of people lived on the slopes of the Quezon City landfill. These people made their living from recycling and selling items found in the landfill. However, the landfill was not secure. Heavy rains caused a trash landslide, killing 218 people. Sometimes, landfills are not completely sealed off from the land around them. Pollutants from the landfill leak into the earth in which they are buried. Plants that grow in the earth may be contaminated, and the herbivores that eat the plants also become contaminated. So do the predators that consume the herbivores. This process, where a chemical builds up in each level of the food web, is called bioaccumulation . Pollutants leaked from landfills also leak into local groundwater supplies. There, the aquatic food web (from microscopic algae to fish to predators such as sharks or eagles) can suffer from bioaccumulation of toxic chemicals. Some communities do not have adequate garbage collection systems, and trash lines the side of roads. In other places, garbage washes up on beaches. Kamilo Beach, in the U.S. state of Hawai'i, is littered with plastic bags and bottles carried in by the tide . The trash is dangerous to ocean life and reduces economic activity in the area. Tourism is Hawai'i’s largest industry . Polluted beaches discourage tourists from investing in the area’s hotels, restaurants, and recreational activities. Some cities incinerate , or burn, their garbage. Incinerating trash gets rid of it, but it can release dangerous heavy metals and chemicals into the air. So while trash incinerators can help with the problem of land pollution, they sometimes add to the problem of air pollution. Reducing Pollution Around the world, people and governments are making efforts to combat pollution. Recycling, for instance, is becoming more common. In recycling, trash is processed so its useful materials can be used again. Glass, aluminum cans, and many types of plastic can be melted and reused . Paper can be broken down and turned into new paper. Recycling reduces the amount of garbage that ends up in landfills, incinerators, and waterways. Austria and Switzerland have the highest recycling rates. These nations recycle between 50 and 60 percent of their garbage. The United States recycles about 30 percent of its garbage. Governments can combat pollution by passing laws that limit the amount and types of chemicals factories and agribusinesses are allowed to use. The smoke from coal-burning power plants can be filtered. People and businesses that illegally dump pollutants into the land, water, and air can be fined for millions of dollars. Some government programs, such as the Superfund program in the United States, can force polluters to clean up the sites they polluted. International agreements can also reduce pollution. The Kyoto Protocol , a United Nations agreement to limit the emission of greenhouse gases, has been signed by 191 countries. The United States, the world’s second-largest producer of greenhouse gases, did not sign the agreement. Other countries, such as China, the world’s largest producer of greenhouse gases, have not met their goals. Still, many gains have been made. In 1969, the Cuyahoga River, in the U.S. state of Ohio, was so clogged with oil and trash that it caught on fire. The fire helped spur the Clean Water Act of 1972. This law limited what pollutants could be released into water and set standards for how clean water should be. Today, the Cuyahoga River is much cleaner. Fish have returned to regions of the river where they once could not survive. But even as some rivers are becoming cleaner, others are becoming more polluted. As countries around the world become wealthier, some forms of pollution increase. Countries with growing economies usually need more power plants, which produce more pollutants. Reducing pollution requires environmental, political, and economic leadership. Developed nations must work to reduce and recycle their materials, while developing nations must work to strengthen their economies without destroying the environment. Developed and developing countries must work together toward the common goal of protecting the environment for future use.

How Long Does It Last? Different materials decompose at different rates. How long does it take for these common types of trash to break down?

  • Paper: 2-4 weeks
  • Orange peel: 6 months
  • Milk carton: 5 years
  • Plastic bag: 15 years
  • Tin can: 100 years
  • Plastic bottle: 450 years
  • Glass bottle: 500 years
  • Styrofoam: Never

Indoor Air Pollution The air inside your house can be polluted. Air and carpet cleaners, insect sprays, and cigarettes are all sources of indoor air pollution.

Light Pollution Light pollution is the excess amount of light in the night sky. Light pollution, also called photopollution, is almost always found in urban areas. Light pollution can disrupt ecosystems by confusing the distinction between night and day. Nocturnal animals, those that are active at night, may venture out during the day, while diurnal animals, which are active during daylight hours, may remain active well into the night. Feeding and sleep patterns may be confused. Light pollution also indicates an excess use of energy. The dark-sky movement is a campaign by people to reduce light pollution. This would reduce energy use, allow ecosystems to function more normally, and allow scientists and stargazers to observe the atmosphere.

Noise Pollution Noise pollution is the constant presence of loud, disruptive noises in an area. Usually, noise pollution is caused by construction or nearby transportation facilities, such as airports. Noise pollution is unpleasant, and can be dangerous. Some songbirds, such as robins, are unable to communicate or find food in the presence of heavy noise pollution. The sound waves produced by some noise pollutants can disrupt the sonar used by marine animals to communicate or locate food.

Media Credits

The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.

Illustrators

Educator reviewer, last updated.

October 19, 2023

User Permissions

For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. They will best know the preferred format. When you reach out to them, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource.

If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media.

Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service .

Interactives

Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives.

Related Resources

Air Pollution: Everything You Need to Know

How smog, soot, greenhouse gases, and other top air pollutants are affecting the planet—and your health.

Smoke blows out of two tall industrial stacks

  • Share this page block

What Is Air Pollution?

What causes air pollution, effects of air pollution, air pollution in the united states, air pollution and environmental justice, controlling air pollution, how to help reduce air pollution, how to protect your health.

Air pollution  refers to the release of pollutants into the air—pollutants that are detrimental to human health and the planet as a whole. According to the  World Health Organization (WHO) , each year, indoor and outdoor air pollution is responsible for nearly seven million deaths around the globe. Ninety-nine percent of human beings currently breathe air that exceeds the WHO’s guideline limits for pollutants, with those living in low- and middle-income countries suffering the most. In the United States, the  Clean Air Act , established in 1970, authorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to safeguard public health by regulating the emissions of these harmful air pollutants.

“Most air pollution comes from energy use and production,” says  John Walke , director of the Clean Air team at NRDC. Driving a car on gasoline, heating a home with oil, running a power plant on  fracked gas : In each case, a fossil fuel is burned and harmful chemicals and gases are released into the air.

“We’ve made progress over the last 50 years in improving air quality in the United States, thanks to the Clean Air Act. But climate change will make it harder in the future to meet pollution standards, which are designed to  protect health ,” says Walke.

Air pollution is now the world’s fourth-largest risk factor for early death. According to the 2020  State of Global Air  report —which summarizes the latest scientific understanding of air pollution around the world—4.5 million deaths were linked to outdoor air pollution exposures in 2019, and another 2.2 million deaths were caused by indoor air pollution. The world’s most populous countries, China and India, continue to bear the highest burdens of disease.

“Despite improvements in reducing global average mortality rates from air pollution, this report also serves as a sobering reminder that the climate crisis threatens to worsen air pollution problems significantly,” explains  Vijay Limaye , senior scientist in NRDC’s Science Office. Smog, for instance, is intensified by increased heat, forming when the weather is warmer and there’s more ultraviolet radiation. In addition, climate change increases the production of allergenic air pollutants, including mold (thanks to damp conditions caused by extreme weather and increased flooding) and pollen (due to a longer pollen season). “Climate change–fueled droughts and dry conditions are also setting the stage for dangerous wildfires,” adds Limaye. “ Wildfire smoke can linger for days and pollute the air with particulate matter hundreds of miles downwind.”

The effects of air pollution on the human body vary, depending on the type of pollutant, the length and level of exposure, and other factors, including a person’s individual health risks and the cumulative impacts of multiple pollutants or stressors.

Smog and soot

These are the two most prevalent types of air pollution. Smog (sometimes referred to as ground-level ozone) occurs when emissions from combusting fossil fuels react with sunlight. Soot—a type of  particulate matter —is made up of tiny particles of chemicals, soil, smoke, dust, or allergens that are carried in the air. The sources of smog and soot are similar. “Both come from cars and trucks, factories, power plants, incinerators, engines, generally anything that combusts fossil fuels such as coal, gasoline, or natural gas,” Walke says.

Smog can irritate the eyes and throat and also damage the lungs, especially those of children, senior citizens, and people who work or exercise outdoors. It’s even worse for people who have asthma or allergies; these extra pollutants can intensify their symptoms and trigger asthma attacks. The tiniest airborne particles in soot are especially dangerous because they can penetrate the lungs and bloodstream and worsen bronchitis, lead to heart attacks, and even hasten death. In  2020, a report from Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health showed that COVID-19 mortality rates were higher in areas with more particulate matter pollution than in areas with even slightly less, showing a correlation between the virus’s deadliness and long-term exposure to air pollution. 

These findings also illuminate an important  environmental justice issue . Because highways and polluting facilities have historically been sited in or next to low-income neighborhoods and communities of color, the negative effects of this pollution have been  disproportionately experienced by the people who live in these communities.

Hazardous air pollutants

A number of air pollutants pose severe health risks and can sometimes be fatal, even in small amounts. Almost 200 of them are regulated by law; some of the most common are mercury,  lead , dioxins, and benzene. “These are also most often emitted during gas or coal combustion, incineration, or—in the case of benzene—found in gasoline,” Walke says. Benzene, classified as a carcinogen by the EPA, can cause eye, skin, and lung irritation in the short term and blood disorders in the long term. Dioxins, more typically found in food but also present in small amounts in the air, is another carcinogen that can affect the liver in the short term and harm the immune, nervous, and endocrine systems, as well as reproductive functions.  Mercury  attacks the central nervous system. In large amounts, lead can damage children’s brains and kidneys, and even minimal exposure can affect children’s IQ and ability to learn.

Another category of toxic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), are by-products of traffic exhaust and wildfire smoke. In large amounts, they have been linked to eye and lung irritation, blood and liver issues, and even cancer.  In one study , the children of mothers exposed to PAHs during pregnancy showed slower brain-processing speeds and more pronounced symptoms of ADHD.

Greenhouse gases

While these climate pollutants don’t have the direct or immediate impacts on the human body associated with other air pollutants, like smog or hazardous chemicals, they are still harmful to our health. By trapping the earth’s heat in the atmosphere, greenhouse gases lead to warmer temperatures, which in turn lead to the hallmarks of climate change: rising sea levels, more extreme weather, heat-related deaths, and the increased transmission of infectious diseases. In 2021, carbon dioxide accounted for roughly 79 percent of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions, and methane made up more than 11 percent. “Carbon dioxide comes from combusting fossil fuels, and methane comes from natural and industrial sources, including large amounts that are released during oil and gas drilling,” Walke says. “We emit far larger amounts of carbon dioxide, but methane is significantly more potent, so it’s also very destructive.” 

Another class of greenhouse gases,  hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) , are thousands of times more powerful than carbon dioxide in their ability to trap heat. In October 2016, more than 140 countries signed the Kigali Agreement to reduce the use of these chemicals—which are found in air conditioners and refrigerators—and develop greener alternatives over time. (The United States officially signed onto the  Kigali Agreement in 2022.)

Pollen and mold

Mold and allergens from trees, weeds, and grass are also carried in the air, are exacerbated by climate change, and can be hazardous to health. Though they aren’t regulated, they can be considered a form of air pollution. “When homes, schools, or businesses get water damage, mold can grow and produce allergenic airborne pollutants,” says Kim Knowlton, professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia University and a former NRDC scientist. “ Mold exposure can precipitate asthma attacks  or an allergic response, and some molds can even produce toxins that would be dangerous for anyone to inhale.”

Pollen allergies are worsening  because of climate change . “Lab and field studies are showing that pollen-producing plants—especially ragweed—grow larger and produce more pollen when you increase the amount of carbon dioxide that they grow in,” Knowlton says. “Climate change also extends the pollen production season, and some studies are beginning to suggest that ragweed pollen itself might be becoming a more potent allergen.” If so, more people will suffer runny noses, fevers, itchy eyes, and other symptoms. “And for people with allergies and asthma, pollen peaks can precipitate asthma attacks, which are far more serious and can be life-threatening.”

environmental pollution project work

More than one in three U.S. residents—120 million people—live in counties with unhealthy levels of air pollution, according to the  2023  State of the Air  report by the American Lung Association (ALA). Since the annual report was first published, in 2000, its findings have shown how the Clean Air Act has been able to reduce harmful emissions from transportation, power plants, and manufacturing.

Recent findings, however, reflect how climate change–fueled wildfires and extreme heat are adding to the challenges of protecting public health. The latest report—which focuses on ozone, year-round particle pollution, and short-term particle pollution—also finds that people of color are 61 percent more likely than white people to live in a county with a failing grade in at least one of those categories, and three times more likely to live in a county that fails in all three.

In rankings for each of the three pollution categories covered by the ALA report, California cities occupy the top three slots (i.e., were highest in pollution), despite progress that the Golden State has made in reducing air pollution emissions in the past half century. At the other end of the spectrum, these cities consistently rank among the country’s best for air quality: Burlington, Vermont; Honolulu; and Wilmington, North Carolina. 

No one wants to live next door to an incinerator, oil refinery, port, toxic waste dump, or other polluting site. Yet millions of people around the world do, and this puts them at a much higher risk for respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, neurological damage, cancer, and death. In the United States, people of color are 1.5 times more likely than whites to live in areas with poor air quality, according to the ALA.

Historically, racist zoning policies and discriminatory lending practices known as  redlining  have combined to keep polluting industries and car-choked highways away from white neighborhoods and have turned communities of color—especially low-income and working-class communities of color—into sacrifice zones, where residents are forced to breathe dirty air and suffer the many health problems associated with it. In addition to the increased health risks that come from living in such places, the polluted air can economically harm residents in the form of missed workdays and higher medical costs.

Environmental racism isn't limited to cities and industrial areas. Outdoor laborers, including the estimated three million migrant and seasonal farmworkers in the United States, are among the most vulnerable to air pollution—and they’re also among the least equipped, politically, to pressure employers and lawmakers to affirm their right to breathe clean air.

Recently,  cumulative impact mapping , which uses data on environmental conditions and demographics, has been able to show how some communities are overburdened with layers of issues, like high levels of poverty, unemployment, and pollution. Tools like the  Environmental Justice Screening Method  and the EPA’s  EJScreen  provide evidence of what many environmental justice communities have been explaining for decades: that we need land use and public health reforms to ensure that vulnerable areas are not overburdened and that the people who need resources the most are receiving them.

In the United States, the  Clean Air Act  has been a crucial tool for reducing air pollution since its passage in 1970, although fossil fuel interests aided by industry-friendly lawmakers have frequently attempted to  weaken its many protections. Ensuring that this bedrock environmental law remains intact and properly enforced will always be key to maintaining and improving our air quality.

But the best, most effective way to control air pollution is to speed up our transition to cleaner fuels and industrial processes. By switching over to renewable energy sources (such as wind and solar power), maximizing fuel efficiency in our vehicles, and replacing more and more of our gasoline-powered cars and trucks with electric versions, we'll be limiting air pollution at its source while also curbing the global warming that heightens so many of its worst health impacts.

And what about the economic costs of controlling air pollution? According to a report on the Clean Air Act commissioned by NRDC, the annual  benefits of cleaner air  are up to 32 times greater than the cost of clean air regulations. Those benefits include up to 370,000 avoided premature deaths, 189,000 fewer hospital admissions for cardiac and respiratory illnesses, and net economic benefits of up to $3.8 trillion for the U.S. economy every year.

“The less gasoline we burn, the better we’re doing to reduce air pollution and the harmful effects of climate change,” Walke explains. “Make good choices about transportation. When you can, ride a bike, walk, or take public transportation. For driving, choose a car that gets better miles per gallon of gas or  buy an electric car .” You can also investigate your power provider options—you may be able to request that your electricity be supplied by wind or solar. Buying your food locally cuts down on the fossil fuels burned in trucking or flying food in from across the world. And most important: “Support leaders who push for clean air and water and responsible steps on climate change,” Walke says.

  • “When you see in the news or hear on the weather report that pollution levels are high, it may be useful to limit the time when children go outside or you go for a jog,” Walke says. Generally, ozone levels tend to be lower in the morning.
  • If you exercise outside, stay as far as you can from heavily trafficked roads. Then shower and wash your clothes to remove fine particles.
  • The air may look clear, but that doesn’t mean it’s pollution free. Utilize tools like the EPA’s air pollution monitor,  AirNow , to get the latest conditions. If the air quality is bad, stay inside with the windows closed.
  • If you live or work in an area that’s prone to wildfires,  stay away from the harmful smoke  as much as you’re able. Consider keeping a small stock of masks to wear when conditions are poor. The most ideal masks for smoke particles will be labelled “NIOSH” (which stands for National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) and have either “N95” or “P100” printed on it.
  • If you’re using an air conditioner while outdoor pollution conditions are bad, use the recirculating setting to limit the amount of polluted air that gets inside. 

This story was originally published on November 1, 2016, and has been updated with new information and links.

This NRDC.org story is available for online republication by news media outlets or nonprofits under these conditions: The writer(s) must be credited with a byline; you must note prominently that the story was originally published by NRDC.org and link to the original; the story cannot be edited (beyond simple things such as grammar); you can’t resell the story in any form or grant republishing rights to other outlets; you can’t republish our material wholesale or automatically—you need to select stories individually; you can’t republish the photos or graphics on our site without specific permission; you should drop us a note to let us know when you’ve used one of our stories.

Related Stories

A city skyline is obscured by thick smog

The Particulars of PM 2.5

An aerial view of floodwaters overtaking a cluster of buildings

What Are the Effects of Climate Change?

Two people walk through a thick haze on a city street

Fossil Fuel Air Pollution Kills One in Five People

When you sign up, you’ll become a member of NRDC’s Activist Network. We will keep you informed with the latest alerts and progress reports.

8 inspiring innovations that are helping to fight plastic pollution 

Every year, eight million tonnes of plastic pollution ends up drifting or sinking in the ocean.

Every year, eight million tonnes of plastic pollution ends up drifting or sinking in the ocean. Image:  TONTOTON

.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo{-webkit-transition:all 0.15s ease-out;transition:all 0.15s ease-out;cursor:pointer;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;outline:none;color:inherit;}.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo:hover,.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo[data-hover]{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo:focus,.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo[data-focus]{box-shadow:0 0 0 3px rgba(168,203,251,0.5);} Poonam Watine

A hand holding a looking glass by a lake

.chakra .wef-1nk5u5d{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;color:#2846F8;font-size:1.25rem;}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-1nk5u5d{font-size:1.125rem;}} Get involved .chakra .wef-9dduvl{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;font-size:1.25rem;}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-9dduvl{font-size:1.125rem;}} with our crowdsourced digital platform to deliver impact at scale

Listen to the article

  • Plastic pollution is a global problem, threatening both the health of humans and ecosystems all over the world.
  • In June 2021, the Global Plastic Action Partnership and UpLink launched the Global Plastic Innovation Network (GPIN).
  • The initiative aims to source innovative solutions to help stem the devastating flow of plastic pollution.

Plastic waste and pollution are now threatening the health and well-being of humans and ecosystems the world over. Every year, out of an unimaginable 300 million tonnes of plastic produced, half is made into single-use items: takeaway cups, food wrappers, grocery bags and more. And, every year, another eight million tonnes of this plastic ends up drifting or sinking in the ocean, adding to what’s already there and taking decades to break down. And the figure isn’t going down – if we do not take action, by 2025 we can expect this number to increase to 17 million tonnes per year.

Through the Global Plastic Innovation Network (GPIN), we are building a community of high impact innovators that can help tackle pollution at the national and global level. Dealing with plastic pollution demands creativity – from re-designing packaging and delivery models to implementing new recycling technologies that help address waste production and management.

To discover innovators around the world, the Global Plastic Action Partnership collaborated with UpLink to launch GPIN, aiming to build a community of innovators working to eradicate plastic pollution. This week, eight new innovators are joining the network that is paving the way to tackle plastic pollution. They will receive support through visibility on social media and leveraging the network of the Global Plastic Action Partnership to scale impact.

Innovations that are fighting plastic pollution

Learn more about the eight innovators that are making an impact on the ground to fight plastic pollution:

Siklus is reinventing the future of retail in Indonesia by delivering refills of everyday needs to people's doors - without plastic waste. They offer an alternative by replacing low value plastic with refill stations, allowing consumers to buy household products in any quantity without plastic packaging.

gCycle is tackling sustainability in the nappy industry, which contributes to polluted landfills and waterways. The solution brings the circular economy to nappies and regenerates natural systems. The newest invention is the world’s first patented fully compostable and disposable nappy.

Plastic Fischer have developed a low-tech plastic collection systems for rivers and have already deployed several systems in the Citarum River in Bali. Thanks to their low-tech system, their solution is designed to be easily scaled around the world.

Diwama provides a hardware and software solution to waste-sorting facilities. The technology uses AI-based image recognition software that automates waste analysis, which can be used to optimize waste management.

RiverRecycle offers disruptive methods to alter waste management systems. The solution seeks to stem the tide of plastic pollution in rivers by collecting and recycling plastic waste and floating debris while providing a livelihood for local communities.

Waste Bazaar is a clean-tech providing waste collection and recycling services in Nigeria. They have developed a mobile-phone app that uses geolocation functionalities to connect users to the nearest recycling station, where recyclable waste can be exchanged for “green credits”.

Wasser 3.0 have developed a solution that is quick, efficient and cost-effective to remove microplastic and micropollutants from different types of water. The solution uses agglomeration fixation for microplastics and chelation for inorganic compounds.

TONTOTON is building a system in which the communities play a key role in cleaning their own environment while earning a livelihood through a certified plastic credit system. They work closely and empower local waste pickers to address plastic pollution in Vietnam and Cambodia.

environmental pollution project work

The Global Plastic Innovation Network is supported by Government funding from the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Global Affairs Canada.

Don't miss any update on this topic

Create a free account and access your personalized content collection with our latest publications and analyses.

License and Republishing

World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

The Agenda .chakra .wef-n7bacu{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;font-weight:400;} Weekly

A weekly update of the most important issues driving the global agenda

Scarlett ibis at Caroni Swamp, Trinidad and Tobago.

Small solutions, big impacts: 5 community-based projects tackling climate change

Facebook Twitter Print Email

There are thousands of small-scale, community driven initiatives making a huge difference in people’s lives and contributing to efforts to curb global warming.

In early April, 29 countries pledged more than $5 billion to the UN-backed Global Environment Facility ( GEF ). The Fund said this was “record support, providing a major boost to international efforts to protect biodiversity and curb threats to climate change, plastics and toxic chemicals ”.

But why such a major boost? Well, the GEF is a multilateral fund that serves as a financial mechanism for several environmental conventions including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

It has its own Small Grants Program (SGP) which grants of up to $50,000 directly to local communities including indigenous peoples, community-based organizations and other non-governmental groups investing in projects related to healing our planet.

The initiative is implemented in 127 countries by the UN Development Program ( UNDP ) which provides technical support to these selected local projects that conserve and restore the environment while enhancing people’s wellbeing and livelihoods.

Here at UN News, we want to highlight just five of the over 25,000 projects implemented since 1992, the year the GEF started working. Though the Fund’s projects span the globe, this list features a few initiatives currently improving the future of humankind and wildlife in Latin-America and the Caribbean.

 1. Indigenous women solar engineers bringing light to rural Belize

The three Mayan solar engineers who are bringing electricity to rural villages in Belize.

For people living in cities is sometimes hard to believe that in 2022 there are still communities that don’t have electricity, but more than 500 million people worldwide don’t have access to this kind of service that many consider ‘basic’.

This is the reality for people in the District of Toledo, in Belize, where several rural villages lie far away from the national electricity grid making it hard – and costly – to electrify their communities.

However, thanks to a partnership funded by the GEF’s Small Grants Program (SGP), three Mayan women solar engineers are installing solar energy systems and contributing to sustainable development in small indigenous communities in Southern Belize.

Florentina Choco, Miriam Choc and Cristina Choc, were trained by the Barefoot College in India to build and repair small household solar systems as part of a South-South cooperation exchange (Countries from the Global South sharing technical knowledge with their counterparts, without a developed country involved).

“ These women are shattering the glass ceiling! They have installed solar systems to four indigenous communities impacting over 1000 residents,” says Leonel Requena, SGP Belize National Coordinator.

In 2021, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, these solar engineers, along with national authorities and partners installed these solar energy systems to two of Belize’s most remote communities.

With the work in just one of these villages, Graham Creek , they powered 25 homes benefiting over 150 residents, as well as a primary school with 30 children.

The best of all, UNDP estimates they have helped avoid 6.5 tonnes of carbon emissions.

“Women are outstanding leaders in Belize driving the sustainable development agenda fostering harmony between nature and people for the benefit of both,” adds Mr. Requena.

2. Turning Barbados into a champion of Hawksbill turtles’ conservation

Sea turtle slowly swiming in blue water through sunlight.

Did you know that extreme temperatures during heatwaves fuelled by climate change are literally cooking baby turtles in their nest ?

Hawksbill sea turtles are classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as critically endangered as their population is decreasing around the world.

For ages, they have been hunted for their eggs and meat and now they are also at risk from coastal development and our changing climate, among other threats.

But a small grant 20 years ago turned into a big opportunity for this species to thrive in the Caribbean Island of Barbados.

The Barbados Sea Turtle Project , based at the University of the West Indies’ Campus, is the home of the regional Marine Turtle Tagging Centre and the wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network.

Tagging turtles helps scientists and conservationists to track their movements, calculate their growth rates, survival and reproductive output.

Barbados is currently home to the second-largest Hawksbill turtle nesting population in the wider Caribbean, with up to 500 females nesting per year. Turtle nesting occurs on most of the beaches around the island, which, like many in the region, is heavily developed with tourism infrastructure.

The Barbados Sea Turtle Project tags these creatures, measures them and archives and analyses the data for over 30 coordinated projects in the region. These research projects inform their conservation activities.

Each August when the baby turtles hatch, the project runners are on call seven days a week to respond to emergencies that might include hatchlings wandering off in the wrong direction or preparing for swells that can wash away nests during hurricane season.

The project runners also help communities promote ecotourism based on best practices, which provides a source of income for local communities.

Barbados is now well known for the success of its sea turtle conservation activities. The degree to which the Hawksbill population has recovered thus far allows trainees to work with large numbers of turtles and experience the challenges posed by extensive coastal development.

The widely renowned project recently received a new small grant from the GEF of $46,310.

“Thanks to this grant [this project has] been able to offer persons from other sea turtle projects in the region the opportunity to be trained alongside BSTP volunteers in a South-to-South Exchange… The ongoing work of the Project is integral to the conservation and protection of threatened and endangered sea turtles, their terrestrial and marine habitats,” said Karen Harper, Programme Assistant of SGP in Barbados.

3. Helping Venezuelan indigenous families mitigate the degradation of the Amazon Forest

Indigenous displaced families in Venezuela are learning to restore native forests while using their products to improve their livelihoods.

Puerto Ayacucho is the capital and largest city of the State of Amazonas in the south of Venezuela, its inhabitants include a number of local indigenous tribes, including the Yanomami, the Panare, the Bari, Piaroa and Guajibo (also known as Jibis).

Many of these populations have been displaced from their lands due to the socioeconomic crisis in the country, as well as the presence of armed groups and illegal mining activities.

The project Amazonas Originaria is currently training a group of indigenous displaced families to sustainably use and care for the tropical forests in the vicinity of Puerto Ayacucho. They are learning how to manage crops of cocoa, cupuaçu, manaca and túpiro (all amazon native plants) as well as how to transform their fruits into pulp, chocolates, baskets and other products.

“This project, in particular, is interesting and inspiring, as it is led by women… it supports the fight against climate change, since its purpose is to conserve the Amazon Forest as the main carbon sink in southern Venezuela, working hand in hand with native communities, valuing their traditions and protecting their ancestral habitat,” explains national SGP coordinator Alexis Bermúdez.

According to the UN Environment Programme, or UNEP , in the Amazon, the world’s largest remaining tropical rainforest, deforestation is reducing carbon stocks and altering the regional climate. The effects of climate change, forest degradation and more forest fires could result in 60 per cent of the Amazon rainforest disappearing by 2050.

The SGP-supported initiative not only trains members of the community to make Amazon-derived products and ecological packaging helping them to diversify their livelihoods, but at the same time it works to restore parts of the degraded tropical forest by re-planting native trees and other species.

“When families pass on this knowledge, we make indigenous communities gain the necessary strength and confidence to face the conservation of their culture and their environment, organize the community for the production and marketing of their products in more select markets and contribute directly to creating a sustainable economy,” Kenia Martinez from Amazonas Originaria notes.

4. Exchanging ideas to make tourism more eco-friendly and sustainable

Leaders of community tourism in Mexico, Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica got together to exchange good practices.

Clearly, climate change and environmental degradation can´t be tackled by a single community, instead, unity is strength when we talk about exchanging ideas that have already proven successful.

The project Dialogue of Latin American Knowledge around Community Tourism has brought together community tourism ventures from Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Mexico to exchange experiences and good practices.

Tourism is the backbone of some economies and the source of livelihood for many people, especially those living in developing countries, but if mismanaged, it often puts pressure on natural resources through overconsumption, induces stress on local land use, as well as increases pollution and natural habitat loss.

Community tourism, on the other hand, is an economic alternative that allows local communities to generate complementary income to their main productive activities and at the same time protect and value the natural and cultural wealth of their territories.

“Alone we go faster, but together we go further,” Beatriz Schmitt, SGP Panama National Coordinator highlights.

The SGP-supported dialogues consisted of virtual trainings and good practices exchanges with 23 rural organizations focusing on local development, collaborative working networks, marketing, institutional perspective and biosafety protocols.

At the end of the virtual training, participants visited community tourism experiences in Costa Rica where the programme has been promoting rural tourism for 20 years and has established a robust institutional framework.

“Community tourism is a local strategy that brings income to rural communities. This project is important because tourism is not approached only as a business but instead, it is derived from experiences of land conservation where these communities live,” Viviana Rodriguez, SGP Programme Assistant in Panama tells UN News.

She adds that by conserving these areas for tourism and reducing other activities such as large-scale agriculture, small communities are also contributing to the fight against climate change.

5. Saving the water-rich Colombian Paramos, with a gender twist

Páramo is a type of alpine moorland—cold, wet and windy—concentrated in the northern Andes above the treeline from Venezuela through Northern Peru.

Colombia's paramos, tundra ecosystems in the Andes mountains that are above the forest line but below the snowline, occupy just 1.7 per cent of the national territory, yet they produce 85 per cent of its drinking water.

Guardianas de los Páramos  (Paramos Women Guardians) is an Alliance between the GEF Small Grants Program and two other organizations that are supporting a variety of community projects focused on conservation and climate change adaptation in the Paramos Pisba and TotaBijagual-Mamapacha, about 280 km to the northeast of Bogotá.

The alliance puts special emphasis on women’s participation since historically, the intervention of women in environmental management has been diminished because of discrimination and inequitable access to resources.

A total of 37 projects were selected benefiting 2,400 families who had been working since 2020 to restore native plants, thus strengthening biological corridors and maintaining protected areas.

The initiatives also include aqueduct adaptation, as well as the implementation of homemade agroecological gardens to reduce the use of traditional productive systems that are harmful to the environment.

“It is necessary to implement actions aimed at controlling or reducing pressures on the paramo and to mitigate negative actions by extractive activities in the area, establishing conservation areas and measures to reduce risks associated with climate change”, says Catalina Avella, the alliance field coordinator.

Paramos are a unique Andean ecosystem, only found in high mountains of the north of South America, they are strategic not only due to their plant and animal biodiversity but also of their ecosystem services, including carbon sequestrations in the soil and water regulation.

The increase in temperatures and changes in rain patterns due to climate change poses a threat to these ecosystems, as well as mining and infrastructure projects.

Young climate activists take part in demonstrations at the COP26 Climate Conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

Great projects, right? So, how can you get involved?

If you have a project related to climate change mitigation, reversing land degradation, sustainable forest management, or protecting biodiversity, visit the Small Grants Program website where you can find out how to apply depending on your country.

SGP grants are made directly to community-based organizations and non-governmental organizations in recognition of the key role they play as a resource and constituency for environment and development concerns. The maximum grant amount per project is $50,000 but averages around $25,000.

  • climate change
  • climate action
  • development
  • Ways to Give
  • Contact an Expert
  • Explore WRI Perspectives

Filter Your Site Experience by Topic

Applying the filters below will filter all articles, data, insights and projects by the topic area you select.

  • All Topics Remove filter
  • Climate filter site by Climate
  • Cities filter site by Cities
  • Energy filter site by Energy
  • Food filter site by Food
  • Forests filter site by Forests
  • Freshwater filter site by Freshwater
  • Ocean filter site by Ocean
  • Business filter site by Business
  • Economics filter site by Economics
  • Finance filter site by Finance
  • Equity & Governance filter site by Equity & Governance

Search WRI.org

Not sure where to find something? Search all of the site's content.

A Community Action Toolkit: A Roadmap for Using Environmental Rights to Fight Pollution

environmental pollution project work

This Guidebook is part of The Access Initiative (TAI) within Environmental Rights , Equity & Governance , Air Quality , and Freshwater . Reach out to Elizabeth Moses for more information.

  • Elizabeth Moses

Pollution is the leading cause of disease, disability and premature death around the world. But its impacts are not evenly distributed. Poor and marginalized communities often bear the brunt of the environmental, health, and socioeconomic impacts, especially in middle- and low-income countries. Far removed from powerful decision-makers, these communities face multiple barriers in their efforts to fight pollution. Many are unaware of their rights to access pollution information or participate in policymaking decisions, and often lack the advocacy skills needed to form strategic partnerships and effectively engage government officials.

Access to information, public participation and justice are environmental rights that not only are fundamental to good environmental governance, but also offer an important tool for improving the development, implementation and enforcement of pollution laws. Strategically applying these rights can enable civil society and local communities to evaluate the environmental and social justice aspects of pollution, demand better compliance with laws and help build a pollution accountability movement.

Developed in partnership with more than a dozen civil society organizations across six countries, this toolkit offers practical guidance on how to use environmental rights to fight air, water and solid waste pollution. Designed to support civil society, local community activities and those concerned about pollution, the toolkit enables everyone, everywhere to conduct policy research, collect and use pollution information in decision-making processes, form coalitions and develop advocacy campaigns. Its eight modules feature important concepts, research indicators, worksheets and templates, which can be modified to fit a country’s context and downloaded to complete as a workbook.

From Thailand to Morocco to Jamaica, civil society organizations and local communities have already used this toolkit to strengthen their right to a clean, healthy and safe environment. In Indonesia, for example, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry passed a new List of Public Information regulation that required over 111 documents, maps, and reports to be made proactively available. And in Morocco, there is growing civil society engagement with government officials over a newly passed Right to Information law. Communities around the world can follow in their footsteps and use this toolkit to protect lives, livelihoods and the environment from pollution.

Key Findings

  • Poor and marginalized communities do not have enough support or resources to address the health, environmental and socioeconomic impacts of industrial pollution. They often lack the political clout to demand change, despite bearing the brunt of the impacts. This environmental injustice often causes extensive human rights violations.
  • The right to information and public participation provide local communities and civil society with powerful tools they can use to ensure compliance and enforcement of pollution control laws and regulations and hold government and private companies accountable.
  • This toolkit provides a series of eight modules, filled with important concepts, research indicators, worksheets and templates, which can be modified to fit a country’s context. These modules build the skills and knowledge needed to wage pollution accountability advocacy campaigns.
  • The methodology was built from practical experience and expertise from over five years of campaigning with local community activists, environmental defenders and civil society partners in the STRIPE project. It was led by World Resources Institute, as secretariat of The Access Initiative, and civil society experts in Indonesia, Thailand, Mongolia, Jamaica, Morocco and Tunisia.
  • Evidence-based advocacy requires that community members and civil society partners work together to understand the needs of local communities and the legal standards for controlling pollution, as well as to identify which actors to target and the best forums for participation and accountability. Research into the gaps in policy and practice can provide critical evidence in campaigns.
  • A well-informed and engaged community can help identify bad actors, document pollution hot spots, illuminate cumulative impacts and provide political momentum and resources for enforcement of environmental laws and regulations. Empowered local communities can contribute deep historical knowledge and new ideas that can help reduce conflict and build productive relationships with government and private sector actors to address pollution impacts.

Executive Summary

Pollution is a leading cause of death and disease all over the world. But the impacts of pollution are not evenly distributed. Poor and marginalized communities bear the brunt of the environmental, health and socioeconomic impacts, especially in middle- and low-income countries. Children are especially vulnerable.

Contaminated air, water and land limits the quality of life and livelihood opportunities of poor and marginalized communities, which often face multiple barriers to addressing the problem. Far removed from powerful decision-makers, they are often unaware of their rights to access information and participate in the policymaking process and lack access to strategic partnerships and advocacy skills needed to effectively engage government and private sector actors. Civil society organizations work to support these communities, but they often lack the needed tools, funding, or support to build evidence-based advocacy campaigns and analyze policy and implementation gaps to tackle such obstacles at scale.

To help ensure that those experiencing the impacts of pollution can create locally based and owned solutions, more must be done to support the ability of civil society and local communities to engage with decision-makers. Access to information, public participation and access to justice are environmental rights fundamental to good environmental governance when properly implemented and enforced. They offer an important tool for improving the development, implementation and enforcement of pollution control laws, norms and guidelines. They provide essential mechanisms for achieving the right to a healthy environment and clean air and water for all people. Strategically applying these rights can enable civil society and local community members to evaluate the environmental and social justice aspects of pollution, demand better compliance with laws and regulations and help build a pollution accountability movement. As the space for civil society leadership (civic space) shrinks around the world, it is critical that these rights be strengthened to ensure that civil society can remain an essential sustainable development partner.

How This Toolkit Was Developed

The toolkit was developed as part of the project Strengthening the Right to Information for People and the Environment (STRIPE). STRIPE seeks to highlight the challenges faced by communities in polluted areas around the world and empower them to utilize their legal rights to obtain and use environmental and public health information and participate in formal decision-making forums to demand accountability. The project enables policy reforms and builds the capacity of civil society and local communities to use their environmental rights to advocate for their pollution concerns. Launched in 2011, STRIPE projects have been carried out in Indonesia, Thailand, Mongolia, Jamaica, Morocco and Tunisia. A team of partners in each country piloted the toolkit methods and used the elements in their pollution campaigns. Examples from their work are included throughout the document.

About the Toolkit

This toolkit offers civil society organizations and local community activists practical guidance on how to use their environmental rights to fight air, water and solid waste pollution. It is designed to support civil society, local community activists and those concerned about pollution with the knowledge and tools needed to:

  • conduct policy research,
  • collect and use pollution information in relevant decision-making forums,
  • work together to develop advocacy campaigns, and
  • use an environmental rights approach to engage government and the private sector about their concerns.

The toolkit provides background information on the regulatory concepts needed to address pollution, including government-based standard setting, environmental impact assessment (EIA), monitoring and enforcement processes used to control pollution. It also explains environmental rights concepts and why they are relevant to people concerned about pollution. The section on country experiences highlights how the toolkit modules were applied in STRIPE campaigns and provides key lessons learned that should help toolkit users adapt the modules to their own country context and pollution priorities.

Connected to this report

Thirsting for justice.

environmental pollution project work

The Access Initiative (TAI)

The Access Initiative (TAI) is a partnership network dedicated to ensuring that citizens have the right and ability to influence decisions about their natural resources. 

environmental pollution project work

Advancing Community-Driven Solutions for Clean Air and Water

Ensuring that poor, vulnerable communities everywhere have the voice, power and information to protect their right to a safe, clean and healthy environment. 

Young girl travels through lush forested landscape.

Environmental Rights

Protecting people and the planet by strengthening natural resource rights and ensuring that everyone, everywhere, has the information, voice and power to shape environmental decision-making.

Silas Matoke and his wife Yordana Yawate, pose for photograph as they harvesting sago known as 'pangkur' on the banks of the Tuba river in Honitetu village, West Seram regency, Maluku province, Indonesia on August 22, 2017.

Defending Earth’s Defenders Initiative

Safeguarding the lives, livelihoods and rights of environmental defenders who act peacefully to protect the planet.

Primary Contacts

environmental pollution project work

Senior Environmental Rights and Justice Associate, Environmental Democracy Practice

How You Can Help

WRI relies on the generosity of donors like you to turn research into action. You can support our work by making a gift today or exploring other ways to give.

Stay Informed

World Resources Institute 10 G Street NE Suite 800 Washington DC 20002 +1 (202) 729-7600

© 2024 World Resources Institute

Join our live presentation on Jan 23rd as we present four stories that will shape 2024, followed by a live Q&A.

Silhouettes of children playing swing in turbine wind park at sunset

Together, we can unleash the positive, tangible and system-wide transformations needed to protect our planet for this and future generations.

Search

  • Most Popular
  • Explore all categories
  • project report on environmental pollution

Click here to load reader

Upload: tushar-garg

Post on 22-Jan-2018

1.812 views

38 download

Embed Size (px): 344 x 292 429 x 357 514 x 422 599 x 487

Page 1: project report on environmental pollution

MINOR PROJECT REPORT

“A detailed project report on ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION”

Submitted in Partial Fulfilment for the Award of

Bachelor of Technology Degree

Rajasthan Technology University, Kota

Submitted To: - Submitted by: -

Assist. Professor Rajendra Kumar Khyalia Tushar Garg

(13EKTCE113)

Page 2: project report on environmental pollution

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my deepest appreciation to all those who provided me

the possibility to complete this report. A special gratitude I give to over teacher,

MR. Rajendra Kumar Khyalia, whose contribution in stimulating suggestion

and encouragement, helped me to coordinate my minor project especially in

writing in this report.

Page 3: project report on environmental pollution

Using the most comprehensive data file ever compiled on air pollution, water pollution, environmental

regulations, and infant mortality from a developing country, the paper examines the effectiveness of

India’s environmental regulations. The air pollution regulations were effective at reducing ambient

concentrations of particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. The most successful air

pollution regulation is associated with a modest and statistically insignificant decline in infant mortality.

However, the water pollution regulations had no observable effect. Overall, these results contradict the

conventional wisdom that environmental quality is a deterministic function of income and underscore the

role of institutions and politics.

Page 4: project report on environmental pollution

KAUTILYA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING

SITAPURA, JAIPUR

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

DECLERATION

I hereby certify that work which is being presented in the minor project report entitled “

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION “ in partial fulfilment of the requirements for award of degree of

bachelor in technology and submitted in the department of civil engineering at the Kautilya Institute

Of Technology & Engineering, Jaipur is an authentic record of my own work carried out during a

period from July 2016 to November 2016 under the supervision of assistant professor Rajendra Kumar

Khyalia, department of civil engineering.

The matter presented in the minor project report has not been submitted by me for the award of any

degree of this or any other institute.

Tushar Garg

Roll No – 13EKTCE113 (68)

This is to certify that above statement made by the coordinate is correct to the best of my knowledge.

Rajendra Kumar Khyaliya

(Assistant Professor)

Department of civil engineering

Kautilya institute of tech. & engg.

Page 5: project report on environmental pollution

1. INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

2. MEANING OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

3. FACTOR AFFECTING ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

4. TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

5. SOURCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

6. EFFECT OF POLLUTION ON THE ENVIRONMENT

7. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CONTROL OF POLLUTION

8. POLICY STATEMENT OF ABATEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL

9. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION PREVENTION

Page 6: project report on environmental pollution

CONTENT OF PHOTO

1. AIR POLLUTION 11

2. WATER POLLUTION 12

3. LAND POLLUTION 13

4. NOISE POLLUTION 14

5. RADIOACTIVE POLLUTION 14

6. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION PREVENTION 30

7. ROLE OF INDIVIDUAL IN PREVENTION OF POLLUTION 31

Page 7: project report on environmental pollution

INTRODUCTION TO POLLUTION

The systematic pollution of our environment is one of the biggest hazards that humanity faces today.

People are becoming increasingly aware of the threat posed by pollution and governments are

enacting legislations aimed at protecting the environment.

During the last few decades, the global environment has gone through serious challenges and changes.

Population pressure has escaped rapidly consequently resources have dwindle.

Pollution is an undesirable change in the physical and biological operations of our air, land and

water. They may be or will be harmful to human life, species our industries process; living condition

and culture assets or deteriorate our material resources.

Human being can be exposed to pollutant in many ways through the air they breathe, the water they

drink, the food they eat and the cosmetics, drugs and other products they use. The continuing

discovery of previously unsuspected hazards from various chemicals and other substances

underscore the point. The environmental and human health effect of even those substances identified

for priority consideration.

Scientific developments have been a growing concern about the links between the health and

environment and worldwide industrial, land and resources management practices. Today there is a

growing concern for global scale environmental degradation brought by combinations of all people on

Manufacturing plants, agriculture production and other sources release pollutants into the air, water

and soil, pollutants are intentionally moved away through the management of waste including

residues removed from the air and water by pollution control equipment.

Pollutants also move among the media by changing into more, or less hazardous substances as they

move through environment. They may accumulate in sinks for long period of time and people often are

exposed to the same pollutant through the one medium by breathing air, drinking water, eating food or

absorbing it through skin.

Generally new industrial plants reduce less waste than older ones. One report estimates that new

factories cut the amount of hazardous waste to half. Dilution which increases the volume of waste, is

now more common than segregations.

Firms dilute waste to lower pollutant concentration for discharge into a sewage treatment plant or

directly into air or water, or to inject them more easily into deep wells. To save money, small

Page 8: project report on environmental pollution

electroplating firms after mix their organic waste with those containing metals and cyanide before

dumping them in the sewer rather than treating them independently.

The sewage treatment plant can degrade the organic waste but the metal of cyanide accumulates in the

plants sludge. A cross media approach designed to avoid this problem might require the discharger to

segregate and treat separately the heavy metals and cyanide to prevent their release.

Once wastes are segregated, they are easy to recycle or treat. As a better understanding of nature and

extent of Cross media problem is gained, society will also find better ways to improve both the

effectiveness and efficiency of pollution control policies.

The word environment connotes the whole gamat of physical surroundings i.e. land, air and water

along with the biotic components (all living forms/which are responsible for the plant and animal

kingdom to survive and proferaterate Environmental segments are atmosphere, hydrosphere,

lithosphere and biosphere.

MEANING OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

Ecosystem is a natural unit of living community (plants and animals) and non-living environment. The

biotic and abiotic community are constantly interacting and exchanging materials and energy between

themselves.

The life in an ecosystem depends upon the environment which provides energy in the form of sunlight

and nutrients for the living components of the ecosystem. Waste matter and energy produced by

human beings through, their irresponsible and wanting activities cause disturbance in the natural

environment or is the ecosystem is called environment pollution.

Environmental pollution is the result of increased production of waste products by the industries, rapid

urbanization, wanting and irresponsible. Harnessing of the natural resources as well as unplanned sewage

and waste disposal from industries and cities etc. Thus presence of any environment pollutant called

environment pollution.

Nature has provided the basic ingredients for living in abundance and whatever is used up during

normal course of living is recaptured through natural cycle. Any effort to disturb this process is termed

as Environment pollution.

In a homeostatic ecosystem there is a balance between the living organisms and the environment.

Page 9: project report on environmental pollution

Disturbance in any component of the environment is likely to have a harmful effect on the ecosystem.

Any change in the environment which contributes to its deterioration is called pollution of the

environment and the agent which causes the pollution is called the pollutant.

This change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of our physical environment (air,

water and land) is undesirable and harms human life, other living organisms and cultural assets. The

resulting impact on the environment has been so massive with far-reaching consequences that the very

existence of life is threatened.

FACTOR AFFECTING ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

Some of the factors which are affecting environment and causes pollution are described below:

a. CONSEQUENCE OF POPULATION GROWTH - Population growth is one of the

prominent factors that affect the degradation of the environment. Earlier, pestilence and famine

kept the population under control, but with the development of chemical compounds to restore and

enhance the soil fertility, and with reduction in the death rate, there has been an explosive growth

in population with inevitable consequences.

This dramatic growth coupled with the development of cheap sources of energy like coal,

petroleum, natural gas etc., and industrial revolution has posed a grave threat to the environment

because earth is a finite system in which any further increase will be restricted by environmental

constraints.

Pollution increases not only because the people multiply and the space available to each person

becomes smaller but also because the demands per person are continuously increasing and each

throws away more and more every year. Pollutants are the residues of the things we make, use and

throw away.

An intimate relationship is found between human number (population) and environment. The

impact of any human group in environment can be conceptually resolved into three factors;

Pollution, Affluence i.e. material aspects of per capita consumption of goods and resources and

technology of production.

b. POLLUTION OF INDIAN LAKES - Among the surface water bodies, lakes and

Page 10: project report on environmental pollution

Reservoirs are considered to be most valuable water resources. These surface water bodies are

currently under serious pollution threat not only in India but also globally considered to be an

important issue.

Over past couple of decades national and international programmes on lake water quality

assessment and their management in the perspective of conservation were attempted.

Considerable studies were made in Himalayan lakes of J & K (Dal & Nagin Lake), Kumaun

(Naimtal and Bhimtal Lake), Madhya Pradesh (Bhopal Lake), Odissa (Chilka Lake), Manipore

(Loktak Lake) and so on. In almost all cases lake water is highly polluted with silts,

agrochemicals, fertilizer, organic wastes and industrial discharges etc.

As a result, considerable biotic changes along with loss of productivity is noticed. In most of

limnological studies of the lake system thus revealed the fact that most of the lakes slowly

transformed into swampy marsh without any proper management for conservation. Since 1990s

there is a national lake conservation policy adopted by the Ministry of Environment and Forest,

Govt. of India.

The National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) was initiated by the Ministry of Environment and

Forests in June 2001 with objectives to maintain the ecological health of lakes. Initially three lakes

are taken as a model for this programme. They are: Powai Lake (Maharashtra), Ooty and

Kodaikanal Lake (Tamil Nadu). Now about 49 lakes of 13 states have been considered for this

c. POLLUTANT - According to “The Indian Environment Protection Act 1980” 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 environment.

Any substance present in the environment in such concentration which adversely effects the

environment by damaging the growth rate of a species and by interfering with the food chains, and

affects the health, comfort and property etc. is considered as a pollutant.

Smoke from industries and automobiles, domestic and commercial sewage, radioactive substances

from nuclear plants and discarded household articles (tins, bottles, broken crockery etc.) come

under the category of pollutants.

Page 11: project report on environmental pollution

TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

Pollution is of five mains types:

(a) Atmospheric or Air pollution

(b) Water pollution

(c) Land and soil pollution

(d) Noise pollution

(e) Radioactive pollution

(a) ATMOSPHERIC OR AIR POLLUTION - It is an atmospheric condition in which

Certain substances (including the normal constituents in excess) are present in concentrations which

can cause undesirable effects on man and his environment. These substances include gases, particulate

matter, radioactive substances etc.

Gaseous pollutants include oxides of sulphur (mostly SO2, SO3) oxides of nitrogen (mostly NO and

NO2 or NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (mostly hydrocarbons) etc.

Particulate pollutants include smoke, dust, soot, fumes, aerosols, liquid droplets, pollen grains etc.

Radioactive pollutants include radon-222, iodine-131, strontium 90, plutonium-239 etc.

Page 12: project report on environmental pollution

(b) WATER POLLUTION - Water is one of the most important bio-logical components

That sustain life. Its great solvent power makes the creation of absolute pure water a theoretical

rather than a practical goal. Human population has the habit of dumping their wastes into water.

This has the effect of diluting the waste and getting it dispersed if it is a running water system.

The term “water quality” is infinitely related to water pollution. The water is said to be polluted when

it has more “negative” qualities than “positive” ones. Water quality refers to the physical, chemical

and biological characteristics of water. Thus, in simple words, we can say that polluted water is that

water which has been abused, defiled in some way, so that it is no longer fit for use.

Water pollution can be defined as “the presence of too much of undesirable substances in water which

tend todegrade the quality of water’s physical, chemical and biological characteristics, making it

unsuitable for beneficial use”.

(c) LAND AND SOIL POLLUTION - Soil is the loose mineral material and is the most

important component of the earth’s surface (lithosphere). It is the growth medium for many microbes,

plants and animals. The formation of soil is the result of chemical, physical and biological weathering.

Like air and water, soil is also subjected to pollution. Soil contains many microbes.

Page 13: project report on environmental pollution

(d) NOISE POLLUTION - We hear various types of sounds every day. Sound is mechanical

energy from a vibrating source. A type of sound may be pleasant to someone and at the same

time unpleasant to others. The unpleasant and unwanted sound is called noise.

Sound can propagate through a medium like air, liquid or solid. Sound wave is a pressure perturbation

in the medium through which sound travels. Sound pressure alternately causes compression and

rarefaction. The number of compressions and rarefactions of the molecules of the medium (for

example air) in a unit time is described as frequency. It is expressed in Hertz (Hz) and is equal to the

number of cycles per second.

There is a wide range of sound pressures, which encounter human ear. Increase in sound pressure does

not invoke linear response of human ear. A meaningful logarithmic scale has been devised. The noise

measurements are expressed as Sound Pressure Level (SPL) which is logarithmic ratio of the sound

pressure to a reference pressure.

Page 14: project report on environmental pollution

(e) RADIOACTIVE POLLUTION - The elements such as uranium, thorium etc. having

unstable nuclei emit radiations such as alpha, beta and gamma in nature to acquire stability.

These elements are called radioactive elements.

Some ordinary elements like zinc, calcium, chlorine etc. can be converted into radioactive by

bombardment with neutron or other particles. This bombardment is called disintegration and the

disintegration rate is measured in curie (Ci) named on the discoverer, of radioactive elements.

Curie = 3.7 × 1010 disintegrations/sec.

Page 15: project report on environmental pollution

SOURCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

There are two main source of environmental pollution:-

i. Natural sources and

ii. Man-made source or anthropogenic sources.

NATURAL SOURCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

(a) Volcanic eruptions release gases and volcanic ash.

(b) Forest fires produce smoke and trace gases.

(c) Dust storms increase the wind – blown dust into the environment.

(d) Bacteria, spores, cysts and pollens are all natural pollutants.

(e) Decay of organic matter in marshy places releases marsh gas which is a light, colourless,

inflammable hydrocarbon.

MAN – MADE OR ANTHROPOGENIC SOURCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL

Anthropogenic source cover a wide spectrum of types as man has aggravated the problem of

pollution by his innumerable activities like,

(a) Domestic source

(b) Industries

(c) Agriculture activities

(d) Radioactive waste

(e) Thermal power stations

Page 16: project report on environmental pollution

EFFECT OF POLLUTION ON ENVIRONMENT The term “environment” refers to the immediate surroundings in which man lives. It comprises of

living and non-living constituents that support life and sustain various human activities. Pollution

affects both the living as well as the non-living components of the environment.

It brings about drastic changes in the physical environment causing community wide problems by

polluting the air, water and land; adversely affecting the health of humans and animals, and damaging

plants and property. Besides there are effects of noise pollution and the hazards associated with radiation

As environmental stress on the human body increases, many medical scientists fear a terminal increase

in infectious disorders not only because of lower body resistance but because viruses and other disease

organisms will increasingly slip through water treatment and food processing plants as the quality of

water and food at the intake deteriorates.

Effect on plants, the adverse effects range from reduction in growth rate to death of the plant. The

damage caused to plants by pollution includes necrosis (dead areas on a leaf structure), chlorosis (loss

or reduction of chlorophyll leading to yellowing of leaf), epinasty (downward curvature of the leaf due

to higher rate of growth on the upper surface) and abscission of leaves (premature fall). Pollution also

causes deterioration of structural materials such asmarble and lime stone.

Pollution has been changed the atmospheric conditions. An average temperature has been increased

due to increase in pollution. Effects of pollution at international level are depletion of ozone layer,

global warming acid rain, rising sea level etc.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CONTROL OF

Over population and pollution are potent ecological forces impinging upon man by affecting the

quality of the environment. All efforts aimed at bringing more and more people above the poverty line

actually increase the pressure on natural resources.

Careless management of natural resources is disrupting the ecological processes so much so that

earth’s life supporting capacity is being substantially threatened. Unmindful exploitation of the finite

Page 17: project report on environmental pollution

resources of the biosphere has a severe ecological backlash because no development is sustainable

unless it is environmentally compatible.

Environmental compatibility demands that the economic and social development should be linked with

environmental management.

Articles 48.A and 51.A of our constitution provide for environmental protection.

According to the National Committee of Environment-Planning and

Coordination (NCEPC), the frame work for environmental protection aims at: i.

Control of environmental pollution

ii. Conservation of natural source

iii. Land management

iv. Development of non – polluting source of energy

v. Environmental education

vi. Environmental laws

Pollution is the burning of the day at the global level. A combined effort to control pollution has to be made

by all government agencies, technologists, industrialists, agriculturists and last but not the least the

common man.

An international conference on “Human Environments” was held at Stockholm in 1971, to emphasise the need

to control pollution. Several measures were recommended by the scientists participating in the conference,

i. The first step should be to identify those causes of pollution that have global implications, and to

devise protective measures to be adopted.

ii. The second step should be to find out the carrying capacity of the environment and reduce the

emission of the major sources of pollution.

iii. The third step should be to find a neutralizer for each type of pollutant. iv. The fourth step should

be to ensure that anti-pollution measures are adopted by all industries.

Page 18: project report on environmental pollution

v. The fifth step should be the identification of areas where the cause of pollution is poverty and

lack of environmental education. Contamination of food and water are the basic causes of

pollution in such areas.

vi. Most important is initiation of adequate research to devise measures for controlling pollution.

Environmental monitoring is urgently required for controlling pollution.

This involves:

i. Careful scrutinisation of the environmental characteristics.

ii. Laying down the standards of environmental quality. iii. Regular

assessment of the abovementioned environmental characteristics.

iv. Keeping track of the changes in the environmental characteristics and educating people about the

changes due to these changes.

v. Devising measures to combat the menace of pollution.

vi. Enacting environmental laws and taking legal action against environmental offenders.

Efforts are required to the made by each individual to control pollution.

These efforts include:

i. Installation of proper sewage disposal methods.

ii. Dumping of non-biodegradable wastes in low lying areas. iii.

Installation of go bar gas plants in areas of high availability of

iv. Reduction of smoke emission and treatment of chimney smoke to remove solid carbon particles.

v. Judicious use of fertilisers, pesticides and detergents (Detergents of low-level phosphate content

are less harmful).

Page 19: project report on environmental pollution

vi. Growing plants like Pyrus (apple), Pinus(chir) and Vitis (grapes) is advocated because of their

capability of metabolizing gaseous nitrogenous pollutants like nitrogen dioxide etc. and plants

like coleus, ficus (banyan) can fix Carbon monoxide.

Skilled personnel with know-how to tackle the problems arising from pollution and for devising

environmental pollution control measures are working in many institutions in India.

Important ones amongst them are:

i. National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur.

ii. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai.

iii. National Committee of Environmental Planning and Co-ordination (NCEPC), New Delhi. iv.

Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow.

v. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

vi. Central Public Health Engineering Research Institute (CPHERI), Nagpur.

Scientists have rightly said that, ‘in the course of our progress from one age to another, we have simply

passed from a savage sewage’. What is important in the query – ‘Will there be any salvage’?

Factors Causing Pollution:

(i) Over population: Pollution increases with the population density. As the population increases

more burden is placed on the environment.

(ii) Urbanization: Shifting of population from rural to urban. A thickly populated area is the home of

large number of vehicles reservoir solid and liquid wastes with poor sanitary conditions and

many problems.

(iii) Industrialisation: Power generation, Vehicular.

(iv) Per capita income: Standard of living, goods and services demanded per person increased.

(v) Extent of recycling: Waste product is cleaned and reused pollution level is de- creased.

(vi) Technology: Efficient Engines provides less in pollution/wastes.

vii. Waste treatment : - cleaning of a air and water

viii. Ionic

ix. Deforestation

Page 20: project report on environmental pollution

x. Water depletion

xi. Refrigeration

xii. Arosol

xiii. Radioactivity xiv. Volcanic eruption

xv. Strong wind xvi.

Forest fire xvii.

EFFECT OF POLLUTION ON HUMAN HEALTH

Air pollution can cause death, impairment of health, reduce visibility, bring about vast economic losses

and contribute to the general deterioration. It can also cause intangible losses to historical monuments.

Minor symptoms include headaches, mucosal irritation (eye, nose, throat or respiratory discomfort).

Severe reaction can include nausea or asphyxiation and prolong exposure can lead to various system

effects of toxic poisoning or to cancer of the lungs or other organs.

i. Odour nuisance

ii. Increase in mortality rate

iii. Increase in mobility rate

iv. Asthmatic attack

v. Bronchitis

vi. Cardio vascular disesase

vii. Pulmonary disease

viii. Furosis ix. Motting of fat

x. Silicosis, asbestosis.

POLICY STATEMENT OF ABATEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL

i. PREAMBLE

The commitment of Government on abatement of pollution for preventing deterioration of the

environment is stated here. The policy elements seek to shift emphasis from defining objectives

Page 21: project report on environmental pollution

for each problems area towards actual implementation, but the focus in on the long term, because

pollution particularly affects the poor.

The complexities are considerable given the number of industries, organisations and government

bodies involved. To achieve the objectives maximum use will be made of a mix of instruments

in the form of legislation and regulation, fiscal incentives, voluntary agreements, educational

programmes and information campaigns. The emphasis will be on increased use of regulations

and an increase in the development and application of financial incentives.

ii. THE PROBLEM

a. There is an increasing trend in environmental pollution. Water is polluted by four kinds of

substances: traditional organic waste generated from industrial processes, chemical agents for

fertilisers and pesticides for crop protection and silt from degraded catchments.

While it is estimated that three-fourths by volume of the waste water generated is from municipal

sources, industrial waste, though small in volume, contributes over one-half of the total pollutant

load, and the major portion of this is coming from large and medium industries. For class-I cities

of the Country, less than five percent of the total waste water generated is collected and less than

one-fourth of this treated.

b. Ambient air quality trends in the major cities indicate that levels of suspended particulate

matter are higher than the prescribed standards or limits, especially in summer months. Levels of

nitrogen dioxide are increasing in urban centres with growing emissions.

c. Environmental problems are becoming larger in scale. The chemical industry generates an

increasing quantity of substances every year; adversely affecting essential aspects of the

composition of the atmosphere, soil and water. In the industrial high density areas, in addition to

the effects on local health and impact on nature, we are confronted with damage to the social and

economic functions of the environment.

d. With restrictions on releases to air and waste water, hazardous chemical wastes are

getting diverted to land for their disposal.

Earlier concerns with pollution that was visible and degradable area giving way to new types of

pollution with very small quantities of synthetic chemicals that are not so visible and are

Page 22: project report on environmental pollution

injurious to health and damage the environment because of widespread use, persistence and

toxicity. Reducing the hazards from toxic chemicals is now a primary public concern.

e. Human activities are also influencing the composition of the atmosphere. Despite

uncertainties and insufficient knowledge, political and scientific decisions concerning

environmental change will increasingly be necessary.

f. The state of the environment continues to deteriorate. The growth in scientific and

technical knowledge has made it possible to use an ever increasing quantum of natural resources.

The increase in population is further enhancing the pressure on the environment. The depletion

of forests has been accompanied by increasing amount of pollution affecting atmosphere, soil

and water. Some of the damage is irreversible.

In seeking a higher quality of life while developed countries need to focus on changing the

composition of their processes and products, developing countries will need to obtain the

benefits of economic growth.

The policy statement on Abatement of Pollution thus complements the Forest Policy Statement.

The Government seeks to ensure that its policies in every sector are based on a set of principles

that harmonise economic development and environmental imperatives.

iii. FUTURE DIRECTIONS AND OBJECTIVES

a. It is not enough for the Government to notify laws which are to be complied with. A

positive attitude on the part of everyone in society is essential for the prevention of pollution and

wide consultation has been held with those who will ultimately implement the policy.

b. A comprehensive approach is taken to integrate environmental and economic aspects in

development planning; stress is laid on preventive aspects for pollution abatement and

promotion of technological inputs to reduce industrial pollutants; and through reliance upon

public cooperation is securing a clean environment to respond to the coming challenges.

c. The objective is to integrate environmental considerations into decision making at all

Page 23: project report on environmental pollution

To achieve this steps have to be taken to :-

a. Prevent pollution at source;

b. Encourage, develop and apply the best available practicable technical solutions;

c. Ensure that the polluter pays for the pollution and control arrangements;

d. Focus protection on heavily polluted areas and river stretches; and

e. Involve the public in decision making.

iv. CRITICALLY POLLUTED AREAS

a. Mechanisms will be evolved to reduce local concentration of pollutants in complex

industrial sites. Strategies will be developed for areas with high pollution loads where the

accumulative effect of the various types of pollutants would be taken into account including

pollution of ground water.

Existing units in these areas will be targeted for effective action. New units in these areas will be

required to comply with location specific standards for stringent environmental quality

objectives. These will include matching waste generators with waste buyers, with the objective

of solving waste disposal.

b. Setting up of industrial estates, and clusters of small industrial units in rural areas, will

include pollution abatement measures as an essential component of infrastructure. In the past, the

absence of adequate provision of space for installing treatment facilities and arrangements for

disposal of wastes has led to severe pollution of agricultural land and rivers.

c. There has been a steady increase in the amount of waste water produced from urban

communities and industries. In the coming years, due to rapid growth in population,

urbanisation, industrial development and better water supply, the amount of waste water may

increase manifold.

Generally, these waters are discharged into lagoons or dumped on low lying areas without any

pre-treatment, thereby creating sewage pools, contaminating ground waters, salinizing good

quality lands around cities, acting as a source of foul smell and breeding grounds for mosquitoes

and other pathogens. At many places this waste water is discharged into drains and rivers

causing serious water pollution.

Page 24: project report on environmental pollution

However, awareness has now grown and more attention is being paid to develop systems to treat

sewage waters. For a country like India, conventional treatment plants are costly. In fact, these

are beyond the financial means of many small towns.

Biological waste water treatment, on land disposal using suitable vegetative cover and resource

recovery technologies cannot only be attractive alternative, but also economical, safe and

socially acceptable.

d. Mining operations will not ordinarily be taken up in ecologically fragile areas. Every

mining project shall be accompanied by a mining plan, including an environmental management

plan and time bound reclamation programme for controlling the environmental damage and for

restoration of mined areas.

v. ASSISTANCE FOR ADOPTION OF CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES BY SMALL SCALE

a. Small scale industries are special feature of our economy. Government are

implementing a scheme for providing assistance for promoting combined facilities for

treatment of effluents and solid wastes generated in clusters of small scale units. This

scheme will be extended to provide necessary technical support as well.

b. While the large and medium industrial units will remain totally responsible for

control of their pollution, assistance will be provided to small-scale industrial units,

particularly those located in rural areas, to aid the implementation of pollution control

measures. This will be achieved by promoting development and adoption of cleaner

technologies, including environmentally friendly biotechnology.

vi. STANDARDS

a. The present standards are based on the concentration of pollutants in effluents and

in emissions. The norms will be revised to lay down mass-based standards, which will set

specific limits to encourage the minimisation of waste, promote recycling and reuse of

materials, as well as conservation of natural resources, particularly water.

Page 25: project report on environmental pollution

Since the standards will be source related, they will require for the most polluting industrial

processes, particularly those using toxic substances, application of the best available

technological solutions, and also be an instrument for technological upgradation.

b. To act against potential problems in the future, new units will have to conform to

stricter standards. They will need to select technologies that produce no or low quantities of

wastes and recycle or reuse waste products. Progressively, more strict vehicle emission

standards will also be evolved to deal with environmental hazards caused by vehicular

c. Standards will not merely be a regulatory tool but will be mechanism to promote

technological up-gradation to prevent pollution, conserve resource and regulate waste. For

this purpose codes of practice and guidelines will be evolved for specific processes.

d. The environmental effects, from production to disposal of products that are

hazardous and toxic will be taken into account in the regulations. Chemicals will be reviewed

according to the level of risk, and where safer alternatives have become available,

restrictions will be imposed.

Regulations for liability and compensation for damages will supplement standards, to

promote greater care and caution, particularly in the management of hazardous waste and

remedial action in case of contamination of soil and ground water.

vii. FISCAL MEASURES

a. While regulatory measures remain essential for the effectiveness of the policy, new

approaches for considering market choices will be introduced. The aim is to give industries

and consumers clear signals about the cost of using environmental and natural resources. The

expectation is that market-oriented price mechanisms will influence behaviour to avoid

excessive use of natural resources.

b. There are at present several fiscal incentives for installation of pollution control

equipment and for shifting polluting industries from congested areas. The items for which

excise and customs rebate are allowed will be reviewed. This will stimulated the

advancement of abatement technologies and create increased demands for the products.

Page 26: project report on environmental pollution

c. Economic instruments will be investigated to encourage the shift from curative to

preventive measures, internalise the costs of pollution and conserve resources, particularly

water. A direct economic signal is offered by an effluent charge based on the nature and

volume of releases to the environment.

The level will be based on the cost of treatment and the flow discharged, in order to provide

an incentive to set up treatment plants. The scope of the charges will also be extended to

emission and solid waste. Charges provide a continuing incentive towards optimal releases.

d. These instruments will also have a distributive effect as the revenues will be used for

enforcement, collective treatment facilities, research and promoting new investment.

e. The precise choice of economic instruments adopted will be determined by the ease

with which releases can be measured, as well as prospective changes in technology and

market structures. To deal with the range of pollution problems a mix of regulatory and

economic measures will be adopted.

viii. INTEGRATION

a. Critical policy areas for control of pollution come under different departments and levels

of Government. Sectoral Ministries, State Governments, local bodies and agencies responsible

for planning and implementation of development projects will be required to integrate

environmental concerns more effectively in all policy areas.

Local authorities play a key role in abatement of pollution and environmental concerns need to

be built into the way they operated. Steps will have to be taken to strengthen governmental and

institutional structures dealing with environmental management, especially within the ministries

dealing with the sectors of energy, industry, water resources, transport and agriculture and who

would develop specific programmes in regard to pollution prevention.

b. Policy making, legislation and law enforcement influence each other. The increase in the

number of regulations increases difficulties in enforcement. Legislation regulating particular

activities will be amended to incorporate and eliminate clashes with environmental criteria.

Page 27: project report on environmental pollution

Traditional instruments for monitoring of compliance and investigation of offences are becoming

overburdened. An integrated overview and organisational structure for decentralised

environment impact assessments and environmental law enforcement based on cooperation with

local authorities will be sought.

c. While pollution from specific sources including towns and industries have been

addressed, non-point pollution from run-off of agricultural inputs such as pesticides, insecticides,

fertilisers, etc. has not been dealt with. This is gaining increasing proportions, which is polluting

not only our water bodies but even sub-soil water resources and would affect the health of

human beings.

A long-term policy for pesticides use, including the introduction of environmentally acceptable

pesticides, particularly bio-pesticides and no persistent biodegradable ones, and integrated pest

management together with the phasing out of the proven harmful toxic and persistent ones,

would be formulated in collaboration with the concerned Ministries and infrastructure involved

for its effective implementation. A similar policy for fertiliser use will also need to be

formulated.

d. Plant and vegetation in general play avital role in controlling pollution by regulating the

climate and atmospheric equilibrium, protecting the soil and maintaining the hydrological

regime. Hence, existing forests and natural vegetation should be fully protected.

The forest and vegetal cover should be restored and increased wherever possible, especially on

hill slopes, in catchment areas of rivers, lakes and reservoirs, ocean shores, semiarid and arid

tracts, in around urban centres and industrial establishments.

It is necessary to encourage the planting of trees alongside roads, rail lines, canals and on other

unutilized lands under State/corporate, institutional or private ownership. Green belts should be

raised in urban and industrial areas as well as in arid tracts. Such a programme will also check

erosion, desertification as well as improve the microclimate.

Page 28: project report on environmental pollution

e. The Annual Administration Reports of the Ministries will and the action taken to follow

up the policy statement, and other environmental initiatives they have taken or are proposing.

ix. ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT

Industrial concerns and local bodies should feel that they have a responsibility for

abatement of pollution. The procedure of an environmental statement will be introduced in

local bodies, statutory authorities and public limited companies to evaluate the effect of

their policies, operations and activities on the environment, particularly compliance with

standards and the generation and recycling of waste.

An annual statement will help in identifying and focusing attention on areas of concern,

practices that need to be changed and plans to deal with adverse effects. This will be

extended to an environmental audit. The measures will provide better information to the

x. ENVIRONMENTAL STATISTICS

. Authoritative statistical data on the environment is vital for Developmental decision

making. Resource accounting will be used to give an idea how economic policies are

affecting the environment. Current economic accounts are concerned mainly with the volume

of economic activity; they ignore expenditures to protect the environment and encourage

inefficient use of resources.

The collection and integration of environmental, economic and health data will be done to

determine the status and to develop a concise set of environmental indicators for monitoring

the effects of pollution. Information and access to the public are essential so that everyone

knows what is happening to the environment.

xi. PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP

a. The public must be made aware in order to be able to make informed choices. A high

governmental priority will be to educate citizens about environmental risks, the economic and

Page 29: project report on environmental pollution

health dangers of resource degradation and the real cost of natural resources. Information

about the environment will be published periodically.

Affected citizens and non-governmental organisations play a role in environmental monitoring

and therefore allowing them to supplement the regulatory system and recognising their

expertise where such exists and their commitments and vigilance, will also be cost effective.

Access to information to enable public monitoring of environmental concerns, will be

provided for.

b. Public interest litigation has successfully demonstrated that responsible non-

governmental organisations and public spirited individuals can bring about signify- cant

pressure on polluting units for adopting abatement measures. This commitment and expertise

will be encouraged and their practical work supported.

c. Householders, as consumers, make large number of relatively small individual

contributions, whose cumulative effect is considerable. A system of certification of goods that

are “environmentally friendly” will be set up to make available information to encourage

environmental consciousness amongst consumers.

This advice; will also encourage manufacturers to produce goods that are environmentally

more friendly as well as encourage recycling and adequate waste management. Consumer

awareness would also be encouraged by involvement of consumer organisations in

cooperative testing, and dissemination of information relating to environmental friendliness

of these products.

d. As the present system of jurisprudence does not provide for compensation to

individuals for environmental damage, including effects on health and environmental damage

caused by pollution, it is proposed to set up special legal institutions to redress this deficiency

and also make adequate arrangements for interim relief.

e. Greater emphasis will be placed on promoting awareness, undertaking and competence

in schools, colleges, and training institutions. Professional and nongovernmental bodies will

be encouraged to be more active in environmental training and building awareness.

f. Society has accepted many practices which cause pollution. Reckless use of

loudspeakers, dumping in water bodies, and scattering of wastes are common. Noise nuisance

requires specific devices as well as greater consideration for neighbours and there is growing

concern that litter has increased in recent years. Social action in these matters by voluntary

Page 30: project report on environmental pollution

organisations and individuals will be promoted through knowledge, education, training camps

and public information campaigns.

g. This statement is based on considerations of effectiveness, efficiency and availability

of financial resources. The responsibility for abatement of pollution is not a duty of the

Government alone, it is an obligation on all. The approach mentioned above should indicate

how everyone can help in achieving a safe and environmentally appropriate environment in

our country.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION PREVENTION

Pollution is the creation of imbalances between nature and environment life cycle by human beings

and other living inhabitants on the earth due to their day to day input output activities carrying

unhealthy surrounding, deforestation, and ecological degradation. Soil erosion, depletion of natural

resources creation of industries slumps and ugly dwellings.

a. Maximum feasibility reduction of all wastes generated at production sites.

b. Source reduction, energy efficiency, reuse of input materials during production and reduced

water consumption.

c. Change products and production processes to reduce pollution at the source.

Page 31: project report on environmental pollution

We can conclude that there is difference between the theoretical and practical work done. As the

scope of understanding will be much more when practical work is done. As we get more knowledge

in such a situation where we have great experience doing the practical work.

Page 33: project report on environmental pollution

1. www.google.com

2. www.wikepidea.com

3. www.freefoto.com

4. www.environmentalscience.org

EnvironmEntal Pollution PrevEntionpdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/pnabs994.pdf · A Report of the Office of ... training and small scale ... Environmental Pollution Prevention Project (EP3)

environmental pollution, water pollution , air pollution

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

Environmental Pollution

Orange line train project impact in environmental pollution

6.0 POLLUTION SOURCES, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS 6.1 P …...6.0 POLLUTION SOURCES, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS 6.1 POLLUTION SOURCES The proposed project has the potential to generate pollution

Environmental Studies Project on Water Pollution

LinkedIn

5 Student Projects To Protect The Environment From Air Pollution

Pollution is a ubiquitous problem in the present-day world, and it is rising continuously all around the globe. Amongst all other kinds of pollution, such as water, land, and sound, air pollution has a profound impact on every living organism present on the earth. We inhale many toxins and pollutants along with oxygen while breathing, which can cause severe health problems and can even lead to an untimely death. Developing countries face more pollution-related health problems as compared to developed countries. However, students alongside scientists are working hard to protect our home planet from air contamination and its hazardous effects.

Fortunately, more and more people are working for environmental protection and conservation. Government and private organizations are working to reduce the factors that are damaging the nature we live in. Today’s students are also more concerned about the harmful effects of the contaminated environment and seek to help in their own way. During school and college if you are wondering how to rewrite my paper , you should know the importance of a sound environment. They are also asked to work on projects and proceedings on environmental protection methods.

climate-change-public-health

Students may significantly benefit from essay samples https://eduzaurus.com/free-essay-samples/environment/ to work on their paper and learn more about protecting the earth. Reading such pieces helps in their course to develop useful projects that aid to solve the existing pollution related problems.

Cities around the world are choked with smog and dangerous emissions. Addressing the harm caused by rapidly increasing air pollution, many university students worldwide have developed useful environmental projects . Some of them are as follows:

1. Pollution vacuum cleaner

The idea of a pollution vacuum cleaner is to suck up the contaminants from the air. Developed by an Indian mechanical engineer, it takes all the pollutants along with the air and releases clean air after filtration. As the air passes through various layers inside the filter, the contaminants stick in the filter, and clean air is released. Such vacuums can be used near chimneys and generators to reduce the presence of smoke in the air.

2. Hydrogen fuel from pollutants

Extracting hydrogen gas from the air is challenging, but not for enthusiasts. As part of their project, students have developed a device to purify the air from organic adulteration. This device is powered by solar energy, which houses a thin membrane that attracts the contaminants and exhales purified air. The extracted hydrogen can be stored and used later as fuel in hydrogen-powered vehicles.

3. Air pollution AI framework

Predicting the level of smog in a place can help the locals take a precautionary approach in case of an increment in contamination. A high school student from New-York made a device as project work that predicts air pollution levels using neural networks. The AI-equipped tool can predict contamination with up to 92% accuracy.

artificial-intelligence-environment-protection

Artificial Intelligence can provide invaluable assistance in environment protection and resource conservation

4. Anti-smog gun

The anti-smog gun is an effective method of clearing the air pollutants in smog-afflicted areas. During the high level of pollution, the gun sprays vapor into the air, absorbing the toxins. It is a short-term solution to minimize the harms of hazardously polluted air.

Air-Ink is a creative and interesting device that can convert air carbon to ink. People can connect the KAALINK device to their car exhaust pipe to get the ink from the fuel fumes. The tool can extract 30 ml of ink within 45 minutes of driving. However, the collected ink requires to be purified in the lab before its use.

Bottom Line

Students may find that working on air pollution control projects is one of the best ways in which they can learn about environmental hazards during their educational course. Such insights inspire them to search for a solution and develop various solutions to counter the threats.

Getting involved in innovative air pollution projects will help us to understand the importance of the atmosphere and environment and our responsibility towards keeping the earth safe for the future generation. We can all contribute to fighting air pollution and saving all beings for generations to come through our collective effort.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Recommeded Reading

' src=

About Salman Zafar

3 responses to 5 student projects to protect the environment from air pollution.

Pingback: Polluted by Noise: When Silence is an Oasis | EcoMENA

Pingback: Must Have Eco-friendly Tools for Every Home and Office

Pingback: Everything You Need To Know About Green Roofs | EcoMENA

Share your Thoughts Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Search EcoMENA

Subscribe to ecomena.

Email Address

Popular Articles

  • 15 Inspirational Quotes On The Environment
  • 10 Eco-Friendly Projects for School Students
  • أفكار لمشاريع صديقة للبيئة لطلاب المدارس
  • The Environmental Impacts of Industrialization
  • إعادة تدوير النفايات في المملكة العربية السعودية

environmental pollution project work

EcoMENA on Facebook

EcoMENA on Twitter

  • 6,927,315 visitors till date

Newest Articles

  • عشر طرق صديقة للبيئة لروتين العناية بالبشرة
  • Miswaak – The Natural Toothbrush Tree of Arabia
  • Top Sustainability Trends in Europe
  • How Can You Pick the Ideal Moissanite Bracelet for Your Style?
  • Freshwater Management Outlook for UAE
  • My Little Paper Recycling Project
  • ما هي الفوائد البيئية للسيارات الكهربائية؟
  • 5 Common Types of Mental Disorders
  • Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture in Gaza: Perspectives
  • Everything You Need To Know About Green Roofs
  • لماذا السيارات الصديقة للبيئة مهمة؟
  • Waste Management in Jeddah
  • How Agricultural Sector Can Help the Renewable Energy Sector?
  • The Amazing Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting
  • 3 Practical Ways to Reduce Heat from the Outside Sun
  • 3 Financial Benefits of Running a Green Operation
  • 5 Top Benefits of Virtual Physiotherapy
  • Industrial Odor Control Management: 4 Effective Techniques

Privacy Overview

Book cover

Environmental Project Management pp 43–81 Cite as

Environmental Project Management Methodology

  • Ebenezer A. Sholarin 6 &
  • Joseph L. Awange 7  
  • First Online: 23 April 2016

1992 Accesses

1 Citations

Part of the Environmental Science and Engineering book series (ENVSCIENCE)

Project management is a set of tools and templates designed to help the project management practitioner and to provide consistency of process. It is a methodology that defines the processes, responsibilities, and workflows needed to achieve an objective. Each project or initiative undertaken is unique in its constraints and issues. The information contained within the methodology should be adapted to a particular situation. Based on this premise, Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK) and Projects IN Controlled Environment, version 2 (PRINCE 2) should not be considered as a methodology, but rather as a guide, which should be tailored to suit organisation’s own internal project management methodology.

  • Global Navigation Satellite System
  • Project Management
  • Environmental Impact Assessment

These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Operations keeps the light on, strategy provides a light at the end of the tunnel, but project management is the train engine that moves the organisation forward —Joy Gumz

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution .

Buying options

  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
  • Durable hardcover edition

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Allianz (2014) Working in a global matrix organisation. www.agcs.allianz.com . Accessed 23 Sep 2014

Awange JL, Kiema JBK (2013) Environmental geoinformatics, monitoring and management. Solving algebraic computational problems in geodesy and geoinformatics. Springer, Berlin, Springer, Berlin

Book   Google Scholar  

Baccarini D (1999) History of project management. Curtin University of Technology, New South Wales

Google Scholar  

Badiru AB (2008) Industrial project management: concepts, tools and techniques. CRC Press, Boca Raton

Badiru AB (2010) The many languages of sustainability: IEs should push for better resource utilization across all fields. J Ind Eng 42(11):30–34

Badiru AB (2012) Project management: systems, principles and applications. Taylor and Francis Group, CRC Press, Boca Raton

Badiru AB, Osisanya SO (2013) Project management for the oil and gas industry: a world system approach. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Business & Economics 781 p

Bagheri A, Hjorth P (2007) Planning for sustainable development: a paradigm shift towards a process-based approach. J Sustain Dev 15(2):83–89

Article   Google Scholar  

Belbin RM (1993) Team roles at work. Butterworth, Oxford

Boddy D, Buchanan D (1992) Take the lead: interpersonal skills for project managers. Prentice Hall, London

Britannica (2014). http://www.britannica.com/ Accessed 30 Mar 2014

Brundtland GH (1987) Our common future. Oxford University Press, Oxford

Burke R, Barron S (2014) Project management leadership: building creative teams. Wiley, New York 384 p

Butler CJ, Chinowsky PS (2006) Emotional intelligence and leadership behaviour in construction executives. J Manage Eng 22(3):119–125

Carson R (1962) Silent spring. Houghton Miflin, Boston

Clemen RT (1991) Making hard decisions. PWS-Kent Publishing Company, Boston

Crawford L (2007) Global body of project management knowledge and standards. In: Morris G, Pinto J (eds) The Wiley guide to managing projects. Wiley, New York

Diesendorf M (2000) Sustainability and sustainable development. In: Dunphy D, Benveniste J, Griffiths A, Sutton P (eds) Sustainability: the corporate challenge of the 21st century. Allen and Unwin, Sydney, pp 19–37

Dyllick T, Hockerts K (2002) Beyond the business case for corporate sustainability. Bus Strategy Environ 11:130–141. doi: 10.1002/bse.323

Environmentalism (n.d.) In: American Heritage Dictionary (online). http://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=environmentalism . Accessed 28 Aug 2014

Epstein MJ (2008) Making sustainability work: best practices in managing and measuring corporate social, environmental, and economic impacts. Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc, San Francisco

Fleming QW, Koppelman JM (2000) Earned value project management, 2nd edn. Project Management Institute, Upper Dalby

Gareis R, Huemann M, Martinuzzi A (2010) Relating sustainable development and project management: a conceptual model. In: Paper presented at the PMI Research and education conference. New York

Glenn JC, Gordon TJ (1998) State of the future: issues and opportunities. American council for the United Nations University, Washington

Grinnell SK, Apple HP (1975) When two bosses are better than one. Mach Des, pp 84–87

Harrison FL, Lock D (2004) Advanced project management: a structured approach. Gower Publishing Ltd, Guildford, Business & Economics 315 p

Holliday C (2001) Sustainable growth, the Dupont way. Harv Bus Rev 79:129–134

Hulett D (2012) Integrated cost-schedule risk analysis. Gower Publishing Ltd, Guildford, Business & Economics 240 p

ISO, TMB (2009) ISO 31000:2009, risk management - principles and guidelines. Multiple, distributed through American National Standards Institute (ANSI) (Reprint)

ISO (2012) International Organization for Standardization. [Geneva: ISO.]. ISO, 21500, 2012

Jaafari A (2007) Thinking of sustainability as a dimension of managerial competency. PM World Today 9(9)

Kahneman D, Tversky A (1979) Prospect theory: an analysis of decision under risk. Econometrica 47:263–291

Kerzner H (1982) Project management for executives. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company Inc., New York 716 p

Kerzner H (2004) Advanced project management: best practices on implementation. Wiley, New York 847 p

Kerzner H (2010) Project management: systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling, 11th edn. Wiley, Hoboken

Kipling R (1902) I keep six honest serving men. In: Kipling R (ed) The elephant’s child (Just so stories). www.kipling.org.uk/poems_serving.htm . Accessed 19 Dec 2013

Labuschagne C, Brent AC (2004) Sustainable project life cycle management: aligning project management methodologies with the principles of sustainable development. In: Paper presented at the PMSA International Conference, Johannesburg, South Africa

Lock D (2007) Project management, 9th edn. Gower Publishing Limited, Aldershot

Marler T (1994) Introduction to oil and gas project management. PennWell Publishing Company, Oklahoma

Meadows DH, Meadows DL, Randers J, Bedhrens WW III (1972) The limits to growth: a report for the club of Rome’s project on the predicament of mankind. Universe Books, New York

Muller R, Turner JR (2012) Project-oriented leadership. Gower Publishing, Aldershot Ltd, Business & Economics 110 p

Munier N (2005) Introduction to sustainability: road to a better future. Springer, Berlin

NORSOK (2002) Norsok S-012 Health, safety and environment (HSE) in Construction-Related Activities (Rev 2, Aug 2002), Multiple. Distributed through Standard.no (Reprint)

Northouse PG (2007) Leadership theory and practice, 3rd edn. Sage, Thousand Oaks

Petts J, Eduljee G (1994) Environmental impact assessment for waste treatment and disposal facilities. John Wiley, Chichester 342 p

PMI (2013) A guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK guide), 5th edn. Project Management Institute, Newtown Square

Pochron RS (2009) A leadership journey: personal reflections from the school of hard knocks. Integr Rev 5(2):265–272

Pope J, Annandale D, Morrison-Saunders A (2004) Conceptualising sustainability assessment. Environ Impact Assess Rev 24:595–616. doi: 10.1016/j.eiar.2004.03.001

Robert K-H, Daly H, Hawken P, Holmberg J (1997) A compass for sustainable development. Int J Sustain Dev World Ecol 4:79–92

Sachs JD (2015) The age of sustainable development. Columbia University Press, New York

Schuyler J, Newendorp P (2000) Decision analysis for petroleum exploration, 2nd edn. Planning Press, Aurora

Shenhar AJ, Dvir D (2004) Project management evolution: past history and future research directions. In: Slevin, DP, Cleland, DI, Pinto JK (eds) Innovations: project management research. Project Management Institute, pp 57–64

Sholarin EA (2007) Integrated project management for hydrocarbon portfolio analysis and optimization. J Pet Technol 59:2

Silvius AJG, Tharp J (eds) (2010) Survival and sustainability as challenges for projects. Zurich, Switzerland

Silvius AJG, van den Brink J, Khler A, (2010) The concept of sustainabilityand its application to project management. In: Paper presented at the IPMA international expert seminar 2010 - Survival and sustainability as challenges forprojects. Zurich, Switzerland

Sinek S (2009a) Start with why: how great leaders inspire everyone to take action. Penguin Group, New York 246 p

Sinek S (2009b) Start with why: how great leaders inspire everyone to take action. Penguin Group, New York 246 p

Slater R (2001) Jack Welch, and the GE way. McGraw-Hill, New York, p 29

Thomas IG (2005) Environmental management processes and practices for Australia. The Federation Press, Annandale 360 p

Turner JR (ed) (2009) The handbook of project-based management: leading strategic change in organizations, 3rd edn. McGraw-Hill, New York

UN (1992) Agenda 21: program of action for sustainable development. United Nations, New York

Vaidyanathan G (2013) Project management: process, technology, and practice. Pearson, Upper Saddle River

Wheatley MJ (1999) Leadership and the new science: discovering order in a chaotic world. Berret-Koehler Publishers, San Francisco, Business and economics 197 p

Wideman RM (1991) A framework for project and program management integration, vol 1. The PMBOK handbook series, Project Management Institute, Drexel Hill

Wilson GA, Brant RL (1997) Environmental management: new directions for the twenty-first century. University College London Press, London

WCED (1987) World commission on environment and development: our common future (the Brundtland report). Oxford University Press, Oxford

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia

Ebenezer A. Sholarin

Spatial Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia

Joseph L. Awange

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ebenezer A. Sholarin .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter.

Sholarin, E.A., Awange, J.L. (2015). Environmental Project Management Methodology. In: Environmental Project Management. Environmental Science and Engineering(). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27651-9_3

Download citation

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27651-9_3

Published : 23 April 2016

Publisher Name : Springer, Cham

Print ISBN : 978-3-319-27649-6

Online ISBN : 978-3-319-27651-9

eBook Packages : Earth and Environmental Science Earth and Environmental Science (R0)

Participatory Science Air Projects

Why is air quality monitoring important.

Despite dramatic progress cleaning the air since 1970, air pollution in the United States continues to harm people’s health and the environment. Under the Clean Air Act, EPA continues to work with state, local and tribal governments, and other organizations to reduce air pollution and the damage that it causes.

In doing so, EPA has engaged the public in air quality monitoring through research grants and equipment loan programs that help communities improve understanding of air pollution and related health effects, address unique air quality challenges and potentially reduce harmful air pollution exposures. 

On this page: 

  • Highlighted Projects 
  • Air Project Resources 

Check out some popular air projects below: 

More resources.

  • EPA StoryMap on Participatory Science

Multi-Cultural Teamwork to Reduce Smoke Pollution

House with woodstove chimney releasing smoke

This project expands mentored science opportunities for local youth in Yakima Valley, Washington, many of whom are Yakama Nation or immigrant Latino students. They pair air and health researchers with local students to research wood smoke exposure and other sources of community air pollutants.

Learn more about this Smoke Pollution Project.

Monitoring Air in Our Community

A Denver student checks an air quality monitoring station

In a community with environmental justice concerns, this project engages the public in investigating air quality and exposure communication approaches. By addressing health concerns and motivating behavior changes, this project empowers the community to study air quality. 

Learn more about the Denver Air Pollution Monitoring Project.

Kansas City Transportation and Air Quality Study

Two solar powered air sensors

EPA launched KC-TRAQS to assess local community air quality in three neighborhoods that have multiple air pollution sources from highways, railways, and industry in Kansas City. Portable air monitors, or AirMappers, were given to schools and community groups for educational outreach. 

Learn more about the KC-TRAQS project.

Hawaii Island Volcanic Smog Sensor Network

volcanic smog air monitor

The Island of Hawai'i's air quality can be exceedingly poor due to high emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) from Kilauea Volcano. This network aims to provide improved measurements of air quality and volcanic smog exposures and assess the utility of AQ sensor networks as community resources.

 Learn more about the Volcanic Smog Sensor Network.

Los Angeles Library Air Sensor Loan Program

Library loaned air sensor

This project will distribute air sensor equipment to select libraries and train staff on their use and how to implement a related educational curriculum. Equipment loans aim to increase communities' understanding of their local air quality and inform best practices for other communities. 

Learn more about the LA Library Loan Program.

Shared Resources and Community Action to Improve Air Quality

An installed low-cost air sensor

This project focuses on the accuracy of currently available, low-cost air quality sensors. Their work assesses the ability of monitors distributed in Pittsburg, PA, to provide actionable information that helps communities reduce their own pollutant exposure.

Learn more about this Community Action Project.

Resources for Air Projects

Air sensor toolbox .

EPA’s  Air Sensors Toolbox  helps users gain a greater understanding of air quality in areas where more traditional air monitoring is not available. The Toolbox provides guidance and instructions to allow  technology developers, air quality managers, citizen scientists and the public effectively collect, analyze, interpret, and communicate air quality data using lower-cost sensors.

Read more in  EPA's Science Matters: EPA’s Air Sensor Toolbox Offers New Tools for Community-led Air Monitoring . 

EPA Air Data

  • EPA Air Data  provides access to outdoor air quality data collected from state, local and tribal monitoring agencies across the United States. The data comes primarily from the AQS (Air Quality System) database and lets you display and download monitored hourly, daily, and annual concentration data, AQI data, and speciated particle pollution data.
  • AirNow : Every day the  Air Quality Index (AQI)  tells you how clean or polluted your outdoor air is, along with associated health effects that may be of concern. The AQI translates air quality data into numbers and colors that help people understand when to take action to protect their health. A new interactive map even lets you zoom out to get the big picture or drill down to see data for a single air quality monitor.

Air Quality Monitoring Grants

EPA awards funds to support community and local efforts to monitor their own air quality and to promote air quality monitoring partnerships between communities and Tribal, state, and local governments. Learn more about EPA's grant and funding opportunities. 

  • Participatory Science Home
  • Water Projects
  • Air Projects
  • Tribal Projects
  • Projects for Other Environmental Concerns
  • EPA’s Equipment Loan Programs
  • Quality Assurance Toolkit

IMAGES

  1. pollution model (air,water and land pollution)

    environmental pollution project work

  2. Air pollution model for school science fair project

    environmental pollution project work

  3. Pollution Working Model (AIR and Water)

    environmental pollution project work

  4. Solutions For Land Pollution

    environmental pollution project work

  5. Air pollution working model school project

    environmental pollution project work

  6. air pollution model

    environmental pollution project work

VIDEO

  1. environmental education। Air pollution । Project file । our environment । e. v.s । science project

  2. Environmental pollution part:1

  3. Water Pollution Project by Blooming Minds Central School Students

  4. Environmental Pollution

  5. Environmental pollution essay

  6. Project of pollution

COMMENTS

  1. Project Report on Environmental Pollution

    A project report on environmental pollution covering the introduction, meaning, factors, types, sources, effect, protection and methods of pollution. Learn about the environmental pollution prevention and the policy statement of abatement with examples and references.

  2. 16 projects that could end air pollution around the world

    The government plans to effectively ban all new petrol and diesel vehicles from the road by 2035. With the rapidly growing interest in electric vehicles worldwide, initiatives like these have a ...

  3. Pollution

    Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment. These harmful materials are called pollutants. Pollutants can be natural, such as volcanic ash. They can also be created by human activity, such as trash or runoff produced by factories. Pollutants damage the quality of air, water, and land.

  4. Air Pollution: Everything You Need to Know

    A number of air pollutants pose severe health risks and can sometimes be fatal, even in small amounts. Almost 200 of them are regulated by law; some of the most common are mercury, lead, dioxins ...

  5. 8 innovations that are helping to fight plastic pollution

    Innovations that are fighting plastic pollution. Learn more about the eight innovators that are making an impact on the ground to fight plastic pollution: Siklus is reinventing the future of retail in Indonesia by delivering refills of everyday needs to people's doors - without plastic waste. They offer an alternative by replacing low value ...

  6. PDF FROM POLLUTION TO SOLUTION

    Abid Abdeslam (National Laboratory for Pollution Monitoring, Morocco), Zahra Alavian (Department of Environment, Coasts, and Wetlands, Iran), Andres Hugo Arias (Argentinean Institute of Oceanography, Argentina), Thomas Backhaus (University of Gothenburg, Sweden), Bushra Hamid Ahmed Bashier (Higher Council of Environment - Khartoum, Sudan),

  7. Environmental Pollution

    1.1.1 Pollution Science. Environmental pollution is the unfavorable alteration of our surroundings, wholly or largely as a byproduct of man's actions, through direct or indirect effects of the changes in the energy pattern, radiation levels, and chemical and physical constitution and abundance of organisms.

  8. Small solutions, big impacts: 5 community-based projects tackling

    SGP grants are made directly to community-based organizations and non-governmental organizations in recognition of the key role they play as a resource and constituency for environment and development concerns. The maximum grant amount per project is $50,000 but averages around $25,000.

  9. Community Service Environmental Project Ideas for Students and

    This on-line booklet highlights environmental projects done by students throughout the country. You'll find ideas for students of all ages! Tools to Reduce Waste in Schools (PDF, 44 pp) EPA's Tools to Reduce Waste in Schools helps your school and school district reduce the amount of waste you generate.

  10. A Community Action Toolkit: A Roadmap for Using Environmental Rights to

    The project enables policy reforms and builds the capacity of civil society and local communities to use their environmental rights to advocate for their pollution concerns. ... A team of partners in each country piloted the toolkit methods and used the elements in their pollution campaigns. Examples from their work are included throughout the ...

  11. Lesson Plans, Teacher Guides and Online Environmental ...

    Particle pollution known as particulate matter (PM) is one of the major air pollutants regulated by EPA to protect public health and the environment. A PM air sensor kit has been developed by EPA researchers as an educational tool to teach children about air quality and air science. Grades: 5-12 Type of Resource: Hands-on activity guide

  12. Environment, health and pollution

    UN Environment Programme. Chemicals and Health Branch. Pollution and Health Unit. UN Avenue, P. O. Box 30552. Nairobi 00100, Kenya. New understanding about the mounting risks to health and ecosystem degradation, and positive contributions to health from ecosystems services mandates a fresh approach on health and environment linkages.

  13. Chemicals & pollution action

    UNEP works to minimize the adverse effects of chemicals and pollution on human health and the environment. Learn about its projects and programmes on topics such as antimicrobial resistance, plastics, POPs, mercury and more.

  14. project report on environmental pollution

    Environmental pollution is the result of increased production of waste products by the industries, rapid. urbanization, wanting and irresponsible. Harnessing of the natural resources as well as unplanned sewage. and waste disposal from industries and cities etc. Thus presence of any environment pollutant called.

  15. Environmental Science Science Projects

    Science Fair Project Idea. There is strong interest in "going green," including using products that cause less environmental damage when they are disposed of. In this environmental sciences project, you will compare the toxicity of "green" and conventional liquid detergents using worms as test organisms. Read more.

  16. Pollution

    pollution, the addition of any substance ( solid, liquid, or gas) or any form of energy (such as heat, sound, or radioactivity) to the environment at a rate faster than it can be dispersed, diluted, decomposed, recycled, or stored in some harmless form. The major kinds of pollution, usually classified by environment, are air pollution, water ...

  17. 5 Student Projects To Protect Environment From Air Pollution

    A high school student from New-York made a device as project work that predicts air pollution levels using neural networks. The AI-equipped tool can predict contamination with up to 92% accuracy. 4. Anti-smog gun. The anti-smog gun is an effective method of clearing the air pollutants in smog-afflicted areas.

  18. Pollution Prevention (P2)

    What is pollution prevention? Pollution prevention (P2), also known as source reduction, is any practice that reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at its source prior to recycling, treatment or disposal. Learn more about P2 and why the U.S. Congress declared it the most desirable approach for addressing pollution whenever feasible.

  19. Environmental Project Management Methodology

    The most important task in project management is scope planning . To ensure that project scoping is done right, it is a good idea to use Kipling's "six honest serving men" (Kipling 1902) to develop and continuously review the plan throughout the project life cycle .. An environmental project scope planning, using the principle of "six honest serving men" should aim to answer the ...

  20. Careers in Environmental Remediation

    Environmental engineers use the principles of engineering, soil science, biology, and chemistry to solve environmental problems. They work to control pollution, clean up polluted areas, and monitor the progress of remediation projects. Environmental engineering technicians carry out the plans that engineers develop. They test, operate, and, if ...

  21. Air Particles and Air Quality

    Our environment on planet Earth is made up of the air, water, and land. Environmental compliance inspectors work to protect and preserve our environment and the public by making sure communities, individuals, businesses, and state and local governments are in compliance with pollution laws and regulations. Read more

  22. Participatory Science Air Projects

    Despite dramatic progress cleaning the air since 1970, air pollution in the United States continues to harm people's health and the environment. Under the Clean Air Act, EPA continues to work with state, local and tribal governments, and other organizations to reduce air pollution and the damage that it causes.

  23. Our projects

    Climate change action in developing countries with fragile mountainous ecosystems. Environmental cooperation for the Caspian Sea. Helping countries leapfrog to a green economy. Landscape and sustainable land management in Georgia. Phasing out lead paint. Powering an eye on the environment for Central Asia. The environment and global security.

  24. PDF Equity Action Plan Summary: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

    3. Strengthen EPA's external civil rights compliance program and ensure that civil rights compliance is an Agency-wide responsibility. Historically, civil rights enforcement in the environmental

  25. Sustainable and circular textiles

    Building Sustainability and Circularity in the Textile Value Chain The textile industry is one of global importance, providing high levels of employment, foreign exchange revenue and products essential to human welfare. 300 million people are employed in the textile industry and, many of them are women. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) works on providing strategic leadership and ...

  26. Conserve Consultants on Instagram: "Exciting news! Thermax Limited

    2 likes, 1 comments - conserve_ccpl on February 16, 2024: "Exciting news! Thermax Limited, Sricity has achieved IGBC Green Factory Platinum Recertification ..."