Publisher's Synopsis
Pollution of all kinds is the priority issue in this century. Lavish life style and consumeristic approach of human beings leads to the deterioration of the environment. Even the remote places like the Antarctic, arctic region and deep oceans are not free from the pollution effect. It was the industrial revolution that gave birth to environmental pollution. The emergence of great factories and consumption of immense quantities of coal gave rise to unprecedented air pollution and the large volume of industrial chemical discharges added to the growing load of untreated human waste.
Some of the more common soil contaminants are chlorinated hydrocarbons, heavy metals such as chromium, cadmium, arsenic, petroleum hydrocarbons and pesticides from agricultural run-off. Wide variety of refuse are discarded into the ordinary municipal landfills that becomes the source of many chemical substances entering the soil environment and often groundwater. Burning of polythene waste release dioxins, that poses serious problems for the environment. Oil spills can cause skin irritations and rashes. Noise pollution induces hearing loss, high blood pressure, stress and sleep disturbances. Mercury causes developmental deficits in children and neurologic symptoms. Children and infants, older people and patients with heart or lung disorders when exposed to air pollution suffer a lot. Heavy metals, chemicals and radioactive substances can cause neurological problems, cancer and birth defects.
