Polluting Our Future: Chemical Pollution in the World

8 years ago | Posted in: Articles | 2392 Views

With the world’s population increasing at a pace of 1.13 percent or 80 million people every year, it’s no wonder why our planet is experiencing a faster decay. Factories are creating endless gusts of pollutants, human waste being dumped in clean waters, forests being cut down to create consumer goods, and other impractical, unsustainable enterprises that society allow to continue are contributing to the creation of chemical pollution.

Current Situation

Three million people are dying per year due to the effects of pollution. This is three times greater than the number of fatal car-related accidents that occur per year. In the US alone, air pollution causes as much as 70,000 deaths per year, which is about the same number for deaths collectively claimed by breast and prostate cancer. While definitely a cause for concern and immediate solution, what the US faces is nothing compared to China’s chemical pollution situation, which recently issued its first ever pollution-related Red Alert.

To shed further light in what the current situation of the world is in terms of pollution, you don’t have to look far enough to stumble upon a boggling statistic. For instance, based on a report by Green Schools Alliance, Americans generate more than 20 billion styrofoam cups and almost 2 billion disposable diapers per year. Where does it end up? Majority of these used items end up in landfill, which ultimately diminishes soil quality and prohibits it from being used for crop growing and harvesting.

Effects of Chemical Pollution

Toxic waste being spat out of industrial plants can seep into water supplies. Chemicals that successfully breach a body of water can have a long-term effect in the life of nearby inhabitants, both wildlife and humans. When life forms ingest, breathe, or absorb chemicals into their skin, a variety of side effects and life-threatening conditions can build up over time. Short-term exposure to certain chemicals can cause weakening and damage in the immune, endocrine, and reproductive systems. Other pollutants can inflict skin lesions, damage liver function, or alter the skin color. Hair loss may also be noticeable when an individual is exposed to or ingested chemicals over a prolonged period of time.

 

Certain factors increase the health risks that can be acquired from chemical pollutants, one of which is pregnancy. Pregnant women and those that have recently opted for domestic infant adoption are at a much higher risk of developing conditions since both the mother and the infant have weakened immune systems. According to research, high levels of chemical pollutants like those belched from car exhausts and factories can cause the delivery of a premature or small baby.

How to Protect Your Baby Against Chemical Pollution

Since your baby will spend most of his/her infant life at home, it is wise to focus your efforts here first. Chemical pollutants can traverse via air or water and can latch onto surfaces like tables, desks, chairs, flooring, walls, trinkets, and so forth. Carpets should be regularly maintained with help from professional carpet cleaning companies. Getting rid of certain chemicals can be tricky as the components are immune to basic cleaning materials that most homeowners carry in stock.

Lack of knowledge and uncertainty due to absence of evidence can cause pregnant women and mothers to ignore chemical pollution even if the signs and symptoms are undeniably apparent. In the US alone, there are over 70,000 chemicals being manufactured and imported. With such sheer size, it’s highly probably you are using or is near a potentially harmful chemical. Knowing the products you use on a daily basis will help you avoid the potentially hazardous effects of prolonged use and exposure to it.

There is no argument of the fact that our world is highly polluted. If we are to preserve it for future generations to come, learning about the problem as much as you can and changing your lifestyle habits one step at a time can have a powerful, long-lasting impact.

 

By: Jennifer Livingston

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