Hello Hivers
Howdy!
In my blog today I'll be responding to the topic for the Weekly Featured Contest
Week 08:- Edition 01:-
"POLLUTION"
Pollution is simply the release of harmful substances into the environment. Humans have greatly contributed to the pollution of our environment. The activities of Man in the ecosystem has in one way or the other resulted to pollution which has in turn inflicted so much harm to us. Writing about this very topic "Pollution" doesn't make me a saint because I have contributed to causing the depletion of the ozone layer that covers this very earth that I live in.
Pollution has done more harm than good to man yet we are the masterminds of such acts. The mortality rate of man is on the increase as the rate of cancer and other chronic diseases is now the order of the day in the world that we live in, some new born babies have in one way or the other been affected even before they turn a year old, they are diagnosed of one respiratory illness or the other as a result of exposure to air pollution.
So you see? To an extent our ecosystem is not greatly affected by pollution, but you and I are.
Now back to the question of this Contest
What are the major causes of pollution in your area? Are they vehicles, industries, or just humans? Suggest ways in which this can be rectified.
Just like I clearly said earlier, humans are the major causes of pollution in my area. Yes! Humans are in control of the big power generators we use in big refineries, in charge of driving vehicles and in charge of so many other things that has caused pollution in our environment. When these things are being mismanaged by us we cause pollution.
Activities that has been carried out by man either knowingly or ignorantly through the air, water or land such as;
- Release of fumes from car, generator and even big company power generators.
- Dumping of waste into water bodies or on the road
- Burning of plastics or solid wastes
- Disposing human wastes into the water bodies or on the soil
- And of course, noise pollution from large speakers in club houses, companies, in our homes and even in the church has disrupted the serenity of our environment.
I will be looking at pollution in my area in two perspective and that is;
Water and Soil pollution
I frown at people who throw wastes into the road from a speeding vehicle on a highway. Some of these wastes such as plastic bottles, plates etc and also the likes of polythenes have contributed to water and land pollution. This wastes when disposed improperly can find their way into water bodies or our drainage system and if not disposed properly after a long time, it can decay there and cause a high level of water pollution which can in turn become breeding sites for mosquitoes and other vectors. Humans feed from some living creatures such as fish and others that live inside these water bodies that have been polluted and that is why it has had a huge negative impact on us. Also, these wastes has also made our soil very vulnerable to erosion.
I made mention of disposing human wastes into water bodies and on the soil. This has greatly deteriorated our environment. Human wastes which might include faeces or urine has so many parasites that are very harmful to man and when passed into the soil or water bodies, it can be transmitted to man through the faecal- oral route. For instance, passing faeces inside someone's farm.. vegetables that should be eaten and enjoyed by man has been greatly polluted with excreta from humans and when proper washing measure is not taken before consumption, man can be infected with some soil transmitted helminths parasites such as hookworm and the likes. Same goes with urinating inside the stream or river that we find nearby when we feel pressed, our urine might have some harmful parasites that can infect those who drink water from this streams or give some bad body rashes to those who come in contact with the polluted water.
I believe when we the humans become intentional in doing the right things about some activities that we unconsciously do most times which has contributed to pollution, then it can be rectified.
HEALTH EDUCATION TO THE PUBLIC ON THE DANGERS OF POLLUTION
When the public is aware and properly educated on the health threats that pollution has caused in our environment, then there will be no careless disposal of human wastes into water bodies and soil. Also, the public should be enlightened on the need for good hygienic measures before putting edibles into the body that way, some illnesses will go into extinction.
PROVISION OF GOOD REFUSE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS
This is where we fully need our government. Provision of good refuse disposal will prevent the littering of our environment with plastic bottles and nylons and will also help to avoid air pollution when it is burnt. Also, strict laws should be made for anyone who defaults with polluting the environment. I believe when it comes to money matters, humans don't joke at all. So imposing huge money charges for anyone caught disposing wrongly would go a long way to putting a stop to this.
These are the few things I believe can be done to rectify the problem of land, soil and water pollution in my area.