Pollution due to Urbanization

The earth over the last few decades is facing the perilous problem of pollution. Pollution refers to the contamination of the environment, by means of infusing pollutants. Pollution due to urbanization has been posing severe threat to the earth and made the life of human beings miserable. Urbanization means the system of bringing about infrastructural development in the rural areas by means of deforestation, averting the notion of afforestation at large. Infrastructural development is immensely demanded in the remote areas as there is barely any sign of economic and socio-cultural development. Population explosion also contributes to deforestation, as more lands are used to build houses to accommodate the people. Industries are set up to employ the unemployed people, healthcare establishments are built to cater to the health issues of increasing number of people, educational institutions are set up to educate the increasing number of students. All these infrastructural developments due to urbanization contribute to the cause of pollution
The dimensions of urbanization lead to air, water, soil and noise pollution. The fumes emitted through the factories, industries and road transports like car, bus, trucks contribute to air pollution. The water bodies surrounding these industries are contaminated by the sewage released from industries. The incessant honking of innumerable cars and buses, whirring of machines in mines and factories lead to noise pollution. According to WHO, nine of ten people breathe in polluted air that damage their lungs. The smoke emitted by the vehicles and industries also causes severe eye irritation. Mercury, dioxin, benzene and lead when inhaled cause severe health disorders, at times, leading to deaths. Toxic chemicals, radioactive substances, sewage contaminate the water bodies reduces the capacity of the water to sustain oxygen. This a is detrimental to aquatic and human life. Availability and use of noise sources, extension highways, air and rail traffic contribute to noise pollution. Long time exposure to such kind of noise cause deafening.’

The pollution woes during to urbanization could be curbed if necessary steps are taken. The pollution in the industrial sector can be controlled by using non -toxic chemicals, re-using waste materials, and implementing modern productive machines. In the same way, pollution can be reduced in the households. This can be done by mending leaky faucets and pipes, re-using plastic bottles, adopting biogas, LPG gas as fuel. The United Nations Environment Programme initiated the usage of non- toxic fuels to curb air pollution. In the agrarian sector, pollution control embodies usage of harmless insecticides and pesticides which controls land and water pollution. Noise pollution can be controlled by building sound barriers, proper road maintenance, usage of bicycles and electric buses for commuting. There is a dire need to curb pollution in the urban areas in the recent time as it is fatal to the health of human beings. Moreover, the aesthetic look of the environment is getting soiled. In order to sustain environmental resources and to make the earth a healthy living space, the growth urbanization needs to be checked at the earliest.