The release and concentration of waste that can harm surrounding ecosystems is referred to as pollution. Air, land, and water pollution are the most common types that people will have heard of. However, there are many others such as sound, light, and land pollution, for instance. All of these can have a harmful effect on people, plant and animal health, with some causing widespread and long-term effects while others are targeted and hit quickly.
We, humankind, are the main source of pollution, and, paradoxically, it hits us the hardest. The lifespan of people living in nations with pollution levels below World Health Organization guidelines shortens by an average of 2.2 years.
How much waste do we dump in the environment and at what cost? Let’s dive deeper into this topic.
Air pollution effect and statistics
The burning of fossil fuels is the main cause of air pollution. Burning wood or fossil fuels might cause the release of particulate matter (a combination of solid particles and liquid droplets), a high concentration of which can increase the risk of premature death.
Based on the information provided in the IQAir report (the organization that screens air quality around the world), global air pollution reached dangerous levels in 2021.
The data shows that yearly levels of air contamination in every nation — and 97% of cities — surpassed the air quality limits set by the United Nations’ World Health Organization (WHO).
What is PM2.5?
Particulate matter (PM) is a term used to describe a combination of solid particles and liquid droplets present in the air. Some are visible to the naked eye, while others are so minuscule that only be seen through a special microscope (2.5 microns or smaller).
Based on the information provided by the WHO, PM led to 4.1 million premature deaths in 2016. The UN agency estimated that the number of deaths from air pollution would have been roughly 3.3 million lower if the 2021 guidelines had been adhered to.
Fig.1. 2021 Global PM2.5 Map
Source: IQAir
- Based on WHO data, air pollution is responsible for 7 million premature deaths each year.
- Thanks to numerous low-cost sensors that estimate air quality, the 2021 World Air Quality Report was able to cover 6,475 locations in 117 nations and regions.
- Only 222 of the 6,475 cities studied had median air quality that matched WHO guidelines.
- Data shows that the worst air quality is registered in India and Pakistan.
- On the other hand, Scandinavian countries, Australia, Canada, and Japan had air quality on average 1 to 2 times higher than the norms.
Fig.2. Emissions of air pollutants, EU, 1990-2019
Source: Eurostat
Ocean pollution statistics
Chemical contamination together with millions of tons of trash thrown into the sea on a yearly basis leads to irreversible harm to the environment. The outcome is a global calamity.
- 100 million – this is the number of marine animals that are believed to die yearly due to pollution
- Agricultural fertilizers, such as nitrogen, can drive rapid algae growth when thrown in huge quantities into the water. During its breakdown, algae start consuming oxygen which results in a wide dead zone that can lead to mass extinctions of marine life
- Today we know about more than 500 areas designated as dead zones (or “hypoxia” = low oxygen) where ocean life survival doesn’t stand a chance. The largest dead zone on the planet is found in the Arabian Sea, covering an area of nearly 165,000 square kilometers. The second largest hypoxic zone covers an area of about 15,500 square kilometers and is found in the Gulf of Mexico
- The Earth’s biggest trash site is called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch – it covers an area of about 1.6 million square kilometers (three times the surface of France)
- 70% of our trash is found on the ocean floor, 15% floats, and 15% is located in the water column (the area between the sea’s surface and the seabed)
- Exposure to sunlight and wave activity can break down ocean waste into smaller particles, known as microplastic, which can then enter the food chain. In about 400 years (the time required for most plastic to degrade), toxins will be released into the environment, thus continuing to contaminate the ocean
- High ocean acidification that occurs due to greenhouse gases prevents mussels, clams, and oysters from building their shells properly which in turn reduces their chances of survival, disturbing the food chain and harming the rich shellfish sector.
Plastic pollution statistics
Plastic pollution has become one of the most serious environmental challenges. A large portion of our planet is covered with abandoned plastic, endangering animal and human health.
- In 2016, researchers found that the amount of plastic garbage found in the aquatic ecosystem ranged between 19 and 23 million tons. Another study has stated that by 2030 our seas, rivers, and lakes will contain 53 million tons of plastic.
- Today, the world is littered with 8.3 billion tons of plastic, of which 6.3 billion tons is plastic waste.
- The amount of plastic in 1950 was estimated to 2.3 million tons. 65 years later, in 2015, it hit 448 million tons. By 2050, the production of plastic is expected to double.
- About 50% of all plastic has been produced over the last couple of decades.
- Land-based sources account for about 80% of the plastic that can be found today in the ocean with abandoned ships, fishing nets, and ropes accounting for the remaining 20%.
Pollution caused by COVID-19
Based on WHO assessments, from March 2020 to November 2021 around 87,000 tons of personal protective equipment (PPE) was acquired to assist nations during the pandemic. Most of this PPE has likely been turned into waste and disposed of improperly in developing countries.
The data also mentions that more than 140 million test kits were issued during the given period. Thus, it is expected that:
- Plastic waste will increase by 2,600 tons
- Chemical waste will reach 731,000 liters
- Additional waste from 8 billion used vaccines, including syringes and safety boxes could reach 144,000 tons
Final word
The global situation in terms of air, water, and land pollution has not been great (to say the least) since the industrial revolution in the late 19th century, but the COVID-19 crisis has worsened this issue.
Plastic and chemical contamination together with the disposal of personal protective equipment will continue to impact ecosystems, causing irreversible damage to certain of these and may have long-term effects on the environment as a whole.
