| The Earth is until now known to be the only | | | | activity, incinerators, large livestock farms, PVC |
| planet in the Solar System that has conditions | | | | factories, metals production factories, plastics |
| conducive for human living. Despite knowing this | | | | factories and other heavy industry. There were |
| fact, the people inhabiting this planet have little | | | | certain countries that face the brunt relatively |
| consideration of the kind of treatment that is | | | | more in comparison to others. China is one such |
| being shelled out towards the same. Scientists all | | | | example. The immensely fast leaps that it took |
| over the world strongly opine that the earth is | | | | towards economic growth have resulted in gross |
| ailing, mostly due to the callous approach of | | | | air and water pollution. Not only is the level of air |
| mankind. | | | | pollution high in the country due to the coal |
| Human beings have left no stone unturned to | | | | industry but the main rivers of China namely; |
| pollute all the natural resources of the earth. The | | | | Yellow river and Yangtze are so contaminated |
| human race has shown its gratitude towards this | | | | that their water has been declared unfit for |
| planet that provided us with life by polluting its | | | | normal use. India is not far behind in this respect |
| surface, air and water. Unfortunately, we do not | | | | as well. 300 million gallons of waste are thrown |
| seem to realize that by increasing the level of | | | | into the river Ganges every day. If this is the |
| pollution on the earth, we are in turn only making | | | | plight of the most sacred river of the country, |
| things worse for ourselves. It is eventually, the | | | | then one should shudder to think about the rest? |
| human race that is and will suffer the most due | | | | Pollution poses a threat to human life and the |
| to a polluted ecosystem. | | | | stability of the ecosystem. Air pollution results in |
| This planet was definitely not discovered in this | | | | various respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. It |
| polluted form. The clean and pure environment | | | | is estimated that about 14,000 people die every |
| was threatened with the onset of the Industrial | | | | day due to consumption of contaminated water |
| Revolution. It was this phenomenon that led to | | | | especially in the developing countries. Noise |
| the emission of toxic gases in the air and | | | | pollution leads to hearing impairment, stress, sleep |
| discarding of refuse into the water bodies. | | | | disorders and hypertension. Adverse effects on |
| Emissions from vehicles are also considered to be | | | | the ecosystem are also immense that include acid |
| one of the prime factors of air pollution. Countries | | | | rain, reduction of soil fertility, higher levels of |
| topping the list in air pollution emissions are China, | | | | smog and haze leading to changes in climatic |
| United States, Russia, Mexico and Japan, while | | | | conditions, interference in the food webs and |
| Canada ranks next in the list. The fundamental | | | | reduction in biodiversity. The situation is drastic |
| stationary sources of pollution include chemical | | | | and calls for immediate attention. The identity of |
| plants, coal-fired power plants, oil refineries, | | | | the human race is linked to earth. We need to |
| petrochemical plants, nuclear waste disposal | | | | save the planet, if we desire to save ourselves. |