(a) Name two main types of environmental pollution and describe three causes of any one of them (b) State three effects of pollution on man

Answer Details

(a) Two main types of environmental pollution and causes of one

Two main types are air (atmospheric) pollution and water pollution (others include land/soil pollution and noise pollution).

Three causes of air pollution:

• Burning of fossil fuels in vehicles, power stations and homes, releasing carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and smoke.
• Industrial emissions from factories and refineries discharging smoke, soot, dust and toxic gases into the atmosphere.
• Bush burning and gas flaring (and burning of refuse), which release smoke, carbon dioxide and other gases.

(If water pollution is chosen: discharge of industrial effluents/oil spillage into rivers; dumping of untreated sewage and refuse; and run-off of agricultural fertilizers and pesticides.)

(b) Three effects of pollution on man

• Ill-health and disease: polluted air causes respiratory diseases (bronchitis, asthma) and polluted water causes cholera, typhoid and other water-borne diseases.
• Death and shortened life: exposure to toxic gases and contaminated water can cause poisoning and death.
• Loss of livelihood and damage to property: pollution destroys crops, kills fish and livestock, contaminates drinking water and food, and corrodes buildings, reducing income and quality of life.