Basic Concepts of Quantifying Effects of Pollution

Pollution is caused by almost all activities of human beings, either directly or indirectly. Use of mosquito repellent, use of cooking gas, use of diesel / petrol, use of detergent, passing of urine, throwing away wastes, use of pesticides, establishment of a factory or a hospital or a hostel, generation of power…etc. can bring pollution in one form or other. In broader sense, any form of human interference in natural processes can lead us to pollution.

Then, the whole world is full of pollution. Where is the safe place to live? Will it mean that every human being is affected by pollution constantly?

Fortunately, all the pollution is not causing an immediate catastrope on human society because:

• milder form of pollution will not be immediately dangerous

• Not all pollutants are dangerous. Some of them do not cause serious health hazards.

• Many pollutants undergo a process of degradation / metabolism / dissolution and harmful chemicals are broken down into safe, simple ingredients.

The dangerous effects of pollution are governed by factors like

• concentration of pollutant

• exposure to pollutant

• area / section of population affected

• type of pollutant and dangers caused by them

• process of degradation / metabolism of pollutants

Each of the above factors ultimately decide how much and what type of pollutant ultimately comes in contact / consumed by human bodies. As pollution is an ecological hazard, quantifying the pollution at every stage of its exposure to nature is also extremely important. Be it pollution of rivers, pollution of wells, pollution of food, pollution of air or pollution of land - it is absolutely essential to estimate empirical effect. That is, how much of pollutant and what type of pollutant is causing concern to nature are important questions. Similarly, geographical area or section of population being affected, nature of degradation and metabolic process undergone by pollutant will decide whether the pollution is leading to serious problems or it can be ignored.

All these issues are very important considerations before it is concluded that a particular type of pollution is dangerous or not in a particular situation. They are also relevant, because working against even the minutestform of negligible pollution may be undesirable, costly and unimportant. In fact, if pollution of mildest form is sought to be curbed in any place of world, it becomes imperative to revert the process of civilization. No scientific advancement is possible, no new convenience can be thought, no new facility can be used - if such perception of pollution can exist.

This can be illustrated by number of examples:

• Use of detergents causes pollution of water entering the soil. Such pollution can lead to damage of soil ecosystem and even lead to drinking water pollution. Does it mean that use of detergents is to be banned?

• Traces of minor pesticides and their metabolites are found in food samples, grains and even flour. Does it mean that use of pesticides be banned altogether?

• River water is polluted by an effluent and minor traces can be found in drinking water supply from such river. Does it mean that use of such water be stopped?

The importance and gravity of pollution varies from situation to situation; pollutant to pollutant; time to time.