Abstract

Environmental pollution is the world’s most serious challenges facing humanity, which causes morbidity and mortality to the people. Man’s activities through urbanization, industrialization, mining, and exploration are the main reason of global environmental pollution. Both developed and developing nations are responsible for this burden together. This paper examines the types of pollution—air, water, and soil; the causes and effects of pollution; and find out solutions in combating pollution for sustainable environment and health. There are many pollutants are causing numerous diseases in human beings. Small particles penetrate the respiratory system via inhalation, causing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, reproductive and central nervous system dysfunctions, and cancer. Also ozone in the stratosphere plays a protective role against ultraviolet radiations, this ultraviolet rays are harmful when are falling on human body, affecting the respiratory and cardiovascular system. This ozone layer is destroyed by carbon emission (CO2, CO etc.). Furthermore, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), dioxins, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are all considered as air pollutants that are harmful to humans. Carbon monoxide can even provoke direct poisoning when breathed in at high levels. Heavy metals such as lead, chromium, cadmium etc. when absorbed into the human body, can impose to direct poisoning or chronic intoxication, depending on exposure. Excessive electromagnetic waves from mobile or satellite or computer communications system are the most harmful. Therefore, climate change resulting from environmental pollution creates many dangerous diseases including Covid-19 in the world. The only way to deal with this problem is through public awareness in addition with multidisciplinary approaches by scientific experts; national and international organizations like Paris Climate Agreement or COP21 which have identified the emergence of this threat and propose sustainable solutions.