Question

Read the given text and answer the following questions:

Global pollution is rising due to rapid economic growth, population increases, and insufficient environmental management. This poses serious health risks for people and ecosystems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Contributing to these challenges, the global economy relies on deeply intertwined supply chains, sustained by more than 100 billion tons of raw materials entering the system each year. Intensive material consumption depletes natural resources and causes negative environmental impacts at every stage of the product lifecycle. Global waste is expected to increase to 3.4 billion tons by 2050. Pollution of all types hinders development outcomes. Exposure to air pollution, water pollution, and hazardous chemicals and wastes like mercury, lead and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) causes debilitating and fatal illnesses, creates harmful living conditions, and destroys ecosystems. Pollution undermines sustainable economic growth, exacerbates poverty and inequality in both urban and rural areas, and significantly contributes to climate change. Poor people, who cannot afford to protect themselves from the negative impacts of pollution, end up suffering the most. Pollution is the largest environmental cause of disease and premature death. It is estimated to be several times more deaths than from AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined. Global health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, are reminders of the strong linkages between environment and health and of the need to address such linkages systematically.

1. Why do you think global waste is expected to increase by 2050?
2. How do manufacturing industries cause pollution of different types? Explain with examples.
3. Is it correct to consider pollution as a possible cause for the worsening of the current global trends of poverty and inequality? Justify.

Answer 1

1. Global waste is expected to increase by 2050 due to intensive material production and consumption. As economic activity and population grow, more raw materials are used and more waste is generated at every stage.
2. Manufacturing industries are a major cause of pollution.
   1. Air pollution: Smoke, toxic gases, and fumes are emitted by chemical factories, paper mills, brick kilns, refineries, smelting plants, and industries burning fossil fuels. Gas leaks can cause long-term health hazards.
   2. Water pollution: Organic and inorganic industrial wastes are discharged into rivers. Industries such as paper, pulp, textile dyeing, tanneries, petroleum refineries, and chemical plants release harmful chemicals, detergents, acids, salts, and heavy metals like lead and mercury.
   3. Thermal pollution: Hot water from factories and power plants is released into rivers without cooling.
   4. Land/soil pollution: Dumping of industrial wastes, harmful chemicals, and garbage makes soil useless.
   5. Noise pollution: Machinery, factory equipment, generators, pneumatic drills, and construction activities produce excessive noise.
3. Yes. Poor people cannot afford to protect themselves from the negative impacts of pollution. They suffer the most from polluted air, water, and soil, leading to health problems and higher medical expenses. This increases poverty and widens inequality, making pollution a major cause of rising poverty and social disparity.