Industries such as chemical production, metal, cement, paper, oil refining, and fossil fuel-based industries are major contributors to global pollution. Industrial agriculture is also known to pollute, with farm animals generating methane and their excreta being a potential source of pollution.
Almost all industries generate some level of pollution, either directly or indirectly, but some industries are particularly notorious for the high levels of pollution they generate. Since pollution standards and statistics differ around the world, it is difficult to pinpoint the top polluters worldwide, but a list of likely suspects can be compiled. Many of these industries have been targeted through government and citizen initiatives and have called for their act to be cleaned up.
Different types of pollution can be generated by various industries. Many people think of air pollution when they hear the world is “polluting”. Air pollution involves the release of chemicals and particulates into the air and can cause problems ranging from respiratory distress to crop contamination. Water pollution involves the release of pollutants into water, while soil pollution occurs when pollutants enter the soil.
Chemical production generates a large amount of pollution. Fertilizer companies, the pharmaceutical industry and companies that produce pesticides pollute heavily around the world. In addition to generating pollution in their factories, many of these industries cause indirect pollution when their products are not handled safely, such as when people flush antibiotics or when fertilizer runoff enters a waterway.
Metal, cement and paper production and processing are also major contributors to global pollution. These industries pollute both air and water in many regions of the world and cause environmental degradation by causing logging and mining. Mining can cause further pollution problems, as harsh chemicals are often used to process materials in mines, and these chemicals often end up in the environment.
Oil refining is another major source of pollution, and industries that rely on fossil fuels also pollute, including coal-fired power plants, airlines, and the automotive industry. Some consumer goods such as leather and sugar are associated with high levels of pollution due to the way they are processed and manufactured. The construction and waste management industries also generate a variety of pollutants, ranging from particulate matter in construction sites to biohazards released into the air and water in waste management facilities.
So-called “industrial agriculture” has also been considered an industry that is known to pollute. Farm animals generate a large amount of methane, especially when reared at high volumes, and their excreta is also a potential source of pollution. When manure containment structures explode or fail, pollutants can be released on a large scale into the surrounding environment.
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