Industrial pollution takes a variety of forms, including chemical emissions.
During 1987, the United States released 1.2 million tons of toxic chemicals, largely from industrial pollution sources, into the atmosphere, according to International Wildlife magazine. During that same year, 250,000 tons of toxic chemicals made it into water sources, such as groundwater, lakes and streams. You can define industrial pollution in terms of the activities that release the contamination, what element of the ecosystem the contaminants pollute, and the specific toxic materials that make up the hazard or pollutant.
Pollution Sources
Industrial pollution originates from a variety of sources regarded as industrial or commercial in nature. Some of the commercial operations that can introduce pollution into the environment are factories, construction, mining and agricultural operations.
Generally, industrial pollution involves one of three kinds of environmental pollutant sources: petrochemical contaminants, chemicals and heavy metals, or construction debris.
Land
One type of industrial pollution turns land into an environmental hazard. Land pollution is a major concern when former industrial land undergoes redevelopment for other uses, especially for housing. However, even renovation into commercial developments that draw frequent visitors, such as shopping malls or office buildings, has the potential to be a health risk to people working or shopping in those properties.
Air
Industries contribute significantly to air pollution. Factories have introduced millions of tons of toxic chemicals into the air over the years. Nitrogen dioxide caused by burning fuels in industrial boilers is a major cause of urban haze. Sulfur dioxide from industrial furnaces, refineries, smelters, chemical plants and paper mills is a major contributor to smog. Methane from coal mines, rice paddies, landfills and cud-chewing livestock is likely contributing to global warming.
Water
Pesticides are a primary example of industrial pollution that largely affects water quality. Nitrogen, which is necessary for crop growth, can also filter into groundwater and become a contamination hazard when used excessively. Tests have identified 73 different pesticides in groundwater, a major source of drinking water. Agricultural concerns that raise livestock, such as farms, can cause organic pollution by allowing manure to pile up and eventually leach into groundwater.
