Pollutant Sources

The pollution of our air, water and soil by the industry is a reality that a large percentage of society has assumed as a necessary reality in order to generate economic development. Primarily, the companies have set up this situation and put pressure on environmentalists with arguments that simplify the options to decide whether to accept "some degree" of pollution or run out of jobs.

This situation is leading to an attack of the environment with different chemical characteristics that causes loss of workers and citizens without the medicine has in many cases an exact explanation of the causes of it. Increasing pollution also has a direct relationship with an increase in certain diseases such as cancer and other diseases of the reproductive system.

Undoubtedly, the chemical industry is one of the most polluting and to avoid their harmful consequences required by the authorities of the government are blamed for their control, a number of conditions and safety standards. Since this industry has grown exponentially, is estimated to have occurred and spread in the environment 100,000 new chemicals. This implies that the natural environment, ideal for life on Earth is affected in different ways with these new substances. Most worrisome is that knowledge of the impact of these substances on the environment and human health is limited, in most cases does not exist.

But the chemical industry is not alone, but the very Pollutant State Register, EPER, which reflects 2159 data from the most polluting industries in Spain on 44 hazardous substances, recognizes the discharge of 1,219,709 tons of these pollutants water each year.

Among the most polluting industries to highlight some that fit in your production cycle to provide environmental persistent pollutants, toxic or radiative. For example, the chlorine industry and PVC plants, highlights the dioxin contamination with mercury.

Dioxins are persistent and tend to bioaccumulate in the food chain, so that its concentration increases in the links above, where the human being. For this reason and because of its high toxicity, dioxins are among the group of 12 substances (Dirty Dozen) to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants set as priorities for removal.

On the other hand, is proven by numerous studies, that dioxin has direct effects on the generation of cancer, immune system damage, reproductive, endocrine and nervous systems. This damage may be occurring already in some areas the level of existing pollution.

Metallurgy, oil and paper industry, are also industries considered of high environmental impact and should be monitored with routine and daily plans to ensure that chemicals used in industrial processes are incorporated into the environment at rates that affect human health , wildlife and plant kingdom.

photo: greenpeace