Heavy industry and mass production have been the driving force behind the rapid pace of technological advancement over the last century.
But at what cost?
The same forces that have allowed us to progress are also threatening to destroy the planet. Heavy industry is a big part of the problem, bringing us the things we’ve grown to be familiar with but releasing huge amounts of pollutants in the process.
In this article, we’ll break down some of your questions:
- What types of pollution are caused by heavy industry?
- What industries are the biggest polluters?
Researchers have recently revealed that just 20 companies are behind a third of all greenhouse gas emissions. These companies have released over 480 billion tons of carbon into the atmosphere since 1965.
But industrial pollution isn’t just about greenhouse gasses. Large factories and power plants also release:
- toxic chemicals
- heavy metals
- airborne particles
These pollutants harm ecosystems, wildlife, and our bodies.
Industrial pollution has a wide range of effects that spreads far beyond the initial source, ending up in food and water supplies thousands of miles away.
What kinds of pollution are caused by heavy industry?
Most modern conveniences are the result of an industrial process. The factories and suppliers in the manufacturing industry utilize various types of materials. Sourcing these materials is energy intensive and often has negative byproducts such as chemical waste. While types of pollution differ by industry and product, most share the following attributes.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Greenhouse gasses are a natural part of the Earth’s atmosphere. They help keep the sun’s warmth from escaping into outer space. But an excess of greenhouse gasses can overheat the Earth and cause a runaway effect, which is happening today with climate change.
There are three greenhouse gasses in particular that are driving climate change:
- carbon dioxide
- methane
- nitrous oxide
While CO2 is the most talked about, methane is of especially high concern because although it’s less abundant, it’s 28 times more potent in terms of its warming potential.
Heavy industry is one of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gasses. This is because the processes required for manufacturing and processing require loads of energy, so lots of fossil fuels are burned.
Globally, heavy industry accounts for 21% of greenhouse gas emissions, and power plants account for 25%. Combined, this represents almost half of all carbon emissions worldwide.
Air Pollution
Heavy industry often requires high temperatures to refine and manufacture raw materials. The heat causes chemical reactions that create toxic byproducts, including:
- ammonia
- carbon monoxide
- sulfur dioxide
- nitrous oxides
- ash and burned materials
Air pollution is harmful to human health, primarily affecting the lungs and cardiovascular system. Polluted areas can see higher rates of lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and overall higher mortality rates.
Recent research has also uncovered effects on the nervous system, with children exposed to high levels of air pollution seeing a decrease in their short-term memory and ability to learn.
Air pollution also causes smog. Industrial districts in India and China are known to cover entire cities with blankets of smog, impairing visibility and causing long-term health issues.
Bejing is notorious for its smog. Many residents don’t leave their homes without a mask, and some scientists even say that breathing the air in the city is comparable to smoking a few cigarettes a day.
Acid rain is related to smog. Rain washes away the airborne pollution, but chemicals like sulfur dioxide interact with water to create sulfuric acid. Acid rain is harmful to aquatic life and forests, killing off fish, insects, and plants. It also destroys human habitats by corroding steel structures, weathering stone buildings, and causing paint to peel.
Water Pollution
Many industrial plants use water for their manufacturing processes. They might need it to wash raw materials, cool down heavy machinery, or generate steam. They draw the water from nearby waterways and discharge it back once they’re done.
Factories might dump their waste directly into rivers and streams, killing off aquatic wildlife and contaminating drinking water. Waterborne toxins also percolate through the soil, contaminating aquifers and other groundwater sources.
Industrial waste consists of several toxic chemicals, like:
- mercury
- lead
- arsenic
- raw sewage
- petroleum and petrochemicals
Many of these chemicals are known carcinogens, and in the case of mercury, can cause severe neurodegenerative effects.
These chemicals bioaccumulate in fish and plants, making their way up the food chain and eventually ending up on your plate. If drinking water supplies are contaminated, then millions of people can be put at risk.
Some factories release excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, which exist naturally, but can destroy an ecosystem when there’s an excess. The extra nutrients cause a phenomenon called eutrophication, where algae blooms cover the water’s surface and choke out other forms of life.
Industrial waste may also contain dirt, sand, or various kinds of acids and bases, dramatically altering aquatic environments.
When used to cool machinery or generate steam, industrial wastewater may also carry excess heat into bodies of water. Discharging warm water into cool environments can fundamentally change the characteristics of the surrounding ecosystem, a phenomenon called heat pollution. The temperature difference causes stress in sensitive plants and animals, resulting in mass fish die-offs and algae blooms.
Soil Pollution
Soil pollution is an often overlooked side effect of industry. Industrial waste leeches into the ground, changing the nutrient composition and PH levels, which causes long-term damage to ecosystems. Common soil contaminants include:
- arsenic
- lead
- mercury
- glass
- sand
- raw sewage
Soil pollution is heavily tied to air and water pollution. Industrial air pollution coats the ground with toxic chemicals, and the wind blows contaminated soil into other areas. Soil pollution is especially dangerous when contaminants percolate through the soil into underground aquifers, poisoning drinking water supplies and putting large populations at risk. Rain can also wash contaminants into lakes and rivers.
What are the main industries that contribute to pollution?
Every industry pollutes, but some are worse than others. Researchers recently discovered that just 20 companies were responsible for a third of all greenhouse gasses worldwide. All of these companies are involved in the extraction, refining, and burning of fossil fuels. Still, there are several industries which are well-known for being heavy polluters.
Fossil Fuels
The fossil fuel industry is the single largest emitter of greenhouse gasses. Fossil fuels formed over millions of years, and we’ve used up a substantial portion of our reserves in just over a century, releasing massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere and fueling the current climate crisis.
Coal is the worst offender, emitting not only CO2 but also large amounts of ash, soot, and sulfur dioxide. Natural gas burns cleaner than coal, but fracking operations that extract the gas from the ground release highly toxic chemicals into local water supplies. Oil refineries are known for their high greenhouse gas emissions, and oil spills into oceans and rivers have become widely publicized over the past 30 years.
Chemical Manufacturing
Chemical plants produce a variety of products, ranging from:
- cleaning chemicals
- paints and dyes
- plastics
- glass
Manufacturing these products requires several complex processes that create hazardous fumes and byproducts. They also generate tons of toxic waste.
Oftentimes, these byproducts are dumped into landfills and waterways, polluting the soil and water. They also release toxic vapors and contribute to air pollution. Manufacturing plants release chemicals like nitrous oxides and sulfur dioxide, which cause acid rain and smog.
Mining
Modern technology relies on rare metals and materials like gold, platinum, copper, and silicon. We need to dig deep into the Earth to mine these materials. After extraction, the ores need to be processed. Refining these materials is energy intensive and requires high temperatures. Fossil fuels are burned to supply the energy and heat, which causes air pollution and emits greenhouse gasses.
Mining is notorious for water pollution, as it requires millions of gallons of water on a daily basis to wash and process mined ores. This water is discharged back into the environment loaded with toxic byproducts that end up in rivers and streams.
Paper Manufacturing
In 2015, paper manufacturing accounted for 20% of all toxic industrial air pollution in the US. Paper mills release chemicals like cadmium, lead, and mercury into the air, all of which are known to be extremely toxic.
Paper and pulp mills also cause substantial amounts of water pollution, releasing chemicals like nitrogen and phosphorus into waterways and causing eutrophication. In Canada, paper mills are one of the leading causes of lead contamination in water.
The paper bleaching process is especially harmful. Before the 1990s, chlorine was used for bleaching, which created an especially toxic class of chemicals called dioxins. Today, changes in bleaching methods have reduced the presence of dioxins, but other harmful chemicals remain.
Conclusion
Industrial pollution is a side effect of the vast achievements made in medicine and technology over the past 100 years. Fossil fuels have been the driving force behind human progression, but at the same time, has destroyed ecosystems across the planet. Industrial pollution hits hardest in developing countries and communities of color, where environmental regulations are lax. More awareness has forced industries to find environmentally-friendly ways to operate, but the problem persists. As more people around the world climb out of poverty, the demand for goods increases, and more industrial plants are needed to supply an ever growing population.