Pollution: Home

The trajectories of pollution in global capitalism, from the toxic waste of early tanneries to the poisonous effects of pesticides in the twentieth century Through the centuries, the march of economic progress has been accompanied by the spread of industrial pollution. As our capacities for production and our aptitude for consumption have increased, so have their byproducts-chemical contamination from fertilizers and pesticides, diesel emissions, oil spills, a vast "plastic continent" found floating in the ocean. The Contamination of the Earth offers a social and political history of industrial pollution, mapping its trajectories over three centuries, from the toxic wastes of early tanneries to the fossil fuel energy regime of the twentieth century. The authors describe how, from 1750 onward, in contrast to the early modern period, polluted water and air came to be seen as inevitable side effects of industrialization, which was universally regarded as beneficial. By the nineteenth century, pollutants became constituent elements of modernity. The authors trace the evolution of these various pollutions, and describe the ways in which they were simultaneously denounced and permitted. The twentieth century saw new and massive scales of pollution- chemicals that resisted biodegradation, including napalm and other defoliants used as weapons of war; the ascendancy of oil; and a lifestyle defined by consumption. In the 1970s, pollution became a political issue, but efforts-local, national, and global-to regulate it often fell short. Viewing the history of pollution though a political lens, the authors also offer lessons for the future of the industrial world.

Pollution refers to the presence of contaminant and harmful agents in the environment. The severity of the harm caused by a pollutant depends on its chemical nature, concentration and persistence. Such pollutants can be man-made or natural. Anthropogenic contribution to pollution is particularly significant, especially due to combustion, construction, warfare and mining. Chemical plants, nuclear waste disposal, power plants, heavy industries, etc. release a huge amount of pollutants into the environment. Depending on the environment contaminated or the nature of the contaminant, pollution can be categorized into air, water, soil, noise, radioactive pollution, etc. The principal strategies for the prevention and control of pollution are reuse and recycle waste minimization and use of pollution control devices, besides others. This textbook provides comprehensive insights into the study of pollution. It is a compilation of chapters that discuss the most vital concepts about the causes, prevention and control of pollution. It is an essential guide for both academicians and students who wish to pursue this discipline further.