ENVIRONMENT POLUTION

Earth is the only planet endowed with and environment. The thin cover of air and water that surrounds the earth, known as biosphere, protects and sustains life. Biosphere is a finely balanced mixture of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon and water vapour. It has been maintained and established by the life-cycle of plants, animals and bacteria. Without the biological processes that have gone on the soil for thousands of years, we could have neither coal, oil nor food crops. Without the photo-synthetic activity of green plants, there would be no oxygen to support human or animal life. Similarly, for the supplies of pure water we have to be thankful to myriads of micro-organisms in aquatic system as also to the action of plants and animals.
Man has always made use of his inventive genius to force nature to yield its secrets. He has made spectacular break-through in technology firmly believing that the sort of progress he is making is an unmixed blessing. He has seldom given thought to the fact that the air he breathes, the water he drinks, or the food he eats could be exhausted. And so would be the rich raw materials which he makes the earth yield. He has always realisation on his part that what he considers progress is seriously disturbing the ecological balance and leading to the breakdown of the life-supporting system on the earth.
Nature has been suffering for the past several hundred years but the problem did not assume serious proportion so long as the damage was containable and not beyond self-repair. These limits were exceeded with the spectacular technological break-throughs accomplished during the recent years. The highly developed nations which benefited most from these break-throughs were the first to experience the environmental diseases bred by advanced technology.
Nuclear tests during recent years have played havoc with our environment. The fall-out from these tests has increased the incidence of cancer and congenital diseases. Radiation from nuclear plants is also very dangerous for human health. The recently concluded Gulf war during which several oil wells caught fire and not only emitted dense smoke but also disturbed the temperature pattern of the region has caused great damage to our environment.