The Industrial Revolution has changed the entire situation. Today man depends upon goods and machinery produced by industries almost totally to meet his daily needs. The food he eats the water he drinks, the clothes he wears, the transport he uses, the house he lives in and the tools and instruments he uses for work and recreation are all products of industry.

The paddy, the wheat and the vegetables we grow to eat, need chemical fertilizers. The scooters, the autos, the cars, the buses, the trains and the planes are all products of industry. Similarly the radio, the T.V. and the computer that we use again come from industries. Industry requires coal and crude oil for fuel. They emit smoke and gas which pollute the air. The industrial wastes are allowed to flow into rivers and tanks and they pollute the water. Even if they are allowed to stagnate, they pollute the underground water. Cutting trees and destroying forests for fuel add to air pollution.

Industries are established mostly around cities and towns. Population explosion also is more in urban areas. The uses of vehicles of transport like scooters, cars and buses propelled by diesel or petrol is also more in cities.

Hence, compared to the village folk the city residents are more exposed to hazard of pollution. In addition to the air and water pollution they are also exposed to noise pollution. However, many people living in the cities and working in various industries and establishments do not know the hazards they are facing, and the hazards they are creating for others.

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A city dweller cannot imagine breathing fresh and pure air. The vehicles that ply on roads emit a lot of black smoke that pollutes the air around, leaving very little oxygen in the air. The noise they produce night and day affects severely the nervous systems of people. The water pollution is in no way less dangerous. Man by his own inventions is exposing himself to serious lung, heart and stomach disorders and cutting short the span of his life.

It is not only men and women, who suffer the consequence of pollution of environment. All other living beings, such as plants, fish, birds and animals also suffer due to pollution, though man only is responsible for it. Examples are not required where men are paying very heavily in this regard. It is usual for workers in cotton mills, coal mines, steel factories and chemical industries to fall sick and die early in their lives. We also know, how the industries established on the banks of rivers, particularly the chemical based or petroleum based industries, have polluted river waters. River Ganga once known for its pure waters is now polluted. So are the other rivers.

The Iraq – Kuwait war which ended with the blasting of many petroleum oil tanks sent heavy black smoke up into the atmosphere. During the following rainy season neighbouring countries like Iran and Afghanistan had experienced black or chemical rain. So it is clear that in the case of pollution not only the man who is responsible for it suffers, but also others not concerned with it, suffer.

Man requires fresh air and fresh water if he is to survive on this planet. If pollution is allowed to increase at the present rate, the day is not far off when the ozone layer that is protecting life on this planet from the direct exposure to the sun, will become thin and drive all living beings to meet their graves enmasse before time. So efforts are necessary to check this trend. The problem is who is to bell the cat. No industrialist or agriculturist is willing to lose his profits. No man is willing to give up his car or scooter for a bicycle. Life has become one of automation. Forest wealth is getting destroyed. Joint efforts by all governments and people of the world are required to check pollution and to save mankind from the catastrophe.