3. Global Population Growth and Industrial Impact on the Environment

Pollution is generated from numerous sources however, since the industrial revolution, the industrial sector has become the main contributor. This sector has been responsible for some of the most tragic attacks on Nature seen throughout the history of humanity, from nuclear disasters, to large oil spills and heavy metal poisoning of people and wild life. Nevertheless, population growth coupled with damaging consumption patterns and low recycling efforts also contribute significantly to an already bad scenario. Pollution can originate from many sources, assuming different forms and states of matter, contaminating and damaging fundamental resources for human survival such as the air, water, land, ozone layer, food chain, among many others. Furthermore, economic development and environmental damage seem to go hand in hand as important aspects are sometimes overlooked in favor of rapid economic gains or as an effort to attract external investments. In this chapter, the impact of the industrial sector on the environment is discussed, recalling some of the most disastrous accidents it has generated. Also, the different forms that pollution can assume is discussed as well as how they affect the environment and human health.