Harmful Effects of Factory Waste

Factories, while producing industry and food for human consumption, contribute to the pollution of the environment. The waste that results from factory production often ends up in the soil and aquifer and subsequently in streams and rivers. Waste also contaminates the air, contributing to smog, poor air quality and acid rain. Waste can also originate from farms -- thousands of animals kept in small confines produce a vast amount of waste, which enters the surrounding soil and water supply.

Water Contamination

• Common substances that end up in lakes, streams and rivers include mercury, asbestos and petrochemicals. Plants and animals that live in waters near factories ingest these substances, possibly leading to mutations or death. In addition, power plants raise the temperature of surrounding bodies of water. This temperature change increases the amount of oxygen in the water and kills many species that are not adapted to higher temperatures.

Air Pollution

• Whenever products are produced in factories, byproducts are also created. Harmful byproducts that are released into the air include carbon monoxide and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which damage the ozone layer. Sulfur gases released into the air can cause acid rain, which damages crops and contaminates water supplies.

Soil Pollution

• Construction projects and large mining operations discharge cement and solvents into the ground of the work site. Plastic products are often left behind and can become poisonous to animals and plants that live and grow in the surrounding areas.

Effects On Humans and Animals

• The food chain is often contaminated, starting with contaminated water, which is ingested by small animals that are then eaten by larger animals. This is commonly exhibited in fish, which can become poisonous for human consumption when caught in contaminated bodies of water.