VISUAL POLLUTION: CHARACTERISTICS, CAUSES, TYPES, EFFECTS, EXAMPLES - ENVIRONMENT - 2025

The visual pollution is any alteration of the natural landscape or artificial perception which negatively affects the observer. This implies objective and subjective elements in the human being's relationship with the environment.

In addition, there are factors of visual contamination that are not conscious facts when perceived, but still cause an impact. The images saturate our mind and it selects some and others remain in the subconscious where they have a positive or negative effect.

Visual pollution in New York (United States). Source: Martin Dürrschnabel

The main cause of visual pollution is outdoor advertising, that is, the different types of posters and advertisements that are placed on public roads. We also receive significant doses of visual pollution through television and the internet.

Another source of visual pollution is waste piled up in public spaces. The same occurs with pollutant discharges into water and visible gas emissions.

Overhead cabling, electricity or telecommunications towers and various types of antennas are elements that also produce visual pollution. Similarly, it occurs with abandoned constructions or deteriorated buildings and the crowds of vehicles in urban traffic.

These factors of visual contamination can be grouped into different types. Thus, for example, we have visual pollution from advertising, waste, architectural, industrial and services, electronics and vehicles.

In this sense, the human being is subjected to a bombardment of images daily of which he is not necessarily aware. However, image saturation affects your nervous system, manifesting itself physically as exhaustion, headache and stress.

In other cases, visual pollution causes distraction for drivers and pedestrians that can lead to accidents. Additionally, visual pollution deteriorates the scenic value of urban and natural areas by degrading the landscape.

Biodiversity is also affected, as many animals alter their behavior by artificial images. In some cases, the colors generate attraction or rejection and in others they disorient migratory birds and insects.

To prevent visual contamination, it is necessary to educate the public about it, as well as to establish rules for the related aspects. It is necessary to regulate the characteristics of outdoor advertising, including permissible areas, number of posters, size and content.

Another fundamental element is the control of other types of contamination that in turn generate visual contamination. Such as the disposal of solid waste, effluents and the emission of polluting gases.

Relevant examples of advertising visual pollution are the commercial areas of large cities such as Tokyo or New York. These cities show a high density of billboards of various sizes, shapes and colors illuminated at night.

An interesting case of industrial visual pollution is wind farms. These consist of large concentrations of wind generators (turbines that produce electricity from the wind).

characteristics

- Perception

Perception is the most important mechanism that relates human beings to their environment. This is why sight is the normally dominant sense for both physiological and psychological reasons.

Visual pollution in London (England). Source: RJ from Philadelphia, USA

Visual perception

Visual perception is the process by which the brain transforms and interprets external visual stimuli. Said interpretation implies a selection or discrimination related to the previous knowledge and the emotional state of the observer.

Visual perception involves the perceiver and the perceived environment, and also contributes to orientation. For this he relies on space, distance, texture, color, shape and contrast.

Much data is not received consciously and two nervous systems coexist. One of these captures the stimulus and another processes only some selected data.

Characteristics of the visual stimulus

Some characteristics of the stimuli are size, location, preeminence, contrast, use and symbolic significance, among others. All of these characteristics work together to determine the strength and impact of the visual stimulus on an observer.

Of these, the most relevant is the symbolic significance of the visual stimulus. This is because the images are interpreted according to a culturally defined code.

- Dimensions of visual contamination

Visual contamination has an objective dimension based on established conventions and a subjective dimension based on personal taste. Therefore, its fundamental impact is aesthetic in nature, and sensitivity to the visual disturbances that constitute it varies with the individual.

General criteria of beauty

In the common cultural sphere there are a series of general criteria of what is beautiful and what is not. That which transmits harmony, regularity, balance, symmetry, purity, coherence and order, tends to like and generate comfort.

Whereas what breaks the expected positive patterns is associated with threats or generates confusion, causing discomfort and rejection. In any case, visual contamination is caused by the breakdown of what is conventionally accepted.

A street is expected to be free from potholes, garbage piles, or the sky without dozens of cables traversed. For example, if we want to appreciate a plain, we do not want to see hundreds of wind generators.

But it is also true that if our object of admiration are wind turbines, the landscape will be significant and there will be no visual pollution.

- The value of the landscape

There is a growing concern about the degradation of the landscape (natural and urban) and a social demand for quality landscapes. In Europe, for example, it manifests itself in the development by the Council of Europe of the European Landscape Convention.

Natural landscape

Regardless of the final aesthetic assessment of a natural area, when we admire it, we wish to have no obstacles to its appreciation. For example, we don't want a large billboard or a high-voltage tower to get in the way.

Urban landscape

Scientifically it is proven that an excess of population produces a stress in the individuals that compose it. Modern cities are centers of population concentration, therefore irritating stimuli are frequent.

Being fundamentally visual beings, the images provide the highest proportion of said stimuli. From this it follows that those urban elements that generate images that cause conscious negative effects or are not considered visual pollutants.

Causes

- A polluted environment

Any contaminant capable of being visually perceived and interpreted as such, additionally represents visual contamination. For example, the image of garbage heaps on sidewalks and streets is associated with possible health effects.

In addition to breaking the expected pattern of clean sidewalks and streets that can adequately fulfill their traffic function. Plastics floating in a river are an image that we associate with undrinkable water causing disturbance and displeasure.

The same occurs with the image of smoke coming out of industrial chimneys or automobile exhausts.

- Advertising posters

It is a proliferation of posters of all kinds promoting an infinity of products and services, packed with colors and shapes. This enormous load of visual stimuli exceeds the ability to capture and process information by the observer.

- Graffiti and graffiti

Graffiti are messages of shapes, while graffiti are messages of content. The graffiti are associated with aggressive or out of place phrases that visually degrade and distort the facades and monuments.

- Electrical and communications systems

Antennas

A modern element that has even been the subject of special studies due to its polluting effect are telecommunications antennas. These facilities are designated as visual and electromagnetic pollutants.

Visual pollution in the Philippines. Source: Ramon FVelasquez

Aerial laying of cables

High voltage power lines with their cables and huge towers represent a major alteration of the natural landscape. On the other hand, many countries (especially in the third world) maintain overhead power lines, which affects the urban landscape.

- Architectural styles

It refers to the mixture of styles that cause a saturation effect making it difficult to read the urban landscape. Likewise, the breaking of stylistic continuity by an incompatible addition (an awning, an air conditioning device).

Structures under construction or deteriorated

Half-built abandoned buildings or with deteriorated facades represent elements of visual pollution.

- Industrial facilities

A classic image of pollution is the profile of a factory with huge chimneys expelling smoke into the environment. This would be the stereotype of visual pollution from industrial facilities.

Wind farms

One aspect that has aroused interest in the field of visual pollution is wind farms. These consist of large areas covered by wind generators or wind turbines (power generators from the wind).

People have a positive opinion of these parks because of their function, but they perceive them as alterations of the landscape.

- Trees

In this case, reference is made to poorly located, unmaintained or dry trees such as those growing spontaneously on the road and causing them to break. Similarly, deteriorated trees, without adequate pruning and covered with parasitic plants.

- Empty spaces

Empty spaces in cities break up the urban landscape, even more so if they are not properly maintained.

- Transport

Excess cars

Traffic jams in the city are one of the most stressful images out there.

Planes

An airplane is a polluting image in certain contexts, for example, if we aspire to see the horizon in its natural condition.

Types

- Advertising and graphic visual pollution in general

Advertising

This is the main type of visual pollution present in large cities, especially in their commercial areas. It includes various forms of visual advertising such as billboards, illuminated signs, banners, posters or giant screens, among others.

Visual pollution in Tennessee (United States). Source: National Archives at College Park

Both the word advertisements (at the entrance of a business informing the name and business reason) and the advertising itself. The polluting effect of the advertising image is complex, most of the people today are used to it.

Other graphic elements

Graffiti and graffiti are included, as well as traffic signs. Graffiti and graffiti are defined as visual contamination when their content or location generates rejection in the observer.

In the case of traffic signs, their polluting effect is related to their saturation situations. For example, an intersection with such a proliferation of signals that it confuses the driver or the pedestrian.

- Visual contamination by waste

All polluting matter perceived by sight and interpreted as such, in turn represents visual pollution. This is so because we associate pollution with environmental deterioration and therefore of the quality of life.

- Architectural visual contamination

It covers both the visual shocks that a poorly designed, chaotic, non-functional urbanism can generate, as well as deteriorated and unfinished buildings.

- Industrial and service visual pollution

This includes the alteration of the natural or urban landscape by industrial constructions such as chimneys, surface wiring, antennas, among others.

- Electronic visual contamination

It refers to electronic visual communication media, such as television and the internet. In a sense, it is a variant of advertising pollution, since part of its polluting effect is the advertising they include.

However, both TV and the internet are saturated with non-advertising images that exert a polluting visual effect. In both media, images are presented that can affect the sensitivity of users, constituting visual contamination.

- Vehicle visual pollution

Depending on the circumstances, the presence of vehicles can be a polluting factor. For example, an exaggerated density of cars in urban traffic or a jet plane breaking the landscape.

On the other hand, buses are used today as mobile advertising through graphic prints on their sides.

Effects edit

Visual pollution causes negative effects not only from an aesthetic point of view, but also on public health, safety, economy and biodiversity.

- Altered emotional state

When the human perceives a chaotic and confusing environment, it excites and stimulates him, causing anxiety for the duration of the stimulus. Therefore, scenes of garbage, traffic or excessive publicity, have a negative effect.

- Security

A large number of commercial messages can be distracting, just as poorly designed or excessively grouped traffic signals create confusion. All this can make it impossible to perceive the signals themselves and cause accidents.

Even visual deterioration of roads has been found to cause stress and reduce problem solving skills.

- Physical and mental health conditions

Visual pollution affects psychophysical health and consequently the quality of life, depending on the vulnerability of the person.

There is the so-called Usable Information Rate, referring to the amount of information that can be processed in a given time. A high density of billboards generates overstimulation, which produces information overload and cognitive fatigue.

This results in effects such as headaches and disturbances in attention. There may also be a decrease in work efficiency, bad mood, aggressiveness, among others.

- Loss of landscape value

For most of the population, the landscape is related to scenic values ​​and visually aesthetic experiences. In this sense, the landscape constitutes a territorial added value that distinguishes some tourist destinations from others.

Therefore, visual pollution represents a degradation of the landscape value of an area, be it natural or urban.

- Economic loss

Farms or real estate

One of the elements that are taken into consideration to define the value of a real estate property is the landscape. Visual pollution in this case leads to significant economic losses.

The value of a house will be different if from its windows you can see a forest or a high voltage tower.

tourism

Tourism is a very relevant economic activity, being fundamental what the tourist wants to know. Whether the interest is to visit a natural park or the historic center of a city, the visual is relevant. The deterioration of the natural or urban landscape then translates into tangible economic losses.

Advertising industry

One problem facing the advertising industry is public indifference due to its adaptation to image saturation. Ironically, excess advertising is reversed against advertising due to visual pollution.

- Affectation of biodiversity

Like humans, most other animals have one of their most important senses in vision. In many cases, they have a greater or different sensitivity than ours, perceiving certain details or capturing different wavelengths.

In this sense, visual pollution in wild areas can have a negative impact on certain species. For example, a sign or building in a forest can alter the perception of a route by migrating birds or insects.

Some insects are especially attracted to certain colors, so colorful, artificial structures can be a problem.

How to prevent visual pollution

The fundamental thing to prevent visual contamination is the implementation of a legal system that regulates the activities that may cause it. This is linked to the need for public awareness regarding visual pollution, its causes and consequences.

Create awareness

The citizen must be aware of the importance of guaranteeing an environment whose visual perception is pleasant. You need to understand the factors that negatively affect such perception and the consequences of it.

In this way, there will be a citizenry lent to actively support the necessary measures to avoid visual pollution.

Regulate advertising

It is essential to regulate both the places where advertising posters can be placed, as well as the type, size and quantity of them. The content and form of the message are also elements that contribute to visual pollution.

Control of waste and emissions

There are many reasons beyond the visual to control waste (solid and liquid), and gas emissions. However, from the perspective of visual pollution, waste and emissions should not be perceived.

Urban planning plan

One of the centers with the highest incidence of visual pollution is the city, so proper urban planning is essential. The city must develop in a rational way, guaranteeing a healthy environment that provides an adequate quality of life.

The urban planning plan must guarantee the harmony between functionality and aesthetics of the urban infrastructure. Among other things, it must promote the correct location of impressive activities, or with low aesthetic value.

Regularize activities and facilities in natural environments

As for the natural environment, the activities and facilities that can be carried out in them must be strictly regulated. If necessary, establish infrastructures that have the least visual impact on the environment.

In Internet

To avoid the saturation of advertisements on the internet, ad-blockers (ad-blocking software) have become popular. According to Adobe and PageFair, there are 198 million people in the world who are using these programs.

Examples

- Advertising visual pollution

Tokyo Japan)

It is one of the cities with the highest visual pollution in the world, especially in its commercial districts such as Akihabara. Its buildings are upholstered with luminous advertising posters and others are projected on the sidewalks of its streets.

On average there are more than one hundred posters per block, creating an environment crammed with advertising information of all kinds.

- New York (USA)

The United States is considered one of the countries with the highest visual pollution and New York is in this its emblematic city. Especially areas like the mall and Broadway shows.

Here the billboards and marquees flood the space, saturating passersby with information.

- Industrial visual pollution

Wind farms of Andalusia (Spain)

In Andalusia, the importance of landscape is reflected in its Statute of Autonomy and in the approval of the Andalusian Landscape Strategy. On the other hand, it is a region that promotes renewable energy, especially wind energy, with 144 wind farms installed.

However, its rapid rate of implantation and excessive concentration has caused various problems, including visual contamination. In some cases, natural areas such as the Sierra Nevada de Granada National Park are affected.

In this case, although there are no wind turbines installed within the park area, there are in neighboring areas. These nearby facilities generate landscape changes that affect the protected area.

About 7.8% of the Andalusian surface has undergone landscape changes as a result of the implementation of wind farms.

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