2. 11 Facts about Pollution
1. 40% of America’s rivers
and 46% of America’s
lakes are too polluted for
fishing, swimming, or
aquatic life.
3. 11 Facts about Pollution
2. The Mississippi River – which drains
the lands of nearly 40% of the
continental United Sates – carries an
estimated 1.5 million metric tons of
nitrogen pollution into the Gulf of
Mexico each year. The resulting dead
zone in the Gulf each summer is about
the size of New Jersey.
4. 11 Facts about Pollution
3. 1.2 trillion gallons of
untreated sewage, storm
water, and industrial waste
are discharged into US waters
annually.
5. 11 Facts about Pollution
4. Polluted drinking waters are a
problem for about half of the
world’s population. Each year there
are about 250 million cases of
water-based diseases, resulting in
roughly 5 to 10 million deaths.
6. 11 Facts about Pollution
5. Vehicle exhaust contributes
roughly 60% of all carbon
monoxide emissions
nationwide, and up to 95% in
cities.
7. 11 Facts about Pollution
6. Large hog farms emit
hydrogen sulfide, a gas that
most often causes flu-like
symptoms in humans, but at
high concentrations can lead
to brain damage.
8. 11 Facts about Pollution
7. Each year, U.S. factories
spew 3 million tons of toxic
chemicals into the air, land,
and water.
9. 11 Facts about Pollution
8. In the U.S. 41% of all
insecticides are used on corn.
Of these, 80% are used to treat a
pest that could be controlled
simply by rotating a different
crop for just one year.
10. 11 Facts about Pollution
9. Every year, one American
produces over 3,285 pounds of
hazardous waste.
11. 11 Facts about Pollution
10. Over 80% of items in
landfills can be recycled,
but they’re not.
12. 11 Facts about Pollution
10. Americans generate 30
billion foam cups, 220
million tires, and 1.8 billion
disposable diapers every year.
