Pollution is environmental contamination from man-made waste that includes land, water, and air pollution. Major types of air pollution discussed are smog, acid rain, the greenhouse effect, and holes in the ozone layer, which can seriously impact health and the environment. Water pollution occurs when pollutants from human activities are discharged into water bodies without treatment, harming organisms. Preventing pollution requires individual actions like conserving water and properly disposing of chemicals and litter.
2. What is pollution? Pollution is the action of environmental contamination with man-made waste. This includes mainly land, water, and air.
3. Air Pollution Air is the ocean we breathe. Air supplies us with oxygen which is essential for our bodies to live. There are several main types of pollution and well-known effects of pollution. These include smog, acid rain, the greenhouse effect, and "holes" in the ozone layer. Each of these problems has serious implications for our health as well as for the whole environment.
4. Smog A type of large-scale outdoor pollution. It is caused by chemical reactions between pollutants derived from different sources and industrial emissions. Cities are often centers of these types of activities, and many suffer from the effects of smog.
5. Acid Rain When a pollutant, such as sulfuric acid combines with droplets of water in the air, the water (or snow) can become acidified . The effects of acid rain on the environment can be very serious. It damages plants by destroying their leaves, it poisons the soil. Damage due to acid rain kills trees and harms animals, fish, and other wildlife.
6. The green house effect Global warming is caused by the build up of carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere. The amount of carbon dioxide in the air is continuing to increase. This buildup acts like a blanket and traps heat close to the surface of our earth. Changes of even a few degrees will affect us all through changes in the climate and even the possibility that the polar ice caps may melt.
9. Water Pollution The contamination of water bodies such aslakes, rivers, oceans, and groundwater caused by human activities, which can be harmful to organisms and plants that live in these water bodies. It occurs when pollutants are discharged directly into water bodies without treating it first.
12. How to help keep water clean Conserve water by turning off the tap when running water is not necessary. Don't throw paints, oils or other forms of litter down the drain. By having more plants in your garden you are preventing fertilizer, pesticides and contaminated water from running off into nearby water sources. Don't throw litter into rivers, lakes or oceans. Help clean up any litter you see on beaches or in rivers and lakes.