Pollution is the presence of substances or the loss of environmental integrity due to human activities. It can be in the form of any solid, liquid or gas as well as heat, sound or radiation. Human-induced pollution negatively affects ecosystems and humans and animals in various ways. It undermines economic growth, exacerbates poverty and inequality in urban and rural areas, and contributes to climate change. Its effects are often outsized in poorer communities, where polluting industries and toxic waste sites tend to be collocated with populations without the means to defend themselves.
The different types of pollution vary in their effect and underlying causes, but all can cause harm to our environment. The most common are air pollution, water pollution and land pollution. However, there are also other forms of pollution that can affect the world around us such as noise pollution (from honking vehicles and construction work), light pollution and plastic pollution.
Air pollution includes pollutants such as fine particulate matter, carbon monoxide and ozone. It is mainly caused by household combustion of fuels, motor vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions, as well as deforestation and forest fires. It can also be caused by chemical sprays used in agriculture, microbial decomposition of organic compounds and volcanic eruptions.
Water pollution is caused by the discharge of harmful chemicals into rivers, lakes or oceans, which reduces water quality and endangers marine life as well as people. It can be caused by agricultural chemicals, sewage and oil spills, as well as industrial discharges. It can also be caused by the overuse of fertilisers, the over-harvesting of freshwater, and the disposal of non-biodegradable wastes.
About the Author
