Pollution

Pollution is when something is added to the environment that is harmful or poisonous to living things. Smoke or dust in the air is a type of pollution as it is bad for the lungs when we breath in. Sewage in drinking water is another type of pollution, as it can make people ill because it contains germs and viruses. People living next to a building site where there is too much noise can become sick as they cannot sleep.

As pollution grows, ways to combat it has grown too. Solar energy and wind energy give people other ways to power their homes. When people use these alternative forms of energy, they put less carbon dioxide into the environment.^[1] Pollution is of four types; Air, Noise, Water, and Soil or Land pollution

Air pollution[change | change source]

Smoke coming out from a chimney is an example of air pollution.

Here are some ways from which air pollution occurs. Air pollution is caused by poisonous gases, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and very small particulates. It is also caused by the smoke and harmful gases released by the fires that make vehicles and factories go. Use of coal, wood and kerosene as fuels for fire also causes air pollution. Air pollution may cause breathing problems such as asthma or other health problems. It also causes diseases like cancer.

Air pollution causes global warming and acid rain. It results in increased temperatures, unpredictable. rains and drought worldwide. This makes it difficult for the living organisms to survive.

Water pollution[change | change source]

Waste from a sewer pipe is an example of water pollution.

Water pollution is the presence of harmful materials in water, such as sewage, dissolved metals, waste from farms, factories and crude oil spilled from oil tankers. The three main substances that pollute water are nitrates from fertilizers, sewage and detergents.

Activities such as bathing and washing clothes near lakes, ponds or rivers add nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous into the water bodies.This leads to excessive growth of algae on the surface of water. It blocks the penetration of sunlight and air, thus reducing oxygen.

Pollution causes harm to organisms living in water and can also harm people's health. In extreme cases it may cause problems such as cancer.^[2]

Noise pollution[change | change source]

A sample of noise pollution

Noise pollution also known as sound pollution which is harmful to humans as well as animals too. This includes the sound of vehicles, loud speakers, etc. Noise pollution can cause ear problems or even permanent deafness, especially to older people. It causes brain related problems too

Soil pollution or land pollution[change | change source]

Soil pollution (also known as land pollution) is when man-made chemicals, such as hydrocarbons, heavy metals, solvents, get into the soil. These chemicals come from industrial activities and from bad waste disposal. Soil pollution may cause health risks. The chemicals can produce harmful vapors, or they can contaminate water supplies underneath the polluted soil.

Plastic pollution[change | change source]

Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic products in the environment that adversely affects wildlife, wildlife habitat, or humans.

Thermal pollution[change | change source]

A common cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a coolant by power plants and industrial manufacturers. This puts back warm water, and so raises the temperature and decreases the oxygen content of the water.