What is Pollution?

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Pollution is a word that we have all heard of but do we all know what it means? If we take the Google definition, pollution is “the presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance that has harmful or poisonous effects.” These substances can come as the result of many different processes and activities. Some may be natural, like volcanic ash from eruptions, however, the majority that we see today and that we are affected by are from human activities. We are not the only ones affected by pollution; every living thing, from single-celled microbes to great white sharks depend on the Earth’s clean air and water; without that, our existence is all threatened.

What are some types of pollution?

Air Pollution

Air pollution is when harmful chemicals, gasses and particles are released into the air and the atmosphere. While pollution can occur from natural causes like volcanic eruptions and forest fires, much of it comes from human activities. Human activities like the burning of fossil fuels as well as vehicles emissions are just a couple that have negative effects on the atmosphere.

Water Pollution

Water pollution is when chemicals, microorganisms, waste or other particles contaminate a body of water, such as a river, lake or groundwater. Resulting in the degradation of water quality which can be harmful to humans and the environment. While some pollution can occur naturally from algae blooms or volcanic eruptions, most water pollution comes from human activities. Sewage not being treated correctly, pesticides and fertilises that run off agricultural land are just a couple of commons causes we see today. If we don’t reverse the effects of water pollution, the results could be fatal in the future, such as reducing the amount of drinkable water available to harming marine and other organisms that require pure water for survival.