pollution essay in english introduction

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Air Pollution Essay for Students in English: 100, 200 and 500 Words

Air pollution is becoming a serious issue that’s affecting human health, flora and fauna and overall well-being of Earth. As responsible citizens of the world, it’s our duty to take care of anything that’s harming the planet and leave it in better condition for future generations. Here are a few sample essays children can use to write about air pollution and learn about different ways to mitigate this crisis.

100 Words Essay on Air Pollution

200 words essay on air pollution, 500 words essay on air pollution.

Air Pollution Essay for Students in English: 100, 200 and 500 Words

Any physical, chemical, or biological alteration in the air is referred to as air pollution. The atmosphere contains a specific portion of the gas. It is harmful to survival to change the makeup of these gases. “Global warming” is the term used to describe the rise in global temperature caused by this imbalance in gas composition. Hazardous pollutants, whether present naturally or artificially, can modify the environment and have a negative impact on the ecosystem. Ineffective resource management and reckless human activity are harming the environment and therefore it is our responsibility as inhabitants of Earth to take care of it.

Pollution is any activity that tampers with the environment's fundamental characteristics and causes damage. The air we breathe is no longer clean and fresh, it has been contaminated by pollutants. The threat to Earth and its ecosystem is getting worse as a result of the contamination of the air, water, and soil. These pollutants are causing a number of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases—our immune system is getting affected negatively, and children are at a high risk of developing asthma and other breathing problems. There are numerous factors that frequently increase this air pollution. Automobiles, transportation methods, industrialization, expanding cities, etc. are the main causes of air pollution. The contamination of the entire atmosphere is brought on by the release of various toxic gases or dangerous components from such sources.

Air pollution, which has a negative impact on the environment, also has a significant impact on the ozone layer. The primary contributor to pollution is the ever-increasing demands of the human population. Daily human activities pump harmful chemicals into the atmosphere, making it more polluted than ever and accelerating climate change. The flora and fauna are also being severely impacted by the airborne harmful chemical releases. The rising contamination of the Earth's air, water, and soil—the essential life support systems of the planet—poses a major threat to the planet and its environment.

One of today's top environmental concerns is air pollution. There are numerous factors that frequently increase this air pollution. Toxic gases, particulates, paint, and batteries containing lead are released throughout the industrialization process. The ozone layer is also being destroyed and the world is being exposed to dangerous solar rays as a result of all the contaminants in touch with the atmosphere.

Ozone is a contaminant that exists at the ground level and can be harmful to human health. But the same ozone creates a layer of defence in the stratosphere. The "good" ozone, however, is being destroyed by ozone-depleting substances—such as hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and chlorofluorocarbons. These chemicals were once used in coolants, foaming agents, insecticides, solvents, and fire extinguishers and occasionally still are.

Primary and secondary pollutants are the two categories that have emerged as a result of the growing number of air pollutants. Primary pollutants, which include smoke, ash, dust, fumes, mist, spray, inorganic gases, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and radioactive substances, have a direct negative impact on fresh air. Secondary pollutants are those that interact chemically with primary pollutants, as well as other elements in the atmosphere, such as sulphate trioxide, ozone, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen dioxide.

Causes of Air Pollution

The disposal of solid wastes that release methane gas and the breakdown of trash landfills are major sources of air pollution. This problem has become a severe environmental and health issue as a result of the population's rapid development, industrialisation, and greater use of cars, planes, and other transportation.

Common Effects of Air Pollution

Pollutants in the air we breathe every minute enter our bloodstream and travel to our lungs and entire body, producing a plethora of health issues. Animals can have health issues similar to people if they are exposed to air toxics in high enough quantities over an extended period of time. Air toxics also play a role in animal sickness, infertility, and birth abnormalities. Therefore, both directly and indirectly, pollution of the environment harms both plants, animals, and people.

What Can We Do

Using public transportation is a surefire short method to reduce air pollution because it uses less gas and electricity, even carpools help with the situation. A permanent, non-polluting, and extremely secure source of energy is the sun or solar power. Solar panels, which are special in design and simple to install, are also a technical benefit to society and the planet. They take in solar energy and store it to power various equipment and electronics. Another step you can take on this path is to plant more trees and live a simplistic life. Minimalist living is not only a trendy millennial lifestyle, but it also has significant societal and environmental benefits.

Air pollution may reach one million tonnes annually in the next decades if environmental protection measures are not taken seriously and effectively enforced. We need to drastically alter our everyday routines if we want to lower the level of air pollution. By making better use of raw materials, water energy, and other resources, we can reduce pollution. Human health can be safeguarded and economic wellbeing can be increased when less harmful compounds are exchanged for hazardous ones.

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Essay on Pollution

An essay on pollution is an essential concept for students as it reveals the consequences of human activities on the environment. Read on to explore how to write an intriguing and engaging essay on pollution.

Essay on Pollution – Important Guidelines

Please consider adopting the following suggestions when writing an essay on pollution. Moreover, these suggestions will be helpful for most other essays as well.

Begin with an introductory paragraph, preferably highlighting the history or insight of the topic.
Try to avoid jargon unless the topic demands so.
Use bulleted points to present content wherever possible
Incorporate factual data, such as dates, names and places wherever possible.
Avoid writing a large monotonous block of text. Always break up the content into easily digestible chunks
Try to conclude the essay with a closing paragraph.

Essay on Pollution – Sample 1

Pollution had existed long before humans evolved. For instance, volcanic eruptions commonly pumped massive amounts of sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere, causing acid rain. The greenhouse gas, ozone, forms from natural, photochemical reactions in the atmosphere.

However, significant levels of pollution occurred only after the Industrial Revolution, when untreated exhausts and toxic waste products were released into the environment. Air pollution was rampant, with thick, toxic smog covering most towns and cities. Water pollution affected many water bodies. Toxic substances leached into the soil, hampering the soil quality.

Today, there have been many measures to curb the effects of pollution, but its repercussions can still be observed. For instance, the land and sea ice near the poles have been decreasing at an alarming rate. This has led to the debate regarding climatic factors and their impact on our environment. There was a time when lead used to be added to motor fuel. This substance, combined with the world’s increasing demand for motor vehicles, caused a spike in air pollution. What made this air pollution more dangerous is the fact that the air had high levels of lead.

Lead is toxic and can cause a vast array of health problems. The most common illnesses are neurological in nature. Lead can also travel through the placenta, between a mother and her unborn child. Moreover, young children and infants are even more sensitive to lead. They can develop learning deficits, behavioural problems and also a low IQ.

Furthermore, some studies have arrived at a “lead-crime postulate”, where children who were exposed to high levels of lead were more likely to indulge in criminal activities. This correlation was made as to the crime rates during the 1980s, and early 1990s were rather high. Lead can also cause neurological effects on vertebrates and impair the reproductive capabilities of plants. More ominously, lead can be absorbed into the tissues of such organisms, and they can pass it on to us when we consume them.

Technological progress also brings newer forms of pollution. Radioactive pollution is one of the rarer types of pollution. This type of pollution occurs naturally as well – elements such as uranium and thorium are present in rocks and soil. Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope of carbon naturally present in all living organisms. It is created by cosmic rays. However, these natural sources of radiation are of little concern. Only anthropogenic sources of radioactivity are considered lethal sources of pollution. For instance, the Chernobyl nuclear disaster is the most publicised nuclear disaster ever to occur. The total death count was documented to be at 16,000. However, unofficial reports indicated that the death toll was much higher. Most deaths occurred due to acute radiation poisoning and many other deaths were caused due to radioactivity-induced cancer. Though it has been more than a few decades, radioactivity still persists around the site of the nuclear reactor. Efforts to contain the radioactivity included building the Shelter Structure, more popularly known as the “sarcophagus”. It was built in December 1986 and enclosed the reactor, preventing radiation from leaking through the building.

Though the levels of pollution have dropped down since the industrial revolution, we still see many repercussions to this day. Following are some extreme cases of pollution caused by anthropological activities.

The Great Smog of London was a severe case of air pollution that occurred in 1952. The event caused massive disruption by severely affecting visibility. It also caused a variety of respiratory illnesses in 1,00,000 individuals and the death of over 4,000 as a direct result of the smog.

In India, pollution is even more rampant. Delhi has recorded one of the worst cases of air pollution, with the air rated as “hazardous” in November 2017.

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Environmental Pollution: Causes and Consequences Essay

To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
As a template for you assignment

Environmental pollution is the unwarranted discharge of mass or energy into the planet’s natural resource pools, such as land, air, or water, which detriments the environment’s ecological stability and the health of the living things that inhabit it. There is an intensified health risk and pollution in middle and low-income countries due to the increased use of pesticides, industrialization, the introduction of nitrogen-based fertilizers, forest fires, urbanization, and inadequate waste management (Appannagari, 2017). Air pollution, lead and chemicals exposure, hazardous waste exposure, and inappropriate e-waste disposal all result in unfavorable living conditions, fatal illnesses, and ecosystem destruction. The essay will provide an overview of pollution and proffer solutions to combating pollution for a sustainable environment and health.

In addition to hindering economic development and considerably accelerating climate change, pollution exacerbates poverty and inequality in urban and rural areas. The most pain is always experienced by the poor, who cannot afford to protect themselves against pollution’s harmful effects. The main environmental factor contributing to sickness and early mortality is pollution due to premature deaths resulting from pollution (Appannagari, 2017). Due to the unacceptably high cost to human capital and health, as well as the resulting GDP losses, pollution must be addressed. Through initiatives like reducing black carbon and methane emissions, which are responsible for air pollution and climate change, pollution management can also significantly contribute to climate change mitigation (Appannagari, 2017). Additionally, pollution control can promote competitiveness through, for instance, job growth, increased energy efficiency, better transportation, and sustainable urban and rural development. Below are the various approaches for solutions to health and pollution problems.

First, governments should evaluate pollution as a national and international priority and integrate it into the city and country planning process. Pollution affects the health and well-being of societies and, as such, cannot be solely viewed as an environmental issue (The Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health, 2017). All levels of government should give pollution prevention a high priority, incorporate it into development planning, and tie it to commitments regarding climate change, SDGs, and the prevention of non-communicable diseases. Some options are both affordable and offer good returns on investment.

Secondly, governments should increase funding for pollution control and prioritize it by health impacts. There should be a significant increase in the financing for pollution management in low- and middle-income nations, both from national budgets and international development organizations (The Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health, 2017). The most effective international support for pollution reduction is when it mobilizes additional actions and funding from others. Examples include helping towns and nations that are quickly industrializing concerning technical capacity building, regulatory and enforcement support, and support for direct actions to save lives. Monitoring financing initiatives are necessary to determine their cost-effectiveness and to raise accountability.

Thirdly, organizations should work to build multicultural partnerships for pollution control. Public-private partnerships and interagency cooperation can be powerful tools in creating clean technology and energy sources that will ultimately prevent pollution at its source (The Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health, 2017). Collaborations between ministries that include the ministries of finance, energy, development, agriculture, and transport, as well as the ministries of health and the environment, are crucial in pollution control. Governments should promote monitoring systems that could identify and apportion pollution sources, measure pollution levels, guide enforcement, and assess progress toward goals. The use of new technology in pollution monitoring, such as data mining and satellite images, can boost effectiveness, broaden the monitoring area, and cut costs.

One of the main issues facing the world in the current period is pollution. Natural resources are depleting daily due to car emissions, new technologies, factories, and chemicals added to food. All of these factors seriously harm the world. However, the problems caused by pollution can be prevented by building multicultural partnerships, increasing funding for pollution control, integrating it into the country’s planning process, and adopting new technology for monitoring pollution. Preventing pollution lowers the cost to the environment and the economy.

Appannagari, R. R. (2017). Environmental pollution causes and consequences: A study . North Asian International Research Journal of Social Science and Humanities , 3 (8), 151-161. Web.

Excell High School. (2018). Environmental Science . Excel Education Systems, Inc. Web.

The Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health. (2017). Pollution and health: Six problems and six solutions. Knowledge, Evidence, and Learning for Development.

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IvyPanda. (2023, December 18). Environmental Pollution: Causes and Consequences. https://ivypanda.com/essays/environmental-pollution-causes-and-consequences/

"Environmental Pollution: Causes and Consequences." IvyPanda , 18 Dec. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/environmental-pollution-causes-and-consequences/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'Environmental Pollution: Causes and Consequences'. 18 December.

IvyPanda . 2023. "Environmental Pollution: Causes and Consequences." December 18, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/environmental-pollution-causes-and-consequences/.

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Essay on Pollution In English For Students

Essay on Pollution for Students: Explore Essay on pollution in varying lengths, including 100, 150, 200, 600, and 800 words.

November 19, 2023

Table of Contents

Essay on Pollution: Pollution is a big problem that happens when harmful things get into the air, water, and land around us. It can be from factories, cars, or even how we throw away our trash. Pollution is not good because it can make people and animals sick and can even change the weather. It’s not just a problem in one place – it’s everywhere, and it affects the whole world. In this essay, we’re going to talk about the different kinds of pollution, where it comes from, and why we all need to work together to make things better for our planet.

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Short Essay on Pollution

Below, we present concise and comprehensive essays on pollution in English to enhance your understanding. Upon reviewing these essays, you will gain insights into the definition of pollution, its primary causes, methods for prevention, and more. These resources can prove valuable for your academic assignments, such as essay writing, speech delivery, or paragraph composition in school or college.

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Essay on Pollution in 100 Words

Pollution happens when harmful stuff gets into nature and makes things bad. There are different kinds of pollution like dirty air, dirty water, dirty soil, too much noise, and too much light. The sources of pollution are diverse, ranging from industrial activities to household waste. Pollution has severe consequences on ecosystems, human health, and the overall well-being of our planet. Addressing pollution is a collective responsibility that requires global awareness and sustainable practices. Governments play a crucial role in enforcing regulations, promoting renewable energy sources, and raising awareness about the importance of environmental conservation.

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Essay on Pollution in 150 Words

Pollution is a pressing environmental issue affecting our planet. It occurs when harmful substances contaminate the air, water, or soil. The primary sources of pollution include industrial activities, vehicle emissions, improper waste disposal, and deforestation. Air pollution, caused by the release of pollutants into the atmosphere, leads to respiratory problems and climate change. Water pollution, resulting from the discharge of chemicals and waste into water bodies, poses a threat to aquatic life and human health.

Soil pollution occurs when pollutants, such as pesticides and industrial waste, degrade the quality of soil, impacting plant growth and food safety. Noise pollution, caused by excessive noise from various sources, can lead to stress and hearing loss. Light pollution disrupts natural ecosystems and affects wildlife behavior. To address pollution, individuals must adopt sustainable practices, industries must implement cleaner technologies, and governments must enforce stringent environmental regulations.

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Essay on Pollution in 200 Words

Pollution is a global challenge that poses a threat to the health of our planet and its inhabitants. It manifests in various forms, including air, water, soil, noise, and light pollution. The consequences of pollution are far-reaching, affecting ecosystems, biodiversity, and human well-being. Industrial activities, urbanization, and improper waste management contribute significantly to pollution.

Air pollution, caused by the release of pollutants into the atmosphere, leads to respiratory diseases, climate change, and environmental degradation. Water pollution results from the discharge of chemicals, sewage, and industrial waste into rivers, lakes, and oceans, harming aquatic life and contaminating drinking water sources. Soil pollution occurs when pollutants like pesticides and heavy metals degrade the quality of soil, affecting plant growth and food safety.

Noise pollution, generated by traffic, industrial machinery, and other human activities, can have adverse effects on human health, causing stress, sleep disturbances, and hearing loss. Light pollution, caused by excessive artificial light in urban areas, disrupts natural ecosystems and interferes with the behavior of nocturnal animals.

Addressing pollution requires collective efforts at individual, community, and governmental levels. Individuals can contribute by adopting eco-friendly practices, reducing waste, and using sustainable modes of transportation. Industries must invest in cleaner technologies and adhere to strict environmental standards.

Long Essay on Pollution

Pollution is a complex and multifaceted environmental issue that poses a significant threat to the sustainability of our planet. It is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment, resulting in adverse changes that affect ecosystems, biodiversity, and human health. Pollution can take various forms, including air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, noise pollution, and light pollution, each with its unique set of challenges and consequences.

Sources of Pollution

The sources of pollution are diverse and often interconnected. Industrial activities, urbanization, transportation, agriculture, and improper waste management contribute significantly to the release of pollutants into the environment. Industrial processes emit a variety of pollutants, including greenhouse gases, particulate matter, and toxic chemicals, which can have detrimental effects on air quality and contribute to climate change.

Vehicle emissions, stemming from the burning of fossil fuels, release pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter into the atmosphere, contributing to air pollution and respiratory diseases. Improper disposal of waste, both solid and liquid, contaminates water bodies and soil, posing threats to aquatic life, plant health, and food safety.

Agricultural practices, including the use of pesticides and fertilizers, contribute to soil and water pollution, affecting both the environment and human health. Deforestation and urbanization disrupt natural ecosystems, leading to habitat loss and the displacement of wildlife. Noise pollution, resulting from human activities such as traffic, construction, and industrial processes, can have adverse effects on human health, causing stress, sleep disturbances, and hearing loss.

Consequences of Pollution

The consequences of pollution are severe and far-reaching. Air pollution is a major contributor to respiratory diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Long-term exposure to air pollutants such as particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide has been linked to cardiovascular diseases and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Water pollution poses threats to aquatic life and human health. Contaminated water sources can lead to the spread of waterborne diseases, affecting millions of people globally. Soil pollution affects plant growth and food safety, as pollutants like pesticides and heavy metals accumulate in the soil and enter the food chain.

Noise pollution can have physiological and psychological effects, causing stress, sleep disturbances, and an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Light pollution disrupts natural ecosystems and interferes with the behavior of nocturnal animals, affecting their reproductive patterns and migration.

Global Impact

Pollution is not confined to local or regional boundaries; it has a global impact. Greenhouse gas emissions, primarily from the burning of fossil fuels, contribute to global warming and climate change. The rise in global temperatures leads to melting ice caps, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events, posing threats to unsafe ecosystems and communities.

The pollution of oceans with plastic waste has become a global crisis, with millions of tons of plastic entering the oceans annually. This not only harms marine life but also affects human health, as microplastics enter the food chain through seafood consumption.

Loss of biodiversity is another consequence of pollution, as ecosystems are disrupted and species face habitat destruction and pollution-induced stress. The decline of pollinators, such as bees, due to exposure to pesticides, has implications for agriculture and food security.

Addressing Pollution

Addressing pollution requires a comprehensive and collaborative approach at individual, community, and governmental levels. Individuals can contribute by adopting sustainable practices in their daily lives, such as reducing energy consumption, using eco-friendly products, and practicing responsible waste disposal.

Communities can organize clean-up initiatives, promote recycling programs, and raise awareness about the importance of environmental conservation. Educational institutions play a crucial role in fostering environmental awareness and sustainability practices among students.

Governments must enact and enforce stringent environmental regulations to curb pollution. Incentives for industries to adopt cleaner technologies, invest in renewable energy sources, and implement sustainable waste management practices are essential. International cooperation is crucial to address global environmental challenges, with countries working together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, combat plastic pollution, and protect biodiversity.

Essay on Pollution in 800 Words

Pollution, the presence of unwanted substances known as pollutants in the environment, poses an immediate and severe threat to the delicate balance of our ecosystems. The recognition of the urgent need to address pollution is essential if we are to preserve the Earth and its biodiversity. This essay explores the various facets of pollution, its types, and the impact it has on major Indian cities such as Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Lucknow, and Varanasi.

What is Pollution?

Pollution occurs when external compounds, primarily generated by human activities, enter the environment as unwanted entities known as pollutants. These pollutants cause significant harm to the environment, affecting water bodies, air, flora, and fauna. The consequences of pollution extend globally, contributing to phenomena like the greenhouse gas effect, global warming, and acid rain.

Effects of Pollution on Major Indian Cities

Imagine bustling cities in India, like Delhi or Varanasi, filled with life and energy. However, there’s a problem casting a shadow over this vibrancy – pollution. In this exploration, we’re going to look at how pollution affects the air, water, and soil in cities such as Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Lucknow, and Varanasi. The goal is to understand the challenges these cities face and why it’s so important for everyone to work together to tackle pollution and ensure a healthier future.

Pollution Level in Delhi

Delhi, the National Capital Territory, faces a dire situation in terms of air quality index (AQI). According to the World Health Organization, Delhi ranks lowest among 1650 major cities worldwide. The air quality, especially during the winter months from October to December, rapidly deteriorates, reaching hazardous levels.

The AQI for Delhi remains moderate (101-200) from January to September but spikes during winter, often surpassing 500. Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10) levels soar well beyond safe limits, primarily due to factors such as vehicular emissions, industrial activities, and the traditional practice of burning paddy crop roots in neighboring states.

Pollution Level in Noida

Noida, bordering Delhi in western Uttar Pradesh, faces similar challenges with poor air quality. Intensive construction activities, heavy vehicular pollution, and cold winter air contribute to the formation of a thick smog, impacting the Air Quality Index. The PM levels in Noida compete with Delhi, often reaching hazardous levels during the winter months.

Pollution Level in Ghaziabad

Ghaziabad frequently tops the list of North Indian cities with the worst AQI and pollution levels. Industrial pollution and waste burning are major contributors to Ghaziabad’s poor air quality. Located on the outskirts of the city, industries emit dense smoke, exacerbating pollution. The PM10 levels in Ghaziabad often surpass permissible limits, reaching alarming levels, especially during festivals like Diwali.

Pollution Level in Lucknow

Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, experiences fluctuating AQI levels, ranging from moderate to poor. While not as severe as Delhi NCR, the air quality in Lucknow is still alarming, demanding concrete action. The quantity of suspended Particulate Matter has increased significantly in residential areas, posing health risks. The city’s air contains fine PM2.5 particles, reaching hazardous concentrations.

Pollution Level in Varanasi

Varanasi, the ancient pilgrimage city and the parliamentary constituency of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, faces environmental challenges due to ongoing construction activities. Varanasi’s AQI is ranked third on the World Health Organization’s list of the fifteen most polluted cities globally. The ongoing construction work contributes to a decline in air quality, with AQI reaching up to 300, falling in the “Poor” category. Particulate Matter, especially PM2.5, poses health risks to the city’s residents.

The impacts of pollution are profound, impacting ecosystems, biodiversity, and the well-being of humans. Prolonged exposure to air pollutants is associated with cardiovascular diseases, while contaminated water sources contribute to the spread of waterborne diseases. Soil pollution poses risks to food safety, and noise pollution leads to stress and hearing loss. Additionally, light pollution disrupts wildlife behavior.

Importantly, pollution transcends local boundaries; its consequences are felt globally. Greenhouse gas emissions contribute significantly to global warming, causing adverse effects on climate patterns. The accumulation of plastic waste in oceans not only harms marine life but also infiltrates the food chain, posing threats to human health. Furthermore, pollution-induced stress and habitat destruction contribute to the loss of biodiversity, impacting ecosystems on a global scale.

Stringent environmental regulations need to be implemented and enforced by governments to combat pollution effectively. Offering incentives to industries for adopting cleaner technologies, investing in renewable energy sources, and practicing sustainable waste management is vital. International cooperation is essential to tackle global environmental challenges, with countries collaborating to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, combat plastic pollution, and safeguard biodiversity.

Pollution remains a pressing issue affecting major Indian cities, with severe implications for the environment and public health. The need for immediate and concerted efforts to address pollution is evident, as evidenced by the deteriorating air quality in cities like Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Lucknow, and Varanasi. It is imperative that governments, industries, and individuals collaborate to adopt sustainable practices, enforce regulations, and invest in technologies that mitigate the environmental impact. Only through collective action can we hope to mitigate the menace of pollution and ensure a healthier and sustainable future for our planet.

Pollution is a critical environmental issue that demands urgent attention and concerted efforts at local, national, and global levels. The consequences of pollution are profound, affecting ecosystems, biodiversity, and human health. It is imperative that individuals, communities, industries, and governments work together to adopt sustainable practices, enforce regulations, and invest in technologies that minimize the environmental impact.

The battle against pollution requires a shift in mindset, where environmental sustainability becomes a priority in decision-making processes. By addressing pollution, we not only protect the health of our planet but also ensure a better quality of life for current and future generations. It is a collective responsibility to preserve the beauty and diversity of our natural environment and create a sustainable and harmonious coexistence between human activities and the ecosystems that support life on Earth.

Essay on Pollution FAQs

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment, leading to adverse changes. It can take various forms, including air, water, soil, noise, and light pollution.

Primary sources of pollution include industrial activities, vehicle emissions, improper waste disposal, deforestation, and agricultural practices that involve the use of pesticides and fertilizers.

Pollution has severe consequences on ecosystems, biodiversity, and human health. It can lead to respiratory diseases, waterborne illnesses, soil degradation, habitat loss, and disruptions in wildlife behavior.

Air pollution can cause respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Long-term exposure to air pollutants is linked to cardiovascular diseases and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Water pollution occurs when chemicals and waste are discharged into water bodies. It poses a threat to aquatic life by contaminating their habitats and disrupting ecosystems. It can also affect human health through the consumption of contaminated water.

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Pollution Essay in English- Essay on Environmental Pollution

Environmental Pollution Essay: Pollution comes in many forms, including air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, and so on. Check here Pollution Essay in English.

Table of Contents

Pollution Essay

In today’s society, pollution has emerged as a major yet widely prevalent problem. It has existed for a very long time, even before the advent of humans, in many forms including volcanic eruptions and wildfires that cause a variety of photochemical reactions in the atmosphere. The present worry is that it is becoming worse every day as a result of numerous sources of pollution. Humans and machine-made objects are also a major source of pollution. It is true that pollution causes serious harm to the environment, and as humans, it is our responsibility to do all we can to stop it.

Pollution Essay in English

Almost every class has essay writing in its curriculum, and the pollution essay is a hot topic among other essay topics. All students need to know about pollution and how it adversely affects the environment and life on earth. Students should be aware of treatments for pollution so that they can take action to reduce it. Today’s youngest environmental activist is Greta Thunberg from Stockholm, Sweden. She proved that she can save Mother Earth even when she is young. There is no age limit to take on this great responsibility. Students should be aware of environmental pollution and its reduction techniques. In this article, we have discussed contamination essays. Students should read the entire page and read every word on that page to fully understand all the topics covered in the Tainted Essay.

Read: Global Warming Essay

Essay on Pollution

What is pollution.

The intrusion of pollutants into the global environment is called pollution. The contaminant is the designation of these contaminants. Pollutants can come from both humans and nature, such as garbage and volcanic ash. Pollution comes in many forms, including air pollution, water pollution, and noise pollution. Pollution is increasing day by day as pollution levels rise and people suffer serious illnesses. Therefore, everyone should be aware of pollution and its effects and how to successfully reduce it. Just like a balanced diet for a healthy body, our environment requires a balanced mixture of all substances. Any substance above that threshold pollutes the environment. B. Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides. It pollutes the air and harms human health.

Read: My Family Essay

Types of Pollution: Air, Water, Noise, and Soil

Different types of pollution have different effects on different parts of the environment. The pollution types include Air pollution, Water pollution, Noise pollution, and Soil pollution. Let us discuss these types of pollution in detail.

Air Pollution

Air pollution happens when dangerous or excessive amounts of pollutants, such as smoke and hazardous gases from industry, CFCs and oxides produced by cars, the burning of solid wastes, etc., are released into the environment. A nice and realistic example of air pollution is the pollution caused by firecrackers following Diwali. Another example of air pollution is the smoke produced by moving cars.

Noise Pollution

The lighting of fireworks, running of industries, and the playing of music over loudspeakers—especially during festival season—all contribute to noise pollution. If it isn’t controlled, it may also have an impact on how the brain functions. Due to the high volume of vehicles on the road, noise pollution is also increasing. This is concerning for people who live in cities or close to highways because it leads to stress-related problems like anxiety.

Water Pollution

Water pollution is a significant problem for humans right now. Pollutants are dumped directly into bodies of water like canals, rivers, and seas, including sewage waste, pesticides, home, and agricultural trash, industrial or factory waste, and other wastes. As a result, the habitat of marine life has been destroyed, and the amount of dissolved oxygen in water bodies has started to decrease. The availability of drinkable water is significantly impacted by water contamination. People are compelled to consume tainted water, which might result in serious illnesses.

Soil Pollution

A sizable fraction of the Indian population works in agriculture. As part of farming, farmers use a range of fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, and other chemical substances. This further contaminates the soil, making it unsuitable for growing crops. In addition, soil pollution happens when authorities dump household or commercial trash on the ground. As a result, mosquito reproduction is encouraged, which promotes the spread of diseases like dengue and malaria.

Pollution Essay: Effects of Different types of Pollution

Effects of soil pollution .

Soil is the foundation of the earth on which we walk, travel, grow vegetables and grains, and nourish us. Chemical farming degrades soil quality, and many hazardous substances come into contact with our bodies and cause various skin diseases, which are unavoidable in the form of food crops grown on such contaminated soil. Mm. Below are some of the most common illnesses caused by soil contamination. leukemia liver and kidney failure loss of fertility

Effects of Noise Pollution

Construction, loudspeakers, and other man-made noises, as well as natural disturbances like thunderstorms and animal noises, all contribute to noise pollution. Some of the most prevalent ailments brought on by noise pollution include the following:

Headaches The issue with reasoning and changing behavior elevated blood pressure hearing loss

Effects of Water Pollution

Sewage waste, pesticides, household and agricultural waste, industrial or factory trash, and other pollutants that are dumped directly into water bodies including canals, rivers, and seas are the main causes of water pollution. Some of the most prevalent illnesses brought on by water contamination include the following:

Typhoid, polio, hepatitis A, dysentery, diarrhea, and cholera

Pollution Essay: Pollution’s Effects on living beings

All types of pollution, whether air, water, soil, or noise has an adverse effect on living beings. Organisms are plagued with deadly diseases caused by pollution of water, air, noise, or soil.

• Several fatal diseases are caused by air pollution such as Ischemic heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and acute lower respiratory infections in children among the most prevalent illnesses brought on by air pollution. Several illnesses like strokes, asthma, bronchitis, heart attacks, lung diseases, cancer, and early mortality from heart conditions are brought on by air pollution in India. Global warming is the most burning problem in the whole world that is caused by air pollution.

• Poor drinking water quality contributes to the development of more than 50 different diseases, and it is the cause of 80% of illnesses and 50% of child deaths worldwide. Water contamination, however, results in diarrhea, skin conditions, malnutrition, even cancer, and other problems connected to water pollution.

• Every day, millions of People are impacted by noise pollution. Most commonly, this leads to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Stress, high blood pressure, heart disease, and sleep disturbances can all be triggered by loud noises. All age groups, especially children, are susceptible to these health problems. Noise pollution is very dangerous even deadlier for patients with heart problems.

Not only human beings, pollution badly impacts animals, birds as well as marine environments. Through organ damage, increased susceptibility to stress and disease decreased reproductive success, and even death, air pollution can poison wildlife. Many marine creatures become extinct as a result of water pollution.

Pollution Essay- Methods to Reduce Pollution

As responsible citizens, we must take some measures to reduce the pollution in the environment for the future. Here, we’ve included a few strategies for lowering pollution.

More trees should be planted.
Food should be consumed in biodegradable containers.
Avoid disposing of industrial trash in waterways such as rivers, seas, and oceans.
Regulation of air through chimneys
Use of electric vehicles or cycles
Reduce the use of detergents
Filter the wastewater before discharging it from the industry.
Use of modern Chimneys so that harmful particles are not come out into the environment with smoke.
Reduce the use of single-use plastic.
Utilization of renewable energy instead of fossil fuel energy.
Follow the guidelines the government has set forth for reducing environmental pollution.
Increase public knowledge of environmental pollution, its effects, and the steps being taken to combat it.

Essay on Pollution- Format

Before we write an essay on environmental pollution, we must keep in mind some key points. The key points of the essay format are the introduction, content, and conclusion.

Introduction- The essay introduction should outline a specific whole topic. It gives a general idea of the topic to the reader. A pollution essay can start with a simple definition or a thought-provoking sentence. This is the first thing your readers will see, so add real-world examples and impactful questions to keep them interested.

Main Content – This is the heart of the essay. This segment must consist of a description of different types of pollution ( Air, Noise, water, soil pollution), how pollution affects the atmosphere and the environment, human beings along with all living organisms. End of the segment, it must mention the protective measures to fight against Pollution.

Conclusion – This part concludes the essay. , about 50 words. Try to give a positive outlook on the topic you are discussing or conclude with a brief summary.

Below we provide some pollution essays for a better understanding of the format of the pollution essay.

Pollution Paragraph

One of the biggest issues the entire planet is currently dealing with. Impairing the purity of anything is called contamination. And pollution of the air, water, and land around us is called pollution. Pollution affects our health and harms us in many ways.

Air Pollution-Air pollution is caused by smoke from vehicles, chimneys in mills and factories, and cooking furnaces. The stench of rotting garbage on the streets, the stench of dead animals. Dirty surface runoff pollutes the air. Excessive use of carbon dioxide emissions is causing global warming, causing glaciers to melt and sea levels to rise. Breathing impure air can cause great harm to your lungs. Air pollution causes acid rain, which affects historic landmarks such as the Taj Mahal and many buildings. The only hope to escape the curse is to plant more trees to prevent air pollution.

Water Pollution-Water is polluted when dirty and toxic waste from factories and factories is dumped into rivers. The polluted sewage discharged from the factory mixes directly with the river water. Drinking this water is bad for your health and causes various diseases such as diarrhea and typhoid fever. Dirty water is the breeding ground for mosquitoes that cause many deadly diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.

Noise Pollution – The horns of trucks, buses, microphones, and loudspeakers cause noise pollution. Noise pollution affects hearing and adversely affects the heart. Noise pollution is a heart patient’s nightmare. Soil Contamination-Excessive use of single-use plastics, unrestricted use of pesticides in agriculture, and unrestricted deforestation cause changes in soil composition and soil contamination. Therefore, if we want to live a healthy life, we must pay close attention to pollution. We must regulate the use of plastics, fossil fuels, deforestation and the use of high-frequency horns and speakers. As responsible citizens, we must take action to minimize pollution for a better life and future.

Essay on Environmental Pollution

Introduction

Environmental pollution is a global crisis that threatens the well-being of the planet and all its inhabitants. It refers to the introduction of harmful contaminants into the natural environment, leading to adverse effects on ecosystems, human health, and the overall quality of life. This essay explores the various forms of environmental pollution, their causes, consequences, and potential solutions.

Types of Environmental Pollution

Air Pollution: Air pollution involves the release of harmful substances into the Earth’s atmosphere. Common pollutants include particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Sources of air pollution include industrial processes, transportation, and the burning of fossil fuels.
Water Pollution: Water pollution occurs when pollutants contaminate bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, oceans, and groundwater. Pollutants include sewage, industrial effluents, pesticides, and plastic waste. This pollution threatens aquatic ecosystems and the availability of clean drinking water.
Soil Pollution: Soil pollution arises from the deposition of hazardous substances like heavy metals, chemicals, and pesticides into the soil. It degrades soil fertility, harms crops, and can lead to toxic substances entering the food chain.
Noise Pollution: Noise pollution is the excessive, disturbing noise in the environment, typically caused by urbanization, industrial activities, transportation, and recreational activities. Prolonged exposure to noise pollution can result in various health issues.
Light Pollution: Light pollution is the excessive or misdirected artificial light produced by streetlights, buildings, and other sources. It disrupts natural light cycles, negatively impacting nocturnal animals and human circadian rhythms.

Causes of Environmental Pollution

Industrialization: Rapid industrial growth has led to increased emissions of pollutants into the air and water. Factories, power plants, and manufacturing processes release various chemicals and emissions that contribute to pollution.
Transportation: The combustion of fossil fuels in automobiles, ships, and airplanes is a major source of air pollution. Emissions from vehicles release harmful substances like carbon dioxide (CO2), NOx, and CO into the atmosphere.
Agricultural Practices: Intensive farming practices involve the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals that can lead to soil and water pollution. Runoff from farms can carry these pollutants into nearby water bodies.
Improper Waste Disposal: Inadequate waste management, including improper disposal of hazardous waste and plastic litter, contributes to pollution in landfills, oceans, and waterways.

Consequences of Environmental Pollution

Health Impacts: Air and water pollution can lead to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, and various other health issues in humans. Chemical contamination of food due to soil pollution poses additional health risks.
Biodiversity Loss: Pollution disrupts ecosystems, causing harm to plant and animal species. Many species are at risk of extinction due to habitat destruction and pollution-related stress.
Climate Change: Greenhouse gas emissions, a form of air pollution, are a major driver of global climate change, leading to rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and sea-level rise.
Economic Costs: Pollution-related health care costs, reduced agricultural yields, and damage to infrastructure result in significant economic burdens for societies.
Aesthetic and Recreational Impact: Pollution diminishes the aesthetic appeal of natural environments and impairs recreational opportunities, affecting the quality of life for individuals and communities.

Solutions to Environmental Pollution

Sustainable Practices: Transitioning to sustainable agriculture, renewable energy sources, and eco-friendly industrial processes can reduce pollution.
Regulation and Enforcement: Governments must enact and enforce strict environmental regulations to limit emissions and pollutants from industries, transportation, and agriculture.
Waste Reduction and Recycling: Promoting waste reduction, recycling, and proper disposal of hazardous materials can mitigate pollution.
Public Awareness: Education and awareness campaigns can encourage individuals to adopt eco-friendly practices and make environmentally conscious choices.
Technological Innovation: Developing and implementing clean technologies, such as electric vehicles and carbon capture, can significantly reduce pollution.

Environmental pollution is a grave concern that demands immediate attention and collective action. Addressing pollution requires a multifaceted approach, including regulatory measures, sustainable practices, and public involvement. The future of our planet and the well-being of future generations depend on our ability to combat environmental pollution effectively.

Article on Pollution

Introduction: In today’s world, pollution has become one of the most significant global concerns, affecting every aspect of the Earth’s environment and human health. Its sources are numerous and its impact widespread, making it a complex issue that demands immediate and effective action.

Air Pollution: Caused by the release of harmful substances like industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and chemical vapors, air pollution leads to respiratory diseases and contributes to global warming.
Water Pollution: Industrial waste, sewage, and agricultural runoff contaminate water bodies, affecting marine life and making water unsafe for human consumption.
Soil Pollution: The use of pesticides and industrial activity contaminates the soil, affecting plant life and entering the food chain.
Noise Pollution: Excessive noise from traffic, industries, and urban development disrupts wildlife habitats and affects human health.
Health issues like asthma, heart disease, and even cancer can be traced back to pollution.
Ecosystems are disrupted, leading to the loss of biodiversity.
Economic impact includes healthcare costs and loss of productivity due to health issues.
Regulatory Measures: Implementation of stricter environmental regulations and policies by governments.
Technological Advancements: Development and adoption of clean and green technologies.
Public Awareness: Educating the public about the effects of pollution and ways to reduce it.
Individual Actions: Encouraging practices like recycling, using public transportation, and reducing energy consumption.

Conclusion: The battle against pollution is not just the responsibility of governments or organizations but of every individual. It requires a collective effort where each action, no matter how small, contributes to a larger positive impact. A sustainable future is possible if we act now to mitigate the effects of pollution on our planet.

Call to Action: It is crucial for everyone to become environmentally conscious and take steps to reduce pollution in their daily lives. By working together and making informed choices, we can create a cleaner, healthier world for future generations.

Environment Pollution Essay in Hindi (1000 words)

प्रदूषण निबंध

लगभग हर वर्ग के पाठ्यक्रम में निबंध लेखन होता है और प्रदूषण निबंध अन्य निबंध विषयों के बीच एक गर्म विषय है। प्रदूषण के बारे में हर छात्र को पता होना चाहिए कि प्रदूषण कैसे पृथ्वी के पर्यावरण और पृथ्वी पर जीवन पर प्रतिकूल प्रभाव डाल रहा है। छात्रों को प्रदूषण के इलाज के बारे में पता होना चाहिए ताकि वे प्रदूषण को कम करने के लिए कदम उठा सकें। आज के दौर में ग्रेटा थनबर्ग सबसे कम उम्र की पर्यावरण कार्यकर्ता हैं, वह स्टॉकहोम, स्वीडन की रहने वाली हैं। उसने साबित कर दिया है कि आप कम उम्र में भी धरती मां को बचा सकते हैं, इस महान जिम्मेदारी को लेने की कोई उम्र सीमा नहीं है। छात्रों को प्रदूषण और इसकी कमी तकनीकों के बारे में पता होना चाहिए। इस लेख में, हमने प्रदूषण निबंध को कवर किया है। प्रदूषण निबंध में शामिल सभी विषयों की पूरी समझ प्राप्त करने के लिए छात्रों को पूरे पृष्ठ को पढ़ना चाहिए और इस पृष्ठ के प्रत्येक शब्द को पढ़ना चाहिए।

पृथ्वी के पर्यावरण में हानिकारक पदार्थों के प्रवेश को प्रदूषण कहा जाता है। प्रदूषक इन हानिकारक पदार्थों के लिए शब्द हैं। प्रदूषक मानव और प्राकृतिक दोनों स्रोतों से उत्पन्न हो सकते हैं, जैसे कचरा और ज्वालामुखी राख। प्रदूषण कई रूपों में आता है, जिसमें वायु प्रदूषण, जल प्रदूषण, ध्वनि प्रदूषण आदि शामिल हैं। प्रदूषण का स्तर दिन-ब-दिन बढ़ता जा रहा है, जिससे लोग गंभीर बीमारियों का शिकार हो रहे हैं। नतीजतन, सभी को प्रदूषण, इसके प्रभावों और इसे सफलतापूर्वक कम करने के तरीके के बारे में बताया जाना चाहिए। हमारे पर्यावरण को स्वस्थ शरीर के लिए संतुलित भोजन की तरह सभी पदार्थों के संतुलित मिश्रण की आवश्यकता होती है। कोई भी पदार्थ जो अपने दहलीज स्तर से ऊपर बढ़ जाता है, पर्यावरण को प्रदूषित करता है, जैसे कि वातावरण में कार्बन डाइऑक्साइड और नाइट्रोजन ऑक्साइड में वृद्धि, जो हवा को प्रदूषित करती है और मानव स्वास्थ्य को नुकसान पहुंचाती है।

प्रदूषण के प्रकार: वायु, जल, शोर और मिट्टी

विभिन्न प्रकार के प्रदूषणों का पर्यावरण के विभिन्न भागों पर अलग-अलग प्रभाव पड़ता है। प्रदूषण के प्रकारों में वायु प्रदूषण, जल प्रदूषण, ध्वनि प्रदूषण और मृदा प्रदूषण शामिल हैं। आइए हम इस प्रकार के प्रदूषण के बारे में विस्तार से चर्चा करें।

वायु प्रदूषण: जब जहरीले या अत्यधिक मात्रा में प्रदूषक जैसे उद्योग से निकलने वाला धुआं और हानिकारक गैसें, क्लोरोफ्लोरोकार्बन, और ऑटोमोबाइल द्वारा बनाए गए ऑक्साइड, ठोस कचरे के जलने आदि को पर्यावरण में पेश किया जाता है, तो वायु प्रदूषण होता है। दिवाली के बाद पटाखों से होने वाला प्रदूषण वायु प्रदूषण का एक अच्छा और संबंधित उदाहरण है, वायु प्रदूषण का एक और उदाहरण वाहनों से निकलने वाला धुआं है।

ध्वनि प्रदूषण: ध्वनि प्रदूषण पटाखों के फोड़ने, कारखानों के संचालन और लाउडस्पीकरों पर प्रसारित होने वाले संगीत के कारण भी होता है, खासकर त्योहारों के मौसम में। यह मस्तिष्क के काम करने के तरीके को भी प्रभावित कर सकता है अगर इसे प्रबंधित नहीं किया जाता है। सड़कों पर वाहनों की भारी संख्या से ध्वनि प्रदूषण भी बढ़ जाता है। यह उन लोगों के लिए चिंता का विषय है जो शहरों में या राजमार्गों के पास रहते हैं इसके कारण लोगों को तनाव से संबंधित समस्याएं होती हैं जैसे कि इसके परिणामस्वरूप चिंता।

जल प्रदूषण: जल प्रदूषण के रूप में मनुष्य इस समय एक बड़ी चुनौती का सामना कर रहा है। सीवेज अपशिष्ट, कीटनाशक, घरेलू और कृषि अपशिष्ट, औद्योगिक या कारखाने के कचरे, और अन्य कचरे को सीधे नहरों, नदियों और समुद्रों जैसे जल निकायों में फेंक दिया जाता है। नतीजतन, समुद्री जीवन आवास खो गया है, और जल निकायों में घुलित ऑक्सीजन के स्तर में गिरावट शुरू हो गई है। पेयजल की उपलब्धता पर जल प्रदूषण का महत्वपूर्ण प्रभाव पड़ता है। लोग दूषित पानी पीने को मजबूर हैं, जिससे गंभीर बीमारियां होती हैं।

मृदा प्रदूषण: कृषि भारतीय आबादी के एक बड़े हिस्से को रोजगार देती है। किसान खेती के हिस्से के रूप में विभिन्न प्रकार के उर्वरकों, जड़ी-बूटियों, कवकनाशी और अन्य रासायनिक यौगिकों का उपयोग करते हैं। यह आगे मिट्टी को प्रदूषित करता है, जिससे यह फसल उत्पादन के लिए अनुपयुक्त हो जाता है। इसके अलावा, यदि अधिकारी औद्योगिक या आवासीय कचरे को जमीन पर फेंकते हैं, तो मिट्टी प्रदूषण होता है। यह बदले में, मच्छरों के प्रजनन को प्रोत्साहित करता है, जिससे डेंगू, मलेरिया जैसी बीमारियां फैलती हैं।

जीवों पर प्रदूषण का प्रभाव

सभी प्रकार के प्रदूषण चाहे वायु हो, जल हो, मिट्टी हो या ध्वनि हो, जीवों पर प्रतिकूल प्रभाव पड़ता है। जल, वायु, ध्वनि या मिट्टी में प्रदूषण के कारण होने वाली घातक बीमारियों से जीवित प्राणी प्रभावित हो रहे हैं। यहां हमने विभिन्न प्रदूषणों से होने वाली बीमारियों की सूची दी है।

मृदा प्रदूषण के प्रभाव

मिट्टी पृथ्वी की नींव है जिस पर हम चलते हैं या यात्रा करते हैं और जिस पर हम अपना पेट भरने के लिए सब्जियां और अनाज उगाते हैं। रासायनिक खेती के कारण मिट्टी की गुणवत्ता बिगड़ रही है, यह अपरिहार्य है कि कई खतरनाक पदार्थ हमारे शरीर के संपर्क में आते हैं और विभिन्न प्रकार के त्वचा विकारों का कारण बनते हैं, या ऐसी प्रदूषित मिट्टी पर उगाई जाने वाली खाद्य फसलों के रूप में।

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Q. What is Pollution?

The introduction of harmful substances into the earth’s environment is referred to as pollution.

Q. Causes of water pollution?

Sewage waste, Pesticides, household, and agricultural waste, industrial or factory waste, and other wastes are thrown directly into water bodies such as canals, rivers, and seas is the main reason for water pollution.

Q. Causes of Air pollution?

Smoke and harmful gases from industry, chlorofluorocarbon, and oxides created by automobiles, the burning of solid wastes are the main causes of air pollution.

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Essay on Environmental Pollution: 100 Words, 200 Words

Updated on
Apr 1, 2024

One of the biggest risks to life as we know it is environmental degradation. The water we drink, the air we breathe, and the ecosystems on which we depend are all impacted by pollution. People, animals, and plants will decline if pollution levels continue to rise since they won’t be able to adapt to a significantly altered environment. Are you struggling to write an essay on environmental pollution? If the answer is yes, then this blog will help you get some ideas to write an effective essay. Keep reading further to know more!

Table of Contents

1 What is Environmental Pollution?
2 Essay on Environmental Pollution – 100 Words
3 Essay on Environmental Pollution – 250 Words
4 Essay on Environmental Pollution – 500 Words

What is Environmental Pollution?

The phenomenon of undesirable changes in the surroundings that are harmful to animals and plants, and leads to environmental degradation is known as environmental pollution. These changes can occur because of the solid, liquid or gaseous pollutants. For example, DDT, plastic, and heavy materials take more time to degrade and are known as notable pollutants. For the determination of risk assessment of public health, concentration of pollutants is measured.

Essay on Environmental Pollution – 100 Words

The presence of contaminants in the environment is referred to as pollution. Gases like Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Carbon Monoxide (CO), among others; solid pollutants like plastic, sewage, etc.; and chemicals like fertilisers, as well as those produced as byproducts in manufacturing, transportation, etc., are a few examples of polluting substances.

The immediate result of pollution is that it makes the world’s natural resources useless or toxic to use, as well as leads to the extinction of species and ecological imbalance. To stop more harm from occurring to the earth and its inhabitants due to environmental pollution, it is imperative to take proactive precautions.

Essay on Environmental Pollution – 250 Words

When undesired elements, or pollutants, are present in the environment, it is said to be polluted. The environment is severely harmed by pollution, which poses a direct threat to it. Although the world has begun to understand the importance of addressing pollution if the planet and its biodiversity are to be conserved there is still a long way to go.

Everything that makes up the environment, including the air, water bodies, flora, and wildlife, is impacted by pollution in one way or another. There are four main types of pollution – Air Pollution, Water Pollution, Noise Pollution and Soil or Land Pollution . Additionally, pollution contributes to global issues including acid rain, global warming, and greenhouse gas consequences. A rise in the planet’s average surface temperature is referred to as global warming, and it causes starvation, floods, and droughts.

Environmental pollution has a wide-ranging impact. In addition to the current effects of pollution, a lack of effective pollution prevention measures also imperils the future of various species. The pollution is causing harm at a far faster rate than it can be healed. Reversing the environmental harm we have caused could take generations, and even then, it won’t be simple. It will require tight discipline and commitment to stop pollution.

The best ways feasible are being used by various nations to respond to these catastrophes. More efforts are being launched to raise public awareness about the dangers of pollution and the importance of preserving our ecosystem. Greener lifestyles are gaining popularity; examples include using wind and solar energy, new climate-friendly cars, and energy-efficient lighting.

Essay on Environmental Pollution – 500 Words

Pollution is the term used to describe the entry of pollutants into the environment. Noise, water, and air pollution are only a few of the several types of pollution. There is a direct relationship between the rise of pollution levels and illnesses among people. Therefore, it is important for everyone to be knowledgeable about pollution, its impacts, and effective ways to eliminate it. Our environment needs a balanced combination of all components, just like our body requires a balanced diet. The environment is polluted by any substance that is present above that limit for example rise in the levels of nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes harm to human health due to poor air quality.

All forms of pollution, whether in the air, water, soil, or noise, have a negative impact on living things. Deadly diseases that are brought on by the contamination of soil, water, air, or sound affect organisms.

Among the most common disorders brought on by air pollution are acute lower respiratory infections in children, ischemic heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer. Air pollution is a major contributor to a number of ailments in India, including strokes, bronchitis, heart attacks, lung diseases, cancer, and early mortality from heart disorders. The most pressing issue in the world now is global warming, which is caused by air pollution.

Around the world, poor drinking water quality is the reason behind 50% of child deaths and 80% of illnesses, including more than 50 different diseases. Water pollution causes diarrhoea, skin diseases, malnutrition, and even cancer, as well as other issues that are related to it.

Every day, noise pollution has an effect on millions of people. The most frequent result of this is noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Loud noises have the potential to cause stress, high blood pressure, heart disease, and sleep difficulties. Children in particular are prone to these health issues across the board in terms of age groups. Noise pollution is extremely harmful, and it’s especially deadlier for people with heart issues.

Use of the 3Rs, or reduce, reuse, and recycle, is the first step in reducing pollution. People should use air conditioners less since they generate noxious gases, such as ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons, which will minimise air pollution.

Reducing the number of vehicles on the road will also help to clean up the planet’s air. The more often cars are used, the more dangerous chemicals like sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons that contribute to major air pollution are released into the atmosphere.

Increasing public awareness is a further means of reducing pollution on Earth. Through programmes like the “Go Green” campaign, which urges people to plant more trees and use recyclable materials in their daily lives, awareness can be raised about the significance of eliminating pollution on Earth. The “Earth Hour” is another globally recognised event that calls for everyone to turn off all lights for one hour in order to raise awareness of the significance of reducing electricity usage in order to minimise pollution on Earth.

The government’s obligation to maintain national laws is one way to reduce pollution on Earth. Offenders should be subject to harsh penalties, such as increased fines and longer prison terms, which will force them to reconsider their influence on the environment and serve as a message to those who are not currently involved but who might be in the future.

Must Read: Essay on Pollution: Elements, Type, Format & Samples

Prachi Gupta

Prachi has 1.5 yrs of experience in Content & Copywriting. Her skills entail SEO, researching, brainstorming marketing campaigns, suggesting content ideas, graphic designing, Keyword research, understanding user intent etc. She thrives on a work culture that helps her unlearn redundant ways of thinking. Besides this, she always has her binoculars on looking for good books and music recommendations, cocktails and world history.

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by Chris Woodford . Last updated: November 22, 2022.

Photo: Air pollution is obvious when it pours from a smokestack (chimney), but it's not always so easy to spot. This is an old photo of the kind of smoke that used to come from coal-fired power plants and, apart from soot (unburned carbon particles), its pollutants include sulfur dioxide and the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Thanks to tougher pollution controls, modern power plants produce only a fraction as much pollution. Modern pollution made by traffic consists of gases like nitrogen dioxide and "particulates" (microscopic soot and dust fragments) that are largely invisible.

What is air pollution?

Air pollution is a gas (or a liquid or solid dispersed through ordinary air) released in a big enough quantity to harm the health of people or other animals, kill plants or stop them growing properly, damage or disrupt some other aspect of the environment (such as making buildings crumble), or cause some other kind of nuisance (reduced visibility, perhaps, or an unpleasant odor).

Natural air pollution

Photo: Forest fires are a completely natural cause of air pollution. We'll never be able to prevent them breaking out or stop the pollution they cause; our best hope is to manage forests, where we can, so fires don't spread. Ironically, that can mean deliberately burning areas of forest, as shown here, to create firebreaks. Forests are also deliberately burned to regenerate ecosystems. Photo by courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife Service .

Top-ten kinds of air pollution Photo: Flying molecules—if you could see air pollution close up, this is what it would look like. Image courtesy of US Department of Energy. Any gas could qualify as pollution if it reached a high enough concentration to do harm. Theoretically, that means there are dozens of different pollution gases. It's important to note that not all the things we think of as pollution are gases: some are aerosols (liquids or solids dispersed through gases). In practice, about ten different substances cause most concern: Sulfur dioxide : Coal, petroleum, and other fuels are often impure and contain sulfur as well as organic (carbon-based) compounds. When sulfur (spelled "sulphur" in some countries) burns with oxygen from the air, sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) is produced. Coal-fired power plants are the world's biggest source of sulfur-dioxide air pollution, which contributes to smog, acid rain, and health problems that include lung disease. [5] Large amounts of sulfur dioxide are also produced by ships, which use dirtier diesel fuel than cars and trucks. [6] Carbon monoxide : This highly dangerous gas forms when fuels have too little oxygen to burn completely. It spews out in car exhausts and it can also build up to dangerous levels inside your home if you have a poorly maintained gas boiler , stove, or fuel-burning appliance. (Always fit a carbon monoxide detector if you burn fuels indoors.) [7] Carbon dioxide : This gas is central to everyday life and isn't normally considered a pollutant: we all produce it when we breathe out and plants such as crops and trees need to "breathe" it in to grow. However, carbon dioxide is also a greenhouse gas released by engines and power plants. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, it's been building up in Earth's atmosphere and contributing to the problem of global warming and climate change . [8] Nitrogen oxides : Nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) and nitrogen oxide (NO) are pollutants produced as an indirect result of combustion, when nitrogen and oxygen from the air react together. Nitrogen oxide pollution comes from vehicle engines and power plants, and plays an important role in the formation of acid rain, ozone and smog. Nitrogen oxides are also "indirect greenhouse gases" (they contribute to global warming by producing ozone, which is a greenhouse gas). [9] Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) : These carbon-based (organic) chemicals evaporate easily at ordinary temperatures and pressures, so they readily become gases. That's precisely why they're used as solvents in many different household chemicals such as paints , waxes, and varnishes. Unfortunately, they're also a form of air pollution: they're believed to have long-term (chronic) effects on people's health and they play a role in the formation of ozone and smog. VOCs are also released by tobacco smoke and wildfires. [10] Particulates : There are many different kinds of particulates, from black soot in diesel exhaust to dust and organic matter from the desert. Airborne liquid droplets from farm pollution also count as particulates. Particulates of different sizes are often referred to by the letters PM followed by a number, so PM 10 means soot particles of less than 10 microns (10 millionths of a meter or 10µm in diameter, roughly 10 times thinner than a thick human hair). The smaller ("finer") the particulates, the deeper they travel into our lungs and the more dangerous they are. PM 2.5 particulates are much more dangerous (they're less than 2.5 millionths of a meter or about 40 times thinner than a typical hair). In cities, most particulates come from traffic fumes. [11] Ozone : Also called trioxygen, this is a type of oxygen gas whose molecules are made from three oxygen atoms joined together (so it has the chemical formula O 3 ), instead of just the two atoms in conventional oxygen (O 2 ). In the stratosphere (upper atmosphere), a band of ozone ("the ozone layer") protects us by screening out harmful ultraviolet radiation (high-energy blue light) beaming down from the Sun. At ground level, it's a toxic pollutant that can damage health. It forms when sunlight strikes a cocktail of other pollution and is a key ingredient of smog (see box below). [12] Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) : Once thought to be harmless, these gases were widely used in refrigerators and aerosol cans until it was discovered that they damaged Earth's ozone layer. We discuss this in more detail down below. [13] Unburned hydrocarbons : Petroleum and other fuels are made of organic compounds based on chains of carbon and hydrogen atoms. When they burn properly, they're completely converted into harmless carbon dioxide and water ; when they burn incompletely, they can release carbon monoxide or float into the air in their unburned form, contributing to smog. Lead and heavy metals : Lead and other toxic "heavy metals" can be spread into the air either as toxic compounds or as aerosols (when solids or liquids are dispersed through gases and carried through the air by them) in such things as exhaust fumes and the fly ash (contaminated waste dust) from incinerator smokestacks. [14] What are the causes of air pollution?

Photo: Even in the age of electric cars, traffic remains a major cause of air pollution. Photo by Warren Gretz courtesy of US DOE National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) (NREL photo id#46361).

Photo: Brown smog lingers over Denver, Colorado. Photo by Warren Gretz courtesy of US DOE National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) (NREL photo id#56919).

Chart: Most of the world's major cities routinely exceed World Health Organization (WHO) air pollution guidelines, though progress is being made: you can see that the 2022 figures (green) show a marked improvement on the 2016 ones (orange) in almost every case. This chart compares annual mean PM 2.5 levels in 12 representative cities around the world with the recently revised (2021) WHO guideline value of 5μg per cubic meter (dotted line). PM 2.5 particulates are those smaller than 2.5 microns and believed to be most closely linked with adverse health effects. For more about this chart and the data sources used, see note [22] .

Photo: Smokestacks billowing pollution over Moscow, Russia in 1994. Factory pollution is much less of a problem than it used to be in the world's "richer" countries—partly because a lot of their industry has been exported to nations such as China, India, and Mexico. Photo by Roger Taylor courtesy of US DOE National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) .

What effects does air pollution have?

Photo: Air pollution can cause a variety of lung diseases and other respiratory problems. This chest X ray shows a lung disease called emphysema in the patient's left lung. A variety of things can cause it, including smoking and exposure to air pollution. Photo courtesy of National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and National Institutes of Health.

" In 2016, 91% of the world population was living in places where the WHO air quality guidelines levels were not met." World Health Organization , 2018

Photo: For many years, the stonework on the Parthenon in Athens, Greece has been blackened by particulates from traffic pollution, but other sources of pollution, such as wood-burning stoves, are increasingly significant. Photo by Michael M. Reddy courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey .

How air pollution works on different scales

Indoor air pollution.

Photo: Air freshener—or air polluter?

How can we solve the problem of air pollution?

Photo: Pollution solution: an electrostatic smoke precipitator helps to prevent air pollution from this smokestack at the McNeil biomass power plant in Burlington, VT. Photo by Warren Gretz courtesy of US DOE National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

What can you do to help reduce air pollution?

Photo: Buying organic food reduces the use of sprayed pesticides and other chemicals, so it helps to reduce air (as well as water) pollution.

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Breathless by Chris Woodford paperback book cover rendered as dummy book.

Breathless: Why Air Pollution Matters—and How it Affects You by Chris Woodford. Icon, 2021. My new book explores the problem in much more depth than I've been able to go into here. You can also read a bonus chapter called Angels with dirty faces: How air pollution blackens our buildings and monuments .
The Invisible Killer: The Rising Global Threat of Air Pollution and How We Can Fight Back by Gary Fuller. Melville House, 2018.
Reducing Pollution and Waste by Jen Green. Raintree/Capstone, 2011. A 48-page introduction for ages 9–12. The emphasis here is on getting children to think about pollution: where it comes from, who makes it, and who should solve the problem.
Pollution Crisis by Russ Parker. Rosen, 2009. A 32-page guide for ages 8–10. It starts with a global survey of the problem; looks at air, water, and land pollution; then considers how we all need to be part of the solution.
Earth Matters by Lynn Dicks et al. Dorling Kindersley, 2008. This isn't specifically about pollution. Instead, it explores how a range of different environmental problems are testing life to the limit in the planet's major biomes (oceans, forests, and so on). I wrote the section of this book that covers the polar regions.
State of Global Air : One of the best sources of global air pollution data.
American Lung Association: State of the Air Report : A good source of data about the United States.
European Environment Agency: Air quality in Europe : A definitive overview of the situation in the European countries.
World Health Organization (WHO) Ambient (outdoor) air pollution in cities database : A spreadsheet of pollution data for most major cities in the world (a little out of date, but a new version is expected soon).
Our World in Data : Accessible guides to global data from Oxford University.
The New York Times Topics: Air Pollution
The Guardian: Pollution
Wired: Pollution
'Invisible killer': fossil fuels caused 8.7m deaths globally in 2018, research finds by Oliver Milman. The Guardian, February 9, 2021. Pollution of various kinds causes something like one in five of all deaths.
Millions of masks distributed to students in 'gas chamber' Delhi : BBC News, 1 November 2019.
90% of world's children are breathing toxic air, WHO study finds by Matthew Taylor. The Guardian, October 29, 2018. The air pollution affecting billions of children could continue to harm their health throughout their lives.
Pollution May Dim Thinking Skills, Study in China Suggests by Mike Ives. The New York Times, August 29, 2018. Long-term exposure to air pollution seems to cause a decline in cognitive skills.
Global pollution kills 9m a year and threatens 'survival of human societies' by Damian Carrington. The Guardian, October 19, 2017. Air, water, and land pollution kill millions, cost trillions, and threaten the very survival of humankind, a new study reveals.
India's Air Pollution Rivals China's as World's Deadliest by Geeta Anand. The New York Times, February 14, 2017. High levels of pollution could be killing 1.1 million Indians each year.
More Than 9 in 10 People Breathe Bad Air, WHO Study Says by Mike Ives. The New York Times, September 27, 2016. New WHO figures suggest the vast majority of us are compromising our health by breathing bad air.
Study Links 6.5 Million Deaths Each Year to Air Pollution by Stanley Reed. The New York Times, June 26, 2016. Air pollution deaths are far greater than previously supposed according to a new study by the International Energy Agency.
UK air pollution 'linked to 40,000 early deaths a year' by Michelle Roberts, BBC News, February 23, 2016. Diesel engines, cigarette smoke, and even air fresheners are among the causes of premature death from air pollution.
This Wearable Detects Pollution to Build Air Quality Maps in Real Time by Davey Alba. Wired, November 19, 2014. A wearable pollution gadget lets people track their exposure to air pollution through a smartphone app.
Air pollution and public health: emerging hazards and improved understanding of risk by Frank J. Kelly and Julia C. Fussell, Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 2015
Health effects of fine particulate air pollution: lines that connect by C.A. Pope and D.W. Dockery. Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association, 2006
Ambient and household air pollution: complex triggers of disease by Stephen A. Farmer et al, Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, 2014

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Report Highlights
EU-Summaries

About the publications

Towards a pollution-free planet

Level 1: Highlights
Level 2: Long Summary

Introduction

Pollution has significant impacts on human health , the environment, and even on how some of the Earth’s systems, such as the climate, are functioning. Pollution touches all parts of the planet. It is affecting our health through the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. Approximately 19 million premature deaths are estimated to occur annually as a result of the way we use natural resources to support global production and consumption and which impact the environment.

Pollution touches all parts of the planet. It is affecting our health through the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. Approximately 19 million premature deaths are estimated to occur annually as a result of the way we use natural resources and impact the environment to support global production and consumption.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the United Nations in 2015 commits to “ensure that all human beings can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives and that economic, social and technological progress occurs in harmony with nature”. How does pollution fit in that picture?

What are the sources of pollution?

Pollution can take many forms, ranging from organic compounds and other chemical substances to different types of energy. Some types of pollution are easily noticed, such as certain forms of contaminated water, poor air quality, industrial waste, litter , light, heat and noise. Others are less visible, for example pesticides in food, mercury in fish, excess nutrients in the sea and lakes, endocrine-disrupting chemicals in drinking water, and other micro- pollutants in fresh and marine water. Some, such as those coming from abandoned industrial sites, armed conflict zones, nuclear power stations, pesticide stockpiles and waste landfills , form part of a longer-term legacy.

The sources and types of pollution are highly diverse, as are the solutions to deal with them. For example, hazardous chemicals in paints, cleaning compounds, dyes, electronic products, and many other household substances can become pollutants if not managed correctly. Ecosystem functions are put at risk as well. There are also many emerging and novel products, such as some therapeutic drugs and nanomaterials , for which data on potential pollution effects are sparse.

On the other hand, food waste globally has been estimated to be as high as one third of all food produced for human consumption – nearly 1.3 billion tons.

Figure 3: Major sources of today's pollution

Market demand on one side of the planet is often satisfied by labour, production and natural resources originating from halfway across the globe. Fossil fuels now account for 50 per cent of the global trade volume. Research finds that trade leads to a redistribution of environmental burden towards countries that extract and produce resources. As such, the environmental impacts and pollution generated by global consumption habits are disassociated from those most impacted locally. Trade patterns, policies and agreements can play a crucial role in internalizing some of the environmental and social costs of production in order to minimize pollution at a global scale .

Air pollution

One important source of air pollution is indoor air pollution produced by the use of solid fuels for cooking in the house. The other major source of air pollution is outdoor pollution resulting from the burning of fossil fuels . Wildfires, the burning of waste, and tobacco smoke, all also contribute to air pollution. It is estimated that nine out of ten people in the world are breathing air that is polluted beyond the World Health Organisation (WHO) acceptable standards.

Land and soil pollution

Land and soil pollution is largely due to agricultural practices, to improper irrigation, to solid waste management problems such as landfills , and to a range of industrial, military and extractive activities. Globally, estimates indicate that at least 1 million people are unintentionally poisoned every year by excessive exposure and inappropriate use of pesticides , with health effects on all.

The waste products of industrial processes or mining activities are another source of pollution as they may contain heavy metals , pharmaceuticals and microorganisms , which can be difficult to remove once they find their way into the environment. Former industrial or military sites that are no longer in use can also be the sources of pollutants if they are not decontaminated properly. While some high-income countries have programs and regulations to deal with soil pollution, many poorer nations lack such programs, and are at risk to form ‘pollution hotspots’.

Freshwater pollution

Rivers and lakes are heavily affected by pollution, especially by the excess nutrients that come from the use of fertilisers in agriculture, one of the most pervasive water quality issues on a global scale , interfering with many human water uses and causing major shifts of species in ecosystems and loss of biodiversity .

Over 80 per cent of the world's wastewater is released to the environment without treatment creating a pollution from pathogens as well as from chemicals such as heavy metals from mining and industrial waste. These lead to a loss of biodiversity and to water that is improper for human consumption.

Marine and coastal pollution

Oceans receive most of their pollutants from land through rivers in the form of nutrients , waste, heavy metals and plastic debris which fragment into pieces of less than 5 mm but do not biodegrade in the marine environment. The rest comes from the fishing, shipping, and energy industries. The impacts of ocean acidification, which are for a large part associated with the dissolution of carbon dioxide emissions, are most visible on marine species with calcareous skeletons, such as corals and plankton which form the base of many marine food webs.

What are the impacts of pollution?

The severity of a pollutant for human health and ecosystems is dependent on its chemical nature and intrinsic toxicity, quantities emitted, exposure concentrations and persistence. Highly hazardous chemicals, such as mercury , ammonium, ozone, and some organic compounds used in a range of industries have the potential to cause cancer , birth defects , induce genetic damage, cause miscarriage, injury or death from relatively small exposures , if released into the environment. The specific harm caused by different pollutants depends not only on the environment where it is emitted (air, water or soil) but also possibly on the mix of pollutants that are present and the actual level of exposure. For example, about 125 million people in the world are exposed to asbestos at the workplace with over 100,000 still dying annually from such exposure.

Pollution poses a direct threat to respecting, protecting and promoting human rights and gender equality, international human rights obligations related to health, life, food and water. Due to their general health status, potential higher exposures and reduced resilience to social, environmental and economic risks, pollution can have a particularly disproportionate and negative effect on the poor, the disadvantaged, the marginalized, indigenous peoples, the disabled and the vulnerable . For instance, children poisoned by mercury and lead develop problems in their nervous and digestive systems and kidney damage. In addition, many toxic dumpsites are located in poor areas, leading to environmental injustice.

Figure 1: Examples of impacts on human health and ecosystem

Safeguarding a healthy and sustainable environment for present and future generations and achieving the 2030 Agenda’s pledge to “leave no one behind”.

Pollution has also significant economic costs from the point of view of health, productivity losses, health-care costs and ecosystem damages. If consumption and production patterns continue as they are, the linear economic model of “take-make-dispose” will seriously burden an already polluted planet, affecting current and future generations.

For instance, in 2013 it was estimated that the cost of air pollution was more than 5 000 billion USD, which is more than the annual budget of the United States. These substantial costs, are expected to rise over time, not only because of the direct effect of pollution on health, but also because of the impact of weakened livelihoods, as well as the longer-term impact on ecosystem services , that in turn affect local communities , societies and economies. With a better understanding of the economic costs of pollution, the human costs of pollution are critical information for decision-making and to support more effective policies.

If consumption and production patterns continue as they are, the linear economic model of “take-make-dispose” will seriously burden an already- polluted planet, affecting current and future generations.

What is currently being done to address pollution?

Pollution is not a new phenomenon; it is largely controllable and often avoidable, but still considerably neglected. Thanks to better knowledge, alternative consumption and production models, as well as innovative technological solutions, many countries, cities, and businesses can now successfully tackling serious pollution issues.

Today, a majority of UN Member States recognize environmental rights. The first Principles of both the 1972 Stockholm and 1992 Rio Declarations focused on the human right to a safe and clean environment. The Stockholm Declaration describes “the fundamental right to freedom, equality and adequate conditions of life, in an environment of a quality that permits a life of dignity and well-being...”, while the Rio Declaration states that humans “are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature”. These declarations have, together with other principles, informed many national constitutions over the past three decades.

At the same time, voluntary environmental initiatives have supported more formal environmental agreements, resulting in progress in some areas. But even more robust governance frameworks are required to bring us closer to a pollution-free planet. In particular, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 1 provide an opportunity to accelerate the implementation of targeted and time-bound actions on pollution, which have been hitherto limited and inadequate.

With regards to chemicals and waste, legally binding approaches at the global level are essential to addressing the most critical and complex pollution challenges.

Existing multilateral environmental agreements already enable actions. This was notably in relation to the ban and substitution of ozone-depleting substances achieved in 2015, to the elimination of persistent organic pollutants and of most hazardous industrial chemicals and pesticides in international trade, as well as to hazardous and household waste and in particular to mercury with the entry into force of the Minamata Convention in 2017. Several of the multilateral environmental agreements were ratified worldwide or nearly worldwide.

The Convention on Biological Diversity’s Aichi Biodiversity Targets 2 also calls for a decrease in pollution and demands specific actions on excess nutrients . Today, a majority of UN Member States recognizes environmental rights. As of 2015, over 100 countries guaranteed their citizens a right to a healthy environment, with the majority of countries building this into their national constitutions. Although no international agreement explicitly recognizes the right to a healthy environment, national constitutions have played a vital role at the forefront of human rights and environmental protection . The majority of constitutional environmental rights include substantive, procedural, and emerging rights, such as the right to health and food, while others refer to policy-based, reciprocal-duty, and miscellaneous provisions.

Encouragingly, more governments, industries and citizens are moving towards sustainable materials management, greater resource efficiency, less environmentally damaging chemistry, clean technologies, and circular economies, as part of a more comprehensive transformation towards a sustainable economy. Trade can lead to greater environmental burdens in countries that extract and produce resources, as such activities generate waste and emissions. But trade can also provide solutions in terms of improved environmental goods and services . However, the capacity to adequately tackle pollution varies hugely across regions, social groups and genders.

At the same time, responses by governments, business and citizens to pollution remain sometimes limited in scope and scale and to date, there are no legally binding agreements that systematically address pollution in all its forms. If global and regional environmental agreements provide a partial framework, there are many gaps. For example, some agreements are only target-based, some are time-bound, while others cover also compliance-related actions, monitoring and reporting. For example, voluntary initiatives and global alliances – on topics such as fuel efficiency improvements, cleaner air and lead in paint – have addressed some of the more urgent issues, yet much more remains to be done to control and prevent pollution.

What are the benefits of addressing pollution?

It is obvious from many case studies that tackling pollution has already brought multiple benefits even if current responses may still be limited and inadequate. Projections indicate that further actions have the potential to enhance both health, well-being, and the economy. Two success stories show what can be achieved: the healing of the ozone layer and the phasing out of lead in fuel.

The Montreal Protocol ensured that to date more than 99 per cent of the historic baseline levels of consumption and production of harmful ozone-depleting substances have been phased out and its Multilateral Fund provided roughly $3.7 billion to more than 140 countries to phase out ozone-depleting substances, with lasting influence on innovation, technology transfer, strengthening of environmental governance , and training of customs officers and technicians. As a result, the ozone layer is healing and is expected to be restored by the middle of the century. Consequently, up to two million cases of skin cancer may be prevented each year by 2030, decreases in agricultural and fisheries yields will be avoided and up to 0.5°C of global warming will be avoided by the end of the century as ozone-depleting susbstances were also responsible of about 20% of the greenhouse gas emissions.
For lead additives in fuels the phase out is now almost complete, with only three countries still using some lead in fuel, all of which are set to stop by the end of 2017. Governments, the oil and auto industries, and civil society have worked together to support a global shift to unleaded fuels. This massive shift prevents an estimated 1.2 million premature deaths every year, and it also has a positive impact on children’s intellectual ability as lead is known to affect children’s IQ (United Nations Environment Programme 2016a).

Traditional pollution control that relies on “end-of-pipe” technologies has been shown to reduce polluting substances, such as in the case of sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) and nitrogen oxides (NO x ) emissions from heating and energy production units. However, these technologies also require materials and energy upfront to produce the equipment, and as a consequence, may increase environmental impacts.

What actions can be taken to make the world truly pollution-free?

Solutions to help remove pollutants and detoxify our environment exist around the world. These need to be expanded, shared, and scaled up in order to avoid risking further exposure of humans and ecosystems to current and future pollution as well as increasing the costs of clean up. Improved risk assessment of new pollution sources is also urgently needed. Transitioning to a pollution-free world can drive innovation and social equity throughout the economy, by seeing pollution prevention and regulation compliance as an opportunity to clean up everyone’s environment, create new jobs, improve economic productivity and protect the rights of this and future generations.

Resource efficiency over the whole production -consumption system in particular can generate products which are identical or have the same functionality as when using traditional technologies and processes, while also reducing critical emissions and mitigating resource requirements and environmental impacts in the upstream processes.

Moving to less-polluting and nature-based technologies also offers economic and employment opportunities. Renewable energy provided jobs for 9.8 million people worldwide in 2016, compared to 5.7 million in 2012. Waste recycling and reuse also offers the chance to convert waste into economic opportunities, including jobs. As secondary materials replace virgin materials (for example phosphate from fertilizer nutrient recovery), they reduce the resource and environmental footprint of growth, but they can also have income and job impacts on primary exporting countries. Thus, careful and inclusive transition planning is required for those affected by these transformations. It is estimated that the global market for environmental goods and services reached $866 billion in 2011, and is expected to rise to $1.9 trillion by 2020.

However, challenges and gaps still limit the effectiveness of current actions. The key gaps are:

implementation,
infrastructure,
limited financial and industry leadership,
pricing and fiscal, and
behavioural.

Implementation gaps are in particular due to a lack of resources; inadequate administrative, financial, institutional and technical capacity, and the absence of inter-ministerial coordination and political will. Absence of inter-ministerial coordination being a key reason why action does not happen.

There is also insufficient recognition by different actors that producer and consumer choices have pollution consequences. Such choices – even in the presence of pollution policies and regulations – can be made out of habit, a feeling that one person or firm cannot make a difference.

This report “Towards a pollution-free planet” is about encouraging a synergetic mix of actions and a whole-system, multi-beneficial policymaking approach that builds directly on existing internationally agreed environmental goals, including those relating to climate change , disaster and risk reduction and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development , with its numerous pollution-reducing targets. As already underlined, existing international environmental agreements and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development present significant opportunities to accelerate actions to tackle pollution and improve the well-being of humans and ecosystems . The international framework for the Sustainable Development Goals encourages synergies between the Goal 3 and its associated target to “substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination”, and others such as the targets for climate change, air quality, nutrient pollution and marine debris. These links are detailed in the appendices of the report.

A pollution-free planet is by far and away the best insurance for the survival and well-being of current and future generations of humans and ecosystems . To advance this goal, this report has the following five overarching messages

A global compact on pollution would make prevention a priority for all. It would also encourage policymakers to integrate prevention into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and national accounts;
Environmental governance needs to be strengthened at all levels – with targeted action on “hard-hitting” pollutants through risk assessments and enhanced implementation of environmental legislation (including multilateral environmental agreements) and other measures;
Sustainable consumption and production should be promoted through improved resource efficiency and lifestyle changes, waste reduction and management being prioritized;
Investment in cleaner production and consumption will help to counter pollution , alongside increased funding for pollution monitoring , infrastructure, management and control;
Multi- stakeholder partnerships and collaboration are vital for the innovation, knowledge-sharing and transdisciplinary research needed to develop technological and ecosystem -based solutions.

To reach these objectives, this report suggests a dual track of actions as framework for actions on pollution that UN Member States and other stakeholders may wish to consider to curb pollution around the world. This dual framework consists in the following combination:

Targeted interventions , based on risk assessments and scientific evidence of impacts, to address “hard-hitting” pollutants as well as areas of pollution (air, water, marine and coastal, land/soil), including cross-cutting categories (chemicals, waste);
System-wide transformations to shift the economy toward greater resource efficiency and equity , circularity and sustainable consumption and production , and improved ecosystem resilience to support cleaner and more sustainable development .

This dual track of actions is guided and underpinned by the two other elements of the framework:

The five principles drawn from the Rio Declaration and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development : universality, sustainability , integration, precaution and inclusiveness.
Enablers, or broader supporting actions, to shift incentives, correct market and policy failures and address some of the gaps and issues that make pollution so pervasive and persistent .

The report then present in more details the actions that should be undertaken to tackle the challenges in the various areas and lead to a “pollution-free planet”.

Accidental poisoning
Acrylamide in food
Acupuncture
Agriculture
Aids Epidemic
Air Pollution Europe
Air quality in Europe
Allergenic fragrances
Aluminium exposure
Animal testing
Antibiotic resistance
Antibiotics Research
Antimicrobial resistance
Aquatic environment
Arctic Climate Change
Artificial Light
Artificial Light and Health
Aspartame Reevaluation
Aspirin & Cancer
Benzodiazepines
Biodiversity
Biological Diversity
Biosecurity
Bisphenol A
CO 2 Capture & Storage
Cancer rates and mortality, types and causes
Chemical Mixtures
Children & Screens
Chlorine Sodium Hypochlorite
Chlorpyrifos pesticide
Chronic Diseases on Labour Practices
Circular Economy
Climate Change
Climate Change Mitigation
Climate impact of shale gas
Climate impacts adaptation
Dental Amalgams
Dental Fillings
Desertification
Diet & Nutrition
Ecosystem Change
Effects of cannabis
Electromagnetic Fields
Electronic Cigarettes
Endocrine Disruptors
Endocrine disrupting properties of pesticides
Endocrine disruptors risks
Energy Saving Lamps
Energy Technologies
Epidemic diseases
Estrogen-progestogen cancer risk
Europe Green Deal
Evaluation of endocrine disruptors
Exposure to chemical mixtures
Fisheries and aquaculture
Fluorinated gases
Food & Agriculture
Food Wastage
Forests & Energy
Forests & agriculture land use
Fukushima Consequences
Fukushima accident
Genetically Modified Crops
Geothermal Energy
Global Biodiversity Outlook 4
Global Public Health Threats
Global Warming
Gluten intolerance
Glyphosate and cancer
Hazardous chemicals
Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields
Health Environment Management
Illicit drugs in Europe
Impacts of a 4°C global warming
India Millennium Development Goals
Indonesian forests
Indoor Air Quality
Land Degradation and Desertification
Lyme Disease
Marine Litter
Marine litter
Mercury from dental amalgam
Mercury in CFL
Metal-on-Metal hip implants
Methylene glycol
Mineral extraction risks
Multiple vaccinations
Nano-silica
Nanomaterials
Nanotechnologies
Neonicotinoids
Nitrogen Dioxide
Non-human primates
Organic Food
Ozone layer depletion
Parabens used in cosmetics
Particulate Matter
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
Personal Music Players & Hearing
Pesticides occupational risks
Pharmaceuticals environment
Phosphate resources
Phthalates Comparison
Phthalates in school supplies
Poly brominated flame retardant decaBDE
Power lines
Psychoactive Drugs
Radiological nuclear emergency
Respiratory Diseases
Safety of Cosmetics
Safety of sunscreens
Sand Extraction
Security Scanners
Silver Nanoparticles
Single-use plastics
Soils degradation
Solar Energy
State of the European Environment
Static Fields
Substitution of harmful chemicals
Sulfaxoflor Pesticide
Sunbeds & UV radiation
Sustainable oceans
Synthetic Biology
Thorium nuclear fuel
Tidal Energy
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles
Tooth Whiteners
Transgenic salmon
Tuberculosis
Wastewater management
Water Disinfectants
Water Resources
Water Resources Assessments
Water resources
Wind Resources
X-Ray Full-Body Scanners

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Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment. These harmful materials are called pollutants.

Biology, Ecology, Health, Earth Science, Geography

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Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment . These harmful materials are called pollutants . Pollutants can be natural, such as volcanic ash . They can also be created by human activity, such as trash or runoff produced by factories. Pollutants damage the quality of air, water, and land. Many things that are useful to people produce pollution. Cars spew pollutants from their exhaust pipes. Burning coal to create electricity pollutes the air. Industries and homes generate garbage and sewage that can pollute the land and water. Pesticides —chemical poisons used to kill weeds and insects— seep into waterways and harm wildlife . All living things—from one-celled microbes to blue whales—depend on Earth ’s supply of air and water. When these resources are polluted, all forms of life are threatened. Pollution is a global problem. Although urban areas are usually more polluted than the countryside, pollution can spread to remote places where no people live. For example, pesticides and other chemicals have been found in the Antarctic ice sheet . In the middle of the northern Pacific Ocean, a huge collection of microscopic plastic particles forms what is known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch . Air and water currents carry pollution. Ocean currents and migrating fish carry marine pollutants far and wide. Winds can pick up radioactive material accidentally released from a nuclear reactor and scatter it around the world. Smoke from a factory in one country drifts into another country. In the past, visitors to Big Bend National Park in the U.S. state of Texas could see 290 kilometers (180 miles) across the vast landscape . Now, coal-burning power plants in Texas and the neighboring state of Chihuahua, Mexico have spewed so much pollution into the air that visitors to Big Bend can sometimes see only 50 kilometers (30 miles). The three major types of pollution are air pollution , water pollution , and land pollution . Air Pollution Sometimes, air pollution is visible . A person can see dark smoke pour from the exhaust pipes of large trucks or factories, for example. More often, however, air pollution is invisible . Polluted air can be dangerous, even if the pollutants are invisible. It can make people’s eyes burn and make them have difficulty breathing. It can also increase the risk of lung cancer . Sometimes, air pollution kills quickly. In 1984, an accident at a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, released a deadly gas into the air. At least 8,000 people died within days. Hundreds of thou sands more were permanently injured. Natural disasters can also cause air pollution to increase quickly. When volcanoes erupt , they eject volcanic ash and gases into the atmosphere . Volcanic ash can discolor the sky for months. After the eruption of the Indonesian volcano of Krakatoa in 1883, ash darkened the sky around the world. The dimmer sky caused fewer crops to be harvested as far away as Europe and North America. For years, meteorologists tracked what was known as the “equatorial smoke stream .” In fact, this smoke stream was a jet stream , a wind high in Earth’s atmosphere that Krakatoa’s air pollution made visible. Volcanic gases , such as sulfur dioxide , can kill nearby residents and make the soil infertile for years. Mount Vesuvius, a volcano in Italy, famously erupted in 79, killing hundreds of residents of the nearby towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Most victims of Vesuvius were not killed by lava or landslides caused by the eruption. They were choked, or asphyxiated , by deadly volcanic gases. In 1986, a toxic cloud developed over Lake Nyos, Cameroon. Lake Nyos sits in the crater of a volcano. Though the volcano did not erupt, it did eject volcanic gases into the lake. The heated gases passed through the water of the lake and collected as a cloud that descended the slopes of the volcano and into nearby valleys . As the toxic cloud moved across the landscape, it killed birds and other organisms in their natural habitat . This air pollution also killed thousands of cattle and as many as 1,700 people. Most air pollution is not natural, however. It comes from burning fossil fuels —coal, oil , and natural gas . When gasoline is burned to power cars and trucks, it produces carbon monoxide , a colorless, odorless gas. The gas is harmful in high concentrations , or amounts. City traffic produces highly concentrated carbon monoxide. Cars and factories produce other common pollutants, including nitrogen oxide , sulfur dioxide, and hydrocarbons . These chemicals react with sunlight to produce smog , a thick fog or haze of air pollution. The smog is so thick in Linfen, China, that people can seldom see the sun. Smog can be brown or grayish blue, depending on which pollutants are in it. Smog makes breathing difficult, especially for children and older adults. Some cities that suffer from extreme smog issue air pollution warnings. The government of Hong Kong, for example, will warn people not to go outside or engage in strenuous physical activity (such as running or swimming) when smog is very thick.

When air pollutants such as nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide mix with moisture, they change into acids . They then fall back to earth as acid rain . Wind often carries acid rain far from the pollution source. Pollutants produced by factories and power plants in Spain can fall as acid rain in Norway. Acid rain can kill all the trees in a forest . It can also devastate lakes, streams, and other waterways. When lakes become acidic, fish can’t survive . In Sweden, acid rain created thousands of “ dead lakes ,” where fish no longer live. Acid rain also wears away marble and other kinds of stone . It has erased the words on gravestones and damaged many historic buildings and monuments . The Taj Mahal , in Agra, India, was once gleaming white. Years of exposure to acid rain has left it pale. Governments have tried to prevent acid rain by limiting the amount of pollutants released into the air. In Europe and North America, they have had some success, but acid rain remains a major problem in the developing world , especially Asia. Greenhouse gases are another source of air pollution. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane occur naturally in the atmosphere. In fact, they are necessary for life on Earth. They absorb sunlight reflected from Earth, preventing it from escaping into space. By trapping heat in the atmosphere, they keep Earth warm enough for people to live. This is called the greenhouse effect . But human activities such as burning fossil fuels and destroying forests have increased the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This has increased the greenhouse effect, and average temperatures across the globe are rising. The decade that began in the year 2000 was the warmest on record. This increase in worldwide average temperatures, caused in part by human activity, is called global warming . Global warming is causing ice sheets and glaciers to melt. The melting ice is causing sea levels to rise at a rate of two millimeters (0.09 inches) per year. The rising seas will eventually flood low-lying coastal regions . Entire nations, such as the islands of Maldives, are threatened by this climate change . Global warming also contributes to the phenomenon of ocean acidification . Ocean acidification is the process of ocean waters absorbing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Fewer organisms can survive in warmer, less salty waters. The ocean food web is threatened as plants and animals such as coral fail to adapt to more acidic oceans. Scientists have predicted that global warming will cause an increase in severe storms . It will also cause more droughts in some regions and more flooding in others. The change in average temperatures is already shrinking some habitats, the regions where plants and animals naturally live. Polar bears hunt seals from sea ice in the Arctic. The melting ice is forcing polar bears to travel farther to find food , and their numbers are shrinking. People and governments can respond quickly and effectively to reduce air pollution. Chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are a dangerous form of air pollution that governments worked to reduce in the 1980s and 1990s. CFCs are found in gases that cool refrigerators, in foam products, and in aerosol cans . CFCs damage the ozone layer , a region in Earth’s upper atmosphere. The ozone layer protects Earth by absorbing much of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation . When people are exposed to more ultraviolet radiation, they are more likely to develop skin cancer, eye diseases, and other illnesses. In the 1980s, scientists noticed that the ozone layer over Antarctica was thinning. This is often called the “ ozone hole .” No one lives permanently in Antarctica. But Australia, the home of more than 22 million people, lies at the edge of the hole. In the 1990s, the Australian government began an effort to warn people of the dangers of too much sun. Many countries, including the United States, now severely limit the production of CFCs. Water Pollution Some polluted water looks muddy, smells bad, and has garbage floating in it. Some polluted water looks clean, but is filled with harmful chemicals you can’t see or smell. Polluted water is unsafe for drinking and swimming. Some people who drink polluted water are exposed to hazardous chemicals that may make them sick years later. Others consume bacteria and other tiny aquatic organisms that cause disease. The United Nations estimates that 4,000 children die every day from drinking dirty water. Sometimes, polluted water harms people indirectly. They get sick because the fish that live in polluted water are unsafe to eat. They have too many pollutants in their flesh. There are some natural sources of water pollution. Oil and natural gas, for example, can leak into oceans and lakes from natural underground sources. These sites are called petroleum seeps . The world’s largest petroleum seep is the Coal Oil Point Seep, off the coast of the U.S. state of California. The Coal Oil Point Seep releases so much oil that tar balls wash up on nearby beaches . Tar balls are small, sticky pieces of pollution that eventually decompose in the ocean.

Human activity also contributes to water pollution. Chemicals and oils from factories are sometimes dumped or seep into waterways. These chemicals are called runoff. Chemicals in runoff can create a toxic environment for aquatic life. Runoff can also help create a fertile environment for cyanobacteria , also called blue-green algae . Cyanobacteria reproduce rapidly, creating a harmful algal bloom (HAB) . Harmful algal blooms prevent organisms such as plants and fish from living in the ocean. They are associated with “ dead zones ” in the world’s lakes and rivers, places where little life exists below surface water. Mining and drilling can also contribute to water pollution. Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a major contributor to pollution of rivers and streams near coal mines . Acid helps miners remove coal from the surrounding rocks . The acid is washed into streams and rivers, where it reacts with rocks and sand. It releases chemical sulfur from the rocks and sand, creating a river rich in sulfuric acid . Sulfuric acid is toxic to plants, fish, and other aquatic organisms. Sulfuric acid is also toxic to people, making rivers polluted by AMD dangerous sources of water for drinking and hygiene . Oil spills are another source of water pollution. In April 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, causing oil to gush from the ocean floor. In the following months, hundreds of millions of gallons of oil spewed into the gulf waters. The spill produced large plumes of oil under the sea and an oil slick on the surface as large as 24,000 square kilometers (9,100 square miles). The oil slick coated wetlands in the U.S. states of Louisiana and Mississippi, killing marsh plants and aquatic organisms such as crabs and fish. Birds, such as pelicans , became coated in oil and were unable to fly or access food. More than two million animals died as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Buried chemical waste can also pollute water supplies. For many years, people disposed of chemical wastes carelessly, not realizing its dangers. In the 1970s, people living in the Love Canal area in Niagara Falls, New York, suffered from extremely high rates of cancer and birth defects . It was discovered that a chemical waste dump had poisoned the area’s water. In 1978, 800 families living in Love Canal had to a bandon their homes. If not disposed of properly, radioactive waste from nuclear power plants can escape into the environment. Radioactive waste can harm living things and pollute the water. Sewage that has not been properly treated is a common source of water pollution. Many cities around the world have poor sewage systems and sewage treatment plants. Delhi, the capital of India, is home to more than 21 million people. More than half the sewage and other waste produced in the city are dumped into the Yamuna River. This pollution makes the river dangerous to use as a source of water for drinking or hygiene. It also reduces the river’s fishery , resulting in less food for the local community. A major source of water pollution is fertilizer used in agriculture . Fertilizer is material added to soil to make plants grow larger and faster. Fertilizers usually contain large amounts of the elements nitrogen and phosphorus , which help plants grow. Rainwater washes fertilizer into streams and lakes. There, the nitrogen and phosphorus cause cyanobacteria to form harmful algal blooms. Rain washes other pollutants into streams and lakes. It picks up animal waste from cattle ranches. Cars drip oil onto the street, and rain carries it into storm drains , which lead to waterways such as rivers and seas. Rain sometimes washes chemical pesticides off of plants and into streams. Pesticides can also seep into groundwater , the water beneath the surface of the Earth. Heat can pollute water. Power plants, for example, produce a huge amount of heat. Power plants are often located on rivers so they can use the water as a coolant . Cool water circulates through the plant, absorbing heat. The heated water is then returned to the river. Aquatic creatures are sensitive to changes in temperature. Some fish, for example, can only live in cold water. Warmer river temperatures prevent fish eggs from hatching. Warmer river water also contributes to harmful algal blooms. Another type of water pollution is simple garbage. The Citarum River in Indonesia, for example, has so much garbage floating in it that you cannot see the water. Floating trash makes the river difficult to fish in. Aquatic animals such as fish and turtles mistake trash, such as plastic bags, for food. Plastic bags and twine can kill many ocean creatures. Chemical pollutants in trash can also pollute the water, making it toxic for fish and people who use the river as a source of drinking water. The fish that are caught in a polluted river often have high levels of chemical toxins in their flesh. People absorb these toxins as they eat the fish. Garbage also fouls the ocean. Many plastic bottles and other pieces of trash are thrown overboard from boats. The wind blows trash out to sea. Ocean currents carry plastics and other floating trash to certain places on the globe, where it cannot escape. The largest of these areas, called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, is in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean. According to some estimates, this garbage patch is the size of Texas. The trash is a threat to fish and seabirds, which mistake the plastic for food. Many of the plastics are covered with chemical pollutants. Land Pollution Many of the same pollutants that foul the water also harm the land. Mining sometimes leaves the soil contaminated with dangerous chemicals. Pesticides and fertilizers from agricultural fields are blown by the wind. They can harm plants, animals, and sometimes people. Some fruits and vegetables absorb the pesticides that help them grow. When people consume the fruits and vegetables, the pesticides enter their bodies. Some pesticides can cause cancer and other diseases. A pesticide called DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) was once commonly used to kill insects, especially mosquitoes. In many parts of the world, mosquitoes carry a disease called malaria , which kills a million people every year. Swiss chemist Paul Hermann Muller was awarded the Nobel Prize for his understanding of how DDT can control insects and other pests. DDT is responsible for reducing malaria in places such as Taiwan and Sri Lanka. In 1962, American biologist Rachel Carson wrote a book called Silent Spring , which discussed the dangers of DDT. She argued that it could contribute to cancer in humans. She also explained how it was destroying bird eggs, which caused the number of bald eagles, brown pelicans, and ospreys to drop. In 1972, the United States banned the use of DDT. Many other countries also banned it. But DDT didn’t disappear entirely. Today, many governments support the use of DDT because it remains the most effective way to combat malaria. Trash is another form of land pollution. Around the world, paper, cans, glass jars, plastic products, and junked cars and appliances mar the landscape. Litter makes it difficult for plants and other producers in the food web to create nutrients . Animals can die if they mistakenly eat plastic. Garbage often contains dangerous pollutants such as oils, chemicals, and ink. These pollutants can leech into the soil and harm plants, animals, and people. Inefficient garbage collection systems contribute to land pollution. Often, the garbage is picked up and brought to a dump, or landfill . Garbage is buried in landfills. Sometimes, communities produce so much garbage that their landfills are filling up. They are running out of places to dump their trash. A massive landfill near Quezon City, Philippines, was the site of a land pollution tragedy in 2000. Hundreds of people lived on the slopes of the Quezon City landfill. These people made their living from recycling and selling items found in the landfill. However, the landfill was not secure. Heavy rains caused a trash landslide, killing 218 people. Sometimes, landfills are not completely sealed off from the land around them. Pollutants from the landfill leak into the earth in which they are buried. Plants that grow in the earth may be contaminated, and the herbivores that eat the plants also become contaminated. So do the predators that consume the herbivores. This process, where a chemical builds up in each level of the food web, is called bioaccumulation . Pollutants leaked from landfills also leak into local groundwater supplies. There, the aquatic food web (from microscopic algae to fish to predators such as sharks or eagles) can suffer from bioaccumulation of toxic chemicals. Some communities do not have adequate garbage collection systems, and trash lines the side of roads. In other places, garbage washes up on beaches. Kamilo Beach, in the U.S. state of Hawai'i, is littered with plastic bags and bottles carried in by the tide . The trash is dangerous to ocean life and reduces economic activity in the area. Tourism is Hawai'i’s largest industry . Polluted beaches discourage tourists from investing in the area’s hotels, restaurants, and recreational activities. Some cities incinerate , or burn, their garbage. Incinerating trash gets rid of it, but it can release dangerous heavy metals and chemicals into the air. So while trash incinerators can help with the problem of land pollution, they sometimes add to the problem of air pollution. Reducing Pollution Around the world, people and governments are making efforts to combat pollution. Recycling, for instance, is becoming more common. In recycling, trash is processed so its useful materials can be used again. Glass, aluminum cans, and many types of plastic can be melted and reused . Paper can be broken down and turned into new paper. Recycling reduces the amount of garbage that ends up in landfills, incinerators, and waterways. Austria and Switzerland have the highest recycling rates. These nations recycle between 50 and 60 percent of their garbage. The United States recycles about 30 percent of its garbage. Governments can combat pollution by passing laws that limit the amount and types of chemicals factories and agribusinesses are allowed to use. The smoke from coal-burning power plants can be filtered. People and businesses that illegally dump pollutants into the land, water, and air can be fined for millions of dollars. Some government programs, such as the Superfund program in the United States, can force polluters to clean up the sites they polluted. International agreements can also reduce pollution. The Kyoto Protocol , a United Nations agreement to limit the emission of greenhouse gases, has been signed by 191 countries. The United States, the world’s second-largest producer of greenhouse gases, did not sign the agreement. Other countries, such as China, the world’s largest producer of greenhouse gases, have not met their goals. Still, many gains have been made. In 1969, the Cuyahoga River, in the U.S. state of Ohio, was so clogged with oil and trash that it caught on fire. The fire helped spur the Clean Water Act of 1972. This law limited what pollutants could be released into water and set standards for how clean water should be. Today, the Cuyahoga River is much cleaner. Fish have returned to regions of the river where they once could not survive. But even as some rivers are becoming cleaner, others are becoming more polluted. As countries around the world become wealthier, some forms of pollution increase. Countries with growing economies usually need more power plants, which produce more pollutants. Reducing pollution requires environmental, political, and economic leadership. Developed nations must work to reduce and recycle their materials, while developing nations must work to strengthen their economies without destroying the environment. Developed and developing countries must work together toward the common goal of protecting the environment for future use.

How Long Does It Last? Different materials decompose at different rates. How long does it take for these common types of trash to break down?

Paper: 2-4 weeks
Orange peel: 6 months
Milk carton: 5 years
Plastic bag: 15 years
Tin can: 100 years
Plastic bottle: 450 years
Glass bottle: 500 years
Styrofoam: Never

Indoor Air Pollution The air inside your house can be polluted. Air and carpet cleaners, insect sprays, and cigarettes are all sources of indoor air pollution.

Light Pollution Light pollution is the excess amount of light in the night sky. Light pollution, also called photopollution, is almost always found in urban areas. Light pollution can disrupt ecosystems by confusing the distinction between night and day. Nocturnal animals, those that are active at night, may venture out during the day, while diurnal animals, which are active during daylight hours, may remain active well into the night. Feeding and sleep patterns may be confused. Light pollution also indicates an excess use of energy. The dark-sky movement is a campaign by people to reduce light pollution. This would reduce energy use, allow ecosystems to function more normally, and allow scientists and stargazers to observe the atmosphere.

Noise Pollution Noise pollution is the constant presence of loud, disruptive noises in an area. Usually, noise pollution is caused by construction or nearby transportation facilities, such as airports. Noise pollution is unpleasant, and can be dangerous. Some songbirds, such as robins, are unable to communicate or find food in the presence of heavy noise pollution. The sound waves produced by some noise pollutants can disrupt the sonar used by marine animals to communicate or locate food.

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Introduction & Top Questions

History of pollution

Pollution control.

What is pollution?

Does pollution cause climate change, how can we reduce pollution.

How does water pollution affect aquatic wildlife?
Is red tide caused by water pollution?

Air, land, and water pollution. Other types of pollution: plastic, noise, light, and thermal. infographic

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Table Of Contents

Pollution occurs when an amount of any substance or any form of energy is put into the environment at a rate faster than it can be dispersed or safely stored. The term pollution can refer to both artificial and natural materials that are created, consumed, and discarded in an unsustainable manner.

What kinds of pollution are there?

Air pollution , water pollution , and land pollution are three major forms of environmental pollution. Pollution can also refer to excessive human activity, such as light and noise pollution , or to specific pollutants such as plastic or radioactive material. Learn more in this infographic.

Air pollution is the main cause of climate change . Human activities such as burning fossil fuels and mass deforestation lead to the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere , which traps heat inside the atmosphere through a process called the greenhouse effect . This impacts climate patterns and sea levels around the world.

Pollution can be reduced through processes such as recycling and the proper treatment of water and toxic waste . The reduction of corporate fossil fuel extraction is another way to counter air pollution . According to the Carbon Majors Report prepared by the Carbon Disclosure Project in 2017, more than 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions comes from only 100 companies.

How many people die annually from pollution?

Air pollution is estimated to kill 7 million people every year. Radioactive and toxic waste in water can cause many diseases, including fatal conditions such as typhoid fever and cholera . Consumption of contaminated water causes approximately 485,000 deaths every year.

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pollution , the addition of any substance ( solid , liquid , or gas ) or any form of energy (such as heat , sound, or radioactivity ) to the environment at a rate faster than it can be dispersed, diluted, decomposed, recycled, or stored in some harmless form. The major kinds of pollution, usually classified by environment, are air pollution , water pollution , and land pollution . Modern society is also concerned about specific types of pollutants, such as noise pollution , light pollution , and plastic pollution . Pollution of all kinds can have negative effects on the environment and wildlife and often impacts human health and well-being.

Although environmental pollution can be caused by natural events such as forest fires and active volcanoes , use of the word pollution generally implies that the contaminants have an anthropogenic source—that is, a source created by human activities. Pollution has accompanied humankind ever since groups of people first congregated and remained for a long time in any one place. Indeed, ancient human settlements are frequently recognized by their wastes— shell mounds and rubble heaps, for instance. Pollution was not a serious problem as long as there was enough space available for each individual or group. However, with the establishment of permanent settlements by great numbers of people, pollution became a problem, and it has remained one ever since.

Plastic bag garbage on beach. (pollution; land fill; trash; water pollution; waste)

Cities of ancient times were often noxious places, fouled by human wastes and debris. Beginning about 1000 ce , the use of coal for fuel caused considerable air pollution, and the conversion of coal to coke for iron smelting beginning in the 17th century exacerbated the problem. In Europe, from the Middle Ages well into the early modern era, unsanitary urban conditions favoured the outbreak of population-decimating epidemics of disease, from plague to cholera and typhoid fever . Through the 19th century, water and air pollution and the accumulation of solid wastes were largely problems of congested urban areas. But, with the rapid spread of industrialization and the growth of the human population to unprecedented levels, pollution became a universal problem.

By the middle of the 20th century, an awareness of the need to protect air, water, and land environments from pollution had developed among the general public. In particular, the publication in 1962 of Rachel Carson ’s book Silent Spring focused attention on environmental damage caused by improper use of pesticides such as DDT and other persistent chemicals that accumulate in the food chain and disrupt the natural balance of ecosystems on a wide scale. In response, major pieces of environmental legislation, such as the Clean Air Act (1970) and the Clean Water Act (1972; United States), were passed in many countries to control and mitigate environmental pollution.

Giving voice to the growing conviction of most of the scientific community about the reality of anthropogenic global warming , the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was formed in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) to help address greenhouse gas emissions. An IPCC special report produced in 2018 noted that human beings and human activities have been responsible for a worldwide average temperature increase between 0.8 and 1.2 °C (1.4 and 2.2 °F) since preindustrial times, and most of the warming over the second half of the 20th century could be attributed to human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels .

reducing indoor air pollution with houseplants

The presence of environmental pollution raises the issue of pollution control . Great efforts are made to limit the release of harmful substances into the environment through air pollution control , wastewater treatment , solid-waste management , hazardous-waste management , and recycling . Unfortunately, attempts at pollution control are often surpassed by the scale of the problem, especially in less-developed countries . Noxious levels of air pollution are common in many large cities, where particulates and gases from transportation, heating, and manufacturing accumulate and linger. The problem of plastic pollution on land and in the oceans has only grown as the use of single-use plastics has burgeoned worldwide. In addition, greenhouse gas emissions, such as methane and carbon dioxide , continue to drive global warming and pose a great threat to biodiversity and public health .

Plastic Pollution Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on plastic pollution.

Plastic is everywhere nowadays. People are using it endlessly just for their comfort. However, no one realizes how it is harming our planet. We need to become aware of the consequences so that we can stop plastic pollution . Kids should be taught from their childhood to avoid using plastic. Similarly, adults must check each other on the same. In addition, the government must take stringent measures to stop plastic pollution before it gets too late.

Uprise of Plastic Pollution

Plastic has become one of the most used substances. It is seen everywhere these days, from supermarkets to common households. Why is that? Why is the use of plastic on the rise instead of diminishing? The main reason is that plastic is very cheap. It costs lesser than other alternatives like paper and cloth. This is why it is so common.

Secondly, it is very easy to use. Plastic can be used for almost anything either liquid or solid. Moreover, it comes in different forms which we can easily mold.

Furthermore, we see that plastic is a non-biodegradable material. It does not leave the face of the Earth . We cannot dissolve plastic in land or water, it remains forever. Thus, more and more use of plastic means more plastic which won’t get dissolved. Thus, the uprise of plastic pollution is happening at a very rapid rate.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Impact of Plastic Pollution

Plastic Pollution is affecting the whole earth, including mankind, wildlife, and aquatic life. It is spreading like a disease which has no cure. We all must realize the harmful impact it has on our lives so as to avert it as soon as possible.

Plastic pollutes our water. Each year, tonnes of plastic are dumped into the ocean. As plastic does not dissolve, it remains in the water thereby hampering its purity. This means we won’t be left with clean water in the coming years.

Furthermore, plastic pollutes our land as well. When humans dump Plastic waste into landfills, the soil gets damaged. It ruins the fertility of the soil. In addition to this, various disease-carrying insects collect in that area, causing deadly illnesses.

Should Plastic Be Banned? Read the Essay here

Most importantly, plastic pollution harms the Marine life . The plastic litter in the water is mistaken for food by the aquatic animals. They eat it and die eventually. For instance, a dolphin died due to a plastic ring stuck in its mouth. It couldn’t open its mouth due to that and died of starvation. Thus, we see how innocent animals are dying because of plastic pollution.

In short, we see how plastic pollution is ruining everyone’s life on earth. We must take major steps to prevent it. We must use alternatives like cloth bags and paper bags instead of plastic bags. If we are purchasing plastic, we must reuse it. We must avoid drinking bottled water which contributes largely to plastic pollution. The government must put a plastic ban on the use of plastic. All this can prevent plastic pollution to a large extent.

FAQs on Plastic Pollution Essay

Q.1 Why is plastic pollution on the rise?

A.1 Plastic Pollution is on the rise because nowadays people are using plastic endlessly. It is very economical and easily available. Moreover, plastic does not dissolve in the land or water, it stays for more than hundred years contributing to uprise of plastic pollution.

Q.2 How is plastic pollution impacting the earth?

A.2 Plastic pollution is impacting the earth in various ways. Firstly, it is polluting our water. This causes a shortage of clean water and thus we cannot have enough supply for all. Moreover, it is also ruining our soils and lands. The soil fertility is depleting and disease-carrying insects are collecting in landfills of plastic.

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An illustration showing what appears to be a transparent human head against a black background. The head contains a variety of items made of plastic, including Lego blocks, a toothbrush, a coat hanger, a water bottle and a traffic cone.

Opinion Guest Essay

Our Way of Life Is Poisoning Us

Credit... Jack Sachs

Supported by

By Mark O’Connell

Mr. O’Connell is the author, most recently, of “Notes From an Apocalypse: A Personal Journey to the End of the World and Back.”

April 20, 2023

There is plastic in our bodies; it’s in our lungs and in our bowels and in the blood that pulses through us. We can’t see it, and we can’t feel it, but it is there. It is there in the water we drink and the food we eat , and even in the air that we breathe . We don’t know, yet, what it’s doing to us, because we have only quite recently become aware of its presence; but since we have learned of it, it has become a source of profound and multifarious cultural anxiety.

Maybe it’s nothing; maybe it’s fine. Maybe this jumble of fragments — bits of water bottles, tires, polystyrene packaging, microbeads from cosmetics — is washing through us and causing no particular harm. But even if that was true, there would still remain the psychological impact of the knowledge that there is plastic in our flesh. This knowledge registers, in some vague way, as apocalyptic; it has the feel of a backhanded divine vengeance, sly and poetically appropriate. Maybe this has been our fate all along, to achieve final communion with our own garbage.

The word we use, when we speak about this unsettling presence within us, is “microplastics.” It’s a broad category, accommodating any piece of plastic less than five millimeters , or about a fifth of an inch, in length. Much of this stuff, tiny though it is, is readily visible to the naked eye. You may have seen it in the photographs used to illustrate articles on the topic: a multitude of tiny, many-colored shards displayed on the tip of a finger, or a lurid little heap on a teaspoon. But there is also, more worryingly still, the stuff you can’t see: so-called nano-plastics, which are a tiny fraction of the size of microplastics. These are capable of crossing the membranes between cells and have been observed to accumulate in the brains of fish.

We have known for a while now that they are causing harm to fish. In a study published in 2018 , fish exposed to microplastics were shown to have lower levels of growth and reproduction; their offspring, even when they were not themselves exposed, were observed as also having fewer young, suggesting that the contamination lingers through the generations. In 2020, another study , at James Cook University in Australia, demonstrated that microplastics alter the behavior of fish, with higher levels of exposure resulting in fish taking more risks and, as a consequence, dying younger.

Last month, The Journal of Hazardous Materials published a study examining the effects of plastic consumption on seabirds. The researchers put forward evidence of a new plastic-induced fibrotic disease they call plasticosis. Scarring on the intestinal tract caused by ingestion of plastics, they found, caused the birds to become more vulnerable to infection and parasites; it also damaged their capacity to digest food and to absorb certain vitamins.

It’s not, of course, the welfare of fish or seabirds that makes this information most worrying. If we — by which I mean human civilization — cared about fish and seabirds, we would not, in the first place, be dumping some 11 million metric tons of plastic into the oceans every year. What’s truly unsettling is the prospect that similar processes may turn out to be at work in our own bodies, that microplastics might be shortening our lives, and making us stupider and less fertile while they’re at it. As the authors of the report on plasticosis put it, their research “raises concerns for other species impacted by plastic ingestion” — a category that very much includes our own species.

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Essay on Land Pollution

An Introduction

Land pollution is one of the most common types of pollution which we are facing right now. Land pollution takes place anytime and due to different scenarios. Even the acts of nature such as hurricanes and floods can lead to land pollution. One of the main reasons for the contamination of the land is by the urban and rural areas as they do the soil's poor management. Likewise, depending on the site at which the land has been contaminated, the pollution may be low, or it could be at a high threat level. Today with different land pollution paragraphs, we will be trying to explain the importance of decreasing land pollution and steps to keep land pollution low.

Land Pollution Essay for English Exam

The essay on land pollution should be taken seriously as land pollution can have a detrimental impact on animal and human health and both water and air quality. Compounds that are used in the environment can easily cause decay in several ways. Even the use of fertilizers for crops, pesticides and insecticides can harm the land on which it has been sprayed over.

Another big problem that leads to land pollution is soil erosion, which is caused by deforestation and trees' cutting. As a result, the amount of land left for farmers for farming and other agricultural operations gets reduced. In 2016, 75 billion tons of soil in the world was lost due to various human-made issues and deforestation. Moreover, the importance of keeping the soil intact to the ground is because 95 percent of the food which humans consume is produced in soil across the globe. Thus, making land pollution an even more significant concern for the food industry.

Land Pollution Paragraph and Key Points

Agriculture and household runoff.

One of the major reasons for Land pollution is untreated waste generated by Households and Agriculture. The waste is not segregated into dry and waste hence its breakdown becomes difficult and it adds to the Land Pollution. The dry waste includes plastics, textile, glass etc which cannot be decomposed and recycled.

Whereas, the wet waste includes vegetable peel off, dry leaves, hair, stale food that are items that could be recycled through composting. If we do not segregate our waste into dry and wet waste they all go into one single bin and are buried inside Earth. This leads to seepage of such items into Land that results in pollution.

The use of digital devices for work and education purposes has increased manifold in the last few years. Where do you think all the e-waste goes? The laptops, mobiles, tablets that we use increases land pollution when it is not properly discarded.

Hazardous Waste

Hazardous waste includes light bulbs, batteries, fertilizers, pesticides, paints that runoff and pollute the land and water resources.

Mining

What are the causes of land pollution? Well, the first one we can think of is mining. Humans have been mining for more than 200 years, and since its beginning, the ever risk of subsidence or the collapse of top layers is growing at a rapid pace. In those areas where the mining has been done extensively, the land has already been collapsed several times, leading to loss of life and property. One of the hardest collapses ever recorded happened in England when the coal mine collapsed, and tons of soil erosion took place, wiping the whole school, which had to face the first impact of the massive overflow.

Nuclear Waste

This type of waste is produced in nuclear power plants where scientists use nuclear reactors to form electricity in massive amounts. In addition to this, once the electricity is created, the process which uses the reactors leaves radioactive waste that can't be dumped like your regular household waste. One of the common radioactive wastes is plutonium, which needs to be disposed of in the ground covered from all sides by steel silos so that no radioactive waves can escape to the nearby land. Also, this waste takes thousands of years before it can finally stop radiating radiation. Nevada is the desert In the US, used as a nuclear waste facility for the US government. This causes some of the adverse effects of land pollution, making it inhabitable for animals and the human community.

Examples of Land Pollution

In this essay on land pollution for students and children, we have already explained different land pollution methods. One of the latest examples of land pollution that caused heavy damage to wildlife is Goa's forest's deforestation for the construction of railway lines to support the factories and coal mining.

FAQs on Essay on Land Pollution

1. Does writing a 500 words essay on land pollution be sufficient enough?

Land pollution is a vast topic, and it covers various aspects of pollution. This ranges from pollution being spread on the land by the factories to the pollution of human waste. One can use reports to write up the land pollution essay to make it look more attractive, and they present it with pictures to look pleasing to the eyes. However, there is no use of all this data and photos if the essay's quality is not up to the mark. Thus, if you are writing an article about land pollution, you need to make it more concise and stick to the topic. Even 500 words are enough for an essay on land pollution, but you need to make those 500 words count.

2. Do animals contribute to land pollution in any way possible?

No, animals in no way are causing land pollution whatsoever. Many people might think they do excrete out waste material, but that too is a biodegradable waste, meaning it can quickly decompose in the land and leaves no mark on the ground. On the other hand, the machines and the factories that humans have built produce waste that can't be decomposed easily, making the waste material stay on the land for years to come. As a result, humans and their machines are the main culprits of land pollution. Before the invention of the steam engine, there was zero to minimum land pollution on earth, and now in the 21 st century, it is one of the biggest concerns we have for this planet.

3. How can we deal with land pollution?

We have to adopt the strategy of the 3Rs- Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Reduce the existing consumption, reuse items without throwing them away after first use and recycle them at an industrial scale.

Small efforts from our side like carrying a cloth bag while shopping, throwing waste in dustbins only, segregating waste into dry and wet waste, composting in our homes, schools, and communities will help reduce Land Pollution.

4. Why is land pollution harmful?

Land pollution is not only harmful to the land but also for water bodies and the organisms that live inside it. When the untreated waste seeps into land it pollutes the soil, affects the agricultural crops, and enters our food chains. When the pollution on land enters the sea, it affects marine organisms when they swallow microplastics. It affects the overall health of human beings when we eat seafood.

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Paragraph on Pollution in English [100, 150, 200, 250 Words]
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Essay on Environmental Pollution
Environmental Pollution Essay in 150, 500 Words & 10 Lines

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Essay on Pollution in English
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Pollution Essay In English|| Pollution Essay For Students
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Essay on Pollution in 500 Words
Effects of Pollution. Pollution affects the quality of life more than one can imagine. It works in mysterious ways, sometimes which cannot be seen by the naked eye. However, it is very much present in the environment. For instance, you might not be able to see the natural gases present in the air, but they are still there.
Pollution Essay in English for Students
Kinds of Pollution. There are mainly three kinds of pollution - 1) Air Pollution, 2) Water Pollution, and 3) Soil Pollution. Air Pollution occurs due to the presence of harmful gases and substances in the air. It is due to vehicle emission, dust and dirt, poisonous gasses from the factories etc.
Air Pollution Essay for Students in English
Effects of Air Pollution on Human Health. Air pollution has adverse effects on human health. Breathing polluted air puts you at higher risk of asthma. When exposed to ground ozone for 6 to 7 hours, people suffer from respiratory inflammation. Damages the immune system, endocrine, and reproductive systems.
Essay on Pollution: Elements, Type, Format & Samples
Sample Essay on Pollution in 250-300 Words. The biggest threat planet Earth is facing is pollution. Unwanted substances leave a negative impact once released into an environment. There are four types of pollution air, water, land, and noise. Pollution affects the quality of life more than any human can imagine.
Essay on Environmental Pollution for Students
500 Words Essay on Environmental Pollution. Environmental pollution has serious impacts on both humans and the environment. It affects air quality, water quality, soil fertility, and public health. Poor air quality affects the respiratory system, leading to respiratory illnesses like asthma and bronchitis. Water pollution can lead to the spread ...
Environmental Pollution Essay for Students in English
Essay on Environmental Pollution. The environment is the surrounding of an organism. The environment in which an organism lives is made up of various components like air, water, land, etc. These components are found in fixed proportions to create a harmonious balance in the environment for the organism to live in.
Essay on Air Pollution for Students and Children
Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas. Effects Of Air Pollution On Health. The air pollution has many bad effects on the health of people. It is the cause of many skins and respiratory disorder in human beings. Also, it causes heart disease too. Air pollution causes asthma, bronchitis, and many other diseases.
Air Pollution Essay for Students in English: 100, 200 and 500 ...
200 Words Essay on Air Pollution. Pollution is any activity that tampers with the environment's fundamental characteristics and causes damage. The air we breathe is no longer clean and fresh, it has been contaminated by pollutants. The threat to Earth and its ecosystem is getting worse as a result of the contamination of the air, water, and soil.
Essay on Pollution
Essay on Pollution - Sample 1. Pollution had existed long before humans evolved. For instance, volcanic eruptions commonly pumped massive amounts of sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere, causing acid rain. The greenhouse gas, ozone, forms from natural, photochemical reactions in the atmosphere. However, significant levels of pollution occurred ...
Environmental Pollution: Causes and Consequences Essay
Environmental pollution is the unwarranted discharge of mass or energy into the planet's natural resource pools, such as land, air, or water, which detriments the environment's ecological stability and the health of the living things that inhabit it. There is an intensified health risk and pollution in middle and low-income countries due to ...
Essay On Pollution In English For Students
Essay on Pollution in 200 Words. Pollution is a global challenge that poses a threat to the health of our planet and its inhabitants. It manifests in various forms, including air, water, soil, noise, and light pollution. The consequences of pollution are far-reaching, affecting ecosystems, biodiversity, and human well-being.
Essay on Environmental Pollution for Students and Children
500+ Words Essay on Environmental Pollution. Essay on Environmental Pollution - Environment is the surroundings in which we live. But the contamination of our environment by pollutants is environmental pollution. The current stage of the earth that we are seeing is the cause of centuries of exploitation of earth and its resources.
Pollution Essay in English- Essay on Environmental Pollution
Essay on Pollution- Format. Before we write an essay on environmental pollution, we must keep in mind some key points. The key points of the essay format are the introduction, content, and conclusion. Introduction- The essay introduction should outline a specific whole topic. It gives a general idea of the topic to the reader.
Essay on Environmental Pollution: 100 Words, 200 Words
There are four main types of pollution - Air Pollution, Water Pollution, Noise Pollution and Soil or Land Pollution. Additionally, pollution contributes to global issues including acid rain, global warming, and greenhouse gas consequences. A rise in the planet's average surface temperature is referred to as global warming, and it causes ...
Air pollution
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is one of the world's biggest killers: outdoor (ambient) pollution causes around four million people to die prematurely each year, while indoor (household) pollution (mainly from fuel burning) kills another 3.8 million. Many of these deaths happen in less-developed or developing ...
Pollution and Its Effects Essay for Students in English
Short Essay. The pollution problem in the world today is one of the most disturbing. We will talk about the extent of these effects and their harmful effects in this short paper on pollution and its effects in English. In this essay on pollution and its effects, the author aims to eradicate pollution from the earth.
Pollution: 1. Introduction
Introduction. Pollution has significant impacts on human health, the environment, and even on how some of the Earth's systems, such as the climate, are functioning. Pollution touches all parts of the planet. It is affecting our health through the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. Approximately 19 million premature deaths ...
Pollution
noun. organisms living in a natural environment. wind. noun. movement of air (from a high pressure zone to a low pressure zone) caused by the uneven heating of the Earth by the sun. Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment. These harmful materials are called pollutants.
Pollution
pollution, the addition of any substance ( solid, liquid, or gas) or any form of energy (such as heat, sound, or radioactivity) to the environment at a rate faster than it can be dispersed, diluted, decomposed, recycled, or stored in some harmless form. The major kinds of pollution, usually classified by environment, are air pollution, water ...
Water Pollution Essay for Students in English
Water contamination occurs when pollutants pollute water sources and make the water unfit for use in drinking, cooking, cleaning, swimming, and other activities. Chemicals, garbage, bacteria, and parasites are examples of pollutants. Water is eventually damaged by all types of pollution. Lakes and oceans become contaminated by air pollution.
Pollution
t. e. Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. [1] Pollution can take the form of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such as radioactivity, heat, sound, or light). Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring ...
Plastic Pollution Essay for Students and Children
A.1 Plastic Pollution is on the rise because nowadays people are using plastic endlessly. It is very economical and easily available. Moreover, plastic does not dissolve in the land or water, it stays for more than hundred years contributing to uprise of plastic pollution.
Our Way of Life Is Poisoning Us
There is plastic in our bodies; it's in our lungs and in our bowels and in the blood that pulses through us. We can't see it, and we can't feel it, but it is there. It is there in the water ...
Essay on Land Pollution For Students in English
An Introduction. Land pollution is one of the most common types of pollution which we are facing right now. Land pollution takes place anytime and due to different scenarios. Even the acts of nature such as hurricanes and floods can lead to land pollution. One of the main reasons for the contamination of the land is by the urban and rural areas ...

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Air Pollution Essay for Students in English: 100, 200 and 500 Words

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Environmental Pollution: Causes and Consequences Essay

Essay on Pollution In English For Students

Short Essay on Pollution

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Sources of Pollution

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Addressing Pollution

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What is Pollution?

Effects of Pollution on Major Indian Cities

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Pollution Essay in English- Essay on Environmental Pollution

Pollution Essay

Pollution Essay in English

Essay on Pollution

Types of Pollution: Air, Water, Noise, and Soil

Air Pollution

Noise Pollution

Water Pollution

Soil Pollution

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Pollution Paragraph

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