POLLUTION

Defined as..
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change.

Pollutant
A Pollutant is a substance or energy introduced into the environment that has undesired effects, or adversely affects the usefulness of a resource.

Forms of pollution:
AIR POLLUTION. NOISE POLLUTION. WATER POLLUTION. VISUAL POLLUTION.

 LITTERING.

SOIL POLLUTION.

AIR POLLUTION

Defined as..
Air pollution is the introduction into the atmosphere of chemi cals, particulates or biological materials which damage the environment.

Anthropogenic sources that lead to air pollution :

Stationary sources. Mobile sources. Military.

 Chemicals, dust and controlled

burn.
Fumes. Waste deposition in land fills.

Natural sources of air pollution:

Dust. Methane, emitted by

the digestion of food by animals.

Radon gas from radioactive

decay within the Earth's crust.

 Smoke and carbon monoxide

from wildfires.
Volcanic activity.

NOISE POLLUTION

Defined as..
Noise pollution is displeasing or excessive noise that may disrupt the activity or balance of human or animal life.

Sources of noise pollution:

Street traffic.
Aircraft. Railroads. Industry.

 Construction. Consumer products. Other sources.

WATER POLLUTION

Defined as..
Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds.

Point Sources of water pollution includes:

Waste products from factories. Waste from sewage system.
Waste from power plants.

 Waste from underground coalmines. Waste from oil wells.

Non-point Sources includes:

When rain or snow moves through the ground and picks up pollutants as it moves towards a major body of water.

The runoff of fertilizers from farm animals and crop land.

 Air pollutants getting washed or deposited to earth. Storm water drainage from lawns, parking lots, and streets.

VISUAL POLLUTION

Defined as..
Visual pollution is the term given to unattractive and man-made visual elements of a vista, a landscape, or any other thing that a person does not feel comfortable looking at.

Objects involved in visual pollution:

Billboards. Heap of rubbish.
An overcrowded area. Overhead stretches of utility wires.

LITTERING

Defined as..
Litter consists of waste products that have been disposed improperly, without consent, in an inappropriate location.

Sources:
Population levels, traffic density and proximity to waste disposal sites are factors. Government neglect. Illegally dumping hazardous waste.

SOIL POLLUTION

Defined as..
Soil contamination or Soil pollution is caused by the presence of xenobiotic (humanmade) chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment.

Soil contamination can be caused by:

Applications of pesticides and fertilizers.
Mining. Oil and fuel dumping.

 Disposal of coal ash. Leaching from landfills.

Drainage of contaminated surface water into the soil.

Discharging urine and faeces in the open.

Effects of pollution :

 Adverse air quality can kill many organisms including humans.

Carbon dioxide emissions cause ocean acidification.

The emission of greenhouse gases leads to global warming.

 Soil can become infertile and unsuitable for plants.

Noise pollution induces hearing loss, high blood pressure, stress, and sleep disturbance.
Ozone pollution can cause respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, throat inflammation, chest pain, and congestion.

Ways to stop pollution:

 Recycling. Reusing. Reducing.

Mitigating.

 Preventing Compost