What kinds of pollution can you name

Pollution Facts & Types of Pollution

By Alina Bradford published 28 February 18

Pollution is the process of making land, water, air or other parts of the environment dirty and not safe or suitable to use. This can be done through the introduction of a contaminant into a natural environment, but the contaminant doesn’t need to be tangible. Things as simple as light, sound and temperature can be considered pollutants when introduced artificially into an environment.

Toxic pollution affects more than 200 million people worldwide, according to Pure Earth, a non-profit environmental organization. In some of the world’s worst polluted places, babies are born with birth defects, children have lost 30 to 40 IQ points, and life expectancy may be as low as 45 years because of cancers and other diseases. Read on to find out more about specific types of pollution.

Land pollution

Land can become polluted by household garbage and by industrial waste. In 2014, Americans produced about 258 million tons of solid waste, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A little over half of the waste — 136 million tons— was gathered in landfills. Only about 34% was recycled or composted.

Organic material was the largest component of the garbage generated, the EPA said. Paper and paperboard accounted for more than 26%; food was 15% and yard trimmings were 13%. Plastics comprised about 13% of the solid waste, while rubber, leather and textiles made up 9.5% and metals 9%. Wood contributed to 6.2% of the garbage; glass was 4.4% and other miscellaneous materials made up about 3%.

Commercial or industrial waste is a significant portion of solid waste. According to the University of Utah, industries use 4 million pounds of materials in order to provide the average American family with needed products for one year. Much of it is classified as non-hazardous, such as construction material (wood, concrete, bricks, glass, etc.) and medical waste (bandages, surgical gloves, surgical instruments, discarded needles, etc.). Hazardous waste is any liquid, solid or sludge waste that contain properties that are dangerous of potentially harmful to human health or the environment. Industries generate hazardous waste from mining, petroleum refining, pesticide manufacturing and other chemical production. Households generate hazardous waste as well, including paints and solvents, motor oil, fluorescent lights, aerosol cans and ammunition.

Water pollution

Water pollution happens when chemicals or dangerous foreign substances are introduced to water, including chemicals, sewage, pesticides and fertilizers from agricultural runoff, or metals like lead or mercury. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 44% of assessed stream miles, 64% of lakes and 30% of bay and estuarine areas are not clean enough for fishing and swimming. The EPA also states that the United State’s most common contaminants are bacteria, mercury, phosphorus and nitrogen. These come from the most common sources of contaminates, that include agricultural runoff, air deposition, water diversions and channelization of streams.

Water pollution isn’t just a problem for the United States. According to United Nations, 783 million people do not have access to clean water and around 2.5 billion do not have access to adequate sanitation. Adequate sanitation helps to keep sewage and other contaminants from entering the water supply.

According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 80% of pollution in marine environment comes from the land through sources like runoff. Water pollution can also severely affect marine life. For example, sewage causes pathogens to grow, while organic and inorganic compounds in water can change the composition of the precious resource. According to the EPA, low levels of dissolved oxygen in the water are also considered a pollutant. Dissolved is caused by the decomposition of organic materials, such as sewage introduced into the water.

Warming water can also be harmful. The artificial warming of water is called thermal pollution. It can happen when a factory or power plant that is using water to cool its operations ends up discharging hot water. This makes the water hold less oxygen, which can kill fish and wildlife. The sudden change of temperature in the body of water can also kill fish. According to the University of Georgia, it is estimated that around half of the water withdrawn from water systems in the United States each year is used for cooling electric power plants.

«In nearly all cases, 90% of this water is returned to its source, where it can raise the water temperature in an area immediately surrounding the water discharge pipe. Depending on water flow, the water temperature quickly returns to ambient temperatures that do not harm fish.» Donn Dears, former president of TSAugust, a not for profit corporation organization focused on energy issues, told Live Science.

Nutrient pollution, also called eutrophication, is another type of water pollution. It is when nutrients, such as nitrogen, are added into bodies of water. The nutrient works like fertilizer and makes algae grow at excessive rates, according to NOAA. The algae blocks light from other plants. The plants die and their decomposition leads to less oxygen in the water. Less oxygen in the water kills aquatic animals.

Air pollution

The air we breathe has a very exact chemical composition; 99% of it is made up of nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor and inert gases. Air pollution occurs when things that aren’t normally there are added to the air. A common type of air pollution happens when people release particles into the air from burning fuels. This pollution looks like soot, containing millions of tiny particles, floating in the air.

Another common type of air pollution is dangerous gases, such as sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and chemical vapors. These can take part in further chemical reactions once they are in the atmosphere, creating acid rain and smog. Other sources of air pollution can come from within buildings, such as secondhand smoke.

Finally, air pollution can take the form of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide or sulfur dioxide, which are warming the planet through the greenhouse effect. According to the EPA, the greenhouse effect is when gases absorb the infrared radiation that is released from the Earth, preventing the heat from escaping. This is a natural process that keeps our atmosphere warm. If too many gases are introduced into the atmosphere, though, more heat is trapped and this can make the planet artificially warm, according to Columbia University.

Air pollution kills more than 2 million people each year, according to a study published in the journal of Environmental Research Letters. The effects of air pollution on human health can vary widely depending on the pollutant, according to Hugh Sealy, professor and director of the environmental and occupational health track at the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, St. George’s University, St. George’s, Grenada. If the pollutant is highly toxic, the effects on health can be widespread and severe. For example, the release of methyl isocyanate gas at Union Carbide plant in Bhopal in 1984 killed over 2,000 people, and over 200,000 suffered respiratory problems. An irritant (e.g. particulates less than 10 micrometers) may cause respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular disease and increases in asthma. «The very young, the old and those with vulnerable immune systems are most at risk from air pollution. The air pollutant may be carcinogenic (e.g. some volatile organic compounds) or biologically active (e.g. some viruses) or radioactive (e.g. radon). Other air pollutants like carbon dioxide have an indirect impact on human health through climate change,» Sealy told Live Science.

Noise pollution

Even though humans can’t see or smell noise pollution, it still affects the environment. Noise pollution happens when the sound coming from planes, industry or other sources reaches harmful levels. Research has shown that there are direct links between noise and health, including stress-related illnesses, high blood pressure, speech interference, hearing loss. For example, a study bythe WHO Noise Environmental Burden on Disease working group found that noise pollution may contribute to hundreds of thousands of deaths per year by increasing the rates of coronary heart disease. Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA can regulate machine and plane noise.

Underwater noise pollution coming from ships has been shown to upset whales’ navigation systems and kill other species that depend on the natural underwater world. Noise also makes wild species communicate louder, which can shorten their lifespan.

Light pollution

Most people can’t imagine living without the modern convenience of electric lights. For the natural world, though, lights have changed the way that days and nights work. Some consequences of light pollution are:

Turning on so many lights may not be necessary. Research published by International Journal of Science and Research estimates that over-illumination wastes about 2 million barrels of oil per day and lighting is responsible for one-fourth of all energy consumption worldwide.

How Many Types Of Pollution Are There?

Pollution refers to the addition of contaminating substances to the natural environment resulting in an adverse impact on the environment. Pollution is human-made and the level of pollution of the environment has increased with the rise in human population and developments made by the human civilization. Pollution can be of different types depending on the part of the environment that is getting polluted or the type of pollutants/contaminants causing the pollution. Air, water, and soil pollution are the major types of pollution. However, given the wide range of ways in which our species have managed to contaminate the environment, we also have noise, light, radioactive, thermal, and plastic pollution. The different types of pollution have been discussed in greater details below.

Air pollution caused by smoke coming out of two factory chimneys in the industrial zone of Kiev, Ukraine. Image credit: LALS STOCK/Shutterstock.com

Air pollution refers to the release of pollutants like toxic gases, biological molecules, and particulate matter into the atmosphere. The pollutants can be derived from several sources including both natural processes and human activity. Volcanic eruptions, limnic eruptions, automobile, and industrial effluents, etc., are some examples of air pollution sources. Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, aerosol sprays, etc., are some examples of air pollutants. Such pollution can be highly detrimental to the health and well-being of all life forms on earth.

Untreated industrial effluents entering water. Image credit: Toa55/Shutterstock.com

In simple terms, the contamination of water bodies likes lakes, rivers, ponds, aquifers, etc., by pollutants is called water pollution. Like air pollution, water pollution is one of the most harmful types of pollution. It can have extremely disastrous consequences for all living beings using the contaminated water. A major volume of the all the pollutants produced on land end up in water bodies. Toxic wastes released by industries, pathogens released in sewage, harmful chemicals present in agricultural runoffs, etc., are some of the top water pollutants. The contamination of water can lead to epidemics and even pandemics that can wipe out the population of an entire species or even more than one species. Thus, water pollution has a highly adverse impact on the environment, society, and economy of a place.

Soil contaminated by industrial effluents. Image credit: Lefryandi/Shutterstock.com

When the soil of an area is contaminated, it leads to soil pollution or land degradation. The soil is essential to the growth of all plants including crops. Thus, a degradation in the soil quality translates to lower yields and poor health of crops grown on such soil. Industrial and agricultural chemicals are the common pollutants contaminating the soil.

Noise pollution caused by heavy traffic is a common nuisance in our everyday lives. Image credit: Diego Cervo/Shutterstock.com

When the environment is filled with unnecessary or unpleasant sounds that are harmful to animals and plants, it is called noise pollution. Transport vehicles, machinery, industries, loud music, people yelling, etc., are some of the most common sources of noise pollution. This type of pollution on the long-term can give rise to chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases. The psychological health of people can also be affected by noise.

Plastics strewn along the coast in the Panama Canal region. Image credit: Fotos593/Shutterstock.com

As the name suggests, plastic pollution is caused by plastic accumulation in the environment. Plastic, a non-biodegradable substance, is extremely harmful to all life on earth. Every year, thousands of animals lose their lives due to plastic pollution. Ingestion of plastics or entanglement in plastic objects kill these animals. Most of the plastic waste generated in the world end up in the oceans where they cause great harm to the marine ecosystem.

Expert collecting water sample for checking radioactive contamination of the water body. Image credit: Adam Gregor/Shutterstock.com

When radioactive substances are present in areas where their presence is undesirable or unintended, it results in a type of pollution called radioactive contamination. Such substances are highly toxic to all life on earth. Radioactive substances trigger mutations in the genetic material of living organisms, leading to different types of cancers. Exposure to such toxins can also adversely impact the different systems of the body. Death or disfiguration are common effects of exposure to radioactive waste. Irresponsible management of such wastes or radioactive disasters are the common causes of radioactive contamination.

Bright lights on the highway in Taiwan create light pollution affecting wildlife. Image credit: PhotonCatcher/Shutterstock.com

The pollution of the night environment by anthropogenic light is known as light pollution. This type of pollution is caused by an excessive lighting of the streets, flood lights used in stadiums, lights used in an industrial area, etc. The negative effects of light pollution include the spoilage of the aesthetic environment of a place, creating disturbances in the ecosystem, and also harming the health of living creatures.

Hot water from industry released into local water body. Image credit: ToptoDown/Shutterstock.com

An induced change in the temperature of large volumes of water causes thermal pollution. This type of pollution leads to the degradation of water quality as the warm water does not provide ideal living conditions for aquatic flora and fauna. For example, when water used as a coolant in power plants or that used in industries is released into a natural water body, the warm or hot water mixes with the rest of the water to raise the overall temperature of the aquatic ecosystem. Higher temperatures also alter the composition of dissolved elements in water. The flora and fauna living in the area that was earlier adapted to a particular temperature range can be killed by this abrupt change in the water temperature. Thus, aquatic life experiences a thermal shock due to thermal pollution.

The chaos of cables and wires connections on the pole in Kathmandu, Nepal creating visual pollution. Image credit: Vladimir Zhoga/Shutterstock.com

Everyone loves to see clean and green spaces and beautiful vistas. When human activity installs ugly barriers to this vision of open and clutter-free landscapes, it is called visual pollution. The installation of billboards, open storage of trash, networks of electric wires crisscrossing each other above the street, etc., create visual pollution. This type of pollution generates distraction, eye fatigues, diversity in opinions, and other psychological problems.

Littering on the streets of Toulouse, France. Image credit: Mikalai Kachanovich/Shutterstock.com

When waste products generated by humans is not disposed of properly, it is called littering. Here, waste can include anything that is discarded by humans after use like bottles, glass, packaging material, electronic waste, metal waste, etc. Some of these pollutants like electronics, batteries, tires, etc., are hazardous to the health of the environment. When chemicals from such wastes leach into the soil or enter the water bodies, they cause soil contamination and water pollution. Finally, these chemicals enter the bodies of organisms to cause disease and death.

8 Types of Environmental Pollution

We come across different types of environmental pollution such as air pollution, water pollution, soil or land pollution, noise pollution etc in our daily life. Air and water pollution are most well known and challenging problem the world is facing. Pollution in various forms began to be a severe issue following the industrial revolution in the 19 th century. Pollution is said to occur when pollutants (harmful substances) enter in a system. Depending on the concentration and amount of pollutants, the severity of a pollution is measured. Evidence suggests that since the industrial revolution, contaminants in atmosphere have been growing day by day and resulting in severe damage to the Earth and increase in solid waste. Hazardous waste, toxic chemicals, suspended particles are affecting both humans and animals on daily basis. Many of the toxins, chemical and plastic have found their way in ecological food chain. Large consumption of fossil fuel has resulted in release of pollutants such as nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide which has resulted in various environmental issues and have adverse effect on human health.

Main Types of Pollution

Air Pollution

Air Pollution occur when large number of undesirable gases and particulate matter are found in air. This results in deterioration of air quality, requires control and monitoring. If it is not controlled, it results in diseases, allergies or premature death in humans. In general, it is the contamination of air by smoke, gases (chiefly carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide), suspended particles, particulate matter and other air pollutant. It is directly related to greenhouse effect & global warming which is primarily caused due to carbon di oxide & other greenhouse gases.

Effects of Air Pollution

Air pollution has both direct and indirect impact and effect our lives in different manner. Air pollutants include both point source and non point source pollution. These pollutants have adverse effect on air quality and thus need to be brought to a minimum. Some of these effects/ results are mentioned below:

Causes & Sources

Causes include burning of fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum in vehicles, industries and coal based electric power plants. Fossil fuels are being used in large quantities for over centuries in one or other form. Burning of crops, waste and garbage are another equally damaging to the environment. Construction and building activity though does not result in release of harmful gases directly but it adds large amount of particulate matter and other harmful suspended particles which causes pollution. Air pollutants and exhausting fumes from vehicles, heavy metals, natural gas, chemical reactions, the burning of fossil fuels, volatile organic compounds, Radiation spills or nuclear accidents, destructive off-gassing from things such as paint, plastic production, and so on are the major causes.

Water Pollution

Water pollution is the contamination of any body of water including lakes, groundwater, sea, oceans, etc. A few examples include lack of sewage treatment, contaminated water, lack or absence of wastewater treatment, presence of heavy metals and waste water running into the lake or streams; Industrial waste drips polluting groundwater, the illicit putting of stuff or items within water bodies etc. The most explicit kind of water pollution affects oceans, lakes, and rivers. It also results in death of water bodies, kill organisms and fish, crabs, birds, seagulls, dolphins, etc. The increased level of contaminants and exploiting existing natural resources has resulted in acute shortage and lack of clean water in many urban areas. It have an direct impact on waste quality as the underground sources also gets affected by those toxic contaminants.

Causes and Sources

Pollution due to daily activities of humans is the main reason behind polluted water. The most polluting type include discharging untreated industrial waste, toxic chemical and sewage into as lakes, ponds and rivers. Plastic materials such as bottles, plastic bag, packaging material also find their way to water bodies which adds to the pollution and adversely affects aquatic life. Another example include mixing up of high temperature (hot water/ discharge) resulting in sudden change and rise in temperature. Acid rain is also regarded as one of the polluting factor.

Effects of Water Pollution

Soil Pollution or Land Pollution

Soil Pollution takes place there is large amount of toxic chemicals, pollutants or impurities in the soil. It presents a high risk to plants, wildlife, humans and indeed, the soil itself. Quality of soil has direct impact on the crops and farming because of which crop yield is greatly reduced. Soil pollution is also called as soil contamination, soil degradation or land degradation and changes the characteristics of soil. A high or low Ph value, changed chemical composition, loss of nutrients, presence of chemicals, fertilizers, pesticide, herbicides etc are the major causes. Removal of top layer of soil is another form of pollution.

Massive cutting of trees, referred to as deforestation it is a major contributor of land pollution. The roots of trees which binds the soil gets lost with time because of running water & also because of strong winds. In hilly and mountain areas, trees play even a much more important role and keeps big rocks in place. Because of activities such as blasting, cutting of trees and construction in hilly areas, occurrences of landslides have increased.

Causes and Sources of Soil Pollution

The primary cause is the presence of human activities such as industrial waste, agricultural waste, improper waste disposal, accidental oil spills, acid rain, etc. It is a major problem with agricultural areas because of extensive use of human-made waste products which are full of chemicals. Some of the causes are same as that of water pollution like acid rain, discharge of untreated sewage and industrial waste. Additionally, throwing of garbage, especially plastic material such as plastic bags contributes substantially to this kind of pollution since they are non biodegradable. Burning of crops after harvesting also has negative effect on the soil and it lowers its fertility. Agricultural runoff and surface runoff are also the contributory factor.

Effects of Soil Pollution

Effects include the effect on the health of humans, effect on the growth of plants, decreased fertility, toxic dust, changes in soil structure, etc. It directly affects the quality and quantity of crops.

Noise Pollution

Causes and Sources

The cause of most outdoor noise globally is primarily originated from machines and transportation systems, motor vehicles engines, factory machine sounds, aircrafts, and trains. It results from machines, construction activities, and music performances.

Effects of Noise Pollution

Radioactive/ Nuclear Pollution

Radioactive or nuclear pollution is a different type of pollution, it is caused because of radioactive contamination (radio-logical contamination). It is not very common in everyday life but of particular concern where radioactive material and radioactive substances are used. The risk of radioactive contamination increases in vicinity of Nuclear thermal power plants, factories, in major hospitals etc and can cause serious problems if the radiation and exposure is not controlled. Generally, the use of such harmful substance is very careful manner in controlled environment. This is because of the widespread and long lasting damage in case of any leak or contact with such substance. Dealing with radioactive waste becomes particularly important because of the lack of safe disposal of such waste, thus mishandling of radioactive waste can cause huge damage.

Other Pollution Types

Major Issue and What is Being Done?

Global Warming: Most of the solar radiation entering the earth’s atmosphere is reflected back into the space. However some of the heat is absorbed by the gases like the carbon dioxide. This serves to keep the earth warm much like the greenhouses. Greenhouses are glasshouses which maintain a temperature higher than the surroundings for the plants to grow and yield better. The other gases that contribute to this are water vapour, methane, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and nitrous oxide. These gases are called the greenhouse gases.

Climate Change: This has an adverse effect on climate of different regions. Moreover, distribution of plants and animals is also disturbed. Food and agricultural production will be hit drastically. Melting of snow caps and resultant increase in sea levels. This will submerge parts of coastal cities of Calcutta, New York, London and other major cities.

Environmental Considerations, Rules & Regulations: Environmental law, rules and regulations have been formed all over the world. Environmental Protection Agency, Water Department, Pollution Boards, NGOs and departments have been formed. These agencies or departments forms guidelines, policies and acts to check the pollution levels and pollution control. They also work on collecting data about worst polluted places, hazardous waste sites, changes in pollution levels etc. Rules & regulations in form of acts such as clean air act defines the acceptable level, defines penalties, actions and other requirements to be kept in mind. Depending on the need, such rules are applicable to individuals, business entities, industries, manufacturers and as well as government undertakings.

There are millions of people worldwide who are affected because of one form of pollution or other. Considering the large impact of various type of pollutions, not only developed countries like United States, United Kingdom, Japan etc needs to be concerned but each and every single individual should care about it. Recycling is gaining importance along with waste reduction & waste management. Alternate and renewable sources of energy are being explored and environmental monitoring is being emphasises. Use of solar energy & wind energy are the most widely used form or renewable energy. It is a collective responsibility to save our natural resources. United Nations Sustainable Development Goals also puts emphasis on saving environment.

7 Kinds Of Environmental Pollution

7 Kinds of Environmental Pollution

So there are actually SEVEN different kinds of environmental pollution. Most people can name air, water and land. do you know the other four? Or examples of what constitutes actual pollution in each category?

Listed below are each kind and examples to help you understand just how we can affect the environment and each other.

Air Pollution

According to the dictionary, air pollution is the contamination of air by smoke and harmful gases, mainly oxides of carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen. Some examples of air pollution include:

• Exhaust fumes from vehicles

• The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, or gas

• Harmful off-gassing from things such as paint, plastic production, and so forth

• Smoke from wildfires

• Radiation spills or nuclear accidents

Air pollution is linked to asthma, allergies and other respiratory illnesses. You can more about how the environment affects human health here.

Land Pollution

Land pollution is the degradation of the Earth’s surface caused by a misuse of resources and improper disposal of waste. Some examples of land pollution include:

• Litter found on the side of the road

• Illegal dumping in natural habitats

• Oil spills that happen inland

• The use of pesticides and other farming chemicals

• Damage and debris caused from unsustainable mining and logging practices

• Radiation spills or nuclear accidents

Land pollution is responsible for damage done to natural habitat of animals, deforestation and damage done to natural resources, and the general up of our communities. (So stop being a litterbug, yeah?)

Light Pollution

Light pollution is the brightening of the night sky inhibiting the visibility of stars and planets by the use of improper lighting of communities. Some examples of what causes light pollution:

• Street lamps that shine light in all directions, instead of with a hood to point light downward toward the street.

• Extra, unnecessary lights around the home

• Cities that run lights all night long

Light pollution uses more energy (by shining more light up instead of down, meaning you need brighter bulbs for the same amount of light), may affect human health and our sleep cycles, and disturbs the activities and habitats of nocturnal animals.

Noise Pollution

Noise pollution is any loud sounds that are either harmful or annoying to humans and animals. Some examples of noise pollution:

• Airplanes, helicopters, and motor vehicles

• Construction or demolition noise

• Human activities such as sporting events or concerts

Noise pollution can be disruptive to humans’ stress levels, may be harmful to unborn babies, and drives animals away by causing nervousness and decreasing their ability to hear prey or predators.

Thermal Pollution

Thermal pollution is the increase of temperature caused by human activity. A few examples of this include:

• Warmer lake water from nearby manufacturing (using cool water to cool the plant and then pump it back into the lake)

• Included in thermal pollution should also be the increase in temperatures in areas with lots of concrete or vehicles, generally in cities

These kinds of environmental pollution can cause aquatic life to suffer or die due to the increased temperature, can cause discomfort to communities dealing with higher temperatures, and will affect plant-life in and around the area.

Visual Pollution

Visual pollution is what you would call anything unattractive or visual damaging to the nearby landscape. This tends to be a highly subjective topic. Some examples of visual pollution:

• Skyscrapers that blocks a natural view

• Graffiti or carving on trees, rocks, or other natural landscapes

• Billboards, litter, abandoned homes, and junkyards could also be considered among three kinds of environmental pollution

Mostly, visual kinds of environmental pollution are annoying and ugly, although some may say they are also depressing, and they of course affect the surrounding landscape with the changes they cause.

Water Pollution

Water pollution is the contamination of any body of water (lakes, groundwater, oceans, etc). Some examples of water pollution:

• Raw sewage running into lake or streams

• Industrial waste spills contaminating groundwater

• Radiation spills or nuclear accidents

• Illegal dumping of substances or items within bodies of water

• Biological contamination, such as bacteria growth

• Farm runoff into nearby bodies of water, especially from industrial farms

These kinds of environmental pollution are linked to health issues in humans, animals and plant-life. You can read more about how the environment is affecting our health here.

KINDS OF POLLUTION

There are several kinds of environmental pollution. They include air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution caused by solid wastes, noise, and radiation.

Air pollution. Air is the most essential element for all living organisms and most people play the main role in polluting this essential resource. Air pollution may not be as dangerous as nuclear or water pollution, out in the long term it will have an effect on the environmental and health of its organisms. Asthma, cancer, acid rain is only a few consequences of air pollution. The greatest atmospheric pollutants are the carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, etc. Extremely dangerous are emissions of chemical, metallurgical, oil-recycling and building materials industries. The major sources that enable monoxide to enter the atmosphere are the exhaust of cars, the burning of fuels and it causes the possible greenhouse effect. Hydrocarbons are caused by the combustion of oil and petrol and it effects the environment with carcinogen. Carcinogen is a chemical that causes cancer. Sulfur dioxide is certainly one of the major atmospheric pollutants. It is considered to cause stinging, asthma, and acid rains. Nitrogen oxide produced by the exhaust of cars causes pneumonia. Many of these atmospheric pollutants produce the dangerous and well-known smoke and gas emissions called smog.

Engines, whether used for ground transportation or air transport are one of the largest sources of atmospheric pollution. Jet aircraft discharges large amount of pollutants as specially oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbons and carbonic acid gas. Although jet engines have improved over the years but they are still responsible for considerable air pollution.

Most air pollution results from combustion (burning) processes. The burning of gasoline to power motor vehicles and the burning of coal to heat building are examples of such processes. Each time a fuel is burned in a combustion process, some types of pollutants are released into the air. Wind scatters pollutants, and rain and snow wash them into the ground. But in many areas, pollutants are put into air faster than weather conditions can dispose of them.

The problem of atmospheric pollution control is difficult, multisided, and requires a lot of hands and means. Nevertheless, modern level of scientific-technological progress allows to decrease dangerous substances formation and, to work out some measures preventing pollution by these substances.

Water Pollution.Water pollution involves the release into lakes, streams, rivers, and oceans of substances that become dissolved or suspended in the water or deposited upon the bottom. It may also include the release of energy in the form of radioactivity or heat, as in case of thermal pollution. Any body of water has the capacity to absorb, break down, or recycle introduced materials. Under normal circumstances, inorganic substances are widely dispersed and have little or no effect on life within the bodies of water into which they are released. Organic materials are broken down by bacteria or other organisms and converted into a form in which they are useful to aquatic life. But, if the capacity of a body of water to dissolve, disperse, or recycle is exceeded, all additional substances or forms of energy become pollutant.

Water or marine pollution is also partly caused by flowing of the poisonous water to different rivers, ponds, lakes and seas. But we also have to face the problem of oil in the world’s water. Fuel oil enters oceans mainly from oil tankers and offshore oil wells. Oil tankers are not safe enough to guarantee the full isolation of the oil inside. Such spills of oil in the sea kill both flora and fauna and makes the water totally dead. This acute problem needs to be solved in a short period of time.

7. Write down the terms for the following definitions.

8. Fill in the gaps with the following words.

There are several kinds of ______ pollution: air pollution, water _______, land pollution, etc._______ is the most essential element for all living organisms. The ________ dioxide, hydrocarbons are the greatest atmospheric _____. _____ of chemical and _______ industry are also extremely dangerous. Hydrocarbons are caused by the _____ of oil and ____. The problem of _____ pollution control is difficult and multisided.

______pollution involves the release into lakes, rivers, oceans of ______that become dissolved or suspended in water. Fuel oil enters oceans mainly from oil _______ and offshore oil _______. The _______ of oil in the sea kill both flora and _______.

9. Complete the sentences.

10. Work in pairs. You have some more information about pollution, but you don’t have the same information as your partner. Ask questions to get missed information and answer the questions.

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