Index
  1. What is pollution?

  2. Types of pollution

  3. Other types of pollution

  4. Disadvantages/Problems

  5. Most contaminating objects

  6. Most polluted cities

  7. Environmental solutions

  8. References


What is pollution?
Pollution refers to the process of introduction of harmful materials called pollutants into the environment. Such pollutants can be natural materials such as volcanic ash. But it is pollutants created by human activities, such as trash or runoff produced by factories, that have the greatest impact on the environment. These harmful materials and substances affect every part of the environment, damaging the quality of the air, water and land (National Geographic Society, 2022).



             
Water pollution Air pollution Land pollution
It is the contamination of water sources by substances which make the water unsuitable for different human activities. These activities can be drinking, cooking, cleaning and swimming. Harmful substances that pollute water sources include chemicals, trash, bacteria and parasites. The greatest factor that contributes to water pollution is that all forms of pollution eventually make their way to water. Both air and land pollution, settle onto lakes, rivers and finally end up in the ocean (Water pollution, 2013). It consists of the contamination of the outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. The main sources that produce this type of pollution are motor vehicles, industrial facilities, combustion devices, household combustion devices and other natural disasters. Outdoor air pollution affects not only the earth’s climate and ecosystems globally, but also it may cause respiratory and other diseases (World Health Organization, 2019). It refers to the destruction of the earth’s surface as a result of human actions or activities. Nearly every human economical activity from mining to agriculture or building has consequences towards the environment that may be intentional or unintentional. There are three human actions that are major contributors to land pollution, Legacy Pollution, Illegal Dumping and Littering. Legacy pollution consists of contaminated land from prior use of chemicals that have remained. Illegal dumping refers to the dumping of waste in non approved dumpsters. Littering is the action of leaving solid waste out in the open (Athens Clarke County, 2021).