Pollution

Pollution is a general term for any by-product of human activities that has a negative impact on the environment. The form of pollution with which we are most familiar are air pollution, water pollution, and solid waste.

Air pollution typically comes from automobiles and factories. In the United States, the number one cause of air pollution is from exhaust emissions from automobiles. The effect of auto emissions leads to high ozone levels in the lower atmosphere, acid rain from nitrates and sulfates, and increased global warming due to carbon dioxide.

Water pollution comes in many forms. Pesticides and herbicides from farms dissolve in water and flow into lakes and rivers. These may eventually make their way into the oceans. Household products which contain phosphates can also be a form of water pollution. The phosphates, which can be found in some detergents and shampoos, serve as food for microorganisms which can cause an “algae bloom”, killing off most of the plants and fish in lakes and rivers.

Solid waste management is quickly becoming the number one problem for many cities. As humans consume more, they produce more garbage. Cities typically take the garbage and put it into a large hole in the ground, called a landfill, and bury it. Unfortunately, it is now shown that garbage, thought to be biodegradable, still appears almost new, even after fifty years. Many cities and town are now adopting curbside recycling programs to reduce the need for landfills.