Everyone has heard the term pollution constantly – either in school or documentaries or random

pamphlets. With the global warming taking center stage and becoming a prominent issue,
pollution has become one of the most important problems that is currently being tackled at a
global level.

Pollution can be defined as the introduction of contaminants to the natural environment, where
the environment is affected negatively by the actions of humans. Pollution can take any form
including chemical substances, heat, light, noise or energy. To make it easier to distinguish,
pollution has been divided into eight categories by the scientific community.

The different types of pollution are:

Air Pollution

Air pollution is the contamination of the natural air by mixing it with different pollutants such as
harmful fumes and chemicals. This contamination can be caused by gases emitted by vehicles or
from burning material or harmful fumes emitted as a byproduct of industries. The higher the
concentration of air pollutants, the harder it to remove it effectively through natural cycles. The
higher concentrations also result in breathing problems for living things. Some effects include
increase in smog, higher rain acidity, crop depletion from inadequate oxygen, and higher rates of
asthma. According to experts, global warming is one of the biggest side effects of air pollution.

causes:

1. Emissions from industries and manufacturing activities

2. Burning Fossil Fuels

3. Household and Farming Chemicals

effects:

1.Smog and Acid Rain

Smog and acid rain form from the release of toxic gases such as sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide,
and nitrogen oxides, which then undergo chemical reactions in the air, according to the
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Smog can have detrimental health effects, and acid rain
can damage plants, soil, and bodies of water.

2.Agriculture and Forests

Air pollution can damage our crops and forests, contaminating and destroying the food supply. It
also slows the growth of forests and even causes some trees to die, which in turn leaves more
carbon dioxide and less oxygen in the environment, according to the EPA.
3.Global Warming

Air pollution affects the whole earth ecosystem. Global warming, caused by carbon dioxide
building up in the atmosphere, traps heat in the earth's atmosphere, which can cause dramatic
climate changes that shift the delicate balance of ecosystems around the world.

4. Ozone Depletion

A number of chemicals that have been released into the air, such as chloroflourocarbons, have
caused depletion of the protective ozone layer, which causes harmful ultraviolet radiation to
reach the earth, according to the EPA.

Water Pollution

Water pollution is the contamination of the water on Earth. It includes contamination by

pollutants such as chemical, bacterial or particulate that reduces the purity of the water. Oil
seepage as well as littering is one of the most common forms of pollution. Water pollution
occurs in lakes, oceans, rivers and even underground reservoirs. Water pollution is one of the
most dangerous from of pollution as it decreases the amount of drinkable water that is available.
It can also reduce the amount of water that can be used for irrigation as well as harm the wildlife
that depend on the water.

Causes of water pollution

1) Water pollution may be caused by the intentional or unintentional disposal of hazardous

chemicals and materials into a body of water.

2) Rainfall may cause polluted landscapes to disperse their poisonous materials into the water
and poison the surrounding water.

3) Water pollution may also be caused by specific points or contributing factors such as large
factories, oil refineries, construction sites, chemical waste management facilities, dump sites and
other large scale operations that store/produce large amounts of chemical/hazardous waste.

Effects of water pollution

1) Toxic rainfall can occur in areas where water and/or air is polluted with toxic chemicals and
materials.

2) Polluted water can lead to sickness, disease, infections, deformities and even death among
animals and plant life

.3) Once water becomes polluted it can affect people and animals either directly through
consumption or indirectly through food sources, land degradation and the overabundance of
plants and algae which can cover the surface of various bodies of water making it undrinkable
and affecting the animals that live in that body of water.

As you can see there are a number of different factors that can contribute to the ongoing issues
we are facing with water pollution.It not only harms us and the land we live on, it also affects
animals and the oceans ecosystem.

causes:

1) Water pollution may be caused by the intentional or unintentional disposal of hazardous

chemicals and materials into a body of water.

2) Rainfall may cause polluted landscapes to disperse their poisonous materials into the water
and poison the surrounding water.

3) Water pollution may also be caused by specific points or contributing factors such as large
factories, oil refineries, construction sites, chemical waste management facilities, dump sites and
other large scale operations that store/produce large amounts of chemical/hazardous waste.

Soil Pollution

Soil pollution, also known as land pollution is the contamination of the soil or the land that
prevents growth of natural life, which includes land used for cultivating, wildlife as well as
habitation. Common causes of soil pollution includes non-sustainable farming practices,
hazardous wastage and seepage into the soil, mining as well as littering. Soil pollution can result
in reduced growth of agriculture as well as poisoning of the land and nearby water.

causes and effect :

With the rise of concrete buildings and roads, one part of the Earth that we rarely see is the soil.
It has many different names, such as dirt, mud and ground. However, it is definitely very
important to us. The plants that feed us grow in soil and keeping it healthy is essential to
maintaining a beautiful planet. However, like all other forms of nature, soil also suffers from
pollution. The pollution of soil is a common thing these days, and it happens due to the presence
of man made elements.

The main reason why the soil becomes contaminated is due to the presence of man made waste.
The waste produced from nature itself such as dead plants, carcasses of animals and rotten fruits
and vegetables only adds to the fertility of the soil. However, our waste products are full of
chemicals that are not originally found in nature and lead to soil pollution.