Environmental pollution is the introduction of foreign and harmful elements into the natural environment. It can have many forms, and a range of effects. Pollution can affect people and animals, ecosystems, and the Earth itself.
Often, pollution is the result of human activity. It can be caused by industrial, extractive or agricultural activities, but also by improper waste management or transportation. Although the term “pollution” is commonly associated with human-related activities, it can refer to contamination from any source. For example, the soil may become polluted by toxic chemicals that leach out of landfills. Likewise, waterways may be contaminated by oil and gas discharges. Even waste products produced by humans themselves can cause pollution, such as microplastics that wash up on beaches and enter the sea.
Human-related pollutants can be very dangerous to health, and the extent of the impact depends on the type of pollutant, its length of exposure and its concentration in the body. For instance, breathing air pollutants such as particulate matter or nitrogen dioxide can irritate the lungs, travel through the bloodstream and reach major organs, including the heart and brain. This damage can lead to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
Human-related air pollution is one of the biggest threats to global health and prosperity. In addition, it contributes to climate change. Fortunately, humans are working on solutions. The global movement toward greener practices has made progress on many fronts. For example, vehicles that run on clean fuels are becoming more popular, and some companies are setting goals to be carbon neutral.
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