Pollution. Every day, the average person inhales about 20,000 liters of air. Every time we breathe, we risk inhaling dangerous chemicals that have found.

Pollution

AIR POLLUTION

Every day, the average person inhales about 20,000 liters of air.  Every time we breathe, we risk inhaling dangerous chemicals that have found their way into the air.

Air pollution includes all contaminants found in the atmosphere.  These dangerous substances can be either in the form of gases or particles.

CAUSES

Though some pollution comes from natural sources, most pollution is the result of human activity. 

The biggest causes are the operation of fossil fuel-burning(oil, coal), power plants and automobiles that combust fuel. 

Combined, these two sources are responsible for about 90% of all air pollution in the United States.

CAUSESIndustry Power and

Energy

Natural fires Auto

EFFECTS Depletion of Ozone Settlement of pollutants to land/water Human health (Respiration) Acid Rain

SOIL POLLUTION

Soil pollution is the contamination of soil with harmful substances that can affect the quality of the soil and the health of those living on it.

CAUSES

Industry- wastes, such as harmful gases and chemicals.

Farming-Excessive use of chemicals such as pesticides, insecticides and fertilizers.

Heavy metals- iron, steel, power and chemical manufacturing plants that recklessly use the Earth as a dumping ground for their refuse.

Metals that enter the water get absorb into the tissue of fish and travels through the food chain.

WATER POLLUTION

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans and groundwater).

CAUSES Run-off after rain storm. Off shore dumping Accidents. (oil spills)

When sediments enter bodies of water, fish respiration becomes impaired, plant productivity and water depth become reduced, and aquatic organisms and their environments become suffocated. 

When organic material enters waterways, natural bacteria and protozoan in the water break it down and begin to use up the oxygen dissolved in the water. 

Many types of fish and bottom-dwelling animals cannot survive.   When this occurs, it kills aquatic organisms in large numbers which leads to disruptions in the food chain.