Pollution | Definition, History, Types, & Facts | Britannica
WebMar 30, 2024 · Jerry A. Nathanson. Pollution, addition of any substance or form of energy to the environment at a rate faster than it can be dispersed or stored in a harmless form. The major kinds of pollution are usually classified by environment and include air, water, and land pollution. Learn more about the history of pollution.
What Are the Different Types of Pollution? | Britannica
WebAir, Land, and Water Pollution. Although most of the nutrients or substances that contribute to air, land, and water pollution are limited to a single environment, air, land, and water do interact with one another. Air pollution results when the by-product of an activity makes chemicals airborne. Close to Earth’s surface, sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ...
Pollution - National Geographic Society
WebMar 6, 2024 · Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment. These harmful materials are called pollutants. Pollutants can be natural, such as volcanic ash. They can also be created by human activity, such as trash or runoff produced by factories. Pollutants damage the quality of air, water, and land.
Air pollution | Effects, Causes, Definition, & Facts | Britannica
Web4 days ago · Air pollution, release into the atmosphere of various gases, finely divided solids, or finely dispersed liquid aerosols at rates that exceed the natural capacity of the environment to dissipate and dilute or absorb them. High concentrations can cause undesirable health, economic, or aesthetic effects.
Air Pollution: Everything You Need to Know - NRDC
WebOct 31, 2023 · A number of air pollutants pose severe health risks and can sometimes be fatal, even in small amounts. Almost 200 of them are regulated by law; some of the most common are mercury, lead, dioxins ...
Pollution - Wikipedia
WebPollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. [1] Pollution can take the form of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such as radioactivity, heat, sound, or light). Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring ...
Air pollution, facts and information - National Geographic
WebFeb 4, 2019 · Air pollution is a mix of particles and gases that can reach harmful concentrations both outside and indoors. Its effects can range from higher disease risks to rising temperatures. Soot, smoke ...
Air Pollution - National Geographic Society
WebMar 6, 2024 · Air pollution consists of chemicals or particles in the air that can harm the health of humans, animals, and plants. It also damages buildings. Pollutants in the air take many forms. They can be gases, solid particles, or liquid droplets. Sources of Air Pollution Pollution enters the Earth's atmosphere in many different ways. Most air pollution is …
Air pollution - World Health Organization (WHO)
WebSep 5, 2023 · WHO promotes interventions and initiatives for healthy sectoral policies (including energy, transport, housing, urban development and electrification of health-care facilities), addressing key risks to health from air pollution indoors and outdoors, and contributing to achieving health co-benefits from climate change mitigation policies.
Water Pollution Definition - Types, Causes, Effects - NRDC
WebJan 11, 2023 · What is water pollution? Water pollution occurs when harmful substances—often chemicals or microorganisms—contaminate a stream, river, lake, ocean, aquifer, or other body of water, degrading ...
Skip to content