Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere.
Our world’s population is exploding. Throughout history, our populations has grown slowly but since modern medicine has stopped many deaths from disease and modern farming methods mean more food is available, death rates in underdeveloped countries are much lower than birth rates.
This increase in population, together with increasing living standards, puts more demands on our environment, meaning more raw materials (including non-renewables) are used up. More waste is being produced and unless it’s handled properly will only cause more pollution.
Pollution means substances introduced by humans (either directly or indirectly), that results in harm to living resources, marine life, hazards to human health, hinders marine activities or spoils the quality for use of water. Human activity can pollute all these parts of the environment.
• Water – by sewage, fertilizers and toxic chemicals.
• Land – by pesticides and other toxic chemicals (which can be washed from land to water).
• Air – by smoke and gases (such as sulphur dioxide).
