What are the effects of pollution on the environment?
Each of the different types of pollution (air, water, land etc.) have very different effects on the environment.
Air pollution has many detrimental effects on the environment such as damaging to the ozone layer. The ozone layer is very much needed and extremely important to the environment because it acts as a protector or shield from the harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. There has now been discoveries of “holes” in the ozone layer, which will begin to damage crops and plants.
Eutrophication is another effect of air pollution. This process occurs when rain carries and deposits Nitrogen in some pollutants on bodies of water. This ends up changing the nutrients in the soil and water and can result in algae growth. Algae growth is a negative effect for bodies of water because it makes living conditions for living organisms and aquatic life very difficult and harmful.
Air pollution has many detrimental effects on the environment such as damaging to the ozone layer. The ozone layer is very much needed and extremely important to the environment because it acts as a protector or shield from the harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. There has now been discoveries of “holes” in the ozone layer, which will begin to damage crops and plants.
Eutrophication is another effect of air pollution. This process occurs when rain carries and deposits Nitrogen in some pollutants on bodies of water. This ends up changing the nutrients in the soil and water and can result in algae growth. Algae growth is a negative effect for bodies of water because it makes living conditions for living organisms and aquatic life very difficult and harmful.
Acidification is created through the chemical reactions involving air pollutants, which create acidic compounds that can harm vegetation. Air pollutants such as sulfuric acid combines with the water droplets that make up clouds, then the water droplets become acidic and form acid rain. When acid rain falls, it can kill trees and harm animals, fish and other species. As soon as the acid rain absorbs into soil, it can change the soil type making it very difficult for living things that rely on it to survive. Acid rain can also throw off lakes and streams, which harms fish and other species living in the waters.
(Picture to the left: http://eschooltoday.com/pollution/air-pollution/effects-of-air-pollution.html)
(Picture to the left: http://eschooltoday.com/pollution/air-pollution/effects-of-air-pollution.html)
Water pollution has many damaging effects as well. Usually, it is the water bodies near cities and towns that are most polluted. Humans tend to be the number one threat to creating water pollution and it is our job to come up with ways and solutions to prevent the future problems.
Water pollution is a big threat to aquatic animals and much sea life is killed every year due to this type of pollution. Because of the numerous amounts of aquatic life dying, there is a major disruption to the food chain. Pollutants such as lead and cadmium are eaten by little fish at the bottom of the food chain and then are consumed by bigger fish and so on. These pollutants get spread throughout the ocean into the fish, which ends up either endangering or killing many of the aquatic animals.
(Picture to the right: http://library.thinkquest.org/07aug/01628/P8243592.JPG)
Water pollution is a big threat to aquatic animals and much sea life is killed every year due to this type of pollution. Because of the numerous amounts of aquatic life dying, there is a major disruption to the food chain. Pollutants such as lead and cadmium are eaten by little fish at the bottom of the food chain and then are consumed by bigger fish and so on. These pollutants get spread throughout the ocean into the fish, which ends up either endangering or killing many of the aquatic animals.
(Picture to the right: http://library.thinkquest.org/07aug/01628/P8243592.JPG)
Land pollution is also a major pollutant and can have severe consequences. Many of the effects that are created due to this type of pollution have to do with causing problems to humans such as cancer or respiratory issues. As for the effects on the environment, land pollution can cause very bad smells and odors, landfills breed rodents, which produce diseases, and much of the land pollution ends up burning, which creates more air pollution.
(Picture above: http://www.gogreencebu.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Landfill_compactor.jpg)
(Picture above: http://www.gogreencebu.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Landfill_compactor.jpg)