Problems and Concerns caused by human Influences on the Environment

What is pollution?

Pollution is caused when a substance is added to the environment to the point where it has a negative effect on the organisms which live there.

In the case of atmospheric pollution, things are added to the air which could make it difficult for organisms to breathe or which might change the temperature. Volcanic eruptions, for example, send clouds of dust into the air which can prevent sunlight from reaching the surface. If the dust stays in the atmosphere for several weeks, it can cause the temperature of the region to drop several degrees and prevent plants from photosynthesizing.

Both of these effects from the natural pollution of a volcanic eruption can severely harm the local environment. Besides volcanic eruptions, there are many sources of atmospheric pollution. A considerable number of them are related to human activity.

	Acid Rain		Agriculture
	Depletion of the Ozone Layer and the Greenhouse Effect		Factory Farming
	Famine		Fishing
	Fossil Fuels		Industry
	Natural Resources		Nuclear Energy
	Oil Spills		Traffic
	Domestic Wastes		Water Pollution

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© Paul Billiet, Shirley Burchill, Alan Damon and Deborah James 2009