How do we pollute our

environment?
Air pollution:-

• The smoke emitting from Factories &

industries causes Air pollution
Water pollution:-

• Factories disposing off the waste product

in the rivers
Land pollution:-

• People littering the public places & not

using correct methods of waste disposal
What are fossil fuels?

• Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons, primarily

coal, petroleum, fuel oil and gas.

• They formed from the fossilised remains

of dead plants and animals by exposure to
heat and pressure in the Earth's crust over
hundreds of millions of years
What’s the problem?

• The burning of fossil fuels by humans is the

largest source of emissions of carbon dioxide
, which is one of the greenhouse gases that
contributes to global warming.

• This means that the surface temperature of

the Earth will rise in response.
What can we do?
Indicator species:
• Looking at Lichens
Lichens are the crusty organisms that grow in places
such as on rocks and bricks.

• You can also find them on gravestones and the side of

trees.

• They range in colour from grey-green to orange and red.

Lichens
• Sulphur dioxide gas is produced when fuels like coal and oil are burned.
• Some lichens are very sensitive to air pollution

• In areas of low air pollution:

-a large variety of different lichen species
-lichens tend to be big and fluffy

• In areas of high air pollution:

-very limited variety of lichen species
-lichens tend to be small and crusty

We can use lichens as an indicator species.

Explain what you think an indicator species is!