Environmental pollution

Definition
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms.

Types
Air pollution Soil/land pollution Water pollution Noise pollution

Air pollution
Air pollution is a chemical, physical, or biological change that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere.

Soil/land pollution
Soil contamination (soil pollution) is caused by the presence of xenobiotic chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment. This type of contamination typically arises from the rupture of underground storage tanks, application of pesticides, percolation of contaminated surface water to subsurface strata, oil and fuel dumping, leaching of wastes from landfills or direct discharge of industrial wastes to the soil.

Water pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies. Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds.

Noise pollution
Noise pollution is excessive, displeasing human, animal or machine-created environmental noise that disrupts the activity or balance of human or animal life. The word noise comes from the Latin word nauseas, meaning seasickness.

Causes

Air pollution
Stationary Sources Mobile Sources Chemicals Fumes Natural sources

Soil pollution
Underground storage tanks Application of pesticides Percolation of contaminated surface water to subsurface strata Oil and fuel dumping Leaching of wastes from landfills or direct discharge of industrial wastes to the soil. Petroleum hydrocarbons

Water pollution
Pathogens Chemicals Thermal pollution Others

Noise pollution

Ill-effects