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Air and Water Pollution

If there are two things that are essential to humans and other living creatures, its clean water and air, but with pollution of these natural resources on the rise it’s become increasingly important to find ways to cut down on man-made pollutants in the environment. Find out more about air and water pollution.

If you've seen smog, you've seen air pollution
Courtesy of Peter Essick

Water Pollution can be oils and chemical waste
Courtesy of Peter Essick

We need to protect the Environment
Courtesy of Peter Essick

Air Pollution

If you’ve ever seen smog hanging low over a city, then you’ve seen air pollution first-hand. Air pollution can be natural or man-made, but it’s the man-made pollutants that are the most destructive, like greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming and the destruction of the ozone. Carbon dioxide is one of the worst air pollutants, it’s mainly emitted from power plants, cars, planes and other vehicles and comes from burning fossil fuels. Another major air pollutant is methane, which comes from raising livestock, and CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) which are used in aerosol products.

Air pollution has been linked to health problems like asthma and lung disease, as well as the deterioration of the ozone layer (which protects us from harmful UV rays) and the warming of the earth which may destroy the habitats of many animals. Governments are trying to encourage people to lessen air pollution driving less, recycling and limiting their energy consumption.

Water Pollution

If water is cloudy, smelly and has garbage floating in it, then it’s easy to know that it’s polluted, but clear and clean looking water can be polluted as well with toxic chemicals. Polluted waters aren’t safe to drink or swim in and can cause illness even years after you’re exposed, or you can feel the effects indirectly by eating seafood that has been poisoned by its environment. Water pollution occurs naturally where oil and petroleum leak from underground into the ocean in what are called “Petroleum Seeps,” the biggest one being off the coast of California in Coal Oil Point Seep. Humans create water pollution with adding chemicals and oils to the water from factories, mining and oil spills from commercial tanker and throwing garbage into open waters from boats or onshore, and untreated sewage. Buried chemical waste can also seep into the water.

What Can I Do?

It can be overwhelming when you think of all the ways that we pollute air and water, but you can help simply by thinking about ways to cut down on your carbon footprint. Here are a few ways to get started:

Recycle
Carpool with friends
Take the bus
Ride your Bike
Cut down on energy use by turning off lights, unplugging appliances and electronics

Pollution Facts

The United Nations estimates that 4,000 children die every day from drinking dirty water.
40% of America’s rivers and 46% of America’s Lakes are too polluted for swimming, fishing and aquatic life.
Vehicle exhaust contributes around 60% of all carbon monoxide emissions in the country, and up to 95% in cities.
1.2 trillion gallons of untreated sewage, storm water, and industrial waste are discharged into US waters every year.