Gourt > Kids and Teens > School Time > Science > Environment > Pollution
Pollution is the release of chemical, physical, biological or radioactive contaminants to the environment. Principal forms of pollution include:
- air pollution, the release of chemicals and particulates into the atmosphere. Common examples include carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and nitrogen oxides produced by industry and motor vehicles. Ozone and smog are created as nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons react to sunlight.
- water pollution affects oceans and inland bodies of water. Examples include organic and inorganic chemicals, heavy metals, petrochemicals, chloroform, and bacteria. Water pollution may also occur in the form of thermal pollution and the depletion of dissolved oxygen.
- soil contamination often occurs when chemicals are released by spill or underground storage tank leakage. Contaminants include hydrocarbons, heavy metals, MTBE, herbicides, pesticides and chlorinated hydrocarbons. Often leads to water pollution via surface runoff and leaching to groundwater.
- radioactive contamination, added in the wake of 20th-century discoveries in atomic physics. (See alpha emitters and actinides in the environment.)
- noise pollution, which encompasses roadway noise, aircraft noise, industrial noise as well as high-intensity sonar.
- light pollution, includes light trespass, over-illumination and astronomical interference.
- visual pollution, which can refer to the presence of overhead power lines, highway billboards, scarred landforms (as from strip mining), open storage of junk or municipal solid waste.
Sources and causes
Arguably the principal source of air pollutants worldwide is motor vehicle emissions. While the U.S. has adopted stringent emissions controls, the EU has not been as assertive in this field; nevertheless, the U.S. is still the leading contributor to mobile source air emissions merely due to the very high number of vehicle miles travelled per capita. Underdeveloped countries lag severely in emission controls on motor vehicles, especially roadway vehicles, and on a per vehicle mile travelled basis produce many times the emissions of the U.S fleet.
More on [ Pollution ]
@iamnfared lmao.. nah I'm good on the air pollution.. I go green..lol
StarrFresh (Starr) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:08:00 -0000
@iamnfared lmao.. nah I'm good on the air pollution.. I go green..lol
Self-contained #fishfarm averts escapes and pollution http://bit.ly/4q4tLR
ecophilia (Michelle Young) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:07:38 -0000
Self-contained #fishfarm averts escapes and pollution http://bit.ly/4q4tLR
Research Highlights: Ozone pollution could kill millions http://bit.ly/7DwwNb
enviroweb (enviroweb) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:04:19 -0000
Research Highlights: Ozone pollution could kill millions http://bit.ly/7DwwNb
POLLUTION!>____< yuuuuck,
lAleAhlA (Leah Fitzgerald) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:03:21 -0000
POLLUTION!>____< yuuuuck,
@richardbranson Is the mayor of Phoenix there? Horrible pollution there...
swonder44 (Steve Tramba) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:00:23 -0000
@richardbranson Is the mayor of Phoenix there? Horrible pollution there...
New York: Survey Finds Street-Level Air Pollution in Manhattan http://bit.ly/8YxZJ6
NewYorkCP (New York CP) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:59:31 -0000
New York: Survey Finds Street-Level Air Pollution in Manhattan http://bit.ly/8YxZJ6
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Air pollution - Information on air pollution, indoor air pollution, fly ash, acid rain and smog.
Meta Description: [ Information on air and its major pollutants, air pollution, indoor air pollution, flyash, acid rain and smog is given in this section. This also provides some suggestions that could be taken to reduce air pollution. ]
Air Quality Index - Comparison of clean and dirty air, air quality index, health, choices, and games.
EDF Chemical Scorecard - Toxic Release Inventory data for the US. Sources and amounts of toxic chemicals released to air and water. Also has information on health effects and other topics.
Meta Description: [ Find environmental information
about your community: learn how bad the pollution is, where
the toxic chemicals come from, what the health risks are,
and what actions you can take ]
Environmental Education Foundation - An education resource teaching awareness and conservation to children, teachers, and parents.
Meta Description: [ Environmental education resources teaching awareness and conservation, for children, teachers and parents. ]
Fun Activities: U.S. EPA Student Center - How much do you know about the environment and pollution? Test your knowledge and have some fun with these games just for kids.
Groundwater Pollution - Water found in pores and crevices in soil or rock creates wetlands, and is an important source of drinking water and irrigation. Illustrated fact sheet explains how fertilisers and other chemicals can affect it.
Hormones: Here's the Beef - A Science News Online article. Runoff of the hormones excreted by steroid-treated livestock could subtly harm aquatic life.
Meta Description: [ Runoff of the hormones excreted by steroid-treated livestock could subtly harm aquatic life. ]
Indoor and Outdoor Air Pollution - Introduction to air pollution, health effects, prevention, types, and classroom activities.
Kids Against Pollution - A non-profit youth group aimed at promoting environmental awareness. Includes news, discussion forum, calendar, contact information, and links.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Kids' Page - Facts, puzzles and other fun activities for kids.
Meta Description: [ Kid's page on the Web Site for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency ]
Nonpoint Source Kids Page - Fun games that help you to understand different kinds of pollution that can occur around the home and neighborhood.
Nonpoint Source Pollution - EPA site about diffuse sources of pollution.
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Oil and Water Don't Mix! - Animated storyboard for kids shows how an oil spill affects the sea and its creatures.
Planet Polluto - Learn about air quality index, what you can do to protect the air quality, and play games.
Pollution - Explains the significance of global warming, ozone depletion and litter, with articles submitted by schoolchildren.
Pollution from Tiki the Penguin - Examines the various pollutants in the world, from toxic chemicals to food waste.
Meta Description: [ Pollution is a killer made by people. It damages our beautiful planet and its life. Tiki finds out more and shows how kids can help stop it ]
Pollution Prevention (P2) That Kids Can Do - Coloring book (in PDF) and links to resources for kids and teachers. Produced by Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
River and Estuary Pollution - Fact sheet explaining how it can harm plants and animals, restrict recreation, and affect fishing industries.
Smog City - Interactive simulator showing how a person's choices affect air quality. Includes information about the ozone, the composition of smog, and air quality index.
Switch Off: A Pollution Solution - A guide to identifying and eliminating wasteful energy practices that release greenhouses gases into the air.
Meta Description: [ EcoKids is a web site maintained by Earth Day Canada. ]
Urban Tripper - Shows teens some pollution-free alternatives to car transport through animations, free downloads, and music. Requires Flash.
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Kids' Cave - Quizzes, factsheets, kids' success stories, pollution solutions, and links.
Warning! Water Pollution! - Four Hong Kong kids in a school called HKIS tell about the problem of water pollution in Hong Kong and worldwide. Includes photos.
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