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Almost everyone agrees that the environment of the earth is getting degraded due to increasing amounts of pollution. Essentially, the earth is polluted in three distinct manners: air pollution, water pollution, and land pollution.
First, the primary contribution to air pollution is automobile fumes. These fumes contain not only carbon monoxide, but many heavy metals. In some cities, such as Los Angeles, the pollution is so heavy that a thick layer of smog is usually present. In addition, the air quality is so heavily impacted by automobile pollution that the air is declared a hazard and unsafe on certain days. Industry also contributes to air pollution, and many times burns inferior fuel products, which release sulfur and other chemicals into the environment.
Next, water pollution occurs in the ocean, rivers, rain, and groundwater. The major source of water pollution is due to industrialization and agriculture. Fumes from industrial plants contain heavy metals and other toxins. Most of the power in the United States is generated by burning oil. Some of these fumes contain sulfur dioxide, which contributes to acid rain. It is a scientific fact that acid rain kills trees and fish. In addition, many plants produce heavy metals such as mercury. Mercury gets into the seas and oceans and gets into the ecosystem and contaminates fish, such as tuna. Groundwater can be contaminated through agricultural runoff. Agriculture is heavily dependent upon pesticides and fertilizers, which contaminate the ecosystem.
Finally, the land of the earth is increasingly polluted by dumping of the waste products of urban society and factories. At times, these dump sites become incredibly toxic and are dangerous to visit. Fumes from garbage can be harmful to humans and potentially cause cancer. The United States is running out of places to dump its toxic chemicals, and frequently these dump sites contribute to environmental damage, especially to groundwater.
In conclusion, pollution is threatening our world’s environment. The pollution is attacking the earth from three vectors: the air, the water, and the land. If environmental policies are not put in place soon, we risk losing biodiversity and the earth’s ability to replenish itself from this onslaught of environmental damage.
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