What Is Pollution?

Pollution has been a withstanding issue throughout planet Earth’s history and is an even more pertinent issue today. Pollution is the addition of any substance or form of energy to the environment at a rate that faster than the waste can be disposed of (“Pollution”). This is a growing environmental issue. Groundwater, light, air, land, and ocean pollution are just some of the various types that affect the environment and Earth’s human and wildlife populations. Due to pollution, Earth’s overall health is at risk. Entire ecosystems are being damaged and Earth’s inhabitants are in danger. Factors like improper waste disposal and lack of recycling cause harm to the planet and exponentially deteriorate the Earth into disrepair. Pollution is especially

Often times unwanted chemicals and human waste are dumped into bodies of water, which in turn, damage the wildlife that inhabits these waters. This is called marine pollution. Marine pollution is when unwanted substances are released into bodies of water at a damaging rate to the environment (“Water”). Water is a vital source for all inhabitants of planet Earth. Not only is water a source for

Chemicals and sewage being dumped in bodies of water are baleful to not only the species that live in these contaminated waters but humans as well. Foreign substances can throw off balances in the water, which in turn, may rip apart an entire ecosystem. Species are bombarded with chemicals and new, unwanted substances, which cause ecosystems to collapse. An article written by Jerry Nathanson reads as, “Contamination from sewage outfall pipes, from dumping of sludge or other wastes, and from oil spills can harm marine life, especially microscopic phytoplankton that serve as food for larger aquatic organisms” (“Water Pollution”). Larger aquatic species feed off of smaller species. With the water being contaminated, it is easy for the organisms to also become contaminated. For instance, smaller organisms most likely inhale the polluted oxygen in the water, which results in the larger organisms becoming contaminated. Not only does polluted water affect the marine life, but it also affects humans. Water is a key source of human life, it is necessary to survive. However, with rising water pollution, the sources that are used for drinking water are also being contaminated by the pollutants in the water. An article about water