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Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause harm. [1] Pollution can take the form of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such as radioactivity, heat, sound, or light). Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants.
An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, especially the marine ecosystem, due to human activity, and is a form of pollution.The term is usually given to marine oil spills, where oil is released into the ocean or coastal waters, but spills may also occur on land.
An example is zinc oxide, a common paint pigment, which is extremely toxic to aquatic life. [ citation needed ] Toxicity or other hazards do not imply an environmental hazard, because elimination by sunlight ( photolysis ), water ( hydrolysis ) or organisms (biological elimination) neutralizes many reactive or poisonous substances.
Sources of water pollution are either point sources or non-point sources. [156] Point sources have one identifiable cause, such as a storm drain, a wastewater treatment plant, or an oil spill. Non-point sources are more diffuse. An example is agricultural runoff. [157] Pollution is the result of the cumulative effect over time.
Environmental disasters have historically affected agriculture, wildlife biodiversity, the economy, and human health.The most common causes include pollution that seeps into groundwater or a body of water, emissions into the atmosphere, and depletion of natural resources, industrial activity, and agricultural practices.
Many compounds found in oil are highly toxic and can cause cancer (carcinogenic) as well as other diseases. [23] Studies in Taiwan link proximity to oil refineries to premature births. [26] Crude oil and petroleum distillates cause birth defects. [27] Benzene is present in both crude oil and gasoline and is known to cause leukaemia in humans. [28]
A pollutant or novel entity [1] is a substance or energy introduced into the environment that has undesired effect, or adversely affects the usefulness of a resource. These can be both naturally forming (i.e. minerals or extracted compounds like oil) or anthropogenic in origin (i.e. manufactured materials or byproducts).
Air pollution — Atmospheric particulate matter • Biological effects of UV exposure • CFC • Environmental impact of the coal industry • Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing • Indoor air quality • Ozone depletion • Smog • Tropospheric ozone • Volatile organic compound • Ultrafine particles