POLLUTION 2 WHAT IS POLLUTION? Answer these questions. a. Is environmental pollution a current topic of discussion in magazines and newspapers? Can you give any examples? b. Are there any pollution problems in the area where you live? c. In Italy there are some areas with serious pollution problems. Have you ever read articles or seen any TV programmes about it? Pollution occurs when the environment is contaminated by waste, chemicals, and other harmful substances. There are three main forms of pollution: air, water, and land. AIR POLLUTION. Most air pollution comes from burning fossil fuels. These include coal, oil, and natural gas. Factories, electrical power plants and automobiles burn these fuels for power. The burning of fossil fuels can release tiny solid particles into the air (the PMs) and harmful gases. This type of pollution may be seen in the form of smog over big cities. Air pollution also leads to acid rain that can harm living things. In addition, air pollution can be a cause of global warming. Finally, air pollution damages the ozone layer which is the Air pollution in Beijing (China) part of the atmosphere that protects the Earth against dangerous rays from the Sun. WATER POLLUTION. Some causes of water pollution are easy to see. People throw rubbish into streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and oceans. Factories sometimes release oils, poisonous chemicals and other waste into water. Other causes of water pollution are not so direct. The use of chemicals in farming is one example. Farmers use some chemicals as pesticides and fertilizers. When these chemicals seep into the ground, they make the groundwater unhealthy to drink. Chemicals also may drain into rivers and lakes, where they can harm fish and other forms of life. SOIL POLLUTION. Rubbish thrown on the ground is the most visible form of soil pollution. Litter is unpleasant to look at and can also destroy the habitat of plants and animals. The accumulation of dangerous chemicals in the ground is another form of land pollution. The chemicals may come from farms or factories; these chemicals can spread to people, plants and animals. Water pollution Other forms of pollution are: RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION. This is the dispersion of radioactive materials, such as radioactive gases, liquids or particles in a place where they may harm individuals or equipment. Plants, buildings, people, and animals can all coal: carbone become contaminated by radioactive materials. to damage: danneggiare to drain: drenare electrical power plant: centrale elettrica harmful: dannoso, pericoloso to occur: verificarsi pond: stagno, piccolo lago to seep: filtrare to spread: diffondersi tiny: minuscolo to wash out: sbiadire 22 NOISE POLLUTION. This takes place when there is either excessive noise or an unpleasant sound that causes temporary disturbance to people and animals. This definition is usually applicable to sounds or noises that are unnatural in either their volume or their production. LIGHT POLLUTION. This is the alteration of natural light levels in the outdoor environment due to artificial light sources. Too much artificial light may wash out starlight in the night sky, interfere with astronomical research, have adverse health effects and waste energy. Module 1 FOUNDATIONS Soil pollution