Pollution occurs when an amount of any substance or any form of energy is put into the environment at a rate faster than it can be dispersed or safely stored. The term pollution can refer to both artificial and natural materials that are created, consumed, and discarded in an unsustainable manner.

pollution

Table of Contents

References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images & Videos

How artificial lighting affects wildlife

reducing indoor air pollution with houseplants

pollution

Q: What kinds of pollution are there?

Air pollution , water pollution , and land pollution are three major forms of environmental pollution. Pollution can also refer to excessive human activity, such as light and noise pollution , or to specific pollutants such as plastic or radioactive material. Learn more in this infographic.

Q: Does pollution cause climate change?

Air pollution is the main cause of climate change . Human activities such as burning fossil fuels and mass deforestation lead to the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere , which traps heat inside the atmosphere through a process called the greenhouse effect . This impacts climate patterns and sea levels around the world.

Q: How can we reduce pollution?

Pollution can be reduced through processes such as recycling and the proper treatment of water and toxic waste . The reduction of corporate fossil fuel extraction is another way to counter air pollution . According to the Carbon Majors Report prepared by the Carbon Disclosure Project in 2017, more than 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions comes from only 100 companies.

Q: How many people die annually from pollution?

Air pollution is estimated to kill 7 million people every year. Radioactive and toxic waste in water can cause many diseases, including fatal conditions such as typhoid fever and cholera . Consumption of contaminated water causes approximately 485,000 deaths every year.

environment

Also known as: environmental pollution

Written by Jerry A. Nathanson

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Dec 21, 2024 • Article History

Also called:: environmental pollution

Key People:: Rachel Carson; Timothy Parsons

Related Topics:: air pollution; water pollution; noise pollution; plastic pollution; land pollution

See all related content

What is pollution?

What kinds of pollution are there?

Does pollution cause climate change?

How can we reduce pollution?

How many people die annually from pollution?

News •

Pollution exposure linked to mental health hospital admissions, says study • Dec. 17, 2024, 9:49 PM ET (The Guardian)

ADCO Constructions fined for pollution threatening Sydney's last climbing galaxias • Nov. 24, 2024, 9:54 PM ET (ABC News (Australia))

pollution, the addition of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or any form of energy (such as heat, sound, or radioactivity) to the environment at a rate faster than it can be dispersed, diluted, decomposed, recycled, or stored in some harmless form. The major kinds of pollution, usually classified by environment, are air pollution, water pollution, and land pollution. Modern society is also concerned about specific types of pollutants, such as noise pollution, light pollution, and plastic pollution. Pollution of all kinds can have negative effects on the environment and wildlife and often impacts human health and well-being. Although environmental ...(100 of 676 words)

Access the full article

Help support true facts by becoming a member.