What is Pollution ?

Pollution is word we hear a lot in today’s society. How different companies are polluting the soil from the chemicals they use to grow plants, to people polluting the air with our hairspray. Pollution is a broad word with many different means but really boils down to anything that is unwanted and harmful to something. Noise can even be pollution. For example in Orange County, they have a noise pollution ordinance that requires plans to shut their engines off as they approach the airport . This is because of the homes that are around the airport and to not cause any sound pollution to the residences surrounding the Orange County Airport.

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Pollution comes from a source and is transported through the environment.  “Toxins that are water-soluble move through the environment easily because water is everywhere on this water planet” (Robertson, P. 137). A great example locally is in Fort Myers. Farmers with agriculture  on or near the Caloosahatchee that use harmful pesticides or fertilizers affect the entire eco system. Once it rains on the plants, the water then drains from the plants caring the pesticides or fertilizers moving them into drains that empty into the river. This causes the ecosystems in the river and ocean to be negatively affected. Including our fresh water supply.

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Air pollutants are the number one pollutants that cause health issues. This is because our entire biosphere is surrounded by air and with wind spreading it around. To help combat air pollutants the United States pass a “Clean Air Act” which required the EPA to publish a list of hazardous air pollutants and to set maximum levels for them. “The EPA identified six major air pollutants, know as criteria pollutants and they are, particles, carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, lead, and ground-level ozone (Robertson, P. 138). A fun fact is that all six of these hazardous air pollutants are produced from the burning of fossil fuels; for example gas-burning cars produce carbon monoxide.

Pollutants can also be nature. Radon gas is a great example of naturally occurring gas. Not only is it natural but also it is radioactive. “Radiation at high enough levels can damage tissue and cause cancer to develop” (Robertson, P. 147). Normally, Radon is found in homes and is not at a level dangerous enough to be harmful.  When my family was selling our home in Naperville, Illinois, we had a specialist come out to test to see if there was any Radon in the frame of the house. Sure enough there were Radon and they put in a special venting system to realize the gas.

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