POLLUTION
"What is Pollution?"
Pollution is the action of environmental contamination with man-made waste.This includes mainly land,water,and air.Pollution can come in various forms including the lesser-known noise,light,and thermal pollution.Of all the First World countries,the United States is the most polluting nation on Earth,according to various statistical indications.The U.S. is ranked seventh on pollution control,by only spending 60% of its Gross National Product to help the environment.We spend over 120 billions dollars a year on pollution control and abatement,regulation and monitoring,and research and development.The majority of the cost incurred is from control and abatement of pollution.According to the Council on Eviromental Quality,our country consumed over 98 quadrillion Btu of energy in 2000.Our own residential consumption of energy in various forms has increase 300% since 1950.Some of this consumption increase is due to burning of fossil fuels,a natural resource.Why do you think the depletion of natural resources and the consumption of energy is related to pollution?
"LAND POLLUTION"
Land pollution the action of environmental contamination with man-made waste on land.Americans generate five pounds of solid waste every day,furthermore creating one ton of solid waste each year.In an average day in the United States,people throw out 200,000 tons of edible food and throw 1 million bushels of litter out of their automobiles.The main human contributor to pollutionare landfills. Approximately half of our trash is disposed in landfills.Only 2% of our waste is actually recycled.It is possible that land pollution might also contaminate the air and/or the water or vice versa. In the picture above,for example,some of the trash may end up getting washed into the lake adjacent to it.In another situation,chemical waste may not be disposed of properly and toxic substances may seep into the ground.These seeping chemicals can potentially contaminate a local body of water.It is also possible that these chemicals may give off a toxic vapor,thereby contributing to air pollution as well.