Pollution

Pollution
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Air pollution from World War II weapon production in Alabama.
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into an environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms.[1] Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat, or light. Pollutants, the elements of pollution, can be foreign substances or energies, or naturally occurring; when naturally occurring, they are considered contaminants when they exceed natural levels. Pollution is often classed as point source or nonpoint source pollution. The Blacksmith Institute issues annually a list of the world's worst polluted places. In the 2007 issues the ten top nominees are located in Azerbaijan, China, India, Peru, Russia, Ukraine andZambia.[citation needed]
In the late industrial age, the term overpollution was common, representing a view that was both critical of industrial pollution, but likewise accepted a certain degree of pollution as nominal industrial practice.[citation needed]
Contents
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• 1 Ancient cultures
• 2 Official acknowledgement
• 3 Modern awareness
• 4 Forms of pollution
• 5 Pollutants
• 6 Sources and causes
• 7 Effects
o 7.1 Human health
o 7.2 Environment
o 7.3 Environmental health information
• 8 Regulation and monitoring
• 9 Pollution control
o 9.1 Practices
o 9.2 Pollution control devices
• 10 Perspectives
• 11 Greenhouse gases and global warming
• 12 See also
• 13 References
• 14 External links

[edit]Ancient cultures
Air pollution has always been with us. Soot found on ceilings of prehistoric caves provides evidence of the high levels of pollution associated with inadequate ventilation of open fires.[2] The forging of metals appears to be a key turning point in the creation of significant air pollution levels outside the home. Core samples of glaciers in Greenland indicate increases in pollution...