Types of Pollution

The term pollution usually refers to human activities that adversely affect the world around us. More often than not, it comes attached to other general terms related to the ecosystem, such as air pollution or ocean pollution, or to a human sense, such as noise pollution or light pollution.

Scientists studying different types of pollution tend to focus on more specific environmental problems. Air pollution, for example, can be examined from many different perspectives.

Ozone depletion, a type of air pollution, refers to the release of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) into the atmosphere that breaks down the ozone layer in the stratosphere, allowing an increase in harmful ultraviolet radiation (UV-B radiation) to reach the ground.

Additional air pollution issues:

Acid Rain and Wood Thrush Populations
Recent research by scientists from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology provides stronger evidence that acid rain contributes to declining Wood Thrush populations.

Acid Rain in Europe: Background Information
A review article.

Air Pollution in the Grand Canyon
A report on visibility problems at the Grand Canyon.

Air Pollution in Mexico
Recent review of the statistics.

Air Pollution Statistics for the United States
Tips for getting accurate air pollution statistics.

Electricity Deregulation in the United States
An historical look at electricity regulations in the twentieth century.

Environmental Externalities and Air Pollution
The concept of 'environmental externalities' can be used to offer a different economic perspective on the costs of air pollution in a fossil fueled economy.

Legislative History Before the Clean Air Act
A historical review covering air pollution legislation prior to the passing of the Clean Air Act.

Ozone Depletion
A review of the causes and consequences of Ozone depletion, including a video.

What is Smog?
A layman's explanation of smog.

Water Pollution

Water pollution comes in both fresh water and salt water forms, with the salt water form called marine pollution or Ocean Pollution.

The Types of Water Pollution are often discussed in terms of two questions. What is the source of the pollution? and What types of pollution are generated by each source?

Coastal Dead Zones
Coastal areas with depleted oxygen turn into dead zones.

Amoco Cadiz Oil Spill and Prestige Oil Spill
Two case studies examining the ecological effects of oil spills.

James River Ghost Fleet Disappearing
After close to a decade worth of work, it appears as if the James River Ghost Fleet is slowly but surely disappearing.

Mississippi River Pollution
Reviewing the most recent research covering the gamut of pollution problems along the Mississippi River.

Harmful Algal Blooms
News about the most severe form of algal blooms.

Water Pollution: Algal Blooms
The Great Lakes are an enclosed fresh water system experiencing Algal Blooms

World Wetlands Day
Wetlands are natural filters that help clean up polluted water. Each year World Wetlands Day celebrates them.

© 2009. Patricia A. Michaels