Pollution | Definition, History, Types, & Facts

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open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/pollution-environment">pollution</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/science/pollution-environment">Introduction & Top Questions</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref340829"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/science/pollution-environment#ref340829">History of pollution</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref340830"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/science/pollution-environment#ref340830">Pollution control</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/pollution-environment/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/pollution-environment">Quick Facts & Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/pollution-environment/images-videos">Images & Videos</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/16/194916-050-7EAA3BCB/Air-pollution-Shanghai.jpg" data-href="/media/1/468070/222655" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/16/194916-004-DDEA1DC5/Air-pollution-Shanghai.jpg" alt="air pollution" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/18/204718-050-F6177E8B/pollution-kinds-air-land-water-environment-society.jpg" data-href="/media/1/468070/240094" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/18/204718-004-30093CEE/pollution-kinds-air-land-water-environment-society.jpg" alt="pollution" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/18/149718-050-A93E7516/oil-tanker-blast-rocks-Workers-crude-Exxon.jpg" data-href="/media/1/468070/161865" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/18/149718-004-26AD543A/oil-tanker-blast-rocks-Workers-crude-Exxon.jpg" alt="Exxon Valdez oil spill: cleanup" height="50" /> </a> <a href="/video/light-pollution-nature-effects/194028" data-href="/media/1/468070/194028" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <div class="position-relative --aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/22/180122-138-D51F4AED/light-pollution-nature-effects.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="How artificial lighting affects wildlife" class="col-100" /> <div class="btn btn-sm btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%, -50%)"> <em class="material-icons font-14" data-icon="play_arrow" > </em> </div> </div> </a> <a href="/video/Discover-Major-Kinds-of-Pollution/253066" data-href="/media/1/468070/253066" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <div class="position-relative --aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/33/219033-138-D72B7603/Discover-Major-Kinds-of-Pollution.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Major types of pollution explained" class="col-100" /> <div class="btn btn-sm btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%, -50%)"> <em class="material-icons font-14" data-icon="play_arrow" > </em> </div> </div> </a> <a href="/video/Houseplants-combat-indoor-air-pollution/246866" data-href="/media/1/468070/246866" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <div class="position-relative --aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" 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Nathanson</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Professor of Engineering, Union County College, Cranford, New Jersey. Author of <i>Basic Environmental Technology: Water Supply, Waste Disposal, and Pollution Control.</i></div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Jerry A. Nathanson</span></div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2025-02-05T00:00:00CST" >Feb 5, 2025</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/pollution-environment/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn btn-sm border-2 btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 module-spacing js-inline-ai-ask-button p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Also called: </dt> <dd>environmental pollution</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Key People: </dt> <dd><a href="/biography/Rachel-Carson" topicid="97130">Rachel Carson</a></dd> <dd><a href="/biography/Timothy-Parsons" topicid="761084">Timothy Parsons</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Related Topics: </dt> <dd><a href="/science/air-pollution" topicid="10772">air pollution</a></dd> <dd><a href="/science/water-pollution" topicid="637176">water pollution</a></dd> <dd><a href="/science/noise-pollution" topicid="417205">noise pollution</a></dd> <dd><a href="/science/plastic-pollution" topicid="1589019">plastic pollution</a></dd> <dd><a href="/science/land-pollution" topicid="329175">land pollution</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/pollution-environment"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> </div><script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "<div>What is pollution?<\/div><em><\/em>", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Pollution occurs when an amount of any substance or any form of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/energy\">energy<\/a> is put into the environment at a rate faster than it can be dispersed or safely stored. The term <em>pollution<\/em> can refer to both artificial and natural materials that are created, consumed, and discarded in an unsustainable manner." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "<div>What kinds of pollution are there?<\/div><em><\/em>", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "<a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/air-pollution\">Air pollution<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/water-pollution\">water pollution<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/land-pollution\">land pollution<\/a> are three major forms of environmental pollution. Pollution can also refer to excessive human activity, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/light-pollution\">light<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/noise-pollution\">noise pollution<\/a>, or to specific pollutants such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/plastic-pollution\">plastic<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/radioactivity\">radioactive<\/a> material. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/story\/different-types-of-pollution\">Learn more in this infographic.<\/a>" } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "<div>Does pollution cause climate change?<\/div><em><\/em>", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "<a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/air-pollution\">Air pollution<\/a> is the main cause of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/climate-change\">climate change<\/a>. Human activities such as burning <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/fossil-fuel\">fossil fuels<\/a> and mass <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/deforestation\">deforestation<\/a> lead to the increase of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/carbon-dioxide\">carbon dioxide<\/a> in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/atmosphere\">atmosphere<\/a>, which traps heat inside the atmosphere through a process called the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/greenhouse-effect\">greenhouse effect<\/a>. This impacts <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/climate-meteorology\">climate<\/a> patterns and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/sea-level\">sea levels<\/a> around the world." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "<div>How can we reduce pollution?<\/div><em><\/em>", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Pollution can be reduced through processes such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/recycling\">recycling<\/a> and the proper treatment of water and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/toxic-waste\">toxic waste<\/a>. The reduction of corporate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/fossil-fuel\">fossil fuel<\/a> extraction is another way to counter <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/air-pollution\">air pollution<\/a>. According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdp.net\/en\/articles\/media\/new-report-shows-just-100-companies-are-source-of-over-70-of-emissions\">Carbon Majors Report<\/a> prepared by the Carbon Disclosure Project in 2017, more than 70 percent of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/greenhouse-gas\">greenhouse gas<\/a> emissions comes from only 100 companies. " } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "<div>How many people die annually from pollution?<\/div><em><\/em>", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "<a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/air-pollution\">Air pollution<\/a> is estimated to kill <a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/health-topics\/air-pollution\">7 million people<\/a> every year. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/radioactivity\">Radioactive<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/toxic-waste\">toxic waste<\/a> in water can cause many diseases, including fatal conditions such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/typhoid-fever\">typhoid fever<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/cholera\">cholera<\/a>. Consumption of contaminated water causes approximately <a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/drinking-water\">485,000 deaths<\/a> every year. " } } ] } </script> <div class="top-questions qa-accordion d-flex flex-column module-spacing"><div class="font-weight-bold font-14 mb-5"> Top Questions </div><div id="intent-accordion" class="md-intent-accordion"><div class="top-question bg-gray-50 rounded" data-value="1"> <h3 class="accordion--question font-14 font-weight-normal cursor-pointer rounded"><div class="pe-none d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center"><div>What is pollution?</div><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></div></h3> <div class="accordion--answer hidden p-15 pt-5 font-16 mb-5"><div class="accordion--answer-copy"><p>Pollution occurs when an amount of any substance or any form of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/energy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">energy</a> is put into the environment at a rate faster than it can be dispersed or safely stored. The term <em>pollution</em> can refer to both artificial and natural materials that are created, consumed, and discarded in an unsustainable manner.</p></div></div> </div><div class="top-question bg-gray-50 rounded" data-value="2"> <h3 class="accordion--question font-14 font-weight-normal cursor-pointer rounded"><div class="pe-none d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center"><div>What kinds of pollution are there?</div><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></div></h3> <div class="accordion--answer hidden p-15 pt-5 font-16 mb-5"><div class="accordion--answer-copy"><p><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/air-pollution" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Air pollution</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/water-pollution" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">water pollution</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/land-pollution" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">land pollution</a> are three major forms of environmental pollution. Pollution can also refer to excessive human activity, such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/light-pollution" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">light</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/noise-pollution" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">noise pollution</a>, or to specific pollutants such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/plastic-pollution" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">plastic</a> or <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/radioactivity" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">radioactive</a> material. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/story/different-types-of-pollution" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Learn more in this infographic.</a></p></div></div> </div><div class="top-question bg-gray-50 rounded" data-value="3"> <h3 class="accordion--question font-14 font-weight-normal cursor-pointer rounded"><div class="pe-none d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center"><div>Does pollution cause climate change?</div><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></div></h3> <div class="accordion--answer hidden p-15 pt-5 font-16 mb-5"><div class="accordion--answer-copy"><p><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/air-pollution" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Air pollution</a> is the main cause of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/climate-change" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">climate change</a>. Human activities such as burning <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/fossil-fuel" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">fossil fuels</a> and mass <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/deforestation" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">deforestation</a> lead to the increase of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-dioxide" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">carbon dioxide</a> in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/atmosphere" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">atmosphere</a>, which traps heat inside the atmosphere through a process called the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/greenhouse-effect" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">greenhouse effect</a>. This impacts <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/climate-meteorology" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">climate</a> patterns and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/sea-level" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">sea levels</a> around the world.</p></div></div> </div><div class="top-question bg-gray-50 rounded" data-value="4"> <h3 class="accordion--question font-14 font-weight-normal cursor-pointer rounded"><div class="pe-none d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center"><div>How can we reduce pollution?</div><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></div></h3> <div class="accordion--answer hidden p-15 pt-5 font-16 mb-5"><div class="accordion--answer-copy"><p>Pollution can be reduced through processes such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/recycling" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">recycling</a> and the proper treatment of water and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/toxic-waste" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">toxic waste</a>. The reduction of corporate <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/fossil-fuel" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">fossil fuel</a> extraction is another way to counter <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/air-pollution" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">air pollution</a>. According to the <a class="external" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.cdp.net/en/articles/media/new-report-shows-just-100-companies-are-source-of-over-70-of-emissions" data-show-preview="true">Carbon Majors Report</a> prepared by the Carbon Disclosure Project in 2017, more than 70 percent of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/greenhouse-gas" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">greenhouse gas</a> emissions comes from only 100 companies. </p></div></div> </div><div class="top-question bg-gray-50 rounded" data-value="5"> <h3 class="accordion--question font-14 font-weight-normal cursor-pointer rounded"><div class="pe-none d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center"><div>How many people die annually from pollution?</div><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></div></h3> <div class="accordion--answer hidden p-15 pt-5 font-16 mb-5"><div class="accordion--answer-copy"><p><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/air-pollution" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Air pollution</a> is estimated to kill <a class="external" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.who.int/health-topics/air-pollution" data-show-preview="true">7 million people</a> every year. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/radioactivity" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Radioactive</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/toxic-waste" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">toxic waste</a> in water can cause many diseases, including fatal conditions such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/typhoid-fever" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">typhoid fever</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/cholera" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">cholera</a>. Consumption of contaminated water causes approximately <a class="external" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drinking-water" data-show-preview="true">485,000 deaths</a> every year. </p></div></div> </div><button class="show-more-button js-toggle-top-questions btn btn-unstyled font-14 d-flex pr-10 rounded-sm"><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></button></div></div><div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span class="text-gray-600">•</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/04/archive-raises-30m-to-solve-fashions-pollution-problem-with-online-resales/" rel="nofollow">Archive raises $30M to solve fashion’s pollution problem with online resales</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Feb. 4, 2025, 1:17 AM ET (TechCrunch) <button class="btn btn-link d-inline p-0 font-12 js-toggle-recent-news"> <span class="text-gray-500">...</span><span>(Show more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/environment-climate/article/2001510898/community-groups-fight-growing-threats-to-the-wetlands" rel="nofollow">Community groups fight growing threats to the wetlands</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Feb. 2, 2025, 9:31 PM ET (The Standard) </span> </div> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref391718"></span>pollution</strong>, the addition of any substance (<a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/solid-state-of-matter" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">solid</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/liquid-state-of-matter" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">liquid</a>, or <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/gas-state-of-matter" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">gas</a>) or any form of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/energy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">energy</a> (such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/heat" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">heat</a>, sound, or <span id="ref1084478"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/radioactivity" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">radioactivity</a>) to the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="environment" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/environment" data-type="MW">environment</a> 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 <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/air-pollution" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">air pollution</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/water-pollution" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">water pollution</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/land-pollution" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">land pollution</a>. Modern society is also concerned about specific types of pollutants, such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/noise-pollution" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">noise pollution</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/light-pollution" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">light pollution</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/plastic-pollution" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">plastic pollution</a>. Pollution of all kinds can have negative effects on the environment and wildlife and often impacts human <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/health" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">health</a> and well-being.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker h2"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref340829"> <h2 class="h1">History of pollution</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="240094" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/18/204718-050-F6177E8B/pollution-kinds-air-land-water-environment-society.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/468070/240094"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/18/204718-050-F6177E8B/pollution-kinds-air-land-water-environment-society.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/18/204718-050-F6177E8B/pollution-kinds-air-land-water-environment-society.jpg?w=300" alt="pollution" data-width="984" data-height="1600" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/18/204718-050-F6177E8B/pollution-kinds-air-land-water-environment-society.jpg" data-href="/media/1/468070/240094">pollution</a><span>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, thermal pollution, light pollution, and plastic pollution. </span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Although environmental pollution can be caused by natural events such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/forest-fire" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">forest fires</a> and active <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/volcano" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">volcanoes</a>, use of the word <em>pollution</em> generally implies that the contaminants have an <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="anthropogenic" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anthropogenic" data-type="MW">anthropogenic</a> source—that is, a source created by human activities. Pollution has accompanied humankind ever since groups of people first congregated and remained for a long time in any one place. Indeed, ancient human settlements are frequently recognized by their wastes—<a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/shell-mound" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">shell mounds</a> and rubble heaps, for instance. Pollution was not a serious problem as long as there was enough space available for each individual or group. However, with the establishment of permanent settlements by great numbers of people, pollution became a problem, and it has remained one ever since.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><span id="ref1084480"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/urbanization" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Cities</a> of ancient times were often noxious places, fouled by human wastes and debris. Beginning about 1000 <span class="text-smallcaps">ce</span>, the use of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/coal-fossil-fuel" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">coal</a> for fuel caused considerable air pollution, and the conversion of coal to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/coke" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">coke</a> for iron smelting beginning in the 17th century <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="exacerbated" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exacerbated" data-type="MW">exacerbated</a> the problem. In Europe, from the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Middle-Ages" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Middle Ages</a> well into the early modern era, unsanitary urban conditions favoured the outbreak of population-decimating <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="epidemics" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epidemics" data-type="MW">epidemics</a> of disease, from <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/plague" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">plague</a> to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/cholera" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">cholera</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/typhoid-fever" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">typhoid fever</a>. Through the 19th century, water and air pollution and the accumulation of solid wastes were largely problems of congested urban areas. But, with the rapid spread of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/industrialization" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">industrialization</a> and the growth of the human <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/population-biology-and-anthropology" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">population</a> to unprecedented levels, pollution became a universal problem.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/pollution" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/81/155881-131-68D7B743/waste-beach-land-pollution-soil-water-health.jpg" alt="Plastic bag garbage on beach. (pollution; land fill; trash; water pollution; waste)" class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Pollution</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="161865" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/18/149718-050-A93E7516/oil-tanker-blast-rocks-Workers-crude-Exxon.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/468070/161865"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/18/149718-050-A93E7516/oil-tanker-blast-rocks-Workers-crude-Exxon.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/18/149718-050-A93E7516/oil-tanker-blast-rocks-Workers-crude-Exxon.jpg?w=300" alt="Exxon Valdez oil spill: cleanup" data-width="1600" data-height="1042" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">1 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/18/149718-050-A93E7516/oil-tanker-blast-rocks-Workers-crude-Exxon.jpg" data-href="/media/1/468070/161865">Exxon Valdez oil spill: cleanup</a><span>Workers steaming blast rocks covered in crude oil leaking from the <em>Exxon Valdez</em>, an oil tanker that ran aground in Prince William Sound, Alaska, U.S.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="194028" data-asm-type="video"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="video" video-id="180122"><a data-id="180122" class="gtm-assembly-link d-flex justify-content-center" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9" href="/video/light-pollution-nature-effects/-194028"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/22/180122-138-D51F4AED/light-pollution-nature-effects.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop" alt="How artificial lighting affects wildlife" loading="lazy"><script type="application/json"> { "sources": [ { "file" : "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/MkQ5vKo1.m3u8" } ], "image": "https://cdn.britannica.com/22/180122-138-D51F4AED/light-pollution-nature-effects.jpg" ,"tracks": [ { "file" : "//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/Gs8hTrzE", "label": "English" } ] ,"adfile": "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/and8cVod.m3u8" } </script><div class="btn btn-xl btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%)"><em class="material-icons" data-icon="play_arrow"></em></div><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">2 of 2</div></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><span class="md-assembly-title font-weight-bold mr-5 d-inline font-sans-serif md-video-caption" video-control="180122">How artificial lighting affects wildlife</span><span>Learn about light pollution, including its effects on nature.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div><a class="font-14 mt-10 d-inline-block" href="/science/pollution-environment/images-videos">See all videos for this article</a></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph">By the middle of the 20th century, an awareness of the need to protect air, water, and land <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="environments" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/environments" data-type="MW">environments</a> from pollution had developed among the general public. In particular, the publication in 1962 of <span id="ref1084483"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rachel-Carson" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Rachel Carson</a>’s book <span id="ref1084481"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Silent-Spring" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true"><em>Silent Spring</em></a> focused attention on environmental damage caused by improper use of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/pesticide" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">pesticides</a> such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/DDT" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">DDT</a> and other persistent chemicals that accumulate in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/food-chain" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">food chain</a> and disrupt the natural balance of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/ecosystem" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">ecosystems</a> on a wide scale. In response, major pieces of environmental legislation, such as the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Clean-Air-Act-United-States-1970" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Clean Air Act</a> (1970) and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Clean-Water-Act" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Clean Water Act</a> (1972; United States), were passed in many countries to control and <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="mitigate" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mitigate" data-type="MW">mitigate</a> environmental pollution.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="253066" data-asm-type="video"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="video" video-id="219033"><a data-id="219033" class="gtm-assembly-link d-flex justify-content-center" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9" href="/video/Discover-Major-Kinds-of-Pollution/-253066"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/33/219033-138-D72B7603/Discover-Major-Kinds-of-Pollution.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop" alt="Major types of pollution explained" loading="lazy"><script type="application/json"> { "sources": [ { "file" : "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/sUqxALvG.m3u8" } ], "image": "https://cdn.britannica.com/33/219033-138-D72B7603/Discover-Major-Kinds-of-Pollution.jpg" ,"tracks": [ { "file" : "//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/Uldxgveq", "label": "English" } ] ,"adfile": "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/None.m3u8" } </script><div class="btn btn-xl btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%)"><em class="material-icons" data-icon="play_arrow"></em></div></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><span class="md-assembly-title font-weight-bold mr-5 d-inline font-sans-serif md-video-caption" video-control="219033">Major types of pollution explained</span><span>Learn more about the major kinds of pollution in this infographic explainer.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div><a class="font-14 mt-10 d-inline-block" href="/science/pollution-environment/images-videos">See all videos for this article</a></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Giving voice to the growing conviction of most of the scientific community about the reality of anthropogenic <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/global-warming" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">global warming</a>, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Intergovernmental-Panel-on-Climate-Change" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change</a> (IPCC) was formed in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) to help address <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/greenhouse-gas" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">greenhouse gas</a> emissions. An IPCC special report produced in 2018 noted that human beings and human activities have been responsible for a worldwide average <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/temperature" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">temperature</a> increase between 0.8 and 1.2 °C (1.4 and 2.2 °F) since preindustrial times, and most of the warming over the second half of the 20th century could be attributed to human activities, particularly the burning of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/fossil-fuel" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">fossil fuels</a>.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span> </section> <span class="marker h3"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref340830"> <h2 class="h1">Pollution control</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="246866" data-asm-type="video"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="video" video-id="216577"><a data-id="216577" class="gtm-assembly-link d-flex justify-content-center" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9" href="/video/Houseplants-combat-indoor-air-pollution/-246866"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/77/216577-138-F5E1401C/Houseplants-combat-indoor-air-pollution.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop" alt="reducing indoor air pollution with houseplants" loading="lazy"><script type="application/json"> { "sources": [ { "file" : "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/tk9ZalqH.m3u8" } ], "image": "https://cdn.britannica.com/77/216577-138-F5E1401C/Houseplants-combat-indoor-air-pollution.jpg" ,"tracks": [ { "file" : "//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/LmmY5iWE", "label": "English" } ] ,"adfile": "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/pdy5ySP4.m3u8" } </script><div class="btn btn-xl btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%)"><em class="material-icons" data-icon="play_arrow"></em></div><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">1 of 3</div></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><span class="md-assembly-title font-weight-bold mr-5 d-inline font-sans-serif md-video-caption" video-control="216577">reducing indoor air pollution with houseplants</span><span>Research has discovered how houseplants could potentially remove VOCs and other indoor air pollutants.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div><a class="font-14 mt-10 d-inline-block" href="/science/pollution-environment/images-videos">See all videos for this article</a></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="246867" data-asm-type="video"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="video" video-id="216549"><a data-id="216549" class="gtm-assembly-link d-flex justify-content-center" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9" href="/video/Up-cycling-plastic-bags-into-battery-parts/-246867"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/49/216549-138-71166556/Up-cycling-plastic-bags-into-battery-parts.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop" alt="upcycling plastic bags" loading="lazy"><script type="application/json"> { "sources": [ { "file" : "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/aBxL1EyL.m3u8" } ], "image": "https://cdn.britannica.com/49/216549-138-71166556/Up-cycling-plastic-bags-into-battery-parts.jpg" ,"tracks": [ { "file" : "//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/noLvB8zJ", "label": "English" } ] ,"adfile": "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/IxSz7tPp.m3u8" } </script><div class="btn btn-xl btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%)"><em class="material-icons" data-icon="play_arrow"></em></div><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">2 of 3</div></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><span class="md-assembly-title font-weight-bold mr-5 d-inline font-sans-serif md-video-caption" video-control="216549">upcycling plastic bags</span><span>Upcycling plastic bags into battery parts.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div><a class="font-14 mt-10 d-inline-block" href="/science/pollution-environment/images-videos">See all videos for this article</a></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="236343" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/51/195951-050-8265B115/pollution-bags-plastics-ocean-food-packaging.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/468070/236343"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/51/195951-050-8265B115/pollution-bags-plastics-ocean-food-packaging.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/51/195951-050-8265B115/pollution-bags-plastics-ocean-food-packaging.jpg?w=300" alt="plastic pollution" data-width="1000" data-height="667" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">3 of 3</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/51/195951-050-8265B115/pollution-bags-plastics-ocean-food-packaging.jpg" data-href="/media/1/468070/236343">plastic pollution</a><span>Plastic pollution, including many single-use plastics like bags and food packaging, in the ocean. </span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The presence of environmental pollution raises the issue of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/pollution-control" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">pollution control</a>. Great efforts are made to limit the release of harmful substances into the environment through <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/air-pollution-control" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">air pollution control</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/wastewater-treatment" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">wastewater treatment</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/solid-waste-management" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">solid-waste management</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/hazardous-waste-management" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">hazardous-waste management</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/recycling" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">recycling</a>. Unfortunately, attempts at pollution control are often <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="surpassed" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/surpassed" data-type="EB">surpassed</a> by the scale of the problem, especially in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/money/economic-development" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">less-developed countries</a>. Noxious levels of air pollution are common in many large cities, where <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/particulate-matter" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">particulates</a> and gases from transportation, heating, and manufacturing accumulate and linger. The problem of plastic pollution on land and in the oceans has only grown as the use of single-use <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/plastic" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">plastics</a> has burgeoned worldwide. In addition, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/greenhouse-gas" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">greenhouse gas</a> emissions, such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/methane" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">methane</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-dioxide" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">carbon dioxide</a>, continue to drive <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/global-warming" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">global warming</a> and pose a great threat to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/biodiversity" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">biodiversity</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/public-health" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">public health</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span> <span class="md-signature font-12"><a href="/contributor/Jerry-A-Nathanson/4206">Jerry A. Nathanson</a></span> </section><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-simplify-root"></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":468070,"pageLength":676,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.133.36"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.133.36' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"B","adLeg":"B","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"MEDIUM","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":true} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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Pollution | Definition, History, Types, & Facts | Britannica