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Line 5: [[File:Litter.JPG|thumb|[[Litter]] on the coast of [[Guyana]]|300x300px]] {{Pollution sidebar}} '''Pollution''' is the introduction of [[contaminant]]s into the natural environment that cause adverse change.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pollution |title=Pollution – Definition from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary |publisher=[[Merriam-Webster]] |date=2010-08-13 |access-date=2010-08-26}}</ref> Pollution can take the form of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such as radioactivity, heat, sound, or light). [[Pollutant]]s, the components of pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants. Although environmental pollution can be caused by natural events, the word pollution generally implies that the contaminants [[Human impact on the environment|have an anthropogenic source]] – that is, a source created by human activities, such as [[manufacturing]], [[Extractivism|extractive industries]], poor [[waste management]], transportation or [[Agricultural pollution|agriculture]]. Pollution is often classed as [[point source pollution|point source]] (coming from a highly concentrated specific site, such as a [[factory]] or [[Environmental effects of mining|mine]]) or [[nonpoint source pollution]] (coming from a widespread distributed sources, such as [[microplastics]] or [[agricultural runoff]]). Many sources of pollution were unregulated parts of [[Industrialisation|industrialization]] during the 19th and 20th centuries until the emergence of environmental regulation and pollution policy in the later half of the 20th century. Sites where historically polluting industries released persistent pollutants may have [[legacy pollution]] long after the source of the pollution is stopped. Major forms of pollution include [[air pollution]], [[light pollution]], [[litter]], [[noise pollution]], [[plastic pollution]], [[soil contamination]], [[radioactive contamination]], [[thermal pollution]], [[visual pollution]], and [[water pollution]]. Pollution has widespread consequences on human and environmental health, having systematic impact on social and economic systems. In 2019, pollution killed nine million people worldwide (one in six deaths), a number unchanged since 2015.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Fuller |first1=Richard |last2=Landrigan |first2=Philip J |last3=Balakrishnan |first3=Kalpana |last4=Bathan |first4=Glynda |last5=Bose-O'Reilly |first5=Stephan |last6=Brauer |first6=Michael |last7=Caravanos |first7=Jack |last8=Chiles |first8=Tom |last9=Cohen |first9=Aaron |last10=Corra |first10=Lilian |last11=Cropper |first11=Maureen |last12=Ferraro |first12=Greg |last13=Hanna |first13=Jill |last14=Hanrahan |first14=David |last15=Hu |first15=Howard |date=17 May 2022 |title=Pollution and health: a progress update |journal=The Lancet Planetary Health |volume=6 |issue=6 |pages=e535–e547 |doi=10.1016/s2542-5196(22)00090-0 |pmid=35594895 |issn=2542-5196|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sciencenews.org/article/pollution-killed-9-million-people-2015 |title=Pollution killed 9 million people in 2015 |first=Laura |last=Beil |date=15 November 2017 |website=[[Science News]] |access-date=1 December 2017}}</ref><ref name="Carrington">{{cite news |last=Carrington |first=Damian |date=October 20, 2017 |title=Global pollution kills 9m a year and threatens 'survival of human societies' |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/19/global-pollution-kills-millions-threatens-survival-human-societies |access-date=October 20, 2017}}</ref> [[Air pollution]] accounted for {{frac|3|4}} of these earlier deaths.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dickie |first1=Gloria |title=Pollution killing 9 million people a year, Africa hardest hit - study |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/pollution-killing-9-million-people-year-africa-hardest-hit-study-2022-05-17/ |access-date=23 June 2022 |work=Reuters |date=18 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="10.1016/S2542-5196(22)00090-0">{{cite journal |last1=Fuller |first1=Richard |last2=Landrigan |first2=Philip J |last3=Balakrishnan |first3=Kalpana |last4=Bathan |first4=Glynda |last5=Bose-O'Reilly |first5=Stephan |last6=Brauer |first6=Michael |last7=Caravanos |first7=Jack |last8=Chiles |first8=Tom |last9=Cohen |first9=Aaron |last10=Corra |first10=Lilian |last11=Cropper |first11=Maureen |last12=Ferraro |first12=Greg |last13=Hanna |first13=Jill |last14=Hanrahan |first14=David |last15=Hu |first15=Howard |last16=Hunter |first16=David |last17=Janata |first17=Gloria |last18=Kupka |first18=Rachael |last19=Lanphear |first19=Bruce |last20=Lichtveld |first20=Maureen |last21=Martin |first21=Keith |last22=Mustapha |first22=Adetoun |last23=Sanchez-Triana |first23=Ernesto |last24=Sandilya |first24=Karti |last25=Schaefli |first25=Laura |last26=Shaw |first26=Joseph |last27=Seddon |first27=Jessica |last28=Suk |first28=William |last29=Téllez-Rojo |first29=Martha María |last30=Yan |first30=Chonghuai |title=Pollution and health: a progress update |journal=The Lancet Planetary Health |date=June 2022 |volume=6 |issue=6 |pages=e535–e547 |doi=10.1016/S2542-5196(22)00090-0|pmid=35594895 |s2cid=248905224 |doi-access=free }}</ref> A 2022 literature review found that levels of anthropogenic chemical pollution have exceeded [[planetary boundaries]] and now threaten entire ecosystems around the world.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> Pollutants frequently have outsized impacts on vulnerable populations, such as children and the elderly, and marginalized communities, because polluting industries and toxic waste sites tend to be collocated with populations with less economic and political power.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-01-19 |title=Targeting minority, low-income neighborhoods for hazardous waste sites |url=https://news.umich.edu/targeting-minority-low-income-neighborhoods-for-hazardous-waste-sites/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=University of Michigan News |language=en-US}}</ref> This outsized impact is a core reason for the formation of the [[environmental justice movement]],<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Schlosberg |first=David |title=Moral and Political Reasoning in Environmental Practice |work=The Justice of Environmental Justice |publisher=The MIT Press |year=2002 |isbn=0262621649 |editor-last=Light |editor-first=Andrew |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts |pages=79 |editor-last2=De-Shalit |editor-first2=Avner}}</ref><ref name="Schlosberg">Schlosberg, David. (2007) ''Defining Environmental Justice: Theories, Movements, and Nature''. Oxford University Press.</ref> and continues to be a core element of [[ Because of the impacts of these chemicals, local, country and international policy have increasingly sought to regulate pollutants, resulting in increasing air and water quality standards, alongside regulation of specific waste streams. Regional and national policy is typically supervised by [[Environmental agency|environmental agencies or ministries]], while international efforts are coordinated by the [[United Nations Environment Programme|UN Environmental Program]] and other [[Treaty body|treaty bodies]]. Pollution mitigation is an important part of all of the [[Sustainable Development Goals]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Environment |first=U. N. |date=2020-02-21 |title=A Global response to Pollution |url=http://www.unep.org/beatpollution/global-response-pollution |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Beat Pollution |language=en}}</ref> ==Definitions and types== Line 31: ===Pollutants=== [[File:Canal-pollution.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|The [[Lachine Canal]] in [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]], Canada]] Line 77 ⟶ 76: Adverse [[air quality]] can kill many organisms, including humans. Ozone pollution can cause [[respiratory disease]], [[cardiovascular disease]], [[throat]] inflammation, chest pain, and [[Nasal congestion|congestion]]. A 2010 analysis estimated that 1.2 million people died prematurely each year in [[People's Republic of China|China]] alone because of air pollution.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wong |first=Edward |date=1 April 2013 |title=Air Pollution Linked to 1.2 Million Deaths in China |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/02/world/asia/air-pollution-linked-to-1-2-million-deaths-in-china.html |access-date=1 December 2017 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> China's high smog levels can damage the human body and cause various diseases.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Maji |first1=Kamal Jyoti |last2=Arora |first2=Mohit |last3=Dikshit |first3=Anil Kumar |date=2017-04-01 |title=Burden of disease attributed to ambient PM2.5 and PM10 exposure in 190 cities in China |journal=Environmental Science and Pollution Research |language=en |volume=24 |issue=12 |pages=11559–11572 |doi=10.1007/s11356-017-8575-7 |issn=0944-1344 |pmid=28321701 |bibcode=2017ESPR...2411559M |s2cid=37640939}}</ref> In 2019, air pollution caused 1.67 million deaths in India (17.8% of total deaths nationally).<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Pandey |first1=Anamika |last2=Brauer |first2=Michael |last3=Cropper |first3=Maureen L |last4=Balakrishnan |first4=Kalpana |last5=Mathur |first5=Prashant |last6=Dey |first6=Sagnik |last7=Turkgulu |first7=Burak |last8=Kumar |first8=G Anil |last9=Khare |first9=Mukesh |last10=Beig |first10=Gufran |last11=Gupta |first11=Tarun |last12=Krishnankutty |first12=Rinu P |last13=Causey |first13=Kate |last14=Cohen |first14=Aaron J |last15=Bhargava |first15=Stuti |date=21 December 2020 |title=Health and economic impact of air pollution in the states of India: the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 |url=https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30298-9 |journal=The Lancet Planetary Health |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=e25–e38 |doi=10.1016/s2542-5196(20)30298-9 |issn=2542-5196 |pmc=7805008 |pmid=33357500}}</ref> Studies have estimated that the number of people killed annually in the United States could be over 50,000.<ref>{{cite web |author=David, Michael, and Caroline |title=Air Pollution – Effects |url=http://library.thinkquest.org/26026/Environmental_Problems/air_pollution_-_effects.html |access-date=2010-08-26 |publisher=Library.thinkquest.org |archive-date=2011-04-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430113828/http://library.thinkquest.org/26026/Environmental_Problems/air_pollution_-_effects.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> A study published in 2022 in ''[[American Geophysical Union#Publications|GeoHealth]]'' concluded that energy-related fossil fuel emissions in the United States cause 46,900–59,400 premature deaths each year and PM2.5-related illness and death costs the nation $537–$678 billion annually.<ref name="GeoHealth_20220516">{{cite journal |last1=Mailloux |first1=Nicholas A. |last2=Abel |first2=David W. |last3=Holloway |first3=Tracey |last4=Patz |first4=Jonathan A. |date=16 May 2022 |title=Nationwide and Regional PM2.5-Related Air Quality Health Benefits From the Removal of Energy-Related Emissions in the United States |journal=GeoHealth |volume=6 |issue=5 |pages=e2022GH000603 |doi=10.1029/2022GH000603 |pmc=9109601 |pmid=35599962}}</ref> In 2019, [[water pollution]] caused 1.4 million premature deaths.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Fuller |first1=Richard |last2=Landrigan |first2=Philip J |last3=Balakrishnan |first3=Kalpana |last4=Bathan |first4=Glynda |last5=Bose-O'Reilly |first5=Stephan |last6=Brauer |first6=Michael |last7=Caravanos |first7=Jack |last8=Chiles |first8=Tom |last9=Cohen |first9=Aaron |last10=Corra |first10=Lilian |last11=Cropper |first11=Maureen |last12=Ferraro |first12=Greg |last13=Hanna |first13=Jill |last14=Hanrahan |first14=David |last15=Hu |first15=Howard |date=June 2022 |title=Pollution and health: a progress update |journal=The Lancet Planetary Health |volume=6 |issue=6 |pages=e535–e547 |doi=10.1016/s2542-5196(22)00090-0 |pmid=35594895 |issn=2542-5196|doi-access=free }}</ref> [[Water pollution|Contamination of drinking water]] by untreated [[sewage]] in [[developing countries]] is an issue, for example, over 732 million Indians (56% of the population) and over 92 million Ethiopians (92.9% of the population) do not have access to basic [[sanitation]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=WaterAid |date=November 2017 |title=Out of Order – The State of the World's Toilets 2017 |url=https://www.wateraid.org/uk/sites/g/files/jkxoof211/files/Out%20of%20Order%20report%202017_0.pdf |journal=}}</ref> In 2013 over 10 million people in India fell ill with waterborne illnesses in 2013, and 1,535 people died, most of them children.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Over-1500-lives-lost-to-diarrhoea-in-2013-delay-in-treatment-blamed/articleshow/39186504.cms|title=Over 1,500 lives lost to diarrhoea in 2013, delay in treatment blamed|website=The Times of India|last=Isalkar|first=Umesh|date=29 July 2014|publisher=[[Indiatimes]]|access-date=29 July 2014}}</ref> {{ Acute exposure to certain pollutants can have short and long term effects. Oil spills can cause [[human skin|skin]] irritations and [[rash]]es. Noise pollution induces [[hearing loss]], [[high blood pressure]], [[stress (medicine)|stress]], and [[sleep disturbance]]. [[Mercury poisoning|Mercury]] has been linked to [[developmental disorder|developmental deficits]] in children and [[neurology|neurologic]] symptoms. Older people are significantly exposed to [[Health effects of air pollution|diseases induced by air pollution]]. Those with heart or lung disorders are at additional risk. Children and infants are also at serious risk. [[Lead poisoning|Lead]] and other [[Toxic metal|heavy metals]] have been shown to cause neurological problems, intellectual disabilities and behavioural problems.<ref>{{Cite web |last=World Health Organisation |date=31 August 2022 |title=Lead poisoning |url=https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lead-poisoning-and-health |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=www.who.int |language=en}}</ref> Chemical and [[radioactive]] substances can [[Carcinogen|cause]] [[cancer]] and [[birth defect]]s. Line 87 ⟶ 86: [[File:Pacific-garbage-patch-map 2010 noaamdp.jpg|thumb|[[Great Pacific garbage patch]] ]] Pollution has been found to be present widely in the [[environment (biophysical)|environment]].A 2022 study published in ''[[Environmental Science & Technology]]'' found that levels of anthropogenic chemical pollution have exceeded [[planetary boundaries]] and now threaten entire ecosystems around the world.<ref name=":2">{{cite journal |last1=Persson |first1=Linn |display-authors=etal. |date=2022 |title=Outside the Safe Operating Space of the Planetary Boundary for Novel Entities |journal=Environmental Science & Technology |volume=56 |issue=3 |pages=1510–1521 |bibcode=2022EnST...56.1510P |doi=10.1021/acs.est.1c04158 |pmc=8811958 |pmid=35038861}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{cite news |last=Carrington |first=Damian |date=January 18, 2022 |title=Chemical pollution has passed safe limit for humanity, say scientists |work=The Guardian |location= |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jan/18/chemical-pollution-has-passed-safe-limit-for-humanity-say-scientists |access-date=January 18, 2022}}</ref> There are a number of effects of this: Line 110 ⟶ 108: [[Policy]], [[law]] and monitoring/transparency/[[life-cycle assessment]]-attached [[economics]] could be developed and enforced to control pollution.<ref name="ChangPires2015">{{cite book | author1 = Ni-Bin Chang | author2 = Ana Pires | date = 18 February 2015 | title = Sustainable Solid Waste Management: A Systems Engineering Approach | publisher = John Wiley & Sons | page = 209 | isbn = 978-1-118-96453-8 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Vli-BgAAQBAJ}}</ref> A review concluded that there is a lack of attention and action such as work on a [[global governance|globally]] supported "formal [[applied science|science]]–[[policy]] interface", e.g. to "[[Group decision-making|inform]] intervention, influence research, and guide funding".<ref name="10.1016/S2542-5196(22)00090-0"/>
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