Highlights
Environmental pollution is contamination of air, water and land from man-made waste. Pollution leads to depletion of the ozone layer, global warming and climate change. Air pollution is the release of chemicals and particles into the atmosphere. Water pollution includes surface runoff, leakage into groundwater, liquid spills, wastewater discharge and littering. If toxins are spilled on the ground or if an underground storage tank leaks, soil can become contaminated. Well known contaminants include herbicides and pesticides. Toxic waste is waste material, often in chemical form, which pollutes the natural environment and contaminates groundwater.
Other types of pollution include ocean...
Other types of pollution include ocean...
Environmental pollution is contamination of air, water and land from man-made waste. Pollution leads to depletion of the ozone layer, global warming and climate change. Air pollution is the release of chemicals and particles into the atmosphere. Water pollution includes surface runoff, leakage into groundwater, liquid spills, wastewater discharge and littering. If toxins are spilled on the ground or if an underground storage tank leaks, soil can become contaminated. Well known contaminants include herbicides and pesticides. Toxic waste is waste material, often in chemical form, which pollutes the natural environment and contaminates groundwater.
Other types of pollution include ocean pollution and noise pollution. Environmental pollution can have a deadly effect on humans and ecosystems. For example, cigarette smoke, including second-hand smoke, causes cancer, emphysema, stroke and heart attack. Drinking water can become contaminated by untreated sewage, rashes and skin problems occur due to oil spills, while excessive noise can cause hearing loss. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established in 1970 to put a limit on the amount of pollutants in the air. Congress passed the Clean Air Act in 1963, the Noise Control Act in 1972 and the Clean Water Act in 1977. Pollution is a bigger concern in other parts of the world, especially developing countries. Time Magazine reported in 2007 that the most polluted spots in the world included China, India, Peru and Russia.
Other types of pollution include ocean pollution and noise pollution. Environmental pollution can have a deadly effect on humans and ecosystems. For example, cigarette smoke, including second-hand smoke, causes cancer, emphysema, stroke and heart attack. Drinking water can become contaminated by untreated sewage, rashes and skin problems occur due to oil spills, while excessive noise can cause hearing loss. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established in 1970 to put a limit on the amount of pollutants in the air. Congress passed the Clean Air Act in 1963, the Noise Control Act in 1972 and the Clean Water Act in 1977. Pollution is a bigger concern in other parts of the world, especially developing countries. Time Magazine reported in 2007 that the most polluted spots in the world included China, India, Peru and Russia.
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Wintry snow globe from Hubble
Maryland WeatherCram more than 100,000 stars into a cluster 'only' 150 light-years wide and you get something like this - the globular cluster astronomers know as M-13. This image was assembled from Hubble data recorded during four separate observations from 1999......Tags: Astronomy, Space Programs, NASA, Natural Science
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Philip Morris uses man-made wetlands to filter wastewater from Virginia plant
AP Business WriterCHESTER, Va. (AP) — It started with the gnats. Then came the dragonflies and mice. Eventually the birds, foxes, turtles and deer stumbled upon a man-made wetlands that naturally filters wastewater from the nation's biggest tobacco maker. The...Tags: Wine, Beer, and Spirits, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Dining and Drinking, Natural Resources, University of Texas
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EPA report shows polluters will spend record amount to fix violations, reduce emissions
Associated Press WriterWASHINGTON (AP) — Companies violating environmental laws will spend a record $11.8 billion to reduce pollution and they paid more in penalties over the last year than they have since the first year of the Bush administration, according to the latest...Tags: Pollution, Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning, Regional Authority, Environmental Politics, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Britain postpones decision on building third runway at London's Heathrow airport
LONDON (AP) — Britain says it has delayed its decision on whether to build a third runway at London's Heathrow airport. Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon says the decision will be made in January instead of this month as had been planned. Airports...Tags: Thames River, Boris Johnson
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Philip Morris wetlands filter wastewater
AP Business WriterIt started with the gnats. Then came the dragonflies and mice. Eventually the birds, foxes, turtles and deer stumbled upon a man-made wetlands that naturally filters wastewater from the nation's biggest tobacco maker. The nearly 50 acres of wetlands...Tags: Wine, Beer, and Spirits, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Dining and Drinking, Natural Resources, University of Texas
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EPennsylvania: Va will benefit from enforcement actions
The Environmental Protection Agency says Virginia stands to get more than $1.9 billion worth of pollution controls and cleanup due to enforcement actions against companies that violate environmental laws. Nationwide, the EPA says violators will spend...Tags: Regional Authority, Massey Energy Company, Richmond (Richmond, Virginia), Pollution, Environmental Politics
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How About A Giveback By UConn Bosses?
The University of Connecticut, along with the rest of the state, is faced with a grave budget crisis. There is pain. There is more pain to come. The pain must be shared. Recently, my inbox received an announcement about CORE, a task force created by...Tags: National Government, Government Debt, Budgets and Budgeting, University of Connecticut, Government
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Iowa team explores use of perennial prairie strips to address perennial problem of farm runoff
Associated Press WriterDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The solution to a perennial problem of farming could be, well, perennials. Researchers at Iowa State University are experimenting with the placement of perennial prairie strips in corn and soybean fields as a way of...Tags: Nature, Gloucester (Gloucester, Virginia), Agriculture, Wildlife, Natural Resources
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Greenhouse gas emissions increased in US by 1.4 percent last year after declining in 2006
Associated Press WriterWASHINGTON (AP) _ The amount of U.S. greenhouse gases flowing into the atmosphere, mainly carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels, increased last year by 1.4 percent after a decline in 2006, the Energy Department reported Wednesday. The report said...Tags: Natural Gas, Natural Resources, Global Warming, Coal, Energy Resources
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Bays seen 'under siege' from pollution, development
jennifer.smith@newsday.comThe ecological health of the Peconic and South Shore bays remains fragile, stressed by pollution, development and the loss of critical wildlife habitat such as eelgrass beds, according to a report released today by Peconic Baykeeper, a local advocacy...Tags: Weather Reports, Nature, Rivers, Bodies of Water, Aquaculture
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NOISE THREATENS WHALES, DOLPHINS
The Associated PressThe songs that whales and dolphins use to communicate, orient themselves and find mates are being drowned out by human-made noises in the world's oceans, U.N. officials and environmental groups said Wednesday. That sound pollution is not only confounding...Tags: Nature, Natural Resources, Endangered Species, Pollution, Conservation
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In U.S., polluting gases still on rise
The Associated PressThe amount of U.S. greenhouse gases flowing into the atmosphere increased last year by 1.4 percent after a decline in 2006, the Energy Department reported Wednesday. Carbon dioxide, the leading pollution linked to global warming, rose by 1.3 percent in...Tags: Global Warming
Dec 4, 2008
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|Story| Orlando Sentinel
Dec 4, 2008
|Story| Orlando Sentinel
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