The Pollution Problem
By: Roberto Bererra

Unfortunately, pollution is like air: it’s everywhere! Pollution is the introduction of harmful substances into the environment that can cause damage and harm to humans, animals, and the environment. It takes on a number of different forms, from chemicals and garbage to something as seemingly innocent as light or noise.

2 Pollution comes from a variety of sources. In addition, it alters, changes, and even destroys a variety of places. For example, exhaust from cars pollutes the air. When it rains, runoff from fertilizers and pesticides, which farmers use to help crops grow, can pollute the water in oceans, rivers, lakes, and streams. Garbage dumped in landfills is not only an eyesore, but also a source of harmful gases that can damage the earth’s atmosphere. Light pollution, which comes in the form of bright streetlights or signs, disrupts the view of the night sky. Noise pollution caused by cars, trucks, and machines interrupts the natural sounds of the world around us, such as birds singing or leaves rustling.

3 The types of pollution and their effects vary greatly. At the same time, however, they are related; each type of pollution affects the other types. An example of the connection between different types of pollution is acid rain. Acid rain is caused mostly by sulfur or nitrogen emissions given off by sources such as car exhaust and the burning of fossil fuels such as coal. These harmful chemicals rise into the atmosphere where they react with other compounds and then fall as an acidic form of rain, sleet, or snow. Acid rain damages plants and buildings, contaminates soil and water, and has a negative effect on animals, fish, and even humans.

4 Pollution has other effects, too. Breathing toxic air or drinking polluted water can cause humans and animals to develop health problems that can be serious and sometimes deadly. The deaths of too many members of a certain species of animal can upset the local ecosystem, or the area in which they live. As a result, weather patterns and climates can also change.
Which conclusion is BEST supported by the information in the text?

A) An example of the connection between different types of pollution is acid rain. Acid rain is caused mostly by sulfur or nitrogen emissions given off by sources such as car exhaust and the burning of fossil fuels such as coal. They harm the ozone.
B) Pollution is everywhere, but there are ways to reduce. By walking or biking, instead of driving, air pollution can be reduced. People can also buy and eat organic foods to support clean farming. Finding new uses for old things also helps.
C) Pollution is unhealthy for the planet and there is nothing we can do about it. For many years, scientists have warned people about pollution, but nobody seemed to care or want to change their behaviors. Our planet is now polluted.
D) Acid rain and noise pollution are among many types of pollution faced by our planet. When Earth becomes too polluted for people to live, we may consider starting colonies on other planets, like Mars. Scientists are considering that now.