Pollution

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Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into an environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms . Pollution can take the form of chemical substances, or energy, such as noise, heat, or light energy. Pollutants, the elements of pollution, can be foreign substances or energies, or naturally occurring; when naturally occurring, they are considered contaminants when they exceed natural levels. Pollution is often classed as point source or nonpoint source pollution. The Blacksmith Institute issues annually a list of the world's worst polluted places. In the 2007 issues the ten top nominees are located in Azerbaijan, China, India, Peru, Russia, Ukraine and Zambia.

For more information about Pollution, read the full article at Wikipedia.
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News tagged with pollution

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NASA, Google offer more precise emissions tracking (AP)

NASA, Google offer more precise emissions tracking

Space & Earth / Environment

created Dec 17, 2009 | popularity 1 / 5 (1) | comments 0

(AP) -- The question is a potential deal-killer: If nations ever agree to slash greenhouse gas emissions, how will the world know if they live up to their pledges?


Pollution alters isolated thunderstorms

Pollution alters isolated thunderstorms

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Dec 15, 2009 | popularity 3 / 5 (4) | comments 10

New climate research reveals how wind shear -- the same atmospheric conditions that cause bumpy airplane rides -- affects how pollution contributes to isolated thunderstorm clouds. Under strong wind shear ...


New Study Turns Up the Heat on Soot's Role in Himalayan Warming (w/ Video)

New Study Turns Up the Heat on Soot's Role in Himalayan Warming (w/ Video)

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Dec 14, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- Soot from fire in an unventilated fireplace wafts into a home and settles on the surfaces of floors and furniture. But with a quick fix to the chimney flue and some dusting, it bears no impact ...


New science estimates carbon storage potential of US lands

Space & Earth / Environment

created Dec 10, 2009 | popularity 3.1 / 5 (7) | comments 4

The first phase of a groundbreaking national assessment estimates that U.S. forests and soils could remove additional quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere as a means to mitigate climate change.


Study reveals how Arctic food webs affect mercury in polar bears

Space & Earth / Environment

created Dec 08, 2009 | popularity 3 / 5 (2) | comments 0

With growing concerns about the effects of global warming on polar bears, it's increasingly important to understand how other environmental threats, such as mercury pollution, are affecting these magnificent Arctic animals.


Blue whale

Blue whales singing with deeper voices

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Dec 08, 2009 | popularity 4.3 / 5 (7) | comments 8

(PhysOrg.com) -- Blue whales, the largest animals on earth, are singing with deeper voices every year, but scientists are unsure of the reason.


Study confirms untold levels of oil sands pollution on the Athabasca

Space & Earth / Environment

created Dec 07, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 2

After an exhaustive study of air and water pollution along the Athabasca River and its tributaries from Fort McMurray to Lake Athabasca, researchers say pollution levels have increased as a direct result of nearby oil sands ...


EPA says greenhouse gases endanger human health (AP)

EPA says greenhouse gases endanger human health

Space & Earth / Environment

created Dec 07, 2009 | popularity 2.2 / 5 (10) | comments 46

(AP) -- The Environmental Protection Agency took a major step Monday toward regulating greenhouses gases, concluding that climate changing pollution threatens the public health and the environment.


Tadpoles Used to Rapidly Detect Water Pollution

Space & Earth / Environment

created Dec 03, 2009 | popularity 2 / 5 (2) | comments 1

(PhysOrg.com) -- Research conducted by University of Wyoming Professor Paul Johnson and others demonstrates that genetically modified tadpoles work well as sensitive monitors for rapidly detecting water pollution.


Elevated CO2 levels may mitigate losses of biodiversity from nitrogen pollution

Space & Earth / Environment

created Dec 03, 2009 | popularity 3.7 / 5 (7) | comments 2

Rising levels of carbon dioxide may overheat the planet and cause other environmental problems, but fears that rising CO2 levels could directly reduce plant biodiversity can be allayed, according to a new study by a University ...


Australia's Parliament defeats global warming bill

Space & Earth / Environment

created Dec 02, 2009 | popularity 3.4 / 5 (5) | comments 7

(AP) -- Australia's plans for an emissions trading system to combat global warming were scuttled Wednesday in Parliament, handing a defeat to a government that had hoped to set an example at international climate change ...


Ohio school district sues over air pollution

Space & Earth / Environment

created Nov 28, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

(AP) -- A school district near Cincinnati is suing a plastics plant, accusing it of continuing to release chemicals in the air that exceed government safety standards.


New climate targets may not change daily life much (AP)

New climate targets may not change daily life much

Space & Earth / Environment

created Nov 27, 2009 | popularity 3.5 / 5 (19) | comments 31

(AP) -- Americans' day-to-day lives won't change noticeably if President Barack Obama achieves his newly announced goal of slashing carbon dioxide pollution by one-sixth in the next decade, experts say.


Obama to plead US case at global warming summit (AP)

Obama to plead US case at global warming summit

Space & Earth / Environment

created Nov 26, 2009 | popularity 1.6 / 5 (7) | comments 3

(AP) -- President Barack Obama will commit the United States to substantial cuts in greenhouse gas pollution over the next decade - despite resistance in Congress over higher costs - when he travels to a ...


coughing

Research reveals exactly how coughing is triggered by environmental irritants

Medicine & Health / Research

created Nov 23, 2009 | popularity 4 / 5 (1) | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists have revealed how environmental irritants such as air pollution and cigarette smoke cause people to cough, in research published today in the American Journal of Respiratory an ...