What Are the Effects of Pollution on Earth?
Effects of pollution on the Earth include environmental deterioration, impacts on the health of living organisms, global warming, depletion of the ozone layer and reduced efficiency or infertility of farm lands and crop fields. The sources of pollution vary widely, and so do its effects. Pollution affects all areas of the Earth, including the water, soil and atmosphere, on microscopic and macroscopic levels, causing immediate harm or long-term damage.
Environmental degradation is among the primary negative impacts of pollution on the Earth. This includes a decline in air and water quality, which is caused by the introduction of harmful toxins and pollutants. These substances do not generally biodegrade. Instead, they linger in water and the air and disrupt natural processes. One negative effect of air pollution is the addition of surplus amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This creates levels of dense smog, which may prevent sunlight from reaching the earth. In turn, this diminishes the ability of plants to carry out the life-supporting process of photosynthesis. Pollution also reduces air quality, which has detrimental effects on humans and animals by causing respiratory irritation and asthma. Lastly, pollution in the form of insecticides and pesticides may interfere with the growth of crops and introduce toxins into key water sources.
