Article

Pollution 

Pollution is the presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects. It is a very serious danger amidst our society these days because it can harm various populations. 

This worldwide phenomenon has been taking away various species from this planet, but it has been discovered, since 2019,  that we are losing species 10.000 times more than the normal and natural rate, thing that should not be happening.

Pollution is one of the biggest global killers, affecting over 100 million people. That’s comparable to global diseases like malaria and HIV.

Cleanups can save animals’ lives and discourage people from littering in the future, so we should take initiative and host a cleanup  at a park near you. Then, choose to have the initiative and do this.

In 1975, the National Academy of Sciences estimated that

ocean-based sources, such as cargo ships and cruise liners had dumped 14 billion pounds of garbage into the ocean. As a result, over 1 million seabirds and 100,000 sea mammals are killed by pollution every year. "Every single day, cruise ships worldwide emit the same particular matter as a million cars. A single large cruise ship will emit over five tonnes of NOX emissions, and 450kg of ultrafine particles a day" https://www.geekyexplorer.com/cruise-ship-pollution/

People who live in places with high levels of air pollutants have a 20% higher risk of death from lung cancer than people who live in less-polluted areas.

The Mississippi River carries an estimated 1.5 million metric tons of nitrogen pollution into the Gulf of Mexico each year, creating a “dead zone” in the Gulf each summer about the size of New Jersey.

Approximately 40% of the lakes in America are too polluted for fishing, aquatic life, or swimming.

This is enough proof that we should be taking way much more care of our planet and raise awareness. 

Let’s end pollution!

By Valentina Cataño, Step 9