Pollution is the presence or introduction of harmful substances into the natural environment, such as air, water, soil and food. Although it can be caused by natural events, it usually has a human cause and is one of the three biggest global environmental crises along with climate change and biodiversity loss. Human industry, agriculture, transportation and even everyday activities can contribute to pollution. It can be classified as point source (can be traced back to a specific site such as a sewage treatment plant or factory) or nonpoint source pollution (everywhere).
Air pollution harms wildlife in many of the same ways it harms humans. The most obvious harm is breathing in toxins that damage respiratory systems. But even in minuscule amounts it can impact the ecosystem, contaminating food and water supplies and disrupting ecological balances.
In other cases, the damage is not immediately visible. For example, plastic garbage floating in the oceans can harm fish and other marine life. The noise and light pollution from ships can disrupt sea turtle nesting grounds, and the sounds of ship engines can interfere with whale calls.
The good news is that we have made significant progress in curbing pollution caused by cars, factories and other human activities. However, we need to do more. Educating people and supporting green initiatives can help. We need to reduce the use of fossil fuels, encourage more sustainable energy sources and invest in monitoring the quality of our air. We also need to limit the amount of chemicals and fertilizers we dump into the soil and water supply.