How does pollution affect plants&animals?
Pollution of all types can damage the health of plants and animals. Sometimes, this damage can be so severe that it leads to a collapse of an entire ecosystem.Air PollutionAir pollution can cause acid rain, which injures both plants and animals. It can also make photorespiration in plants and breathing in animals less efficient, stunting growth.Water PollutionSome water pollution can cause an overgrowth of harmful microorganisms which kill off and crowd out other species, leading to “dead zones.” Other water pollutants, such as mercury, oil and household chemicals kill plants and animals directly or lead to genetic changes that can damage their fertility or offspring.Soil PollutionSoil pollution is taken up by plants, damaging their ability to grow and reproduce. Animals that eat these plants also have increased mortality rates.EcosystemsPollution of all types can also affect entire ecosystems. It can damage soil, air and water so that these things cannot support plant or animal life a
