What is pollution?
There are many types of pollution happening today, even in your city. One type of pollution we hear about a lot here in Santa Barbara is oil pollution. This can be spillage or even leakage of processed oil into oceans. Other types of pollution include air pollution (the layer of brown clouds you see when you go to Los Angeles and other big cities). Pollution from sewage and drainage into rivers and oceans also is a serious problem for our environment. Finally, deforestation and industry development can also be thought of as ways the environment is being polluted.
Pollution: The impairment (reduction) of water quality by agriculture, domestic or industrial wastes (including thermal and radioactive wastes) to such a degree as to hinder any beneficial use of the water or render it offensive to the senses of sight, taste, or smell or when sufficient amounts of waste creates or poses a potential threat to human health or the environment.
