Legal Definitions - Pollution

Pollution refers to the introduction of harmful substances or contaminants into the natural environment—such as air, water, or soil—at levels that can cause adverse effects to living organisms, ecosystems, or human health and property.

Here are some examples illustrating different forms of pollution:

• Industrial Air Pollution: A factory manufacturing plastics releases fine particulate matter and volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere through its smokestacks. These airborne particles and chemicals are harmful substances that contaminate the air, potentially leading to respiratory illnesses in nearby communities and contributing to smog formation.

• Agricultural Water Pollution: A large-scale livestock farm allows animal waste to run off into a nearby river during heavy rains. The waste contains high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, which are harmful substances. This contamination can lead to excessive algae growth in the river, depleting oxygen levels and harming fish and other aquatic life, making the water unsuitable for recreation or drinking.

• Illegal Waste Dumping (Land Pollution): An individual illegally disposes of old car batteries, used motor oil, and household chemicals in a remote forested area. Over time, these items corrode and leak, releasing heavy metals and toxic chemicals into the surrounding soil. These harmful substances contaminate the land, making it barren for plants, posing a risk to wildlife that might ingest them, and potentially seeping into groundwater used for wells.