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Pollution

Environmental pollution is the release of environmental contaminants, generally resulting from human activity.

Carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide , chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's) ,and nitrogen oxides produced by industry and motor vehicles are common air pollutants. Sunlight converts nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons to ozone or smog.

Water pollutants may consist of a wide range of organic and inorganic chemicals such as heavy metals, petrochemicals, chloroform, and bacteria. Water pollution may also occur in the form of thermal pollution and oxygen depletion.

Soil contamination is an important aspect of environmental pollution; this phenomenon occurs when chemicals are released by spill or underground storage tank leakage. Among the most significant soil contaminants are hydrocarbons, heavy metals, MTBE, herbicides, pesticides and chlorinated hydrocarbons.

Forms of pollution include:

• air pollution, involving the release of chemicals and particulates into the atmosphere
• water pollution, relating to both inland bodies of water and marine pollution of the oceans
• soil contamination, which is often associated with water pollution due to the involvement of runoff and groundwater

Broader contemporary considerations of pollution also embrace:

• thermal pollution, an aspect of water pollution
• noise pollution, which encompasses industrial (eg occupational exposure) and urban (eg community exposure)
• light pollution, owing in part to awareness afforded by the field of astronomy, gaining formal recognition in the 1980s

Your right to a pollution free environment

Air, water and land can all become polluted. This part of the web site gives information on how Copeland BC strives to improve our environment. The Pollution Prevention and Control (England and Wales) Regulations 2000 are available online at the Office of Public Sector Information website: