When any water body (seas, oceans, lakes, rivers etc) is affected adversely by the addition of large amounts of materials into it, the water is polluted. 

i.   Factories release chemicals into it.

ii.  Careless people throw waste materials into it.

iii. Chemicals are sprayed on the soil for better plant growth. During heavy rainfall, the soil flows into the sea and pollutes it.

We use water from lakes and rivers, and from underground (groundwater). After we use it, most of it returns to these water bodies. It is not clean anymore as it is now waste water that often contains faeces, urine and harmful chemicals too. If it is not treated before it is sent back into the water bodies, it gets polluted.

Human beings, of course! No other creature on Earth creates such a nuisance! Let me show you how these sounds can harm us and other creatures.

When all kinds of waste, including harmful chemicals from things like paints, batteries, pesticides, oil spillage, debris from buildings, hospital waste and so on are dumped on the ground, it affects the quality of the soil. 

It lowers the quality of the soil and strips it of its nutrients that are necessary for the growth of plants. This can lead to soil erosion, degradation and salinisation, among many other problems. Harmful chemicals seep into the soil from the wastes dumped on it and when we humans and animals eat the plants grown on such land we are exposed to health problems.

When any water body (seas, oceans, lakes, rivers etc) is affected adversely by the addition of large amounts of materials into it, it is said that the water is polluted. Although water is very important for us to live, it is always subjected to pollution.

Industries and factories release chemicals into water bodies. Waste materials are thrown or dumped into water bodies. Chemicals are sprayed on the soil for better plant growth. During heavy rainfall, the soil flows into the nearby water bodies and pollutes them.

A water body (for example, the sea or the ocean) is a beautiful world of living organisms like fish, sharks, dolphins and crabs. If it is polluted with materials, all these organisms will be affected and may die.

Shaheen’s Story: “One weekend, Noora and I were staying at our cousin’s house. I could hear my cousins playing football in the freej (neighborhood). I really wanted to go out and play with them. So Noora and I ran outside to join them. Halfway through the game, Noora began coughing and gasping for air. She drew out her inhaler and began using it. I was worried about my little sister so I advised her to sit on the sidewalk for the rest of the game. Later, Noora kept asking me why the air around her was not fresh and clean enough for her to breathe properly.”

• Fresh paint
• Burning fuels such as coal and gas
• Smoking

Children, like Noora, spend about 80% of their time indoors, so are most susceptible to respiratory ailments triggered by indoor air pollutants.

1. A forest fire
2. Smoke emitted from a car or a bus
3. Smoke from factories
4. Burning waste
5. Spraying chemicals

The smoke, dust particles and ash end up in our atmosphere making it unclean, unhealthy and difficult for living creatures to live.     

• Respiratory problems can increase
• Skin can suffer from irritation
• The eye can be irritated
• Buildings can be damaged   
• Plants and animals can be affected