Many of the compounds which are dangerous to the environment can also be harmful to humans in the long-term range and come from mineral and fossil sources or are produced by humans themselves. Minerals are natural compounds formed through geological processes. ... Three small ammonite fossils, each approximately 1. ...

Pollutants can cause the destruction of areas of the environment which are essential to us. CFCs were carefully chosen not to harm humans, but they are damaging to the environment. They diffuse into the upper atmosphere where they stay for some time. When the radiation of the sun breaks them down, they turn into highly reactive radicals. These catalyse the break down of the ozone layer, which protects us from ultraviolet radiation from the sun. UV radiation can cause skin cancer. CFCs are especially damaging because one CFC molecule can cause the breakdown of many millions of ozone molecules. For other uses, see CFC (disambiguation). ... Human beings are defined variously in biological, spiritual, and cultural terms, or in combinations thereof. ... In chemistry, radicals (often referred to as free radicals) are atomic or molecular species with unpaired electrons on an otherwise open shell configuration. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Catalysis. ... The ozone layer, or ozonosphere layer (very rarely used term), is the part of the Earths atmosphere which contains relatively high concentrations of ozone (O3). ... Note: Ultraviolet is also the name of a 1998 UK television miniseries about vampires. ...

Some compounds like asbestos, carbon dioxide or nitrates occur naturally and might be essential for life. These compounds can be released or are produced by humans, causing an imbalance of the natural processes. In the United States, asbestos, a naturally occurring fibrous mineral, was one of the first hazardous air pollutants regulated under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act of 1970. Carbon dioxide is already present in the atmosphere - indeed it is vital for life on earth. Carbon dioxide helps keep the earth warm by trapping infra-red radiation, which would otherwise be reflected into space. However if there was too much of it present the earth's temperature would rise too high. It is thought that this would cause many destructive effects including the flooding of many low-lying areas, and an imbalance of the earth's weather system. Another example of these compounds are nitrate-containing fertilizers. When these leak into streams they cause plants and algae to grow too fast. This restricts light for plants on the river-bed and they decay. Microbes feed off the decaying plants and use up all the oxygen in the lake, causing fish and other plants to start dying off. Fibrous asbestos on muscovite Asbestos Asbestos Asbestos (a misapplication of Latin: asbestos quicklime from Greek : a, not and sbestos, extinguishable) describes any of a group of minerals that can be fibrous, many of which are metamorphic and are hydrous magnesium silicates. ... Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of one carbon and two oxygen atoms. ... Nitrates are the salts of nitric acid. ... Fibrous asbestos on muscovite Asbestos Asbestos Asbestos (a misapplication of Latin: asbestos quicklime from Greek : a, not and sbestos, extinguishable) describes any of a group of minerals that can be fibrous, many of which are metamorphic and are hydrous magnesium silicates. ... The Clean Air Act (CAA) of 1970 requires the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop and enforce regulations to protect the general public from exposure to airborne contaminants that are known to be hazardous to human health. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of one carbon and two oxygen atoms. ... Image of a small dog taken in mid-infrared (thermal) light (false color) Infrared (IR) radiation is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than visible light, but shorter than microwave radiation. ... Weather is a term that encompasses phenomena in the atmosphere of a planet. ... An electrostatic potential map of the nitrate ion. ... spreading manure, an organic fertilizer Fertilizers (British English fertilisers) are compounds given to plants to promote growth; they are usually applied either via the soil, for uptake by plant roots, or by foliar feeding, for uptake through leaves. ...

Many pollutants have a poisonous effect on the body. Carbon monoxide is an example of a substance which is damaging to humans. This compound is taken up in the body in preference to oxygen, causing the body to suffocate and in severe cases may lead to death. The skull and crossbones symbol traditionally used to label a poisonous substance. ... Carbon monoxide, with the chemical formula CO, is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas. ... General Name, Symbol, Number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series Nonmetals, chalcogens Group, Period, Block 16, 2, p Appearance colorless (gas) very pale blue (liquid) Atomic mass 15. ...

Some pollutants became dangerous by reaction with other naturally occurring compounds. The oxides of nitrogen and sulfur are released from impurities in fossil fuels when they are burnt. They react with water vapor in the atmosphere to become acid rain. Acid rain damages buildings and makes lakes uninhabitable. General Name, Symbol, Number nitrogen, N, 7 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 15, 2, p Appearance colorless Atomic mass 14. ... General Name, Symbol, Number sulfur, S, 16 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 16, 3, p Appearance lemon yellow Atomic mass 32. ... Coal rail cars in Ashtabula, Ohio Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons, primarily coal, fuel oil or natural gas, formed from the remains of dead plants and animals. ... Water vapor, also aqueous vapor, is the gas phase of water. ... Acid rain (or more accurately acid precipitation)[1] occurs when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are emitted into the atmosphere, undergo chemical transformations and are absorbed by water droplets in clouds. ...

Another form of pollution is radioactive contamination. It occurs when highly active radioisotopes are released into the environment. Examples of radioactive contamination is the Chernobyl explosion in the USSR and the overground atom bomb tests of several nations including USA, USSR, United Kingdom and France . Some people think that radioactive waste could be released into the environment. The radiation warning symbol (trefoil). ... A radionuclide is an atom with an unstable nucleus. ... The radiation warning symbol (trefoil). ... Chernobyl area. ... An illustration showing the various sources of nuclear waste Radioactive waste are waste types containing radioactive chemical elements that do not have a practical purpose. ...

See also

• Pollution
• AP 42 Compilation of Air Pollutant Emission Factors
• Poison
• Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
• Carbon dioxide
• Fertilizer
• Carbon monoxide

Tits and ass equals piss Pollution is the release of environmental contaminants. ... The AP 42 Compilation of Air Pollutant Emission Factors, was first published by the U.S. Public Health Service in 1968. ... The skull and crossbones symbol traditionally used to label a poisonous substance. ... The haloalkane (also known as halogenoalkanes) are a group of chemical compounds, consisting of alkanes, such as methane or ethane, with one or more halogens linked, such as chlorine or fluorine, making them a type of organic halide. ... Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of one carbon and two oxygen atoms. ... spreading manure, an organic fertilizer Fertilizers (British English fertilisers) are compounds given to plants to promote growth; they are usually applied either via the soil, for uptake by plant roots, or by foliar feeding, for uptake through leaves. ... Carbon monoxide, with the chemical formula CO, is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas. ...

External links

• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry