Pollution - the Hidden Things That Are Killing Us
Essay by review • September 5, 2010 • Essay • 711 Words (3 Pages) • 2,060 Views
The Hidden Things That Are Killing Us
Pollution is the introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment. It
is a major problem in America and as well as the world. Pollution not only damages the
environment, but damages us also. It has caused many problems ranging from lung cancer to the
greenhouse effect. It is all among us and yet we continue to live in our own filth. What is the
reason behind this flawed logic? The cars we drive, our left over trash, and the businesses we
depend on are to blame.
Automobiles are by far the greatest source of pollution. The noise pollution created
by cars is immense. Another polluting effect of cars is the heat it creates. This heat makes it
unpleasant to be near the car while its running. And of course the most famous of the automobiles
evils is the exhaust. The toxic fumes given off as a byproduct of the combustion engine are slowly
deteriorating our lungs and our atmosphere. The exhaust is extremely toxic to human beings. But
why do we do continue to drive these walking time bombs. Some people will say it is progress,
but the majority drives it for the convenience. Why walk four miles in four hours when you can
drive the same miles in four minutes?
Another popular source of waste is the post-consumer market. American citizens throw
away millions of tons of garbage each year, and this trash has to go somewhere. While there are
projects underway to clean and reuse this, most of it gets dumped into huge landfills. These
landfills are disgusting festering blisters on our country's landscape. But people continue to
consume and throw away more and more in the name of convenience. As they see it, when things
get old, throw it away and get a new one. They blame the government for the trash problem, but
the truth blame should be placed on themselves.
The last great source of pollution lays in the businesses. Although not common,
businesses have been known to dump their waste products into streams, lakes, and rivers. This
may seem like a relatively small occurrence that really is not your concern, but you're wrong.
According to Progressive Farmer, "Nearly 79 percent of all business
contribute to pollution and
that affects mainly the water source" . Each time one of these companies pollutes there are
horrible consequences to pay. Mutations, destroyed ecosystems, and human death have all
occurred as a direct result of illegal dumping. It
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