Mother Earth and its inhabitants are suffering from the effects of
man-made pollution. World pollution statistics are staggering and saddening.
This list comprises facts about oceanic pollution, air pollution and land
pollution. It's important to note that pollution is one of the world's greatest
global killers. Pollution affects over 100 million people spread throughout all
continents of the world. Herewith 28 shocking facts about pollution.
A. Air Pollution
1. China
has one of the highest rates of air pollution.
2.
Pollution in China changes US weather. Approximately a third of air pollution
in San Francisco comes from China.
3. 1 in
every 8 deaths that occur in the world is allegedly the result of air
pollution.
4. People
who live in heavily polluted areas have a 20% higher risk of dying from lung
cancer than those who live in less pouted areas.
5.
Breathing air for a single day in Beijing is equivalent to smoking 21
cigarettes.
6.
Breathing air for a whole day in Mumbai is equivalent to smoking 100
cigarettes.
7.
According to the WHO, 94% of all deaths linked to air pollution occur in low
and middle-income countries.
8.
According to the WHO, more than 9 out of 10 of the world's population (92%)
live in places where air pollution exceeds safe limits.
9. China
is the world's largest producer of CO2 (carbon dioxide).
B. Water and Oceanic Pollution
1. 80% of
all urban waste in India is dumped into the river Ganges. Some Indians bury
their deceased family members in the Ganges.
2.
Approximately a third of fish in rivers in Britain are in the process of
changing sex as a result of water pollution. The pollutant in water responsible
for this mutation are the hormones in human sewage and those in contraceptive
pills.
3. About
46% of American lakes and 40% of American rivers are unsuitable for swimming,
fishing and aquatic life.
4. Marine
animals like fish and dolphins die in their thousands as a result of swallowing
plastic bags that resemble jellyfish.
5. About
a thousand children die every single day from a disease caused by severe water pollution.
6. 14
billion pounds of garbage are dumped into the ocean annually, mostly consisting
of plastic.
7. 3.4
million people die per year due to water-related issues.
8.
Approximately 700 million Chinese people drink contaminated water.
9. 1 ton
of oil is spilled per every 1 million tons shipped.
10. Lake
Karachay found in Russia is the most polluted lake in the world.
11. A
child dies every 8 seconds as a result of drinking contaminated water.
12. 1.2
trillion gallons of untreated sewage and industrial waste are dumped into US
water, annually.
C. Plastic Pollution
1.
Plastic takes approximately 500 years to decompose.
2.
Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles per hour.
D. General Facts about Pollution
1.
Although Americans make up just 5% of the world's population, they account for
30% of the world's waste and consume 25% of the world's resources.
2. Noise
pollution is the most neglected form of pollution today.
3.
Acidification of the ocean is the worst type of pollution. Oceans are getting
more and more acidic with increasing green house emissions from fossil fuel.
4.
Antartica is the cleanest place on earth and is protected by anti-pollution
laws.
5. A
single car generates half a ton of CO2.
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