good thesis on pollution

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Developing Strong Thesis Statements

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The thesis statement or main claim must be debatable

An argumentative or persuasive piece of writing must begin with a debatable thesis or claim. In other words, the thesis must be something that people could reasonably have differing opinions on. If your thesis is something that is generally agreed upon or accepted as fact then there is no reason to try to persuade people.

Example of a non-debatable thesis statement:

This thesis statement is not debatable. First, the word pollution implies that something is bad or negative in some way. Furthermore, all studies agree that pollution is a problem; they simply disagree on the impact it will have or the scope of the problem. No one could reasonably argue that pollution is unambiguously good.

Example of a debatable thesis statement:

This is an example of a debatable thesis because reasonable people could disagree with it. Some people might think that this is how we should spend the nation's money. Others might feel that we should be spending more money on education. Still others could argue that corporations, not the government, should be paying to limit pollution.

Another example of a debatable thesis statement:

In this example there is also room for disagreement between rational individuals. Some citizens might think focusing on recycling programs rather than private automobiles is the most effective strategy.

The thesis needs to be narrow

Although the scope of your paper might seem overwhelming at the start, generally the narrower the thesis the more effective your argument will be. Your thesis or claim must be supported by evidence. The broader your claim is, the more evidence you will need to convince readers that your position is right.

Example of a thesis that is too broad:

There are several reasons this statement is too broad to argue. First, what is included in the category "drugs"? Is the author talking about illegal drug use, recreational drug use (which might include alcohol and cigarettes), or all uses of medication in general? Second, in what ways are drugs detrimental? Is drug use causing deaths (and is the author equating deaths from overdoses and deaths from drug related violence)? Is drug use changing the moral climate or causing the economy to decline? Finally, what does the author mean by "society"? Is the author referring only to America or to the global population? Does the author make any distinction between the effects on children and adults? There are just too many questions that the claim leaves open. The author could not cover all of the topics listed above, yet the generality of the claim leaves all of these possibilities open to debate.

Example of a narrow or focused thesis:

In this example the topic of drugs has been narrowed down to illegal drugs and the detriment has been narrowed down to gang violence. This is a much more manageable topic.

We could narrow each debatable thesis from the previous examples in the following way:

Narrowed debatable thesis 1:

This thesis narrows the scope of the argument by specifying not just the amount of money used but also how the money could actually help to control pollution.

Narrowed debatable thesis 2:

This thesis narrows the scope of the argument by specifying not just what the focus of a national anti-pollution campaign should be but also why this is the appropriate focus.

Qualifiers such as " typically ," " generally ," " usually ," or " on average " also help to limit the scope of your claim by allowing for the almost inevitable exception to the rule.

Types of claims

Claims typically fall into one of four categories. Thinking about how you want to approach your topic, or, in other words, what type of claim you want to make, is one way to focus your thesis on one particular aspect of your broader topic.

Claims of fact or definition: These claims argue about what the definition of something is or whether something is a settled fact. Example:

Claims of cause and effect: These claims argue that one person, thing, or event caused another thing or event to occur. Example:

Claims about value: These are claims made of what something is worth, whether we value it or not, how we would rate or categorize something. Example:

Claims about solutions or policies: These are claims that argue for or against a certain solution or policy approach to a problem. Example:

Which type of claim is right for your argument? Which type of thesis or claim you use for your argument will depend on your position and knowledge of the topic, your audience, and the context of your paper. You might want to think about where you imagine your audience to be on this topic and pinpoint where you think the biggest difference in viewpoints might be. Even if you start with one type of claim you probably will be using several within the paper. Regardless of the type of claim you choose to utilize it is key to identify the controversy or debate you are addressing and to define your position early on in the paper.

Essay on Pollution for Students and Children

500+ words essay on pollution.

Pollution is a term which even kids are aware of these days. It has become so common that almost everyone acknowledges the fact that pollution is rising continuously. The term ‘pollution’ means the manifestation of any unsolicited foreign substance in something. When we talk about pollution on earth, we refer to the contamination that is happening of the natural resources by various pollutants . All this is mainly caused by human activities which harm the environment in ways more than one. Therefore, an urgent need has arisen to tackle this issue straightaway. That is to say, pollution is damaging our earth severely and we need to realize its effects and prevent this damage. In this essay on pollution, we will see what are the effects of pollution and how to reduce it.

Effects of Pollution

Pollution affects the quality of life more than one can imagine. It works in mysterious ways, sometimes which cannot be seen by the naked eye. However, it is very much present in the environment. For instance, you might not be able to see the natural gases present in the air, but they are still there. Similarly, the pollutants which are messing up the air and increasing the levels of carbon dioxide is very dangerous for humans. Increased level of carbon dioxide will lead to global warming .

Further, the water is polluted in the name of industrial development, religious practices and more will cause a shortage of drinking water. Without water, human life is not possible. Moreover, the way waste is dumped on the land eventually ends up in the soil and turns toxic. If land pollution keeps on happening at this rate, we won’t have fertile soil to grow our crops on. Therefore, serious measures must be taken to reduce pollution to the core.

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Types of Pollution

• Air Pollution
• Water Pollution
• Soil Pollution

How to Reduce Pollution?

After learning the harmful effects of pollution, one must get on the task of preventing or reducing pollution as soon as possible. To reduce air pollution, people should take public transport or carpool to reduce vehicular smoke. While it may be hard, avoiding firecrackers at festivals and celebrations can also cut down on air and noise pollution. Above all, we must adopt the habit of recycling. All the used plastic ends up in the oceans and land, which pollutes them.

So, remember to not dispose of them off after use, rather reuse them as long as you can. We must also encourage everyone to plant more trees which will absorb the harmful gases and make the air cleaner. When talking on a bigger level, the government must limit the usage of fertilizers to maintain the soil’s fertility. In addition, industries must be banned from dumping their waste into oceans and rivers, causing water pollution.

To sum it up, all types of pollution is hazardous and comes with grave consequences. Everyone must take a step towards change ranging from individuals to the industries. As tackling this problem calls for a joint effort, so we must join hands now. Moreover, the innocent lives of animals are being lost because of such human activities. So, all of us must take a stand and become a voice for the unheard in order to make this earth pollution-free.

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FAQs on Pollution

Q.1 What are the effects of pollution?

A.1 Pollution essentially affects the quality of human life. It degrades almost everything from the water we drink to the air we breathe. It damages the natural resources needed for a healthy life.

Q.2 How can one reduce pollution?

A.2 We must take individual steps to reduce pollution. People should decompose their waster mindfully, they should plant more trees. Further, one must always recycle what they can and make the earth greener.

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Home — Essay Samples — Environment — Human Impact — Ocean Pollution

Essays on Ocean Pollution

Ocean pollution essay topics and outline examples, essay title 1: the silent crisis: understanding the causes and consequences of ocean pollution.

Thesis Statement: This essay delves into the multifaceted issue of ocean pollution, exploring its root causes, the devastating impacts on marine ecosystems and biodiversity, and the urgent need for global action to mitigate and prevent further harm to our oceans.

• Introduction
• Sources of Ocean Pollution: Industrial, Agricultural, and Urban Contributors
• The Ecological Crisis: Impact on Marine Life and Ecosystems
• Human Health Concerns and Economic Implications
• Solutions and International Collaboration: Strategies for Ocean Conservation

Essay Title 2: Plastics in Our Seas: Investigating the Pervasive Threat of Plastic Pollution

Thesis Statement: This essay focuses on the global issue of plastic pollution in oceans, examining the prevalence of plastic waste, its detrimental effects on marine ecosystems, and efforts to reduce plastic consumption and promote responsible waste management.

• The Scale of Plastic Pollution: Microplastics, Macroplastics, and Ghost Nets
• The Impact on Marine Fauna and the Food Web
• Legislation and Initiatives: Bans, Recycling, and Alternatives
• Consumer Awareness and Responsible Consumption

Essay Title 3: Ocean Pollution and Climate Change: The Interconnected Threats to Our Oceans

Thesis Statement: This essay explores the complex relationship between ocean pollution and climate change, investigating how pollution exacerbates climate-related challenges such as ocean acidification and rising sea levels, and the need for holistic solutions to protect marine environments.

• Ocean Acidification: The Consequences of Increased Carbon Emissions
• Warming Seas and Coral Bleaching: The Role of Pollution
• Sea Level Rise and Coastal Communities: Pollution's Contribution to Climate Impacts
• Adaptive Strategies and Policy Integration for Ocean Resilience

The Causes of Ocean Pollution and The Need for Humans to Save Marine Life

How ocean pollution impacts earth, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

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A Study of Plastic Pollution in The Pacific Ocean

The environmental quandary of the great pacific garbage patch, the actions p.u.f.f will be taking to clean the oceans, the historical & current characteristics of western ireland coastlines & galway bay, let us write you an essay from scratch.

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Pakistan United Nations Environmental Program Leveraging Emerging Technologies to Combat Ocean Pollution

The effects of water pollution on people and animals, ocean acidification: solutions, impact and causes, ocean acidification: solutions to the grave environmental concern, get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

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Ocean Acidification: Solutions and Threats

Addressing the urgent issue of ocean acidification, tackling a global crisis: marine plastic pollution, the impact of pollution on marine ecosystems, protecting marine life and coastal ecosystems, balancing development and conservation for sustainable oceans, understanding and addressing water and ocean pollution, ocean pollution: a threat to marine ecosystems.

Ocean pollution, or marine pollution, occurs when substances used or spread by humans, such as industrial, agricultural and residential waste, particles, noise, excess carbon dioxide or invasive organisms enter the ocean and cause harmful effects there.

Marine debris pollution, plastic pollution, ocean acidification, nutrient pollution, toxins, underwater noise, and other.

There are many ways to categorize and examine the inputs of pollution into marine ecosystems. There are three main types of inputs of pollution into the ocean: direct discharge of waste into the oceans, runoff into the waters due to rain, and pollutants released from the atmosphere.

Ocean pollution has many consequences, such as: harm to marine animals (cancer, behavioral changes and inability to reproduce), depletion of oxygen in seawater, threats to human health (cancer and birth defects).

100 million marine animals die each year from plastic waste alone. The largest trash site on the planet is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, twice the surface area of Texas, it outnumbers sea life there 6 to 1. 70% of our debris sinks into the ocean's ecosystem, 15% floats, and 15% lands on our beaches. 80% of global marine pollution comes from agriculture runoff, untreated sewage, discharge of nutrients and pesticides.

Relevant topics

• Deforestation
• Fast Fashion
• Air Pollution
• Water Pollution
• Climate Change
• Global Warming
• Natural Disasters

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• v.6(30); 2021 Aug 3

Plastic Pollution: A Perspective on Matters Arising: Challenges and Opportunities

Austine ofondu chinomso iroegbu.

† Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein 2028, Johannesburg, South Africa

‡ Centre for Nanostructures and Advanced Materials, DSI-CSIR Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, Council for Scientific & Industrial Research, CSIR, Pretoria 0001, South Africa

Suprakas Sinha Ray

Vuyelwa mbarane.

§ State Information Technology Agency (SITA), 459 Tsitsa Street, Erasmuskloof 0048, Pretoria, South Africa

João Carlos Bordado

∥ Centro de Recursos Naturais e Ambiente (CERENA), Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal

José Paulo Sardinha

Plastic pollution is a persistent challenge worldwide with the first reports evidencing its impact on the living and nonliving components of the environment dating back more than half a century. The rising concerns regarding the immediate and long-term consequences of plastic matter entrainment into foods and water cannot be overemphasized in light of our pursuit of sustainability (in terms of food, water, environment, and our health). Hence, some schools of thought recommend the revisitation and continuous assessment of the plastic economy, while some call for the outright ban of plastic materials, demonstrating that plastic pollution requires, more than ever, renewed, innovative, and effective approaches for a holistic solution. In this paper, dozens of reports on various aspects of plastic pollution assessment are collated and reviewed, and the impact of plastic pollution on both the living and nonliving components of the environment is discussed. Current challenges and factors hindering efforts to mitigate plastic pollution are identified to inform the presented recommendations while underscoring, for policymakers, stakeholders, and the scientific community, the exigency of finding sustainable solutions to plastic pollution that not only encompass existing challenges but also future threats presented by plastic pollution.

1. Pollution—An Overview

Pollution is a global phenomenon, a persistent challenge that is transnational (i.e., borderless) in nature, transinstitutional in purview, and transdisciplinary in solution scope. 1 − 3 As indicated in Figure ​ Figure1 1 , pollution can arise naturally, for example, by saltwater intrusion into freshwater resources and volcanic eruptions that release dangerous gases, or it can be manmade, a result of anthropogenic activities such as the exploitation of the environment and its resources and the introduction of matter or energy into the environment that are not natural to it. 4 − 6 Substances or energies (e.g., material entropy) that are introduced into the environment through anthropogenic activities can upset and compromise the natural balance of the earth’s intricate and inter-related systems, causing a “domino effect”. 7 − 9 Pollution can also be considered as (an) unnatural disturbance(s) arising from the intrusion of energy or matter into the environment, which may result in the interruption (i.e., modification) or degradation of the natural state of a system or environment, thereby increasing the risk of the system or environment deviating from its initial state (i.e., original conditions and functions). For example, the water present in commercial petroleum products (e.g., gasoline) can be considered a pollutant because it affects the original conditions and functions of these products in motor engines. Hence, it can be inferred that chemical reactions usually occur as a result of unnatural disturbances (i.e., the agitation or excitation of the state of matter or a system), causing the transformation or transmutation of substances (i.e., matter) from one form to another (which may be reversible or irreversible); accordingly, pollution has the potential to change the dynamics of matter and environments, which consequentially impacts the natural characteristics of living and nonliving components. 8 , 10 Notwithstanding, we hold that matter or energy entering an environment cannot be considered pollution (or a pollutant) if the effect of such intrusion or disturbance on the environment or system is not negative, i.e., is (i) neutral or (ii) positive. Hence, we posit that meeting these conditions should be the basis for considering such matter or energy as “green” or “eco-friendly”. For example, sunlight is considered friendly to green vegetation but unfriendly to plastic materials; in the former, it is vital for photosynthesis, and in the latter, it is known to promote photodegradation.

Common sources of pollution.

Pollution has detrimental consequences, which cannot be overstated in light of current environmental challenges. For example, it has been reported that a slight deterioration in air quality, owing to pollution, significantly impairs the natural behavior of bees, interrupting their critical roles in the ecosystem and thereby threatening food security. 11 Elsewhere, it has been found that a strong correlation exists between congenital anomalies and community exposure to chemicals associated with environmental contaminants. 12 A recent study has shown that the deterioration in the quality of milk in breastfeeding mothers can be traced to environmental pollution; it further contends that pollutants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), entering the human body have the potential to disrupt and alter the natural balance of a mother’s milk with health consequences for breastfeeding infants that can range from allergies and endocrine disorders to impaired neurodevelopment. 13 To place the existential threat of pollution in context, a global health assessment has established that more than 20% of global deaths can be traced to pollution-related health complications. 14 Pollution impacts almost every aspect of our existence and the living and nonliving components of the environment. For example, satellite data spanning three decades evidence the devastating impact of global warming (a result of environmental pollution), which has shrunk Greenland’s ice sheets to almost nothing, thus contributing to rising global sea levels. 15

Plastic pollution is a pressing global challenge owing to the pervasive, near-unmanageable threat it poses to living and nonliving systems and the environmental stress it causes. 16 , 17 Herein, we define plastic pollution (encompassing macro-, micro-, and nanoplastic debris) as the intrusion or invasion by plastic materials (i.e., polymeric systems), either through direct introduction or degradation processes, of environments (to which they are not native) to negatively or undesirably impact such environments. Similar to greenhouse gases, persistent pollutants, and other environmental contaminants, plastic pollution cannot be restricted by territorial boundaries or legislation because it is able to migrate between water bodies, disperse through air, and be transported to remote locations through human intervention. 18 − 20

The following criteria are considered conditions for qualifying a pollutant as hazardous to the environment: 8 (i) its biological impact even at minute concentrations is significant (noticeable and observable); (ii) it easily diffuses into the atmosphere, is soluble in water, and has an affinity for accumulating in environments; (iii) it tends to persist in a given environment; (iv) it can impact a wide range of targets (living and nonliving), especially those directly linked to human health or important for environmental stability and functions; (v) its degradation byproducts or their combination with other environmental chemical compounds exhibit toxicity, persist, and accumulate in a target or exceed the original levels of the material; (vi) it is suitable for large-scale production and its benefits are considered to outweigh the concomitant cost of pollution. This perspective shows that plastic pollution satisfies all of these criteria and, thus, is hazardous to both living and nonliving systems in the environment.

A Google Scholar search using the search criteria “Plastic Pollution” at 10-year intervals in the last seven decades reveals that the number of publications on plastic pollution has increased, as shown in Figure ​ Figure2 2 . Across the world, the issue of plastic pollution has brought about a paradigm shift in discourses on climate change and ocean and environmental sustainability. 21 , 22 In almost every country in the world, multiple individuals and groups have become environmental activists against plastic pollution. 23 In addition, governments, world leaders, and various stakeholders participate in discussions, conventions, and resolutions in concerted efforts to find a holistic solution to plastic pollution. 24 , 25

Number of publications between 1952 and 2021 on plastic pollution. The search engine was Google Scholar, while the keyword for the search was Plastic Pollution.

However, despite being a half-century-old problem, it is evident that the threat posed by plastic pollution is not abating and remediation will require, more than ever, renewed effort and a holistic approach with concrete commitments from all stakeholders. Borrelle et al. 17 estimated that more than 10% of the global plastic waste generated in 2016 found its way into aquatic environments. Moreover, they forecast that, without immediate intervention, by 2030, the world’s aquatic environments could contain more than 80 metric ton (Mt) of plastic debris. 17 Such a volume of plastic added to the world’s aquatic environments would displace an equal volume of water, shrinking aquatic habitats, increasing the likelihood of floods, and exacerbating global warming; 2 these phenomena, in turn, have countless negative consequences, such as endangering individuals and communities, destroying properties, and straining healthcare facilities and resources, government budgets, and the insurance industry, demonstrating the wider impact of plastic pollution. 26 − 28

Concerns regarding the mounting challenges of pervasive environmental and biological stressors, chiefly arising from the short- and long-term impacts of plastic pollution, have prompted the consolidation of the efforts (and associated financial, scientific, economic, and political resources) of stakeholders, worldwide, in the form of a sustainable development goal (SDG) initiative that prioritizes sustainable and healthy earth for all. 29 Therefore, discourses on environmental pollution such as plastic pollution should evaluate challenges, possible amelioration/mitigation, or control, with reference to the SDGs and current environmental issues.

This perspective differs from existing publications on plastic pollution ( Table 1 ) as it underscores key challenges and factors hindering global efforts to mitigate the menace of plastic pollution while highlighting various views on plastic pollution. It also discusses important developments and initiatives, aimed at mitigating the environmental impacts of plastic pollution, and presents recommendations that are based on a multidisciplinary approach. Policymakers, stakeholders (i.e., the plastic economy value chain), and the scientific community are alerted to the exigency of synergistically reshaping the current plastic economy to demonstrate a commitment toward the pursuit of green(er) plastics and support of blue sea initiatives, focusing on sustainable solutions that address the existing and future challenges presented by plastic pollution.

Plastics are polymeric systems (i.e., macromolecules), for example, polyethylene, polyacrylamides, polyesters, and polypropylene. Although plastics are generally polymers, not all polymers are plastics, such as natural cellulose, carbohydrates, proteins (e.g., leather), lignin, and natural rubber ( Hevea brasiliensis ). In this perspective, we consider plastic pollutants to be polymer-based materials in the environment, which may be plastics or not, that are potentially harmful.

2. A World of Polymers

We have always lived in the polymer age. Humans are essentially polymeric, from the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) that encodes our human traits to the protein that covers our body (skin) and our keratin-laden hair. Moreover, our living, walking polymeric forms are sustained by the polymers we consume in the forms of carbohydrates and proteins and protected by the polymer-based clothes we wear. Advances in polymer science and engineering over the years have led to the discovery and commercialization of various polymer-based systems or materials such as polycarbonates, nylons, polyimides, polyurethanes, and liquid crystals, which have found various domestic and industrial applications that shape our world and advance our quality of life. Polymers feature prominently in almost every sector of the economy, from industries that manufacture pharmaceuticals, composites, and tires to laboratories that perform DNA profiling for criminal investigations by law enforcement agencies, demonstrating that polymers and polymer science have contributed and continue to contribute to civilization; additional examples are presented in Figure ​ Figure3 3 . 35 − 38 Owing to great minds such as Hermann Staudinger (1881–1965), Wallace Hume Carothers (1896–1937), Paul J. Flory (1910–1985), and Stephanie L. Kwolek (1923–2014) advancing the field of polymer science and engineering, plastics are considered one of man’s greatest feats in the field of science and technology. 39 , 40 In 1962, Fred Wallace Billmeyer Jr. (1919–2004) predicted that, with advances in polymer science and engineering, plastics will become the dominant materials of the future, surpassing steel, aluminum, and copper. 41 More than half a century later, this prediction seems accurate as, in recent times, plastics have outperformed competing materials, including wood, metal, and glass, as the material of choice in diverse domestic and industrial applications; the production of plastics exceeded 8 billion Mt between 1950 and 2015. 2 , 42

Immense contributions of polymers to human advancement and civilization cannot be overstated; polymers feature heavily in almost every sector of the economy.

Owing to their flexibility and adaptability for various applications, lightweight, moisture resistance, corrosion resistance, and low-cost plastics are sought-after materials for various applications. Commodity plastics such as polypropylene, which is a very cost-effective polymeric material that can be blow-molded, extruded, thermoformed, or injection-molded, are popular for the fabrication of products such as packaging films, plastic crates used for good transportation, storage containers (e.g., ice cream containers and yogurt containers), plastic caps, jerry cans, and hair combs. Other well-known commodity plastics include poly(vinyl chloride) (generally known as PVC and employed in piping and insulation systems), polyethylene (generally employed in packaging films), and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET; generally employed in beverage packaging). 36 , 43 Since our reliance on polymers increases in step with advances in science and technology (e.g., robotics, artificial intelligence, synthetic organs, insulation for energy conservation, and smart materials), a future that is not enriched and heavily dependent on plastics seems unlikely. 43 − 45

3. Health and Environmental Issues

There is no gainsaying that plastics have contributed immensely to the rise of human civilization; however, the distribution of plastic debris (macro-, micro-, and nanoplastics) in the environment and its entrainment into biological systems have become a serious issue. 46 Various health conditions such as thyroid dysfunction, obesity, diabetes, and reproductive impairment have been attributed to plastic pollution. 47 For example, it has been shown that nanoplastics impact negatively the composition and diversity of microbial communities in the human gut, which, considering emerging research evidencing the strong relationship between the gut and neural networks in the brain, could negatively impact the endocrine, immune, and nervous systems. 20 As already highlighted, pollution changes the dynamics of systems and environments with consequential impacts on the natural characteristics of their living and nonliving components; thus, it is reasonable to infer that the entrainment of nanoplastics into the human gut holds physiological consequences. The genotoxicity of micro- and nanoplastics to DNA has been established. It has been demonstrated that if the plastic matter is small enough to cross the nuclear membrane surrounding the DNA, damage can occur, impairing the DNA structure or forming lesions, which, unrepaired or misrepaired, can cause mutagenic processes that are considered to play a role in the carcinogenesis of cells. Additionally, it was found that the type and level of damage of DNA depend on the shape, functional groups, and chemical composition of the plastic debris. 48 The human airway is a key pathway for plastic fiber entrainment into the lungs, and biopersistence of the fibers depends on their length, structure, and chemical composition. Moreover, at certain exposure limits, all plastic fibers are likely to produce inflammation, which can lead to lung challenges such as the formation of reactive oxygen species with the potential to initiate cancerous growth through secondary genotoxicity. 49 Although there are few studies on the extent of the damage that prolonged exposure to plastic particles can cause to the human body (suggesting the need to increase research in this area), it is accepted that industry workers at textile facilities are at a high risk of contracting occupational diseases arising from high exposure to textile fibers. 50 It has long been established that constituents of plastic packaging chemically interact with or migrate into fat-containing foods; typical interactions include the migration of antioxidants from the plastic packaging into the food, sometimes bonding to the food surface. 51 Such transfer of packaging additives from the packaging material to its food content is a potential health risk. Furthermore, PET, a common plastic employed in the food and beverage industry, is a source of endocrine disruptors; 52 these endocrine disruptors leach from the plastic packaging into the consumables that it contains. Even at standard room temperature, phthalates (potential endocrine disruptors) are known to leach from PET packaging into various food contents in the presence of water. 52

The low thermal conductivities of plastic materials, although considered advantageous in certain applications (e.g., heat insulation), 43 contribute to global warming when these plastics are distributed in aquatic environments; they displace equal volumes of water and restrict heat flow from the sun to the aquatic environment, leading to a rise in sea levels and the dissipation of energy into the immediate environment. 2 The degradation pathways of plastics in the environment can also contribute to environmental stress. For example, Gewert et al. 53 posited that PVC, a very unstable polymer in the presence of UV radiation (+ h v), undergoes dechlorination in the environment, forming polyene moieties and hydrochloric acid (HCl) in the presence of water, as shown in Scheme 1 .

Reproduced with permission from Gewert, B.; Plassmann, M. M.; MacLeod, M. Pathways for degradation of plastic polymers floating in the marine environment. Environ. Sci.: Process. Impacts 2015 , 17, 1513–1521. 53 Copyright 2015, Royal Society of Chemistry, UK.

This dechlorination process and subsequent release of HCl have the potential to contribute to the acidification of aquatic environments by decreasing the pH level, in addition to the acidification caused by atmospheric CO 2 . It has been highlighted that increasing ocean acidity will aggravate global warming, 54 , 55 detrimentally affecting and possibly mutating habitats and the characteristics of various environments 56 , 57 to seriously undermine our goal of sustainable earth for future generations. However, a major concern must be raised at this point: the risk posed by PVC debris on living systems. Can PVC debris find its way into living systems? If it can, does it follow the above-mentioned degradation pathway? If it does, what health challenges do direct dechlorination and the subsequent release of HCl present living systems such as humans?

The load-bearing capacity of an environment is considered finite and it is believed that exceeding this capacity of an environment (and its living and nonliving components) to tolerate stressors such as synthetic waste (e.g., plastic debris) can result in unpredictable, possibly catastrophic, situations owing to a butterfly effect. 9

4. Challenges Associated with Plastic Pollution Mitigation

Factors militating against efforts to manage and limit the negative environmental impacts of plastic pollution are numerous and multifaceted; they include economic and political factors, a lack of commitment by governments and global plastic economy stakeholders, dissenting opinions of scientists, and under-reported or overlooked polluters. 2 , 58 − 61 Here, we highlight a few important challenges. For example, in October 2020, it was reported that the United States generated an estimated 42 Mt of plastic waste in 2016, of which between 0.14 and 0.41 Mt was allegedly dumped illegally into the environment (land and water) and another 0.15–0.99 Mt was exported to other countries such as South Africa, Indonesia, and Mexico, where it was inadequately recycled (either burnt or discarded in open landfill sites). It was further stated that between 2010 and 2016, the United States was the most significant contributor to plastic pollution in the environment, overtaking China. 62 This indicting report of a technologically and economically advanced country such as the United States and others 63 demonstrates one of the key challenges facing global efforts to mitigate plastic pollution, i.e., the tendency of global powers to pass the responsibility for their generated waste on to poorer nations, who are less equipped to recycle or manage the waste. Hence, we contend that the issue of plastic pollution and its mitigation strategies transcend the generally narrow public focus on single-use carrier bags (although they contribute to the problem) and concern powerful stakeholders such as multinational corporations and top brands that have the capacity (financially, politically, etc.) to undermine or circumvent concerted global efforts to address plastic pollution. For example, based on an audit undertaken in more than a dozen countries, it was found that well-known global brands, such as Coca-Cola, Nestlé, PepsiCo, and Unilever, are among the top sources of plastic pollution (for the third consecutive year); 64 yet, there are scant reports of these brands taking ownership of the environmental threat posed by plastic packaging used in their products, especially in countries in sub-Saharan Africa (e.g., Nigeria). 65

Multiple studies have demonstrated that automobile tires are significant contributors to microplastic pollution in the environment. For example, Kole et al. 66 demonstrated that the wear and tear of tires contribute significantly to the entrainment and distribution of plastic particles in the environment. They estimate the annual per capita emission of tire particles to range between 0.23 and 4.7 kg, with a global average of 0.81 kg. Furthermore, they contend that 5–10% of the plastic pollution in aquatic environments is derived from automobile tires, while 3–7% of the plastic particles in the air that we breathe is derived from automobile tires, which is a significant contribution to the global air burden. 66 However, they did not collate data on the amount of plastic matter, derived from tires, that enters the food chain (through water and air), or how much is consumed by ruminants owing to plastic matter trapped/settled on their food sources, e.g., grasses. Furthermore, they did not include comprehensive data from the wear and tear of bicycle tires or tires employed in the aviation industry since reports that quantify the contributions of these categories of plastic polluters are limited. A related study quantified the relative abundance of plastic matter (i.e., microplastic debris) generated by the wear and tear of automobile tires at roadside drains and in the natural environment near major road intersections, finding that it ranged from 0.6 ± 0.33 to 65 ± 7.36 in 5 mL of sampled material. The report also noted that plastic debris tends to act as a vector for other hazardous systems and thus persists in the environment with serious negative consequences. 67 Owing to increasing concerns that automobile users contribute substantially to microplastic distribution in the environment, the Swedish Government commissioned the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) to conduct a comprehensive study of this matter between 2018 and 2020. The key findings of their study are summarized. 68

• At least half of Sweden’s microplastic pollution derives from tires.
• Particles as large as 20 μm are deposited on or near roads and are carried off by winds to remote places. In addition, rain or snow clean-up processes transport these particles to other locations.
• Stormwater transports tire-based microplastics into open waters, reservoirs, and containment areas.
• It is necessary to further investigate the transportation and fate of these generated microplastics in sewerage and natural organisms.

Notwithstanding the mounting evidence of tire-based microplastic pollution, the multibillion-dollar tire industry is resisting scrutiny of its contribution to plastic pollution and the imposition of sanctions and regulations through the intense lobbying of European Union (EU) lawmakers. The report further highlighted how the tire industry commissioned and published no less than ten studies to counter reports revealing the significant risk that tire particles pose to humans and the environment; 69 again demonstrating how polluters undermine efforts to mitigate the plastic pollution caused by their products. In addition, several studies have argued that because tire particles contain toxic substances, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (phenanthrene, butylated hydroxyanisole, 2-methylnaphthalene, etc.) that are considered to pose serious health risks to living systems, 70 , 71 their distribution in the environment should not be trivialized.

Another factor limiting efforts to mitigate plastic pollution is the dissenting opinions and counteropinions held by scientists on various aspects of plastic pollution, e.g., sources, risk assessment, and toxicology. For example, Stafford and Jones 72 opine that addressing plastic pollution, such as ocean plastic pollution, is less pressing than addressing other environmental challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss. They insist that emerging reports highlight the exigency of directing global efforts toward mitigating carbon emissions rather than expending energy on lesser threats, such as marine plastics. They further suggest that although ocean plastic pollution is a problem that needs attention, it does not pose an immediate ecological or toxicological threat at a planetary boundary level (i.e., the threat posed by plastic pollution is contextually less pressing than the threats posed by climate change and biodiversity loss that have long exceeded core planetary boundaries). 72 However, Avery-Gomm et al. 73 have challenged the position of Stafford and Jones, 72 arguing that global threats must continually be kept in perspective because undermining one threat by substituting it with another so-called “heftier” threat would be counterproductive in the global pursuit of sustainability. In their concluding remarks, they posit that the continuous discourse on plastic pollution has informed the improvement of the monitoring and risk evaluation of plastic pollution, as well as the development of frameworks for mitigation and remediation. 73 Elsewhere, an environmental toxicologist and risk assessor has argued that microplastics in marine and freshwater ecosystems do not pose any threat to the aquatic habitat as long as these pollutants are in low concentrations, despite the contradictory views of fellow scientists, referring to the threat posed by microplastics to aquatic habitats as a superficial risk. 74 However, this trivialization of the threat posed by plastic pollution on not only aquatic habitats but also terrestrial and arboreal environments is strongly rejected by Hale, 75 who insists that there is no basis to downplay the threat posed by plastic pollution to aquatic habitats. Hale contends that, in addition to plastic particle size, assessments of the toxicological impacts and consequences of plastic pollution in any given environment must consider the chemical compositions of the polymeric materials employed in the manufacture and production of the plastic materials; the shapes, surface areas, density, and persistence of the plastic particles; as well as the effects of additives (e.g., modifiers) and even sorbed pollutants (e.g., carriers and/or transfer agents). 75 Hale’s position is supported by Kramm et al., 76 who add that plastic pollution is a prototypically global and complex anthropogenic issue. They hold that a reductionist approach to addressing a serious environmental issue such as that presented by plastic pollution is detrimental to mitigation efforts. Moreover, they consider it high time that the scientific community takes responsibility for the environmental problems resulting from the work and inventions of scientists rather than trivializing or shirking responsibility. 76 Although some scientists may want to trivialize the threat of plastic pollution, it is generally accepted that any substance or energy can become toxic and environmentally disruptive at sufficient concentrations. 8 The fundamentally different opinions of scientists are a key challenge to forging cooperation; after all, a house divided against itself cannot stand. Such differences also convey disunity and present avenues or opportunities for plastic polluters to exploit, to avoid responsibility, to the detriment of the environment and, by extension, humanity.

Studies have evidenced that textiles and fibers are major contributors to the plastic materials that entrain into human lungs, food, and the environment ( Table 2 ). 49 , 77 However, because clothing is a primary human need, the textile industry directly and indirectly employs more than 100 million people globally and is a significant contributor to the gross domestic product (GDP) and economic growth of various nations. 78 , 79 In this context, addressing the plastic pollution resulting from the use of textiles and fibers is a challenge since any approach will have consequences (whether that approach involves banning the use of textiles and fibers or mitigating their contribution to plastic pollution as much as possible). Figure ​ Figure4 4 shows how much textile lint accumulates in the lint trap of a commercial dryer in a laundry house. This commercial dryer features a trap that prevents lint from escaping; however, washing machines and dryers that do not feature appropriate filtration systems release significant volumes of textile fibers into the environment.

Lint accumulation from a winter blanket in a commercial dryer. (A) Winter blanket loaded inside a commercial dryer. (B) Accumulation of lint inside the lint trap during the drying of the blanket. (C) Unweighed lint accumulated in the lint trap from the winter blanket after a single dry cycle. Photo Credit: First author (AOCI).

Moreover, considering that most polymers employed in the manufacturing of synthetic fibers and textiles are derived from petroleum and fossil-based resources, plastic pollution mitigation becomes a challenge (especially for oil-dependent economies) when balancing economics and politics. 80 , 81

Products and polymer-based articles, such as toothbrushes, shoes (materials or soles may be made from plastics), insulated electrical cables and equipment, light switches, writing pens (i.e., plastic cases), writing and printing inks (employ polymeric systems such as drag-reducing agents and stabilizers), mattresses, wigs and artificial hair (usually derived from high-performance polymers), artificial nails (e.g., acrylics), kitchen wipes (composed of microfibers), automobile paints, phone casings, computer casings, plastic wristwatches, and marine paints, are usually overlooked or underestimated as significant contributors to plastic pollution. Collectively, the “insignificant” contributions of these products or articles to plastic pollution, owing to poor disposal or through the process of wear and tear/degradation, is less insignificant. Notwithstanding, several reports focus on single-use plastic carrier bags as the primary plastic pollutant menacing our environment. 84 , 85 While we do not fault the positions held by these scientists, we argue that almost everyone releases plastic matter into the environment on a daily basis, e.g., through the shedding of textile fibers from our clothing. Hence, a more holistic approach to the management and control of plastic pollution is necessary to realize a sustainable environment. A small leak will sink a great ship; hence, we must beware of the plastic fibers that billions shed from their clothes daily or that is derived from insignificant contributors. It is our opinion that most people have little or no idea that their footwear (made from polymeric materials) also contributes to plastic pollution in the environment through wear and tear. As people tread on road surfaces, these surfaces abrade their footwear and accumulate plastic particles, which are subsequently washed away by rain into open waters. Furthermore, reports on the contributions of automobile and marine paints/coatings to plastic pollution through wear and degradation are limited. We submit that the contributions of automobile and marine paints/coatings to plastic pollution must be analyzed and quantified, as they represent potential secondary or primary sources of micro- and nanoplastic stressors in the environment. Moreover, the advanced paints and coatings (e.g., anticorrosive paints and coating) 86 , 87 that scientists and technologists are developing may pose additional environmental challenges when such materials leach, degrade, or form sediments in particular environments. It is worth noting that during the environmental degradation of paints and coatings, sorbed pollutants or additives may combine with biogenic systems and unpredictably alter living and nonliving systems in the environment. These plastic pollutant sources are usually overlooked or understudied, resulting in a knowledge gap that must be addressed to formulate a holistic approach to the management and control of plastic pollution in various environments.

5. Opportunities

Evidently, plastic pollution is a global challenge, and, as has been demonstrated, it meets all of the criteria of an environmental hazard for both the living and nonliving components of the environment. It is also apparent that a plastic-free future is unlikely despite the threat plastic pollution poses to the environment. 25 In addition, emerging data indicate an increase in global plastic pollution owing to the demand for personal protective equipment, 88 , 89 such as facemasks, to limit the spread of COVID-19. Besides, even if we were to ban the production and use of plastics, we would still need to address the plastic pollution currently present in our water, atmosphere, soil, consumables (e.g., table salts), and even vegetation (e.g., wheat and lettuce). 90 − 92 Hence, concerted global efforts are required to mitigate, manage, and control the current and possible future threats plastic debris distribution in the environment poses to its living and nonliving systems. Fortunately, various courses of action can be taken to realize this goal.

5.1. Plastic Education in National Curricula

Because prevention is better than cure, environmental responsibility and sustainability must be taught (formally and informally) from childhood, be it at home or in religious or formal education settings, to instill an appreciation of life and the environment. Such an educational approach is comparable to comprehensive sex education (CSE) that forms part of school curricula and teaches students life skills that enable them to make appropriate and healthy choices concerning their sexual lives. 93 We hold that incorporating plastic education into the national curricula is critical to mitigating, managing, and controlling plastic pollution and fostering sustainability. 94 We have enumerated elsewhere 2 the opportunities a plastic education curriculum presents. Hence, we support the call by the comity of nations for a global curriculum on plastic pollution, taught from kindergarten to the tertiary level, that addresses existing and emerging environmental and sustainability goals and objectives. For example, it has been established that handwashing clothes limits the amount of plastic fibers that ends up in the environment and prolongs the life span of fabrics. Although most people would consider using washing machines to do their laundry, a greater understanding of the limitations of these conveniences in mitigating plastic pollution may change behavior. It is believed that one of the reasons plastic pollution persists is the disconnect between scientific knowledge and the formative knowledge of the population. The population should be equipped with sufficient knowledge concerning the dangers and detrimental impact of plastic pollution (i.e., heightened risk awareness); instilling this risk awareness through formative education from childhood will promote the acceptance and support of policies and initiatives formulated to mitigate plastic pollution.

Religious and cultural institutions must actively participate in educating society on the value of sustainable earth and environment. It has been observed that culture, tradition, and religion all overwhelmingly influence the psyche, politics, emotional intelligence, and approach to life of individuals; 95 , 96 hence, addressing a global issue such as plastic pollution requires a rethink of our educational systems and the roles they play in promoting a sustainable environment. Human behaviors are ranked as some of the main challenges to addressing environmental issues; however, educational, religious, cultural, and traditional organizations can influence the attitudes and behaviors of their members in terms of environmental issues and are best placed to convince the population of the dire need to manage and control plastic pollution through behavioral change and ethical best practice. 2 , 97

Furthermore, global education systems should place greater emphasis on “responsible science”, where every scientific pursuit considers the environment to avoid engineering our own destruction. Scientists must understand that sustainability is their core mandate and must take ownership of the environmental challenges in which they are complicit. We believe that the formal and informal education sectors are critical to achieving the SDGs 29 and posit that plastic pollution mitigation, management, and control can only be achieved through the cooperation of all stakeholders, i.e., every human on the earth, for divided we fall. In closing, we emphasize that incorporating plastic education in national curricula to increase risk awareness is an opportunity that should not be squandered.

5.2. Green(er) Alternatives

We have previously mentioned that for a material to be considered green or eco-friendly, the effect of its intrusion or degradation in any given environment should either be neutral (have no net effect) or positive (energy-efficient, easily recyclable or reusable, etc.). In our view, the concept of “green plastics” should, in addition to biodegradability, encompass biocompatibility as well as a net neutral or positive impact on the environment. Hence, a “green plastic” should be an alternative polymeric material with properties or characteristics that are comparable or superior to those of conventional polymeric materials but that demonstrates less environmental impact. Such plastics can be biobased or fossil-based materials. 98 There has been an increasing and persistent call for rethinking the plastic economy in terms of the future of the environment; the sustainability of civilization; and the pursuit of green(er) chemistry, sustainable chemicals, and a circular economy. 99 − 102 Consequently, research that explores green(er) alternatives to conventional plastic materials has increased. For example, on June 5, 2014, Avantium ( https://www.avantium.com/ ) Technologies, headquartered in Amsterdam (The Netherlands), reportedly reached an agreement with international brands, such as Coca-Cola, Danone, Swire, and others, to produce packages exclusively from 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), a carbohydrate-based material, industrially known as poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF), which affords many advantages over fossil-based PET, the dominant plastic material employed industry-wide in beverage packaging. 103 The advantages of PEF over PET include a higher gas barrier and better water, thermal, and tensile properties. 101

In recent years, a myriad of green(er) plastics with the potential to replace conventional plastics in various domestic and industrial applications has emerged. For example, nanocellulose has recently gained prominence as a versatile, benign, ubiquitous, and sustainable material that can be modified, spun, drawn, molded, and even cast, finding applications in almost every economic sector and replacing plastics and other conventional materials such as steel. 104 In addition to its abundance, nanocellulose has been demonstrated to represent a green(er) alternative to plastics used in, among others, the packaging industry, membrane fabrication, and composites with properties and characteristics comparable to and even exceeding those of conventional plastics in terms of resilience, lightweight, and strength. 105 As nanocellulose research and development advances, it is hoped that nanocellulose will replace conventional plastic materials in many domestic and industrial applications to promote our SDGs. The increasing number of green(er) alternatives to conventional plastics, such as DNA biodegradable materials, 106 lignin biodegradable and biocompatible composite films, 107 chitin biocompatible and biodegradable plastics and fibers, 108 , 109 biocompatible and nontoxic plastics derived from lactic acid, 110 is a testament to the promising technologies available to mitigate plastic pollution. In a yet-to-be-published work, we demonstrate that bamboo straws are not only green(er) than plastic straws but also sustainable and do not negatively impact the environment. We also posit that other green(er) articles, such as tires, shoes, and clothing, may become possible in the near future with concerted effort and political will.

5.3. Revision of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

As previously noted, in too many cases, the cost of pollution is considered tolerable in terms of a narrow cost–benefit analysis; thus, the negative impact of plastic pollution on, among others, our ecosystem and health, with a cost of more than USD 2 trillion per annum is usually under-reported. 47 , 111 Moreover, because most of the plastic debris generated inland generally finds its way into aquatic ecosystems, the oceans are one of the environments worst hit by plastic pollution, with an estimated impact of over USD 1 trillion per annum in terms of the loss in ocean productivity. 112 As pointed out by Forrest et al., 47 the current extended producer responsibility (EPR) and other plastic-related laws must be reviewed to reflect the exigency of the threat posed by plastic pollution; moreover, “voluntary” financial contributions from entities throughout the value chain of the plastic economy would generate considerable funds for innovative waste management schemes and environmental remediation. The goal of a circular plastic economy will remain elusive unless processes and technologies exist that ensure that the recycling of waste plastic is economically viable; 47 to promote the realization of a circular plastic economy, such technologies and processes must not only be cost-competitive but also enable the production of high-purity monomers (that are comparable to virgin resins) from waste plastic recovered from the environment. 113 , 114 As long as plastic recycling is disincentivized by its high cost, realizing and sustaining a circular plastic economy will be expensive, which is one of the major reasons that stakeholders in the plastic economy value chain have not fully embraced the concept of a circular plastic economy despite the recognized benefits. 115 Furthermore, we suggest that tariffs and levies on reclaimed or recycled plastic goods and materials should be reviewed throughout the value chain to promote their economic viability and enable them to compete with products produced from virgin resins, thus encouraging businesses to engage in environmental remediation. In addition, policies should be formulated to encourage consumers to use reusable and recycled products, thus incentivizing the reclamation of plastic wastes.

Elsewhere, we have argued 2 that despite the potential benefits of a circular economy, such as job creation, infrastructure development, and a low-carbon economy, we do not foresee the realization of a sustainable circular plastic economy without the cooperation of policymakers, governments, and the population. Hence, the synergistic cooperation of all stakeholders is imperative to plastic pollution mitigation.

6. Conclusions

Pollution is a global phenomenon and no nation or continent is immune to its negative environmental impact. Plastic pollution, in particular, is hazardous to the living and nonliving components of the environment. The negative impact of macro-, micro-, and nanoplastics on the environment and living organisms results from a combination of inherent characteristics and toxicity, the leaching of additives or constituent compounds, and the release of persistent sorbed pollutants. Although studies concerning the impact of plastic matter on various ecosystems, such as soil and air, are limited, the available literature demonstrates the exigency of revisiting the entire plastic economy value chain to ensure a sustainable environment.

To meaningfully address this global challenge, the scientific community must take ownership of the environmental challenges in which it is complicit as well as a remedial action. The political will of governments, cooperation of stakeholders, and determination of the population are imperative to the success of plastic pollution mitigation. Although plastics have contributed immensely to the progress and advancement of our civilization, we must ensure that posterity inherits sustainable earth. The time for action is now.

7. Future Prospects

Plastic pollution is a global phenomenon that exacerbates global warming and flooding and must be mitigated to achieve environmental sustainability. While plastic pollution presents a serious environmental threat, numerous opportunities exist that can be harnessed to mitigate, manage, and control this global problem. However, our understanding of plastic pollution is incomplete and further investigation is required to fully elucidate this problem. For example, studies on the accumulation of plastic debris as sediment in water beds (e.g., ocean floors), as a result of the phenomenon of convergence caused by the persistent directional flow of surface water, need to be investigated. We argue that (with the exception of polyethylene, polypropylene, and expanded polystyrene) a significant portion of plastic debris, such as polyesters, rubber particles, polyurethanes, PET, poly(vinyl chloride), linear low-density polyethylene, and high-density polyethylene, with specific gravities exceeding 1 g/cm 3 , sink to the bottom of the oceans. It is necessary to investigate whether these plastic particles undergo biodegradation and are biocompatible with the life forms inhabiting the ocean floors. The degradation pathways or processes of these plastic materials in the absence of light and oxygen, which are the conditions that exist at ocean floors, must be determined. Do these plastic materials resist anaerobic degradation processes on the ocean floor? What is the impact of free volume or molecular impermeability on the chemical and biological resistance of these plastics? The composition of ocean beds is not easy to study; however, modified nuclear microscopy and micro-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) mapping may facilitate such investigations. In addition, understanding the degradation pathways of nanoplastics may reveal ways to break plastic materials down into their constituent chemical compounds that can be captured and reused. 116 It is, furthermore, necessary to elucidate the biochemical kinetics and interactions of polymeric systems (e.g., plastic and rubber), their degradation pathways in living systems, the possible risk they pose to living organisms, and their potential to cause living cell mutations and physiological changes. Finally, facile and inexpensive sensors must be developed to monitor our consumables, such as food and water, for plastic debris. A real-time monitoring system of water distribution networks would enable governments to protect water resources and the health of their populations by preventing people from ingesting harmful amounts of plastic materials. However, what amount of plastic constitutes a harmful amount of plastic for an average human is unclear. Perhaps medical science can determine this amount.

Acknowledgments

The authors (SSR and AOCI) thank the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (HGER74p) and the Department of Science and Innovation (HGERA8x) for financial support.

Author Contributions

⊥ A.O.C.I. and S.S.R. contributed equally to this work.

The authors declare no competing financial interest.

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Environmental studies theses and dissertations.

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• Vulnerability in the Avalanche Capital: The Human Dimensions of Avalanche and Landslide Hazard in Juneau, Alaska  Provant, Zachary ( University of Oregon , 2024-08-07 ) In the United States, climate disasters kill thousands of people and cost billions of dollars each year. In 2023, the United States experienced 28 environmental disasters that cost more than one billion dollars each—the ...
• Ecological Intensification of Oregon Hazelnut Orchards: Restoring Native Plant Communities in Shared Ecosystems  Lane-Massee, Marissa ( University of Oregon , 2024-08-07 ) The rapidly expanding Oregon hazelnut industry offers a unique opportunity for restoring ecosystem services to private lands that were historically oak-prairie dominated habitats. With typical orchard management consisting ...
• Forward-looking approaches to rangeland restoration in a variable world  Batas, Lina ( University of Oregon , 2024-08-07 ) Ecological restoration is a powerful tool for repairing degraded ecosystems and promoting biodiversity and ecosystem functions. As global change drivers shift baseline conditions, forward-looking restoration approaches aim ...
• AN ACCUMULATION OF CATASTROPHE: A POLITICAL ECONOMY OF WILDFIRE IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES  Dockstader, Sue ( University of Oregon , 2024-03-25 ) This dissertation is an environmental sociological study of wildland fire in what is now the western United States. It examines wildfire management from roughly the 1900s to the present time employing a Marxist historical ...
• Managing Life's Future: Species Essentialism and Evolutionary Normativity in Conservation Policy, Practice, and Imaginaries  Maggiulli, Katrina ( University of Oregon , 2024-01-10 ) Folk essentialist and normative understandings of species are not only prevalent in popular layperson communities, but also end up undergirding United States conservation policy and practice due to the simplistic clarity ...
• Unsettled Ecologies: Alienated Species, Indigenous Restoration, and U.S. Empire in a Time of Climate Chaos  Fink, Lisa ( University of Oregon , 2024-01-10 ) This dissertation traces environmental thinking about invasive species from Western-colonial, diasporic settlers of color, and Indigenous perspectives within U.S. settler colonialism. Considering environmental discourses ...
• Futuremaking in a Disaster Zone: Everyday Climate Change Adaptation amongst Quechua Women in the Peruvian Cordillera Blanca  Moulton, Holly ( University of Oregon , 2024-01-10 ) Indigenous women in Peru are often labeled “triply vulnerable” to climate change due to race, gender, and economic marginalization. Despite Peru’s focus on gender, Indigeneity, and intersectionality in national adaptation ...
• Land Acts: Land's Agency in American Literature, Law, and History from the Colonial Period to Removal  Keeler, Kyle ( University of Oregon , 2024-01-10 ) This dissertation examines land’s agency and relationships to land in the places now known as the United States as these relationships appear in literature and law from early colonization to the removal period. Land Acts ...
• PALEOTEMPERATURE, VEGETATION CHANGE, FIRE HISTORY, AND LAKE PRODUCTIVITY FOR THE LAST 14,500 YEARS AT GOLD LAKE, PACIFIC NORTHWEST, USA  Baig, Jamila ( University of Oregon , 2024-01-09 ) The postglacial history of vegetation, wildfire, and climate in the Cascade Range (Oregon) is only partly understood. This study uses high-resolution analysis from a 13-meter, 14,500-year sediment core from Gold Lake to ...
• On Western Juniper Climate Relations  Reis, Schyler ( University of Oregon , 2022-10-26 ) Western juniper woodlands are highly sensitive to climate in terms of tree-ring growth, seedling establishment and range distribution. Understanding the dynamics of western juniper woodlands to changes in precipitation, ...
• Stories We Tell, Stories We Eat: Mexican Foodways, Cultural Identity, and Ideological Struggle in Netflix’s Taco Chronicles  Sanchez, Bela ( University of Oregon , 2022-10-26 ) Food is a biological necessity imbued with numerous social, cultural, and economic implications for identity production and everyday meaning-making. Food television is a unique medium for the meanings of food and foodways ...
• Soil Nutrient Additions Shift Orthopteran Herbivory and Invertebrate Community Composition  Altmire, Gabriella ( University of Oregon , 2022-10-26 ) Anthropogenic alterations to global pools of nitrogen and phosphorus are driving declines in plant diversity across grasslands. As such, concern over biodiversity loss has precipitated a host of studies investigating how ...
• Multispecies Memoir: Self, Genre, and Species Justice in Contemporary Culture  Otjen, Nathaniel ( University of Oregon , 2022-10-04 ) Liberal humanism articulates an individual, rational, autonomous, universal, and singularly human subject that possesses various rights and freedoms. Although the imagined subject at the heart of liberal humanist philosophy ...
• Understanding How Changes in Disturbance Regimes and Long-Term Climate Shape Ecosystem and Landscape Structure and Function  Wright, Jamie ( University of Oregon , 2022-10-04 ) Long-term and anthropic climatic change intersecting with disturbances alters ecosystem structure and function across spatiotemporal scales. Quantifying ecosystem responses can be convoluted, therefore utilizing multiproxy ...
• Ikpíkyav (To Fix Again): Drawing From Karuk World Renewal To Contest Settler Discourses Of Vulnerability  Vinyeta, Kirsten ( University of Oregon , 2022-10-04 ) The Klamath River Basin of Northern California has historically been replete with fire-adapted ecosystems and Indigenous communities. For the Karuk Tribe, fire has been an indispensable tool for both spiritual practice and ...
• Grassland Restoration in Heterogeneous, Changing, and Human Dominated Systems  Brambila, Alejandro ( University of Oregon , 2022-10-04 ) Ecological restoration is a powerful tool to promote biodiversity and ecosystem function. Understanding underlying system variability and directional change can help predict outcomes of restoration interventions. Spatial ...
• Restoring What? And for Whom? Listening to Karuk Ecocultural Revitalization Practitioners and Uncovering Settler Logics in Ecological Restoration.  Worl, Sara ( University of Oregon , 2022-05-10 ) What does it mean to restore a landscape degraded by settler colonialism? How might a well intentionedprocess like ecological restoration end up causing harm from underlying settler colonial logics? This thesis explores ...
• Instigating Communities of Solidarity: An Exploration of Participatory, Informal, Temporary Urbanisms  Meier, Briana ( University of Oregon , 2021-11-23 ) This dissertationexamines the potential for participatory, informal urbanisms to buildcollaborative relations across ontological, cultural, and political difference. This research contributes to thefield of urban, environmental ...
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• How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples

How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples

Published on January 11, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on August 15, 2023 by Eoghan Ryan.

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . It usually comes near the end of your introduction .

Your thesis will look a bit different depending on the type of essay you’re writing. But the thesis statement should always clearly state the main idea you want to get across. Everything else in your essay should relate back to this idea.

You can write your thesis statement by following four simple steps:

• Start with a question
• Write your initial answer
• Develop your answer
• Refine your thesis statement

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Table of contents

What is a thesis statement, placement of the thesis statement, step 1: start with a question, step 2: write your initial answer, step 3: develop your answer, step 4: refine your thesis statement, types of thesis statements, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about thesis statements.

A thesis statement summarizes the central points of your essay. It is a signpost telling the reader what the essay will argue and why.

The best thesis statements are:

• Concise: A good thesis statement is short and sweet—don’t use more words than necessary. State your point clearly and directly in one or two sentences.
• Contentious: Your thesis shouldn’t be a simple statement of fact that everyone already knows. A good thesis statement is a claim that requires further evidence or analysis to back it up.
• Coherent: Everything mentioned in your thesis statement must be supported and explained in the rest of your paper.

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The thesis statement generally appears at the end of your essay introduction or research paper introduction .

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts and among young people more generally is hotly debated. For many who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education: the internet facilitates easier access to information, exposure to different perspectives, and a flexible learning environment for both students and teachers.

You should come up with an initial thesis, sometimes called a working thesis , early in the writing process . As soon as you’ve decided on your essay topic , you need to work out what you want to say about it—a clear thesis will give your essay direction and structure.

You might already have a question in your assignment, but if not, try to come up with your own. What would you like to find out or decide about your topic?

For example, you might ask:

After some initial research, you can formulate a tentative answer to this question. At this stage it can be simple, and it should guide the research process and writing process .

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Now you need to consider why this is your answer and how you will convince your reader to agree with you. As you read more about your topic and begin writing, your answer should get more detailed.

In your essay about the internet and education, the thesis states your position and sketches out the key arguments you’ll use to support it.

The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education because it facilitates easier access to information.

In your essay about braille, the thesis statement summarizes the key historical development that you’ll explain.

The invention of braille in the 19th century transformed the lives of blind people, allowing them to participate more actively in public life.

A strong thesis statement should tell the reader:

• Why you hold this position
• What they’ll learn from your essay
• The key points of your argument or narrative

The final thesis statement doesn’t just state your position, but summarizes your overall argument or the entire topic you’re going to explain. To strengthen a weak thesis statement, it can help to consider the broader context of your topic.

These examples are more specific and show that you’ll explore your topic in depth.

Your thesis statement should match the goals of your essay, which vary depending on the type of essay you’re writing:

• In an argumentative essay , your thesis statement should take a strong position. Your aim in the essay is to convince your reader of this thesis based on evidence and logical reasoning.
• In an expository essay , you’ll aim to explain the facts of a topic or process. Your thesis statement doesn’t have to include a strong opinion in this case, but it should clearly state the central point you want to make, and mention the key elements you’ll explain.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

• It gives your writing direction and focus.
• It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

Follow these four steps to come up with a thesis statement :

• Ask a question about your topic .
• Write your initial answer.
• Develop your answer by including reasons.
• Refine your answer, adding more detail and nuance.

The thesis statement should be placed at the end of your essay introduction .

Cite this Scribbr article

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McCombes, S. (2023, August 15). How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved August 21, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/thesis-statement/

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How can the issue of plastic pollution in the oceans be addressed more effectively?

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Essay Service Examples Environment Air Pollution

Air Pollution: Thesis Statement

1. Problem Statement:

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2. Literature survey:

3. objective:.

• To measure and display temperature, humidity level, and various gas levels like carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), NH3, and smoke in the environment and a particular area using the latest technology in trends. o, combine advanced detection technologies to produce air quality sensing systems with advanced capabilities to provide low-cost comprehensive monitoring.
• Involvement of various technologies like the Internet of things and open sources platform like Arduino for the easier monitoring of the gases in the environment.
• To display the sensed data in a user-friendly format in an LCD display panel for effective monitoring process and beeping of the buzzer when the detection process crosses the threshold value indicating risk.
• To make this monitoring process cost-effective with quick response, low maintenance, and the ability to produce continuous measurements using the Internet of things and a Wireless sensor network.

4 Methodology

5 proposed solutions:, 6 plan of remaining work:.

• 2/9/19 - 6/9/19
• Discussion of ideas and information among the group members.
• 9/9/19 - 13/9/19
• Going through various articles and resources and selecting the best possible idea suit.
• 16/9/19 – 20/9/19
• Study of the terms which are prerequisites to the project and involvement of deep study of the topic.
• 23/9/19 - 26/9/19
• Understanding various monitoring methods which are already implemented and are in use and studying their effective working.
• 30/9/19 - 4/10/19
• Working on the technologies being used for the monitoring process along with the other requirements to be used.
• 7/10/19 - 11/10/19
• Implementation of the technologies (IoT) over the desired module and hardware.
• 14/10/19 - 18/10/19
• Working on Arduino board and assembling various hardware components.
• 28/10/19 - 01/11/19
• Connection of hardware with the software implementation and its working
• 04/11/19 – 8/11/19
• Conclusions to be drawn on the basis of outcomes of the proposed system
• 11/11/19 – 15/11/19
• Submission of the project.

7 Current challenges:

8 project outcome -achievements:, 9 applications of the project:.

• Indoor Air Quality Monitoring
• Industrial Perimeter Monitoring
• Site Selection for reference monitoring stations
• Making the data easily available for the users

10 Future scope of work

• Interface more sensors to know the detailed content of the gases present in the air.
• Designing webpages and uploading the data on the web page making it user accessible easily.
• Interfacing of SD Card to store the data can be done
• Interfacing of GPS Module to monitor the pollution at the exact location and upload on the webpages.

References:

• G Spandana, Mr. Shanmughasundram R, “Design and Development of Air Pollution Monitoring System for Smart Cities”, Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Intelligent Computing and Control Systems (ICICCS 2018) IEEE Xplore Compliant Part Number: CFP18K74-ART; ISBN:978-1-5386-2842-3
• S.Muthukumar, W.Sherine Mary, W.Sherin, Jayanthi.S, Kiruthiga. R, Mahalakshmi.M, “IoT-based air pollution monitoring and control system”, Proceedings of the International Conference on Inventive Research in Computing Applications (CIRCA 2018) IEEE Xplore Compliant Part Number: CFP18N67-ART; ISBN:978-1-5386-2456-2
• Temesegan Walelign Ayele, Rutvik Mehta, “Air pollution monitoring and prediction using IoT”, Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Inventive Communication and Computational Technologies (ICICCT 2018) IEEE Xplore Compliant - Part Number: CFP18BAC-ART; ISBN:978-1-5386-1974-2
• Khaled Bashir Shaban, Abdullah Kadri, EmanRezk, “Urban air pollution monitoring system with forecasting models,” IEEE Sensors Journal Volume: 16, Issue: 8, pp. 2598 – 2606, April 15, 2016.
• Walter Fuertes, Diego Carrera, César Villacís, TheofilosToulkeridis, Fernando Galárraga, Edgar Torres, and HernánAules, “Distributed System as the Internet of Things for a new low-cost, Air Pollution Wireless Monitoring on Real Time,” IEEE International Conferences on Symposium on Distributed Simulation and Real-Time Applications, 2015.
• ShwetalRaipure. Deepak Mehetre, “Wireless Sensor Network Based Pollution Monitoring System in Metropolitan Cities,” IEEE on International Conference, 2015.
• Chen Xiaojun, Liu Xianpeng, XuPeng, “IOT- Based Air Pollution Monitoring and Forecasting System,” IEEE Conference December 2015.
• Bhavika Bathiya, Sanjay Srivastava, Biswajit Mishra, “Air pollution Monitoring Using Wireless Sensor” 2016 IEEE International WIE Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering (WIECON-ECE) 19-21 December 2016, AISSMS, Pune, India.

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102 Water Pollution Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Water pollution essays are an excellent way to demonstrate your awareness of the topic and your position on the solutions to the issue. To help you ease the writing process, we prepared some tips, essay topics, and research questions about water pollution.

🌎 Air and Water pollution: Essay Writing Tips

🏆 best water pollution essay topics & examples, 📌 remarkable air and water pollution research topics, 👍 good research topics about water pollution, ❓ research questions about water pollution.

Water’s ready availability in many locations makes it an easy choice for a variety of purposes, from cleaning to manufacturing to nuclear reactor cooling. However, many companies will then dump water, now mixed with waste, back into rivers or lakes without adequate cleaning, leading to significant environmental pollution.

However, there are other types of harm, such as noise pollution, which are less obvious but also dangerous to sea life. It is critical that you understand what you should and should not do during your writing process.

The stance that big manufacturing industries are the sole culprits of the damage done to the world’s rivers and oceans is a popular one. However, do not neglect the effects of other water pollution essay topics such as microorganisms.

Microbes can spread dangerous illnesses, making them a danger for both water inhabitants and the people who then use that water. Furthermore, they can eat up oxygen if left unchecked, starving fish and other water organisms and eventually making them die out.

Such situations usually result from agricultural practices, which can lead to powerful nutrients entering the water and enabling algae and other microorganisms to grow excessively. An overly lively environment can be as harmful as one where everything is threatened.

With that said, industrial manufacturers deserve much of the attention and blame they receive from various communities. Construction of dedicated waste-cleaning facilities is usually possible, but companies avoid doing so because the process will increase their costs.

You should advocate for green practices, but be mindful of the potential impact of a significant price increase on the global economy. Also, be sure to mention more exotic pollution variations in your types of water pollution essay.

Provide examples of noise pollution or suspended matter pollution to expand on the topic of the complexity of the harm humanity causes to the ecosphere.

You should show your understanding that there are many causes, and we should work on addressing all of them, a notion you should repeat in your water pollution essay conclusions.

However, you should try to avoid being sidetracked too much and focus on the titles of pollution and its immediate causes.

If you stretch far enough, you may connect the matter to topics such as the status of a woman in Islam. However, doing so contributes little to nothing to your point and deviates from the topic of ecology into social and religious studies.

Leave the search for connections to dedicated researchers and concentrate on discussing the major causes that are known nowadays. By doing this, you will be able to create an excellent and powerful work that will demonstrate your understanding of the topic.

Here are some tips for your writing:

• Be sure to discuss the different types of pollution that is caused by the same source separately. Surface and groundwater pollution are different in their effects and deserve separate discussions.
• Focus on the issues and not on solutions, as an essay does not provide enough space to discuss the latter in detail.
• Be sure to discuss the effects of pollution on people and other land inhabitants as well as on water creatures.

Check IvyPanda to get more water pollution essay titles, paper ideas, and other useful samples!

• Air and Water Pollution in the Modern World The high number of vehicles in the city has greatly promoted air pollution in the area. Poor sewerage system, high pollution from industries and automobiles are among the major causes of air and water pollutions […]
• Water Pollution: Causes, Effects and Possible Solutions This is why clean water is required in all the places to make sure the people and all the living creatures in the planet live a good and healthy life.
• Water Pollution: Causes, Effects, and Prevention Farmers should be encouraged to embrace this kind of farming which ensures that the manure used is biodegradable and do not end up accumulating in the water bodies once they are washed off by floods.
• Water Pollution in the Philippines: Metropolitan Manila Area In this brief economic analysis of water pollution in Metro Manila, it is proposed to look at the industrial use of waters and the household use to understand the impact that the population growth and […]
• Coca-Cola India and Water Pollution Issues The first difficulty that the representatives of the Coca-Cola Company happened to face due to their campaign in the territory of India was caused by the concerns of the local government.
• Water Pollution in a Community: Mitigation Plan Though for the fact that planet earth is abundant with water and almost two-thirds of the planet is made up of water still it is viewed that in future years, a shortage of water may […]
• Water Pollution and Management in the UAE The groundwater in UAE meets the needs of 51% of users in terms of quantity mainly for irrigation. Surface water is the source of groundwater and plays a major role in groundwater renewal.
• Mud Lick Creek Project – Fresh Water Pollution This potential source of pollutants poses significant risks to the quality of water at the creek in terms altering the temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and the turbidity of the water.
• Causes of Water Pollution and the Present Environmental Solution Prolonged pollution of water has even caused some plants to grow in the water, which pose danger to the living entities that have their inhabitants in the water.
• Cashion Water Quality: Spatial Distribution of Water Pollution Incidents This essay discusses the quality of water as per the report of 2021 obtained from the municipality, the quality issue and the source of pollution, and how the pollution impacts human health and the environment […]
• Water Pollution as a Crime Against the Environment In particular, water pollution is a widespread crime against the environment, even though it is a severe felony that can result in harm to many people and vast territories.
• Importance of Mercury Water Pollution Problem Solutions The severity of the mercury contamination consequences depends on the age of the person exposed to the contamination, the way of contamination, the health condition, and many other factors.
• Newark Water Crisis: Water Pollution Problem The main problem was rooted in the fact that lead levels in the drinking water were highly elevated, which is dangerous and detrimental to the population’s health.
• Water Pollution: OIL Spills Aspects The effects of the oil spill on a species of ducks called the Harlequin ducks were formulated and the author attempted to trace out the immediate and residual effects of the oil on the birds.
• Food Distribution and Water Pollution Therefore, food distribution is one of the central reasons for water pollution. According to Greenpeace, one of the ways to improve the ecology of the planet is by creating healthy food markets.
• Water Pollution and Associated Health Risks The results of plenty of studies indicate the existence of the relation between the contamination of water by hazardous chemicals and the development of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, cancer, asthma, allergies, as well as reproductive […]
• Lake Erie Water Pollution There are worries among the members of the community that the lake could be facing another episode of high toxicity, and they have called for the authorities to investigate the main causes of the pollution […]
• Water Pollution in the US: Causes and Control Although water pollution can hardly be ceased entirely, the current rates of water pollution can be reduced by resorting to the sustainable principle of water use in both the industrial area and the realm of […]
• Water Pollution and Its Challenges Water pollution refers to a situation where impurities find way into water bodies such as rivers, lakes, and ground water. This is a form of pollution where impurities enter water bodies through distinct sources such […]
• Water Pollution Sources, Effects and Control Unfortunately, not all the users of water are responsible to ensure that proper disposal or treatment of the used water is done before the water is returned to the water bodies.
• Water in Crisis: Public Health Concerns in Africa In the 21st century, the world faces a crisis of contaminated water, which is the result of industrialization and is a major problem in developing countries.
• Air and Water Pollution Thus, it is classified as a primary pollutant because it is the most common pollutants in the environment. In the environment, the impact of carbon monoxide is felt overtime, since it leads to respiratory problems.
• Water Pollution & Diseases (Undeveloped Nations) Restriction on movement and access to the affected area affects trade and the loss of human life and deteriorated health is a major blow on the economy and on the quality of human life.
• Water and Water Pollution in Point of Economics’ View This research tries to explain the importance of water especially in an economist’s perspective by explaining the uses of water in various fields, pollution of water and the agents of pollution.
• Environmental Justice Issues Affecting African Americans: Water Pollution Water pollution in the 1960s occurred due to poor sewage systems in the urban and rural areas. Unlike in the 1960s, there are reduced cases of water pollution today.
• Air and Water Pollution in Los Angeles One of the major problems facing major cities and towns in the world is pollution; wastes from firms and households are the major causes of pollution.
• Water Pollution Causes and Climate Impacts The biggest percentage of sewage waste consists of water, treating the wastes for recycling would help in maintaining a constant supply of water.
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Princeton University

Cuts in air pollution increased pollution at ground level.

By John Sullivan

August 22, 2024

The U.S. has slashed pollutants that cause smog, which is a known threat to public health. Image by iStock.

The U.S. has slashed smog-causing pollutants like airborne sulfur dioxide in the past 20 years, but the cuts have unintentionally increased ground and water pollution in some local areas, according to research from Princeton and Colorado State University.

In an article published June 20 in the journal Nature Geoscience, researchers found that decreased atmospheric levels of sulfur dioxide and a group of nitrogen oxide pollutants called NO x (including NO and NO 2 ) have led to increased nitrogen deposits in forests and streams in various parts of the country. These increased deposits, linked to environmental problems, are found in areas connected to high levels of ammonia emissions, which are generally from agriculture and have not been directly regulated in the U.S.

Researcher Da Pan, who performed the work as a doctoral student at Princeton, said ammonia gas reacts with gases including sulfur dioxide and NOx to form small particles that contribute to smog. With less sulfur dioxide and NOx in the atmosphere, more ammonia remains as gas. The ammonia gas, which contains a lot of nitrogen, returns to the surface and increases the nitrogen deposits on the ground and in water near emission sources.

“A larger fraction of ammonia remains in the gas phase, which deposits rapidly, rather than reacting with sulfur dioxide and NO x to form small particles that deposit relatively slowly,” said Pan, who was recently appointed as an assistant professor at Georgia Institute of Technology.

Sulfur dioxide and NO x compounds are mainly produced by coal power plants and cars, Pan said. These chemicals react with gases in the atmosphere to form tiny particles that are dangerous for people’s health. An important step in the pollutants changing from gas to solid particles is the reaction with ammonia, a chemical that is emitted from fertilizer use and from livestock waste.

“The formation of particulate matter is like mixing these chemicals in a bucket,” said Pan, who performed part of the work as a post-doctoral researcher at Colorado State University. “The quantity of particles is determined by the chemical present in lowest concentration in the bucket.”

As coal plants closed and auto emissions standards tightened, the amount of sulfur dioxide and NO x in the atmospheric bucket decreased. The researchers said sulfur dioxide emissions dropped 70 percent and NO x dropped 50 percent between 2011 and 2020. While that was good for reducing various forms of air pollution, near agricultural regions it meant that a lot of ammonia eventually settled back to the ground. Also, the ammonia that did stay in the air could be transported further – toward downwind cities.

Deposits of ammonia, which is made of nitrogen and hydrogen, can have several environmental effects, Pan said. Increased nitrogen changes ecosystems by helping some plants grow more and harming others. High nitrogen levels also cause rapid algae growth in lakes and streams. This growth, called eutrophication, can kill fish and other marine life.

Pan said that the research team drew its conclusions through direct observations of chemical concentrations in the atmosphere from a network of sensors operated by the government and private organizations. For example, as part of the NASA Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences team, the researchers used satellite measurements of ammonia that can locate the largest sources of ammonia emissions and help to interpret the resulting deposition patterns. This approach differs from work that relies on mathematical models, called atmospheric chemical transport models, to predict how chemicals react and move in the atmosphere.

“Emissions of ammonia are poorly known, which limits the confidence of past chemical transport model results,” said Mark Zondlo, a principal researcher on the project and professor of civil and environmental engineering at Princeton. “The novelty of this work is constraining particle formation through a suite of direct observations, and the results show the benefits of using observations to identify key pollutants to improve air quality and decrease nitrogen deposition on seasonal and regional scales.”

The researchers used aerosol composition and ammonia concentration observations from 68 locations around the country, primarily in rural areas, as well as national deposition estimates and satellite observations. They found increased ammonia deposits in areas near high levels of ammonia emissions. Pan said the observation data was noticeably different than levels predicted by simulations based on chemical transport models. He said there are still high levels of uncertainty in the amount of pollutants released to the air and the mechanism behind particle formation in the atmosphere.

Pan said that aerosol composition, ammonia concentrations, and nitrogen deposition data were generally available for rural regions in the U.S. and cautioned that urban areas might have different results and more observations are needed. He also said that some data was impacted by increasing wildfires, particularly in the western U.S.

“Going forward, increasing renewable power generation and electric vehicle use will further decrease emissions of sulfur dioxide and NO x ,” said co-principal investigator Denise Mauzerall, the William S. Tod Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Public and International Affairs at Princeton.  “However, reductions in sulfur dioxide and NO x have led to a greater fraction of ammonia emissions being deposited onto sensitive ecosystems near emission sources. Thus, to protect these ecosystems and reduce eutrophication resulting from excess nitrogen, future ammonia mitigation is warranted.”

The article, Regime shift in secondary inorganic aerosol formation and nitrogen deposition in the rural United States, was published June 20 in Nature Geoscience. Besides Pan, Mauzerall, and Zondlo, authors include: Rui Wang, Princeton University; Xuehui Guo, Princeton and now the University of Virginia; Melissa Puchalski, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Yixin Guo, Princeton University; Shoajie Song, Nankai University; Daniel Tong, George Mason University; Amy Sullivan, Colorado State University; Bret Schichtel, National Park Service and Colorado State University; Jeffrey Collett Jr., Colorado State University. Support for the project was provided in part by the High Meadows Environmental Institute and NASA.

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