• Pollution comes from a variety of sources, including industry.pollution image by Joseph Chiapputo from Fotolia.com
  
  Whether we realize it or not, pollution permeates the course of our daily lives as we drive to work, breathe, eat and drink. Environmental pollution occurs when nature lacks the ability to absorb and decompose any unnatural byproducts of human activities. Pollution adversely affects all spheres of life on the planet, thus making the need to take environmentally friendly actions essential.
  
  

Air Pollutants

• According to the Environmental Protection Agency, six common air pollutants exist that cause widespread health threats, particularly cancer and respiratory problems. One, ozone, a gas, causes pollution at ground level when it mixes with nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compounds to create smog. Another, particle matter, forms from a mixture of liquid drops and small particles of components like metals, nitrates, organic chemicals and dust. And another gas, carbon monoxide, occurs when carbon in fuel does not burn away completely, like from motor vehicle exhaust. Nitrogen dioxide belongs to a family of highly reactive gasses and contributes to the negative effects of ozone and particle matter. Also a highly reactive gas, sulfur dioxide results from fossil fuel combustion and has harmful effects on the respiratory system. Lead exists both naturally in the environment and in manufactured products.
  
  

Soil Pollutants

• Soil pollutants include mercury, lead, arsenic and polychlorinated biphenyls. These pollutants, once in the soil, contaminate it and cause a variety of health problems for those who come in contact directly with the soil or indirectly through inhaling vaporized pollutants, according to the Tropical Rainforests Animals website.
  
  Among the adverse effects of soil pollutants are kidney damage from mercury, lead poisoning, headaches, fatigue and neuromuscular blockage. Chemicals in pesticides and fertilizers also cause soil contamination and pollute water sources.
  
  

Water Pollutants

• Polluted water results in the spread of waterborne illnesses such as typhoid, hookworm, encephalitis, respiratory problems and rashes. In addition, water contaminated by pollutants like mercury, pesticides and hydrocarbons causes cancer and damage to the nervous system, liver, kidneys and DNA, according to Tropical Rainforests Animals. As all human life depends on clean water, the EPA regulates any discharge of pollutants into water sources through the Clean Water Act.
  
  Water pollutants still come from a variety of sources such as agricultural run-off, industrial waste and storm water drainage, according to the EPA. In addition to contracting a waterborne disease via contact, eating contaminated fish and vegetables can cause harmful health effects.