5 Scary Facts About Pollution (And What You Can Do About It)

Everyone knows big factories lead to big pollution problems, but those giant industrial structures aren't entirely to blame for the pollution covering our planet. Tons of things lead to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, polluted water streams or tarnished soil. Your car releases air pollution. The chemicals you use on your landscaping damage the water systems. Even large pig farms can release gases that cause serious illnesses in humans. When you get down to it, pollution is scary business, (with even scarier consequences,) but you can do your part to reduce the pollution levels.

5 Scary Facts About Pollution and How to Combat Them

Every year, around 250 million cases of water-based diseases from polluted drinking water are reported around the world. The illnesses lead to about five to 10 million deaths, according to Do Something.Org.

Household run off is at least partially to blame for polluted water streams. The chemicals fertilizers leak into the sewers and make their way into the water stream. Alternatively, you can make your own compost to use as a fertilizer. Broken down raw plants and vegetables make a great, clean compost and have several benefits to plants.

In the past 150 years, the use of natural gas and gasoline has raised carbon dioxide levels higher than they have been for thousands of years, according to National Geographic.

Industrial plants, airplanes and cars are mostly to blame for our carbon dioxide program. While most people cannot simply stop driving, you can cut back on the amount you do. Start a carpool at work. If you can find four other people that equals four cars off the road every work day.

Around 29 million pounds of antibiotics - about 80 percent of the total antibiotics used in the U.S. - are fed to livestock each year in attempt to speed up growth, according to the National Resources Defense Council.

Consuming antibiotics through chicken, beef and fish can lead to health problems in adults. Not to mention it's unhealthy for the livestock. You can protest this practice by buying free-range, organic meat products. Local farmers markets typically sell meats cut from grain fed, antibiotic free animals.

Over 85 percent of the trash sitting in a landfill could have been recycled, according to Do Something.org.

Recycling greatly reduces the amount of waste we create. When something goes through the recycling process it's broken down and used to create another product. This eliminates the need to create a product from virgin ore. Create a recycling center in your house. Post the list of acceptable items from your local pick up near the bins and recycle everything you can.

One American produces over 3,285 pounds of hazardous waste every year, according to Do Something.org.

A lot of the things we use on a daily basis can cause pollution. For example, household cleaning products and laundry soaps contain chemicals that can kill fish once they hit the water stream. Switch to organic products. These products use plant-based ingredients that won't harm the planet if they end up down the drain.

11 Facts About Pollution, Do Something.org.
Air Pollution Comes From Many Sources, National Geographic.
Facts About Pollution From Livestock Farms, National Resources Defense Council.