Talking about Pollution: English Vocabulary List

a combination of smoke and fog that is considered a form of air pollution

"Smog covers the city skyline."

"Smog is a type of intense air pollution formed by the chemical reaction of sunlight with vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions"

a substance or agent that makes something impure or harmful by contact or mixture

"The water contains a dangerous contaminant."

"Scientists discovered a harmful contaminant in the local drinking water supply."

a poisonous substance, especially one produced by living organisms, that can cause harm or illness when introduced into a living organism

"The factory released a deadly toxin."

"A toxin is a naturally occurring poisonous substance produced within living cells or organisms that can cause disease or tissue damage when introduced to body tissues."

any substance that is dirty, disgusting, or unpleasant

"The river was full of filth."

"The house was filled with filth and garbage because the owner had neglected it for years."

any type of gas, particularly carbon dioxide, that contributes to global warming by trapping heat

"Methane is a strong greenhouse gas."

"A greenhouse gas traps heat in the atmosphere by absorbing infrared radiation"

a colorless, odorless, flammable which is the main component of natural gasgas

"Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas released by cows and rotting waste."

"Methane is the primary component of natural gas, a vital energy source for many homes."

the accidental or deliberate release of liquid petroleum or its products into the environment, especially into bodies of water, causing ecological damage

"The oil spill killed many fish."

"An oil spill is the accidental release of liquid petroleum into the ocean"

a colorless gas emitted from burning sulfur-containing fuels, industrial activities, and volcanic eruptions

"Sulfur dioxide causes acid rain."

"Factories release sulfur dioxide into the air, which harms the environment."

rain containing a great deal of acidic chemicals, caused by air pollution, which can harm the environment

"Acid rain damages forests and lakes."

"Acid rain is precipitation made acidic by atmospheric pollution"

the act or process of making a substance or place dirty or polluted, especially by dangerous substances

"The contamination made people sick."

"The contamination of the river with industrial waste posed a serious threat to the local ecosystem."

a harmful chemical compound containing chlorine, often produced as an industrial byproduct with adverse environmental and health effects

"Dioxin is a toxic chemical compound."

"The factory released toxic dioxins into the river, poisoning the water and killing fish."

a piece of land under which waste material is buried

"The garbage goes to a landfill."

"A landfill is a carefully engineered site where waste is systematically disposed of by burial"

smoke or gas that has a sharp smell or is harmful if inhaled

"The exhaust fumes made me cough."

"The toxic fumes from the burning plastic made everyone in the room cough and feel dizzy."

a collection point or recycling container specifically designed for the deposit and recycling of glass bottles

"Take glass bottles to the bottle bank."

"We took all our empty glass bottles to the bottle bank near the supermarket yesterday."

the waste gases or air expelled from an engine, furnace, or other machinery

"The blue smoke from the car's exhaust pipe smelled very bad indeed."

"An exhaust system channels hot waste gases from an engine's combustion chamber to the rear of a vehicle"

the scattered pieces of waste, remains, or broken objects, often left after destruction or an accident

"The storm left debris everywhere."

"Debris is the scattered remains of something broken or destroyed"

a type of chemical substance that is used for killing insects or small animals that damage food or crops

"Farmers use pesticide to protect their crops from insects and other pests."

"A pesticide is a chemical substance designed to kill or control pests that damage crops"

a chemical substance that kills plants, used for destroying plants that are not wanted

"The farmer sprayed herbicide on weeds."

"An herbicide is a type of pesticide specifically formulated to kill unwanted plants"