1. How does pollution affect animals?

2. We all know that pollution is a big problem for people.

3. But pollution is a problem for animals as well.

4. Pollution can cause animals to get sick or die.

5. Or cause their eggs to fail to hatch.

6. Types of Pollution

7. Acid Rain

8. Acid rain is caused by emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from power plants, cars and factories.

9. These emissions bond with the water vapor in clouds and cause the resulting rainfall to be acidic.

10. Acid rain can harm trees, kill fish and cause the birds that prey on fish to lose their source of food.

11. Water Pollution

12. Water pollution is the contamination of lakes, rivers, oceans, and groundwater by pesticides, fertilizers, or garbage.

13. Pesticides used to control lawn and crop insects can enter a pond during heavy rains and cause a fish kill.

14. Fertilizer runoff can cause an unnaturally heavy algae bloom
Fertilizer runoff can cause an unnaturally heavy algae bloom. Too much algae can deplete oxygen in the water and cause fish to die.

15. Once let loose into the environment, plastic bags can cause considerable harm, blocking drains and suffocating wildlife mistaking the bag for food.

16. Oil spills sicken and kill birds and marine mammals
Oil spills sicken and kill birds and marine mammals. Oil is absorbed by feathers and fur. Animals are unable to remove it.

17. Click on the link below to watch a slideshow about the effects of water pollution on marine animals in the United Kingdom.