pol ‧ lu ‧ tion W2 /pəˈluːʃ ə n/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
1 . the process of making air, water, soil etc dangerously dirty and not suitable for people to use, or the state of being dangerously dirty:
California’s tough anti-pollution laws
air/water/soil pollution
air pollution from traffic fumes
pollution prevention/standards/control
The costs of pollution control must be considered.
2 . substances that make air, water, soil etc dangerously dirty:
a plan to reduce pollution
industrial/chemical etc pollution
the effects of industrial pollution on the population
The chemicals have been identified as a source of pollution.
⇨ ↑ noise pollution
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meanings 1 & 2)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + pollution
▪ bad/serious/severe
The mines have caused serious pollution of the river system.
|
The pollution was so bad that most of the fish died.
▪ air pollution
Air pollution can cause breathing problems for some people.
▪ atmospheric pollution formal (=air pollution)
The oil wells continued to burn, causing atmospheric pollution on a massive scale.
▪ water/river pollution
The National Rivers Authority tests levels of water pollution.
▪ marine pollution formal (=pollution of the sea)
Oil spills are a major cause of marine pollution.
▪ environmental pollution
Most environmental pollution originates in the developed countries.
▪ industrial pollution (=from factories)
A study has linked ill health in the area with industrial pollution.
▪ chemical pollution
Chemical pollution threatens the survival of these animals.
■ verbs
▪ reduce/cut pollution
New measures are needed to reduce pollution from cars.
▪ control pollution
The water company is failing to control pollution.
▪ tackle/combat pollution (=try to deal with it)
Governments must tackle pollution now.
▪ prevent pollution
Efforts are being made to prevent further pollution.
▪ monitor pollution (=measure it)
It is possible to monitor pollution from incinerator chimneys.
■ pollution + NOUN
▪ pollution levels
The aim is to reduce pollution levels to those of the 1930s.
▪ a pollution problem
Environmentalists fear that the new factories will lead to severe pollution problems.
▪ pollution control
Effective pollution control was not being undertaken.
■ phrases
▪ a source/cause of pollution
The factory was a clear source of pollution.
|
Fumes from cars are a major cause of air pollution.
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GRAMMAR
Pollution is an uncountable noun and has no plural form. Use a singular verb after it:
▪
The pollution is worse during winter.