Pollution affects the environment in multiple harmful ways, impacting ecosystems, biodiversity, water bodies, soil, and climate:

• Damage to ecosystems and biodiversity: Air pollutants such as sulfur and nitrogen compounds lead to acidification and eutrophication in lakes, streams, soils, and forests. Acid rain formed from sulfur and nitrogen oxides damages trees, forest soils, and aquatic life, reducing biodiversity by harming sensitive plant and animal species. Nitrogen deposition alters plant communities and aquatic ecosystems, often favoring some species over others and reducing overall biodiversity

• Harm to aquatic systems: Excess nitrogen from air pollution causes eutrophication in water bodies, leading to algal blooms that deplete oxygen and cause fish kills and loss of aquatic species diversity

• Damage to vegetation and crops: Ground-level ozone reduces growth rates and yields of agricultural crops and commercial forests, affecting food production and ecosystem services

• Bioaccumulation of toxic substances: Heavy metals and persistent toxic pollutants emitted into the air accumulate in soils and water, entering the food chain and causing health problems in wildlife, including reproductive failure and disease

• Climate impacts: Some air pollutants, such as black carbon and methane, are short-lived climate pollutants that contribute to global warming by absorbing sunlight and enhancing greenhouse effects. This also indirectly threatens ecosystems by altering weather patterns and reducing agricultural yields, thus impacting food security

• Visibility and aesthetic damage: Pollution causes haze, reducing visibility and affecting scenic natural areas

Overall, pollution leads to degradation of natural environments, loss of species, disruption of ecosystem functions, and negative effects on human well-being through impacts on food, water, and climate