Environmental Problems
In todays environment Palm Beach County alone faces many environmental problems,
which can turn disastrous if not taken care of. Included in these problems are air pollution,
water contamination, and urban explosion.
Air pollution is a major factor threatening our health and our environment. Due to the
pollutants that circulate in the air, many people can come into contact with cancer causing
gases. Atmospheric contaminants are derived from human practices, such as gas from
automobiles, factories, and even chimneys. Pollutants do not only cause damage to our
health, but they cause damage to the health of plants and animals as well. Sulfur dioxide
and nitrogen oxide cause damage to leaves of crop plants and trees when they enter leaf
pores. Exposure of leaves to air pollutants can also break down the waxy coating that helps
prevent excessive water loss and damage from diseases, pests, drought, and frost.
Water pollution is another problem our county faces. There are many causes for water
pollution but two general categories exist: direct and indirect contaminant sources. Direct
sources include effluent outfalls from factories, waste treatment plants etc., which emit
fluids of varying quality directly into urban water supplies. Although these practices are
regulated, this doesnt mean that pollutants cant be found in these waters. Indirect sources
include contaminants that enter the water supply from soils/groundwater systems and from
the atmosphere via rainwater. Soils and groundwater contain the residue of human
agricultural practices (fertilizers, pesticides, etc.) and improperly disposed of industrial
