15 interesting pollution facts

1. One ton of carbon dioxide that is released in the air can be prevented by replacing every 75 watt light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs.
2. Homeowners use up to 10 times more toxic chemicals per acre than farmers.
3. The World Bank reported in 2002 that pollution causes 2.42 billion dollars worth of damage to the Egyptian environment annually.
4. The human population of the world is expected to be nearly tripled by the year 2100.
5. Greece has the cleanest coastal waters, followed by Spain and Germany. Lithuania and Estonia have the dirtiest coastal waters.
6. 40% of America’s rivers are too polluted for fishing, swimming, or aquatic life.
7. There are about 500 million cars on the planet and by 2030 it is expected to double to 1 billion cars .
8. More than 100 active pesticide ingredients are suspected of causing cancer, birth defects, and gene mutation.
9. In any given year, about 25% of beaches in the US are under advisories or are closed at least one time because of water pollution.
10. Asian rivers are the most polluted in the world. They have three times as many bacteria from human waste as the global average and 20 times more lead than rivers in industrialized countries.
11. In 2004, water from half of the tested sections of China's seven major rivers was found to be undrinkable because of pollution.
12. The quality of water in Europe's rivers and lakes used for swimming and water sports worsened between 2004 and 2005, with 10% of sites not meeting standards.
13. Thirty percent of Ireland's rivers are polluted with sewage or fertilizer.
14. The Sarno is the most polluted river in Europe, featuring a nasty mix of sewage, untreated agricultural waste, industrial waste, and chemicals.
15. Around 80% of the pollution in seas and oceans comes from land-based activities.