Question

Which of the following is a man-made cause of environmental pollution?

• A. Transportation
• B. Dust storm
• C. Forest fire
• D. Volcanic activities

Hint:

To differentiate between natural and man-made causes, ask yourself: "Would this happen without humans?" Volcanoes and dust storms would, but transportation pollution would not.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Causes of pollution can be categorized as either natural (occurring without human intervention) or man-made (anthropogenic, resulting from human activities). The question asks to identify the man-made cause from the list.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
- Transportation: Vehicles like cars, trucks, and airplanes burn fossil fuels, releasing pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter into the atmosphere. This is a primary man-made source of air pollution.
- Dust storm: This is a natural meteorological phenomenon.
- Forest fire: While some forest fires are caused by human negligence, they are often a natural part of an ecosystem's cycle (e.g., started by lightning). It can be both, but it is often considered a natural cause in this context.
- Volcanic activities: Volcanic eruptions release large amounts of gases and ash into the atmosphere, but this is a purely natural event.
Comparing the options, transportation is exclusively a man-made activity causing pollution.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Transportation is a man-made cause of environmental pollution.