B115 words · Intermediate

Pollution vocabulary — B1

Environment vocabulary for discussing pollution problems and causes, including smog, sewage, oil spill, fumes and pesticide, and words like reusable and single-use.

15 questions

Words in this set

landfill
/ˈlændˌfɪl/
a large area of land where rubbish is buried under the ground
Example: The city's old landfill is almost full, so it needs a new site.
smog
/smɑɡ/
thick, dirty air in a city, made worse by smoke and car fumes
Example: On hot days, a brown smog hangs over the whole city.
chemical
/ˈkɛməkəl/
a substance used in science or industry that can be dangerous if it gets into nature
Example: A factory leaked a chemical into the stream last night.
sewage
/ˈsuədʒ/
dirty water and waste from toilets and drains that is carried away in pipes
Example: Untreated sewage was flowing straight into the sea.
oil spill
an accident in which a ship leaks thick, dark liquid fuel into the sea
Example: Birds covered in oil were rescued after the oil spill.
air quality
how much dirt and harmful gas there is in what we breathe in a place
Example: Air quality is poor near the motorway, especially in summer.
harmful
/ˈhɑrmfəl/
causing damage or making people, animals or plants ill
Example: Some cleaning products are harmful to fish if they reach rivers.
reusable
/riˈuzəbəl/
able to serve again and again, so you do not need to throw it away
Example: I always carry a reusable bag when I go shopping.
fumes
/fjumz/
strong, unpleasant smoke or gas that is bad to breathe
Example: The fumes from the paint made me feel sick.
pesticide
/ˈpɛstəˌsaɪd/
a chemical that farmers put on crops to kill insects
Example: Many farmers are trying to use less pesticide on their fields.
pollute
/pəˈlut/
to make air, water or land dirty and harmful, especially with waste or chemicals
Example: Factories that pollute the river can be fined heavily.
noise pollution
too much loud, unpleasant sound in a place that makes life worse
Example: People near the airport complain about constant noise pollution.
single-use
made to be thrown away after being needed just once
Example: Many shops have stopped selling single-use plastic cups.
environment-friendly
good for nature because it does not cause harm to air, water or land
Example: We bought an environment-friendly washing powder this month.
exhaust fumes
the dirty gases that come out of the back of a car or lorry
Example: We could smell the exhaust fumes from the buses on the road.