Pollution. Many people know what this term means in the aspect of how it negatively affects the lives of human beings. However, many people generally do not worry about this issue (Buchanan and Horwitz). Pollution is a serious problem that deserves immediate action to prevent it. This problem has ruined the lives of many people, especially the elderly and young children (Bily 42, 43). Pollution is a deadly and lethal problem, but it can be solved by passing new laws, asking people to conserve resources, and create jobs created to clean up pollution. Overall, pollution affects people and the environment. EPA statistics show that approximately 630,000 babies in the United States are born with a risk of brain damage due to high mercury levels in mothers (Bily 58). And, according to a Swedish study, lymphoma occurs five times more often in people exposed to herbicides (Bily 73). This means that farmers are at higher risk of lymphoma due to their constant exposure to herbicides. An unfortunate fact about the United States is that 45 states have issued warnings of mercury poisoning in fish (Bily 124). Another problem that has a negative impact on society is acid rain. When rain and nitric acid mix to form acid rain, they can destroy trees, buildings and statues (Tennesen). One pollution problem plaguing our planet is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This floating mass of 3.5 million tons of trash is about twice the size of the state of Texas. The main component of the Patch is plastic. Specifically, they are tiny pieces of plastic. One disadvantage of having plastic waste is that it will not biodegrade for hundreds of years. On average, the area kills about one million birds and 100,000 ocean animals each year. Also... half the paper... Showers." Scientific American 303.3 (2010): 23. MAS Ultra - School Edition. EBSCO. Network. March 2, 2011. The Economics of Pollution Control Locally and Globally. 01 April 2006. University of Michigan. 18 February 2011. .Tran, Tu-Uyen. “EERC technology turns waste into energy and jobs: at UND, they can turn turkey poop and wood chips into hydrogen, waste into gas and, now, old railroad ties covered in possibly carcinogenic coal tar into pollution-free electricity.” Grand Forks Herald (ND) May 22, 2009: EBSCO News Source. February 25, 2011. Winters , Sevastian. The pros and cons of “Going Green” of the United States 03 August 2009. March 15, 2011. .