Pollution

Pollution

Threat caused by pollution

Pollution is any type of harmful contaminant that enters the environment.

Pollution reduces the quality of our air, water and land and has widespread impacts on human and environmental health.

Pollution can be natural or caused by human activity and comes in many forms such as air, water, land & soil, light & noise:

  • Air pollution – Air pollution is the release of chemicals and particles into the atmosphere. It comes from a variety of sources, including factories, cars, trucks and planes, agriculture, aerosol cans and cigarette smoke, as well as natural events such as bushfires. Air pollution is one of the main causes of the thinning of our ozone layer and includes greenhouse gas emissions, the main driving force behind climate change. Air pollution can also directly contaminate water and soil when it falls back to earth.

    Poor air quality has severe impacts on human health and is one of the leading risk factors for death and disease across the globe. Animals, plants and even whole ecosystems can also suffer health effects. In some extreme cases reproductive failure or defects in animal birth. In addition, it increases the chance for toxins to enter the waterways during rainfalls, resulting in damage to water ecosystems.

  • Water pollution – Our creeks, rivers, lakes, dams and oceans are filling up with litter, harmful chemicals, bacteria and other pollutants. Water is particularly vulnerable to pollution because it so good at dissolving other material. On top of this, most other forms of pollution (i.e. air and land) eventually make their way into water, with around 80% of water pollution coming from a land-based source. Major sources include agricultural runoff, which often contains fertilisers, pesticides and nutrients, and wastewater, such as sewage and stormwater runoff.

    Water pollution has a huge number of environmental, social and economic impacts, including serious consequences for human health. Every year, around one billion people become sick from drinking or swimming in water contaminated with bacteria and viruses. When pollutants enter waterways, they cause harm to all forms of aquatic life and can throw entire ecosystems out of balance. It can harm wildlife by causing the death of important organisms or the proliferation of invasive species. For example, an excess of nutrients flowing into waterways can cause toxic algal blooms and create dead zones where nothing can survive. Chemicals and heavy metals can poison animals and many others die from getting caught up in or eating marine debris. Rising acidity from dissolved carbon dioxide in our oceans is also impacting the survival of shellfish and coral.

  • Land pollution – Land pollution is the contamination of soil and groundwater and is primarily caused by development activities, improper waste disposal, mining or runoff from industrial activities or unsustainable agriculture practices. When waste materials like heavy metals, pesticides, litter and other toxic chemicals are dumped on land, they slowly leach into our soils and degrade them over time. This can lead to a loss of fertile land and food shortages, harm to wildlife and habitat loss, and impacts to human health. Polluted land often also becomes drier, increasing the risk of bushfires. Pollutants can also leak into groundwater supplies. If groundwater is polluted, it can be unsafe to use for irrigation, industry or as drinking water.  Plant and animals that come into contact with pollution can suffer health risks. In addition, the people consuming these plants or animal products can also be at risk.

  • Noise and light pollution – There is increasing evidence of the impact of noise and light pollution on ecosystems and human health. As our towns and cities become noisier and brighter, we are feeling more anxious, more depressed, and getting less sleep. For wildlife, especially nocturnal animals, excess noise and light can alter behaviour and affect their ability to rest, find food, reproduce, migrate and avoid predators. Artificial light threatens the survival of baby sea turtles by drawing them away from the safety of the ocean after they hatch on the beach. Migrating birds rely on natural light patterns and may start their journey too early or too late or be driven off course by the bright lights of cities, where many die from colliding with tall buildings. Deep water drilling, military sonar and noise from shipping can directly damage the ears of whales and dolphins, impacting their ability to hunt, navigate and communicate with each other, and even leading to mass strandings. For some birds, insects, and reptiles, it has been found that light pollution can alter their reproductive and developmental cycles which are regulated by natural light patterns, resulting in a threat to their survival.
Erosion
Pollution
Drought
Land use
Threatened species
Climate change
Flood
Vegetation loss
Invasive species
Population growth
Fire
Recreation

Healthy Land & Water projects

Click to see by threats & pressures

Brisbane Catchments Network Online Mapping Tool

Community, Create connections between people, place & culture, Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal, Land, Nature

Bushfire recovery project

Biodiversity Conservation, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Fire, Goal 15: Life on Land, Land, Nature, Threat - Fire

Coochiemudlo Island Wetland Weed Control project

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, Land, Nature, Threat - Invasive species, Threat - Vegetation loss

Coombabah Lakelands Restoration project

Community, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal, Nature

Drought Resilience program

Climate Adaptation, Community, Land, Landscapes, Threat - Climate, Threat - Land use

Fishers for fish habitat in the Logan-Albert River

Biodiversity Conservation, Goal 14: Life Below Water, Land, Land Restoration, Nature, Threat - Threatened species, Water

Caring for Country on Guwawenewa (Goat Island)

Create connections between people, place & culture, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, First Nations, Nature

Hays Inlet Weed Control Project

Biodiversity Conservation, Land, Nature, Threat - Invasive species

Protecting Koalas

Biodiversity Conservation, Goal 15: Life on Land, Land, Landscapes, Nature, Threat - Fire, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss

Lungfish Habitat Rehabilitation

Goal 14: Life Below Water, Nature

Mid Brisbane Partnerships Program

Community, Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, Environmental Offsets, Goal 06: Clean Water and Sanitation, Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal, Land, Land Restoration, Threat - Erosion, Threat - Sediment, Water

Moreton Bay Debris Removal program

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, First Nations, Goal 06: Clean Water and Sanitation, Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, Land, Landscapes, Threat - Pollution, Water

Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland project

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, Create connections between people, place & culture, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, Fire, First Nations, Goal 06: Clean Water and Sanitation, Goal 14: Life Below Water, Goal 15: Life on Land, Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal, Land, Land Restoration, Landscapes, Nature, Threat - Erosion, Threat - Fire, Threat - Invasive species, Threat - Pollution, Threat - Sediment, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss, Water

Moreton Bay Shorebirds project

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, First Nations, Goal 15: Life on Land, Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal, Land, Land Restoration, Nature, Threat - Erosion, Threat - Invasive species, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss

Pig Control on Quandamooka Country

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, First Nations, Nature, Threat - Invasive species

Pumicestone erosion control

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Environmental Offsets, Goal 15: Life on Land, Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal, Land, Land Restoration, Landscapes, Nature, Threat - Erosion, Water

Ransome Road Reserve Restoration

Coastal & marine, Community

Erosion and sediment control and urban stormwater

Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Goal 14: Life Below Water, Goal 15: Life on Land, Land, Water, Water by Design

Clean Up Program

Community, Water

Davidson Street creek restoration

Community, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Nature, Urban design

Three Mile Scrub

Community, Create connections between people, place & culture, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal, Nature

Water by Design

Coastal & marine, Community, Urban design, Water

Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program EHMP

Coastal & marine, Community, Water

Pumicestone shellfish habitat restoration

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, Goal 14: Life Below Water, Land, Nature, Threat - Threatened species, Water

Healthy Waterplay

Community, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Goal 14: Life Below Water, Water

T.S. Onslow shoreline management

Coastal & marine, Community, Nature

Riparian Weed Control Program

Biodiversity Conservation, Land, Nature, Threat - Erosion, Threat - Sediment, Water

Healthy Catchments Program

Community, Create connections between people, place & culture, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Environmental Offsets, Goal 06: Clean Water and Sanitation, Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, Goal 14: Life Below Water, Land, Land Restoration, Threat - Erosion, Threat - Sediment, Water

Nathan Road Wetlands Restoration Project

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, First Nations, Goal 14: Life Below Water, Goal 15: Life on Land, Land Restoration, Landscapes, Nature, Threat - Fire, Threat - Invasive species, Threat - Threatened species, Water

Riverine Flood Recovery Reconnaissance Project

Community, Goal 15: Life on Land, Land, Land Restoration, Landscapes, Nature, Threat - Climate, Water

Station Road Wetlands Restoration Project

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, First Nations, Goal 15: Life on Land, Land, Land Restoration, Nature, Threat - Fire, Threat - Invasive species, Threat - Threatened species, Water

Egret Colony Victoria Point Wetlands Restoration Project

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, Fire, First Nations, Goal 15: Life on Land, Land, Land Restoration, Nature, Threat - Fire, Threat - Invasive species, Threat - Threatened species, Water

Regional Landcare Partnerships Environment

Biodiversity Conservation, Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, Fire, Goal 06: Clean Water and Sanitation, Goal 14: Life Below Water, Goal 15: Life on Land, Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal, Land, Land Restoration, Landscapes, Nature, Threat - Erosion, Threat - Fire, Threat - Invasive species, Threat - Pollution, Threat - Sediment, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss, Water

Regional Landcare Partnerships Core

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Create connections between people, place & culture, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, Goal 15: Life on Land, Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal, Land, Land Restoration, Landscapes, Nature, Threat - Invasive species, Threat - Land use, Threat - Vegetation loss

Deception Bay Wetlands Restoration

Coastal & marine, Landscapes

Regional Landcare Partnerships RALF

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, First Nations, Goal 15: Life on Land, Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal, Land, Land Restoration, Landscapes, Nature, Threat - Land use

Koala Habitat Restoration and Landscape Resilience

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Goal 15: Life on Land, Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal, Land, Land Restoration, Landscapes, Nature, Threat - Fire, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss

Water Quality Guidelines for Moreton Bay

Biodiversity Conservation, Climate Adaptation, Coastal & marine, Community, Create connections between people, place & culture, Goal 06: Clean Water and Sanitation, Knowledge research, Nature, Water

Regional Land Partnerships Agriculture

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, Landscapes, Nature

Nature Refuge Landholder Engagement

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Create connections between people, place & culture, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, First Nations, Goal 03: Good Health and Well-being, Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, Goal 15: Life on Land, Land, Landscapes, Nature, Threat - Fire, Threat - Land use, Threat - Vegetation loss

Turning the brown snake blue – Brisbane River Erosion Source Master Plan

Goal 06: Clean Water and Sanitation, Goal 14: Life Below Water, Landscapes, Nature, Threat - Sediment, Water

Mareeba Fire Management Workshops

Biodiversity Conservation, Climate Adaptation, Community, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Fire, First Nations, Goal 15: Life on Land, Land, Landscapes, Queensland Fire & Biodiversity Consortium, Threat - Fire, Threat - Land use, Threat - Threatened species

Estuarine Marine and Freshwater Health Monitoring Project

Coastal & marine, Community, Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, Goal 06: Clean Water and Sanitation, Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, Goal 14: Life Below Water, Knowledge research, Nature, Strategic Science & Partnerships, Threat - Pollution, Water

Moreton Island QYAC Fire Project

Community, Fire, First Nations, Goal 15: Life on Land, Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal, Knowledge research, Land, Nature, Threat - Fire

Technical and Strategic Services for QYAC

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, Create connections between people, place & culture, Fire, First Nations, Goal 14: Life Below Water, Goal 15: Life on Land, Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal, Knowledge research, Land, Land Restoration, Nature, Strategic Science & Partnerships, Threat - Fire, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss, Water

Integrated Fire Management Strategy on Moreton Island

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, Fire, First Nations, Goal 15: Life on Land, Landscapes, Nature, Strategic Science & Partnerships, Threat - Fire

North Stradbroke Island Ecological Assessment

Coastal & marine, Corporate Services, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Goal 15: Life on Land, Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal, Knowledge research, Nature, Threat - Land use, Threat - Vegetation loss

Dashboard Fire Management Guides

Fire, Goal 15: Life on Land, Landscapes, Threat - Fire

Bells Creek and Pumicestone Monitoring Program

Corporate Services, Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, Goal 06: Clean Water and Sanitation, Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, Goal 14: Life Below Water, Knowledge research, Nature, Strategic Science & Partnerships, Threat - Waterway recreation, Water

Lower Caboolture Resilience and Nutrients Offset

Coastal & marine, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, Environmental Offsets, Goal 06: Clean Water and Sanitation, Goal 09: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, Goal 15: Life on Land, Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal, Land, Land Restoration, Nature, Strategic Science & Partnerships, Threat - Erosion, Threat - Sediment, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss, Water

Koalas and bushfire workshops

Community, Fire, First Nations, Land, Nature, Queensland Fire & Biodiversity Consortium, Threat - Fire, Threat - Threatened species

Fuel Hazard Assessment Training

Community, Fire, Goal 15: Life on Land, Land, Nature, Queensland Fire & Biodiversity Consortium, Threat - Fire, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss

Fire Planning and Preparedness Panel - Fitzroy

Community, Fire, Goal 15: Life on Land, Land, Nature, Queensland Fire & Biodiversity Consortium, Science Committee, Strategic Science & Partnerships

Bushfire Planning Workshops - Gladstone

Community, Fire, First Nations, Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, Land, Nature, Queensland Fire & Biodiversity Consortium, Threat - Fire, Threat - Land use, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss

What's Your Nature?

Climate Adaptation, Community, Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, Goal 06: Clean Water and Sanitation, Goal 14: Life Below Water, Goal 15: Life on Land, Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal, Nature, Threat - Sediment, Water, Water by Design

Resilient Rivers

Community, Environmental Offsets, Goal 06: Clean Water and Sanitation, Goal 14: Life Below Water, Goal 15: Life on Land, Land, Land Restoration, Threat - Erosion, Threat - Sediment, Water

Fishers for fish habitat in Maroochy & Northern Moreton Bay

Biodiversity Conservation, Goal 14: Life Below Water, Land, Land Restoration, Nature, Threat - Threatened species, Water

Mid Brisbane Partnership - New phase

Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, Environmental Offsets, Goal 06: Clean Water and Sanitation, Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal, Land, Land Restoration, Threat - Erosion, Threat - Sediment, Water

Flood Recovery for Wildlife and Habitat

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, Goal 15: Life on Land, Land, Landscapes, Nature, Threat - Climate, Threat - Threatened species

Dogs Off-leash Project

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, First Nations, Goal 15: Life on Land, Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal, Nature, Threat - Threatened species

Restoring Lockyer's wildlife habitat post-fires

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, Fire, Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal, Land, Land Restoration, Nature, Threat - Fire, Threat - Invasive species, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss

Fox and Cat Control Project

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, First Nations, Goal 15: Life on Land, Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal, Nature, Threat - Threatened species

Integrated Cultural Fire Management on Bribie Island

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, Fire, First Nations, Goal 15: Life on Land, Landscapes, Strategic Science & Partnerships, Threat - Fire

Boat Strike Control Project

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, First Nations, Goal 14: Life Below Water, Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal, Nature, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Waterway recreation, Water

Phase two Bushfire Recovery Project: Fire Management - Phase 2

Community, Fire, First Nations, Goal 15: Life on Land, Land, Nature, Queensland Fire & Biodiversity Consortium, Threat - Fire, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss

Grey-headed Flying Fox - Bushfire Rehabilitation

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Fire, Goal 15: Life on Land, Land, Nature, Threat - Fire, Threat - Threatened species

Eastern Bristlebirds - Bushfire Rehabilitation

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Fire, Goal 15: Life on Land, Nature, Threat - Fire, Threat - Threatened species

BHP Protecting Koalas Project

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, Goal 15: Life on Land, Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal, Land, Land Restoration, Landscapes, Nature, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss

Aura Community Program

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Create connections between people, place & culture, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, First Nations, Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, Goal 15: Life on Land, Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal, Land, Nature, Water

North Pine River Water Source Protection

Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, Goal 06: Clean Water and Sanitation, Land, Land Restoration, Nature, Threat - Erosion, Threat - Sediment, Threat - Vegetation loss, Water

Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Program

Air & atmosphere, Climate Adaptation, Fire, Goal 15: Life on Land, Land, Nature, Threat - Fire

Conserving Greater and Yellow-bellied Gliders

Biodiversity Conservation, Fire, Goal 15: Life on Land, Land, Nature, Threat - Fire, Threat - Threatened species

Laidley Creek Restoration Master Plan

Goal 06: Clean Water and Sanitation, Landscapes, Strategic Science & Partnerships, Threat - Pollution, Water

Port of Brisbane Shellfish Habitat Restoration

Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal & marine, Community, Goal 14: Life Below Water, Nature, Threat - Threatened species, Water

Lota Creek Wetlands Restoration

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Goal 15: Life on Land, Land, Nature, Threat - Fire, Threat - Invasive species, Water

Expansion of Queensland Fire and Biodiversity Consortium

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Fire, First Nations, Goal 15: Life on Land, Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal, Knowledge research, Land, Land Restoration, Nature, Queensland Fire & Biodiversity Consortium, Threat - Drought, Threat - Fire

Moreton Bay Ramsar Stakeholder Network

Coastal & marine, Community, Goal 09: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Goal 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal, Strategic Science & Partnerships, Threat - Climate

Expanding the known population of Davidsonia johnsonii

Biodiversity Conservation, Goal 15: Life on Land, Nature, Threat - Threatened species, Threat - Vegetation loss

NRRP - Regional Recovery Project

Biodiversity Conservation, Community, Deliver transformative environmental & community change, Direct the investment in SEQ’s environmental future, First Nations, Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, Land, Nature, Threat - Land use
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