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Introduction
Find definitions for environmental and health problems and solutions, and browse learning resources.
On this page
On this page
Definitions: Types of Pollution at a Glance · Air Pollution · Water Pollution · Noise Pollution · Light Pollution · Soil Pollution · Flooding · Environmental Justice · Plants · Health · Data Centers · Key Terms
Learning Resources: Air Quality · Water Quality · Flooding · Human Health · Climate Change · Plants · Food · Data Centers · Understanding Data · Environmental Justice · Vector-Borne Diseases · Policy Resources · For Teachers
Definitions
Definitions
Plain-language definitions of key environmental and health terms, organized by topic.
Types of Pollution at a Glance
| Type of pollution | Source |
|---|---|
| Air pollution | World Health Organization (WHO) |
| Water pollution | Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) |
| Noise pollution | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Light pollution | National Geographic Kids |
| Soil pollution | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) |
Air Pollution
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Air pollution (overview) | World Health Organization (WHO) |
| Air Quality Index (AQI) | AirNow |
| Introduction to indoor air quality | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Indoor Pollutants | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Volatile organic compounds | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Particulate matter | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Mold | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Asbestos | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Radon | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Carbon monoxide | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Nitrogen dioxide | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Second hand smoke and aerosols | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Indoor Allergens | Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America |
| Control indoor allergens | Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America |
| Dust mites | American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology |
| Pet allergens | American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology |
| Cockroaches | American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology |
| Mold | American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology |
| Outdoor air pollution | |
| Pollutants | |
| Particulate matter | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Nitrogen dioxide | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Carbon monoxide | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Lead | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Ozone | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Sulfur dioxide | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Outdoor Allergens | American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology |
| Pollen | American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology |
| Tree pollen | Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America |
| Weed pollen | Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America |
| Mold | American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology |
Water Pollution
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Water pollution (overview) | Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) |
| Pollutants | |
| Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Agricultural Pollution | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Bacteria and E. Coli | United States Geological Survey (USGS) |
| Lead | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Lead service lines | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) |
Noise Pollution
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Noise pollution | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
Light Pollution
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Light pollution | National Geographic Kids |
Soil Pollution
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Soil contaminants | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) |
| Heavy metals | Illinois Extension |
| Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Arsenic | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Radium | Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) |
| Radon | Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) |
Flooding
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Combined sewer overflow | Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) |
| Impervious surface | United States Geological Survey (USGS) |
| Flash flood | National Weather Service |
| Erosion | Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) |
Environmental Justice
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Environmental justice (overview) | Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) |
| Urban heat island effect | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Sacrifice zone | Climate Reality Project |
Plants
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Invasive species | United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) |
| Native plants | Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) |
| Compost | United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) |
Health
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Social determinants of health | Centers for Disease Control (CDC) |
| Morbidity | New York Department of Public Health |
| Mortality | New York Department of Public Health |
| Incidence | New York Department of Public Health |
| Prevalence | New York Department of Public Health |
| Comorbidity | Cleveland Clinic |
| Quality of life | World Health Organization (WHO) |
Data Centers
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Data centers (overview) | National Wildlife Foundation |
| Impact on human health | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health |
| Data centers and urban heat | Yale School of the Environment |
| AI’s physical footprint | Roosevelt Institute |
| Ecological impacts of data centers | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Climate and Sustainability Consortium |
| Quantum computing | National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) |
Key Terms
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Climate change | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Sustainability | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Nature-based solutions | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) |
Learning Resources
Learning Resources
Courses, guides, toolkits, and videos to go deeper on each topic.
Learn About Air Quality
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Health impacts of air pollution | American Lung Association |
| Air Knowledge Course | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| EPA Webinar Series | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Air Sensor Toolbox | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
Learn About Water Quality
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Drinking water and human health | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| EPA Drinking Water Quality Report | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Lead | |
| Lead service line inventory | Chicago Department of Water Management |
| Lead service line replacement program | Lead Safe Chicago |
Learn About Flooding
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Center for Neighborhood Technology rain ready resources | Center for Neighborhood Technology |
| Chicago Green Alley Handbook | City of Chicago |
| Is My Home Rain Ready? Quiz | Center for Neighborhood Technology |
| Documenting damage | Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) |
| Stormwater Calculator | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Mosquito-Borne Diseases | City of Chicago |
Learn About Human Health
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Health impacts of air pollution | American Lung Association |
| Air pollution, heart disease, and stroke | American Heart Association |
| Air pollution and asthma | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Heat-related illness | Centers for Disease Control (CDC) |
| Green space and mental health | Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health |
Learn About Climate Change
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Climate change impacts | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) |
Learn About Plants
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Invasive species | United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) |
| Plants | |
| How to deal with woody invasive plants on your property | Morton Arboretum |
| Guide to invasive plants | National Resources Conservation Service |
| Insects | |
| Report an invasive insect | University of Illinois |
| Spotted lanternfly | Illinois Department of Agriculture |
| Emerald ash borer | Illinois Extension |
| Native Plants | |
| Native plants guide | National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) |
| Chicago Native and Pollinator Garden Resources | City of Chicago |
Learn About Food
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Food Sovereignty and Food Justice | Food Lifeline |
| Food Insecurity | Feeding America |
| Food Deserts | United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) |
| Food Apartheid | Natural Resources Defense Council |
| Urban Agriculture | United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) |
| Seasonal Eating Guide | Seasonal Food Guide |
| Edible plants | |
| Falling fruit edible plants map | Falling Fruit |
| Home vegetable gardening | Illinois Extension |
| Plant Based Eating | International Food Information Council |
Learn About Data Centers
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| What are data centers? | Earth Justice |
| Data centers and water consumption | Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) |
| Data centers map | Powered by Who |
| Quantum computing | National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) |
| Quantum computing vs AI | British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) |
Understanding Data
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| GIS 101 | Center for Neighborhood Technology |
| Mapping Spatial Health Data (video) | R Consortium |
| Understanding Weather Maps | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) |
| How To Read Graphs | Lumen Learning |
Learn About Environmental Justice
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| The Environmental Justice Movement | Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) |
| Chicago Environmental Justice Action Plan | City of Chicago |
| Social Determinants of Health & Place Toolkit | University of Illinois |
Learn About Vector-Borne Diseases
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Vector-borne diseases (overview) | Centers for Disease Control (CDC) |
| Mosquitos | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) |
| Prevent mosquito bites | Centers for Disease Control (CDC) |
| Prevent mosquito bites | Centers for Disease Control (CDC) |
| Asian Tiger Mosquito | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) |
| Prevention | |
| DEET insect repellants | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) |
| Pyretheroid insecticides | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) |
| Mosquito-borne diseases | |
| West nile virus | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) |
| Ticks | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) |
| Tick identification | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) |
| Prevention | |
| Prevent tick bites | Centers for Disease Control (CDC) |
| Prevent ticks on pets | Centers for Disease Control (CDC) |
| Tick Bite: What to do | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) |
| Tick-borne diseases | |
| Lyme disease | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) |
| Babesiosis | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) |
| Ehrlichosis | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) |
| Bats | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) |
| Rabies | Centers for Disease Control (CDC) |
| Rabies prevention | Centers for Disease Control (CDC) |
| Rats | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) |
| Cockroaches | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) |
Policy Resources
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Chicago residential landlords and tenants municipal code | American Legal Publishing |
For Teachers
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Air Quality Classroom Activities | University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) |
| High School Student Curriculum | University of Washington School of Public Health |
| Humans and the Environment Toolkit | Learning to Give |