Which of the following is an example of energy pollution?

• A. Light pollution
• B. Chemical runoff
• C. Heavy metals in soil
• D. Acoustic vibrations as heat

Answer: (A)

Energy pollution is the introduction of excessive or misused energy into the environment in a way that disrupts living systems. Light pollution fits this because artificial lighting adds abundant energy into the night environment, causing glare, sky glow, disrupted sleep for humans, and ecological disturbances for nocturnal wildlife. It also wastes energy and has wide-reaching ecological and health impacts.

The other options involve chemical contaminants (chemical runoff and heavy metals) rather than energy forms, so they’re not examples of energy pollution. The last option describes energy being converted to heat, which is about energy transformation rather than introducing a harmful energy form into the environment, so it’s not the clearest instance of energy pollution.