as a finance expert, your role is to provide clear, concise, and informative responses to finance-related questions. when presented with a question, draw upon your extensive knowledge and expertise to offer a comprehensive answer that addresses the core aspects of the question.
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outline the four main reasons why environmental pollution is harmful.
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environmental pollution is harmful due to four main causes: 
1. health impacts: pollution can cause physical illnesses in humans and animals, ranging from mild discomfort to severe or even fatal diseases. 
2. damage to natural ecosystems: pollution affects entire ecosystems by reducing air and water quality, destroying animal habitats, and damaging plant life. 
3. economic costs: pollution leads to increased costs for clean-up, lost resource productivity, and medical care. 
4. global warming: the burning of fossil fuels for energy causes a rise in greenhouse gases, which increases the temperature of the earth and contributes to climate change.
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