A point source of pollution is a single identifiable source of air, water, thermal, noise or light pollution. A point source has negligible extent, distinguishing it from other pollution source geometries. The sources are called point sources because in mathematical modeling, they can be approximated as a mathematical point to simplify analysis. Pollution point sources are identical to other physics, engineering, optics, and chemistry point sources and include:
- Air pollution from an industrial source, rather than an airport or a road, considered a line source or a forest fire which is considered an area source, or volume source.
- Water pollution from an oil refinery wastewater discharge outlet
- Noise pollution from a jet engine
- Disruptive seismic vibration from a localized seismic study
- Light pollution from an intrusive street light
- Thermal pollution from an industrial process outfall
- Radio emissions from an interference-producing electrical device
See also
- Nonpoint source pollution
References
