(lit. and fig.) to pollute; to contaminate

Air pollution will be a threat to our survival.

It means a huge increase in the use of air conditioning which uses energy, which costs money and creates pollution.

The air was polluted by exhaust gas.

Pollution has a disastrous effect on the ecology of a region.

Twenty-five years after Chernobyl, milk, mushrooms and berries are still contaminated in some parts of Ukraine.