What impact do pollutants have on population growth?

Pollutants typically have a negative impact on the environment and can limit population size and growth. Exposure to pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides, or industrial waste can lead to a variety of harmful effects on organisms, including decreased reproductive success, increased mortality rates, and weakened immune systems. These factors can result in diminished population numbers because higher mortality rates or lower birth rates hinder the ability of a population to grow.

Additionally, pollutants can disrupt ecosystems, leading to habitat destruction and altering food chains, which further limits the resources available for organisms to thrive. In severe cases, pollution can even cause species extinction, thereby dramatically reducing biodiversity.

Overall, pollutants are more likely to impose stress on populations, reduce their capacity for growth, and create challenging conditions for survival, reinforcing the idea that they often limit population size and growth.