 environmental problems toxic chemicals toxic chemicals are harmful to the environment and to human health if inhaled swallow or absorb through the skin drain cleaner and pesticides are toxic chemicals dump dump means to get rid of trash and other unwanted things you should always dump your garbage in the trash leaving it on the ground is bad for the environment spill a spill is when liquid falls out of its container oil spills are harmful to the environment oil spills in the ocean harm fish and seabirds at risk when something is at risk it is in danger because of air and water pollution our environment is at risk the air we breathe and water we drink may not be clean common common means that something may happen often in some areas floods and avalanches are common people who live in those areas must always be prepared avalanche snow and rocks that suddenly come down a mountain are called an avalanche during the winter people living in these areas need to be prepared in case one occurs flood water that covers a large area of land for a short period of time is called a flood in Washington heavy rainfalls can cause flooding in low-lying areas wildfire wildfires are fires that burn out of control in the wilderness these fires are most often caused by people but they can also be caused by lightning drought areas that do not get enough rain experience a drought droughts affect the environment and the economy global warming global warming is the warming of the earth caused by climate changes global warming has caused changes in the weather sea level and air quality worldwide fuel fuel is something that provides energy or power cars and buses need fuel to run the increase in the use of fuel is causing environmental problems worried worried means that you are anxious or nervous because you care about something people today are worried about pollution and the changes it causes in the environment the end