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As recent as the 19th tropical rainforests covered 20% of all dry land area of the Earths surface that number is down to an estimated 7% . The demand for the rain forest as an economic and social resource has been huge in numbers causing more clear cutting activity which increases pollution levels which the rainforests at one time helped to prevent.
A historical aspect of rainforests is that deforestation took place mainly from 1492 to 1950 . (Micheal Williams of history today)

Rain forests act as a pollution sink in a way that greenhouse gas is removed from the atmosphere by soaking up carbon dioxide and neutralizing it.
Air Pollution dramatically affects the ability of these large bodies of forestry to do this. Greenhouse gases are stored and released to further contribute to global warming.

Acid rain releases toxic  substances such as aluminum into the soil. Acidic water dissolves the nutrients in the soil and washes them away before the trees and plants are able to benefit from these needed nutrients.

Air quality is adversely affected because of the trees ability to trap carbon and other particles.
(E-how health-Lillian Wade e-how contributor.

Logging depletes the trees, logging is a result of large industrial demands. As a result of depletion of the earths trees pollution of the earth is increased because of the important role that all rain forest play.

Agricultural contribution to rain forest pollution is as follows;

• The slash and burn method to clear cut forests at a rapid pace depletes the earths trees and its ability to filter pollution.
• The soil becomes poor as a result of cut and clearing of rain forests resulting in farmers seeking new land to cut and clear.
• Increase of waste left by humans contaminates water and soil at an increased rate making it more difficult to filter air which then affects our water.

Mining has also caused increased pollution because of the mercury used in extracting the gold during the gold rush of the 1980s in Brazil's Amazon polluted waterways causing the fish to be inedible.
Mining included blasting, which released particles and noxious fumes, wind spread asbestos which also increased pollution of both air and water.

Hydro electric dams is a major source of energy in developing rain forest countries.
Dams flood areas of the rainforest's. They also increase water borne diseases. Another consequence of dams is that they trap nutrients such as silt which is crucial for aquatic life thus damaging downstream eco systems.
Reduced levels of silt cause soil erosion needed to fight water contamination.