What does pollution refer to in an environmental context?

Pollution in an environmental context specifically refers to the presence of contaminants in the natural environment that cause adverse changes. These contaminants can take various forms, including chemicals, waste, or other harmful agents that harm air, water, and soil quality, leading to detrimental effects on ecosystems and human health.

Understanding pollution involves recognizing how these adverse changes can disrupt ecological balance, affect wildlife, and impact human populations. The focus is on the negative effects these pollutants have on the environment, prompting the need for management and regulation to mitigate their impact.

The other options relate to concepts that do not accurately define pollution. For instance, the presence of natural resources does not equate to contamination, and excessive noise, while it can adversely affect wildlife, is a specific type of pollution rather than a broad definition. Increased biodiversity is generally seen as a positive ecological trend and does not describe pollution in any form.