saastuttaa
saastuttaa in 30 Seconds
- To make something dirty or harmful.
- To contaminate the environment with pollutants.
- To degrade the quality of air, water, or soil.
- To cause harm through contamination.
Understanding "Saastuttaa"
The Finnish verb saastuttaa is a fundamental term used to describe the act of making something impure, dirty, or harmful, typically by introducing contaminants. It's a broad concept that can apply to various forms of pollution, from environmental damage to the corruption of ideas or morals. In its most common usage, it refers to the negative impact humans have on the natural world. Think of factories releasing smoke into the air, or waste being dumped into rivers – these are all actions that saastuttaa the environment. The word emphasizes the process of contamination and the resulting degradation of a substance or place.
Beyond the physical environment, saastuttaa can also be used metaphorically. For instance, one might say that misinformation can saastuttaa public discourse, meaning it pollutes the honest exchange of ideas. Similarly, a corrupting influence could be said to saastuttaa someone's character. This metaphorical extension highlights the idea of spoiling or tainting something that was once pure or good. It's a powerful verb because it conveys a sense of damage and deterioration, often with long-lasting consequences.
When learning Finnish, grasping the nuances of saastuttaa is crucial for understanding discussions about environmental issues, public health, and even social commentary. Its prevalence in news reports, scientific articles, and everyday conversations about sustainability makes it an indispensable part of a B1 level vocabulary. The word itself has a certain weight to it, reflecting the seriousness of the actions it describes. It's not a light term, and its use often implies a call for awareness or action.
Tehtaat saastuttaa ilmaa.
- Environmental Pollution
- This is the most common context. It refers to air pollution (ilman saastuttaminen), water pollution (veden saastuttaminen), soil pollution (maan saastuttaminen), and noise pollution (melusaastutus).
- Metaphorical Use
- Used to describe the corruption of ideas, morals, or information. For example, spreading false news can saastuttaa public opinion.
- Health and Hygiene
- Can refer to making something unhygienic or contaminated, like food or water, making it unsafe for consumption.
Jätevedet saastuttavat joet.
Hän ei halunnut saastuttaa lapsen mieltä turhilla huolilla.
- Environmental Impact
- The primary meaning relates to the degradation of the natural environment through the introduction of harmful substances or energy.
- Moral or Ideological Corruption
- Can describe the tainting of purity, innocence, or good intentions by negative influences.
- Health and Safety
- Refers to making something unclean or unsafe for use, particularly in contexts of food, water, or medical supplies.
Constructing Sentences with "Saastuttaa"
Mastering the verb saastuttaa involves understanding its grammatical behavior and the common sentence structures it fits into. As a transitive verb, it typically takes a direct object, indicating what is being polluted. The present tense form 'saastuttaa' is used for ongoing actions or general truths. For example, 'Tehtaat saastuttavat ilmaa' (Factories pollute the air) is a general statement. In the past tense, it becomes 'saastutti' (polluted), as in 'Vesi oli saastunut' (The water had been polluted - here using the passive participle 'saastunut', which is closely related). The future tense is formed using the auxiliary verb 'tulee' or 'aikoo', but more commonly, the present tense is used to imply future action in context.
The verb conjugates like a regular second-conjugation verb. Its infinitive is saastuttaa. When used in the first person singular present, it's 'minä saastutan', second person singular 'sinä saastutat', third person singular 'hän/se saastuttaa', first person plural 'me saastutamme', second person plural 'te saastutatte', and third person plural 'he saastuttavat'. Understanding these forms is key to forming grammatically correct sentences. The passive voice is also common, often using the participle 'saastunut' (polluted) or the passive verb form 'saastutetaan' (is being polluted).
Consider the object's case. While the direct object is often in the partitive case when the action is ongoing or indefinite (e.g., 'saastuttaa ilmaa'), it can be in the accusative case if the pollution is seen as a completed action affecting the whole object (e.g., 'saastuttaa joen' - to pollute the entire river). However, partitive is more frequent in general statements. The verb can also be used reflexively with 'itse' or with the reflexive pronoun 'itsensä', though this is less common for 'saastuttaa' in its primary meaning.
Tämä teollisuus saastuttaa paikallista jokivesistöä.
- Subject-Verb-Object
- The most basic structure: [Subject] saastuttaa [Object]. Example: 'Autot saastuttavat kaupunki-ilmaa.' (Cars pollute city air.)
- Passive Voice
- Used when the focus is on what is being polluted, not who is doing the polluting. Example: 'Ilmaa saastutetaan jatkuvasti.' (The air is constantly being polluted.)
- Using with Adverbs
- Adverbs can modify the verb to indicate the degree or manner of pollution. Example: 'Kemikaalit saastuttavat maaperää vakavasti.' (Chemicals seriously pollute the soil.)
Uusi laki pyrkii vähentämään teollisuuden päästöjä, jotka saastuttavat ympäristöä.
- Partitive Object
- Common when describing ongoing or partial pollution. 'Hän saastutti vahingossa juomavettä.' (He accidentally polluted the drinking water.)
- Accusative Object
- Less common for general pollution, but can be used for a specific, completed act. 'He saastuttivat koko joen lähteestä suulle.' (They polluted the entire river from source to mouth.)
- Metaphorical Usage
- Can be used with abstract nouns. 'Älä saastuta hänen ajatuksiaan negatiivisilla kommenteilla.' (Don't pollute his thoughts with negative comments.)
Real-World Contexts for "Saastuttaa"
You will encounter the verb saastuttaa frequently in contexts related to environmental news, scientific discussions, and policy debates. Finnish media outlets, such as Yle or Helsingin Sanomat, regularly use this word when reporting on issues like air quality, water contamination, or the impact of industrial activities. For instance, a headline might read: 'Uudet päästöt saastuttavat Itämerta' (New emissions pollute the Baltic Sea). This highlights the direct, tangible impact on a specific geographical area.
Beyond news, academic and educational materials heavily feature saastuttaa. Textbooks on environmental science, biology, and geography will use it to explain ecological processes and human impacts. Lectures and documentaries on climate change, pollution control, and conservation efforts will also employ this term. You might hear a scientist explain, 'Tämä menetelmä saastuttaa maaperää vähemmän kuin vanhat menetelmät' (This method pollutes the soil less than the old methods), comparing different approaches to minimize harm.
In everyday conversations among Finns, saastuttaa comes up when discussing local environmental concerns. People might complain about traffic fumes saastuttavat the air in the city center, or express concern about plastic waste saastuttavat the oceans. It's also used in discussions about sustainable living, recycling, and reducing one's carbon footprint. A parent might tell their child, 'Älä saastuta luontoa roskilla' (Don't pollute nature with trash). The metaphorical use, while less frequent than the literal environmental one, appears in discussions about media influence, cultural corruption, or the spread of misinformation, where one might say that sensationalist news saastuttaa serious discourse.
Tutkimus osoittaa, että tietyt muovit saastuttavat meriä vuosikymmeniä.
- Environmental Reports
- News articles and official reports on air, water, and soil quality. Example: 'Teollisuuden päästöt saastuttavat joen vettä.' (Industrial emissions pollute the river water.)
- Educational Materials
- Textbooks and documentaries discussing ecology and environmental science. Example: 'Kaikki eloperäinen aines ei saastuta, vaan voi olla hyödyllistä.' (Not all organic matter pollutes; it can be beneficial.)
- Public Awareness Campaigns
- Campaigns promoting recycling, clean energy, or reducing waste. Example: 'Yhdessä voimme estää muovia saastuttamasta valtameriä.' (Together we can prevent plastic from polluting the oceans.)
Kaupungin ilmanlaatu on heikentynyt, koska liikenne saastuttaa sitä jatkuvasti.
- Policy Discussions
- Debates about environmental regulations and their impact. Example: 'On tärkeää säätää lakeja, jotka estävät yrityksiä saastuttamasta luontoa.' (It is important to enact laws that prevent companies from polluting nature.)
- Everyday Concerns
- Conversations about local environmental quality and personal habits. Example: 'Meidän pitäisi vähentää muovin käyttöä, jotta emme saastuttaisi ympäristöä.' (We should reduce plastic use so we don't pollute the environment.)
- Metaphorical Use in Media
- Discussions about the spread of harmful ideas or information. Example: 'Some-kohu voi saastuttaa yleistä mielipidettä.' (A social media scandal can pollute public opinion.)
Avoiding Pitfalls with "Saastuttaa"
One common mistake for learners is using saastuttaa when a more specific verb exists, or vice versa. For instance, if something is simply dirty, you might use 'likaantua' (to get dirty) rather than 'saastua' (to become polluted), which implies a harmful contamination. However, 'saastuttaa' is the active verb – to cause pollution. So, 'likaantua' is often the result of 'saastuttaa'. Another error is the incorrect conjugation or case usage. Finnish grammar can be tricky, and misapplying cases to the object of saastuttaa is frequent. While the partitive is most common for ongoing or indefinite pollution, learners might incorrectly use the accusative or illative.
Confusion can also arise between the active verb saastuttaa (to pollute) and the passive participle saastunut (polluted). Learners might use the participle when they intend to express an action. For example, saying 'Vesi saastunut' instead of 'Vesi on saastunut' (The water is polluted) or 'Jotain saastuttaa vettä' (Something pollutes the water). It's essential to distinguish between the action of polluting and the state of being polluted. Similarly, mixing up the verb 'saastuttaa' with related words like 'lika' (dirt) or 'roska' (trash) can lead to awkward phrasing.
Another area of confusion is the scope of the word. While 'saastuttaa' is primarily about environmental pollution, learners might overextend its metaphorical use or fail to recognize it in abstract contexts. For example, using it for minor inconveniences rather than actual contamination. Also, learners sometimes forget that saastuttaa implies a harmful or detrimental effect. Simply making something wet is not 'saastuttaa'. It's about introducing harmful elements. Paying attention to the context and the severity of the contamination described is key to using this word correctly.
Virhe: Hän saastuttaa lattian vedellä. Oikein: Hän likaa lattian vedellä. (tai jos vesi oli likainen: Hän saastuttaa lattian likaisella vedellä.)
- Active vs. Passive
- Confusing the active verb 'saastuttaa' (to pollute) with the passive participle 'saastunut' (polluted). Example: Incorrect: 'Auto saastuttaa.' (when meaning 'the car is polluted'). Correct: 'Auto on saastunut.' (The car is polluted.) OR 'Auto saastuttaa ilmaa.' (The car pollutes the air.)
- Specific vs. General Pollution
- Using 'saastuttaa' when a more specific term like 'likaantua' (to get dirty) or 'tahriintua' (to get stained) would be more appropriate. Example: Incorrect: 'Kahvi saastutti paidan.' (Coffee polluted the shirt). Correct: 'Kahvi tahriintui paidan.' (Coffee stained the shirt.)
- Case Errors
- Incorrectly using cases for the object of pollution. Example: Incorrect: 'He saastuttavat koko järven.' (when meaning partial pollution). Correct: 'He saastuttavat järven vettä.' (They pollute the lake's water.)
Virhe: Valeuutiset saastuttavat internetin. Oikein: Valeuutiset myrkyttävät keskustelua verkossa. (tai jos halutaan korostaa tahraa: Valeuutiset tahrivat mainetta.)
- Overuse of Metaphorical Meaning
- Applying 'saastuttaa' to situations that are merely messy or inconvenient, rather than actually harmful. Example: Incorrect: 'Hän saastutti huoneen sotkemalla.' (He polluted the room by making it messy). Correct: 'Hän sotki huoneen.' (He made the room messy.)
- Ignoring Related Verbs
- Not recognizing that other verbs might be more precise. Example: Instead of 'Hän saastuttaa ympäristöä tupakoinnilla', one might say 'Hän tupakoi ja saastuttaa ilmaa' (He smokes and pollutes the air), separating the action and its consequence.
- Incorrect Verb Form
- Using the wrong tense or form. Example: Incorrect: 'Vesi saastuttaa.' (when meaning 'the water got polluted'). Correct: 'Vesi saastui.' (The water became polluted.)
Nuances and Alternatives to "Saastuttaa"
While saastuttaa is the primary verb for 'to pollute', Finnish offers several related words and phrases that convey different shades of meaning or apply to specific contexts. One close relative is saastua, which is the intransitive form, meaning 'to become polluted' or 'to get polluted'. For example, 'Vesi saastuu nopeasti' (The water quickly becomes polluted). This is the state of being affected, whereas saastuttaa is the action causing it.
Another important distinction is between saastuttaa and likaantua or tahriintua. Likaantua means 'to get dirty', which is a more general state of uncleanliness. You might say 'Vaatteet likaantuivat leikkiessä' (The clothes got dirty while playing). Tahriintua means 'to get stained', often used for substances that leave a mark, like ink or wine: 'Valkoinen pöytäliina tahriintui punaviinistä' (The white tablecloth got stained by red wine). Saastuttaa implies a harmful contamination, often chemical or biological, that degrades the quality or safety of something.
In contexts of spreading harmful information or ideas, alternatives to the metaphorical use of saastuttaa include myrkyttää (to poison, often used metaphorically for poisoning discourse) or turmella (to corrupt, spoil). For instance, 'Valheellinen tieto myrkyttää julkista keskustelua' (False information poisons public discussion) or 'Hänen moraalinsa turmeltui.' (His morals were corrupted.) These verbs offer more specific nuances than the general 'saastuttaa'. When discussing waste disposal, terms like roskata (to litter) are more direct for the act of leaving trash behind.
- Saastua (intransitive verb)
- Meaning: to become polluted. Example: 'Ilma saastuu nopeasti liikenteen vuoksi.' (The air becomes polluted quickly due to traffic.) This focuses on the state of being polluted.
- Likaantua (intransitive verb)
- Meaning: to get dirty. Example: 'Lapsen kädet likaantuivat mutaleikeissä.' (The child's hands got dirty in mud play.) Less severe than pollution.
- Tahriintua (intransitive verb)
- Meaning: to get stained. Example: 'Punaviini tahriintui mattoon.' (Red wine stained the carpet.) Specific to leaving marks.
Myrkyttää (verb)
Meaning: to poison (literally or metaphorically). Example: 'Keskustelua myrkyttää viha.' (Discussion is poisoned by hate.) More intense than 'saastuttaa' for abstract concepts. Turmella (verb) Meaning: to corrupt, spoil. Example: 'Liika raha voi turmella ihmisen.' (Too much money can corrupt a person.) Focuses on moral decay. Roskata (verb) Meaning: to litter, to make messy with trash. Example: 'Älä roskaa tätä kaunista paikkaa.' (Don't litter this beautiful place.) Specific to leaving trash.
Examples by Level
Vesi on likainen.
The water is dirty.
Simple adjective describing a state.
Tämä on roska.
This is trash.
Basic noun identification.
Ilma on huono.
The air is bad.
Simple adjective describing air quality.
Älä heitä roskia maahan.
Don't throw trash on the ground.
Imperative verb and noun.
Tehdas tekee savua.
The factory makes smoke.
Basic verb and noun describing output.
Joki on likainen.
The river is dirty.
Adjective describing a body of water.
Tämä ruoka ei ole hyvää.
This food is not good.
Negation of adjective.
Onko tämä turvallista?
Is this safe?
Basic question structure.
Tehtaat saastuttavat ilmaa.
Factories pollute the air.
Present tense of 'saastuttaa' with a plural subject and direct object in partitive.
Vesi tässä joessa on hyvin likainen.
The water in this river is very dirty.
Adverb 'hyvin' modifying adjective 'likainen'.
Emme saa roskata luontoa.
We must not litter in nature.
Modal verb 'saada' in negative with infinitive.
Tämä roskalava on täynnä.
This dumpster is full.
Adjective 'täynnä' describing a noun.
Ympäristön suojelu on tärkeää.
Environmental protection is important.
Noun phrase and adjective.
Savua tulee piipusta.
Smoke comes from the chimney.
Simple sentence with verb and prepositional phrase.
Tämä on vaarallista juoda.
This is dangerous to drink.
Adjective followed by infinitive.
He keräävät roskia rannalta.
They are collecting trash from the beach.
Verb 'kerätä' with direct object and prepositional phrase.
Teollisuuden jätteet saastuttavat yhä enemmän vesistöjä.
Industrial waste is polluting waterways more and more.
Present tense, adverbial phrase 'yhä enemmän' indicating progression, direct object in partitive.
Ilmanlaatu kaupungissa on huonontunut merkittävästi viime vuosina.
The air quality in the city has significantly worsened in recent years.
Past participle used with 'on' to form perfect tense, adverb 'merkittävästi'.
On tärkeää vähentää muovijätettä, jotta emme saastuttaisi meriä.
It is important to reduce plastic waste so that we don't pollute the seas.
Subjunctive mood ('saastuttaisi') used after 'jotta' (so that).
Monet ajattelevat, että teknologia voi ratkaista kaikki ympäristöongelmat.
Many think that technology can solve all environmental problems.
Indirect speech with 'että', modal verb 'voi'.
Kierrätys auttaa estämään luonnonvarojen liiallista käyttöä.
Recycling helps to prevent the excessive use of natural resources.
Verb 'auttaa' followed by infinitive, noun phrase.
Tämä kemikaali saastuttaa maaperää pitkäksi aikaa.
This chemical pollutes the soil for a long time.
Direct object in partitive, temporal phrase 'pitkäksi aikaa'.
Melusaaste voi vaikuttaa ihmisten terveyteen negatiivisesti.
Noise pollution can negatively affect people's health.
Noun 'melusaaste', adverb 'negatiivisesti'.
Onko sinulla tietoa siitä, miten voimme suojella vesistöjämme?
Do you have information on how we can protect our waterways?
Question with 'miten' clause, modal verb 'voimme'.
Teollisuuden päästöt ovat merkittävä tekijä, joka saastuttaa ilmakehää globaalisti.
Industrial emissions are a significant factor that pollutes the atmosphere globally.
Relative clause 'joka saastuttaa', adverb 'globaalisti'.
Mikromuovit ovat todellinen uhka merielämälle, sillä ne saastuttavat ravintoketjuja.
Microplastics are a real threat to marine life, as they pollute food chains.
Subordinate clause with 'sillä' (as/because), direct object in partitive.
On huolestuttavaa, että yhä useampi alue kärsii vedenpuutteesta samalla kun joet saastutetaan.
It is worrying that more and more areas suffer from water scarcity while rivers are being polluted.
Passive voice 'saastutetaan' used with coordinating conjunction 'samalla kun'.
Tieteelliset tutkimukset ovat osoittaneet, että tietyt torjunta-aineet voivat saastuttaa pohjavettä pitkäaikaisesti.
Scientific studies have shown that certain pesticides can pollute groundwater long-term.
Verb 'osoittaa' followed by 'että' clause, modal verb 'voi' with infinitive, temporal adverb 'pitkäaikaisesti'.
Ympäristöjärjestöt vaativat tiukempia säädöksiä estämään yrityksiä saastuttamasta ympäristöä.
Environmental organizations demand stricter regulations to prevent companies from polluting the environment.
Verb 'vaatia' followed by object and infinitive with possessive suffix '-sta' indicating prevention.
Kestävä kehitys edellyttää, että emme saastuta enempää kuin on välttämätöntä.
Sustainable development requires that we do not pollute more than is necessary.
Subordinate clause with 'että', comparative adverb 'enempää', phrase 'kuin on välttämätöntä'.
Digitaalinen melu voi saastuttaa henkistä tilaamme, jos emme hallitse informaatiotulvaa.
Digital noise can pollute our mental space if we do not manage the information flood.
Metaphorical use of 'saastuttaa', conditional clause with 'jos'.
Vaikka tiedämme riskit, monet teollisuudenalat jatkavat toimintaansa, joka saastuttaa.
Although we know the risks, many industries continue their activities that pollute.
Concessive clause with 'vaikka', relative clause 'joka saastuttaa'.
Teollisuuden ja maatalouden päästöt yhdessä saastuttavat vesistöjä siten, että monien lajien elinympäristöt ovat vaarantuneet.
Industrial and agricultural emissions together pollute waterways in such a way that the habitats of many species have been endangered.
Complex sentence structure with adverbial phrase 'siten, että', passive participle 'vaarantuneet'.
Vaikka lainsäädäntö pyrkii estämään ilman saastuttamista, todellisuus osoittaa, että valvonta on usein riittämätöntä.
Although legislation aims to prevent air pollution, reality shows that supervision is often insufficient.
Genitive construction 'ilman saastuttamista' used after 'estämään', noun phrase 'valvonta'.
On syytä epäillä, että taloudelliset intressit ajavat edelleenvirheellisten ympäristöselontekojen julkaisemista, mikä puolestaan saastuttaa julkista keskustelua.
There is reason to suspect that economic interests drive the publication of incorrect environmental reports, which in turn pollutes public discourse.
Subordinate clause with 'että', relative clause 'mikä puolestaan saastuttaa'.
Biologisen monimuotoisuuden väheneminen on suora seuraus siitä, että elinympäristöjä tuhotaan ja saastutetaan.
The decrease in biodiversity is a direct consequence of habitats being destroyed and polluted.
Noun phrase 'biologisen monimuotoisuuden väheneminen', passive voice 'tuhotaan ja saastutetaan'.
Mikäli kulutustottumuksiamme ei muuteta radikaalisti, riskinä on, että tulevat sukupolvet joutuvat elämään yhä enemmän saastuneessa ympäristössä.
Unless our consumption habits are radically changed, the risk is that future generations will have to live in an increasingly polluted environment.
Conditional clause with 'mikäli', comparative adjective 'saastuneessa'.
Tiedonvälityksen sirpaloituminen voi johtaa siihen, että valeuutiset saastuttavat informaatiokenttää ilman riittävää vastavoimaa.
The fragmentation of information dissemination can lead to fake news polluting the information field without sufficient counter-force.
Causal relationship expressed with 'voi johtaa siihen, että', abstract nouns.
Ydinjätteen pitkäaikainen säteilyriski on esimerkki siitä, miten ihmisen toiminta voi saastuttaa planeettaa tuhansiksi vuosiksi.
The long-term radiation risk of nuclear waste is an example of how human activity can pollute the planet for thousands of years.
Demonstrative pronoun 'siitä' followed by 'miten' clause, temporal phrase 'tuhansiksi vuosiksi'.
On kyseenalaista, voidaanko saastuttavien toimintojen taloudellisia hyötyjä koskaan oikeuttaa ympäristön kokemilla vaurioilla.
It is questionable whether the economic benefits of polluting activities can ever be justified by the damage incurred by the environment.
Modal verb 'voidaanko' in question form, genitive construction 'saastuttavien toimintojen', passive participle 'vaurioilla'.
Globaalin ilmastonmuutoksen kontekstissa jokainen teollisuus, joka jatkaa merkittävästi ilmakehää saastuttavia toimintojaan, kantaa valtavan moraalisen vastuun.
In the context of global climate change, every industry that continues its activities significantly polluting the atmosphere bears immense moral responsibility.
Participial adjective 'saastuttavia' modifying 'toimintojaan', abstract noun 'vastuun'.
Myrkyllisten kemikaalien leviämisen estäminen vaatii paitsi tiukkaa lainsäädäntöä myös kansainvälistä yhteistyötä, jotta saastumista ei siirretä köyhempiin maihin.
Preventing the spread of toxic chemicals requires not only strict legislation but also international cooperation, so that pollution is not transferred to poorer countries.
Abstract noun 'saastumista' in object position, conjunction 'jotta' with passive voice.
On syvällisesti huolestuttavaa, että digitaalinen informaatio, joka on alun perin tarkoitettu tiedonvälitykseen, voi helposti saastuttaa henkistä tilamme ja vääristää todellisuuskäsitystämme.
It is profoundly worrying that digital information, originally intended for communication, can easily pollute our mental space and distort our perception of reality.
Adverb 'syvällisesti', infinitive with possessive suffix '-mme', verb 'vääristää'.
Ympäristöoikeudellinen tarkastelu paljastaa, kuinka vaikeaa on osoittaa yksiselitteisesti, mikä taho saastuttaa ja millä tavoin, erityisesti monimutkaisissa teollisissa prosesseissa.
An environmental law perspective reveals how difficult it is to unequivocally identify which entity pollutes and in what ways, especially in complex industrial processes.
Abstract noun phrase 'ympäristöoikeudellinen tarkastelu', adverb 'yksiselitteisesti', interrogative 'millä tavoin'.
Resurssien ehtyminen ja ympäristön jatkuva saastuminen pakottavat meidät harkitsemaan uudelleen perustavanlaatuisia kulutusmallejamme.
The depletion of resources and the continuous pollution of the environment compel us to reconsider our fundamental consumption patterns.
Abstract nouns 'resurssien ehtyminen' and 'ympäristön jatkuva saastuminen', verb 'pakottaa' with infinitive.
Vaikka teknologinen kehitys tarjoaa ratkaisuja, on vaarana, että uudet innovaatiot vain saastuttavat ympäristöä uusilla, ennakoimattomilla tavoilla.
Although technological development offers solutions, there is a risk that new innovations will only pollute the environment in new, unpredictable ways.
Concessive clause with 'vaikka', adverb 'vain', adverbial phrase 'uusilla, ennakoimattomilla tavoilla'.
On eettisesti kestämätöntä, että yhteiskuntamme rakenteet mahdollistavat yritysten jatkaa toimintaansa, joka saastuttaa ja vahingoittaa.
It is ethically untenable that our societal structures allow companies to continue their activities that pollute and harm.
Adjective 'kestämätöntä', relative clause 'joka saastuttaa ja vahingoittaa'.
Kulttuurinen saastuminen, jota levittävät aggressiiviset mainoskampanjat ja pinnallinen media, uhkaa perinteisiä arvojamme.
Cultural pollution, spread by aggressive advertising campaigns and superficial media, threatens our traditional values.
Abstract noun 'kulttuurinen saastuminen', participial phrase 'jota levittävät', verb 'uhkaa'.
Summary
Saastuttaa means to pollute, referring to the act of making something impure or harmful, especially the environment, by introducing contaminants. It's a crucial verb for discussing environmental issues.
- To make something dirty or harmful.
- To contaminate the environment with pollutants.
- To degrade the quality of air, water, or soil.
- To cause harm through contamination.
Related Content
More environment words
ilmasto
B1Climate
jätelaji
B1Type of waste or recycling category.
kestämättömyys
B2unsustainability
kestämätön
B2unsustainable or untenable
kestävyys
B2durability, sustainability, or endurance
kestävyysarvio
B2a sustainability assessment
kestävä
B1Sustainable, durable or lasting.
kestävämpi
B2more sustainable or durable
kestävästi
B2sustainably or durably
kierrättää
B1To recycle
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