Pollution
noun, の adjective
Public damage is something that affects everyone, the whole public. What is in the air and gets into everything no matter where you are? How about pollution?
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on'yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you'll know how to read this as well.
日本では1950~1960年代にかけて、公害が大きな社会問題になりました。
In Japan, pollution became a huge societal problem between 1950 and 1960.
私達はみんな、公害の加害者ですよ。
We are all responsible for the pollution problems.
私の息子は、公害による呼吸器疾患に苦しんでいます。
My son is suffering from a pollution-triggered respiratory illness.