Noun and の adjective
こうがい
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.
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.