Definition of air pollution
Air pollution is
a general term that covers a broad range of contaminants in the atmosphere .
Pollution can occur from natural causes or from human activities. Discussions
about the effects of air pollution have focused mainly on human health but
attention is being directed to environmental quality and amenity as well. Air
pollutants are found as gases or particles, and on a restricted scale they can
be trapped inside buildings as indoor air pollutants. Urban air pollution has
long been an important concern for civic administrators, but increasingly, air
pollution has become an international problem.
The most characteristic
sources of air pollution have always been combustion processes. Here
the most obvious pollutant is smoke . However, the widespread use of fossil
fuels have made sulfur and nitrogen oxides pollutants of great
concern. With increasing use of petroleum-based fuels, a range of organic
compounds have become widespread in the atmosphere.
Types of Pollutants
In order to understand the causes of Air pollution, several divisions can
be made. Primarily air pollutants can be caused by primary
sources or secondary sources. The pollutants that are a direct result of the
process can be called primary pollutants. A classic example of a primary
pollutant would be the sulfur-dioxide emitted from factories
Secondary pollutants are the ones that are caused by the inter mingling and reactions of
primary pollutants. Smog created by the interactions of several
primary pollutants is known to be as secondary pollutant.
Causes of Air pollution
1. Burning of Fossil Fuels: Sulfur dioxide emitted from the combustion of fossil fuels like coal, petroleum and other factory
combustibles is one the major cause of air pollution. Pollution emitting from
vehicles including trucks, jeeps, cars, trains, airplanes cause immense amount
of pollution. We rely on them to fulfill our daily basic needs of
transportation. But, there overuse is killing our environment as dangerous
gases are polluting the environment. Carbon Monooxide caused by improper or
incomplete combustion and generally emitted from vehicles is another major
pollutant along with Nitrogen Oxides, that is produced from both natural and
man made processes.
2. Agricultural activities: Ammonia is a very common by product from agriculture related
activities and is one of the most hazardous gases in the atmosphere. Use of
insecticides, pesticides and fertilizers in agricultural activities has grown
quite a lot. They emit harmful chemicals into the air and can also cause water pollution.
3. Exhaust from factories and industries: Manufacturing industries release large
amount of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, organic compounds, and chemicals into
the air thereby depleting the quality of air. Manufacturing industries can be
found at every corner of the earth and there is no area that has not been
affected by it. Petroleum refineries also release hydrocarbons and various
other chemicals that pollute the air and also cause land pollution.
4. Mining operations: Mining is a process wherein minerals below the earth are extracted
using large equipments. During the process dust and chemicals are released in
the air causing massive air pollution. This is one of the reason which is responsible
for the deteriorating health conditions of workers and nearby residents.
5. Indoor air pollution: Household cleaning products, painting supplies emit toxic chemicals
in the air and cause air pollution. Have you ever noticed that once you paint walls
of your house, it creates some sort of smell which makes it literally
impossible for you to breathe.
Suspended particulate matter popular by its acronym SPM, is another cause
of pollution. Referring to the particles afloat in the air, SPM is usually caused
by dust, combustion etc.
Effects of Air pollution
1. Respiratory and heart problems: The effects of Air pollution are alarming.
They are known to create several respiratory and heart conditions along with
Cancer, among other threats to the body. Several millions are known to have
died due to direct or indirect effects of Air pollution. Children in areas
exposed to air pollutants are said to commonly suffer from pneumonia and
asthma.
2. Global warming: Another direct effect is the immediate alterations that the world is
witnessing due to Global warming. With increased temperatures world wide,
increase in sea levels and melting of ice from colder regions and icebergs,
displacement and loss of habitat have already signaled an impending disaster if
actions for preservation and normalization aren’t undertaken soon.
3. Acid Rain: Harmful gases like nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides are released
into the atmosphere during the burning of fossil fuels. When it rains, the water droplets combines
with these air pollutants, becomes acidic and then falls on the ground in the
form of acid rain. Acid rain can cause great damage to human, animals
and crops.
4. Eutrophication: Eutrophication is a condition where high amount of nitrogen present
in some pollutants gets developed on sea’s surface and turns itself into algae
and and adversely affect fish, plants and animal species. The green colored
algae that is present on lakes and ponds is due to presence of this chemical
only.
5. Effect on Wildlife: Just like humans, animals also face some devastating affects of air
pollution. Toxic chemicals present in the air can force wildlife species to
move to new place and change their habitat. The toxic pollutants deposit over
the surface of the water and can also affect sea animals.
6. Depletion of Ozone layer: Ozone exists in earth’s
stratosphere and is responsible for protecting humans from harmful ultraviolet
(UV) rays. Earth’s ozone layer is depleting due to the presence of
chlorofluorocarbons, hydro chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere. As ozone
layer will go thin, it will emit harmful rays back on earth and can cause skin
and eye related problems. UV
rays also have the capability to affect crops.
Solutions for Air
Pollution
1. Use public mode of transportation: Encourage people to use more and more public modes of transportation to reduce pollution. Also, try to make use of car
pooling. If you and your colleagues come from the same locality and have same timings
you can explore this option to save energy and money.
2. Conserve energy: Switch off fans and lights when you are going out.
Large amount of fossil fuels are burnt to produce electricity. You can save the
environment from degradation by reducing the amount of fossil fuels to be
burned.
3. Understand the concept of Reduce, Reuse and
Recycle: Do not throw away items
that are of no use to you. In-fact reuse them for some other purpose. For e.g.
you can use old jars to store cereals or pulses.
4. Emphasis on clean energy resources: Clean energy technologies like solar, wind and geothermal are on high these days. Governments of various
countries have been providing grants to consumers who are interested in
installing solar panels for their home. This will go a long way to curb air
pollution.
5. Use energy efficient devices: CFL lights consume less
electricity as against their
counterparts. They live longer, consume less electricity, lower electricity
bills and also help you to reduce pollution by consuming less energy.
Several attempts are being made world wide on a personal, industrial and
governmental levels to curb the intensity at which Air Pollution is rising and
regain a balance as far as the proportions of the foundation gases are
concerned. This is a direct attempt at slacking Global
warming. We are seeing a series of innovations and
experiments aimed at alternate and unconventional options to reduce pollutants.
Air Pollution is one of the larger mirrors of man’s follies, and a challenge we
need to overcome to see a tomorrow.
