Types of Air Pollution

The two types of air pollutants are primary pollutants, which enter
the atmosphere directly, and secondary pollutants, which form from
a chemical reaction.
Primary Pollutants
Some primary pollutants are natural, such as volcanic ash. Dust is
natural but exacerbated by human activities; for example, when the
ground is torn up for agriculture or development. Most primary
pollutants are the result of human activities, the direct emissions
from vehicles and smokestacks. Primary pollutants include:
Carbon oxides include carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon
dioxide (CO2) (Figure below). Both are colorless,
odorless gases. CO is toxic to both plants and animals. CO and
CO2are both greenhouse gases.

High CO2 levels are found in major metropolitan areas and along the major interstate highways.

Nitrogen oxides are produced when nitrogen and oxygen from

the atmosphere come together at high temperatures. This
occurs in hot exhaust gas from vehicles, power plants, or
 factories. Nitrogen oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are
greenhouse gases. Nitrogen oxides contribute to acid rain.
Sulfur oxides include sulfur dioxide (SO2) and sulfur trioxide
(SO3). These form when sulfur from burning coal reaches the air.
Sulfur oxides are components of acid rain.
Particulates are solid particles, such as ash, dust, and fecal
matter (Figure below). They are commonly formed from
combustion of fossil fuels, and can produce smog. Particulates
can contribute to asthma, heart disease, and some types of
cancers.

Particulates from a brush fire give the sky a strange glow in Arizona.

Lead was once widely used in automobile fuels, paint, and

pipes. This heavy metal can cause brain damage
or blood poisoning.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are mostly hydrocarbons.
Important VOCs include methane (a naturally occurring
greenhouse gas that is increasing because of human activities),
chlorofluorocarbons (human-made compounds that are being
phased out because of their effect on the ozone layer), and
dioxin (a byproduct of chemical production that serves no useful
purpose, but is harmful to humans and other organisms).
Secondary Pollutants
Any city can have photochemical smog, but it is most common in
sunny, dry locations. A rise in the number of vehicles in cities
worldwide has increased photochemical smog. Nitrogen oxides,
ozone, and several other compounds are some of the components
of this type of air pollution.
Photochemical smog forms when car exhaust is exposed to
sunlight. Nitrogen oxide is created by gas combustion in cars and
then into the air (Figure below). In the presence of sunshine, the
NO2 splits and releases an oxygen ion (O). The O then combines
with an oxygen molecule (O2) to form ozone (O3). This reaction can
also go in reverse: Nitric oxide (NO) removes an oxygen atom from
ozone to make it O2. The direction the reaction goes depends on
how much NO2 and NO there is. If NO2 is three times more
abundant than NO, ozone will be produced. If nitric oxide levels are
high, ozone will not be created.

The brown color of the air behind the Golden Gate Bridge is typical of California cities, because of
nitrogen oxides.

Ozone is one of the major secondary pollutants. It is created by a

chemical reaction that takes place in exhaust and in the presence of
sunlight. The gas is acrid-smelling and whitish. Warm, dry cities
surrounded by mountains, such as Los Angeles, Phoenix, and
Denver, are especially prone to photochemical smog.
Photochemical smog peaks at midday on the hottest days of
summer. Ozone is also a greenhouse gas.
Types of Air Pollution Most Hazardous to Humans
There are two forms of air pollution considered to be most
harmful to humans by the American Lung Association. These
are ozone, or smog, and particle pollution, or soot. Most ozone
is formed by a chemical reaction between sunlight and the
vapors emitted by the burning of carbon based or fossil fuels.
Ozone pollution is generally highest during the sunniest
months of the year, from May through October. This pollutant
can cause short term health issues immediately following
exposure, such as irritation to skin and the respiratory system,
and long term exposure can lead to more serious health
problems, such as impaired lung function, inflammation of the
lung lining, and higher rates of pulmonary disease.

Particle Pollution
Particle pollution also takes a place at the top of the list of most
dangerous to human health, and is very widespread throughout
the environment. This type of air pollution consists of solid and
liquid particles made up of ash, metals, soot, diesel exhaust,
and chemicals. Particle pollution is produced by the burning of
coal in power plants and other industries, and by the use of
diesel fuel in passenger vehicles, cargo vehicles, and heavy
equipment. Wood burning is a source of particle pollution, as
are many of today's agricultural practices. Capable of triggering
strokes, heart attacks, and irregular heart rates, particle
pollution can be dangerous even in low concentrations. Lung
cancer and premature birth have also been linked to exposure
to particle pollution, and it is known to irritate respiratory
conditions, including asthma, and cause coughing, wheezing,
and even shorter life spans.

Other Common Air Pollutants

Other common air pollutants that can pose health risks to
humans are carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide,
and lead. Carbon monoxide is produced by the incomplete
burning of fossil fuels in vehicles, home heating equipment, and
industrial plants, among many other sources, and is a colorless
and odorless gas, poisonous to humans and animals when
inhaled. Nitrogen oxides are gases that contribute to smog and
acid rain. Sulfur dioxide is produced by the burning of sulfur
containing fuels like oil and coal, and can cause health issues,
especially in those with existing heart or lung conditions. Lead
is emitted into the air by vehicles and industrial sites, as well as
by waste burning facilities. Lead is a neurotoxin when present
in the body in high concentrations, and can cause immune
issues, reproductive problems, kidney disease, and
cardiovascular problems.

Greenhouse Gases
Perhaps the most publicized form of air pollution these days is
the mixture of gases emitted into the air that are thought to be
responsible for producing the greenhouse effect, leading
to global warming and climate change. A certain percentage of
greenhouse gases are produced by natural sources and are
necessary to moderating the climate of the earth, making it
possible for its life forms to survive. However, beginning with
the Industrial Revolution, man has added to that production of
greenhouse gases, primarily by the burning of fossil fuels.
Among the most common of these are carbon dioxide, methane,
and nitrous oxide.

Greenhouse gases collect in the atmosphere, forming a layer of

reflective and absorbent materials that prevents some of the
heat radiated by the sun from escaping the Earth's atmosphere,
keeping the temperature sufficiently warm for plant and animal
life to thrive. However, with the addition of man made
greenhouse gases, too much heat can be reflected back into the
atmosphere, giving rise to the current fears about global
warming. Estimates made by the IPCC, or Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change, predict that greenhouse gas
emissions will double within the next 50 to 100 years at current
rates of growth, leading to a variety of detrimental
environmental effects. Among these are the melting of polar ice,
raising ocean levels and flooding coastal and other low lying
land areas. Increased storm activity and increased force and
severity of hurricanes, cyclones, and tropical storms are among
the possible consequences of climate change, as are severely
altered ecosystems and extinctions of plant and animal species.