Air Pollution

What is air pollution?

Air pollution is the introduction into the
atmosphere of chemicals, particulates, or
biological materials that cause discomfort,
disease, or death to humans, damage other living
organisms such as food crops, or damage the
natural environment or built environment.The
atmosphere is a complex dynamic natural
gaseous system that is essential to support life on
planet Earth. Stratospheric ozone depletion due to
air pollution has long been recognized as a threat
to human health as well as to the Earth's
ecosystems.

What causes air pollution?

Air pollution occurs when the air contains gases, dust, fumes or
odour in harmful amounts. That is, amounts which could be
harmful to the health or comfort of humans and animals or
which could cause damage to plants and materials.
The substances that cause air pollution are called pollutants.
Pollutants that are pumped into our atmosphere and directly
pollute the air are called primary pollutants. Primary pollutant
examples include carbon monoxide from car exhausts and
sulphur dioxide from the combustion of coal.
Further pollution can arise if primary pollutants in the
atmosphere undergo chemical reactions. The resulting
compounds are called secondary pollutants. Photochemical
smog is an example of this.

Pollution from combustion causes

Green house effect
a)Carbon dioxide is given out when fuels are
burned.It then remains in the atmosphere.
b)Carbon dioxide acts like a blanket which retains
heat.This causes the Earth to warm up slowly,
leading to the greenhouse effect.
c)The green house effect may cause
i)Polar ice caps to melt which will raise the sea
level
ii)Climate change, like changes in wind direction
and frequent storms.

What can we do to reduce the problem of air

pollution?
So what are some steps that can help stop air pollution? As an
individual, you can start right at home. Many times we waste
energy by leaving appliances on that we are not using. Turning
off things such as lights, TVs, computers, etc. when we are not
using them will help because the burning of fossil fuels is
required in order to power these things.
You can also use your bicycle or walk instead of using vehicles
to somewhere that is near .This would certainly help us to
reduce the problem of air pollution.
Smoking also can cause air pollution. Cutting the habbit of
smoking absolutely can help us to reduce the problem of air
pollution too.
Ban open burning.
Filter smoke from factories before releasing it.

What happens if we do not take care

about the air pollution?
It can endanger the health of living organisms in
several ways. One way, is by introducing particulate
matter and poisonous gases into the respiratory
systems of humans, animals, and plant leaves. Another
way is by increasing the acidity of precipitation, which
alters the chemistry of soil and water. One more way, is
that it engages chemical reactions in the atmosphere
that increase the exposure of living organisms to
harmful radiation. Yet another way that it affects living
organisms is by altering globally, the composition and
ultimately the temperature of the atmosphere and thus
producing conditions that threaten the survival of living
organisms.