Air Pollution

The release of pollutants into the atmosphere that are harmful to human health and the environment, such as gases, particles, biological molecules, and so on, is referred to as air pollution.

The atmosphere contains a certain percentage of gases. A change in the composition of these gases is hazardous to survival. The earth’s temperature has risen as a result of this imbalance in the gaseous composition, a phenomenon known as global warming.

Types of Air Pollutants

There are two types of air pollutants:

1. Primary Pollutants: Primary pollutants are those that directly contribute to air pollution. Factory-emitted sulphur dioxide is a primary pollutant.
2. Secondary Pollutants: Secondary pollutants are those that are formed as a result of the mixing and reaction of primary pollutants. Smog is a secondary pollutant caused by the mixing of smoke and fog.

Causes of Air Pollution

The following are the major causes of air pollution.

• Burning of Fossil Fuels: The combustion of fossil fuels produces a significant amount of sulphur dioxide. Carbon monoxide pollution is caused by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels.
• Automobiles: Polluting the environment are the gases emitted by vehicles such as jeeps, trucks, cars, and buses. These are the major sources of greenhouse gases, as well as the causes of disease in humans.
• Agricultural Activities: Ammonia is one of the most dangerous gases produced by agricultural activities. Insecticides, pesticides, and fertilizers release hazardous chemicals into the atmosphere, contaminating it.
• Factories and Industries: Carbon monoxide, organic compounds, hydrocarbons, and chemicals are primarily produced in factories and industries. These are emitted into the atmosphere, degrading its quality.
• Domestic Sources: Toxic chemicals are released into the air by household cleaning products and paints. The odour emanating from freshly painted walls is the odour of the chemicals present in the paints. It not only pollutes the air, but it also has an impact on breathing.

Effects of Air Pollution

1. Diseases: Humans have developed a variety of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases as a result of air pollution. Lung cancer has become more common in recent decades. Children who live near polluted areas are more likely to develop pneumonia and asthma. Every year, many people die as a result of the direct or indirect effects of air pollution.
2. Global Warming: The gaseous composition of the air is unbalanced as a result of greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, the Earth’s temperature has risen. This rise in the Earth’s temperature is referred to as global warming. As a result, glaciers have melted, and sea levels have risen. Many areas are completely submerged underwater.
3. Acid Rain: The combustion of fossil fuels emits harmful gases into the atmosphere, such as nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides. When water droplets combine with pollutants, they become acidic and fall as acid rain, causing harm to human, animal, and plant life.
4. Ozone Layer Depletion: The main cause of ozone layer depletion is the release of chlorofluorocarbons, halons, and hydrochlorofluorocarbons into the atmosphere. The depleting ozone layer does not protect people from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, which cause skin diseases and eye problems.
5. Effect on Animals: Air pollutants settle on bodies of water and harm aquatic life. Animals are also forced to leave their natural habitats due to pollution. This causes them to become stray and has also resulted in the extinction of a large number of animal species.

The environment is defined as a physical system’s surroundings, which may interact with other systems by exchanging mass and energy. All living and nonliving things are included in the natural environment. Because the environment is the setting in which we live, it is our responsibility to keep it safe from harm. Environmental pollution is one of the most serious issues confronting human society today. The three basic areas of environmental pollution are air, water, and soil.