Air is considered most important component for living beings. Air constitutes the components as shown in Fig. 1
Air pollution is the presence of abnormal concentration and constituents in air such as smoke, harmful gasses, dust articles and other pollutants. It is one of the major concerns for whole of the world. You can have a look at Fig. 2 and can estimate the percentage of air pollution caused by all continents.
Let us talk of India which is second highest populous country in the world. You can be aware of the level of pollution in Delhi, capital of India. You have to leave your car and just move around busy places in the state in the bus, scooter, bicycle, or cycle. When you wait on main red-light you can just feel the level of air pollution and noise pollution caused by the vehicles. This vehicular pollution causes almost 40% of air pollution. If you take deep, full breath then you will find that your lungs filled with smoke and may have congestion while breathing.
The other causes of air pollution are as follows:-
Human activities or anthropogenic sources also cause air pollution. These activities involve activities such as burning of fuel, cooking, use of aerosol sprays, burning of oil lamps and incense sticks, smoking of cigarettes, habit of some people of urinating and execrating in open and other similar activities.
Factories, industries, and power, oil refineries also cause air pollution by discharging harmful gases into the atmosphere.
Aircrafts, aero planes also discharges air pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide.
Metallurgical process which involves extracting metal from the metal ore also discharges polluted gases.
Nuclear energy power system which discharges nuclear waste which is very harmful form of air pollution, this can be seen as after effects of the Bhopal gas tragedy in India.
Volcanic eruptions discharge sulfur dioxide, smog and soot into the air which mixes with water vapor to form acid rain. Dirt particles can also be carried to the atmosphere during wind erosion. This happens in areas with less vegetation where soil cannot be held together.
Bacteria that feed on decaying organic matter like plants or animals produce methane and carbon dioxide, which are released into the atmosphere.
Earth's crust is composed of a radioactive element called Uranium. Uranium turns into Radium once it decays afterward forming Radon. Radon is a gas that combines with air through evaporation.
Landfills where wastes get decomposed and generate methane
Effects of air pollution
A. Health impact of air pollution
Various diseases such as Hay fever, Asthma, allergic diseases, irritation in eyes, loss of co-ordination, damage to nervous system, and inflammation of skin are some of the diseases caused due to polluted air.
B. Smog formation
Smog is produced when fuels are burnt. It refers to black air (smoggy air) forbids breathing properly.
C. Acid rain
Acid rain is the resultant of combination of Sulphur Oxides of and Nitrogen Oxide which gets oxidized in the atmosphere and after coming into contact with moisture gets converted into acid. This acid returns to earth in the form of acid rain. This not only causes air pollution but also water pollution. It is harmful for metals, human beings, animals, birds and other living beings.
D. Global Warming
Due to industrial smoke the amount of C02, CH4, NOx, CFCs etc. rises and it results into the rise and trapping of more and more heat around the globe which accelerates the temperature which in turn melts the ice from the peaks of mountains and thus increases the water level and may lead to floods. This accelerates the pace of global warming... Read More
Air pollution is the presence of abnormal concentration and constituents in air such as smoke, harmful gasses, dust articles and other pollutants. It is one of the major concerns for whole of the world. You can have a look at Fig. 2 and can estimate the percentage of air pollution caused by all continents.
Let us talk of India which is second highest populous country in the world. You can be aware of the level of pollution in Delhi, capital of India. You have to leave your car and just move around busy places in the state in the bus, scooter, bicycle, or cycle. When you wait on main red-light you can just feel the level of air pollution and noise pollution caused by the vehicles. This vehicular pollution causes almost 40% of air pollution. If you take deep, full breath then you will find that your lungs filled with smoke and may have congestion while breathing.
The other causes of air pollution are as follows:-
Human activities or anthropogenic sources also cause air pollution. These activities involve activities such as burning of fuel, cooking, use of aerosol sprays, burning of oil lamps and incense sticks, smoking of cigarettes, habit of some people of urinating and execrating in open and other similar activities.
Factories, industries, and power, oil refineries also cause air pollution by discharging harmful gases into the atmosphere.
Aircrafts, aero planes also discharges air pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide.
Metallurgical process which involves extracting metal from the metal ore also discharges polluted gases.
Nuclear energy power system which discharges nuclear waste which is very harmful form of air pollution, this can be seen as after effects of the Bhopal gas tragedy in India.
Volcanic eruptions discharge sulfur dioxide, smog and soot into the air which mixes with water vapor to form acid rain. Dirt particles can also be carried to the atmosphere during wind erosion. This happens in areas with less vegetation where soil cannot be held together.
Bacteria that feed on decaying organic matter like plants or animals produce methane and carbon dioxide, which are released into the atmosphere.
Earth's crust is composed of a radioactive element called Uranium. Uranium turns into Radium once it decays afterward forming Radon. Radon is a gas that combines with air through evaporation.
Landfills where wastes get decomposed and generate methane
Effects of air pollution
A. Health impact of air pollution
Various diseases such as Hay fever, Asthma, allergic diseases, irritation in eyes, loss of co-ordination, damage to nervous system, and inflammation of skin are some of the diseases caused due to polluted air.
B. Smog formation
Smog is produced when fuels are burnt. It refers to black air (smoggy air) forbids breathing properly.
C. Acid rain
Acid rain is the resultant of combination of Sulphur Oxides of and Nitrogen Oxide which gets oxidized in the atmosphere and after coming into contact with moisture gets converted into acid. This acid returns to earth in the form of acid rain. This not only causes air pollution but also water pollution. It is harmful for metals, human beings, animals, birds and other living beings.
D. Global Warming
Due to industrial smoke the amount of C02, CH4, NOx, CFCs etc. rises and it results into the rise and trapping of more and more heat around the globe which accelerates the temperature which in turn melts the ice from the peaks of mountains and thus increases the water level and may lead to floods. This accelerates the pace of global warming... Read More
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