WHAT IS AIR POLLUTION?

Air pollution is contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or
biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. It occurs when the air
contain gases, dust fumes, or odor in harmful amounts.

Air pollution - “ SILENT KILLER”

Air pollution is a huge problem—and not just for people living in smog-choked cities: through such
things as global warming and damage to the ozone layer, it has the potential to affect us all.

Generally, air pollution has been divided into two types.

1. Indoor pollution

It is the pollution of air caused by the introduction of materials from smoking and burning fossil
fuels such as kerosene, petroleum and coal indoors. Fuels are burned indoors for cooking and cooling
or heating purposes. Chemicals from cleaning products, wall paints, pesticides and air fresheners also
contribute to indoor air pollution.
One half of the population in the world or 80% of the population in South Asia and Africa is
affected by indoor air pollution from burning of coal and biomass. It is assumed that indoor air
pollution is much worse than pollution outdoors.

2. Outdoor pollution

Outdoor air is often referred to as ambient air. The common sources of outdoor air pollution are
emissions caused by combustion processes from motor vehicles, solid fuel burning and industry.

Air pollution - “ SILENT KILLER”

Air pollution is a huge problem—and not just for people living in smog-choked cities: through such
things as global warming and damage to the ozone layer, it has the potential to affect us all.

Air Pollution (no date) World Health Organization. World Health Organization.
Available at: https://www.who.int/health-topics/air-pollution#tab=tab_1
(Accessed: February 4, 2023).

Chris Woodford. Last updated: November 22 (2022) Air Pollution - a simple

Sciencetopia (2021) Types of air pollution, Sciencetopia. Available at:

What Causes Air Pollution?

Air pollution is caused by solid and liquid particles and certain gases that are suspended in the air.
These particles and gases can come from car and truck exhaust, factories, dust, pollen, mold spores,
volcanoes and wildfires. The solid and liquid particles suspended in our air are called aerosols. Where
do aerosols come from? Any particle that gets picked up into the air or is formed from chemical
reactions in the air can be an aerosol. Many aerosols enter the atmosphere when we burn fossil fuels—
such as coal and petroleum—and wood. These particles can come from many sources, including car
exhaust, factories and even wildfires. Some of the particles and gases come directly from these sources,
but others form through chemical reactions in the air. Aerosols can come from other places, too, such
as ash from an erupting volcano. Dust, pollen from plants and mold spores are also examples of
aerosols. What else causes air pollution? Certain gases in the atmosphere can cause air pollution. For
example, in cities, a gas called ozone is a major cause of air pollution. Ozone is also a greenhouse gas
that can be both good and bad for our environment. It all depends where it is in Earth’s atmosphere.
Ozone high up in our atmosphere is a good thing. It helps block harmful energy from the Sun, called
radiation. But, when ozone is closer to the ground, it can be really bad for our health. Ground level
ozone is created when sunlight reacts with certain chemicals that come from sources of burning fossil
fuels, such as factories or car exhaust. When particles in the air combine with ozone, they create smog.
Smog is a type of air pollution that looks like smoky fog and makes it difficult to see.
https://climatekids.nasa.gov/air-pollution/

Effects of Air Pollution

Effects of Air Pollution Air pollution affects all things. It is harmful to our health, and it impacts the
environment by reducing visibility and blocking sunlight, causing acid rain, and harming forests,
wildlife, and agriculture. Greenhouse gas pollution, the cause of climate change, affects the entire
planet. Harming Human Health According to the World Health Organization, an estimated seven
million people die each year from air pollution. More than 4,000 people died in just a few months due
to a severe smog event that occurred in London in 1952. Ground-level ozone causes muscles in the
lungs to contract, making it difficult to breathe. Exposure to high ozone levels can cause sore throat,
coughing, lung inflammation, and permanent lung damage. Short-term exposure to air pollution can
cause: Coughing Wheezing/difficulty breathing Irritation to eyes, nose, and throat Headache Dizziness
Fatigue Long-term exposure to air pollution can cause: Respiratory diseases (asthma, emphysema)
Cardiovascular damage Harm to liver, spleen, and blood Nervous system damage Cancer Birth defects
Death Harming Animals and Plants Wildlife can experience many of the same negative health effects
of air pollution that humans do. Damage to respiratory systems is the most common effect on animals,
but neurological problems and skin irritations are also common. Causing Acid Rain Burning fossil
fuels releases sulfur and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere. Acid rain forms when sulfur dioxide and
nitrogen dioxide mix with water droplets in the atmosphere to make sulfuric acid and nitric acid. Winds
can carry these pollutants for thousands of miles, until they fall to the Earth's surface as acid rain,
which damages the leaves of vegetation, increases the acidity of soils and water, and is linked to over
500 deaths each year. Buildings and other structures are also impacted by acid rain, which causes an
estimated five billion dollars of property damage each year. Acid rain dissolves mortar between bricks,
causes stone foundations to become unstable, and is destroying ancient buildings and statues carved
from marble and limestone. Reducing Sunlight High levels of particulate pollution from all types of
burning reduces the amount of sunlight that reaches the surface and even changes the appearance of the
sky. When less sunlight is available for photosynthesis, forests grow at a slower rate and crops are less
productive. Hazy skies not only reduce visibility, but also impact the weather and even the climate.
Making a Hole in the Ozone Layer The hole in the ozone layer is caused by air pollutants. Chemicals
used as refrigerants, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), contain chlorine atoms. Releasing chlorine
atoms into the atmosphere destroys ozone. A single chlorine atom can destroy thousands of ozone
molecules. The ozone layer blocks harmful ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation from the Sun — it protects
us in a way that is similar to putting sunscreen on your skin to prevent sunburn. The ozone hole puts all
living things at risk by increasing the amount of UVB that reaches the surface. Exposure to UVB
increases the risk of skin cancer in humans, restricts growth and development in plants, slows the
development of fish and amphibians, and reduces the number of phytoplankton in marine ecosystems.
UVB also causes natural and synthetic materials to breakdown at an accelerated rate. Adding Too
Much Nitrogen to the Land Gaseous ammonia (NH3) from agriculture and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
from car, truck, and airplane emissions increase the amount of nitrogen in soils. Plants need nitrogen to
grow, but too much nitrogen can limit the growth of some plants and increase the growth of others,
disrupting the balance of species within an ecosystem. This disruption is negatively impacting
grasslands and other fragile environments around the world. https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/air-
quality/effects-air-pollution

Effects of Air Pollution