Oxygen & Pollution
‘Polluted air is a global problem.’
9 in 10 people today breathe polluted air.
What is air pollution?
Air pollution occurs when harmful substances, such as particles and gases, reach harmful concentrations both outside and indoors. These can have severe effects to human health, from higher disease risks to rising temperatures. Soot, smoke, mold, pollen, methane, and carbon dioxide are a just few examples of common pollutants.
Five major pollutants in our atmosphere are: ground-level ozone, particle pollution (or particulate matter), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Some of those also contribute to indoor air pollution, along with radon, cigarette smoke, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, asbestos, and other substances.
What is air pollution? Learn how greenhouse gasses, smog, and toxic pollutants affect climate change, and human health.
Main Air Pollutants
Carbon oxides include carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Both are colorless, odorless gases, which form when the carbon in fuels doesn’t completely burn. It is usually generated by motor vehicles and industry. Inside spaces, carbon monoxide is formed by unflued gas heaters, wood-burning heaters, and contained in cigarette smoke. Carbon monoxide levels reach high levels during cold weather, because cold temperatures make combustion less complete and traps pollutants close to the ground. Carbon monoxide can cause harmful health effects by reducing the amount of oxygen reaching the body’s organs (like the heart and brain) and tissues. At extremely high levels, carbon monoxide can cause death (carbon monoxide poisoning)..CO is toxic to both plants and animals.
Nitrogen oxides are produced when nitrogen and oxygen from the atmosphere merge together, normally at high temperatures. This results in hot exhaust gas from vehicles, power plants, or factories. Nitrogen oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are greenhouse gases. Nitrogen oxides contributes to acid rain.
Sulfur oxides include sulfur dioxide (SO2) and sulfur trioxide (SO3). These form when sulfur from burning coal reaches the air. Industrialisation marked a key transition point in the magnitude of SO2 emissions as a result of large-scale burning of sulphur-containing fuels and industrial processing. First of all, Europe witnessed a rapid growth in sulphur pollution, followed closely by North America in the mid-19th century. Due to industrialisation, and the demand for energy, emissions in Europe and North America continued to grow through the 19th and 20th century. Sulfur oxides are components of acid rain.
Particulates are solid particles, such as ash, dust, and fecal matter. They are commonly formed from combustion of fossil fuels, and can produce smog. PM2.5 (particulate matter measuring less than 2.5µm in diameter), can be considered one of the most concerning air pollutants for human health. Whilst a number of air pollutants can have negative health impacts, there is particular concern for the smaller particles with a diameter of less than 2.5µm since they can penetrate into the lungs, impacting respiratory health. Another issue is that it's hard to monitor. This particulates can contribute to asthma, heart disease, and some types of cancers.
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
Many cities suffer from 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. In the presence of sunshine, the NO2 splits and releases an oxygen ion. The O then combines with an oxygen molecule to form ozone.
Ozone is one of the major secondary pollutants.Ozone is found in two areas of the Earth’s atmosphere: in the upper atmosphere and at ground level. Ozone in the upper atmosphere protects us by filtering out damaging ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
Furthermore, ozone at ground level can be damaging to human health. This type of ozone is the main component of smog and is the product of the interaction between sunlight and emissions from sources such as motor vehicles and industry. Ground level ozone becomes more visible during the summer months and reaches its highest concentrations in the afternoon or early evening. The gas is acrid-smelling and whitish.
What is this thick gray haze called smog actually made of? And why does it affect some cities and not others? Kim Preshoff details the science behind smog.
Causes of Air pollution
1. Burning of Fossil Fuels: Sulfur dioxide created by the burning of fossil fuels like coal, petroleum and other factory combustibles is one of the major cause of air pollution. Pollution emitting from vehicles including trucks, jeeps, cars, trains, airplanes is responsible for huge amounts of pollution. We rely on them to fulfill our daily basic needs of transportation, but the overuse is killing our environment. Carbon Monoxide is another major pollutant along with Nitrogen Oxides, that is produced from both natural and man made processes.
2. Agricultural activities: Methane is mainly caused by agriculture related activities and is one of the most hazardous gases in the atmosphere. The use of insecticides, pesticides and fertilizers in agricultural activities, emit harmful chemicals into the air and can also cause water pollution.
3. Exhaust from factories and industries: Manufacturing industries release large amount of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, organic compounds, and chemicals into the air thereby depleting the quality of air. Manufacturing industries can be found at every corner of the earth and there is no area that has not been affected by it. Petroleum refineries also release hydrocarbons and various other chemicals that pollute the air and also cause land pollution.
4. Mining operations: Mining is a process wherein minerals below the earth are extracted using large equipments. During the process dust and chemicals are released in the air causing massive air pollution. This is one of the reason which is responsible for the deteriorating health conditions of workers and nearby residents.
5. Indoor air pollution: Household cleaning products, painting supplies emit toxic chemicals in the air and cause air pollution. Have you ever noticed that once you paint walls of your house, it creates some sort of smell which makes it literally impossible for you to breathe.
A global health hazard
Poor air quality kills people. Worldwide, bad outdoor air caused an estimated 4.2 million premature deaths in 2016, about 90 percent of them in low- and middle-income countries, according to the World Health Organization.
A new study, published late last month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, finds that about 65 percent of those deaths are caused by fossil fuel emissions, and just by tackling these emissions we can prevent about 3.6 million premature deaths.
Every year Indoor smoke is an ongoing health threat to the 3 billion people who cook and heat their homes by burning biomass, kerosene, and coal. Air pollution has been linked to higher rates of cancer, heart disease, stroke, and respiratory diseases such as asthma.
While those effects emerge from long-term exposure, air pollution can also cause short-term problems such as sneezing and coughing, eye irritation, headaches, and dizziness. Particulate matter smaller than 10 micrometers pose higher health risks because they can be breathed deeply into the lungs and may cross into the bloodstream.
Worldwide ambient air pollution accounts for:
29% of all deaths and disease from lung cancer
17% of all deaths and disease from acute lower respiratory infection
24% of all deaths from stroke
25% of all deaths and disease from ischaemic heart disease
43% of all deaths and disease from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
A shocking 95% of the world’s population breathe dirty air every day, and more than 400,000 European citizens die early because of air pollution. Toxic air is now found in most European cities.
Air pollution is a global pandemic that's underway. It's a major health challenge yet nobody talks about it. It affects everyone but we usually ignore it cause we can't actually "see" it. Now it's time to talk about it and find a way to solve it together.
Environmental Impacts
Global warming
Another direct effect is the immediate alterations that the world is witnessing due to Global warming. With increased temperatures worldwide, increase in sea levels and melting of ice from colder regions and icebergs, displacement and loss of habitat have already signaled an impending disaster if actions for preservation and normalization aren’t undertaken soon.
Acid Rain
Harmful gases like nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides are released into the atmosphere during the burning of fossil fuels. When it rains, the water droplets combines with these air pollutants, becomes acidic and then falls on the ground in the form of acid rain. Acid rain can cause great damage to human, animals and crops.
Eutrophication
Eutrophication is a condition where high amount of nitrogen present in some pollutants gets developed on sea’s surface and turns itself into algae and and adversely affect fish, plants and animal species. The green colored algae that is present on lakes and ponds is due to presence of this chemical only.
Effect on Wildlife
Just like humans, animals also face some devastating effects of air pollution. Toxic chemicals present in the air can force wildlife species to move to new place and change their habitat. The toxic pollutants deposit over the surface of the water and can also affect sea animals.
Solutions
A variety of measures has been undertaken or proposed and instituted to curb the effects of air pollution. Solving the air pollution problem requires joint effort and takes different ways from one region to another.
Let’s have a look at some of the effective solutions to air pollution.
1. Laws and Regulations
Some national and state or international policies are essential in order to control air pollution. Legislation and regulations always offer an important measure for tackling air pollution. Many cities and countries that were once heavily polluted have substantially attained clean air mainly due to the institutionalization of anti-pollution laws.
2. Use of Renewable or Green Energy Sources
The main causes of air pollution nowadays that are also responsible for climate change, are Fossil fuel and coal. Therefore, opting for alternative or renewable energy sources to produce power presents a practical solution to air pollution. Alternative energy sources include wind energy, geothermal energy, solar energy, and hydro-power. If people can demand more sustainable energy sources instead of relying on fossil fuels or coal energy, air pollution can reduce more than threefold.
Natural gas, fuel cells, and batteries can as well substitute the use of fossil fuels as cleaner energy sources. Still, it is important to evaluate correctly some of these alternative energy sources because aside from their benefits, some of them come with different environmental and economic costs. Essentially, investing more in renewable and sustainable energy sources reduces pollution at the same time protects the future.
3. Individual Level Prevention Methods
The begin with, individuals who are aware of the causes and effects of pollution can share their knowledge with family, friends, or colleagues. All of us can make choices such use taking the bus, train or bike when moving from one place to another. For shorter distances, it is even better just to walk or ride a bike. By doing so, there will be lesser vehicles on the road and as such, less emission.
Energy conservation by using energy wisely is also a viable individual measure for reducing air pollution. What many are not aware of it the amount of fossil fuels that are burned to produce the energy used for cooking, heating, or lighting. In this sense, saving energy cuts down air pollution. Another measure is reusing some of the utilities we depend on such as plastic bags, papers, or bottles because their production creates loads of pollution.
4. Raising Awareness Through Campaigns and Advocacy
As much as anti-pollution laws are established and technological advancements progressively aim at minimizing air pollution, it is not just enough. Awareness creation is the number one factor to consider because it will make people realize and understand the sources and effects of air pollution. From this point, it makes it easier for people to take personal or collective initiatives to reduce air pollution.
A talk about clean energy and debate the definitive impact humanity has on our environment, but the numbers are often too abstract for us to internalize. In this talk, chemical engineer David Klanecky lays out straightforward analogies to help us understand our individual impact on the planet’s future, and hints at at what we, as consumers, can do to make easy and effective changes for the better.
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