Air Pollution

Air Pollution

Every day, the average person inhales about 20,000 liters of air.  Every time we breathe, we risk inhaling dangerous chemicals that have found their way into the air.

Air pollution includes all contaminants found in the atmosphere.  These dangerous substances can be either in the form of gases or particles.

Air pollution can be found both outdoors and indoors.  Pollutants can be trapped inside buildings, causing indoor pollution that lasts for a long time.

The sources of air pollution are both natural and human-based.  As one might expect, humans have been producing increasing amounts of pollution as time has progressed, and they now account for the majority of pollutants released into the air.

Air pollution has been a problem throughout history.  Even in Ancient Rome people complained about smoke put into the atmosphere.

The effects of air pollution are diverse and numerous.  Air pollution can have serious consequences for the health of human beings, and also severely affects natural ecosystems.

Because it is located in the atmosphere, air pollution is able to travel easily.  As a result, air pollution is a global problem and has been the subject of global cooperation and conflict.

Some areas now suffer more than others from air pollution.  Cities with large numbers of automobiles or those that use great quantities of coal often suffer most severely from problems of air pollution.


Air pollution-causes

There are many different chemical substances that contribute to air pollution.  These chemicals come from a variety of sources.

Among the many types of air pollutants are nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxides, and organic compounds that can evaporate and enter the atmosphere.

Air pollutants have sources that are both natural and human.  Now, humans contribute substantially more to the air pollution problem.

Forest fires, volcanic eruptions, wind erosion, pollen dispersal, evaporation of organic compounds, and natural radioactivity are all among the natural causes of air pollution.

Usually, natural air pollution does not occur in abundance in particular locations.  The pollution is spread around throughout the world, and as a result, poses little threat to the health of people and ecosystems.

Though some pollution comes from these natural sources, most pollution is the result of human activity.  The biggest causes are the operation of fossil fuel-burning power plants and automobiles that combust fuel.  Combined, these two sources are responsible for about 90% of all air pollution in the United States.

Some cities suffer severely because of heavy industrial use of chemicals that cause air pollution.  Places like Mexico City and Sao Paulo have some of the most deadly pollution levels in the world.


Air Pollution – Effects

Air pollution is responsible for major health effects.  Every year, the health of countless people is ruined or endangered by air pollution.

Many different chemicals in the air affect the human body in negative ways.  Just how sick people will get depends on what chemicals they are exposed to, in what concentrations, and for how long.

Studies have estimated that the number of people killed annually in the US alone could be over 50,000.

Older people are highly vulnerable to diseases induced by air pollution.  Those with heart or lung disorders are under additional risk.  Children and infants are also at serious risk.

Because people are exposed to so many potentially dangerous pollutants, it is often hard to know exactly which pollutants are responsible for causing sickness.  Also, because a mixture of different pollutants can intensify sickness, it is often difficult to isolate those pollutants that are at fault.

Many diseases could be caused by air pollution without their becoming apparent for a long time.  Diseases such as bronchitis, lung cancer, and heart disease may all eventually appear in people exposed to air pollution.

Air pollutants such as ozone, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide also have harmful effects on natural ecosystems.  They can kill plants and trees by destroying their leaves, and can kill animals, especially fish in highly polluted rivers.


Air Pollution – Solutions

Air pollution has many disastrous effects that need to be curbed.  In order to accomplish this, governments, scientists and environmentalists are using or testing a variety of methods aimed at reducing pollution.

There are two main types of pollution control.

Input control involves preventing a problem before it occurs, or at least limiting the effects the process will produce.

Five major input control methods exist.  People may try to restrict population growth, use less energy, improve energy efficiency, reduce waste, and move to non-polluting renewable forms of energy production.  Also, automobile-produced pollution can be decreased with highly beneficial results.

Output control, the opposite method, seeks to fix the problems caused by air pollution.  This usually means cleaning up an area that has been damaged by pollution.

Input controls are usually more effective than output controls.  Output controls are also more expensive, making them less desirable to tax payers and polluting industries.

Current air pollution control efforts are not all highly effective.  In wealthier countries, industries are often able to shift to methods that decrease air pollution.  In the United States, for example, air pollution control laws have been successful in stopping air pollution levels from rising.  However, in developing countries and even in countries where pollution is strictly regulated, much more needs to be done.

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