What is air pollution?Air is 99.9% nitrogen, oxygen, water vapour and inert gases. Human activities can release substances into the air, some of these can cause problems for humans, plants, and animals.
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Effects of air pollutionAir pollution can affect our health in many ways with both short-term and long-term effects. Different groups of individuals are affected by air pollution in different ways. Some individuals are much more sensitive to pollutants than others. Young children and elderly people often suffer more from the effects of air pollution. People with health problems such as asthma, heart and lung disease may also suffer more when the air is polluted. The extent to which an individual is harmed by air pollution usually depends on the total exposure to the damaging chemicals, i.e., the duration of exposure and the concentration of the chemicals must be taken into account.
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Solutions for air pollutionThe first step to solving air pollution is assessment. Researchers have investigated outdoor air pollution and have developed standards for measuring the type and amount of some serious air pollutants.
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Indoor air pollutionMany people spend large portion of time indoors; as much as 80-90% of their lives. We work, study, eat, drink and sleep in enclosed environments where air circulation may be restricted. For these reasons, some experts feel that more people suffer from the effects of indoor air pollution than outdoor pollution.
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Outdoor air pollutionSmog is a type of large-scale outdoor air pollution. It is caused by chemical reactions between pollutants derived from different sources, primarily automobile exhaust and industrial emissions. Cities are often centres of these types of activities, and many suffer from the effects of smog, especially during the warm months of the year. A consequence of outdoor air pollution is acid rain. When a pollutant, such as sulphuric acid, combines with droplets of water in the air, the water can become acidified. The effects of acid rain on the environment can be very serious. It damages plants by destroying their leaves, it poisons the soil, and it changes the chemistry of lakes and streams. Damage due to acid rain kills trees and harms animals, fish, and other wildlife.
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Major air pollutants |