Biological Effects of Air Quality
Air pollution jeopardizes the healthy lifestyle of humans and living thing residing on our planet. It plays a role in the reduction of the ozone layer and creates global warming. In addition, it also produces smog, acid rain, and diseases such as cancer and respiratory problems.
Causes of Air Pollution
Effects of Air Pollution
Top-Five gases in air pollution
Sulfur dioxide = Consists of coal, petroleum, and other fuels that are often contaminated. In addition, it also consists of sulfur and as well as organic carbon-based compounds, which contribute to smog, acid rain, and health problems that include bronchitis, asthma, and lung disease.
Carbon monoxide = This is a highly dangerous gas formed by a poor maintained gas boiler, stove, or any other fuel-burning appliance in your home due to the fact that fuels have too little oxygen to burn completely. It may also be spewed in vehicle exhausts.
Carbon dioxide = A gas that has been building up in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution and has contributed to global warming and climate change, despite it being the essential to every living thing here on Earth.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) = These are carbon-based (organic) chemicals that are known to evaporate easily at ordinary temperatures and pressures, an as a result they readily become gases. They're used as solvents in many different household chemicals such as paints, waxes, and varnishes. Unfortunately, they're also a form of air pollution: they're believed to have chronic effects on people's health and play a role in the formation of ozone and smog.
Ozone = Also called trioxide, this is a type of oxygen gas whose molecules are made from three oxygen atoms joined together (so it has the chemical formula O3), instead of just the two atoms in conventional oxygen (O2). In the stratosphere (upper atmosphere), a band of ozone the ozone layer") protects us by screening out harmful ultraviolet radiation (high-energy blue light) beaming down from the Sun. At ground level, it's a toxic pollutant that can damage health. It forms when sunlight strikes a cocktail of other pollution and is a key ingredient of smog.
Indoor air pollution
Air Pollution Facts and Statistics
Causes of Air Pollution
- Particulate matter resides on the atmosphere and becomes part of the air we breathe.
- Vehicle exhaust fumes have become the largest spring of air pollution in most cities.
- Carbon monoxide, a poisonous, odorless, colorless gas that is formed when burning fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas and is generated from our number one source known as vehicle exhausts.
- Air conditioning filters will also accumulate dirt and spread pollutants in the air found inside your homes when theses filters aren't changed regularly.
- Usage household items such as aerosol cans, paints, waxes and varnishes like acetone which is found in nail paint remover.
- CIGARETTES!!! Don’t smoke.
- Chemicals and toxic pollutants like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide react in water and generate acid rain. Most of these pollutants come from automobiles and almost any industrial or manufacturing plants.
- Dust and dirt that rises into the air due to the cause of the daily labor in the agricultural and construction industries. Dust is lifted from working tractors on the fields, land clearing, and building demolitions in the construction industry.
- Mother Nature's volcanoes, dust storms, and forest fires are causes of natural air pollution.
Effects of Air Pollution
- Air pollution causes respiratory problems such as emphysema, bronchitis, and asthma. In addition, it also causes irritated throats, lungs, eyes, and noses.
- Contaminated air reduces the body's immune system to fight back other disease that might affect respiratory conditions.
- Repeated exposure to air pollution increases the chances of cardiovascular disease and harden the arteries, and trigger even a heart attack.
- Hydrogen ions found in acid rain destroys the crops we eat, trees, bring harm to marine life, as well as corrode metals.
- Black lung disease has been evident in dolphins due to high accumulations of carbon in the air created by smog.
- Older people and children are more prone to air pollution.
Top-Five gases in air pollution
Sulfur dioxide = Consists of coal, petroleum, and other fuels that are often contaminated. In addition, it also consists of sulfur and as well as organic carbon-based compounds, which contribute to smog, acid rain, and health problems that include bronchitis, asthma, and lung disease.
Carbon monoxide = This is a highly dangerous gas formed by a poor maintained gas boiler, stove, or any other fuel-burning appliance in your home due to the fact that fuels have too little oxygen to burn completely. It may also be spewed in vehicle exhausts.
Carbon dioxide = A gas that has been building up in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution and has contributed to global warming and climate change, despite it being the essential to every living thing here on Earth.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) = These are carbon-based (organic) chemicals that are known to evaporate easily at ordinary temperatures and pressures, an as a result they readily become gases. They're used as solvents in many different household chemicals such as paints, waxes, and varnishes. Unfortunately, they're also a form of air pollution: they're believed to have chronic effects on people's health and play a role in the formation of ozone and smog.
Ozone = Also called trioxide, this is a type of oxygen gas whose molecules are made from three oxygen atoms joined together (so it has the chemical formula O3), instead of just the two atoms in conventional oxygen (O2). In the stratosphere (upper atmosphere), a band of ozone the ozone layer") protects us by screening out harmful ultraviolet radiation (high-energy blue light) beaming down from the Sun. At ground level, it's a toxic pollutant that can damage health. It forms when sunlight strikes a cocktail of other pollution and is a key ingredient of smog.
Indoor air pollution
- A few of the everday chemicals used in your home consist of: detergents, household cleaners, aerosol sprays, shoe polish, hair wax, paints, and glues. In the end, they are just a few of the everyday chemicals that release air pollution into your household.
- If you have a gas/oil boiler or a coal/wood- fired stove but it is not properly ventilated, it will generate dangerous and toxic carbon monoxide gases.
- If your building has an air conditioning system, the chances are that the air it blows through has already circulated through other rooms in the same building, such as people's offices or apartments.
Air Pollution Facts and Statistics
- Adults are affected less than kids due to the higher concentration of polluted air in each body size system.
- The country with the worst quality of air is India.
- 161 billion euros would be saved every year by the European Union if there were to be a decrease in the deaths caused by air pollution.
- Cars, buses, motorcycles and other vehicles cause lung cancer produced by 80% of fatal pollutants.
- According to the World Health Organization, there are 1.3 million air pollution deaths compared to car accidents.
- 3,000 gallons of air is breathed every day by any average human.
- 5% of air pollution is generated from the production of more than 800 million gallons of gas per year that are used in lawn mowers in the U.S.
- Vehicle exhaust contributes 60% of all carbon monoxide emissions in the United States and can go to over 90% for large cities.
- The largest cause of air pollution in Europe is road transportation with over 5,000 people dying each year from lung cancer and heart attacks caused by vehicle exhaust fumes.