Effects of air pollution

Air pollution refers to the release of pollutants into the air, which can be harmful and impose significant health risks to the population, including increased chances of coronary and respiratory diseases, as well as preliminary deaths. Made up of chemicals and pollutant particles, air pollution is one of the biggest environmental problems of our lifetime . Read on to learn about the major causes and effects of air pollution. — Sources of Air Pollution 1. Burning Fossil Fuels The biggest contributors of air pollution are from industry sources and power plants to generate power, as well as fossil fuel motor vehicles. The continuous burning of fossil fuels releases air pollutants, emissions and chemicals into the air and atmosphere. In 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency reported that about 68 million tons of air pollution were emitted into the atmosphere in the US, contributing to the “formation of ozone and particles, the deposition of acids, and visibility impairment.” JOIN THE MOVEMENT TODAY The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates around 91% of the world’s population lives in places where air quality levels exceed limits. Developing and low-income countries experienced the greatest impacts from outdoor air pollution, particularly in the Western Pacific and South-East Asia regions. Climate change has an interrelated relationship with the environment and air pollution. As more air pollutants and greenhouse gases are released, this alters the energy balance betw...

It may be hard to imagine that pollution could be invisible, but ozone begins that way. As ozone concentrates and mixes with other pollutants, we often call it by its older, more common name—smog. It is currently one of the least well-controlled pollutants in the United States. And it is also one of the most dangerous. Scientists have studied the effects of ozone on health for decades. Hundreds of studies have confirmed that ozone harms people at levels currently found in the United States. In the last decade, we have learned that it can also be deadly. What Is Ozone? Ozone (O 3) is a gas molecule composed of three oxygen atoms. Often called photochemical "smog," ozone is harmful to breathe. Ozone aggressively attacks lung tissue by reacting chemically with it. When ozone is present, there are other harmful pollutants created by the same processes that make ozone. The ozone layer found high in the upper atmosphere (the stratosphere) shields us from much of the sun's ultraviolet radiation. However, ozone air pollution at ground level where we can breathe it (in the troposphere) causes serious health problems. Ozone develops in the atmosphere from gases that come out of tailpipes, smokestacks and many other combustion sources. When these gases come in contact with sunlight, they react and form ozone smog. The essential raw ingredients for ozone are nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and sunlight. They are produced primarily when fossil fuels like gasol...

Energy from the Sun reaches Earth’s surface and is radiated back into the atmosphere as heat. Greenhouse gases prevent some of that heat from leaving the atmosphere. The recent increase in greenhouse gas pollution is trapping excess heat and causing the climate to warm. Koshland Science Museum Air pollution includes greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. According to a Some Air Pollutants Cause Cooling Burning fossil fuels releases tiny particles into the atmosphere called Visible particulate pollution over Beijing, China can increase cloud cover and deflect energy from the Sun back into space. NASA/MODIS Aerosols in the atmosphere can change the amount of solar energy reflected away from Earth. Some types of aerosols, such as sea salt particles from the ocean, reflect sunlight back out into space, which can help to cool the climate. Others, such as black carbon particles from burning wood or fossil fuels, absorb most of the sunlight that hits them, which leads to warming. Aerosols also help clouds form, which has an impact on climate. The millions of tiny water droplets that make up a cloud each need a particle, like an aerosol, for the water to condense upon. Air pollutants that increase the amount of aerosols in the atmosphere can also cause more clouds to form. Scientists are still exploring the impacts of different kinds of clouds on climate, but in general low clouds reflect incoming solar radiation back out to space, which has a cooling effect, and high clouds tra...

Beyond the Northeast, high concentrations of ground-level ozone — also known as smog — are driving unhealthy Follow live coverage on U.S. air quality conditions and Canada's wildfires What causes poor air quality? Poor air quality can be caused by any airborne “irritant” — a particle or substance in the air that is harmful to a person to breathe in, according to Dr. Purvi Parikh, an allergist and immunologist at the Allergy & Asthma Network, an advocacy group for people with asthma, allergies and related conditions. Some examples are air Natural disasters, like wildfires, often cause short-term spikes in poor air quality as the smoke, which contains carbon monoxide and other dangerous chemicals, enters the atmosphere. Especially concerning is small particulate matter — tiny particles in the air that measure less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, or roughly 4% of the width of a strand of hair. These particles are small enough to be inhaled deep into the lungs and can enter the bloodstream. Here are a few options for face masks if you need to be outside: Disposable , KN95 and N95 . The Environmental Protection Agency uses Smoke from wildfires in Canada drifts into New York state Tuesday. NOAA How can poor air quality hurt health? Many of the health issues people see from Air pollution from wildfire smoke can make breathing difficult for anyone, but especially for young children, older adults, pregnant women and people with asthma or other pre-existing respiratory conditions,...

Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment. These harmful materials are called pollutants. Pollutants can be natural, such as volcanic ash. They can also be created by human activity, such as trash or runoff produced by factories. Pollutants damage the quality of air, water, and land. Many things that are useful to people produce pollution. Cars spew pollutants from their exhaust pipes. Burning coal to create electricity pollutes the air. Industries and homes generate garbage and sewage that can pollute the land and water. Pesticides—chemical poisons used to kill weeds and insects— seep into waterways and harm wildlife. All living things—from one-celled microbes to blue whales—depend on Earth’s supply of air and water. When these resources are polluted, all forms of life are threatened. Pollution is a global problem. Although urban areas are usually more polluted than the countryside, pollution can spread to remote places where no people live. For example, pesticides and other chemicals have been found in the Antarctic ice sheet. In the middle of the northern Pacific Ocean, a huge collection of microscopic plastic particles forms what is known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Air and water currents carry pollution. Ocean currents and migrating fish carry marine pollutants far and wide. Winds can pick up radioactive material accidentally released from a nuclear reactor and scatter it around the world. Smoke from a factory in one country drift...

If a friend gave you a glass of murky brown water, would you drink it? If you were thirsty enough, you might! But you would probably avoid it because it is unhealthy. You need water to survive, just as you need air. Unlike that murky glass of water, however, it’s hard to tell when the air you breathe is harmful to your health. For the most part, the air you breathe is good for your body, but there are some negative health effects that come from polluted air and some ways you can avoid it. National Institute of Health Because of human activities like heating/cooling, manufacturing, and motorized transportation, harmful substances are released into the atmosphere. These noxious gases and chemicals form ground-level ozone and particulate matter, two major components of air pollution. While modern developments have made life easier for us in some ways, our environment and our health are suffering. Asthma Though it isn’t a direct cause of asthma, air pollution can increase the frequency and severity of asthma attacks. Excessive ozone and particulate pollution causes inflamation of the respiratory tract. During an asthma attack, the airways are so swollen from inflammation that air struggles to move through them. A person having an asthma attack is not receiving the oxygen their body needs to function, which can lead to coughing, wheezing, and blue fingertips. Asthma can usually be managed with medication, but in more severe cases a person must seek immediate medical treatment. ...