Air pollution

AIR POLLUTION

DONE BY: GROUP B

WHAT IS AIR POLLUTION?? Detailed Def. : Air pollution is the introduction of

particulates, biological molecules, or other harmful materials into the Earth's atmosphere, possibly causing disease, death to humans, damage to other living organisms such as food crops, or the natural or built environment.

The atmosphere is a complex natural gaseous system that is essential to support life on planet Earth. Stratospheric ozone depletion due to air pollution has been recognized as a threat to human health as well as to the Earth's ecosystems.

The fossil fuels like coal and petroleum contain small amounts of nitrogen and sulphur. When these fuels

are burnt, nitrogen and sulphur too are burnt and this produces different oxides of nitrogen and sulphur. Not only is the inhalation of these gases dangerous, they

also dissolve in rain to give rise to acid rain. The combustion of fossil fuels also increases the amount

of suspended particles in air. These suspended particles could be unburnt carbon particles or substances called hydrocarbons. High levels in

presence of all these pollutants cause visibility to be lowered, especially in cold weather when water also condenses out of air. This is known as smog and is a

visible indication of air pollution. Studies have shown that regularly breathing air that contains any of these

substances increases the incidence of allergies, cancer and heart diseases. An increase in the content

of these harmful substances in air is called air pollution.

ACID RAIN Acid rain is a rain that is unusually acidic, meaning that it

possesses elevated levels of hydrogen ions (low pH). It can have harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals and infrastructure. Acid rain is caused by emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, which react with the water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids.

Governments have made efforts since the 1970s to reduce the release of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere with positive results. Nitrogen oxides can also be produced naturally by lightning strikes and sulfur dioxide is produced by volcanic eruptions. The chemicals in acid rain can cause paint to peel, corrosion of steel structures such as bridges, and erosion of stone statues.

DISEASES CAUSED BY AIR POLLUTION National Institute of Environment Health Sciences votes

that children and the elderly are especially vulnerable to the detrimental health effects of ozone, fine particulate matter and other air borne toxicants. Pollution-related diseases range from mild to severe and can significantly effect a person’s life.

Diseases Mostly Caused:1. Asthma2. COPD3. Lung Cancer COPD – Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder National Institute of Health (NIH) states that with COPD a

person’s airways and air sacs lose their shape and become floppy. COPD-related death due to chronic exposure to diesel emissions while on the job or near a factory.

REDUCTION EFFORTS• Rethinking

transportation.• Using eco-friendly

fuels.• Buying only necessary

amount of items.• Plant more trees.• Using the Golden R’s;

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.