Effects of Air Pollution

The Effects of Air PollutionBy – Keely-Shay Reid

For – Mrs. CooperScience Project

1The Effects of Air Pollution Keely-Shay Reid

Topic: Air Pollution and its Effects on the Environment

Definition of air pollutionAir pollution occurs when the air contains gases, dust, fumes or odour in harmful amounts.

That is, amounts which could be harmful to the health or comfort of humans and animals or which could cause damage to plants and materials.

The substances that cause air pollution are called pollutants.

Pollutants that are pumped into our atmosphere and directly pollute the air are called primary pollutants.

Examples of Primary pollutants include: -


a. carbon monoxide from car exhausts andb. sulfur dioxide from the combustion of coal.

Historical explanation

In the days before the proliferation of large cities and industry, nature's own systems kept the air fairly clean.

Wind mixed and dispersed the gases, rain washed the dust and other easily dissolved substances to the ground and plants absorbed carbon dioxide and replaced it with oxygen.

How Why


A cloud of smoke from the exhaust of a vehicle

Increasing traffic

Smoke from a factory chimney

Growing cities

Burning leaves Apathetic people

With increasing urbanisation and industrialisation, humans started to release more wastes into the atmosphere than nature could cope with.

Air pollutants mainly occur as a result of gaseous discharges from industry and motor vehicles.


Fig. 1 – Factory Exhaust Fig. 2 – Urban City Fig. 3 – Cars, Traffic Exhaust

There are also natural sources such as wind-blown dust and smoke from fires.

Fig.4 – Wind Blown Dust Fig. 5 – Smoke from Land Fires


Fig. 6 - Riverton City Dump on Fire, Jamaica W.I.

The Riverton City Dump in Jamaica WI was recently set on fire by unknown sources. A wide range of air pollutants resulted when the Riverton City Dump burned – dust and dirt particulates, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxides to name a few.- The Jamaica Observer, March 20, 2014 reported:“Health impacts of the air pollution from the Riverton City Dump fires: increased the risk of death among elderly and those with pre-existing respiratory and cardiac illnesses, infant mortality, low birth weight of babies, onset of childhood asthma, coughs, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, burning in eyes, nose and throat, dizziness, weakness, confusion, nausea, disorientation, exposure to known carcinogens. The seriousness of these depends on how close people were to the fire.”


Some forms of air pollution create global problems, such as upper atmosphere ozone depletion and global warming.

Here are examples of common air pollutants.

Fig. 7-Six Common Air Pollutants


Some Examples of Common Air Pollutants are: Carbon Monoxide

Nitrogen & Sulphur Dioxide

Particulate Matter

Lead

Ground Level Ozone

Here are Some of the Environmental Effects of Air Pollution

Ozone layer depletion What is Ozone Depletion?

Ozone layer depletion, is simply the wearing out (reduction) of the amount of ozone in the stratosphere. Unlike pollution, which has many types and causes, Ozone depletion has been pinned down to one major human activity.Industries that manufacture things like insulating foams, solvents, soaps, cooling things like Air Conditioners, Refrigerators and ‘Take-Away’ containers use something called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). These substances are heavier than air, but over time, (2-5years) they are carried high into the stratosphere by wind action.


Depletion begins when CFC’s get into the stratosphere. Ultra violet radiation from the sun breaks up these CFCs. The breaking up action releases Chlorine atoms. Chlorine atoms react with Ozone, starting a chemical cycle that destroys the good ozone in that area. One chlorine atom can break apart more than 100,000 ozone molecules.

Fig. 7 – Ozone Layer Depletion Cycle

Acid Rain What is Acid Rain?


Fig. 8 – Acid Rain Cycle

Because of pollution in the air, acid gases from factories, cars and homes, the rain is becoming dangerous for the life of every living creature. This rain is known as 'acid rain'.Acid gases are produced when fossil fuels like coal and oil are burned in power stations, factories and in our own homes. Most of these acid gases are blown into the sky, and when they mix with the clouds it can cause rain - or snow, sleet, fog, mist or hail - to become more acidic.

When rain is acidic, it affects what it falls on: trees, lakes, buildings and farmland. Sometimes rain is not very acidic and does not cause a lot of


problems, but when it is acidic, it can be very harmful to the environment.

Summarized Effects of Air Pollution

• Health problems

• Damage to the environment

• Damage to property

• Thinning of the protective ozone layer of the atmosphere which is leading to climate changes

• Encourage your family to walk more


• Take the school bus

• Reduce the amount of spray bottles used

• Do not burn leaves in your yard- put them in a compost

• Keep your family cars in tune so that they don’t smoke.

• Use battery operated cars.

• Share your room with others when the air conditioner is on. Turn off AC when you leave the room.

• Take care of our trees.


Effects of Air Pollution

Documents