Air Pollution

Air Pollution

Air Pollution

Introduction

The paper discusses about air pollution in a holistic context. It defines air pollution and highlights the causes of air pollution as well as point out the major effects it brings about. The paper also emphasizes on the as to why air pollution is bad for the environment. It also explains the major effects air pollution has on people suffering from asthma of bronchitis.

Discussion

Air pollution can be defined as air pollution as the presence in the atmosphere of substances that cause a measurable effect on the human, animals, and vegetation or on the various materials (Stephenson, 2010). Air pollution is the presence in the air of substances or energy forms that alter its quality and involves risk, danger or serious problems living beings and goods in general (Davis, 2002).

Causes of Air Pollution

The causes of air pollution are due to the presence of excessive emission of gases that distort the balance of air composition (Stephenson, 2010). These elements and compounds are mostly gases and are briefly discussed below:

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

A colorless, odorless gas created by incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuel (Gurjar, 2010).

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

It is the main cause of greenhouse gas. It originates from the combustion of coal, oil and natural gas (Davis, 2002).

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

CFCs are chemicals that are used in large quantities in industry. They react with ozone layer making the protective layer to weaken causing more of the harmful rays of the sun to reach the earth (Stephenson, 2010).

Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs)

These are chemicals that affect health and the environment and are emitted by agrochemical factories.

Lead

This is a highly toxic metal that causes a variety of disorders. Certain lead-containing chemicals are carcinogenic and most of the presence of lead in the air is due to the lead content of petrol (Davis, 2002).

Nitrogen oxides (NO2)

It comes from the combustion of gasoline, coal and other fuels. It is one of the main causes of smog and acid rain. At high concentrations, smog can cause breathing difficulties in asthmatics, coughs in children and general illness of the respiratory system (Gurjar, 2010).

Particles

This category includes all types of suspended solid matter in smoke, dust and vapors. These particles of the atmosphere come from various sources, among which we mention the combustion of diesel trucks and buses, fossil fuels, etc (Stephenson, 2010).

Sulphur dioxide (SO2)

It is an odorless gas when in low concentrations, but at high concentration has a strong smell. It ...