What is air pollution, its causes and effects

What is air pollution, its causes and effects

When harmful smoke, dust and gases mix in the air, then it is called air pollution. Air pollution occurs due to the presence of a high proportion of undesirable gases such as sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide. The atmosphere is basically composed of different types of gases. Air is a proportional mixture of many gases. The ratio of gases in this is so balanced that even a slight change in it affects the whole system or cycle and its effect on the life of the earth. The natural or human effect on the gases present in the air is responsible for air pollution.

What is air pollution?

The presence or release of any kind of undesirable object or gas in the atmosphere which is harmful to humans, animals and plants etc. is called air pollution.

Definition of air pollution

The World Health Organization has defined air pollution in this way - "Air pollution is a condition in which elements that harm humans and their environment are concentrated in the atmosphere." The amount of all the undesirable substances present, due to which the living beings are harmed, is called air pollution.

Causes of air pollution

Take a look at some common causes of air pollution.

1. Burning of fuels, such as coal and wood in households for domestic activity. They emit harmful gases, such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. These gases are responsible for exacerbating respiratory problems like asthma, cough and sneezing.

2. Fuels used in automobiles, such as diesel and petrol, emit oxides of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur and smoke. These gases are very harmful and can cause complete damage to the lungs, irritate the eyes and cause skin allergies.

3. Burning of coal in power plants and industries is the main source of pollutants of gases, such as sulfur and nitrogen. These are responsible for acid rain which damages buildings and monuments and makes the soil more acidic which is not suitable for plants.

4. Chlorofluorocarbons used in air-conditioned plants, refrigerators - CFCs. (B) and aerosol sprays damage the ozone layer.

5. Deforestation - affects the balance in the environment.

Types of air pollution

1. Particulate Pollution - Many pollutants are found floating in the air in solid form. Examples of such pollutants are dust, ash etc. These particles are of large size and spread on the surface of the earth and spread pollution, this type of pollution is called particulate pollution.

2. Gaseous Pollution - Many types of gases are formed by human activities and the mixture of many natural elements also contributes in this formation. When oxides of sulfur, oxides of nitrogen are mixed with the smoke released by burning fuel in the air, it is called a gaseous pollutant.

3. Chemical Pollution - Many chemical substances are used in modern industries and the gases, smoke etc., coming out of these industries, toxic chemical gases in the atmosphere pollute the air.

4. Smoke Haze Pollution - Smoke and fog in the atmosphere, that is, haze is formed by the combination of water vapor and water droplets present in the air, which creates suffocation in the atmosphere and reduces visibility.

Sources of air pollution

1. Air Pollution by Vehicles - Smoke from various vehicles is the most helpful in air pollution. These fumes contain various types of toxic gases, which not only contaminate the atmosphere but also destroy the quality of the air. These poisonous gases - monoxide, sulfur oxide, sulfuric acid etc.

2. Industrial pollution - Various industries engaged in big cities also increase air pollution. Such industries are mainly cement, sugar, steel, chemical fertilizers and factories etc. Nitrogen oxides from the fertilizer industry, potassium-rich fertilizers, potash particles, carbon-di-oxide, sulfur-di-oxide, dust particles from the steel industry, calcium, sodium, silicon particles from the cement industry, entering the air and leaving the atmosphere spoil it.

3. Household Pollution - In countries like India, even today 90% of the energy used for cooking is obtained from non-commercial energy sources, for this wood, dung and agricultural waste are used. The smoke generated from them pollutes the air.

4. Personal Habits - Another source of air pollution is the personal habits of the people. Smoking in public places spreads smoke in the air. Similarly, by throwing out the garbage of the house, some particles enter the air and increase pollution.

5. Air pollution from natural sources - Natural calamities such as volcanic eruptions, meteorites, landslides and micro-organisms are also sources of air pollution.

Effects of air pollution

Carbon monoxide combines with hemoglobin molecules in human blood 200 times faster than oxygen and forms the poisonous substance carboxy hemoglobin. Due to which, even if there is sufficient amount of oxygen in the air, breathing blockage, suffocation starts.

The risk of skin cancer has been expressed in fair-skinned people due to the lack of ozone.

Due to the urban smog mixed with sulfur-di-oxide, the respiratory system in the human body gets blocked, due to which people die.

Sulfur-dioxide pollution also causes diseases of the eyes, throat and lungs.

Due to acid rain, the water of water bodies on the surface and ground water gets polluted (acidity increases in the water), the health of people who consume such polluted water is affected.

Due to the increase in the concentration of nitric oxide in the air, it reaches the human body by breath and at a rate a thousand times faster than oxygen, it combines with hemoglobin, due to which breathing becomes difficult, gums Inflammation occurs, bleeding occurs inside the body, there is a lack of oxygen and pneumonia and lung cancer occur.

Due to suspended particulate matter, such as lead, asbestos, zinc, copper, dust etc. emitted from factories and automatic vehicles, many types of life-threatening diseases occur in human bodies.

Due to the sudden release of harmful toxic gases from the plants of chemicals and poisonous gases, the pollution of the air becomes so much that hundreds of people become victims of death in the blink of an eye.

Measures to prevent air pollution

There are many ways to prevent air pollution. Here are some -

Clean fuels, such as CNG use.

Create awareness programs related to environment so that everyone understands their responsibility.

Use clean energy resources such as solar energy, wind energy and water energy.

Less harmful products should be discovered, such as solar powered motor cars.

The production and consumption of polluting materials and elements should be stopped immediately.

Effective efforts should be made to find new effective ways to control pollution.

Pollution control equipment should be installed along with the establishment of various industries.

Such industries, which cause heavy pollution, should be kept far away from residential places.

Smoke from industries must be sulfur free before exiting the chimneys.

Plant more trees.