What is Air Pollution? 

Air pollution is the material, whether chemicals, particulates, or biological materials, that is introduced into the atmosphere by humans or human products. This includes smog, CFCs, acid rain, and indoor air pollutants. Air pollution is always a bad thing, there are no positives having to do with air pollution. Pollution is quickly becoming a serious problem all over the world, in the air, the water, the soil, and many other ways. As humans, we are responsible for the damage we do, and if we do not find a way to either tremendously curb or clear the world we live on, we will not have our natural resources for very long. Most people think that air pollution is a problem that only tree-huggers or environmentalists worry about, but the sad fact is it is a reality that we all have to face. We cause more problems every day than we come up with solutions for in ten years. Drastic measures may be required from our children and grandchildren if we do not begin to make some serious headway in the air pollution problem. Scientists and researchers generally measure air pollution by two methods. The first method is measuring the maximum amount of any given pollutant that can be in our atmosphere at all times. By this method, scientists and researchers can determine how the air pollution will affect both the ecosystems on Earth and life in general. The second method of measuring air pollution has to do with how the pollution levels will affect day-to-day life on Earth. Many news stations and newspapers publish daily or weekly reports showing the level of outdoor pollutants (such as those affecting outdoor activities), and warn the public accordingly.

How does it affect me?

Air pollution is not just a phrase that we talk about in grave tones and worry about for people who live in faraway places. Large cities are not the only places affected by air pollution; this is a problem we have to worry about no matter where we live. Of course, like most things, individual results will vary. Depending on the amount of exposure to air pollution that the person saw, how long they were exposed, what type of treatment(s) they have received, and other factors, reactions may be more or less severe on a person-by-person basis. Air pollution can cause respiratory diseases and problems and even death to people. Some sources claim that over 2 million people can die each year from the respiratory problems associated with air pollution. That is more deaths worldwide than the number of people who die each year from car accidents! Conditions affected by air pollution include asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, lung and heart disease, and respiratory allergies. These conditions, if not worsened to life-threatening stages, are at the least aggravated severely. Other less serious but still health-affecting conditions associated with air pollution include wheezing, coughing, allergies, and aggravation of the respiratory system. Cardiovascular conditions can also result from air pollution. All of these can lead to the necessity of more frequent doctor visits and/or emergency room visits, increased doses of medication or introduction of new medications, and much more. Genetics also plays a role in the affect that air pollution will have on a person, with some people being more prone to certain physiological conditions than others are.

What causes air pollution?

Air pollution can be caused by the release of small particles into the air (such as by burning fuels or smoke from fires) or by noxious gases being released into the atmosphere, whether by natural or fabricated sources. These gases include methane, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, or chemical vapors. The gases can also lead to a chain-reaction event that includes acid rain, smog, and the greenhouse effect. If left unchecked, the chemical aspect of air pollution could become the largest contributor to premature death in the world, higher than the rate of cancer, AIDS, automobile accidents, or any other cause of unnatural or premature death. Most people make the assumption that the greatest single cause of air pollution is the big factories that dot our landscape, especially in our big cities. However, this is not entirely the case. Actually, the greatest single contributor to the pollution problem facing not only the United States but also the entire world is automobile emissions. These harmful emissions are increasingly becoming a severe problem that, if left unchecked, could become a factor in drastic measures needing to be taken in order to breathe one day. There are several types of contributors to air pollution, and most or all of them are dependent upon human means in order for them to affect the air. The greatest contributor is mobile emissions, which come mainly from cars and other types of automobiles. Other mobile contributors include airplanes, helicopters, and more. Stationary sources are the second leading factor in air pollution. This type of pollution comes from big factories and plants emitting gases into the atmosphere. Manufacturing facilities and waste facilities also contribute to this type of air pollution. Thirdly, marine vessels emit air pollution (I.e. cruise ships and container ships, with ports contributing their fair share). Fireplaces/chimneys, burning wood, incinerators, and stoves are types of air pollutants. Any type of oil refinery or industrial activity will cause air pollution. Different types of chemicals and dust also cause air pollution. The military can cause air pollution (nuclear weapons, machinery, weaponry, toxic gases, and germ warfare). Lastly, household items such as hairspray, aerosol sprays, paint, and varnish are air pollutants. There are also natural causes of air pollution. Dust, from areas of land without vegetation, or with limited vegetation. Methane, produced by the large, vegetable-eating animals such as cows. Radon, which is released by the Earth’s crust. Smoke and/or carbon monoxide, released from sources such as forest fires and wildfires. Volcanic ash can also produce massive tons of air pollutants. These are forces that humans can neither contend with nor create a solution to prevent.

What else does air pollution effect?

We cannot make the assumption that air pollution only affects humans. It is a problem for every being on Earth that breathes, in fact. Birds, land animals, marine animals, plants, trees, and more also require their own respective levels of different gases to be in the air in order for them to breathe. This includes both oxygen and carbon dioxide, which are both affected by the problems having to do with air pollution. Plant and animal life are dependent on the same air that we are in order to breathe. Air pollution leads to a common phenomenon known as “the greenhouse effect” on the planet. This causes heat to be trapped in the upper atmosphere of the Earth, creating the problematic global warming trends that we see on a daily basis. The air pollution problem causes ozone depletion, causing tremendous catastrophic results for the Earth’s various ecosystems. If we are not careful, or do not begin to improve the air we breathe on a daily basis, we will continue to kill the many plant, marine, and animal ecosystems that make our world such a diverse place.

What are the risks involved with air pollution?

If air pollution is not put into remission, it could pose many risks and dangers, both environmental and physiologically. The aforementioned greenhouse effect is one of the most serious results of unchecked air pollution. The air pollution problem is also systematically causing the oceans to become more acidic. While this is not a problem right now, since many marine creatures use the acid in their photosynthesis actions, the far-reaching effects are not entirely known yet. We could also face crises with the depletion of the ozone, which is caused by air pollution. With a depleted ozone layer, we risk the global warming trend becoming even more volatile. If the ozone layer is depleted enough, the sun will begin to burn the Earth, causing severe problems and death for all living things. While this is a worse case scenario at this point in time, it is still a potential risk associated with not creating a solution to the global warming problem and the air pollution dilemma in general.

How serious is the air pollution problem?

The air pollution problem is at a different level in different parts of the world. While the most serious problems are located in and around major cities all over the world, small cities, rural areas, and even undeveloped areas can experience problems with air pollution. Both the natural and unnatural means of causing air pollution contribute to this problem, and different methods are needed in order to contain or clarify the bad air. Cities that are the worst contaminated in the United States include Los Angeles and San Francisco, but many other cities, especially along the West Coast, suffer tremendously from the air pollution problem. Worldwide, cities such as Cairo (Egypt), Jakarta (Indonesia), Delhi (India), Kolkata (Calcutta, India), Tianjin (China), Chongqing (China), Kanpur (India), Lucknow (India), and Shenyang (China). Of course, the air pollution problem is not limited to the United States, India, China, and Egypt. The United Kingdom, Australia, most of the rest of Europe and Asia, and parts of Africa also suffer from the debilitating effects of air pollution. The problem with air pollution is that it does not stay in one place; the wind currents push it all over the globe. Asia’s air pollution is most commonly noticed in the United States on the West Coast, for instance. Changing wind currents will affect different parts of the world in different ways and the rise in air pollution will change accordingly.

How can we improve our air?

Many different methods of clarifying and improving our air are being implemented and/or tested every year. Many different countries and nations have regulatory policies where air pollution is concerned. Automobile companies are expected to make vehicles that follow these emissions laws, and many auto manufacturers have come up with vehicles that do not emit much, if any, harmful gases. It is up to the consumer, however, to purchase a vehicle that complies with these standards. New regulations are being developed to control marine emissions, farm equipment, and gas-powered personal equipment such as lawnmowers and other landscaping equipment. A method such as the offering of cleaner fuel sources for many vehicles is also contributing the gradual clean up of our air. Many factories and large plants have controlled emissions regulations and laws that govern what they can emit into the air and how much they can emit. They either control the contaminants by this method or remove the contaminants from the air before it is emitted into our atmosphere. Other means of regulating air pollution include particulate controls, air scrubbers, NOx control, VOC abatement (such as thermal oxidizers), acid gas control, mercury, dioxin, and furan controls (such as electro-catalytic oxidizers), and more. Miscellaneous associated equipment controls have regulatory or permissive air pollution laws as well.