Air Pollution
What is it?
Air pollution can occur when humans introduce substances (chemicals, particulate matter and biological materials) into the air that can cause problems for humans, animals and plants.
Different types of air pollution
1) Emission of chlorofluorocarbons into the atmosphere (Ozone depletion)
Air pollution can occur when humans introduce substances (chemicals, particulate matter and biological materials) into the air that can cause problems for humans, animals and plants.
Different types of air pollution
1) Emission of chlorofluorocarbons into the atmosphere (Ozone depletion)
- Ozone is a substance which forms a layer in the stratosphere and it is made up of ozone molecules. These molecules are important because the ozone interacts with high-energy ultraviolet radiation causing the ozone to absorb the UV radiation and transform it into heat. This is important because otherwise, the UV radiation would reach the surface of Earth. BUT because of human activity, this is happening! Chlorofluorocarbons are a group of chemicals which interact with the ozone causing the molecules to break apart and form oxygen molecules. This is a problem because the addition of these new molecules means the loss of ozone. But where did these chemicals come from? Chlorofluorocarbons were formerly used in air conditioners and aerosol cans and they have since escaped into the atmosphere. Because there are less ozone molecules in the stratosphere, some UV radiation is hitting Earth and can cause cataracts and skin cancer.
- How can we prevent this? There have been a lot of regulations already placed pertaining to chlorofluorocarbons. It was not until 1984 that actual proof of stratospheric ozone depletion was found, and since then, scientists have worked to discover the Ozone Depletion Process and ways that we can prevent this from happening such as not using CFCs in air conditioners anymore.
- This type of air pollution is different than the pollution listed above because it occurs at ground level, which includes the air that we breath. This type of ozone occurs from a chemical change in gases in car exhaust. Some of these molecules do not form water and carbon dioxide, but instead nitrous oxide, sulfur oxide and carbon monoxide. With both heat and light energy, some of these molecules can then undergo a chemical change and turn into ozone molecules. The consequence of this is that ozone is an irritant to the respiratory system. These consequences can range from a minor irritation to the lining of your respiratory tract, which includes your lungs and bronchiole tubes, all the way to becoming a serious health concern for people with asthma and emphysema.
- How can we prevent this? In order to prevent the addition of more ozone into the air, people can reduce the amount that they use vehicles such as cars, motorcycles, planes and buses. If necessary, people should carpool and use bikes whenever possible.
- Global climate change is the most serious threat to the environment. It occurs when the amount of greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide, increases in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide gets released from combustion. When burning a fuel, the stored carbon dioxide gets released during the chemical transformation. For example, when energy is changed from mechanical to heat energy, carbon dioxide will get released. Once the carbon dioxide is released, more heat gets trapped in the atmosphere and radiated back towards Earth. Because more heat is trapped, the temperatures of Earth begin to increase which causes ice caps to melt, precipitation distributions to change and glaciers to melt.
- How can we prevent this? LESS COMBUSTION! Everything from burning fires, driving cars, smoking tobacco, using planes and even cooking creates combustion which inturn creates carbon dioxide. Other ways to prevent this type of pollution includes: not smoking, replacing car filters, avoiding lighter fluid when barbecuing outside, and using an electric lawnmower instead of a gas-powered one.
- Acid rain is formed from nitrous oxide and sulfur oxide that enters the air after combustion. Both of these molecules can react with water to form nitrous acid and sulfuric acid. When it precipitates (rains, snows, sleets and hails), these new acids fall to the ground with the water molecules. This is a problem because plant life becomes majorly affected. Trees and smaller plants can begin to die when they take in acid through their roots. Not only are plants affected, but statues and building can begin to deteriorate due to acid rain. This type of rain is also dangerous to humans as well.
- How can we prevent this? Preventing acid rain is just like preventing many of the other air pollutions, we need to burn less fuels.
Facts about air pollution
- Almost 232 million different types of vehicles are driven by U.S. citizens every day, adding greenhouse gases into the air
- U.S. vehicle emissions contribute 45% to global warming
- The average adult consumes 3,000 gallons of polluted air every day
- Vehicle exhaust contributes to 60% of carbon monoxide emissions in the U.S. and up to 95% in large cities
- Every year 335,000 Americans die of lung cancer, which is a direct result of air pollution
Video on air pollution
What Is Air Pollution? from London Air on Vimeo.