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The Cons of Contaminated Air

From adverse health impacts to acid rain, the deleterious effects of air pollution are all-encompassing

The Cons of Contaminated Air

Sentinel Digital DeskBy : Sentinel Digital Desk

  |  15 Nov 2022 11:40 AM GMT

In addition to lung cancer, emphysema, and coronary heart disease, there are other long-term health implications of air pollution. These are but a few of the possible effects. The long-term effects of air pollution may be hazardous to human nerves, brains, kidneys, livers, and other organs of the body.


What is air pollution?

Air pollution occurs when pollutants in the atmosphere harm humans and other living things, the environment, or materials. These pollutants pollute the air. The accumulation of contaminants that harm the climate, materials, and human health in the atmosphere. These pollutants pollute the air. Gases, particulates, and biological substances pollute the air. Gases that contribute to air pollution can impact humans, animals, food crops, and the natural and built environments. Air pollution gases include: Human and natural processes

What are the sources of air pollution?

There are a wide variety of points of entry for pollution into the atmosphere of our planet. People are accountable for the majority of the emissions that cause pollution in the air. Such emissions emanate from sources such as factories, cars, aircraft, and aerosol cans. Smoke from cigarettes that is breathed by someone else is part of the definition of air pollution. Anthropogenic sources are yet another name for these major pollutants due to human activity.

There is a naturally occurring phenomenon of certain types of air pollution. These kinds of sources are known as basic sources.

Large cities usually have high rates of air pollution because this is where emissions from a wide variety of sources are concentrated. There are circumstances when mountains or large structures are the only things that can stop the spread of air pollution. This cloud-like appearance of air pollution is typically responsible for making the atmosphere hazy. Smog is the name for this. Combining the terms "smoke" and "fog" resulted in the creation of the word "smog."

Effects of air pollution

On humans:

When exposed to air pollution, people are more likely to suffer from a wide variety of adverse health impacts. Depending on how long the air pollution impacts humans, effects are classified as short-term and long-term.

Pneumonia and bronchitis are examples of short-term consequences that only last for a short period of time. These aren't life-threatening, but they're definitely not pleasant.

The health consequences of breathing polluted air might stay on for a number of years or even for an entire lifetime. They are so dangerous that they can potentially cause a person'sdeath.

In addition to lung cancer, emphysema, and coronary heart disease, there are other long-term health implications of air pollution. These are but a few of the possible effects. The long-term effects of air pollution may be hazardous to human nerves, brains, kidneys, livers, and other organs of the body.There is a school of thought among some very knowledgeable people who believe that birth defects are caused by toxins in the air. Air pollution, both outside and inside, is the cause of mortality for a significant number of people all over the world each and every year.

Different types of air pollution elicit a variety of responses from individuals. Pollution tends to have a more profound effect on younger children and older adults since the immune systems in these age groups are often in poorer shape. Exposure to air pollution can make asthma, heart disease, and lung disease, even more severe. The duration of exposure, as well as the quantity and kinds of contaminants, are other important considerations.

On the environment

The impacts of air pollution can be detrimental to the entire ecosystem, just as they are to individuals, animals, and plants. Similar to smog, haze is a visual kind of air pollution that makes it difficult to distinguish between different colours and shapes. Even noises might be muffled when there is a lot of pollution in the air.

The particles that make up air pollution eventually fall to the ground. Air pollution has the potential to contaminate the soil and water. This can either cause the crop to die or lower its production. It poses a threat to the lives of young trees and other plants.

Acid rain can be produced when airborne sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide particles combine with water and oxygen in the atmosphere. This reaction results in the production of acid rain. The majority of these pollutants in the air come from power plants that burn coal and vehicles on the road. When acid rain falls on Earth, it changes the composition of the soil, which in turn causes damage to plants and crops; it also reduces the quality of the water and it can cause structures and sculptures to deteriorate.

Animals as well as people, are susceptible to the negative health impacts that might result from being exposed to air pollution. Air pollution has been linked to a variety of negative health effects, including lower reproductive rates, birth abnormalities, and illnesses.

Global Warming

The environmental phenomenon known as global warming is driven by both natural and manmade sources of air pollution. It is a reference to the increasing temperatures of the world's atmosphere and oceans. Attributing at least some of this temperature rises due to the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is a reasonable assumption. The Earth's atmosphere contains certain gases known as "greenhouse gases," which trap heat energy. (In a typical scenario, a greater portion of the Earth's heat is lost to space.)

The most significant contribution to the warming of the planet has been made by carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. By burning fossil fuels(coal, gasoline, and natural gas), carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere and contributes to climate change. In order to power automobiles and aeroplanes, heat homes and businesses, and generate electricity, humans have come to rely on fossil fuels. The release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is a direct result of these activities.

Methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases are a few examples of the additional greenhouse gases that can be generated by both natural and artificial sources. The production of coal and agricultural processes both produce significant amounts of methane as an emission. Nitrous oxide is a gas that is often released into the atmosphere as a by-product of industrial processes, agricultural practises, and the combustion of fossil fuels in vehicles. The industrial sector is responsible for the emission of fluorinated gases such as hydrofluorocarbons. In place of other types of gases, such as chlorofluorocarbons, fluorinated gases (CFCs) are frequently employed. Because of their detrimental effects on the ozone layer, CFCs have been made illegal in several countries.

In order to fight the effects of global warming, a number of nations throughout the world have implemented policies that either cut or cap their emissions of greenhouse gases. The Kyoto Protocol, isan agreement among 183 countries that they commit to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide that they emit into the atmosphere.

Thus, these are the effects of air pollution, and it is seen that not only humans but every entity in the ecosystem gets affected due to air pollution. Proper measures must be taken in order to reduce air pollution at the source. Reduction of air pollution at the source will be beneficial to both human health and the entire ecosystem.There is an urgent need of mass awareness at an individual level, stakeholders, departments and also at community level to reduce the negative effects of air pollution.

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