Air Pollution: Types, Reasons, Effects, How to Control, FAQs

Air pollution refers to any physical, chemical, or biological change in the air. Noxious gasses, dust, and smoke are the main contributors to air pollution's negative effects on plants, animals, and people. There are certain proportions of gasses in the atmosphere. Any rise or decrease in the concentration of these gasses is harmful to life. The increase in earth's temperature brought on by this imbalance in the gaseous composition is referred to as global warming. When contaminants, such as gasses, particles, biological molecules, etc., are released into the atmosphere and cause harm to both human health and the environment, it causes air pollution.

Air Pollutant Types

Two categories of air contaminants exist. They are:

• Primary Pollutants: Primary pollutants are those substances that directly contribute to air pollution. A major contaminant is sulphur dioxide, which manufacturers release.

• Secondary Pollutants: As primary pollutants mix and interact with one another, secondary pollutants are produced. When smoke and fog interact, smog is produced as a secondary pollutant.

Reasons Of Air Pollution

There are several reasons for air pollution. Some of them are:

• Utilization of Fossil Fuels:

Sulphur dioxide is widely released into the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels. Carbon monoxide, which is produced when fossil fuels are burnt inefficiently, also contributes to air pollution.

• Automobiles:

The ecology is harmed by vehicle emissions, which include those from cars, trucks, buses, and jeeps. These are the primary causes of human illness and greenhouse gas production.

• Farmers' Activities:

Tne of the most dangerous chemicals released during agricultural operations is ammonia. Insecticides, pesticides, and fertilizers damage the atmosphere by emitting dangerous substances.

• Industries and Factories:

Industry and manufacturing are the main sources of carbon monoxide, organic substances, hydrocarbons, and chemicals. They degrade the quality of the atmosphere by dispersing into it.

• Homegrown Sources:

Paints and household cleaning products release hazardous chemicals into the air. The smell of the chemicals used to produce the paints is released by the freshly painted walls. It has an effect on respiration in addition to contaminating the air.

Uses Of Renewable Energy Sources

Utilizing geothermal, solar, and wind energy helps to reduce air pollution more significantly. As a move toward a cleaner environment, several nations, including India, have implemented the usage of these resources. Additional steps taken to reduce air pollution and these includes:

• By using fire and fire-related goods less frequently.

• Industrial emissions are one of the primary causes of air pollution, thus by regulating or treating them, the pollutants may be decreased at the source. For instance, a raw material can be swapped out with one that creates less pollution if a certain reaction results in the production of a pollutant.

• A further method of reducing air pollution is fuel substitution. In several regions of India, CNG-powered cars are replacing gasoline and diesel-powered ones. Most automobiles that don't completely operate with optimal emission engines adopt these.

• Although there are several techniques in India that aim to improve air quality, the majority of them are either ignored or improperly applied. There are still many automobiles on the road that haven't had their vehicle emissions assessed.

• Modifying and keeping up existing equipment to reduce the release of pollutants is another method of reducing air pollution brought on by enterprises.

Air Pollution Effects

The ecology is negatively impacted by air pollution in the following ways:

• Diseases:

Humans have developed a number of respiratory conditions and cardiac ailments as a result of air pollution. Over the last several decades, there has been an upsurge in lung cancer incidences. Children who live close to polluted environments are more likely to get asthma and pneumonia. Each year, many individuals pass away as a result of air pollution, either directly or indirectly.

• Depletion of the ozone layer:

The main factor contributing to the ozone layer's depletion is the emission of hydrochlorofluorocarbons, halons, and chlorofluorocarbons into the atmosphere. People get skin ailments and eye issues as a result of the sun's damaging UV radiation, which the ozone layer's loss cannot stop.

• Impact on Animals:

Aquatic life is impacted by the air contaminants that suspend in water bodies. Additionally, pollution forces animals to relocate from their natural environment. This makes them stray and has caused a great deal of animal species to become extinct.

Controlling Air Pollution

The following actions should be taken to reduce air pollution:

• Refrain from driving:

The use of automobiles for shorter distances should be avoided. Instead, they ought to favor using public transportation to get from one location to another. In addition to reducing pollutants, this also saves electricity.

• Energy efficiency:

To create power, a lot of fossil fuels are used. Therefore, remember to turn off any electrical devices that are not in use. Consequently, you may protect the environment on a personal level. Utilizing energy-saving technology, such as CFLs, also significantly reduces pollutants.