SMOG Full Form

What is the full form of SMOG?

SMOG(Smoke + fog) Smokey fog is caused by burning of coal, emissions from vehicles and factories. SMOG is a stage of air pollution. The term SMOG was first used in the early twentieth century to denote mixture of smoke and fog. SMOG is formed when ash, sulphur and other harmful chemicals present in the smoke emitted by vehicles and industrial factories come in contact with fog. In this form, it causes many deadly diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and lung cancer by air pollution. Human-caused smoke mainly results from coal combustion, vehicular emissions, forest and agricultural fires, and other photochemical reactions.

This Story also Contains

1. What is the full form of SMOG?
2. History of SMOG
3. Types of SMOG
4. Formation of SMOG

History of SMOG

The word “SMOG” was first used during 1905 by Dr. Henry Antoine des voeux while presenting his research paper entitled “Fog and Smoke” at a meeting of the Public Health Congress. The London newspaper Daily Graphic wrote in its edition of 26 July 1905 that Dr. Des have named the mixed condition of smoke and fog as 'SMOG'.

Types of SMOG

SMOG can be divided into two types:

1. Summer SMOG

2. Winter SMOG

Formation of SMOG

1. Summer SMOG:-

• It is also called ‘Los Angeles SMOG’ or photochemical SMOG.

• Photochemical SMOG occurs most prominently in urban areas with a large number of automobiles producing a huge amount of nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide and other gases( primary emissions).

• Summer SMOG forms when pollutants such as nitrogen oxide and organic compounds react together in the presence of sunlight, then gas ozone is formed (ozone is beneficial for us, but it could be only in the stratosphere. If it forms near the earth's surface it results in global warming and greenhouse effect.)

(Fig. effect of Los Angeles SMOG)

2. Winter SMOG:-

• This SMOG is also known as “Sulphurous SMOG” or “London SMOG” because it was first formed in London.

• When high concentration of sulphur oxides is formed in the air caused, due to the use of sulphur-burning fossil fuels, particularly coal (during the 19th-century coal is the main source of power in London. So this effects were observed as early as in the early 19th century)

• This type of effect is caused by a lot of sulphur oxides in the air.

(Fig. effect of London SMOG)