AIR POLLUTION

What is Air Pollution?

Air is the ocean we breathe. Air supplies us with oxygen which is essential for our bodies to live. Air is 99.9% nitrogen, oxygen, water vapour and inert gases. Human activities can release substances into the air, some of which can cause problems for humans, plants, and animals.

There are several main types of pollution and the well-known effects of pollution which are commonly discussed. These include smog, acid rain, the greenhouse effect, and "holes" in the ozone layer. Each of these problems has serious implications for our health and well-being as well as for the whole environment.

One type of air pollution is the release of particles into the air from burning fuel for energy. Diesel smoke is a good example of this particulate matter. The particles are very normal pieces of matter measuring about 2.5 microns or about .0001 inches. This type of pollution is sometimes referred to as "black carbon" pollution. The exhaust from burning fuels in automobiles, homes, and industries is a major source of pollution in the air. Some authorities believe that even the burning of wood and charcoal in fireplaces and barbeques can release significant quantities of soot into the air.

Another type of pollution is the release of noxious gases, such as sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and chemical vapours. These can take part in further chemical reactions once they are in the atmosphere, forming smog and acid rain.

Pollution also needs to be considered inside our homes, offices, and schools. Some of these pollutants can be created by indoor activities such as smoking and cooking. In the United States, we spend about 80-90% of our time inside buildings, and so our exposure to harmful indoor pollutants can be serious. It is therefore important to consider both indoor and outdoor air pollution.

Every day, the average person inhales about 20,000 litres of air.  Every time we breathe, we risk inhaling dangerous chemicals that have found their way into the air. Air pollution includes all contaminants found in the atmosphere.  These dangerous substances can be either in the form of gases or particles. Air pollution can be found both outdoors and indoors.  Pollutants can be trapped inside buildings, causing indoor pollution that lasts for a long time. The sources of air pollution are both natural and human-based.  As one might expect, humans have been producing increasing amounts of pollution as time has progressed, and they now account for the majority of pollutants released into the air. Air pollution has been a problem throughout history.  Even in Ancient Rome people complained about smoke put into the atmosphere. The effects of air pollution are diverse and numerous.  Air pollution can have serious consequences for the health of human beings, and also severely affects natural ecosystems. Because it is located in the atmosphere, air pollution is able to travel easily.  As a result, air pollution is a global problem and has been the subject of global cooperation and conflict. Some areas now suffer more than others from air pollution.  Cities with large numbers of automobiles or those that use great quantities of coal often suffer most severely from problems of air pollution.

Outdoor Air Pollution

Smog is a type of large-scale outdoor pollution. It is caused by chemical reactions between pollutants derived from different sources, primarily automobile exhaust and industrial emissions. Cities are often centres of these types of activities, and many suffer from the effects of smog, especially during the warm months of the year. Additional information about smog and its effects are available from Environment Canada and the Air Quality Management District (AQMD) in southern California.

For each city, the exact causes of pollution may be different. Depending on the geographical location, temperature, wind and weather factors, pollution is dispersed differently. However, sometimes this does not happen and the pollution can build up to dangerous levels. A temperature inversion occurs when air close to the earth is cooler than the air above it. Under these conditions, pollution cannot rise and be dispersed. Cities surrounded by mountains also experience trapping of pollution. Inversion can happen in any season. Winter inversions are likely to cause particulate and carbon monoxide pollution. Summer inversions are more likely to create smog.

Another consequence of outdoor air pollution is acid rain. When a pollutant, such as sulfuric acid combines with droplets of water in the air, the water (or snow) can become acidified. The effects of acid rain on the environment can be very serious. It damages plants by destroying their leaves, it poisons the soil, and it changes the chemistry of lakes and streams. Damage due to acid rain kills trees and harms animals, fish, and other wildlife. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Environment Canada are among the organizations that are actively studying the acid rain problem.

The Greenhouse Effect also referred to as global warming, is generally believed to come from the build-up of carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is produced when fuels are burned. Plants convert carbon dioxide back to oxygen, but the release of carbon dioxide from human activities is higher than the world's plants can process. The situation is made worse since many of the earth's forests are being removed, and plant life is being damaged by acid rain. Thus, the amount of carbon dioxide in the air is continuing to increase. This buildup acts like a blanket and traps heat close to the surface of our earth. Changes of even a few degrees will affect us all through changes in the climate and even the possibility that the polar ice caps may melt. (One of the consequences of polar ice cap melting would be a rise in global sea level, resulting in widespread coastal flooding.) Additional resources and information about the Greenhouse Effect and global warming are available from the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), the Science Education Academy of the Bay Area (SEABA) and the Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ).

Ozone depletion is another result of pollution. Chemicals released by our activities affect the stratosphere , one of the atmospheric layers surrounding earth. The ozone layer in the stratosphere protects the earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's) from aerosol cans, cooling systems and refrigerator equipment removes some of the ozone, causing "holes"; to open up in this layer and allowing the radiation to reach the earth. Ultraviolet radiation is known to cause skin cancer and has damaging effects on plants and wildlife. Additional resources and information about the ozone depletion problem are available from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Ozone ACTION.

Indoor Air Pollution

Many people spend a large portion of time indoors - as much as 80-90% of their lives. We work, study, eat, drink and sleep in enclosed environments where air circulation may be restricted. For these reasons, some experts feel that more people suffer from the effects of indoor air pollution than outdoor pollution.

There are many sources of indoor air pollution. Tobacco smoke, cooking and heating appliances, and vapours from building materials, paints, furniture, etc. cause pollution inside buildings. Radon is a natural radioactive gas released from the earth, and it can be found concentrated in basements in some parts of the United States. Additional information about the radon problem is available from the USGS and the Minnesota Radon Project.

Pollution exposure at home and work is often greater than outdoors. The California Air Resources Board estimates that indoor air pollutant levels are 25-62% greater than outside levels and can pose serious health problems.

Both indoor and outdoor pollution need to be controlled and/or prevented.

How can we prevent the damaging effects of air pollution?

There are many different chemical substances that contribute to air pollution.  These chemicals come from a variety of sources.

Among the many types of air pollutants are nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxides, and organic compounds that can evaporate and enter the atmosphere.

Air pollutants have sources that are both natural and human.  Now, humans contribute substantially more to the air pollution problem.

Forest fires, volcanic eruptions, wind erosion, pollen dispersal, evaporation of organic compounds, and natural radioactivity are all among the natural causes of air pollution.

Usually, natural air pollution does not occur in abundance in particular locations.  The pollution is spread around throughout the world, and as a result, poses little threat to the health of people and ecosystems.

Though some pollution comes from these natural sources, most pollution is the result of human activity.  The biggest causes are the operation of fossil fuel-burning power plants and automobiles that combust fuel.  Combined, these two sources are responsible for about 90% of all air pollution in the United States.

Some cities suffer severely because of the heavy industrial use of chemicals that cause air pollution.  Places like Mexico City and Sao Paulo have some of the most deadly pollution levels in the world.

Air pollution is responsible for major health effects.  Every year, the health of countless people is ruined or endangered by air pollution.

Many different chemicals in the air affect the human body in negative ways.  Just how sick people will get depends on what chemicals they are exposed to, in what concentrations, and for how long.

Studies have estimated that the number of people killed annually in the US alone could be over 50,000.

Older people are highly vulnerable to diseases induced by air pollution.  Those with heart or lung disorders are under additional risk.  Children and infants are also at serious risk.

Because people are exposed to so many potentially dangerous pollutants, it is often hard to know exactly which pollutants are responsible for causing sickness.  Also, because a mixture of different pollutants can intensify sickness, it is often difficult to isolate those pollutants that are at fault.

Many diseases could be caused by air pollution without their becoming apparent for a long time.  Diseases such as bronchitis, lung cancer, and heart disease may all eventually appear in people exposed to air pollution.

Air pollutants such as ozone, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide also have harmful effects on natural ecosystems.  They can kill plants and trees by destroying their leaves and can kill animals, especially fish in highly polluted rivers.

How can air pollution hurt my health?

When we are born into the world, the first thing we do is breathe; Breathing is the first stage of life, and like life, the air we breathe is precious and it should not be taken for granted.

California has some of the highest levels of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., from cars, trucks, trains and other heavy machinery. When the air particles, soot and dust from these emissions are released into the earth's atmosphere, the results are asthma, cancer,  respiratory illness and other premature illness, that can lead to death.

Air pollution is a growing problem, that must be addressed with urgency!! As citizens of California, we should want to try everything humanly possible to protect ourselves and our future generations from the devastating effects of air pollution, by being informed properly about this invisible problem called air pollution, may help save a lot of lives.

Recycling and going green are a few options available to people now, but that's not enough. people need to empower themselves with information, on how much emissions are being released in the atmosphere, how can it be reduced,and most importantly the numbers to our local state representative's office, so we can demand a change on how the state regulates the air quality laws.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District is an organization that provides data and statistics relating to the air quality and the harm from being exposed to air pollution. The A.Q.M.D. also fights for local air quality laws in our cities and state. 

Air pollution can affect our health in many ways with both short-term and long-term effects. Different groups of individuals are affected by air pollution in different ways. Some individuals are much more sensitive to pollutants than are others. Young children and elderly people often suffer more from the effects of air pollution. People with health problems such as asthma, heart and lung disease may also suffer more when the air is polluted. The extent to which an individual is harmed by air pollution usually depends on the total exposure to the damaging chemicals, i.e., the duration of exposure and the concentration of the chemicals must be taken into account.

Examples of short-term effects include irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, and upper respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Other symptoms can include headaches, nausea, and allergic reactions. Short-term air pollution can aggravate the medical conditions of individuals with asthma and emphysema. In the great "Smog Disaster" in London in 1952, four thousand people died in a few days due to the high concentrations of pollution.

Long-term health effects can include chronic respiratory disease, lung cancer, heart disease, and even damage to the brain, nerves, liver, or kidneys. Continual exposure to air pollution affects the lungs of growing children and may aggravate or complicate medical conditions in the elderly. It is estimated that half a million people die prematurely every year in the United States as a result of smoking cigarettes.

Research into the health effects of air pollution is ongoing. Medical conditions arising from air pollution can be very expensive. Healthcare costs lost productivity in the workplace, and human welfare impacts cost billions of dollars each year.

Additional information on the health effects of air pollution is available from the Natural Resources Defense Council. A short article on the health effects of ozone (a major component of smog) is available from the B.A.A.Q.M.D.

How can we prevent

the damaging effects of air pollution?

In many countries in the world, steps are being taken to stop the damage to our environment from air pollution. Scientific groups study the damaging effects on plant, animal and human life. Legislative bodies write laws to control emissions. Educators in schools and universities teach students, beginning at very young ages, about the effects of air pollution.

The first step to solving air pollution is assessment. Researchers have investigated outdoor air pollution and have developed standards for measuring the type and amount of some serious air pollutants.

Scientists must then determine how much exposure to pollutants is harmful.

Once exposure levels have been set, steps can be undertaken to reduce exposure to air pollution. These can be accomplished by regulation of man-made pollution through legislation. Many countries have set controls on pollution emissions for transportation vehicles and industry. This is usually done to through a variety of coordinating agencies which monitor the air and the environment. At the United Nations, the Atmosphere Management Program carries out worldwide environmental projects. In the United States, the primary federal agency is the Environmental Protection Agency. Many state and local organizations also participate in monitoring and controlling the environment. These include the San Francisco Bay Area's Air Quality Management District (B.A.A.Q.M.D.), the Air Quality Management District in southern California, the Environmental Protection Agency of California, SmogBusters of southern California, and the Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention (GHASP).

Prevention is another key to controlling air pollution. The regulatory agencies mentioned above play an essential role in reducing and preventing air pollution in the environment.

In addition, it is possible to prevent many types of air pollution that are not regulated through personal, careful attention to our interactions with the environment. In the United States, most household products come with instructions about safe use. Additional information about product chemical safety are available in an article and a fact sheet from Enviro$en$e, and in Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).

Building materials should be reviewed for potential harmful effects. Information on building materials can be found in LBNL's Center for Building Science newsletter. Additional information is available from EcoTech.

Adequate ventilation is also a key to controlling exposure to indoor air pollution. Home and work environments should be monitored for adequate airflow and proper exhaust systems installed. Additional information is available in a book titled Understanding Ventilation.

One of the most dangerous air pollutants is cigarette smoke. Restricting smoking is an important key to a healthier environment. Legislation to control smoking is in effect in some locations, but personal exposure should be monitored and limited wherever possible. Additional information about the effects of "secondhand" cigarette smoke is available from the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) and Medicine On-line.

Only through the efforts of scientists, business leaders, legislators, and individuals can we reduce the amount of air pollution on the planet. This challenge must be met by all of us in order to assure that a healthy environment will exist for ourselves and our children. Find out "What you can do to reduce air pollution".

Air pollution has many disastrous effects that need to be curbed.  In order to accomplish this, governments, scientists and environmentalists are using or testing a variety of methods aimed at reducing pollution.

There are two main types of pollution control.

Input control involves preventing a problem before it occurs or at least limiting the effects the process will produce.

Five major input control methods exist.  People may try to restrict population growth, use less energy, improve energy efficiency, reduce waste, and move to non-polluting renewable forms of energy production.  Also, automobile-produced pollution can be decreased with highly beneficial results.

Output control, the opposite method, seeks to fix the problems caused by air pollution.  This usually means cleaning up an area that has been damaged by pollution.

Input controls are usually more effective than output controls.  Output controls are also more expensive, making them less desirable to taxpayers and polluting industries.

Current air pollution control efforts are not highly effective.  In wealthier countries, industries are often able to shift to methods that decrease air pollution.  In the United States, for example, air pollution control laws have been successful in stopping air pollution levels from rising.  However, in developing countries and even in countries where pollution is strictly regulated, much more needs to be done

Prevention of Air Pollution

A compilation of some simple steps for prevention of air pollution, which will help you do your bit to save the environment. Continue reading for more information on atmospheric pollution, and why we need to take it seriously.

Air pollution is a phenomenon wherein the release of harmful chemicals in the atmosphere results in contamination of air, and makes it unsuitable for various lifeforms on the planet. It is considered to be one of the most serious environmental issues in the world. If air pollution statistics compiled by the World Health Organization (WHO) are to be believed, more than 3 million people in the world die due to some health problems related to environmental air pollution every year. That's not at all surprising, considering that the harmful effects of air pollution range from various health disorders in humans to destruction of the ozone layer of the atmosphere. All being said, our priority now has to be prevention of air pollution and efforts need to start at the very grass root level, i.e. from our side. Before we move on to the details of these 'efforts', let's go through some important air pollution facts which emphasize on the need of its prevention.

Why do we Need to Prevent Air Pollution?

Air pollution is caused when various chemical substances are released in the Earth's atmosphere, as a result of some natural occurrences or some human activities. Natural causes of air pollution include volcanic eruptions, release of methane gas, wildfires etc; while the anthropogenic causes of the same include the use of automobiles, power plants, use of solvents, waste deposition, use of nuclear weapons and a lot more. The list of chemical substances which have the tendency to contaminate the air include carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxide, chlorofluorocarbons, ammonia, etc.

The high concentration of these substances in the atmosphere makes humans and animals more vulnerable to their hazardous effects. In fact, the effects of air pollution are much more intense than we can possibly imagine. For instance, studies reveal that as many as 500,000 people die from cardiopulmonary disease, which is caused as a result of inhaling fine particles in the atmosphere, in the United States alone every year. Natural hazards such as global warming and acid rain are also associated with air pollution to a significant extent. All these harmful effects call for the implementation of various measures for preventing air pollution, and the earlier we do it - the better it is for us.

How to Prevent Air Pollution

The information about air pollution given above must have given you enough reasons to contribute your bit towards its prevention. The anthropogenic causes of air pollution are more as compared to natural causes, and thus the onus in on us to take the necessary steps to ensure that we don't contribute to air pollution - directly or indirectly, any more. Given below are some simple methods which can play a crucial role when it comes to the prevention of air pollution and saving the planet.

• Reduce the use of vehicles either by resorting to public transport for daily transportation or switching over from vehicles to other means - such as cycling or walking.
• If the use of the vehicle is inevitable, make sure that you use it efficiently - drive within the speed limit recommended by the manufacturer, turn the engine off on red light and make sure that you maintain your vehicle.
• Buying fuel-efficient vehicles is yet another option that you have. Several car manufacturers are using advanced technology to roll out vehicles which minimize emissions.
• Implement practices such as 'carpool', wherein you take turns to use your vehicles, in your neighbourhood or workplace. Simple, but effective measure when it comes to vehicle pollution.
• Resort to alternative energy sources, such as solar power and wind power, - they are much more environmentally friendly and quite efficient as well.
• Though indirectly, saving energy by resorting to energy-saving appliances and not wasting electricity will also help in curbing air pollution. Lesser the energy requirement, lesser will be produced and this, in turn, will lessen the amount of air pollution caused by power plants.
• Do not burn the waste generated in your homes, instead resort to other means of garbage disposal. The same rule implies when it comes to disposal of your garden waste. A better way out is to opt for traditional methods such as composting.
• You can also resort to technologically advanced air pollution control equipment systems such as the use of filters to remove dust particles and use of wet scrubbers to remove acid gases in the atmosphere.
• Use a thermostat in your homes so that your heater or air conditioner is automatically switched off when it's not required.
• And lastly, follow all the rules and regulations meant to stop environmental pollution, and do try to spread awareness about such environmental hazards.

Those were some simple steps for prevention of air pollution which can at least help us reduce the intensity of this environmental hazard, - if not get rid of it completely. Bringing everything to halt in a bid to stop environmental pollution is not at all a feasible option. What we can do is reduce its intensity gradually by resorting to simple ways to prevent air pollution mentioned above. Those may seem to be too simple to tackle a problem of such intensity, but when millions of people do practice them - the end results are bound to be amazing.

Why study black carbon pollution?

Black carbon pollution is the release of tiny particles into the air from burning fuel for energy. Air pollution caused by such particulates has been a major problem since the beginning of the industrial revolution and the development of the internal combustion engine. Scientific publications dealing with the analysis of soot and smoke date back as early as 1896. Mankind has become so dependent on the burning of fossil fuels (petroleum products, coal, and natural gas) that the sum total of all combustion-related emissions now constitutes a serious and widespread problem, not only to human health but also to the entire global environment.

Domestic Pollution

• At a domestic level, exposure to smoke while cooking can be curtailed by the adoption of cleaner fuels, improved stoves, better ventilation and the use of biogas.
• The choice of the correct species of tree as fuel as, for example, Acacia nilotica (babul) and Casuarina, produces less smoke as compared to species like mango and neem.
• The utilisation of charcoal is relatively safer than burning firewood.
• The utilisation of smokeless stoves will reduce exposure to smoke.

Automobile Pollution

• Regular tests for automobile emissions should be made compulsory. Environmental groups should pressurise state governments to bring in this legislation.
• Non-leaded fuel alone should be sold. Environmental groups must get together to pressurise the government to make automobile manufacturers modify their designs to suit non-leaded fuel and stop the sale of leaded fuel.
• People should be encouraged to share their vehicles or use public transport. This would mean lesser traffic on the road, and thus, lesser pollution.

Industrial Pollution

• Normal pressure groups should be formed to influence industries to install filters, electrostatic precipitators, scrubbers, etc., to control atmospheric pollution.
• Education is the most important solution
• Plan campaigns in schools and colleges on simple issues such as the ill-effects of smoking, and substitutes for domestic fuel consumption such as smokeless chulhas, etc.
• Mobilise your immediate locality to protest against local polluting industries.

Pressurise the government by writing letters to the press, motivating the media and contacting the local MP or MLA. If everyone keeps his immediate environment clean, the macro-environment automatically becomes cleaner.

- Courtesy by : C.P.R.Environmental Education Centre, Chennai               

In addition, it is possible to prevent many types of air pollution that are not regulated through personal, careful attention to our interactions with the environment. The household products can come with instructions about safe use.

Building materials should be reviewed for potential harmful effects.

The air pollution can be prevented by situating the industry  far away from major human settlements, monuments sensitive areas, resorts, coastal areas, scenic areas, religious areas, national parks, lakes & swamps, tribal settlements etc.

The technology used for manufacture of goods should be as far as pollution-free. The Government of India has made easy the import of such machines, which score over the indigenous ones in pollution abatement. If the imported machines are very costly, the industry would not be able to afford them and may have to resort to types of equipment & systems, which contain the pollution. Examples - Gravitational separators, inertial separators, dynamic separators, cyclones, (single/ multiple or dry/wet), filters, scrubbers, dust suppressors and electrostatic precipitators. If the toxic substance in the emitted gas mixture could be made harmless and/or recycled, it would go a great way in pollution control. Also if this were not possible, then a properly designed chimney of sufficient height would be required to disperse the gases in the higher layers of the atmosphere. The degree of diffusion in that particular area is also important. This method tends to dilute the pollutant to a concentration in which it would be relatively harmless.

The industries need to be checked at frequent intervals to see that they comply with the set emission limits. Any violation of the laid standards is liable to punishment with or without fine.

Adequate ventilation is also a key to controlling exposure to indoor air pollution. Home and work environments should be monitored for adequate airflow and proper exhaust systems installed.

One of the most dangerous air pollutants is cigarette smoke. Restricting smoking is an important key to a healthier environment. Legislation to control smoking is in effect in some locations, but personal exposure should be monitored and limited wherever possible.

Only through the efforts of scientists, business leaders, legislators, and individuals can we reduce the amount of air pollution on the planet. This challenge must be met by all of us in order to assure that a healthy environment will exist for ourselves and our children.

Ø  Encourage your family to walk to the neighbourhood market.

Ø  As far as possible use public forms of transport.

Ø  Encourage your family to form a carpool to office and back.

Ø  Reduce the use of aerosols in the household.

Ø  Look after the trees in your neighbourhood.

Ø  Begin a tree-watch group to ensure that they are well-tended and cared for.

Ø  Switch-off all the lights and fans when not required.

Ø  If possible share your room with others when the air conditioner, cooler or fan is on.

Ø  Replace energy-hungry incandescent lights with fluorescent lighting.

Ø  Check with your utility company for energy conservation tips.

Ø  Use a programmable thermostat that automatically turns off the air conditioner or heater when you don't need them.

Ø  Add insulation to your home.

Ø  Use a fan instead of air conditioning.

Ø  Use an EPA-approved wood-burning stove or fireplace insert.

Ø  Microwave normal meals.

Ø  Insulate your water heater.

Ø  Choose recycled products.

Ø  Choose products with recyclable packaging.

Ø  Reuse paper bags.

Ø  Recycle paper, plastics, and metals.

Ø  Print and photocopy on both sides of the paper.

Ø  Don't use your wood stove or fireplace on days with unhealthy air.

Ø  Avoid using leaf blowers and other types of equipment that raise a lot of dust. Try using a rake or broom.

Ø  Drive less, particularly on days with unhealthy air.

Ø  Avoid vigorous physical activity on days with unhealthy air.

Ø  Don't smoke. If someone must smoke, send them outdoors.

Ø  Some products such as cleaning agents, paints, and glues contain dangerous chemicals. Use them outdoors or with plenty of ventilation indoors.

Ø  Use safer products, such as baking soda instead of harsher cleaners.

Ø  Clean frequently to remove dust and moulds.

Ø  Do not burn leaves in your garden, put them in a compost pit.

Ø  Make sure that the pollution check for your family car is done at regular intervals

Ø  Cars should, as far as possible, be fitted with catalytic converters.

Ø  Use only unleaded petrol.

Ø  Select products that are water-based or have low amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Ø  Store solvents in air-tight containers.