Effects Of Air Pollution Essay

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On daily basis we are constantly being bombarded with chemicals; from the food we eat, water we drink and especially the air we breathe. The latter is due to air pollution. On a larger scale the atmosphere is the planets respiratory system; major pollutants from the earth are captured and held in the atmosphere. The atmosphere has other functions such as; protecting earth through absorbing dangerous ultraviolet solar radiation, although most of the solar radiation reaching the Earth’s surface is radiated back toward space, temperature reduction and warming; which to can be altered if there is a build-up of pollutants and greenhouse gases to a point where they trap this energy and prevent heat from escaping (Dr Patience Gwaze, The Clean Air Journal). Thus air pollution has a great influence on climate change. The last two decades has seen immense human activity as the result of industrialization, population growth,…show more content…
Wildfires result in the production of smoke, Co2 and CO. Other natural sources of air pollution include domestic animals such as cattle which release methane and pine trees which release VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Major types of pollutants including criteria pollutants such as sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), ozone (O3), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), benzene (C6H6), persistent organic pollutants (POPS) and particulate matter (PM) Brewer (1994). Most forms of air pollution are a result of human activities and include fossil fuel burning (coal, oil and natural gas in industrial processes), electricity generation, vehicle emissions, airport emissions, domestic fuel burning, the use of household materials that contain persistent organic pollutants (toilet fresheners), biomass burning, domestic fuel burning, waste disposal

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