Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms. It may cause diseases, allergies, or death in humans and other animals and may damage the natural or built environment. Air pollution occurs when harmful substances including gases, particles, and biological materials are introduced into Earth’s atmosphere. Common gaseous pollutants include carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and hydrofluorocarbons. Common particulate pollutants include ash, soil, soot, and dust. Common non-gaseous pollutants include lead, mercury, and sulfates. Some pollutants include both gases and particulates. Pollutants do not necessarily directly harm human health. Rather, they may cause indirect harm through catalytic effects, atmospheric chemistry, and climate change. Pollutants can be classified as primary and secondary.
According to the study by World Health Organization (WHO), it has been found that in 2012 air pollution has been the cause of about 7 million deaths worldwide. Most of these deaths are caused by non-communicable diseases. Air pollution has become a matter of serious concern for the world. Air pollution leads to respiratory disease, lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke and other ailments. Air pollution is responsible for more deaths worldwide than AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined. Globally, 92% of people living in urban areas that monitor air pollution live in places where the air quality levels exceed the WHO limits. In India, the number of deaths caused by air pollution is around 1.5 lakh per year.
Air pollution is a problem because of the filthy gases that are released into the atmosphere that can hurt the health of humans and animals. One such gas can be carbon monoxide, which has no smell, but can be lethal in the long run. It is more difficult to clean and capture carbon monoxide compared to common pollutants such as smoke and carbon dioxide. If the amount of carbon monoxide in the air is high, then it will be hazardous and your lungs will be at risk of getting damaged. Another dangerous gas that is released into the air is nitrogen dioxide, which is also called NO2. People who live in cities are at a higher risk of getting cancer or having a heart attack because of NO2.
Air pollution is a global problem, which is directly related to the poor quality of air that we breathe every day. It is essential to know the causes and effects of air pollution and how to prevent it from happening. Pollution is a process in which toxic pollutants are, legally or illegally, dumped into the air we breathe. Pollution can also be caused by natural causes like volcanic eruptions. But pollution is the primary cause of many health ailments, including asthma, respiratory problems, and lung cancer. Air pollution can be categorized into two: primary and secondary. Primary air pollution is directly caused by human activity. The most common example is the burning of fossil fuels. As for the secondary air pollution, it is caused by the reaction of chemicals emitted by primary air pollutants. It is such a complex problem that it often leads to a vicious cycle of pollution. It can also become a major reason for climate change.
