What causes air pollution? Themai ns our c esofai rpol l ut i onar et hei ndus t r i es ,agr i c ul t ur eandt r affic ,aswel l asener gy gener at i on.Dur i ngc ombus t i onpr oc es sesandot herpr oduc t i onpr oc es s esai rpol l ut ant sar e emi t t ed.Someoft hes es ubs t anc esar enotdi r ec t l ydamagi ngt oai rqual i t y ,butwi l l f or m har mf ul ai rpol l ut ant sbyr eac t i onswi t hot hers ubs t anc est hatar epr es enti nai r . Ex amp l esofl ar ges c al eai rpo l l ut ant sar eVOC( Vol at i l eOr g ani cCompounds )an ds mal ma l dus tpar t i c l es .Whenl ar gec onc ent r at i onsoft hes es ubs t anc esar eemi t t edt hi snegat i v el y aff ec t sec os y st ems ,mat er i al sandpubl i cheal t h. Emi s si onsofni t r ousox i de( N2O)mai nl ys t em f r om agr i c ul t ur e,bec aus eni t r ogeni ns oi l sc an eas i l ybedeni t r i fi edbybac t er i a.Ni t r ousox i dei semi t t eddur i ngt hedeni t r i fi cat i onpr oc es s. Addi t i onal l y ,t heappl i c at i onof( ar t i fi c i al )f er t i l i z er scaus esemi s si onsofammoni a( NH3) , ni t r ogeno xi des( NOx)andm me et haneCH4) ,ag r e en ho us eg as . Theagr i c ul t ur al s ec t ori sknownf ori t sex t ens i v eus eofpes t i c i des .Thi sappl i c at i onc aus es emi s s i on sofman yt o x i cc hemi c al s . I ndus t r i al pr oc es s esv ar ygr eat l yandasar es ul tt her ear eman ydi ff er entc hemi c al was t es . Thei ndus t r i esar er es pons i bl ef oremi s s i onsofc ar bonmono xi de,c ar bondi o xi de,s ul phur di o xi de,ni t r ogeno xi des ,s mal ma l dus tpar t i c l es ,VOC,met hane,ammoni aandr adi oac t i v e r adi at i on. Dur i ngener gygener at i onc hemi c al ss uc hasme me t hanear er el ea sedi nt ot heai rasar es ul tof oi l andnat ur al gasex t r ac t i on.Thec ombus t i onofc oal andnat ur al gasf orel ec t r i c i t y pr oduc t i onc aus est her el eas eofs ul phurdi o xi de,ni t r ogeno xi desandc ar bondi o xi dei nt o t heai r . T r affici shel dr es pons i bl ef oronet h i r doft hegr eenhous egasemi s s i ons .Emi s s i onsc aus ed b yt r afficar ema mai nl yt hos eofc ar bondi o x i de,c ar bonmo mono x i de,ni t r ogenox i de s,VOCand s mal ma l dus tpar t i c l es . Cons umer sar eal s opar t l yr es pons i bl ef orai rpol l ut i on.Fi r s t l ybec aus et hepr oduc t st hey us eha vec aus edai rpol l ut i ondur i ngt hei rpr oduc t i onanddi s t r i but i onands ec ondl ybec aus e h ea t i n go fh ous e sa ndo ffic esc aus e sc h emi c al sr e l e as ei nt ot h ea i r .Whe np eo pl eu se pai nt sorc os met me i c sVOCi sr el eas edandper s pi r at i on,petf er t i l i z erus eandcl eans erus e c au s ea mm mmo ni ae mi mi s s i o ns .L as tb utn otl e as t ,ma nyc he mi mi c al s( c ar bo ndi o x i d e,c ar b on mo no ox i d e)a r eemi t t eddu r i ngs m mo o k i n g.
What health efects does smog have on the health? Air pollution can have serious health effects. It has been linked to decreased life expectancy, increased lifetime risk of cancer, and heart failure. However, on a daily basis, air pollution can cause more general symptoms including increased asthma attacks in sensitive individuals, difficulty breathing, chest tightness, sore or itchy throat, cough, and irritated eyes. Air pollution can also increase risk of infection. ometimes it is hard to tell if you!re getting sick or having symptoms from the smog. "ne #uick way to tell the difference is symptoms from air pollution do not cause a fever. Pasig City gov’t hopes to eradicate pollution through biking ordinance In a bid to reduce air pollution, the Pasig City Council has approved an ordinance promoting biking as an environmentally sound mode of transportation. Signed by all members of the council and Mayor Bobby usebio, the ordinance titled !Bicycle "ransportation Promotion #rdinance of $%&&' cited the need to promote nonmotori(ed transportation and also laid do)n the mechanisms, incentives and penalties for violators. It )as authored by Councilor *ugustin *le+ee Santiago. ADVERTISEMENT
!*n estimated- % percent of the air pollution in Pasig City comes from smoke/ belching vehicles. "he ever/increasing number of vehicles on the road has contributed immensely to the )orsening of the air 0uality in the Philippines, particularly in Metro Manila,' the ordinance said. It called for the designation of e+clusive lanes for bike riders on ma1or streets based on the Bike Map 2uide developed by the Metropolitan Manila 3evelopment *uthority. Bikers must use protective gear and rear lighting at night to avoid being penali(ed. "hose caught )ithout the re0uired gear )ould be given a citation ticket on the first offense and pay a fine of P&4%. Second/time offenders face a fine of P5%%. Should they be caught )ithout a rear light, they )ill be fined P$%% 6first offense7, P54% 6second7 and P4%% 6third7. #n the other hand, motorists obstructing the bike lanes )ill be asked to pay a fine ranging from P$%% to P4%%.
Business establishments )ho fail to provide bicycle parking racks )ill also be penali(ed, )ith fines ranging up to P4,%%%. "o ensure the safety of bikers on alleys and narro) streets, the city government )ill set up bike patrols to monitor and patrol bike lanes.
Solutions for Air Pollution 1. Use public mode of transportation: Encourage people to use more and more public modes of transportation to reduce pollution. Also, try to make use of car pooling. If you and your colleagues come from the same locality and have same timings you can explore this option to save energy and money. 2. Conserve energy: Switch o fans and lights when you are going out. !arge amount of fossil fuels are burnt to produce electricity. "ou can save the environment from degradation by reducing the amount of fossil fuels to be burned. 3. Understand the concept of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle: #o not throw away items that are of no use to you. In$fact reuse them for some other purpose. %or e.g. you can use old &ars to store cereals or pulses. 4. mphasis on clean energy resources: 'lean energy technologies like solar, wind and geothermal are on high these days. (overnments
of various countries have been providing grants to consumers who are interested in installing solar panels for their home. )his will go a long way to curb air pollution. !. Use energy e"cient devices: '%! lights consume less electricity as against their counterparts. )hey live longer, consume less electricity, lower electricity bills and also help you to reduce pollution by consuming less energy. Several attempts are being made world wide on a personal, industrial and governmental levels to curb the intensity at which Air Pollution is rising and regain a balance as far as the proportions of the foundation gases are concerned. )his is a direct attempt at slacking (lobal warming. *e are seeing a series of innovations and experiments aimed at alternate and unconventional options to reduce pollutants. Air Pollution is one of the larger mirrors of man+s follies, and a challenge we need to overcome to see a tomorrow.
'auses of Air pollution 1. #urning of $ossil $uels: Sulfur dioxide emitted from the combustion of fossil fuels like coal, petroleum and other factory combustibles is one the ma&or cause of air pollution. Pollution emitting from vehicles including trucks, &eeps, cars, trains, airplanes cause immense amount of pollution. *e rely on them to fulll our daily basic needs of transportation. -ut, there overuse is killing our
environment as dangerous gases are polluting the environment. 'arbon onooxide caused by improper or incomplete combustion and generally emitted from vehicles is another ma&or pollutant along with /itrogen 0xides, that is produced from both natural and man made processes. 2. %gricultural activities: Ammonia is a very common by product from agriculture related activities and is one of the most ha1ardous gases in the atmosphere. 2se of insecticides, pesticides and fertili1ers in agricultural activities has grown 3uite a lot. )hey emit harmful chemicals into the air and can also cause water pollution. 3. &haust from factories and industries: anufacturing industries release large amount of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, organic compounds, and chemicals into the air thereby depleting the 3uality of air. anufacturing industries can be found at every corner of the earth and there is no area that has not been aected by it. Petroleum reneries also release hydrocarbons and various other chemicals that pollute the air and also cause land pollution. 4. 'ining operations: ining is a process wherein minerals below the earth are extracted using large e3uipments. #uring the process dust and chemicals are released in the air causing massive air pollution. )his is one of the reason which is responsible for the deteriorating health conditions of workers and nearby residents.
!. (ndoor air pollution: 4ousehold cleaning products, painting supplies emit toxic chemicals in the air and cause air pollution. 4ave you ever noticed that once you paint walls of your house, it creates some sort of smell which makes it literally impossible for you to breathe. Suspended particulate matter popular by its acronym SP, is another cause of pollution. 5eferring to the particles a6oat in the air, SP is usually caused by dust, combustion etc.
Eects of Air pollution 1. Respiratory and heart problems: )he eects of Air pollution are alarming. )hey are known to create several respiratory and heart conditions along with 'ancer, among other threats to the body. Several millions are known to have died due to direct or indirect eects of Air pollution. 'hildren in areas exposed to air pollutants are said to commonly suer from pneumonia and asthma. 2. )lobal *arming: Another direct eect is the immediate alterations that the world is witnessing due to (lobal warming. *ith increased temperatures world wide, increase in sea levels and melting of ice from colder regions and icebergs, displacement and loss of habitat have already signaled an impending disaster if actions for preservation and normali1ation aren+t undertaken soon.
3. %cid Rain: 4armful gases like nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides are released into the atmosphere during the burning of fossil fuels. *hen it rains, the water droplets combines with these air pollutants, becomes acidic and then falls on the ground in the form of acid rain. Acid rain can cause great damage to human, animals and crops. 4. utrophication: Eutrophication is a condition where high amount of nitrogen present in some pollutants gets developed on sea+s surface and turns itself into algae and and adversely aect sh, plants and animal species. )he green colored algae that is present on lakes and ponds is due to presence of this chemical only. !. +ect on ildlife: 7ust like humans, animals also face some devastating aects of air pollution. )oxic chemicals present in the air can force wildlife species to move to new place and change their habitat. )he toxic pollutants deposit over the surface of the water and can also aect sea animals. -. epletion of /0one layer: 01one exists in earth+s stratosphere and is responsible for protecting humans from harmful ultraviolet 829: rays. Earth+s o1one layer is depleting due to the presence of chloro6uorocarbons, hydro chloro6uorocarbons in the atmosphere. As o1one layer will go thin, it will emit harmful rays back on earth and can cause skin and eye related problems. 29 rays also have the capability to aect crops.
*hen you try to study the sources of Air pollution, you enlist a series of activities and interactions that create these pollutants. )here are two types of sources that we will take a look at; atural sources and 'anmade sources. /atural sources of pollution include dust carried by the wind from locations with very little or no green cover, gases released from the body processes of living beings 8'arbon dioxide from humans during respiration, ethane from cattle during digestion, 0xygen from plants during Photosynthesis:. Smoke from the combustion of various in6ammable ob&ects, volcanic eruptions etc along with the emission of polluted gases also make it to the list of /atural sources of Pollution.
*hile looking at the man$made contributions towards air pollution, smoke again features as a prominent component. )he smoke emitted from various forms of combustion like in bio mass, factories, vehicles, furnaces etc. *aste used to create landlls generate methane, that is harmful in several ways. )he reactions of certain gases and chemicals also form harmful fumes that can be dangerous to the well being of living creatures. Air Pollution Solutions
Start incorporating alternative fuels, especially of renewable resources like solar, water, an geot!er"al, for !eating an cooling into builings, new an e#isting$ %se cleaner fuel sources for transportation$ Instea of riving your car, walk w!ere possible, rie your bicycle, an use "ass transit as "uc! as possible to !elp reuce air pollution$ Buy items made of natural and organic fabrics // cotton, bamboo, soy, and modal being some possibilities. *void fabric finishes that pollute the air. 8our clothes, bedding, to)els, upholstery and carpets are all sub1ect to these finishes that foul your air and endanger your health. 9se lo) :#C paints and finishes. "he furniture, carpets and other flooring choices, and )all surfaces )e tend to have today pollute the air often )orse than burning fossil fuels. 9sing energy )isely in your home and office is also important. nergy efficient appliances, light bulbs, and more moderate room temperatures help reduce your energy consumption, )hich helps decrease the need for energy production, not only contribute the air pollution solution but also reduce your electric and energy bills.
"he thing about air pollution solutions is that you have to be )illing to change your approach to life and the choices you make. 8ou need to research )ays that you can help decrease air pollution. ;ot all solutions )ork for all people in all areas, so find out )hat your alternatives are. 8ou )ill be surprised by the things that you do everyday that contribute to air pollution.
Tighten the controls for power plant emissions to reduce emissions.
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Introducing cleaner fuel standards and switching to electric vehicles.
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Restrict the construction of power plants and other energy-intensive industries near residential areas.
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Improve urban planning to increase green spaces.
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Take air quality into consideration when conducting environmental assessments for major projects; for eample! flyovers and highways should be far away from residential areas.
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"stablish legally binding and regional coordinated plans to reach national air quality standards that include clear timelines.
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Introduce a national coal consumption cap.
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#ike up pollution discharging charges and strengthen supervision efforts.
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$hutdown inefficient coal-fired industrial boilers.
The solutions to air pollution are straightforward and simple but they require government action% quit coal! establish clear! strict air quality standards and introduce effective policy instruments to curb the rapid growth of the number of vehicles on the roads.
