AIR POLLUTION: Revealing the unseen

  Background Information:

Air pollution refers to the release of pollutants into the air that are detrimental to human health and the planet as
a whole. It has emerged as the fourth-leading risk factor for deaths worldwide. Before the lockdown, Philippines ranked 57th out of
98 countries in “World’s Most Polluted Countries”.

Frequently Asked Questions

On Sources of Air Pollution
What are the sources of AIR POLLUTION?
A. What are Stationary, Mobile, and area Sources?
B. What are examples of these Sources? 
C. How do these sources cause air pollution?
D. what kind of pollutants are produced?

1. Stationary Sources
A. Stationary Sources of pollution are those that have a relatively fixed location.
B. Factories, Power Plant, Dry Cleaners, Decreasing Operations
C. Pollutants are emitted in to the air from these power plants through fossil fuel combustion, chemical process, and the
grinding or pulverizing of metals for cement, fertilizer etc.
D. Sulfur dioxide (SO2): The highest levels of sulfur dioxide occur during a sulfurous smog which can have serious health
effects.
2. Mobile Sources
A. Mobile Sources of pollution refers to a source that is capable of moving under its own power.
B. Cars, Buses, Planes, Lawn mowers
C. Mobile sources produce air pollution from exhaust emissions, evaporative emissions and refueling losses from gasoline
engines.
D. Combustion of fuels can cause the release of hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), toxics, sulfur dioxide (SO2),
and greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2).
3. Area Sources
A. Area Sources of pollution refers to many small sources of air pollution located together.
B. Residential wood burners, construction of housing development
C. Area source emit less than 10 tons per year of a single air toxic. Though emissions from individual area sources are
often small, collectively their emissions can be of concern - particularly where large numbers of sources are located in
heavily populated areas.
D. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): Gases from many solid/liquid organic chemicals such as household chemicals like
paints, varnishes, pesticides, lacquers, building and furnishing materials.

*8.8 million causes of deaths per year worldwide can be attributed to polluted air!

*Health effects: Lung Disease, Headache, heart disease