RUNNING HEAD: Air Pollution 1

AIR POLLUTION

Student Name

College Name

14th October 2022

AIR POLLUTION 1

Air Pollution

The rising contamination of the Earth's air, water, and soil—the essential human

safety nets of the planet—poses a major threat to the planet and its ecosystem. Either poor

resource control or reckless human action is to blame for environmental degradation. As a

result, pollution refers to any action that tampers with nature's inherent qualities and causes it

to deteriorate. Understanding the origins of these contaminants will help us regulate them.

Making people aware of the dangers of pollution is another way to do this. Life on our planet

is supported by air which is 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% of all other gases. Several

techniques are used to maintain the regular proportion of gases and their overall composition.

Volcanic eruptions are one natural illustration of how the atmosphere may become polluted.

The main sources of air pollution are the gaseous byproducts of human-made operations such

as energy generation, trash incineration, transportation, deforestation, and agriculture.

Despite the fact that oxygen and nitrogen make up the majority of the elements in the

air, pollution caused by human activity has raised the concentrations of several trace gases

and, in some cases, introduced whole new gases into the atmosphere. Both in towns and the

countryside, air pollution may lead to poor air quality. People can become ill from some air

pollutants, which can also worsen respiratory issues and increase the risk of developing

cancer. Some air pollutants are bad for the ecosystems in which plants, animals, and other

living things dwell. Acid rain, which is caused by air pollution, corrodes statues, monuments,

and structures. Forests and crops are also harmed, and lakes and streams are rendered unfit

for fish and other plant and animal life. The atmosphere of the Earth is changing as a result of

air pollution caused by man-made resources. It is causing the ozone layer to thin and is

allowing more dangerous solar radiation to enter the atmosphere. Global average

temperatures rise as a result of the greenhouse gases put into the atmosphere, which prevent
AIR POLLUTION 1

heat from escaping back into space. The average sea level is affected by global warming, and

tropical illnesses are disseminated more widely.

The quantity of harmful UV radiation that reaches the Earth's surface is constrained

by the ozone layer. An ozone layer exists in the atmosphere between 15 and 35 kilometers

above the surface of the globe in the lower stratosphere (O3). Due to ozone layer depletion,

the ozone layer in the planet's upper atmosphere is thinning over time. Another consequence

of ozone depletion is the ozone hole, a far more substantial springtime reduction in

stratospheric ozone over Earth's poles. Manufacturing-related chemicals, particularly

halocarbon refrigerants, solvents, propellants, and foam-blowing agents (such as

chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), HCFCs, and halons), are the primary contributors to ozone

depletion and the ozone hole. Scientists have seen a decrease in stratospheric ozone since the

early 1970s, and they have determined that it is especially pronounced in polar regions. ODS

chemicals have a lifespan of around 100 years. The health of people, animals, the

environment, and marine life is negatively impacted by the ozone layer's depletion. Studies

show that an increase in UV-B rays increases the risk of skin cancer, contributes significantly

to the development of malignant melanoma, produces sunburns, hastens the aging process,

creates eye cataracts, results in blindness, and weakens the immune system. Animals that are

directly exposed to UV light develop skin and eye cancer. UV-B radiation harms plants and

crops. It might result in slower plant development, smaller leaves, less photosynthesis, and

lower-quality crops for human consumption. The carbon cycle and soil erosion would be

impacted by a fall in plant production. Utilize air conditioning and refrigeration equipment

that doesn't use HCFCs as a refrigerant to protect the ozone layer. Purchase aerosol items

without HCFC or CFC rocket fuel. To avoid and mitigate refrigerant leakage, do routine

inspections and maintenance on cooling and refrigeration equipment.

AIR POLLUTION 1

Pollutants from both natural and man-made sources are present in the outdoor air. The

composition of the mixture is mostly influenced by the combination of sources, how they

operate, and meteorology. In addition to primary pollutants like nitrogen oxides and primary

particles that are released directly from their sources, the mixture also contains polluting

gases like the stratosphere and subsidiary particles that are created through atmospheric

chemical and physical reactions. Depending on their properties and origins, these pollutants

are categorized in different ways. One often-used categorization is based on "criteria

pollutants" as defined in Section 108 of the Clean Air Act (particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen

dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and lead).

There are many different types and causes of indoor pollution, such as combustion

(such as cigarette smoke, stoves, fireplaces, and wood stoves), household goods, building

materials, biologic agents (such as microorganisms, pets), off-gassing from water, and soil

gas. The majority of indoor radon comes from soil gas in particular. These substances induce

illness by a variety of methods, including immunological responses, cancer development,

inflammation and irritation, and central nervous system impacts. The range of harmful

respiratory effects is vast and includes symptoms of the upper airways, the development, and

escalation of asthma, hypersensitive pneumonitis, and lung cancer.

Ozone and particle contaminants are the two with the most health information and the

most attention given to them. 189 "toxic air contaminants," including carcinogens and

irritants, are identified in addition to criterion pollutants. Public exposure to particulate matter

and ozone at levels linked to negative health impacts is prevalent, especially for those with

cardiopulmonary illness. The ultrafine range (0.10 microns in diameter), the fine range (2.5

microns in diameter), and the coarse range are the three size categories used to categorize

particulate matter in urban air (between 2.5-10 microns in diameter). The concentration of

ultrafine particles, which are a reflection of recent combustion, is highest next to roads since
AIR POLLUTION 1

these are where cars travel. Ozone is produced by sunlight-driven photochemistry involving

hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides and is a symptom of oxidant pollution. The amount of

traffic, sunlight, and other environmental factors affect concentrations throughout the day.

Photochemical pollution presently affects a large portion of the US, especially in sunny and

warm locations. For both inhaled particles and ozone, oxidative damage with local and

systemic consequences is the primary cause of injury. Particulate matter in urban air

frequently contains carcinogens. For many years, epidemiologic studies have connected these

air pollutants to adverse respiratory effects, such as the progression of chronic lung diseases

such as cystic fibrosis, COPD, and asthma as well as impaired lung function. It has been

well-documented that there is excess mortality at very high particulate matter levels,

particularly in persons with cardiopulmonary disease.

Degrading substances that enter the atmosphere and lower the quality of the air we

breathe are the main source of air pollution. Because the polluted air includes so many

dangerous and hazardous substances, air pollution poses a threat to human health. When

these gases enter our bodies, they induce a number of illnesses including bronchitis and

asthma, among others. These gases have an impact on both our neurological and circulatory

systems in addition to our respiratory system. The rise of heat in the atmosphere during the

last tens of thousands of years is known as global warming. The atmosphere is the dense

layer of air that covers our planet earth. Numerous gases, including nitrogen, oxygen, carbon

dioxide, and others, make up this atmosphere. In addition to these gases, a large number of

other gases are known as "greenhouse gases" and are the primary contributors to global

warming. These gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide,

water vapor, and CFCs, among others. Greenhouse gases prevent infrared rays from passing

through the atmosphere, raising the earth's temperature as a result. Because of industry and

transportation, air pollution is getting worse and contributing to global warming.

AIR POLLUTION 1

The number of fossil fuels that may be utilized, as well as the amount of carbon

dioxide and other pollutants that may be produced, are all subject to regulatory regulations.

The government is making an effort to protect our ecosystem from these dangerous toxins,

but it is insufficient. As a society, we must reduce air pollution in order to preserve the

ecosystem. Despite the fact that air pollution has reached a dangerous level. However, there

are still methods we may use to lessen the number of air pollutants in the atmosphere. Air

pollution is the term for a mixture of gases and solid particles in the atmosphere. The spores,

dust, car pollutants, and industrial contaminants may all be suspended as small particles.

Ozone makes up a significant portion of air pollution, which is known as smog when it does.

Higher levels of air pollution increase the risk of heart attacks, coughing fits, and breathing

difficulties. A significant factor in climate change and global warming is air pollution. One of

the main contributors to the greenhouse effect is the high concentration of carbon dioxide

(CO2) in the atmosphere. Moving away from fossil fuels and replacing them with alternative

energy like wind, solar, and geothermal is the most fundamental remedy (for air pollution).
AIR POLLUTION 1

Work Cited

Vedantu. (2022, April 27). Air Pollution Essay. VEDANTU. Retrieved October 14, 2022,

from https://www.vedantu.com/english/air-pollution-essay

Pirozzi, C., & Paine, R. (2019, January 23). Indoor and outdoor air pollution. Pulmonology

Advisor. Retrieved October 14, 2022, from

https://www.pulmonologyadvisor.com/home/decision-support-in-medicine/pulmonary-

medicine/indoor-and-outdoor-air-pollution/

Ozone Layer Protection. Environmental Protection Department. (n.d.). Retrieved October 14,

2022, from

https://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/ozone_layer_protection/

wn6_info_olp_ue_c.html#:~:text=Buy%20air%2Dconditioning%20and

%20refrigeration,prevent%20and%20minimize%20refrigerant%20leakage.