Composition of Air

What is the most important component of air? Oxygen, right? Well, that is what we all think, however, in reality, all the
various components of air are just as important as Oxygen. Let us have a look.

Component % in Atmosphere Importance

• Dilutes the effects of oxygen
Nitrogen 78% – 79% • Very important in the growth of animals and plants

• Essential in the lives of animals and plants, for breathing

Oxygen 21.1 % • Is the supporter of burning

• Absolutely essential for photosynthesis (which supports all life

Carbon DIoxide 0.03% on the planet)

• Controls evaporation and climatic conditions

Water Vapour Variable

• Nuclei for precipitation of rainwater

Dust Particles Variable

Air Pollution
In a broad sense, air pollution means the presence of chemicals or compounds (called pollutants) in the air which are not
naturally occurring, and which lower the quality of air, and are harmful to all living things in the atmosphere. Air
pollution is majorly caused due to the release of various chemicals into the atmosphere. Air pollution can be both man-
made and naturally occurring.

In our current age of industrialisation and modernisation, the biggest source of air pollution is the burning of fossil fuels.
For example when we burn petrol or diesel or coal to run our cars, machines, trains, power plants etc. this releases
harmful pollutants into the atmosphere, endangering all living things around.

There are two major types of air pollutants, gaseous compounds and compounds in solid form. There is actually a
laundry list of the various pollutants that are affecting our environment, but the few very dangerous ones are

• Carbon Monoxide
• Sulphur Oxides
• Nitrogen Oxides
• Carbon Dioxide
• Ammonia
• Particulate Matter
• Radioactive Pollutants
Causes of Air Pollution
Air pollution can be caused by both man-made
made and natural causes, altho
although
ugh the contribution by these natural causes is
pretty negligible.

made sources of air pollution. The single most harmful source of air
The main culprit of air pollution is the man-made
pollution is the unchecked burning of fossil fuels by mankind. Fossil fuels (non-renewable
renewable sources of energy such as
crude oil, petrol, diesel, coal etc.) are used in almost every process of industrialization, manufacturing, transport and
energy generation. In rural areas, a major source of pollution is the practice of unchecked crop burning. In moderation,
this is actually a useful tool in farming but uncontrolled crop burning causes significant air pollution. Another source of
man-made
made pollution is military resources such as nuclear arsenal and chemical weaponry.

There are a few natural sources of air pollution as well. such as forest fires, volcanic activity and methane discharged
from cattle. However, the amount of air pollution caused by natural causes is minuscule when compared to the damage
done by man-made causes.

Consequences
ces of Air Pollution
1. Ozone Depletion: The Ozone layer is a belt of natural gasses in the stratosphere that envelopes the planet. It
protects us from harmful ultraviolet B radiation that the Sun emits. The pollutants that cause air pollution in our
atmosphere are seriously damaging the ozone layer. Over the last few decades, many holes have appeared in the
layer. The ozone layer above Antartica particularly has seen some very serious damage. When the ozone layer
gets depleted the harmful UVB radiation reaches the surface of the earth and causes skin cancer and eye damage
among humans.
2. Smog: Smog is the deadly combination of Smoke and Fog. It is the greyish fog that is caused when the pollutants
in the air, such as carbon particles,, condense and mix with the fog. Smog is extremely harmful to humans and the
entire environment. It can lead to diseases such as cold, flu, irritation of the eye, asthma and in the long term even
lung cancer
3. Acid Rain: Acid Rain is caused when a chemical rreaction
eaction occurs between air pollutants and water and oxygen
very high in the atmosphere. Pollutants such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide are water soluble and mix
with the water in the atmosphere and precipitate as acid rain. The acidic nature of this rain causes severe damage
to the plants, animals and the soil

Strategies to Control Air Pollution

1. Use of Energy efficient appliances: Whether at the domestic level or at the industrial level, we must push for
appliances that use energy efficiently, which result in complete combustion of fuel, as incomplete combustion
causes air pollution.
2. Shifting industries: Another possible solution to reduce the harmful effects of air pollution is to shift the
manufacturing plants, factories and industries to remote are
areas
as with a low level of population. By doing so you can
ensure that pollution in the urban areas decreases over time.
 3. Using Modern Techniques: With technology making great advancements, there are now technologies available
that can help reduce the release of pollutants in the air. Air filters, scrubbers, precipitators are just a few
examples.
4. Shifting to Natural Gasses: Instead of using and exhausting fossil fuels, shifting to greener options is a no-
brainer. For example, using CNG (compressed natural gas) instead of petrol or diesel is a great option.

What Is Air Pollution?

Air pollution refers to the release of pollutants into the air that are detrimental to human health and the planet as a whole.

The Clean Air Act authorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect public health by regulating the
emissions of these harmful air pollutants. The NRDC has been a leading authority on this law since it was established in
1970.

What Causes Air Pollution?

“Most air pollution comes from energy use and production,” says John Walke, director of the Clean Air Project, part of
the Climate and Clean Air program at NRDC. “Burning fossil fuels releases gases and chemicals into the air.” And in an
especially destructive feedback loop, air pollution not only contributes to climate change but is also exacerbated by it.
“Air pollution in the form of carbon dioxide and methane raises the earth’s temperature,” Walke says. “Another type of
air pollution is then worsened by that increased heat: Smog forms when the weather is warmer and there’s more
ultraviolet radiation.” Climate change also increases the production of allergenic air pollutants including mold (thanks to
damp conditions caused by extreme weather and increased flooding) and pollen (due to a longer pollen season and more
pollen production).

Effects of Air Pollution

“While we’ve made progress over the last 40-plus years improving air quality in the U.S. thanks to the Clean Air Act,
climate change will make it harder in the future to meet pollution standards, which are designed to protect health,” says
Kim Knowlton, senior scientist and deputy director of the NRDC Science Center.

Smog and soot

These two are the most prevalent types of air pollution. Smog, or “ground-level ozone,” as it is more wonkily called,
occurs when emissions from combusting fossil fuels react with sunlight. Soot, or “particulate matter,” is made up of tiny
particles of chemicals, soil, smoke, dust, or allergens, in the form of gas or solids, that are carried in the air. The EPA’s
“Plain English Guide to the Clean Air Act” states, “In many parts of the United States, pollution has reduced the distance
and clarity of what we see by 70 percent.” The sources of smog and soot are similar. “Both come from cars and trucks,
factories, power plants, incinerators, engines—anything that combusts fossil fuels such as coal, gas, or natural gas,”
Walke says. The tiniest airborne particles in soot—whether they’re in the form of gas or solids—are especially
dangerous because they can penetrate the lungs and bloodstream and worsen bronchitis, lead to heart attacks, and even
hasten death.

Smog can irritate the eyes and throat and also damage the lungs—especially of people who work or exercise outside,
children, and senior citizens. It’s even worse for people who have asthma or allergies—these extra pollutants only
intensify their symptoms and can trigger asthma attacks.

Hazardous air pollutants

These are either deadly or have severe health risks even in small amounts. Almost 200 are regulated by law; some of the
most common are mercury, lead, dioxins, and benzene. “These are also most often emitted during gas or coal
combustion, incinerating, or in the case of benzene, found in gasoline,” Walke says. Benzene, classified as a carcinogen
by the EPA, can cause eye, skin, and lung irritation in the short term and blood disorders in the long term. Dioxins, more
typically found in food but also present in small amounts in the air, can affect the liver in the short term and harm the
immune, nervous, and endocrine systems, as well as reproductive functions. Lead in large amounts can damage
children’s brains and kidneys, and even in small amounts it can affect children’s IQ and ability to learn. Mercury affects
the central nervous system.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, are toxic components of traffic exhaust and wildfire smoke. In large
amounts, they have been linked to eye and lung irritation, blood and liver issues, and even cancer. In one recent study,
the children of mothers who’d had higher PAH exposure during pregnancy had slower brain processing speeds and
worse symptoms of ADHD.

Greenhouse gases

By trapping the earth’s heat in the atmosphere, greenhouse gases lead to warmer temperatures and all the hallmarks of
climate change: rising sea levels, more extreme weather, heat-related deaths, and increasing transmission of infectious
diseases like Lyme. According to a 2014 EPA study, carbon dioxide was responsible for 81 percent of the country’s total
greenhouse gas emissions, and methane made up 11 percent. “Carbon dioxide comes from combusting fossil fuels, and
methane comes from natural and industrial sources, including the large amounts that are released during oil and gas
drilling,” Walke says. “We emit far larger amounts of carbon dioxide, but methane is significantly more potent, so it’s
also very destructive.” Another class of greenhouse gases, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), are thousands of times more
powerful than carbon dioxide in their ability to trap heat. In October 2016, more than 140 countries reached an
agreement to reduce the use of these chemicals—which are used in air conditioners and refrigerators—and find greener
alternatives over time. David Doniger, director of NRDC’s Climate and Clean Air program, writes, “NRDC estimates
that the agreed HFC phase-down will avoid the equivalent of more than 80 billion tons of CO2 over the next 35 years.”

Pollen and mold

Mold and allergens from trees, weeds, and grass are also carried in the air, are exacerbated by climate change, and can be
hazardous to health. They are not regulated by the government and are less directly connected to human actions, but they
can be considered air pollution. “When homes, schools, or businesses get water damage, mold can grow and can produce
allergenic airborne pollutants,” Knowlton says. “Mold exposure can precipitate asthma attacks or an allergic response,
and some molds can even produce toxins that would be dangerous for anyone to inhale.”

Pollen allergies are worsening because of climate change. “Lab and field studies are showing that the more carbon
dioxide pollen-producing plants—especially ragweed—are grown in, the bigger they grow and the more pollen they
produce,” Knowlton says. “Climate change also extends the pollen production season, and some studies are beginning to
suggest that ragweed pollen itself might be becoming a more potent allergen.” That means more people will suffer runny
noses, fevers, itchy eyes, and other symptoms.

How to Help Reduce Air Pollution

“The less gasoline we burn, the better we’re doing to reduce air pollution and harmful effects of climate change,” Walke
says. “Make good choices about transportation. When you can, walk, ride a bike, or take public transportation. For
driving, choose cars that get better miles per gallon of gas or choose an electric car.” You can also investigate your
power provider options—you may be able to request that your electricity be supplied by wind or solar. Buying your food
locally cuts down on the fossil fuels burned in trucking or flying food in from across the country. And perhaps most
important, “Support leaders who push for clean air and water and responsible steps on climate change,” Walke says.

How to Protect Your Health

• “When you see in the newspaper or hear on the weather report that pollution levels are high, it may be useful to limit the
time when children go outside or you go for a jog,” Walke says. Generally, ozone levels tend to be lower in the morning.
• When you do exercise outside, stay as far as you can from heavily trafficked roads. Then shower and wash your clothes to
remove fine particles.
• If the air quality is bad, stay inside with windows closed.
 • Wear sunscreen. When ultraviolet radiation comes through the weakened ozone layer, it can cause skin damage and skin
cancer.

What is Air Pollution?

Pollution is now a common place term, that our ears are attuned to. We hear about the various forms of pollution and
read about it through the mass media. Air pollution is one such form that refers to the contamination of the air,
irrespective of indoors or outside. A physical, biological or chemical alteration to the air in the atmosphere can be termed
as pollution. It occurs when any harmful gases, dust, smoke enters into the atmosphere and makes it difficult for plants,
animals and humans to survive as the air becomes dirty.

Air pollution can further be classified into two sections- Visible air pollution and invisible air pollution. Another way of
looking at Air pollution could be any substance that holds the potential to hinder the atmosphere or the well being of the
living beings surviving in it. The sustainment of all things living is due to a combination of gases that collectively form
the atmosphere; the imbalance caused by the increase or decrease of the percentage of these gases can be harmful for
survival.

The Ozone layer considered crucial for the existence of the ecosystems on the planet is depleting due to increased
pollution. Global warming, a direct result of the increased imbalance of gases in the atmosphere has come to be known
as the biggest threat and challenge that the contemporary world has to overcome in a bid for survival.

Types of Pollutants
In order to understand the causes of Air pollution, several divisions can be made. Primarily air pollutants can be
caused by primary sources or secondary sources. The pollutants that are a direct result of the process can be called
primary pollutants. A classic example of a primary pollutant would be the sulfur-dioxide emitted from factories

Secondary pollutants are the ones that are caused by the inter mingling and reactions of primary pollutants. Smog
created by the interactions of several primary pollutants is known to be as secondary pollutant.

Causes of Air pollution

1. Burning of Fossil Fuels: Sulfur dioxide emitted from the combustion of fossil fuels like coal, petroleum and other
factory combustibles is one the major cause of air pollution. Pollution emitting from vehicles including trucks, jeeps,
cars, trains, airplanes cause immense amount of pollution. We rely on them to fulfill our daily basic needs of
transportation. But, there overuse is killing our environment as dangerous gases are polluting the environment. Carbon
Monooxide caused by improper or incomplete combustion and generally emitted from vehicles is another major
pollutant along with Nitrogen Oxides, that is produced from both natural and man made processes.

2. Agricultural activities: Ammonia is a very common by product from agriculture related activities and is one of the
most hazardous gases in the atmosphere. Use of insecticides, pesticides and fertilizers in agricultural activities has grown
quite a lot. They emit harmful chemicals into the air and can also cause water pollution.

3. Exhaust from factories and industries: Manufacturing industries release large amount of carbon monoxide,
hydrocarbons, organic compounds, and chemicals into the air thereby depleting the quality of air. Manufacturing
industries can be found at every corner of the earth and there is no area that has not been affected by it. Petroleum
refineries also release hydrocarbons and various other chemicals that pollute the air and also cause land pollution.

4. Mining operations: Mining is a process wherein minerals below the earth are extracted using large equipments.
During the process dust and chemicals are released in the air causing massive air pollution. This is one of the reason
which is responsible for the deteriorating health conditions of workers and nearby residents.

5. Indoor air pollution: Household cleaning products, painting supplies emit toxic chemicals in the air and cause air
pollution. Have 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 SPM, is another cause of pollution. Referring to the particles afloat
in the air, SPM is usually caused by dust, combustion etc.

Effects of Air pollution

1. Respiratory and heart problems: The effects of Air pollution are alarming. They are known to create several
respiratory and heart conditions along with Cancer, among other threats to the body. Several millions are known to have
died due to direct or indirect effects of Air pollution. Children in areas exposed to air pollutants are said to commonly
suffer from pneumonia and asthma.

2. Global warming: Another direct effect is the immediate alterations that the world is witnessing due to Global
warming. With 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
normalization aren’t undertaken soon.

3. Acid Rain: Harmful gases like nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides are released into the atmosphere during the burning
of fossil fuels. When 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. Eutrophication: 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 affect fish, plants and animal species. The green
colored algae that is present on lakes and ponds is due to presence of this chemical only.

5. Effect on Wildlife: Just like humans, animals also face some devastating affects of air pollution. Toxic chemicals
present in the air can force wildlife species to move to new place and change their habitat. The toxic pollutants deposit
over the surface of the water and can also affect sea animals.

6. Depletion of Ozone layer: Ozone exists in earth’s stratosphere and is responsible for protecting humans from harmful
ultraviolet (UV) rays. Earth’s ozone layer is depleting due to the presence of chlorofluorocarbons, hydro
chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere. As ozone layer will go thin, it will emit harmful rays back on earth and can cause
skin and eye related problems. UV rays also have the capability to affect crops.

When you try to study the sources of Air pollution, you enlist a series of activities and interactions that create
these pollutants. There are two types of sources that we will take a look at: Natural sources and Man-made sources.

Natural 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 (Carbon dioxide from humans during respiration, Methane from cattle
during digestion, Oxygen from plants during Photosynthesis). Smoke from the combustion of various inflammable
objects, volcanic eruptions etc along with the emission of polluted gases also make it to the list of Natural sources of
Pollution.

While looking at the man-made contributions towards air pollution, smoke again features as a prominent component. The
smoke emitted from various forms of combustion like in bio mass, factories, vehicles, furnaces etc. Waste used to create
landfills generate methane, that is harmful in several ways. The reactions of certain gases and chemicals also form
harmful fumes that can be dangerous to the well being of living creatures.

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 off fans and lights when you are going out. Large amount of fossil fuels are burnt to
produce electricity. You 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: Do not throw away items that are of no use to you. In-fact
reuse them for some other purpose. For e.g. you can use old jars to store cereals or pulses.
4. Emphasis on clean energy resources: Clean energy technologies like solar, wind and geothermal are on high these
days. Governments of various countries have been providing grants to consumers who are interested in installing solar
panels for their home. This will go a long way to curb air pollution.

5. Use energy efficient devices: CFL lights consume less electricity as against their counterparts. They 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. This is
a direct attempt at slacking Global warming. We 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.