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Air Pollution
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.
• Air pollution is a mixture of natural and man-made substances in the
air we breathe. It is typically separated into two categories: outdoor
air pollution and indoor air pollution.
Outdoor air pollution involves exposures that take place outside of the
built environment. Examples include:
• Fine particles produced by the burning of fossil fuels (i.e. the coal and
petroleum used in energy production)
• Noxious gases (sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide,
chemical vapors, etc.)
• Ground-level ozone (a reactive form of oxygen and a primary
component of urban smog)
• Tobacco Smoke
Indoor air pollution involves exposures to particulates, carbon oxides,
and other pollutants carried by indoor air or dust. Examples include:
• Gases (carbon monoxide, radon, etc.)
• Household products and chemicals
• Building materials (asbestos, formaldehyde, lead, etc.)
• Outdoor indoor allergens (cockroach and mouse dropping, etc.)
• Tobacco smoke
• Mold and pollen
Types of Pollutants
• 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
intermingling and reactions of primary pollutants. Smog created by
the interactions of several primary pollutants is known to be as a
secondary pollutant.
Disastrous Effects of Air pollution