Definition of Air Pollution

Air pollution is a mixture of solid particles and gases in the air. Car emissions,
chemicals from factories, dust, pollen and mold spores may be suspended as
particles. Ozone, a gas, is a major part of air pollution in cities. When ozone forms air
pollution, it's also called smog.
Some air pollutants are poisonous. Inhaling them can increase the chance you'll
have health problems. People with heart or lung disease, older adults and children are
at greater risk from air pollution. Air pollution isn't just outside - the air inside buildings
can also be polluted and affect your health.
Smog hanging over cities is the most familiar and obvious form of air pollution.
But there are different kinds of pollutionsome visible, some invisiblethat contribute
to global warming. Generally any substance that people introduce into the atmosphere
that has damaging effects on living things and the environment is considered air
pollution. Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is the main pollutant that is warming Earth.
Though living things emit carbon dioxide when they breathe, carbon dioxide is widely
considered to be a pollutant when associated with cars, planes, power plants, and other
human activities that involve the burning of fossil fuels such as gasoline and natural
gas.
History of Air Pollution
Air pollution, particularly in cities, is certainly not a new problem. Back in the
middle Ages the use of coal in cities such as London was beginning to escalate. The
problems of poor urban air quality even as early as the end of the 16 thcentury are well
documented.
In the UK the Industrial Revolution during the 18 th and 19th centuries was based
on the use of coal. Industries were often located in towns and cities, and together with
the burning of coal in homes for domestic heat, urban air pollution levels often reached
very

high

levels.

During

foggy

conditions,

pollution

levels

escalated

and

urban smogs (smoke and fog) were formed. These often brought cities to a halt,

disrupting traffic but more dangerously causing death rates to dramatically rise. The
effects of this pollution on buildings and vegetation also became obvious. The 1875
Public Health Act contained a smoke abatement section to try and reduce smoke
pollution in urban areas. During the first part of the 20 th century, tighter industrial
controls lead to a reduction in smog pollution in urban areas. The 1926 Smoke
Abatement Act was aimed at reducing smoke emissions from industrial sources, but
despite the declining importance of coal as a domestic fuel, pollution from domestic
sources remained significant.
The Great London Smog of 1952, which resulted in around 4,000 extra deaths in
the city, led to the introduction of the Clean Air Acts of 1956 and 1968. These introduced
smokeless zones in urban areas, with a tall chimney policy to help disperse industrial air
pollutants away from built up areas into the atmosphere. Following the Clean Air Acts,
air quality improvements continued throughout the 1970s. Further regulations were
introduced through the 1974 Control of Air Pollution Act. This included regulations for
the composition of motor fuel and limits for the sulphur content of industrial fuel oil.
However, during the 1980s the number of motor vehicles in urban areas steadily
increased and air quality problems associated with motor vehicles became more
prevalent. In the early 1980s, the main interest was the effects of lead pollution
on human health, but by the late 1980s and early 1990s, the effects of other motor
vehicle pollutants became a major concern. The 1990s have seen the occurrence of
wintertime and summertime smogs. These are not caused by smoke and sulfur
dioxide pollution but by chemical reactions occurring between motor vehicle pollutants
and sunlight. These are known as photochemical smogs.
In 1995, the Government passed its Environment Act, requiring the publication of
a National Air Quality Strategy to set standards for the regulation of the most common
air pollutants. Published in 1997, the National Air Quality Strategy has set commitments
for local authorities to achieve new air quality objectives throughout the UK by 2005. It is
reviewed periodically.

Causes of Air Pollution

1. Burning of Fossil Fuels 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, their overuse is
killing our environment as dangerous gases are polluting the environment.
Carbon Monoxide caused by improper or incomplete combustion and
generally emitted from vehicles is another major pollutant along with Nitrogen
Oxides, which is produced from both natural and man-made processes.
2. 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 affect by it. Petroleum refineries also release
hydrocarbons and various other chemicals that pollute the air and also cause
land pollution.
3. Indoor Air Pollution household cleaning products, painting supplies emit

toxic chemicals in the air and cause air pollution. It creates some sort of smell
which makes it literally impossible for you to breathe.
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 expose
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 Air Pollution. With increased temperatures

worldwide, 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 arent
undertaken soon.
3. Effect on Wildlife just like humans, animals also face some devastating

effects 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.
4. Depletion of Ozone layer- ozone exists in Earths stratosphere and is

responsible for protecting humans from harmful Ultraviolet (UV) rays. Earths
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.

Recommendation: What is the best way to prevent Air Pollution?

As a student, we are aware of what is happening in our environment, especially
to our Air. Global Warming, Respiratory Infections, all of these are the effects of our not
caring in our environment. In order for us to live longer in this world, we must prevent
our Air from being polluted, or as we say; WE MUST SAVE IT.
o

Reducing energy consumption helps reduce air pollution, if less gasoline,

natural gas and electricity (power plants burn fossil fuels to generate
electricity) are used, not only do your bills decrease, but less pollutants
are emitted.

Plant trees! Trees can help produce oxygen and remove carbon dioxide
and contaminants from the air.

AIR POLLUTION
Term Paper for Natural Science 1

Submitted By:

Submitted To:

Vincent Gabriel T. Alkuino

Wenceslao L. Palma Gil

BSBA-FM 1st Yr.

Teacher

REFERENCES

Definition of Air Pollution | http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/airpollution.html

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com
History of Air Pollution http://www.enviropedia.org.uk/Air_Quality/History.php
Cause and Effect of Air Pollution http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causeseffects-solutions-of-air-pollution.php