Air Pollution (Teaching

Reading)
 Mechanics

 The class will be divided into 5 groups.

 KWL Sheets will be distributed in each group.
 Each group will be given 2 minutes to fill up the ‘K’ and ‘W’ columns.
 An excerpt will be posted in front.
 The students will read altogether the excerpt.
 The students will be given 3 minutes to read quietly and intensively the
excerpt.
 After reading the excerpt, the students will be given 5 minutes to fill up the
‘L’ column and discuss it among groups.
 Each group will choose one representative to read aloud their output in
front.
The main cause of global warming is air pollution. Air
pollution is the release of particles into the air from
any burning activities such as burning fuel for energy.
Burning fuels such as coal and oil produces a large
amount of green house gases. Example of green house
gases is Carbon Dioxide. These green house gases rise
into the atmosphere and trap the heat, keeping heat from
releasing. Thus, the temperature increases. An air quality
index is used by government agencies to communicate to
the public how polluted the air currently is or how
polluted it is forecast to become. Public health risks
increase as the AQI rises. Green means the air outside is
good. Red means the air outside is unhealthy.
What is Air Pollution?
 It 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.
 Republic Act No. 3931
What causes Air Pollution?
According to John Walke:
 Most air pollution comes from energy use and
production.
 Burning fossil fuels releases gases and chemicals into
the air.
 Air pollution in the form of carbon dioxide and methane
raises the earth’s temperature.
 Smog forms when the weather is warmer and there’s
more ultraviolet radiation.
There are four main types of air pollution sources:
 mobile sources – such as cars, buses, planes,
trucks, and trains
 stationary sources – such as power plants, oil
refineries, industrial facilities, and factories
 area sources – such as agricultural areas, cities,
and wood burning fireplaces
 natural sources – such as wind-blown dust,
wildfires, and volcanoes
Effects of Air Pollution
 Environmental Impacts

 Global warming: it is the long-term rise in the

average temperature of the Earth's climate system.
 Formation of photochemical smog: When pollutants
like hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides combine in the
presence of sunlight, smog is formed. This is a mixture
of gases and since it is formed by photochemical
reactions, it is called the photochemical smog.
 Formation of acid rain: Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react
with water in the atmosphere producing sulphuric acid and nitric
acid. These acids come down along with the rain. This phenomenon
is called acid rain. Its adverse affects on the environment include:
causes respiratory and skin disorders, affects productivity of plants
by damaging the leaves, enters the soil and affects the soil, enters the
ground and river waters which causes harm to the aquatic life.
 Depletion of Ozone: gradual thinning of Earth’s ozone layer in the
upper atmosphere caused by the release of chemical compounds containing
gaseous chlorine or bromine from industry and other human activities.
Ozone is known to absorb the Ultraviolet (UV) rays present in the sun’s
radiation and protects us from the harmful effects of the UV rays. However,
hydrocarbons such as the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) destroy the ozone
molecules which deplete the ozone layer.
 Human Health Impacts

Pollutant Health effects at very high levels

Nitrogen Dioxide, Sulphur Dioxide, These gases irritate the airways of the
Ozone lungs, increasing the symptoms of those
suffering from lung diseases.
Particles Fine particles can be carried deep into
the lungs where they can cause
inflammation and a worsening of heart
and lung diseases.
Carbon Monoxide This gas prevents the uptake of oxygen
by the blood. This can lead to a
significant reduction in the supply of
oxygen to the heart, particularly in
people suffering from heart disease.
Air Pollution Prevention
1. Renewable fuel and clean energy production.
2. Energy conservation and efficiency
3. Eco-friendly transportation
4. Green building
Create an essay, consisting of 3 paragraphs only, about
promoting awareness in preserving our nature through
the prevention or reducing of air pollution.
Choose the letter of your answer.

1.) Humans cause a significant amount of air pollution

by burning _____ fuels?
a. Natural
b. Electric
c. Organic
d. Fossil
e. Renewable
2.) What effect of air pollution is caused by CFCs from
spray cans getting released into the air?
a. Global warming
b. Damage to the ozone layer
c. Acid rain
d. Respiratory infections
e. All of the above
3.) What effect of air pollution is caused when sulfur
dioxide gets high into the atmosphere?
a. Global warming
b. Damage to the ozone layer
c. Acid rain Respiratory infections, lung cancer, and heart
disease
d. All of the above
4.) What effect of air pollution causes millions of people
to die each year?
a. Global warming
b. Damage to the ozone layer
c. Acid rain
d. Respiratory infections, lung cancer, and heart disease
e. All of the above
5.) What color of the Air Quality Index lets us know that
the air outside is 'unhealthy'?
a. Green
b. Yellow
c. Orange
d. Red
e. Maroon
6.) What color of the Air Quality Index lets us know that
the air outside is 'good'?
a. Green
b. Yellow
c. Orange
d. Red
e. Maroon
7.) What do we call the actual gas or substance that causes
air pollution?
a. Carbon Dioxide
b. Fossil fuel
c. Acid rain
d. Chemical
e. Pollutant
8.) What odorless gas is produced by cars and can kill you
if you breathe too much of it?
a. Sulfur dioxide
b. Carbon dioxide
c. Carbon monoxide
d. CFCs
e. Particulate matter
9.) What greenhouse gas with the chemical formula CO2
is released by the burning of fossil fuels?
a. Sulfur dioxide
b. Carbon dioxide
c. Carbon monoxide
d. CFCs
e. Particulate matter
10.) What is the biggest single cause of air pollution?
a. Factories
b. Air conditioning
c. Forest fires
d. Transport such as cars
e. Corporations