What is Air Pollution

Every day, the average person inhales about 20,000 liters of air.  Every time we breathe, we risk inhaling dangerous chemicals that have found their way into the air.Air pollution includes all contaminants found in the atmosphere.  These dangerous substances can be either in the form of gases or particles.
Air pollution can be found both outdoors and indoors. Pollutants can be trapped inside buildings, causing indoor pollution that lasts for a long time.
The sources of air pollution are both natural and human-based.  As one might expect, humans have been producing increasing amounts of pollution as time has progressed, and they now account for the majority of pollutants released into the air.
Air pollution has been a problem throughout history.  Even in Ancient Rome people complained about smoke put into the atmosphere.

The effects of air pollution are diverse and numerous.  Air pollution can have serious consequences for the health of human beings, and also severely affects natural ecosystems.
Because it is located in the atmosphere, air pollution is able to travel easily.  As a result, air pollution is a global problem and has been the subject of global cooperation and conflict.
Some areas now suffer more than others from air pollution.  Cities with large numbers of automobiles or those that use great quantities of coal often suffer most severely from problems of air pollution.
Incomplete burning of fossil fuels, like petrol and diesel, results in the production of colourless, odourless and toxic carbon monoxide gas. Smog is a mix, in the air, of smoke and chemicals with fog. The chemical components of smog can include ozone, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide. Smog can trigger breathing difficulties like asthma and coughing. Pollutants like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are released in large quantities by petroleum refineries.
These emissions can cause respiratory problems and also permanent lung damage. CFCs or chlorofluorocarbons are synthetic products that contain carbon, chlorine and fluorine. They were formerly used as a refrigerant and as a propellant in aerosol or air sprays. CFCs contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer that protects us from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun.
Soot is released when automobiles burn fossil fuels, like petrol and diesel. Pollutants like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, which are produced by industries like rubber processing, automobile chemicals and the Mathura oil refinery near Agra, are responsible for the decolourisation of the Taj Mahal.
These gases react with water vapour in troposphere and form sulphuric acid and nitric acid. Precipitation carries these acids back to the earth as acid rain. The corrosion of the Taj Mahal due to acid rain is called ‘marble cancer.’ Global warming has already started melting the polar ice caps, which has resulted in a rise in the global sea level. Gases, like methane, nitrous oxide and water vapour, also contribute to the greenhouse effect, and, along with carbon dioxide, are collectively called the greenhouse gases.

INDUSTRIES:

The W.H.O defined it as the presence of materials in the air which are harmful to the living beings when they cross their threshold concentration levels. The foreign bodies, gases etc. act as an air pollutant. The chemical plants occur in the refineries, paper mills, ceramics, fertilizers, clay and in the glass manufacture. The important pollutants involved are the fluorides, vapors, sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide. The crop spraying occurs in the pest and weed control. The important pollutants involved are the lead, arsenic, hydrocarbons and organophosphates. The fuel burning occurs in the domestic and power plants. The important pollutants involved are the sulphur and nitrogen oxides. The metallurgical plants and nuclear devise involves the refineries, steel plants and bomb explosions. The important pollutants involved are the lead and zinc fumes along with the radioactive fallout. The ore preparation and transportation occurs by the crushing, grinding, screening and car, trucks along with the railways. The important pollutants involved are the uranium, iodine, argon, CO, NO, lead and smoke. The waste recovery involves the scrap metals and rendering plants. The important pollutants involved are the smoke, soot, vapors and metal fumes. There are multiple causes of the air pollution. It involves the cosmetics, welding, crushing and grinding of stones and gems. The chemical processing play an important role in the air pollution. The processing of metals along with the combustion of fossil fuels also causes pollution. The pollutants which occur naturally are the pollen, spores, marsh and volcanic gas. In urban areas it is mostly caused by the automobiles. They account for more than 3/4th of the noise and air pollution. In some areas the industries are more in number as compared to the other areas which may lead to the air pollution. It occurs in many parts of the Gujarat. The sources of air pollution are multiple. They can be mobile, stationary or industrial. In the stationary combustion sources like the burning of fuels is involved. The mobile combustion sources involve the automobiles, locomotives and aircrafts. The industrial sources involve the crushing, mixing and grinding.

STEPS TO PREVENT AIR POLLUTION:

• Use of fuels like CNG and unleaded petrol in automobiles
• switching to alternative fuels, like solar energy, hydropower and wind energy & Planting trees.
• Travelling to school on a bicycle or on public transporter car pooling.
• Avoiding the burning of leaves, trash and vegetable matter.
• Restricting cigarette smoking.