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.
Poor
air quality poses serious risks to public health. Reports note that as air
quality declines, the risk of stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and chronic
and acute respiratory diseases increases for inhabitants of the affected
cities.
“Air
pollution is a major cause of disease and death,” says Dr. Flavia Bustreo, WHO
Assistant-Director General of Family, Women and Children’s Health. “When dirty
air blankets our cities the most vulnerable urban populations—the youngest,
oldest and poorest—are the most impacted.”
Air
pollution occurs when harmful substances including particulates and biological
molecules are introduced into Earth's atmosphere. It may cause diseases,
allergies or death in humans; it may also cause harm to other living organisms
such as animals and food crops, and may damage the natural or built
environment. Human activity and natural processes can both generate air
pollution.
Smog
hanging over cities is the most familiar and obvious form of air pollution. But
there are different kinds of pollution—some visible, some invisible—that
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.
Pollutants
such as Benzene and Carbon Monoxide from motor vehicle exhausts and industrial
processes are human carcinogens.
Other
sources are Carbon Monoxide, Lead, Nitrogen Dioxide, Ozone, Asbestos, Cigarette
smoke, micro-organisms and allergens.
Effects
on Human health include increased risk of lung cancer, eye, throat and lung
irritation, pneumonia-like respiratory illnesses, allergic reactions, nausea
and dizziness.
Global
warming is caused by a blanket of pollution that traps heat around the earth.
This pollution comes from cars, factories, homes, and power plants that burn
fossil fuels such as oil, coal, natural gas, and gasoline.
In
addition, burning fossil fuels contributes to other air pollution such as
sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, mercury, and other air toxics, and they create
a host of other problems, including unhealthful smog and soot; mercury
contamination of people, waters and wildlife; and acid rain and ocean
acidification.
Indoor
air pollution can only be controlled by the householder, but may be improved by
increasing ventilation.
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