Scribd
Upload
66 views2 pages

Effects of Air Pollution

Air pollution is caused by both natural sources like forest fires and volcanic eruptions, as well as human sources like fossil fuel combustion from power plants and vehicles. The biggest human causes are responsible for about 90% of air pollution in the United States. Toxic pollutants from vehicles and heavy industry severely impact cities like Mexico City and Sao Paulo, causing health issues. Air pollution damages the environment through ocean acidification, global warming, reduced biodiversity, and soil acidification.

Uploaded by

dann_xcite
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
66 views2 pages

Effects of Air Pollution

Air pollution is caused by both natural sources like forest fires and volcanic eruptions, as well as human sources like fossil fuel combustion from power plants and vehicles. The biggest human causes are responsible for about 90% of air pollution in the United States. Toxic pollutants from vehicles and heavy industry severely impact cities like Mexico City and Sao Paulo, causing health issues. Air pollution damages the environment through ocean acidification, global warming, reduced biodiversity, and soil acidification.

Uploaded by

dann_xcite
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Effects of Air Pollution

Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or
discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment,
into the atmosphere.

Causes of Air Pollution

There are many different chemical substances that contribute to air pollution.  These chemicals come from a variety
of sources.

Among the many types of air pollutants are nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxides, and organic compounds that can
evaporate and enter the atmosphere.

Air pollutants have sources that are both natural and human.  Now, humans contribute substantially more to the air
pollution problem.

Forest fires, volcanic eruptions, wind erosion, pollen dispersal, evaporation of organic compounds, and natural
radioactivity are all among the natural causes of air pollution.

Usually, natural air pollution does not occur in abundance in particular locations.  The pollution is spread around
throughout the world, and as a result, poses little threat to the health of people and ecosystems.

Though some pollution comes from these natural sources, most pollution is the result of human activity.  The
biggest causes are the operation of fossil fuel-burning power plants and automobiles that combust fuel.  Combined,
these two sources are responsible for about 90% of all air pollution in the United States.

Some cities suffer severely because of heavy industrial use of chemicals that cause air pollution.  Places like Mexico
City and Sao Paulo have some of the most deadly pollution levels in the world.

Toxic substances from Motor Vehicles

There are a number of effects of air pollution to ENVIRONMENT

 Biomagnification describes situations where toxins (such as heavy metals) may pass through trophic levels,
becoming exponentially more concentrated in the process.
 Carbon dioxide emissions cause ocean acidification, the ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans as
CO2 becomes dissolved.
 The emission of greenhouse gases leads to global warming which affects ecosystems in many ways.
 Invasive species can out compete native species and reduce biodiversity. Invasive plants can contribute
debris and biomolecules (allelopathy) that can alter soil and chemical compositions of an environment,
often reducing native species competitiveness.
 Nitrogen oxides are removed from the air by rain and fertilise land which can change the species
composition of ecosystems.
 Smog and haze can reduce the amount of sunlight received by plants to carry out photosynthesis and leads
to the production of tropospheric ozone which damages plants.
 Soil can become infertile and unsuitable for plants. This will affect other organisms in the food web.
 Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides can cause acid rain which lowers the pH value of soil.

You might also like