Meghan Hodges
Air pollution is caused by solid or liquid particles and certain gases suspended in the air. These particles and gases can come from car and truck exhaust, factories, dust, pollen, mold spores, volcanoes, and wildfires. Burning fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum, and wood releases many of these particles and gases. Air pollution has disastrous effects on human health, especially children's health, and is a major cause of premature death and disease. It has been linked to respiratory issues, heart and lung diseases, cancers, and other health problems. Pollutants in the air also cause long-term environmental damage, contributing to climate change.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | The presence of one or more contaminants in the atmosphere, such as dust, fumes, gas, mist, odour, smoke or vapour, in quantities and durations that can be injurious to human health. |
| Causes | Burning fossil fuels, car and truck exhaust, factories, wildfires, volcanoes, cigarette smoke, and forest fires. |
| Effects on Humans | Respiratory infections, aggravated asthma, inflammation, oxidative stress, immunosuppression, mutagenicity, systemic inflammation, carcinogenicity, stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, and COVID-19 mortality. |
| Effects on the Planet | Climate change, global warming, ozone depletion, and acid rain. |
| Preventative Measures | Using better mileage or electric cars, choosing clean energy providers, buying local food, supporting clean air policies, limiting outdoor time when pollution levels are high, wearing masks, and using air conditioners with the recirculating setting. |
What You'll Learn
- Fossil fuels and vehicles: Fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas are burned to power vehicles, factories and homes, releasing harmful gases and particles
- Health impacts: Air pollution has been linked to respiratory issues, heart and lung diseases, cancers and other health problems. It can also increase the risk of lung cancer and heart attacks
- Climate change: Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to climate change and its associated impacts
- Wildfires and extreme weather: Climate change-fuelled wildfires and extreme heat are adding to the challenges of maintaining air quality and protecting public health
- Acid rain:
Fossil fuels and vehicles: Fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas are burned to power vehicles, factories and homes, releasing harmful gases and particles
Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, have been the primary energy source for over 150 years, currently meeting about 80% of the world's energy demands. They are used to generate electricity, power transportation, and facilitate industrial processes. However, burning fossil fuels releases harmful gases and particles, contributing significantly to air pollution and causing adverse effects on human health and the environment.
The combustion of fossil fuels emits various air pollutants, including carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and airborne particles like soot. These emissions have far-reaching consequences for our climate and ecosystems. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, such as methane, released from burning fossil fuels, accumulate in the atmosphere, leading to the greenhouse effect and global warming. This, in turn, intensifies heat waves, contributing to climate change and resulting in more frequent and intense heatwaves, ocean acidification, sea level rise, and ecosystem damage.
Airborne particles released from burning fossil fuels have local and immediate impacts. Soot, for example, when settling on snow, increases the absorption of sunlight, causing accelerated melting of ice and snow. Additionally, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide can react with water vapour and other chemicals to form acid rain, which contaminates freshwater sources, harms aquatic life, and increases the chemical weathering of rocks and man-made structures.
The health impacts of air pollution from burning fossil fuels are significant. Long-term exposure to polluted air has been linked to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular issues, neurological damage, and various types of cancer. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air has been associated with premature death and adverse effects on the cardiovascular system, including increased hospital admissions for heart attacks and strokes. Additionally, air pollution disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, with people of colour in the United States being more likely to live in areas with poor air quality due to historically racist zoning policies and discriminatory lending practices.
To mitigate the harmful effects of air pollution from fossil fuels, a transition to cleaner fuels and industrial processes is essential. This includes adopting renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, improving fuel efficiency in vehicles, and electrifying transportation. Additionally, technologies such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) can help reduce carbon emissions by capturing and injecting carbon back into the earth, although this does not negate the need to reduce the burning of fossil fuels.
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Health impacts: Air pollution has been linked to respiratory issues, heart and lung diseases, cancers and other health problems. It can also increase the risk of lung cancer and heart attacks
Air pollution has a wide range of harmful health effects, including impacts on respiratory health, exacerbation of heart and lung diseases, and an increased risk of cancers.
Respiratory Issues
Particle pollution exposure has been linked to a variety of respiratory issues, including coughing, phlegm, wheezing, inflammation of the airways and lungs, bronchial hyperreactivity, respiratory infections, and decreased lung function growth in children. Constant exposure to elevated particle pollution can contribute to reduced respiratory function even in otherwise healthy individuals. In those with pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma, air pollution can affect the stability or progression of these conditions through inflammatory effects in the respiratory tree.
Heart and Lung Diseases
Air pollution has been found to exacerbate existing cardiovascular disease and contribute to the development of the disease. Fine particulate matter, especially with diameters less than 2.5 µm (known as PM2.5), can increase the risk of cardiovascular events. Exposure to PM2.5 over a short period can trigger cardiovascular disease-related heart attacks, while long-term exposure can lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality and decreased life expectancy. Additionally, air pollution can interfere with the growth and function of the lungs, affecting those with pre-existing lung conditions.
Cancers
Air pollution has been linked to an increased risk of various cancers, including lung cancer, as well as breast, liver, and pancreatic cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded in a 2013 review that there is sufficient evidence to state that outdoor air pollution can cause cancer in people. Fine particles in the air can enter deep into the lungs, and while the precise way they initiate the cancerous process is still being researched, it is clear that air pollution is a risk factor for cancer.
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Climate change: Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to climate change and its associated impacts
Air pollution is caused by the presence of certain gases, solid particles, and liquid droplets in the air. These pollutants can be released into the atmosphere through human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, or natural processes, like wildfires and volcanoes. The primary sources of outdoor air pollution include residential energy use for cooking and heating, vehicles, power generation, agriculture/waste incineration, and industry.
One of the significant contributors to air pollution is vehicles and their fuels. The emissions from cars, trucks, and other vehicles contain harmful gases and solid particles that can adversely affect both human health and the environment. Additionally, the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, natural gas, and oil, releases gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen oxide into the atmosphere, leading to air pollution and climate change.
Climate change is predominantly driven by the increase in greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, in the Earth's atmosphere. These gases act like a blanket, trapping heat and preventing it from escaping into space. This phenomenon is known as the greenhouse effect, and while it is essential for keeping the planet warm enough to support life, human activities have intensified it, leading to global warming and climate change.
The consequences of climate change are far-reaching and impact various aspects of our lives. For instance, the increased concentration of greenhouse gases leads to more frequent and intense heat waves, particularly affecting vulnerable populations such as the poor and elderly. Climate change also contributes to the spread of certain waterborne and pest-related diseases, impacts agriculture and ecosystems, and can lead to food scarcity, conflicts, and mass migration.
To mitigate the effects of climate change, it is crucial to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This can be achieved by transitioning to cleaner fuels and industrial processes, adopting renewable energy sources, improving fuel efficiency in vehicles, and implementing policies that promote sustainable land use, cleaner household energy, and better waste management practices. By addressing the root causes of climate change, we can work towards preserving the health of our planet and its inhabitants.
In summary, air pollution, caused by human activities and natural processes, contributes to the presence of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The accumulation of these gases, particularly carbon dioxide and methane, leads to climate change and its associated impacts. By understanding the connection between air pollution and climate change, we can develop effective strategies to combat this global challenge and protect the environment for future generations.
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Wildfires and extreme weather: Climate change-fuelled wildfires and extreme heat are adding to the challenges of maintaining air quality and protecting public health
Air pollution is caused by solid and liquid particles and certain gases that are suspended in the air. These particles and gases can come from car and truck exhaust, factories, dust, pollen, mould spores, volcanoes, and wildfires. The Clean Air Act has been instrumental in reducing air pollution in the United States since its passage in 1970, although fossil fuel interests continue to pose a threat to its protections.
Climate change-fuelled wildfires and extreme heat are adding to the challenges of maintaining air quality and protecting public health. Wildfires emit smoke particles and pollutants that can elevate PM2.5 and/or O3 levels over health standards, leading to respiratory issues and premature mortality. The smoke plumes can affect regions directly or mix with other urban pollutants, causing further harm. The size and intensity of wildfires are influenced by factors such as fuel type, fuel moisture, fire conditions, temperature, and weather conditions.
Drier soil and vegetation, a consequence of climate change, increase the risk of larger and more intense wildfires, which have detrimental effects on lung and heart health. The emissions from these wildfires are variable and depend on multiple factors, making it challenging to understand their exact chemical composition and subsequent impacts. Smoke forecasting systems have been developed to predict air quality impacts and protect public health during and after wildfire events.
Additionally, climate change-induced extreme heat waves can have significant public health consequences. Higher temperatures, variable climates, and elevated carbon dioxide levels in the air contribute to reduced nutrient content in crops, affecting food security and nutritional intake. The combination of extreme heat and air pollution exacerbates the challenges of maintaining air quality and safeguarding public health, particularly for vulnerable populations.
To address these challenges, a transition to cleaner fuels and industrial processes is essential. This includes adopting renewable energy sources, improving fuel efficiency in vehicles, and transitioning to electric cars and trucks. By tackling air pollution at its source and mitigating climate change, we can improve air quality, protect public health, and reduce the impact of extreme weather events.
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Acid rain:
Acid rain is caused by a chemical reaction that occurs when compounds such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide are released into the air. These compounds, emitted by vehicles, manufacturing processes, and natural causes like lightning strikes and volcanic eruptions, mix and react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals in the atmosphere to form acidic pollutants. The phenomenon, recognised as an environmental issue in the 1960s and 1970s, particularly affects Western Europe and eastern North America.
Acid rain has detrimental effects on the environment and human health. It changes the composition of soil and water bodies, making them uninhabitable for plants and animals. Acid rain washes away essential nutrients required for plant growth and survival, altering soil pH and binding or dissolving vital minerals like nitrogen and phosphorus. This leads to a decline in plant health and biodiversity.
In aquatic ecosystems, acid rain raises the acidity of water, causing fish deaths and making it harmful to the survival of aquatic life. It also leads to the corrosion of water pipes, resulting in the leaching of heavy metals like iron, lead, and copper into drinking water. The corrosion of steel structures, weathering of stone buildings and monuments, and paint peeling are additional consequences of acid rain.
The health impacts of acid rain are significant. It causes respiratory issues in humans and animals, with the potential to trigger or aggravate respiratory diseases like asthma. Furthermore, acid rain contributes to haze and smog, affecting air quality and public health, particularly in areas with high emissions.
To mitigate the formation of acid rain, several measures can be implemented. Regulating emissions from vehicles, industries, and power plants by transitioning to renewable energy sources like solar and wind power is crucial. Additionally, adding lime deposits to major water sources can neutralise pH levels and reduce acidity, helping to restore affected wildlife and ecosystems.
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Frequently asked questions
Air pollution is the presence of one or more contaminants in the atmosphere, such as dust, fumes, gas, mist, odour, smoke or vapour, in quantities and durations that can be harmful to human health.
Air gets polluted when solid and liquid particles, called aerosols, and certain gases are released into the air. These particles and gases can come from car and truck exhaust, factories, dust, pollen, mould spores, volcanoes, and wildfires.
Air pollution is the single largest environmental health risk in Europe and is responsible for a large number of premature deaths and diseases worldwide. Both short-term and long-term exposure to air pollution can lead to a wide range of health issues, including respiratory infections, aggravated asthma, stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and other cancers.
Air pollution has been linked to several health issues in children, including respiratory infections, which are the second leading cause of death for children under 5 years old. There is also emerging evidence that air pollution exposure could harm children before they are born, through their mothers' exposure, by causing reduced birth weight.
To protect yourself from air pollution, it is recommended to stay indoors with the windows closed when the air quality is poor. If you live or work in an area prone to wildfires, try to stay away from the harmful smoke. Consider wearing a mask when air pollution levels are high, and choose activities that limit your exposure to heavily trafficked roads.
