Bronte Wells
Air pollution is caused by the release of pollutants into the air, which are detrimental to human health and the planet. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that nearly seven million deaths worldwide each year are caused by indoor and outdoor air pollution. Common sources of air pollution include household combustion devices, motor vehicles, industrial facilities, and forest fires. The pollutants of major public health concern include particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. These pollutants can cause a range of health problems, including respiratory issues, cardiovascular issues, and in some cases, even death.
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Particulate matter
The finer particles, known as PM2.5, are derived from primary sources, such as the combustion of fuels in power generation facilities, industries, or vehicles, and secondary sources, such as chemical reactions between gases. These fine particles can be as small as 2.5 micrometres or less in width, and they can travel deeply into the respiratory tract, reaching the lungs. Exposure to PM2.5 can cause short-term health effects such as eye, nose, throat, and lung irritation, coughing, sneezing, a runny nose, and shortness of breath. It can also worsen medical conditions like heart disease and asthma and increase the risk of heart attacks.
Long-term exposure to PM2.5 has been linked to increased mortality from heart disease, higher rates of chronic bronchitis, reduced lung function, and lung cancer. People with heart and respiratory issues, pregnant women, children, and older adults are particularly vulnerable to the effects of particulate matter pollution.
Sources of particulate matter include both natural and anthropogenic processes. Natural sources include volcanoes, fires, dust storms, and aerosolized sea salt. Manmade sources, on the other hand, include combustion in mechanical and industrial processes, vehicle emissions, and tobacco smoke.
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Carbon monoxide
CO is a significant contributor to air pollution and can have harmful effects on human health, particularly when inhaled in large amounts. It reduces the amount of oxygen that can be transported in the blood to vital organs like the heart and brain. Exposure to high levels of CO can cause dizziness, confusion, unconsciousness, and even death. People with heart disease are especially vulnerable to the effects of CO, even at lower levels, which can cause chest pain, reduced exercise capacity, and other cardiovascular complications.
Indoor sources of CO include gas stoves, malfunctioning or improperly vented gas appliances (such as water heaters, furnaces, and clothes dryers), space heaters, fireplaces, tobacco smoke, and car exhaust fumes. The highest levels of indoor CO typically occur during the colder months due to inversion conditions, where air pollution becomes trapped near the ground.
Outdoor CO levels are generally monitored and regulated by organisations like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Clean Air Act. While very high levels of CO are unlikely to occur outdoors, elevated CO levels can still be concerning for individuals with heart disease. Additionally, CO indirectly contributes to climate change by participating in chemical reactions that produce ozone, a potent climate change gas.
CO is one of the six "criteria pollutants" identified by the EPA, which also include particulate matter, ground-level ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead. These pollutants are found throughout the United States and have detrimental effects on human health and the environment.
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Ground-level ozone
Ozone itself is a gas composed of three atoms of oxygen. While ground-level ozone is harmful, stratospheric ozone is beneficial as it forms a protective layer in the Earth's upper atmosphere, shielding us from the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation. This "good" ozone has been partially destroyed by man-made chemicals, creating a "hole in the ozone." It is important to distinguish between the positive role of stratospheric ozone and the negative health and environmental impacts of ground-level ozone.
To further reduce ground-level ozone and improve air quality, the EPA recommends several actions for individuals. These include driving less, carpooling, using public transportation, reducing engine idling, conserving electricity, and limiting outdoor physical activity during periods of high ozone levels. By following these guidelines and continuing to implement regulatory measures, we can mitigate the harmful effects of ground-level ozone and work towards achieving healthier air quality for all.
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Nitrogen dioxide
The Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) instrument collected its first measurements of nitrogen dioxide air pollution over North America on August 2, 2023. TEMPO measures sunlight reflected and scattered off the Earth’s surface, clouds, and the atmosphere. Gases in the atmosphere absorb the sunlight, and the resulting spectra are then used to determine the amounts of several gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, including nitrogen dioxide. The amount of nitrogen dioxide is provided as a “column density,” defined as the total number of nitrogen dioxide molecules in a column of air above a square centimeter on the Earth’s surface.
In polluted regions, most of the nitrogen dioxide is located near the ground. Detailed views of some regions show high levels of nitrogen dioxide over cities in the morning, and enhanced levels over major highways. As the day progresses, the morning pollution often dissipates, only to rise again during the second rush hour of the day.
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Sulfur dioxide
SO2 is emitted into the air as a result of fossil fuel combustion and other industrial processes. The largest sources of SO2 emissions are from power plants, commercial and institutional boilers, internal combustion engines, manufacturing, and industrial facilities. Diesel vehicles and equipment were a major source of SO2, but federal regulations to reduce the sulfur in diesel fuels have significantly lowered emissions. Ports, smelters, and other sources of sulfur dioxide can cause high concentrations of emissions nearby. People who live and work near these large sources get the highest exposure to SO2.
SO2 emissions that lead to high concentrations of SO2 in the air also lead to the formation of other sulfur oxides (SOx). SOx can react with other compounds in the atmosphere to form small particles that contribute to particulate matter (PM) pollution. These particles may penetrate deeply into the lungs and, in sufficient quantities, can cause health problems. Such health issues include wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Long-term exposure to high levels of SO2 increases respiratory symptoms and reduces lung function.
SO2 and other sulfur oxides can contribute to acid rain, which can harm trees, plants, and sensitive ecosystems. They can also react with other compounds in the atmosphere to form fine particles that reduce visibility (haze) in certain regions. Sulfur dioxide also contributes to the formation of thick haze and smog, which can aggravate respiratory illnesses and make breathing more difficult, especially for children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions.
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