Bronte Wells
Pollution has a detrimental impact on the planet and human health. It affects the colour of the sky, which is usually blue due to Rayleigh scattering, a process where nitrogen and oxygen molecules in the atmosphere scatter sunlight. When pollution particles enter the atmosphere, they can alter the scattering of light, leading to colourful skies. Increased pollution levels are associated with more vibrant sunsets, while light pollution from artificial lighting can brighten the night sky, disrupting natural landscapes and affecting wildlife. Additionally, certain pollutants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contribute to eye and lung irritation, blood and liver issues, and even cancer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Impact on sky colour | Pollution particles in the atmosphere can scatter light, changing the colour of the sky. For example, the burning of Kuwait's oil wells and the Mt Pinatubo eruption in 1991 turned the sky strange colours for months. |
| Impact on visibility | Pollution reduces visibility during the day and at night. |
| Impact on human health | Air pollution is detrimental to human health, causing nearly seven million deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). |
| Impact on climate | Greenhouse gases, a product of air pollution, lead to rising temperatures, causing climate change and its associated effects, including rising sea levels and more extreme weather. |
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What You'll Learn
Pollution changes the colour of the sky
The colour of the sky is determined by the scattering of sunlight by molecules in the atmosphere. This process, known as Rayleigh scattering, causes blue light to scatter more than other colours due to its shorter, smaller waves, resulting in the sky's typical blue appearance.
However, pollution can alter the colour of the sky. Pollution is composed of particles that can interact with and destroy ozone particles in the atmosphere. These particles, particularly human-made aerosols, can scatter sunlight, enhancing the colours of the sky. The most heavily polluted cities tend to have more orange and red sunsets due to the abundance of these aerosols.
For example, in 1991, the sky colour in North America was noticeably altered for months, attributed by some to the burning of Kuwait's oil wells during the Gulf War, while others claimed it was due to the eruption of Mount Pinatubo. Similarly, intense red sunsets may be observed near forest fires or volcanic eruptions due to the increased presence of particles in the atmosphere.
Additionally, light pollution, caused by outdoor lights emitting light upwards or sideways, can brighten the night sky, diminishing the view of the stars and affecting nocturnal animals, migrating birds, and insects.
Overall, pollution, whether in the form of airborne particles or artificial light, can significantly impact the colour of the sky, altering our perception of the natural environment.
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Pollution affects human health
Air pollution is a mix of hazardous substances from both human-made and natural sources. It is a major threat to global health and prosperity, causing more than 6.5 million deaths each year worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 99% of human beings currently breathe air that exceeds the guideline limits for pollutants, with those living in low- and middle-income countries suffering the most.
The main pathway of exposure to air pollution is through the respiratory tract. When we breathe in air pollutants, they can enter our bloodstream and contribute to coughing or itchy eyes and cause or worsen many breathing and lung diseases, leading to hospitalizations, cancer, or even premature death. Both short-term and long-term exposure to air pollutants can cause a variety of health problems. For instance, short-term exposure to higher levels of outdoor air pollution is associated with reduced lung function, asthma, and cardiac problems.
Particulate matter (PM), especially fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), is one of the most harmful pollutants to human health. These particles are 30 times thinner than a human hair and can be inhaled deeply into the lungs, enter the bloodstream, and travel to organs, causing systemic damage to tissues and cells. This can lead to oxidative stress and inflammation in human cells, which may lay the foundation for chronic diseases and cancer. Maternal exposure to air pollution is also associated with adverse birth outcomes, such as low birth weight, pre-term birth, and small gestational age births.
Air pollution increases the risk of respiratory infections, heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer, and it more severely affects people who are already ill. People's health risks from air pollution vary depending on age, location, underlying health, and other factors. Low-income communities and minority populations are disproportionately exposed to air pollution and are more vulnerable to adverse health impacts.
To protect ourselves from the harmful effects of air pollution, we can utilize tools like the EPA's air pollution monitor, AirNow, to stay informed about the latest air quality conditions. When pollution levels are high, it is advisable to limit outdoor activities, especially for children, and stay indoors with the windows closed. It is also important to support leaders who advocate for clean air and responsible steps on climate change.
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Pollution impacts wildlife
The sky is blue due to Rayleigh Scattering, which depends on the size of the particles in the atmosphere. Pollution is made up of particles that can interact with and destroy ozone particles in the air. When new particles of a different size are introduced, the colour of the sky can indeed change. For example, the sky in North America turned an unusual colour for months in 1991 when the Kuwait oil wells were burning.
Pollution has had a severe impact on wildlife populations, threatening their existence and causing severe losses and even extinction. The extent of contamination is global, with synthetic organic chemicals, toxic metals, and acid deposition present even in the most remote regions.
Air pollution, such as smog, particulate matter, and ground-level ozone, can harm wildlife health in similar ways to human health, including damaging lungs and cardiovascular systems. An animal's vulnerability depends on its breathing mechanism. Many heavy metals, toxics, and other air pollutants enter the food chain, damaging the supply and quality of food. These pollutants collect and increase in concentration as they move up the food chain through bioaccumulation.
Water pollution from excess nutrients in fertilizers also wreaks havoc on aquatic ecosystems. For instance, higher levels of aluminium may cause the loss of some fish species, impacting animals that depend on them for food. Oil spills and toxic metals can also kill adult members of wildlife populations and cause the production of deformed offspring.
Additionally, pesticides and chemical use in agriculture can severely impact wildlife populations. However, adopting Integrated Pest Management (IPM) can reduce the severity of pollution problems by decreasing the reliance on costly and harmful chemicals.
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Pollution causes light pollution
Light pollution is caused by the inefficient or unnecessary use of artificial light. It is a growing problem, with satellite data showing that between 2012 and 2016, the brightness of continuously lit areas increased at a rate of 2.2% per year. This has led to a corresponding decrease in naturally dark areas.
Sky glow, a type of light pollution, is caused by artificial light reflecting in the sky and bouncing off different particles in the atmosphere. This phenomenon is particularly noticeable above cities, where the night sky is brightened by the lights of cars, streetlamps, offices, factories, outdoor advertising, and buildings.
The effects of light pollution are far-reaching. It disrupts the natural body rhythms of both humans and animals, impacting sleep and the internal twenty-four-hour clock that guides day and night activities. It also affects the migration patterns, wake-sleep habits, and habitat formation of animals. For example, sea turtles and birds that rely on moonlight during migration get confused, lose their way, and often die.
Light pollution also has ecological effects, disrupting ecosystems and increasing the impacts of climate change. It wastes energy, as most outdoor lighting is poorly positioned, sending wasted electricity up into the sky. Furthermore, it negatively affects astronomy, reducing the ability of astronomers to view celestial objects and making it difficult for people living in cities to see the stars.
While the primary cause of light pollution is artificial lighting, air pollution plays a role in exacerbating the problem. Air pollution, composed of particles such as dust, soot, and chemical precipitates, scatters artificial light, making the night sky even brighter and harder to see. Thus, pollution in the form of artificial lighting and air pollution work together to contribute to light pollution.
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Pollution increases climate change
The sky is blue due to Rayleigh scattering, which is dependent on the size of the particles in the atmosphere. Pollution is made up of particles that interact with and destroy ozone particles in the air. When there are more particles in the air, more light is scattered, and the colours are enhanced.
The most heavily polluted cities in the world tend to have more orange and red sunsets, resulting from an abundance of human-made aerosols. Intense red sunsets are often visible when forest fires are burning or when volcanic eruptions happen. The extra dust particles in the sky during the fall can cause the full moon, known as the Harvest Moon, to appear orange.
Air pollution particles increase the scattering of light at night, diminishing the view of the night sky. Outdoor lights that emit light upwards or sideways also contribute to light pollution, which can brighten the night sky and confuse nocturnal animals and migrating birds.
Greenhouse gases, a type of air pollutant, lead to warmer temperatures and the hallmarks of climate change: rising sea levels, more extreme weather, heat-related deaths, and the increased transmission of infectious diseases. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), by-products of traffic exhaust and wildfire smoke, have been linked to eye and lung irritation, blood and liver issues, and even cancer.
Therefore, pollution increases climate change through the emission of greenhouse gases and other toxic compounds, which have detrimental effects on both human health and the planet.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, pollution affects the sky in several ways. Light pollution, for example, can brighten the night sky, diminishing the view of it.
Light pollution is primarily caused by outdoor lights that emit light upwards or sideways. Light that escapes upwards scatters throughout the atmosphere, brightening the night sky.
Air pollution particles increase the scattering of light at night, just as they affect visibility during the day. More particles in the air mean more light is scattered, resulting in more colorful skies.
Yes, air pollution can change the color of the sky. The burning of Kuwait's oil wells in 1991, for instance, altered the color of the sky in North America for months.
