Kiera Jefferson
Air pollution is the contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. It is a mix of hazardous substances from both human-made and natural sources. Human-made sources include vehicle emissions, fuel oils, natural gas, industrial processes, and power generation. Natural sources include wildfires, dust storms, and volcanic eruptions. Air pollution is a significant threat to global health and prosperity, causing respiratory and other diseases and contributing to mortality and morbidity. It is closely linked to the Earth's climate and ecosystems and has economic impacts, with the World Bank estimating welfare and productivity losses of over $8 trillion per year due to air pollution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere |
| Sources | Household combustion devices, motor vehicles, industrial facilities, forest fires, energy production, waste incineration, agriculture, construction, transportation, heating, nuclear weapons, toxic gases, germ warfare, rocketry, cigarette smoke, e-cigarette smoke, volcanoes, wildfires, dust storms, decomposing organic matter, waste dumps, household cooking, heating systems, radon, building materials, biological material, tobacco smoke |
| Effects | Respiratory and other diseases, mortality, morbidity, lung cancer, asthma, cardiac problems, bronchitis, pneumonia, irritation to the nose, throat, eyes or skin, headaches, dizziness, nausea, oxidative stress, inflammation in human cells, chronic diseases, cancer |
| Statistics | Air pollution causes around 7 or 8 million deaths each year, with 4.5 million linked to outdoor air pollution and 2.2 million caused by indoor air pollution; 99% of the global population breathes air that exceeds WHO guideline limits; air pollution costs the world economy over $8 trillion per year |
| Mitigation | Policies and investments that support sustainable land use, cleaner household energy and transport, energy-efficient housing, power generation, industry, and better municipal waste management; national air quality laws, international protocols |
What You'll Learn
- Particulate matter, a mix of solid and liquid particles, is the most deadly form of air pollution
- Ozone, a ground-level atmospheric gas, is often called smog and is harmful to health and the environment
- Nitrogen oxides, a byproduct of vehicle emissions, industrial processes, and agricultural emissions, are a major contributor to air pollution
- Fossil fuels, including coal, natural gas, and oil, are the primary sources of human-made air pollution
- Indoor air pollution, caused by cooking, heating, and smoking, is a
Particulate matter, a mix of solid and liquid particles, is the most deadly form of air pollution
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. This figure has increased over the past two decades.
Particulate matter, a mix of solid and liquid particles, is one of the most common and deadly forms of air pollution. It is composed of chemicals such as sulfates, nitrates, carbon, or mineral dust. Vehicle and industrial emissions from fossil fuel combustion, cigarette smoke, and burning organic matter, such as wildfires, all contain particulate matter.
Particulate matter comes in many sizes and shapes and can be made up of hundreds of different chemicals. Some particles, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke, are large or dark enough to be seen with the naked eye. Others are so small they can only be detected using an electron microscope. The smallest particles, known as PM2.5, are generally 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller. To put this into perspective, a human hair is about 70 micrometers in diameter, making it 30 times larger than the largest fine particle.
These fine particles can be inhaled deeply into lung tissue and contribute to serious health problems. They can also penetrate the bloodstream, worsening bronchitis and leading to heart attacks. Exposure to PM2.5 has been linked to an increased risk of mortality, including from cardiovascular disease and lung cancer. A 2022 public health study found a strong association between long-term exposure to very low levels of PM2.5 and mortality from cardiovascular disease and lung cancer.
The sources of particulate matter are multiple and context-specific. Outdoor pollution sources include residential energy for cooking and heating, vehicles, power generation, agriculture/waste incineration, and industry. Climate change is also driving increases in dangerous levels of particles from wildfire smoke.
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Ozone, a ground-level atmospheric gas, is often called smog and is harmful to health and the environment
Air pollution is the contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical, or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. It is a mix of hazardous substances from both human-made and natural sources. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution, in all its forms, causes approximately 6.5 to 7 million deaths each year globally.
Ozone (O3) is a major air pollutant and is one of the six common air pollutants identified in the Clean Air Act. It is a gas molecule composed of three oxygen atoms. Ozone is formed when pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, and other sources chemically react in the presence of sunlight. It is often called smog when found at ground level.
Ground-level ozone is harmful to both human health and the environment. It aggressively attacks lung tissue by chemically reacting with it. It can trigger a variety of health problems, particularly for children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing medical conditions, such as lung diseases like asthma, metabolic disorders, and nervous system issues. Studies have shown that long-term exposure to ground-level ozone is associated with increased respiratory illnesses, metabolic disorders, nervous system issues, reproductive issues, and increased respiratory and cardiovascular-related mortality.
Ground-level ozone can also affect sensitive vegetation and ecosystems, including forests, parks, wildlife refuges, and wilderness areas. It is more likely to reach unhealthy levels on hot sunny days in urban environments, but it can be transported by wind over long distances, affecting even rural areas. Climate change, by driving warmer temperatures, is leading to increased levels of ground-level ozone.
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Nitrogen oxides, a byproduct of vehicle emissions, industrial processes, and agricultural emissions, are a major contributor to air pollution
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 and is now the world's fourth-largest risk factor for early death. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly seven million deaths worldwide each year are linked to indoor and outdoor air pollution.
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are a class of very reactive gases consisting mainly of nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and nitrous oxide (N2O). These gases are generated by stationary and mobile sources, including industrial plants, vehicle exhausts, and agricultural emissions. Of these, NO is the most abundant, accounting for over 90% of total NOx emissions from combustion processes. While NO2 represents a smaller proportion of total NOx emissions (0.5–10%), it is a more potent air pollutant associated with various adverse health and environmental impacts.
NOx emissions have been extensively documented and are a significant concern for policymakers and researchers. Exposure to NOx has been linked to respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. In addition to the direct toxicity to human beings, NOx emissions also contribute to environmental pollution, resulting in detrimental consequences such as the production of photochemical smog, ozone layer depletion, and acid rain.
Transport is the main contributor to NOx emissions, with high-temperature combustion in vehicles releasing these gases into the atmosphere. In the industrial sector, combustion installations are also a significant source, particularly from thermal power plants and industrial boilers. Furthermore, agricultural emissions and other natural sources, such as wildfires, also contribute to NOx emissions.
Reducing NOx emissions is crucial for mitigating the adverse health and environmental impacts associated with this pollutant. Policies and interventions that support sustainable practices, cleaner energy sources, and improved combustion technologies can help reduce NOx emissions and improve air quality globally.
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Fossil fuels, including coal, natural gas, and oil, are the primary sources of human-made air pollution
Air pollution is a mix of hazardous substances from both human-made and natural sources. It is a contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical, or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. Fossil fuels, including coal, natural gas, and oil, are the primary sources of human-made air pollution.
Burning fossil fuels has generated most of the energy required to power our world for over 150 years. Even today, fossil fuels serve about 80% of our energy needs. However, burning these fuels releases harmful chemicals and gases into the air. For example, coal combustion produces a variety of air pollutants that harm human and environmental health, such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury, and particulate matter. Coal ash, a waste product from coal combustion, is also challenging to recycle and can pollute waterways.
Oil, another widely used fossil fuel, releases a significant amount of carbon when burned, contributing to approximately one-third of the world's total carbon emissions. Additionally, the extraction and transportation of oil can lead to spills and leaks, which have devastating impacts on ecosystems and human health. Natural gas, while often promoted as a cleaner energy source than coal and oil, is not without its drawbacks. Leaks from natural gas plants, wells, and pipelines emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere.
The combustion of fossil fuels also contributes to smog formation, which occurs when emissions react with sunlight. Smog, or ground-level ozone, can irritate the eyes and throat and damage the lungs, especially in vulnerable individuals such as children, the elderly, and those with asthma or allergies. Furthermore, the fine particulate matter found in soot and emissions can penetrate the lungs and bloodstream, exacerbating respiratory conditions and contributing to serious health problems.
The health impacts of air pollution are significant. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), indoor and outdoor air pollution is responsible for nearly seven million deaths worldwide each year. Air pollution exposure is associated with oxidative stress and inflammation in human cells, which can lead to chronic diseases and cancer. Fine particulate matter, such as PM2.5, has been linked to increased mortality risks, with exposure contributing to higher COVID-19 mortality rates in certain areas.
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Indoor air pollution, caused by cooking, heating, and smoking, is a
Air pollution is the contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical, or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. It is a mix of hazardous substances from both human-made and natural sources. Indoor air pollution, caused by cooking, heating, and smoking, is a significant contributor to overall air pollution.
Cooking with solid fuels such as wood, charcoal, coal, or dung, as well as using kerosene in open fires or inefficient stoves, can generate high levels of indoor air pollution. The combustion of these fuels releases harmful pollutants such as carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and particulate matter, which can have detrimental effects on human health. The temperature and duration of cooking also influence the amount of particulate matter released, with frying and deep-frying being particularly harmful due to the high temperatures involved.
Heating homes with fuel oils, natural gas, or electricity can also contribute to indoor air pollution. The combustion of fossil fuels, such as natural gas and fuel oils, releases pollutants that can be detrimental to human health. Additionally, the use of wood stoves or fireplaces for heating can result in high levels of indoor air pollution from wood smoke.
Smoking, particularly cigarette smoke, is another source of indoor air pollution. Cigarette smoke contains particulate matter, which is composed of chemicals such as sulfates, nitrates, carbon, and mineral dust. These fine particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, causing serious health issues.
The combined effects of indoor and ambient air pollution are associated with millions of premature deaths annually. Women and children are disproportionately affected by indoor air pollution, as they often spend more time exposed to harmful smoke from polluting stoves and fuels. Therefore, addressing indoor air pollution caused by cooking, heating, and smoking is crucial for improving public health and reducing the environmental impact of human activities.
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Frequently asked questions
Air pollution is the contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere.
Common sources of air pollution include household combustion devices, motor vehicles, industrial facilities, and forest fires. Natural sources include wildfires, dust storms, and volcanic eruptions.
Air pollution exposure is associated with oxidative stress and inflammation in human cells, which may lay the foundation for chronic diseases and cancer. Short-term exposure to high levels of outdoor air pollution is linked to reduced lung function, asthma, cardiac problems, and hospital admissions.
Air pollution has various environmental impacts. For example, ozone, a type of air pollutant, affects crops and forests by causing acid rain. Particulate matter, another pollutant, can worsen respiratory and cardiovascular conditions.
Air pollution can be reduced through the implementation of policies and technologies that promote sustainable practices. These include supporting cleaner energy sources, improving waste management, and regulating emissions from industries and vehicles.
