Air Pollution: What's Happening To Our Air?

Air pollution is a serious global issue that arises from the introduction of harmful substances, such as gases, particles, and chemicals, into the Earth's atmosphere. These pollutants can be released by both natural events, like volcanic eruptions, and human activities, with the burning of fossil fuels being a significant contributor. Air pollution has detrimental effects on the environment, including water and soil contamination, and also poses risks to human health, especially in children, who are more susceptible to respiratory issues and the negative impacts of air pollution, both indoors and outdoors.

What is air pollution?

Air pollution is when unwanted chemicals, gases, and particles enter the Earth's atmosphere and cause harm to living beings and damage to natural cycles. It can be caused by both human activities and natural phenomena.

Human activities that cause air pollution include burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas, which release gases into the air. This happens when we use cars, planes, and factories that burn these fuels. Other human causes include chemicals, fumes from spray cans, and methane gas from landfills.

Natural sources of air pollution include dust, pollen, mould spores, volcanoes, and wildfires. When particles from these sources mix with other pollutants or natural materials like water vapour, they can create secondary pollutants like ozone and smog.

Air pollution is dangerous to everyone, but especially to children. Children breathe more rapidly and take in more air relative to their body weight. They often play outdoors and breathe air closer to the ground, where pollutants from traffic exhausts are more concentrated. Children are also vulnerable to indoor air pollution, which can come from sources like idling vehicles outside open windows, poorly maintained HVAC systems, and mould.

The effects of air pollution on children's health include respiratory infections, asthma, cognitive developmental issues, and an increased risk of diseases later in life. According to the World Health Organization, 2.4 million people die each year due to air pollution, and it is the second-leading risk factor for death among children under five.

Natural causes of air pollution

Air pollution is caused by solid and liquid particles and certain gases that are in the air we breathe. These particles and gases can be bad for the planet and our health. Air pollution can happen both outdoors and indoors.

There are four main types of air pollution sources: mobile sources, stationary sources, area sources, and natural sources. Natural sources of air pollution include wildfires, wind-blown dust, and volcanoes. These natural sources emit pollution into the air, which can have harmful impacts on people, especially children, and the planet.

Wildfires, for example, can release particles and gases into the atmosphere that can be harmful to both the environment and human health. These particles and gases can cause haze and smog, making it difficult to see and breathe. They can also have negative effects on human health, including respiratory infections, asthma, and other lung diseases.

Volcanoes are another natural source of air pollution. When volcanoes erupt, they release solid and liquid particles, as well as gases, into the atmosphere. These particles and gases can be carried by wind over long distances and contribute to haze and air pollution in downwind areas.

Dust storms and volcanic eruptions can also cause outdoor air pollution. Dust storms can kick up large amounts of dust into the air, which can be harmful to breathe and affect air quality.

While natural sources of air pollution can be significant, they do not usually create ongoing air pollution problems like human-generated sources. However, it is important to monitor and understand the impact of natural sources on air quality and human health.

Human causes of air pollution

Air pollution is caused by solid or liquid particles and certain gases released into the air. These particles and gases are called aerosols. Many of these particles enter the atmosphere when we burn fossil fuels like coal, petroleum, and wood. These particles can also come from car exhaust, factories, and wildfires.

Some of the gases that cause air pollution include carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide. Carbon dioxide is released when fossil fuels are burned, and it is also what humans and animals exhale when they breathe. Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas that is produced by cars. Breathing in too much carbon monoxide can kill you, so you should never leave your car running in the garage. Sulfur dioxide is another dangerous gas that can be generated by burning coal or oil. It can cause acid rain and respiratory illnesses like asthma.

Human activities that burn fossil fuels, such as industrial processes, waste incineration, agricultural practices, construction, and transportation, contribute significantly to air pollution. The combustion of fossil fuels releases harmful chemicals and gases into the atmosphere. For example, factories and car exhaust release pollutants that create ground-level ozone, which is a powerful airway irritant and can cause serious health issues, especially in children with asthma.

In addition to outdoor air pollution, indoor air pollution can also be harmful, particularly for children. Second-hand tobacco smoke (SHS) is a significant contributor to indoor air pollution, and children are especially vulnerable to its effects. Socially disadvantaged children are more likely to be exposed to SHS at home, and it can cause various health issues such as asthma, respiratory infections, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Air pollution has severe impacts on children's health and development. It can cause respiratory infections, asthma, cognitive developmental issues, and lifelong health problems. Children who have been exposed to high levels of air pollution may be at greater risk for chronic diseases later in life. Additionally, air pollution can affect pregnant women and their babies, increasing the risk of negative pregnancy outcomes such as low birth weight and premature birth.

How does air pollution affect children?

Air pollution is caused by solid and liquid particles, dust, chemicals, and certain gases that are suspended in the air we breathe. These particles can come from car and truck exhaust, factories, wildfires, and even dust and pollen. While air pollution is harmful to everyone, it is especially dangerous for children. Young children breathe more rapidly than adults and take in more air relative to their body weight. They also tend to spend more time outdoors, playing and doing activities, which exposes them to higher levels of air pollution.

Children are more vulnerable to the health risks associated with air pollution because their bodies are still developing. Air pollution can negatively impact their lungs, brains, and other organs, increasing the risk of respiratory infections, asthma, and other health issues. It can also affect their neurodevelopment and cognitive abilities, leading to attention problems and even triggering asthma and childhood cancer. According to the 2024 State of Global Air, air pollution was the second leading risk factor for death among children under five in 2021, causing approximately 709,000 deaths worldwide.

Children can be exposed to air pollution both outdoors and indoors. Outdoor air pollution comes from sources such as vehicle exhaust, industrial processes, waste incineration, and natural events like wildfires and dust storms. Indoors, air pollution can originate from fumes that enter through open windows, inadequate ventilation, and poorly maintained HVAC systems. Old buildings may also contain lead paint and asbestos insulation, which can release harmful particles into the air.

The effects of air pollution on children's health can vary depending on their age and the type and level of exposure. UNICEF has identified good air quality as critical for children's development, yet funding for tackling air pollution remains limited. It is important for parents and caregivers to be aware of air quality levels and take necessary precautions, such as limiting outdoor activities during high pollution periods and ensuring proper ventilation indoors.

Some studies have shown that reducing air pollution can have positive impacts on children's health. For example, during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, local motor vehicle traffic was reduced, leading to a decrease in childhood asthma events. Additionally, initiatives to close streets to traffic during school commute times have resulted in cleaner air and safer walking and cycling environments for children.

How can we reduce air pollution?

Air pollution is a serious problem, and it can be a danger to people's health, especially children's health. Air pollution can cause lots of problems, like asthma, lung problems, and even make it hard for kids to play outside and learn. It's important to know what causes air pollution so that we can try to reduce it and keep the air clean and safe to breathe!

There are lots of things that cause air pollution. Some are natural, like wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and dust storms. But the biggest cause of air pollution is human activity. Things like cars, trucks, planes, and factories release lots of gases and particles into the air, which can be harmful. When there are too many of these particles and gases in the air, it can cause smog, which is a mix of smoke and fog that makes it hard to see and breathe!

So, what can we do to reduce air pollution and keep our air clean and healthy? Here are some ideas:

• Use natural, non-toxic cleaners at home and in schools to remove dirt, dust, and other particles that can pollute the air.
• Take off your shoes when you go inside. This helps keep dirt and dust from outside from spreading indoors.
• Turn off lights and electronics when you're not using them. This reduces the amount of energy we use, which leads to less carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
• Have some houseplants! They look nice and pump fresh air into the room.
• If you can, walk or ride a bike instead of driving. This helps reduce the number of cars on the road and the amount of car exhaust in the air.
• Use less energy at home by turning off lights and electronics, and maybe even try using cleaner energy sources like solar power.
• Avoid burning things like leaves, trash, or wood. These fires can release lots of smoke and particles into the air.
• If you smoke, do it outside, and away from windows and doors so the smoke doesn't blow inside.

These are some simple ways we can help reduce air pollution and keep our air healthy to breathe!

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