Meghan Hodges
Air pollution is the presence of substances in the air that are harmful to humans, other living beings, or the environment. It is caused by the release of pollutants into the atmosphere at rates that exceed the natural capacity of the environment to disperse, dilute, or absorb them. These pollutants can be gases, finely divided solids, or finely dispersed liquid aerosols. They are released through human activities such as burning fossil fuels, industrial processes, and agriculture, as well as natural sources like wildfires and volcanic eruptions. Air pollution has severe health impacts, contributing to around 7-8 million deaths annually worldwide and causing respiratory and other diseases. It is a significant risk factor for various ailments, including strokes, heart disease, asthma, and lung cancer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | The 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 management, agriculture, nuclear weapons, toxic gases, germ warfare, rocketry, etc. |
| Major Pollutants | Particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, mercury, lead, dioxins, benzene, etc. |
| Health Effects | Respiratory and other diseases, strokes, heart diseases, lung cancer, asthma, cardiac problems, thyroid cancer, etc. |
| Global Impact | Around 7-8 million premature deaths annually, with 99% of the global population breathing air that exceeds the WHO's guideline limits |
| Economic Impact | Welfare and productivity losses cost the world economy over $8 trillion per year |
| Mitigation | Policies and investments supporting sustainable land use, cleaner energy and transport, energy-efficient housing, better waste management, etc. |
| Monitoring | WHO provides technical support and guidance to member states, and monitors and reports on global trends and changes related to air pollution |
What You'll Learn
- Pollutants include gases, liquids, or particles that are harmful to humans, other living beings, or the environment
- Natural sources of air pollution include wildfires, dust storms, and volcanic eruptions
- Outdoor air pollution comes from industrial processes, burning fossil fuels, waste management, and agriculture
- Indoor air pollution is caused by cooking with biomass, wood stoves, and tobacco smoke
- Air pollution is the fourth-largest risk factor for premature death
Pollutants include gases, liquids, or particles that are harmful to humans, other living beings, or the environment
Pollutants are harmful solids, liquids, or gases that are present in higher-than-usual concentrations and reduce the quality of the environment. They are released into the air through human-made and natural sources. Human-made sources include vehicle emissions, fuel oils, natural gas, manufacturing by-products, and power generation. Natural sources include wildfires, dust storms, and volcanic eruptions.
Pollutants can be primary or secondary. Primary pollutants are directly produced from sources, while secondary pollutants are emitted as by-products of the primary ones. They can also be biodegradable or non-biodegradable and of natural origin or anthropogenic. Gaseous compounds, for example, are eliminated more easily by the respiratory system compared to aerosol compounds, which have greater toxicity due to their tiny size.
Particulate matter (PM), or particle pollution, refers to airborne substances that are not gases. They are a mix of microscopic solid particles or droplets suspended in a gas. PM can be further classified into coarse particles (PM10), fine particles (PM2.5), and ultrafine particles. The latter are particularly harmful as they can reach the bloodstream, worsening bronchitis and leading to heart attacks.
Some of the most common air pollutants include mercury, lead, dioxins, and benzene. These pollutants are often emitted during gas or coal combustion, incineration, or found in gasoline. Ozone, or smog, is another prevalent form of air pollution, formed when emissions from combusting fossil fuels react with sunlight. It can irritate the eyes and throat and damage the lungs, especially in children, the elderly, and those with asthma or allergies.
The effects of air pollution are far-reaching, impacting both human health and the environment. It is a significant risk factor for various diseases, including stroke, heart disease, respiratory issues, asthma, and lung cancer. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), indoor and outdoor air pollution cause nearly seven million deaths worldwide each year. Additionally, air pollution contributes to economic losses, affecting tourism, biodiversity, forestry, and water quality.
Air Quality: Factors, Impact, and Solutions for Improvement
You may want to see also
Natural sources of air pollution include wildfires, dust storms, and volcanic eruptions
Air pollution is defined as 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.
Dust storms are another natural source of air pollution. Wind-blown desert dust, for instance, is a contributor to particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution, which has severe health impacts, especially with long-term inhalation.
Volcanic eruptions can also release ash and chemicals that affect air quality and pose potential health risks to surrounding populations. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has expertise in evaluating and responding to the environmental and health impacts of volcanic activity.
Air Pollutants: Major Sources and Their Impacts
You may want to see also
Outdoor air pollution comes from industrial processes, burning fossil fuels, waste management, and agriculture
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. Outdoor air pollution is a major environmental health problem affecting everyone in low-, middle-, and high-income countries. It is estimated to have caused 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide in 2019, with 89% of those premature deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. The greatest number of deaths were in the WHO South-East Asia and Western Pacific Regions.
Outdoor air pollution comes from various sources, including industrial processes, burning fossil fuels, waste management, and agriculture. Industrial processes, such as manufacturing and power generation, release pollutants like particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide into the atmosphere. Particulate matter (PM) is a common proxy indicator for air pollution. Fine particulate matter, or PM 2.5, from burning fossil fuels was responsible for about 8.7 million deaths globally in 2018, according to a recent study. This includes the combustion of coal, gasoline, and diesel, which produces significant quantities of PM 2.5, including soot.
Waste management is another significant contributor to outdoor air pollution. Open incineration of solid waste releases harmful emissions into the atmosphere. Strategies for waste reduction, waste separation, recycling, and reuse or waste reprocessing can help reduce waste-related air pollution. Anaerobic waste digestion to produce biogas is a feasible, low-cost alternative to open incineration.
Agriculture also plays a role in outdoor air pollution, particularly through concentrated animal feeding operations and the use of chemicals and fertilizers. Studies have shown associations between ambient pollution exposures from these operations and health outcomes in agricultural cohorts.
To address outdoor air pollution, concerted action is needed from local, national, and regional policymakers in sectors like energy, transport, waste management, urban planning, and agriculture. Successful policies to reduce air pollution include implementing clean technologies in industries, improving waste management practices, ensuring access to clean household energy solutions, promoting clean modes of power generation, and prioritizing sustainable transport options.
Air Drying: Is Now the Right Time?
You may want to see also
Indoor air pollution is caused by cooking with biomass, wood stoves, and tobacco smoke
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 major threat to global health and prosperity, causing more than 6.5 million deaths each year worldwide.
Indoor air pollution is a significant contributor to this global issue. Cooking with biomass, wood stoves, and tobacco smoke are major causes of indoor air pollution, particularly in developing countries. Around 2.4 billion people, mostly in low- and middle-income countries, rely on biomass fuel as their main source of energy for cooking, heating, and lighting. This includes burning organic materials such as wood, charcoal, animal dung, and crop residues, which release pollutants into the air. The inefficient burning of biomass fuel on open fires or traditional stoves generates large amounts of particulate matter, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, oxygenated organics, and free radicals.
The adverse health effects of indoor air pollution from biomass fuel are often exacerbated by poor ventilation and the design of stoves without proper flues or hoods to remove smoke from living areas. Exposure to biomass smoke, especially at a young age, is associated with an increased risk of respiratory infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), nutritional deficiencies, low birth weight, and even mortality. Women in developing countries who cook over wood stoves for extended periods inhale smoke, leading to similar health consequences as tobacco smokers, including diminished quality of life and increased mortality rates.
In addition to biomass fuel, tobacco smoke is another significant contributor to indoor air pollution. Tobacco smoke contains irritants that cause inflammation of the alveoli, the tiny air sacs in the lungs, leading to COPD and other respiratory issues. The degree of airflow limitation tends to be more severe in tobacco smokers compared to those exposed to wood smoke. However, the long-term effects of biomass smoke exposure on lung growth and function in adulthood and elderly life are still unclear and require further research.
To address the issue of indoor air pollution caused by cooking with biomass, wood stoves, and tobacco smoke, interventions such as improved cookstove designs, better ventilation, and the adoption of cleaner energy sources are necessary. These measures can help reduce the health risks associated with indoor air pollution and improve the overall quality of life for those affected.
Air Quality Index: Understanding the Healthy Range
You may want to see also
Air pollution is the fourth-largest risk factor for premature death globally.
Air pollution is a mix of hazardous substances from both human-made and natural sources. It is a familiar environmental health hazard, often manifesting as a brown haze over cities, exhaust fumes on highways, or smoke from industrial chimneys. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 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.
Household combustion devices, motor vehicles, industrial facilities, and forest fires are common sources of air pollution. Pollutants of major public health concern include particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. Outdoor and indoor air pollution cause respiratory and other diseases and are significant sources of morbidity and mortality.
The impact of air pollution on health is far-reaching and severe. It is a major threat to global health and prosperity, contributing to more than 6.5 million deaths each year globally, a number that has increased over the past two decades. According to the 2020 State of Global Air report, 4.5 million deaths were linked to outdoor air pollution exposures in 2019, and another 2.2 million deaths were caused by indoor air pollution. The report also highlights that despite improvements in reducing global average mortality rates from air pollution, the climate crisis could significantly worsen air pollution problems.
The effects of air pollution on health are not limited to physical ailments but also extend to cognitive development. For instance, children are uniquely vulnerable to air pollution, and the damage can start in the womb, leading to premature birth, low birth weight, and delayed brain development. Furthermore, children inhale more air per kilogram of body weight and absorb more pollutants relative to adults while their lungs, bodies, and brains are still developing. In 2021, exposure to air pollution was linked to more than 700,000 deaths in children under five years of age, with 500,000 of these deaths attributed to household air pollution, particularly in South Asia and Africa.
The sources of air pollution are diverse and context-specific. The major outdoor pollution sources include residential energy for cooking and heating, vehicles, power generation, agriculture/waste incineration, and industry. Policies and investments that support sustainable land use, cleaner household energy, efficient transportation, and improved waste management can play a crucial role in reducing air pollution levels.
Air Pollution: Understanding the Impact and Devastating Effects
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Polluted air is the presence of substances in the air that are harmful to humans, other living beings, or the environment.
Polluted air comes from both human-made and natural sources. Human-made sources include vehicle emissions, fuel oils, industrial processes, and power generation. Natural sources include wildfires, dust storms, and volcanic eruptions.
Polluted air has been linked to various health issues such as respiratory diseases, heart disease, lung cancer, asthma, and stroke. It is also a risk factor for early death, causing around 7 to 8 million deaths each year globally.
Polluted air contains greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and black carbon, which contribute to human-caused climate change.
To reduce polluted air, we can implement policies and technologies that support sustainable practices in energy, transport, industry, and waste management. National air quality laws and international agreements have also proven effective in reducing air pollution.
