Air Pollution: Natural Resources And Their Impact

Air pollution is a pressing issue that affects the health of humans, animals, and plants, and can even damage buildings. It refers to the release of pollutants into the air, which can be in the form of gases, liquids, or solids. While natural sources of air pollution, such as wind-blown dust, wildfires, and volcanoes, are significant, human-made sources are responsible for most of the air pollution that affects the Earth's atmosphere. The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, natural gas, and oil, for transportation, electricity, and industry, is a major contributor to air pollution. Additionally, industrial processes, agricultural activities, and the use of chemicals and solvents in various products also release harmful substances into the air.

Fossil fuels

Nitrogen oxides, for example, contribute to the formation of smog and acid rain. Smog, or ground-level ozone, is created when emissions from burning fossil fuels react with sunlight. It can irritate the eyes and throat and damage the lungs, especially in children, the elderly, and people who work or exercise outdoors. Those with asthma or allergies may experience intensified symptoms or asthma attacks due to the increased pollutants in the air.

Sulphur dioxide, another byproduct of fossil fuel combustion, is a significant contributor to acid rain. Acid rain has far-reaching effects, impacting both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. It can harm vegetation, acidify waterways, and damage infrastructure.

Particulate matter, or soot, is composed of tiny particles of chemicals, soil, smoke, dust, or allergens. These fine particles can be carried over long distances by the wind and have adverse health effects when inhaled. The smallest airborne particles in soot can penetrate the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, exacerbating respiratory conditions and increasing the risk of cardiovascular problems.

Additionally, the combustion of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas. Greenhouse gases contribute to global warming and climate change by trapping heat in the Earth's atmosphere. This leads to rising temperatures, rising sea levels, more extreme weather events, and other hallmarks of climate change.

Fossil fuel extraction and processing also contribute to air pollution. For example, fracking, a method used to extract oil and gas, involves injecting a mixture of water, chemicals, and sand into wells, creating environmental and health concerns, including air pollution. Oil refining is another significant source of air pollution, releasing volatile organic hydrocarbons, toxic emissions, and carcinogenic benzene.

Natural gas

Flaring, or burning, of natural gas is sometimes carried out to prevent the release of unburned gas into the atmosphere. While this method produces carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and other compounds, it is considered safer and results in lower overall greenhouse gas emissions compared to releasing unburned gas.

The use of natural gas as a fuel source has been the subject of debate. Some argue that it emits less climate-warming pollution than coal or oil. However, natural gas still contributes to air pollution, particularly through the release of methane and nitrogen oxides. Increased use of natural gas instead of dirtier fossil fuels can help reduce particulate emissions and smog formation, especially in urban areas with poor air quality.

It is important to note that the natural gas industry has been criticised for disproportionately impacting vulnerable communities. High-polluting processing plants are often located near low-income communities and communities of colour, exposing these populations to higher levels of air pollution.

Oil and gas development

One of the primary sources of air pollution in the oil and gas industry is the flaring of excess natural gas, which releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. Additionally, the combustion of fossil fuels during oil and gas development emits carbon dioxide, a major driver of global warming and climate change.

The extraction and production of oil and gas also contribute to air pollution through fugitive emissions, which are unintentional leaks of gases from breaks or small cracks in seals, tubing, valves, or pipelines. These leaks can release methane, VOCs, and other contaminants such as hydrogen sulfide, a highly toxic gas. Furthermore, the use of diesel-powered engines and vehicles in oil and gas operations emits NOx, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter, which contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, commonly known as smog.

The health impacts of air pollution from oil and gas development are significant, with studies linking it to thousands of early deaths and childhood asthma cases. The pollutants released during oil and gas development can irritate the eyes and throat, damage the lungs, and worsen respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis. Additionally, the contamination of air, water, and soil resources in areas surrounding oil and gas development sites poses long-term environmental and health risks to nearby communities.

To address the air pollution caused by oil and gas development, strategies such as end-of-pipe pollution controls during combustion in power plants, vehicles, and industrial processes are implemented. However, these measures only address a part of the problem, and more comprehensive approaches that consider the full life cycle of oil and gas are necessary to mitigate the adverse environmental and health impacts effectively.

Wildfires

The health effects of wildfire exposure are particularly harmful to vulnerable populations, including children, older people, pregnant people, and those with chronic illnesses. The impact of wildfire smoke on labor markets has also been studied, with findings suggesting that exposure to wildfire smoke reduces employment and labor force participation, resulting in significant economic costs.

Additionally, wildfires have climate impacts beyond the immediate health consequences. They release large quantities of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change and leading to warmer temperatures and drier conditions, which further increase the risk of wildfires.

With the changing climate and the increasing urbanization of rural areas, the fire season is starting earlier and ending later, and wildfire events are becoming more extreme in terms of intensity, duration, and the number of acres burned. This highlights the importance of cross-regional coordination in land use and fire management policies to mitigate the impacts of wildfires on air pollution and public health.

Volcanoes

Natural resources that create air pollution include wind-blown dust, wildfires, and volcanoes. While volcanoes are not a common source of ongoing air pollution, they can occasionally release large amounts of harmful substances into the atmosphere. Volcanoes are geographical formations that release lava, small rocks, and steam onto the Earth's surface. When a volcano erupts, it can emit dangerous volcanic gases and ash, which can have adverse effects on human health and the environment. Volcanic ash clouds can reach up to 50 km in height and spread out to distances of 100 to 1,000 miles. These ash particulates can remain suspended in the atmosphere, affecting air quality and causing respiratory issues, especially for individuals with asthma.

Volcanic gases released during eruptions include sulfur dioxide (SO2) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Sulfur dioxide can lead to the formation of sulfuric acid and sulfate aerosols in the stratosphere, resulting in regional cooling. The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo released approximately 20 million tons of SO2, causing a detectable cooling effect in Europe and North America. Similarly, the 1986 eruption of Mt. Kilauea in Hawaii emitted about 2,000 tons of SO2 per day, leading to persistent issues with acid rain and air pollution downwind from the vent.

Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is another significant volcanic emission. While individual volcanic eruptions release less CO2 than human activities annually, very large eruptions can inject substantial amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere. For example, the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens released approximately 10 million tons of CO2 in just 9 hours. However, human activities now emit the same amount in only 2.5 hours, highlighting the magnitude of anthropogenic emissions compared to volcanic sources.

In addition to sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide, volcanoes can release other harmful substances, such as hydrogen fluoride and hydrogen chloride. Hydrogen fluoride ash particulates can settle on vegetation, leading to fluorine accumulation in livestock that consume affected plants. Hydrogen chloride, released during volcanic eruptions, is a poisonous gas with an irritating odor and a yellow-green color. These volcanic gases, along with ash particles, contribute to air pollution and pose health risks to nearby populations.

Volcanic pollution, or "volcanism," can have both local and international impacts. The dispersal of volcanic pollutants depends on factors such as particle size, wind speed, and direction. Smaller particles tend to extend further, while wind patterns guide the movement of the ash cloud. Volcanic eruptions can also result in acid rain, as sulfur dioxide and other emissions react with atmospheric components. While the injected ash from eruptions typically falls back to the Earth's surface within a few days to weeks, volcanic gases and their atmospheric byproducts can persist and influence climate patterns.

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