Air Pollution
Air pollution results mainly from the incomplete combustion of several fuels, such as coal, petrol and wood. The chief sources of pollution from combustion are furnaces in factories, engines in vehicles and burning of trash. Thus, pollutant gases are mainly introduced into the air due to human activities.Basically, the industrialization of society, the introduction of motorized vehicles, and the explosion of the population are factors contributing toward the growing air pollution problem. Some main components of air pollutionThe primary air pollutants found in most urban areas are carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, hydrocarbons, lead, and particulate matter (both solid and liquid). These pollutants are dispersed throughout the world's atmosphere in concentrations high enough to gradually cause serious health problems. Sulphur dioxide is the major pollutant due to human activities. Burning fossil fuel containing
In addition, air pollutants may damage the ozone layer in the earth's upper atmosphere. The cool air, together with the pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, is thus prevented from escaping. This results in the warming of the earth's surface, commonly known as greenhouse effect. Sulphuric acid is a component of acid rain, which leads to water pollution, in turn causing the death of aquatic organisms in several lakes and rivers, and damaging property. Some gases, such as carbon dioxide, allow sunlight to reach the ground, but prevent the sunlight's heat from rising out of the atmosphere. Air pollution may also affect climate. For example, an estimated 4000 deaths has been attributed to the killer smog in London in 1952. Various methods of reducing pollution from motor vehicle engines have also been developed. Solutions to curb air pollutionCatalytic convertersThese mechanisms are now fitted to motor vehicles to remove some of the polluting materials produced in the engines of these vehicles. At high concentrations, sulphur dioxide has damaging effects on both plants and animals. These devices include filters that trap the gases and particulate that would otherwise be released into the air with waste gases. Smog is basically a mixture of fog and smoke. For example, several types of devices have been developed to prevent harmful gases and particulate from leaving industrial smokestacks. In certain parts of America, smelting works have produced such high concentrations of sulphur dioxide that entire plots of vegetation have been destroyed. What are the health and environmental effects of air pollution?Studies have shown that people exposed to toxic air pollutants at sufficient concentrations and durations may have an increased chance of getting cancer or experiencing other serious health effects.
Common topics in this essay:
Dioxide Sulphur,
Air Pollution,
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sulphur dioxide,
air pollutants,
serious health,
concentrations sulphur dioxide,
due human activities,
concentrations sulphur,
cool air,
ozone layer,
health effects,
engines vehicles,
gases particulate,
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Acceptance Essays
