Ever notice that when you’re in nature or a rural area that it almost seems like the air feels fresher? Well, that’s not just your imagination-it really is. In less populated areas, air pollution levels are considerably lower than in congested cities and urban developments. More populated areas experience increased levels of air pollution due to the concentrated emissions from vehicles, industrial activities, etc. Yet, air pollution from these areas has spread nearly everywhere to some extent. The majority of people, about 99%, breathe air that exceeds the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guideline limits. Air pollution has significant impacts on not just our environment and atmosphere, but also on human health.
By definition, air pollution is the contamination of indoor or outdoor environments by an agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. Pollutants often consist of particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide, many of which also fall under the category of greenhouse gases. The most significant sources of air pollution are from fossil fuel burning that occurs from motor vehicles, factories and industrial activities, with other sources of air pollution being forest fires, power plants and cigarettes. Air pollution can also occur naturally with events such as volcanoes, wildfires and sand or dust storms. However, the excessive amounts of emissions from human activities is what makes air pollution an issue.
Have you ever thought that the sky looked hazy over a city? This occurs when sunlight meets with the pollution in the air. Similarly, a combination of smoke and fog, known as smog, results from air pollution. Both effects lead to murky and unclear air in an environment. A prime example of this is the city of Los Angeles in California, as it is one of the smoggiest cities in the country.
Air pollution has various effects on the environment and one of the most significant impacts is its contribution to global warming, as the primary cause of it is anthropogenic (“human made”) air pollution. The greenhouse effect has kept our atmosphere in balance for centuries with an equilibrium of naturally occurring gases. However, as pollution from human activities produces excessive amounts of greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide, the balance of the atmosphere is disrupted and results in global warming. Additionally, global warming increases natural air pollution, as it leads to more frequent wildfires and areas being more susceptible to desertification, creating sand and dust.
Air pollution is a key ingredient in the making of acid rain. Acid rain is formed when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, two common greenhouse gases and air pollutants, particles mix with water and oxygen in the atmosphere. When this form of precipitation occurs, it is incredibly harmful to plant life and causes soils to acidify. This makes them unsuitable for life, therefore decreasing biodiversity in our ecosystems.
However, air pollution isn’t just an issue for our environment and ecosystems. It is also incredibly harmful to our health. Short-term exposure to extensive air pollution has comparatively minor effects to long term exposure. Short-term effects may vary, but often include illnesses such as pneumonia or bronchitis, irritation to nose, throat, eyes or skin, headaches, dizziness and nausea. Detrimental long-term effects can include heart disease, lung cancer, respiratory illness and long term damage to nerves, brain, kidneys, liver, etc. Conditions such as asthma and lung disease can be worsened by air pollution as well.
If you cannot understand the environmental destruction that results from air pollution, maybe the danger it poses to yourself, family and friends will resonate. It’s an issue on all levels, and needs to be addressed accordingly. Many governments globally have taken steps to reduce their air pollution emissions. In 2015, 195 nations signed the Paris Agreement and made the commitment to adopt laws to reduce their emissions. Other nations like the European Union, Mexico and the state of California in the U.S. have instituted cap-and-trade programs. These programs give each industrial factory a limit on the amount of pollution they are allowed to emit. Companies that exceed their limit must pay an additional fee, but if they do not, companies may sell or trade this additional pollution allowance to other companies.
Actions that people can take in their daily life to help reduce air pollution emissions include turning off lights when they aren’t needed, eating less meat and trying to carpool or use public transportation rather than riding in separate gas powered vehicles. Mobile sources account for more than half of the air pollution in the U.S., so by limiting emissions from cars, air pollution can be significantly decreased.
