Various Causes of Air pollution

• The Burning of Fossil Fuels.
• Agricultural Activities.
• Waste in Landfills.
• Exhaust From Factories and Industries.
• Mining Operations.
• Indoor Air Pollution.
• Natural Events.

These six pollutants are carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, ground-level ozone, particle pollution (often referred to as particulate matter), and sulfur oxides.

Types of air pollution

• particulate matter.
• nitrogen dioxide.
• ozone.
• sulphur dioxide.

The two types of air pollutants are primary pollutants, which enter the atmosphere directly, and secondary pollutants, which form from a chemical reaction.

There are four main types of air pollution sources: mobile sources – such as cars, buses, planes, trucks, and trains. stationary sources – such as power plants, oil refineries, industrial facilities, and factories. area sources – such as agricultural areas, cities, and wood burning fireplaces.

2 Answers

• Stationary sources include smoke stacks of power plants, manufacturing factories and waste incinerators.
• Mobile sources include motor vehicles, marine vessels, and aircraft.
• Controlled burn practices in agriculture and forest management.
• Fumes from paint, hair spray, varnish, aerosol sprays and other solvents.

In terms of overall range and extents of impacts, however, it is my opinion that burning of fossil fuels (coal, gasoline, etc..) is the single largest source of air pollutants. These fuels cause smog, acid rain, soot and particulates increases, greenhouse gas emissions, and dispersal of some heavy metal contaminants.

How to reduce air pollution?

1. Plant more trees and nurture the ones present.
2. Minimize Pollution from Cars by using Electric Vehicles, Carpooling, Keeping Car well serviced.
3. Using environment friendly vehicles like bicycle to cover short distances.

Use of Clean Energy Resources

1. By minimizing and reducing the use of fire and fire products.
2. Since industrial emissions are one of the major causes of air pollution, the pollutants can be controlled or treated at the source itself to reduce its effects.
3. Fuel substitution is another way of controlling air pollution.

The various sources of air pollution are:

• Smoke emitted from homes by the burning of fuels like wood, cow-dung cakes, kerosene and coal.
• Exhaust gases emitted by motor vehicles (automobiles) due to burning of petrol and diesel.
• Smoke emitted by factories and thermal power plants due to burning of coal.

Some pollutants like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide react with the water vapour present in the atmosphere to form sulphuric acid and nitric acid. The acid drops down with rain, making the rain acidic. This is called acid rain.

The pollution that causes acid rain can also create tiny particles. When these particles get into people’s lungs, they can cause health problems, or can make existing health problems worse. This ground-level ozone causes respiratory problems, like pneumonia and bronchitis, and can even cause permanent lung damage.

Acid rain is caused by a chemical reaction that begins when compounds like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air. These substances can rise very high into the atmosphere, where they mix and react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form more acidic pollutants, known as acid rain.

The ecological effects of acid rain are most clearly seen in aquatic environments, such as streams, lakes, and marshes where it can be harmful to fish and other wildlife. As it flows through the soil, acidic rain water can leach aluminum from soil clay particles and then flow into streams and lakes.

Solution: → The harmful gases like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, react with the water vapour present in the atmosphere to form sulphuric acid and nitric acid. → These acids then drop down with rain, making the rain acidic.

Acid rain results when sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) are emitted into the atmosphere and transported by wind and air currents. The SO2 and NOX react with water, oxygen and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. These then mix with water and other materials before falling to the ground.

Prevention of Acid Rain

1. The only precaution that we can take against acid rain is having a check at the emission of oxides of nitrogen and sulphur.
2. We have so far seen the details of acid rain and its harmful effect on animals, plants and the monuments.

Acid rain is a result of air pollution. Some of these gases (especially nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide) react with the tiny droplets of water in clouds to form sulphuric and nitric acids. The rain from these clouds then falls as very weak acid – which is why it is known as “acid rain”.