Air Pollution Facts

From LoveToKnow GreenLiving

Air pollution facts offer concrete proof that we all need to take action to protect and preserve the quality of the air we breathe. Air pollution is a real problem in many parts of the world, and it's up to us to reduce our emissions and bring about positive change.

Air pollution affects us all.

What Causes Air Pollution?

Air pollution comes from many different sources. Anything that churns out harmful smoke, toxins, chemicals, or biological substances into the air is considered a pollutant. Some of the most common contributors are:

Industrial and manufacturing processes and waste
Cars and other vehicles that burn fossil fuels
Volcanoes
Fuel combustion
Power generation
Aerosol cans
Explosives
Methane gas from animal waste
Smoking
Chemical and fuel leaks and spills

There are several air pollutants that are organic in nature, but the vast majority of them are man made and controllable.

Effects on the Environment

Polluted air from chemicals and other substances causes a chain reaction, affecting many other environmental elements. These include:

Acid rain
Smog
Depletion of the ozone layer
Global warming and climate change

Effects on Humans

Air pollution can have disastrous effects on humans. Here are some air pollution facts to explain how.

Humans breathe an average of over 3,000 gallons of air every day, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Children have smaller body masses, so air pollution will affect them more quickly and more harmfully.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 1.5 billion people are breathing dangerously high levels of pollution every day.
WHO also tells us that polluted air is one of the top ten causes of premature death worldwide.

Diseases and Other Health Problems

Breathing in a steady stream of polluted air can cause a multitude of health problems, especially for those living in urban areas where the concentration of pollution is much higher. Developing countries are starting to see a rise in health related problems as a direct result of increased air pollution, and millions of people worldwide die prematurely because of it.

Some of the diseases and other health issues related to polluted air are:

Cancer
Heart disease
Lung disease
Asthma
Pneumonia and its complications
Bronchitis
Emphysema
Respiratory allergies
Headaches and migraines

While air pollution may not directly cause all of these conditions, symptoms occur more frequently and with greater severity because of it. This causes people to rely on more medications and visit hospitals much more often than they would if they were breathing clean air.

Effects on Animals and Plants

Since animals are forced to breathe the same air as humans, disease and premature death effects them just as much. Combined with acid rain, which is a direct result of air pollution, natural habitats are being contaminated. The three main ways air pollution affects animals are:

Poisoning the air
Contaminating water and food sources
Leaving harmful particulate matter on their coats and skins

In the plant world, there are also many effects of air pollution being recorded. One of the major problems stems from the fact that trees and other plants naturally convert harmful carbon dioxide in the air into oxygen. With the current rate of burning down trees in the rain forests as well as other instances of deforestation worldwide, we're seeing an overall increase in airborne carbon dioxide.

Some other ways that air pollution effects plant life are:

Absorption of chemicals and other pollutants through leaves
Increased disease and pests due to weakening of cell walls
Excessive water loss when the waxy coating of leaves and needles erode due to air pollution
Slow growth and smaller plants
Premature death

Changing Air Pollution Facts

While it seems that all of these air pollution facts bring bad news for humans, animals, plants, and the environment, there is always hope for change. With more laws restricting greenhouse gasses and other forms of air pollution, many cities, states, and countries are on the right path towards cleaning up our air. Continued research and compliance are needed to ensure that toxic air eventually becomes a thing of the past..

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