Air Pollution

[Dr. Mrutyunjaya Sahoo]

Air pollution is the contamination of air by various hazardous substances that have a harmful
impact on the environment.

There are two types of air pollutants:

Primary pollutants: The pollutants that directly cause air pollution are known as primary
pollutants. They are the direct emissions from some identifiable source. Example:
Carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxides, fluorides, particulate matter,
chlorofluorocarbon, hydrocarbons, etc.

Secondary pollutants: These are formed due to the interaction and reaction between the
primary pollutants. Example: Smog, formed by the intermingling of smoke and fog, is a
secondary pollutant.

CAUSES / SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION

Burning of Fossil Fuels: The combustion of fossil fuels emit harmful gases such as
Sulphur dioxide and Carbon monoxide into the air.

One of the biggest causes of air pollution is sulphur dioxide, which is emitted through
the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum for energy in power plants, and other
industry combustibles.

Automobiles: The gases emitted from vehicles pollute the environment. Hydrocarbons,
CO, CO2, and Sulphur oxides are major constituents of automobile exhausts. These are
the major source of greenhouse gases and result in harmful diseases for the people who
inhale this air.

Agricultural Activities: Spraying insecticides, pesticides, and fertilisers emit harmful

Factories and Industries: The harmful smoke or gases emitted by factories

Mining Activities: Lots of dust, chemicals and gases are emitted during the extraction of
minerals. These not only pollute the air but also result in serious diseases among the people.

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Domestic Sources: The products used for house cleaning and painting release a lot of
chemicals and toxic substances. They pollute the air and affect the health of people.

Arsenal and Nuclear Weapons

The military forces use nuclear arsenal and chemical weapons for wars. These release large
amounts of chemical substances that are very harmful and poisonous.

EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION

Effect on Humans

Air pollution can cause harmful health effects such as eye, nose, throat irritation,
headache, and allergic reaction in the short term.

Following are the critical effects of air pollution:

1. Diseases: Air pollution gives rise to several respiratory disorders and heart diseases.
Lung cancer, pneumonia, and asthma have increased due to pollution in the last few
years.

2. Acid Rain: This acid rain is caused due to the burning of fossil fuels which releases
harmful gases such as nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide into the air. The water
droplets combine with this pollutant to become acidic and fall as acid rain, which
affects the ecosystem. Monument like the Taj Mahal is affected due to acid rain.

3. Ozone Layer Depletion: The hole in the ozone layer is caused by air pollutants.
Chemicals used as refrigerants such as chloro-fluoro-carbons, and hydro-chloro-
fluoro-carbons are the major cause of depletion of the ozone layer. This depletion
allows harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun to enter the atmosphere and causes skin
diseases and eye problems among the people.

4. Global Warming: Air Pollution can increase the amount of global warming as the
temperature of the earth will keep rising with the emission of harmful gases. Effects of
Global warming: sea level rise, ice melt, habitat loss, etc.

Effect on Animals

The air pollutants suspend in the water bodies affect aquatic life. Pollution also compels the
animals to leave their habitat and shift to a new place. This in turn further leads to the
extinction of many animal species.

CONTROL MEASURES

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Modern Techniques

With the advancement of technology, various new products and substances have been
invented to keep air pollution in control. Some of the products like: catalytic converters,
precipitators, scrubbers, etc. can be used to capture and control air pollutants.

Air filters are one such product that is commonly used everywhere.

Artificial rain/ Cloud seeding

Cloud seeding is an artificial method used to increase rainfall by introducing certain

During cloud seeding, chemicals like silver iodide, potassium iodide, and dry ice are
released into the sky using airplanes and helicopters. These chemicals attract water vapour,
leading to the formation of rain clouds. It usually takes about half an hour for this method to
make it rain.

Shifting Industries

Most of the industries and factories are built in the areas where more people reside. The
Government must fix strict guidelines so that these large industries and factories must only be
built in the outskirts or some other areas with a low human population.

Using natural gases

Instead of using harmful gases and fossil fuels, natural gases like Compressed Natural Gas
(CNG) can be used for various purposes. This reduces air pollution and also saves up fossil
fuels.

Avoid using personal vehicles

An increase in the usage of vehicles causes an increase in vehicular emissions leading to an

Use of Clean Energy Sources

Using natural resources like wind, solar and geothermal energies reduce air pollution and
improve a cleaner and better environment. Some of the steps that can be taken are:

 Reducing the use of fuel and fire products.

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  Treating the materials emitted from industries and factories.

 Using Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for vehicles and engines.

 Diluting the air pollutants

 Increasing tree plantation

# Greenhouse effect: Greenhouse effect is the process by which radiations from the sun
are absorbed by the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and not reflected back into space.

Causes of Greenhouse Effect: Burning of Fossil Fuels, Deforestation, Industrialisation, etc.

Effects of Greenhouse Effect: Global Warming, Depletion of Ozone Layer, Smog and Air
Pollution, Acidification of Water Bodies, etc.