It is the contamination of air by harmful gases, dust and smoke which affects the plants, animals, and humans drastically. Water pollution definition at, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. The term pollution is widely used and almost as widely misunderstood. Air pollution is a major problem that can affect everyone.
Air contaminants also air pollutants are difficult to concisely define. Pollution became a major issue in the united states in the early twentieth century, as progressive reformers took issue with air pollution caused by coal burning, water pollution caused by bad sanitation, and street pollution caused by the 3 million horses who worked in american cities in 1900, generating large quantities of urine and manure. The effects of air pollution wreck havoc on human health and our planet as a whole. The term indoor air pollution may seem a little vague at first, but once you understand what it actually includes you may be very surprised. For environmental health science students air pollution mengesha admassu, mamo wubeshet. In this article, well answer these three questions. This is because the air becomes dirty contaminated or unclean. Pollutants can be classified as either primary or secondary.
An air pollutant is known as a substance in the air that can cause harm to humans and the environment. In other words, all manmade anthropogenic emissions into the air can be called air pollution, because they alter the chemical composition of the natural atmosphere. Air pollution definition, causes, effects and control. Contamination of the air, especially by smoke or gases from vehicles, factories, and power stations. Pollutants can be artificial substances, such as pesticides and pcbs, or naturally occurring substances, such as oil or carbon dioxide, that occur in harmful concentrations in a given environment. European green capital award nantes 2012 20 1 in total.
There are four basic elements of naaqs that together serve to define each standard. Lets begin todays discussion by defining the term air pollution at a broader level. A physical, biological or chemical alteration to the air in the atmosphere can be termed as pollution. Air pollution can be both manmade and naturally occurring. Sewage in drinking water is another type of pollution, as it can make people ill because it contains germs and viruses. The major kinds of pollution are usually classified by environment and include air, water, and land pollution. The residue of the mineral matter obtained by incinerating coal under defined conditions iso, 2. Pollution is when something is added to the environment that is harmful or poisonous to living things. The clean air act directs epa to control these emissions by developing and implementing standards and guidelines.
A number of definitions of the term are examined and alternatives suggested. Much has been done to reduce and control pollution, but there is still more that needs to be done. Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere the atmosphere is a complex dynamic natural gaseous system that is essential to support life on planet earth. Air pollution may be defined as any atmospheric condition in which certain substances are present. It constitutes immediate physical environment of living organisms. Consequences of air pollution co 2 is a good transmitter of sunlight, but it also partially restricts infrared radiation going back from the earth into space, which produces the socalled greenhouse effect that prevents a drastic cooling of the earth during the night. In this era, air pollution cause a high risk for the safety of the world. Children and the elderly are often the most vulnerable to the effects of air pollution. Pollution is a negativeundesirable change in the environment, usually the addition of something hazardous or detrimental. Air pollution in its most basic definition is the introduction of harmful substances into the earths atmosphere. So taking all of the above into account, we can define an air pollutant as any.
It constitutes a reference for understanding how policymakers, media and population in. Pdf causes, consequences and control of air pollution. These include stroke and heart disease, respiratory illness and cancers. Its effects can range from higher disease risks to rising temperatures. In most cities that monitor air quality, outdoor air pollution fails to meet safety guidelines set forth by the world health organization whoincluding about half of the urban population exposed to air pollution that is at least 2. Oecd glossary of statistical terms indoor air pollution. Environmental pollution an overview sciencedirect topics. The presence in the air of any air pollutant that reduces air quality enough to threaten the health and welfare or people, plants, and animals, to adversely affect materials and structures, andor to interfere with the enjoyment of life and property. Pollution definition is the action of polluting especially by environmental contamination with manmade waste. For example when we burn petrol or diesel or coal to run our cars. Pollutants can be in the form of solid particles, liquid droplets, or gases.
Air pollution is a mix of particles and gases that can reach harmful concentrations both outside and indoors. Three factors determine the severity of a pollutant. Air pollution is a change in the physical, chemical and biological characteristic of air that causes adverse effects on humans and other organisms. Air pollution occurs when harmful or excessive quantities of substances are introduced into earths atmosphere. Definitions and classifications used in the study of air pollution are introduced. Environments and contaminants criteria air pollutants. Learn about what causes air pollution and how to help reduce the effects. Air pollution is the release of air pollutants into the atmosphere. Ambient air pollution alcohol illicit drugs attributable burden of disease 04 years daly world health report 2002 in analyses by the world health organization who in 2002, the indoor smoke from solid fuels accounted for the third highest disabilityadjusted.
In developing countries, the main source of indoor air pollution is biomass smoke which contains suspended particulate matter 5pm, nitrogen dioxide no2, sulphur dioxide so2, carbon monoxide ca. Definitions and classifications used in the study of air pollution are. Smoke or dust in the air is a type of pollution as it is bad for the lungs when we breath in. It also means monitoring air pollution levels more carefully and. Air pollution facts, causes and the effects of pollutants in. Air pollution reference list authors title and citation link to article balakrishnan k et al addressing the burden of disease attributable to air pollution in india. Air pollution is the introduction into the atmosphere of chemicals, particulates, or biological materials that cause discomfort, disease, or death to humans, damage other living organisms such as food crops, or damage the natural environment or built environment 2. Air pollution is one such form that refers to the contamination of the air, irrespective of indoors or outside. There is a certain percentage of gases present in the atmosphere.
Consequences of air pollution co 2 is a good transmitter of sunlight, but it also partially restricts infrared radiation going back from the earth into space, which produces the socalled greenhouse effect that prevents a drastic cooling of the earth during the night increasing the amount of co 2 in the atmosphere. Scientists are constantly studying how the different types of pollution affect the environment and how it can be controlled. The increase in the global concentrations of greenhouse gases co 2. Air pollution is defined as the introduction of pollutants, organic molecules, or other unsafe materials into earths atmosphere. Air pollution is majorly caused due to the release of various chemicals into the atmosphere. Causes, effects, and solutions for today and tomorrow since people living in the twentyfirst century have the likelihood of experiencing the effects of harmful pollution, looking at the causes of this water and air pollution is definitely vital in halting its devastating consequences. A substance or condition that contaminates air, water, or soil. It is considered to be a criteria pollutant in the tropospherethe lowermost layer of the atmospherebut not in the upper atmosphere, where it occurs naturally and serves to block harmful ultraviolet rays. The origin of air pollution on the earth can be traced from the times when man started using firewood as a means of cooking and heating. Air pollution comes in many forms and may include a number of different pollutants and toxins in various combinations. Certain natural phenomena causing deterioration in the quality of water, air, or soil may be similar in their effects to some of mans activities, but only the latter are normally subject to. A pollutant is a waste material that pollutes air, water, or soil. The definitions of chemical terms are largely in accordance.
Our goal is to reveal to you all of the key factors regarding indoor air pollutants and help you determine if this is something you should be concerned with or not. Air pollution definition of air pollution by the free. Air pollution hotspots are areas where air pollution emissions expose individuals to increased negative health effects. Air pollution is the human introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living things. Air definition is the mixture of invisible odorless tasteless gases such as nitrogen and oxygen that surrounds the earth. They exist in several forms including solids, liquids, vapors vapors are gases formed by vol atile liquidssolids, gases, ions, and mixtures of these primary states of matter. Pollution, also called environmental pollution, the addition of any substance solid, liquid, or gas or any form of energy such as heat, sound, or radioactivity to the environment at a rate faster than it can be dispersed, diluted, decomposed, recycled, or stored in some harmless form. Definition, causes and effects of air pollution assignment. Our society has produced many kinds of pollution, some are more dangerous than others. The ultimate result is a change in the natural environment andor ecosystem. In an even broader sense, air pollution means the presence of chemicals or compounds in the air which are usually not present and which lower the quality of the air or cause detrimental changes to the quality of life. With the discovery and increasing use of coal, air pollution. They are particularly common in highly populated, urban areas, where there may be a combination of stationary sources e. Air pollution is a mixture of solid particles and gases in the air.
Ozone, a gas, is a major part of air pollution in cities. These substances linger and cause many adverse effects. Air pollution is the release of pollutants such as gases, particles, biological molecules, etc. This can be in the form of excessive gases like carbon dioxide and other vapours that cannot be effectively removed through natural cycles, such as the carbon cycle or the nitrogen cycle. Those pollutants may be gases or particulate matter and can come from a variety of sources. The presence of a substance in the environment that because of its chemical composition or quantity prevents the functioning of natural processes and. Information and translations of air pollution in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. One could claim that air pollution started when humans began burning fuels. Environmental pollution is the buildup and accumulation of toxic heavy metals in the air, water, and land that reduce the ability of the contaminated sites to support life. Outdoor air pollution definition of outdoor air pollution. But if you are concerned about air pollution, there is a free and easy to use service that allows you to.
An introduction to air pollution definitions, classifications, and. A crucial step in improving air quality is the establishment of standards that define what constitutes acceptable levels of particular pollutants in the ambient air. Apr 20, 2020 air pollution is a mixture of solid particles and gases in the air. Read this article to learn about the types, sources, effects and control of air pollution. Indoor air pollution refers to chemical, biological and physical contamination of indoor air. Officially, air pollution can be defined as the presence of harmful substances in the air, either particulates or microscopic biologic molecules, that pose health hazards to living organisms, such as people, animals or plants. What is air pollution environmental pollution centers. Stationary sources of air pollution stationary sources of air pollution, including factories, refineries, boilers, and power plants, emit a variety of air pollutants. Particulate matter pm, also called particle pollution, is a general term for extremely small particles and liquid. In our current age of industrialisation and modernisation, the biggest source of air pollution is the burning of fossil fuels.
For example, if chemicals are burned in a factory, and the smoke rising out of the chimneys carries pollutants, the air becomes polluted. The means of controlling air pollutants depends on the inherent properties of the pollutant, the atmospheric conditions, and the susceptibility of the receptor. The rise in human population density and anthropogenic activity has led to degradation of the earths surface through misuse of environmental resources and improper. The earth is surrounded by a blanket of air made up of various. However, rain may cause some of this pollution to fall down to the land. Dec 14, 2016 this is the first and most evident form of air pollution, but its not the only one. Air pollution refers to any physical, chemical or biological change in the air. The air is certainly a lot cleaner today than in the days of the smogs of the 1950s, when factory chimneys belched out smoke and nearly everyone had a coal fire.
Air pollution, facts and information national geographic. Air pollution definition at, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. This definition implicitly acknowledges that some substances that are considered to be air pollutants are present naturally. It is the contamination of air by harmful gases, dust and smoke which affects the plants, animals. Manufacturing activities that cause air pollution impose health and cleanup costs on the whole of society, whereas the. In an even broader sense, air pollution means the presence of chemicals or compounds in the air which are usually not present and which lower the quality of the air or cause. Definition of outdoor air pollution outdoor air pollution. Introduction to the course air is essential for life it self.
When ozone forms air pollution, its also called smog. Car emissions, chemicals from factories, dust, pollen and mold spores may be suspended as particles. Pollution definition of pollution by merriamwebster. Water, air and land pollution are three of the most common types of pollution. Although there are a number of important natural sources of air pollution including forest fires and volcanic eruptions, the term is usually. Air pollution meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. This introduction provides an overview and analysis of key scientific data regarding air pollution in china. A key component of photochemical smog, ozone is formed by a complex reaction between nitrogen dioxide and hydrocarbons in the presence of sunlight. Pollution, addition of any substance or form of energy to the environment at a rate faster than it can be dispersed or stored in a harmless form. Pollution is a word that you hear almost every day in the news, at school and in daytoday conversations. Define what air pollution means and other related terms 3. Air pollution can be defined as the presence of toxic chemicals or compounds including those of biological origin in the air, at levels that pose a health risk. The condition in which air is contaminated by foreign substances, or the substances themselves.