Air pollution is a major environmental problem and a serious threat to public health. Air pollution is caused by emissions from sources such as cars, power plants, trains and ships. It causes millions of deaths worldwide every year.
Air pollution also has
a major impact on the climate.
Pollution can damage crops and forests, leading to food shortages in some parts
of the world.
There are two types of
air pollutants:
Primary
and Secondary. Primary air pollutants are those
directly emitted into the atmosphere by humans.
Primary
air pollutants include:
·
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
·
Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)
·
Nitrous Oxide (NOx)
·
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's)
Secondary
Air Pollutants are formed naturally by chemical
reactions involving primary pollutants. Secondary air pollutants are generally
less harmful than their primary counterparts; however, they still pose some
risks to our environment.
Secondary air
pollutants include:
·
Acid Rain
·
Sulfate
·
Ozone
·
Particulate Matter (PM10 & PM2.5)
·
Mercury
·
Lead
·
Arsenic
There are many ways to
reduce air pollution, but some of them may not be suitable for everyone. Here
are some ways to reduce air pollution:
1. Use public transport:
use public transport instead of using private cars. You can use buses or trains
instead of using your own car, which will help you reduce the amount of carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere.
2. Change your
lifestyle: If you want to reduce your carbon footprint, then change your lifestyle
and make sure that you do not produce as much waste as possible by recycling
waste materials or buying second-hand products instead of new ones.
3. Use solar panels:
Using solar panels on rooftops or at home can help you reduce your electricity
bill and also stop you from producing carbon dioxide emissions from burning
fossil fuels in your home appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners
etc.
Recently scientist found
that pollution is reaching babies in the womb and slashing boys.