air pollution & its effects

7/28/2019 Air Pollution & Its Effects

1/7

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE


2/7

Air pollution is the action of environmental contamination

with man-made waste into the air. The air we breathe is

composed of a mixture of gases: 78% nitrogen, 21%oxygen, and a small percentage of other gases like argon,

carbon dioxide, and water vapor.


3/7


4/7


5/7

Stationary and Area SourcesA stationary source of air pollution refers to an emission source that does not move, also knownas a point source. Stationary sources include factories, power plants, dry cleaners and degreasingoperations. The term area source is used to describe many small sources of air pollution locatedtogether whose individual emissions may be below thresholds of concern, but whose collectiveemissions can be significant.

Mobile Sources

A mobile source of air pollution refers to a source that is capable of moving under its own power.In general, mobile sources imply "on-road" transportation, which includes vehicles such as cars,sport utility vehicles, and buses.

Agricultural SourcesAgricultural operations, those that raise animals and grow crops, can generate emissions ofgases and particulate matter. For example, animals confined to a barn or restricted area (ratherthan field grazing), produce large amounts of manure. Manure emits various gases, particularlyammonia into the air. This ammonia can be emitted from the animal houses, manure storageareas, or from the land after the manure is applied.

Natural SourcesAlthough industrialization and the use of motor vehicles are overwhelmingly the most significantcontributors to air pollution, there are important natural sources of "pollution" as well. Wildlandfires, dust storms, and volcanic activity also contribute gases and particulates to our atmosphere.


6/7


7/7

ON HUMAN HEALTH ON VEGETATIONS

Respiratory and cardiovascular illness

due to sulfur dioxide

Headaches, reduced mental alertness,

heart attack chest tightness, shortness of breath,

lung damage.

Anemia, high blood pressure, brain and

kidney damage, neurological disorders,

cancer, lowered IQ.

asthma, bronchitis, lung damage,cancer, heavy metal poisoning,

cardiovascular effects.

Injury to foliage may be visible in a

short time and appear as dead tissues

it can develop slowly as a yellowing of

the leaf reduction in growth of various portions

of a plant

Plants may be killed outright

Acid rain weaken the trees by

damaging their leaves, limiting the

nutrients available to them, orpoisoning them with toxic substances

slowly released from the soil.

air pollution & its effects

Documents