Air pollution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Air pollution - Essay Example This paper will discuss air pollution and its various aspects. According to Lbl.gov, there are various major  kinds  of pollution, which produce renowned  effects on the well-being and health  of individuals and the environment as a whole. These pollution types include the discharge of such toxic gases as chemical vapors, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Once these gases get into the environment, they can become involved in advanced chemical reactions leading to the formation of  acid rain and  smog. Other serious implications include the development of holes in the ozone layer as well as greenhouse effect. The other type of air pollution, which results from fuel combustion for energy, involves the discharge of  particles  (particulate matter) into the air. These particles are tiny pieces of matter, which measures roughly 0001 inches. An excellent case in point of this  kind of particulate matter is diesel smoke. This kind of pollution is also kn own as black carbon pollution. Smoke from burning fuels in industries, homes, and automobiles, is a main source of air pollution. It is also believed that burning charcoal and wood in barbeques and fireplaces can as well discharge into the air significant amounts of soot. Liu explains that the common sources of air pollution include industrial facilities, motor vehicles emissions, household combustion devices, forest fires, mold spores, and pollen among others. According to him, these sources fall into two main categories, namely natural and human sources (15). The natural sources of air pollution include volcanic activity that lead to the production of ash particulates, chlorine, sulfur, carbon monoxide and smoke from wildfires; and dust from natural sources that are usually large areas with no or little vegetation (Chapman and Rob 23). Human sources of air pollution result from human activities that contribute to air pollution. One of the main sources of air pollution that results from human activity is from manufacturing facilities, waste incinerators, and power plants and other forms of fuel-burning heating devices (Gurjar 33). Aircraft, motor vehicles, sound equipments, and marine vessels are the other sources of air pollution from human activities. Military activities such as toxic gases, nuclear weapons, and germ warfare can be the other source of air pollution. Controlled burn practices and chemicals used in forestry management and agriculture are the other sources of air pollution resulting from human activity (Colls 27). Pollutants are the substances that cause air pollution. Pollutants that are of major public health and environment concern include ozone, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon dioxide (Liu 18). Pollutants are classified into two main categories: primary and secondary. Primary pollutants are those that are emitted directly from a process such as sulfur dioxide from manufacturing facilities, the carbon monoxi de from the motor vehicle, or ash from volcanic eruption (Gurjar 36). Example of primary pollutants include carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, ammonia, radioactive pollutants,