Air Pollution: Causes and Effects

Air Pollution: Causes and Effects It keeps us alive but at the same time, it can also be harmful. We breathe air everyday. Air provides us with oxygen that is essential for living. Nitrogen, water vapor, and inert gases comprise air along with oxygen. Emission of substances that contaminate air results to pollution. Air pollution is both natural and human-based. Natural air pollution is caused by phenomenon such as volcanic eruption, wind erosion, decomposition and radioactive materials. Writing essay can only do as much in explaining each cause.
Volcanic eruptions send sulfur dioxide, tons of ash, and soot into the air which mixes with water vapor to form acid rain. Dirt particles can also be carried to the atmosphere during wind erosion. This happens in areas with less vegetation where soil cannot be held together. Bacteria that feed on decaying organic matter like plants or animals produce methane and carbon dioxide, which are released into the atmosphere. Earth’s crust is composed is composed of a radioactive element called Uranium. Uranium turns into Radium once it decays afterward forming Radon.
Radon is a gas that combines with air through evaporation. Human activities or anthropogenic sources also cause air pollution. These activities mostly involve burning of fuel. Stationary sources include factories and power plants. Mobile sources, on the other hand, are motor vehicles, aircraft, and water vessels. There are still other human-based causes of air pollution. Landfills, where wastes get decomposed, generate methane. Use of aerosol sprays and the likes also contribute to air pollution. Air pollution spreads easily as it travels into the atmosphere.

People get exposed to air pollution not just outdoors. Even in the comforts of our houses and workplaces, air pollution can also occur. This is known as indoor pollution. Our respiratory and cardiovascular systems get affected by air pollution. The health risk air pollution poses depend on the type of chemical our bodies were exposed to, and the degree of exposure. It can either be short-term or long-term. Examples of short-term effects are eye irritation, coughing, and sneezing. While long- term effects include heart disease, lung cancer, and damage to vital organs such as brain, liver, or kidneys.
Air pollution can also worsen a person’s medical condition. Humans are not the only victims of air pollution. Environment also suffers. You may have read about this over again as air pollution effects is a common topic in writing essay. Acid rain can be fatal to trees and plants once it penetrates the soil and raises its acidity. Acid rain also causes damage to properties. It corrodes materials made of stone like statues and monuments. Air pollution has long been a global problem. You can help increase awareness on how to protect air by writing essay . Take your part in lessening air pollution, and save lives.