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Air Pollution

Air pollution is mostly a by-product of human activity,

and is now an issue of great international concern.

As the human population grows and the quantity of energy and materials used by each person
increases, it is becoming apparent that the resource whose sufficiency is most in doubt is neither
space, nor energy, nor metallic ores, but rather the capacity of natural processes to maintain a
hospitable environment. (1)

CONTENTS

Introduction
Causes
Fundamental Causes
Industries
Atmospheric Pollutants
Sulfur Dioxide
Nitrogen Oxides
Carbon Monoxide
Ammonia
Ozone
Other Atmospheric Pollutants
Effects
Effects on Humans
Sulfur Dioxide
Nitrogen Dioxide
Atmospheric Emissions Carbon Monoxide
Photo: Owen Byrne Ozone
Ammonia
Volatile Organic Compounds
Airborne Particles
Effects on Animals
Effects on Trees
Economic Losses
Global Warming & Pollution
 So what is air pollution?

Air pollution is a release into the atmosphere of any substances, ex. chemicals or airborne

particles, which are harmful both to the human and animal health as well as the health of

the wider environment.

Atmospheric pollution occurs because the release of air pollutants takes place at a rate

much faster than they can be accommodated by the environment and removed from the

atmosphere without causing serious harm.

Pollution had been known to exist for centuries, but it became an issue of serious concern

only in the last 200 years or so, mostly due to the industrial revolution.

Atmospheric pollution originates from all the parts of the world and travels around

knowing no borders.

This transboundary nature of air pollution makes it ever

more dangerous and difficult to control.

The Artic Haze is perhaps one of the best examples of that.

We are talking about a visible reddish brown haze which

appears above the Arctic during winter months. The Artic

Haze is caused by air pollution from coal-burning which

arrives mainly from Asia. (2)

Another interesting example is lead found in Greenland

which traveled there from different parts of the planet. (3)

Air Pollution Causes

There are natural and anthropogenic (human-made) causes of air pollution.

 Fossil Fuels: Coal
Photo: Marcus Vegas

Natural causes of pollution may include forest fires and volcano eruptions as well as

vegetation, oceans and decay processes in soil.

It is however the anthropogenic causes that we are mostly interested in, as they no doubt

play the most important role in polluting the Earth’s atmosphere.

Fossil fuels (oil, gas & coal) are the largest anthropogenic sources of air pollution – they

are widely used in industry and everyday life.

But they are not the only ones.

For example, industrial processes involving some chemical reactions may also release

significant amounts of pollution into the air.

We discuss anthropogenic air pollution causes in more detail below.

Fundamental Causes of Air Pollution

During the last couple of centuries we witnessed an emergence of several fundamental

trends that became the major forces behind the dramatic levels of air pollution worldwide.

Beijing Traffic
Photo: Aapo Haapanen
 Industrialization set in motion the widespread use of fossil fuels which are

now the main drivers of pollution as we know it.

Population growth causes the demand for food and other goods to go up,

which is met by expanded production and use of natural resources. This

then leads to higher levels of atmospheric pollution.

Globalization has in a way become a facilitator of air pollution. Big

industry takes advantage of lax environmental controls in developing

nations and moves its manufacturing facilities to such “pollution havens”

from where air pollution travels around the world without any obstacles.

So industrialization, population growth and globalization become the fundamental drivers

of pollution, the very roots of the gigantic pollution tree.

Industries as Sources of Air Pollution

Some of the major air polluting industries are:

• Biofuel Combustion

• Manufacturing Industry & Refineries

• Power Generation

• Residential & Commercial Sector

• Road, Rail & Air Transport

See the breakdown of other polluting sectors here.

Air Pollutants

There are many dangerous air pollutants emitted by virtually every industry.

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is corrosive to organic materials and it irritates the

eyes, nose and lungs; therefore it is quite a dangerous air pollutant.

Sulfur is contained within all fossil fuels, and is released in the form of

sulfur dioxide during fossil fuel combustion.

The main sectors producing sulfur dioxide are:

Power Generation

Power generation is the largest industry for global SO2

emissions, which is mainly due to this industry’s use of vast

amounts of fossil fuels, especially coal.

Industry

Just like power generation, manufacturing industry generates

its own SO2 emissions through its use of fossil fuels.

Non-ferrous metals

Production of non-ferrous metals (ex. aluminium, copper,

lead) generates SO2 emissions both through the use of fossil

fuels and specificity of the industrial process involved. Learn

more about it here.

Other Industries

Refineries and residential & commercial sector are another

significant sources of sulfur dioxide emissions.

 See the breakdown of global SO2 emissions for all sectors here.

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)

There are two main nitrogen oxides together referred to as NOx: nitric

oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

While fossil fuel combustion produces both NO2 and NO, almost 90% of

the total NOx combustion product is released in the form of NO which is

then converted to NO2 in the air. (4, 5)

Deforestation:
Amazon Rainforest on Fire
Photo: Leonardo F. Freitas

The main sectors producing nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are:

• Road Transport

• Power Generation

• Deforestation & Savannah Fires

• Industry (excl. refineries)

• Shipping

See the breakdown of global NOx emissions for all sectorshere.

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Carbon monoxide, a highly toxic gas, is a by-product of incomplete fossil

fuel combustion.
 The top sectors producing carbon monoxide are:

• Deforestation & Other Wildfires

• Biofuel Combustion

• Road Transport

• Residential & Commercial Sector

• Agriculture Waste Burning

See the breakdown of global CO emissions for all sectors here.

Ammonia (NH3)

Ammonia is a pungent, hazardous caustic gas.

Agriculture, specifically livestock farming & animals waste, is the main

source of ammonia emissions.

Ozone (O3)

Ozone (O3) is a poisonous gas which can be found in:

Smog, Mexico City

Photo: Alfredo Cottin
 • the stratosphere (upper layer of the atmosphere) where it occurs naturally and

protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet sunlight, and

• the troposphere (lowest layer of the atmosphere) where it occurs both

naturally and as a product of anthropogenic emissions.

Human-induced tropospheric ozone is a secondary pollutantproduced by

the reaction of primary pollutants – nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons – In

the presence of sunlight.

It is one of the main components of the photochemical smogwhich is

damaging to human and animal health.

Other Air Pollutants

Other air pollutants include volatile organic compounds (VOCs), persistent

organic pollutants (POPs) andairborne particles.

VOCs are organic compounds which easily evaporate and enter the

atmosphere. They may affect human and animal health directly, or

indirectly as contributors to the formation of tropospheric ozone.

POPs are compounds which are resistant to degradation and persistent in

the environment. They may affect human and animal health through diet,

environmental exposure or accidents.

Airborne particles are very small fragments of solid or liquid nature

suspended in the air. Human and animal health may be affected by particles

through inhalation.

We discuss air pollution causes in more detail here.

Air Pollution Effects

Of course, atmospheric pollution would not be such a big problem if it weren’t for its

harmful effects on humans, animals, trees and the wider environment.

We can distinguish between short-term acute effects and long-term chronic effects of air

pollution.

Air pollutants enter the body primarily through the respiratory system which thus becomes

their main victim.

Each air pollutant exerts their own specific adverse impacts, ranging from mild to really

damaging.

We discuss this below.

Air Pollution Effects on Humans

Sulfur Dioxide Effects

Asthma Sufferer, Cambodia

Photo: Masaru Goto / World Bank

Some effects of sulfur dioxide on human health include (6, 7, 8):

Irritation of eyes, nose, throat; damage to lungs when inhaled

• Acute and chronic asthma

• Bronchitis and emphysema (as a result of synergy between SO2 and airborne

particles)

• Lung cancer
Sulfur dioxide may often act in synergy with other pollutants (ex., airborne

particles) to produce certain air pollution effects.

Nitrogen Dioxide Effects

Depending on its different concentrations in the air, effects of nitrogen

dioxide on human health include (9, 10):

• Increased incidence of respiratory illness

• Increased airway resistance (due to inflammation)

• Damage to lung tissue

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD (narrowing of the airways)

• Emphysema (as part of COPD)

• Pulmonary edema (accumulation of excessive fluid in the lungs)

• Infant and cardiovascular death

Exposure to high concentrations of nitrogen dioxide can make living

organisms more susceptible to bacterial infections and lung cancer. (11)

Nitrogen dioxide affects people with existing medical conditions more

severely than healthy people. Children are affected easier than adults.

It is also a major component of the photochemical smog which brings its

own negative effects on.

 Carbon Monoxide Effects

Exposure to carbon monoxide may lead to (12, 13, 14):

Extreme Pollution, Delhi

Photo: Dave Morris

• Toxicity of the central nervous system and heart

• Headaches, dizziness, nausea and unconsciousness

• Loss of vision

• Decreased muscular coordination

• Abdominal pain

• Severe effects on the baby of a pregnant woman

• Impaired performance on simple psychological tests and arithmetic; loss of

judgment of time

• In cases of prolonged exposure to high CO concentrations, unconsciousness,

convulsions and death would occur

Carbon monoxide is the most common type of fatal poisoning in many

countries around the world. (15)

Again, effects of carbon monoxide are exacerbated in people with pre-

existing conditions.

Ozone Effects
Exposure to the tropospheric ozone may cause (16, 17, 18):

• Burning nose and watering eyes

• Tightening of the chest

• Coughing, wheezing and throat irritation

• Rapid, shallow, painful breathing

• Susceptibility to respiratory infections

• Inflammation and damage to the lining of the lungs

• Aggravation of asthma

• Fatigue

• Cancer

Children are more susceptible to the negative effects of ozone than adults.

Ammonia Effects

Effects of ammonia inhalation are (19, 20, 21):

On the respiratory system :

• Nose & throat irritation and burns (their severity increasing with the increased

ammonia concentrations)

• Swelling of the throat and airways; airways destruction

• Pulmonary edema

• Chronic lung disease

• Cough

• Asthma

• Lung fibrosis

• Inhaling large amounts of ammonia can be fatal

 On the skin & eyes :

• Skin burns

• Skin conditions, ex. dermatitis

• Burning sensation in the eyes

• Ulceration & perforation of the cornea (can occur months after exposure);

blindness

• Cataracts & glaucoma

Effects of Volatile Organic Compounds

Effects of VOCs on human health may include (22, 23, 24, 25, 26):

Vertigo
Photo: Nima Sa

• Tiredness, vertigo, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, confusion, unconsciousness

• Anemia

• Bone marrow damage

• Liver damage

• Dysfunction of the central nervous system:

○ Behavioral problems

○ Memory loss

○ Disturbance of the circadian rhythm

• Cardiovascular diseases
 • Cancer; specifically leukemia

• Abnormal changes in fetus development, birth defects

• VOCs also contribute to sick building syndrome indoors

• As facilitators in ozone formation, VOCs may indirectly contribute to respiratory

problems

Effects of Airborne Particles

Short-term acute effects of exposure to airborne particles may include (27):

Construction Dust
Photo: NIOSH

• Stuffy noses, sinusitis

• Sore throats

• Wet cough, dry cough, phlegm

• Head colds

• Burning eyes

• Wheezing; shortness of breath

• Chest discomfort or pain

Children are of course more susceptible to particulate pollution.

Specific children’s disorders caused by airborne particles may include (28,

29, 30):

• Infant death
• Low birth weight

• Reduced lung function

General effects of exposure to airborne particles are (31):

• Increased respiratory symptoms (ex. irritation of the airways, coughing, difficulty

breathing)

• Decreased lung function

• Aggravated asthma

• Chronic bronchitis

• Irregular heartbeat

• Nonfatal heart attacks

• Premature death in people with heart or lung disease

Air pollution effects on humans cannot and should not be

underestimated.

Indoor air pollution, in particular, is now of serious concern

and has been ranked among top fiveenvironmental risks to

human health by the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Apart from taking general steps to deal with indoor

pollution, such as direct removal of pollution sources and

ventilation, home air cleaners & home air purifiers are also

used to keep indoor environments clean and healthy.

IQAir air purifiers and Blueair air purifiers are among the

industry leaders and are highly recommended for everyday

home use.
 Air Pollution Effects on Animals

• Acid rain (as a by-product of atmospheric pollution) may acidify lakes and streams and

kill fish and aquatic plants

• Pollution may affect animals through plants on which they feed.

For example, if a certain plant is negatively affected by air pollutants, this

will also affect the animals that depend on this particular plant for food.

• Tropospheric ozone may damage animal lung tissue.

Air Pollution Effects on Trees & Plants

• Physical effects on trees & plants through exposure to specific air pollutants are (32):

Trees Damaged by Acid Rain

Photo: Lindley Ashline

○ Ozone produces a speckle of brown spots, which appear on the flat areas of leaf

between the veins

○ Sulfur dioxide: larger bleached-looking areas

○ Nitrogen dioxide: irregular brown or white collapsed lesions on intercostal tissue

and near the leaf edge

○ Ammonia: unnatural green appearance with tissue drying out

• Sulfur dioxide has been historically known to produce destructive effects on vegetation

and forests.

Here is how sulfur dioxide may affect trees & plants (33):
 ○ Cell metabolism disruption (membrane damage, respiration and photosynthetic

effects)

○ Leaf injury and loss

○ Reduced growth and reproduction

○ Increase in susceptibility of plants to attacks by insect herbivores

Nitrogen dioxide may also act in synergy with sulfur dioxide to produce a

negative effect on plants’ photosynthesis. (34)

• Tropospheric ozone can have a negative impact on plants’ photosynthesis rates which

will stunt their growth; it can also decay plant cells directly by entering stomata. (35)

• Particulate air pollution effects on plants & trees may include (36):

○ Blocked stomata

○ Increased leaf temperature

○ Reduced photosynthesis

○ Reduced fruit set, leaf growth, pollen growth

○ Reduced tree growth

○ Leaf necrosis and chlorosis, bark peeling

• Acid rain (as a product of sulfur and nitrogen pollution) can kill trees, destroy the leaves

of plants, can infiltrate soil by making it unsuitable for purposes of nutrition and

habitation. (37)

It is also associated with the reduction in forest and agricultural yields. (38)

Air Pollution Effects – Economic Losses

In addition to health-related problems, atmospheric pollution brings with it economic

losses as well.

Some of these economic effects are (39):

 • Direct medical losses

• Lost income from being absent from work

• Decreased productivity

• Travel time losses due to reduced visibility

• Losses from repair of damage to buildings

• Increased costs of cleaning

• Losses due to damage to crops & plants

We discuss air pollution effects in more detail here.

Global Warming and Air Pollution

Global warming is a major international problem caused mostly by human actions.

In a way, global warming is part of air pollution.

Hot Earth
Photo: Thiago Kunz

Global warming is a result of greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon

dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.

Greenhouse gases are air pollutants as well, just like other gases that we’ve discussed in

this article.

Because global warming has become a huge issue in its own right, greenhouse gases as air

pollutants are usually discussed separately from air pollution.

 It is interesting to note that some air pollutants are actually precursors to greenhouse gases.

For example, carbon monoxide (CO) is a precursor to the most powerful greenhouse gas

carbon dioxide (CO2).

Both global warming and air pollution are very serious issues that can only be tackled

collectively by all the nations working together for one common purpose.

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Last Update: November 2008

References for this article

Related Articles

◊ Air Pollution

◊ Air Pollution Causes

◊ Air Pollution Effects

◊ Air Pollution Data

◊ Air Pollutants (Types)

◊ Air Pollutants (Summary)

◊ Environmental Pollution

◊ Pollution Effects

◊ Pollution Pictures

◊ What is Global Warming

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