IMPACTS OF AIR POLLUTION

Effects on Health 

When air pollution levels are excessive, it can be dangerous to humans' health. Smog, particulates, and other forms of air pollution pose a significant threat to human health. The health of those who are exposed to these dangers is at risk for: 

Short Term Exposure: 

A higher incidence of heart attacks 

Symptoms like coughing, allergies, infections, and eye discomfort

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Asthma-causing worsening of lung conditions Weakened defenses 

The disease can be fatal, as in the case of cancer. Long Term Exposure

Possible long-term harm to the respiratory or neurological systems 

Injury to the Fertility System, resulting in Congenital Defects 

Using filthy and polluted food sources has a knock-on effect on environmental systems. People who are at a higher risk may include children, elders, people with lung or heart diseases and specially those who have outdoor occupations. Clean Air Act Amendments identifies around 188 dangerous air contaminants that have the largest impact on human life. Due to the increasing proportions of Air pollution, a disease COPD, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is spreading in America which has caused a few Americans their life. As per the research, it comprises of prolonged bronchitis and emphysema. It becomes almost impossible for the patient to breathe. It has certainly become the third highest reason of death for Americans. 

 Effects on Environment 

Air quality is dependent on a number of variables including industry, motor vehicles, power plants and consumer products like paints, paper, etc. when these pollutants combine, they form the basic element leading to smog that is ground level ozone. While causing harm to the human life, air pollution has adversely effected the environment as well: 

  Eutrophication It is a state inside water that causes fish kills and damages plants due to an increased level of nitrogen that in turn produces algae. Eutrophication also effects animal life and has been a cause of lesser variety of animals. Though it is natural but human activities can also trigger the amount of nutrients entering the marine environments. Level of nitrogen entering the marine systems is caused due to release of nitrogen oxides from vehicles and power plants.

  Haze One of the most noticeable results of air pollution is haze. When microscopic contaminants are dispersed through the air during sunlight, this phenomenon occurs. Furthermore, it hides the subtleties of color and texture in everything we observe. Haze-causing pollutants are typically released into the air directly from factories, semis, power plants, building sites, and various vehicles. Haze pollution is caused in part by sulphur dioxide from a wide variety of particles. These particles are a major contributor to air pollution, which in turn contributes to the ozone layer depletion.

 

Acid rain By definition, acid rain is precipitation that contains a high concentration of nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides. These gases fall to Earth's surface as gases or microscopic particles, or as rain, fog, or even snow. The acidification of loams and aquatic creatures is one of the most devastating effects of acid rain on trees and wildlife, making it impossible for many species to thrive in water. In addition, acid rain can damage structures like these. It hastens the decay of historic structures and works of art that represent a country's cultural heritage. The destruction of aquatic life and natural flora is linked to acid rain's impact on rivers, lakes, and ponds, which in turn contributes to the loss of these ecosystems. When rain with a high acid content falls on soil, it alters the soil's chemical makeup. Since the soil provides food and water for a wide variety of organisms, its quality declines when its nutrient supply is tainted. 

 Ozone depletion The upper atmosphere, commonly known as the stratosphere, contains ozone, as does the surface of the Earth. Chemical and pollutants found in the air are slowly depleting the stratosphere, which protects life on the planet from extremely damaging UV rays. The ozone layer is being damaged by chemicals including chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs), and halons. Uses for these include refrigeration, frothing agent, fire extinguishers, diluents, pesticides, and vaporizer propellants. However, ozone at the Earth's surface is harmful to human health. Several new cancer types have been identified all around the world since the ozone layer began to deplete. The immune system is also negatively affected. Soybeans and other crops are particularly vulnerable to UV damage. 

 Global climate change The equilibrium between gases that absorb the necessary amount of heat emitted by the Sun maintains Earth's steady climate. The "greenhouse effect" is responsible for maintaining a consistent global temperature. Unfortunately, humanity has put in a lot of work to disrupt the natural temperature balance by emitting a variety of greenhouse gases like methane ( ch4. Consequentially, it appears that the Earth is absorbing an increasing amount of energy from the Sun, which is harmful to the Earth's normal temperature. Rising global temperatures have been detrimental to human and animal life for decades. Crop and forest damage Air pollution is bad for plants for the same reasons we discussed earlier. It appears that vegetation suffers damage from ground-level ozone, ultraviolet light, and acid rain. Because of them, yields of forest products, agricultural products, and even tree seedlings are reduced. It also makes plants more susceptible to damage from weather, herbicides, and other environmental hazards. 

 Deforestation Deforestation is removing vast swaths of forest from Earth. In a century, we may no longer be able to save the world's rain forests. Most tragically, deforestation has resulted in the loss of home to many animal and plant species. Deforestation has displaced numerous species that depend on forests for survival, including 80% of all wildlife. Soil in forests is often damp, but without the shade of trees, it dries up rapidly throughout the day. Many forested areas can now dry up quickly, and trees play an important role in reintroducing moisture to the air. The natural canopy of a forest is lost when trees are cut down, reducing the forest's ability to shield the sun during the day and retain nighttime warmth. Extreme weather caused by this instability is bad for plant and animal life.