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Read on to learn about the major causes and effects of air pollution. 1. Burning Fossil Fuels. The biggest contributors of air pollution are from industry sources and power plants to generate power, as well as fossil fuel motor vehicles.
Learn about what causes air pollution and how to help reduce the effects. How smog, soot, greenhouse gases, and other top air pollutants are affecting the planet—and your health.
Air pollution, release into the atmosphere of various gases, finely divided solids, or finely dispersed liquid aerosols at rates that exceed the natural capacity of the environment to dissipate and dilute or absorb them. High concentrations can cause undesirable health, economic, or aesthetic effects.
The largest cause of air pollution is fossil fuel combustion [171] – mostly the production and use of cars, electricity production, and heating. [172] There are estimated 4.5 million annual premature deaths worldwide due to pollutants released by high-emission power stations and vehicle exhausts. [173]
Air pollution is caused by solid or liquid particles and certain gases suspended in the air. These particles and gases can come from car and truck exhaust, factories, dust, pollen, mold spores, volcanoes and wildfires.
Pollutants of major public health concern include particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. Outdoor and indoor air pollution cause respiratory and other diseases and are important sources of morbidity and mortality.
There are five primary pollutants that contribute about 90 per cent of the global air pollution. These are carbon oxides (CO and CO2), nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, volatile organic compounds (mostly hydrocarbons), and suspended particulate matter. A secondary pollutant is formed by reacting one primary pollutant with another in the atmosphere.