Discuss the sources effects and control of air pollution ?
Answers
Air Pollution-It is an undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of air.
Sources of Air Pollution
The pollution of air can be caused by natural processes or by human activities.
•The sources of air pollution are classified into two groups:
1.Natural Sources
2.Man made sources
●Harmful Effects of Air Pollution
•Air pollution affects respiratory system causing breathing difficulties and diseases such as bronchitis, asthma, lung cancer, tuberculosis and pneumonia.
•It affects the central nervous system causing carbon monoxide poisoning. CO has more affinity for haemoglobin than oxygen and thus forms a stable compound carboxy haemoglobin(COHb), which is poisonous and causes suffocation and death.
•It causes depletion of ozone layer due to which ultraviolet radiations can reach the earth and cause skin cancer, damage to eyes and immune system.
•It causes acid rain which damages crop plants, trees, buildings, monuments, statues and metal structures and also makes the soil acidic.
•It causes greenhouse effect and global warming which leads to excessive heating of earth's atmosphere, further leading to weather variability and rise in sea level. The increased temperature may cause melting of ice caps and glaciers, resulting in floods.
•Air pollution from certain metals, pesticides and fungicides causes serious ailments.
•methods of controlling Air Pollution:
•Tall chimneys should be installed in factories.
•Better designed equipment and smokeless fuels should be used in homes and industries.
•Renewable and non-polluting sources of energy like solar energy, wind energy, etc should be used.
•Automobiles should be properly maintained and adhere to emission control standards.
•More trees should be planted along roadsides and houses.