Every year, 7 million people die from air pollution – according to World Health Organization. 9 out of 10 people breathe highly polluted air. India has the highest death rate from air pollution. Since the respiratory organs are not completely developed – children are more at risk than adults.

Whenever we think about air pollution – the first picture that comes to mind is heavy industrial smog flowing over the cities. But that’s not the only way of air pollution these days.

In this modern time, there are numerous causes of air pollution, such as exhaust from industrial plants & factories, vehicle exhaust fumes, fossil fuel-based power plants, construction & agricultural activities, household activities, and natural causes.

Today we will be discussing air pollution at a broader level. When harmful substances combine in the earth’s atmosphere is called air pollution. Let’s dive deeper.

For healthy respiration, humans and other living animals depend on the atmosphere. When several causes of pollution damage the air – the current living get hampered, and long-term consequences take place.

Air pollution causes skin diseases, allergies, lunch disease, crop damage, and even death.

Natural gases are also got damaged through pollution. Most importantly, the Ozone layer is essential to protect the sun from damaging UV rays – but it slowly aids in the depletion because of pollution. Global warming increases consistently because of the damage to the Ozone layer.

Now we know the causes, effects, and possible solutions to air pollution – and now it has become really important for us, as world citizens, to take action to prevent air pollution.

Air Pollution Causes Effects and Solutions

(Top-6) Causes Behind Air Pollution

There are numerous causes of air pollution. Thus, we have short-listed the most common yet dangerous air pollution causes.

Before we start our discussion – let’s generalize the different variations of air pollution, which are visible and invisible air pollution.

Industrial smog is the best example of visible pollution. Though invisible pollutants are not quite noticeable, they can be more harmful to human beings and nature. There are a lot of invisible pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide.

Let’s dive into some specific causes of air pollution.

1. The exhaust of Industrial plants & factories

Big factories and industrial plants use heavy machines for their work – and these heavy machines also release pollutants into the atmosphere.

As you can see, industrial pants are everywhere worldwide – so air pollution is significantly spreading globally.

2. Exhaust from vehicle fumes

Vehicle exhaust fumes produce a high amount of carbon monoxide – the top reason for air pollution in the United States.

So, it’s obvious that the most powerful reason for air pollution in cities is vehicle exhaust fumes. As millions of vehicles in cities run daily, everyone has a carbon footprint on the atmosphere.

Hybrid and fully electric vehicles are doing great in the automobile marketplace. Nowadays, people tend to use fewer fossil fuels to power their vehicles – which will directly help the atmosphere to improve significantly.

3. Power plants based on fossil fuel

When fossil fuels are burned to produce energy in power plants – they release a wider scale of harmful chemicals like sulfur dioxide.

These chemicals are produced during burning and mixed straight with the atmosphere. These kinds of pollutants combine with the water and cause acid rain.

That’s why people use a wide range of alternative energy sources like wind, solar and nuclear. These energy sources produce equivalent amounts of energy – and release much fewer pollutants in the air.

4. Construction and agricultural activities

Through construction activities, dirt and dust are mixed up in the air daily.

And our agricultural activities are also responsible for air pollution. Farmers use ammonia which is a byproduct – that causes dangerous harm to the atmosphere. It releases harmful gases into the environment.

Also, pesticides and fertilizers produce dangerous chemicals and throw them into the atmosphere. And the sad news is that they are being used at higher rates daily.

5. Household activities

If we forget about the outdoor pollution – what about the indoor pollution produced inside our homes?

Smoking cigarettes in your home produces toxic pollutants that will be mixed in the air and cause air pollution.

And the most common way of indoor air pollution is using chemicals, like bleach, without proper ventilation.

Though it’s not a very big deal when compared to industrial smoke, we should not underestimate the everyday activities that also impact the environment and our health.

6. Natural causes

When you think about pollution – you always blame people for that. Hey, man is not the only one who produces pollutants, but the earth is one of the biggest polluters.

Numerous natural scenarios increase pollutants in the air, such as forest fires, volcanoes, dust storms, tornadoes, and other geologic processes.

[Top-3] Effects of Air Pollution

We have already discussed the causes of air pollution. Man-made activities and nature can pollute it. Ower, let’s now discuss the effects of air pollution.

Air pollution can make a lot of harmful changes in human lives.

First, let’s discuss the value of the air quality index (AQI) to describe air quality for humans and other living creatures.

(AQI) Values	Levels of Health Concern	Colours
When the AQI is in this range:	Air quality conditions are:	As symbolized by this colour:
0-50	Good	Green
51-100	Moderate	Yellow
101-150	Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups	Orange
151 to 200	Unhealthy	Red
201 to 300	Very Unhealthy	Purple
301 to 500	Hazardous	Maroon

When the air quality index is 0-50, the air quality is good. Then goes up to 51-100, and the air quality is moderate.

But when it is above 101-150 – the air quality condition is unhealthy for sensitive groups. Then 151-200 – people with allergies may experience some adverse health effects.

AQI 201-251 is “Very Unhealthy.” At this stage, all people may significantly experience very serious effects. And AQI eater than 300 is really “Hazardous.” It triggers emergency health conditions for the entire population.

Moreover, other living creatures are in danger when human’s lives are at risk. s a result, the earth and its atmosphere are also affected.

So, let’s take a close look at the effects of air pollution.

1. Acid rain

Fossil fuel burning creates and releases nitrogen oxides & sulfur oxides into the sky – thus, it creates a phenomenon known as acid rain.

The water in the sky gets mixed with these harmful gases and naturally becomes acidic. as a result, when there is rainfall – it becomes acidic for humans and other living creatures. Besides humans and animals, acid rain also causes harm to crops.

2. Significant in ease of Global Warming

Green energy is all related to global warming. e have already discussed the Ozone layer – that role is to protect our planet. because of the pollution in the atmosphere – the Ozone layer is heavily hampered and depleting significantly. As a result, global warming occurs.

Moreover, if you see the warming rate compared with the last few decades – you will notice that the warming rate is increasing very high speed. Even every year, global warming is rising noticeably, and our natural flow of life is being hampered.

The earth experience more and more temperature – and as a result, the polar ice caps and icebergs are melting yearly. Or that the sea levels are increasing and the human race is concerned about better living.

3. Wildlife In danger

sides humans, animals are also affected by the same diseases. Air pollution is responsible for most health issues conditions.

People living in heavily polluted areas requires new homes for better living. And that can lead the ecosystem in danger.

Marine lives are also in danger because of the toxic chemicals released in the water – which also cause acid rain, as we discussed in our first bullet point.

[Top-4] Solutions for the air pollution

We have discussed the bad things about air pollution and the effects it can cause on human lives and wildlife as well. Now let’s see how we can fix these issues and make our environment healthy for living.

1. Reduce the automobile that requires fossil fuel

The problems we have talked about above clearly tell that – if vehicles that use fossil fuel should be reduced to achieve a healthy environment.

In search of a great solution for this problem – we can shift to electric vehicles that require no fossil fuel. Can also use hybrid vehicles – and both these solutions will help our environment improve in the next few decades.

2. Energy precisely (avoid wasting energy at any cost)

If you use any electric devices, turn them off whenever you leave the room. These include lights, fans, tv, and other electronic appliances.

As we already know, fossil fuel is one of the biggest enemies of air pollution. And plants require a huge amount of fossil fuel for their job. o, if we can decrease you of energy – we will need to use fossil fuel-less. And as a result, our environment t will get hampered less.

You can go for energy-saving devices when it’s possible. Though it will cost you a few cks in the long run, the energy will be significantly saved.

3. Clean energy

In this mode, clean energy is efficient and requires less money, such as geothermal, solar, and wind. It will be polluted at a very high rate using these energy sources.

You will be surprised to know that traditional fossil fuel pants are more dangerous than nuclear when it comes to air pollution. Unclear leaps and bounds better.

Practicing clean energy will help our environment keep healthy for the current and future generations. Try to teach and promote the benefits of using clean energy – so that people can be aware of it and learn how to use it.

4. Recycle

Yup, recycling can be a very powerful method to reduce air pollution and keep the air quality developed daily. f you see the matter of air pollution and all kinds of pollution as well – recycling can be truly helpful in saving our planet.

However, do not through the materials and contains that can be used the next time. r, you can also keep it clean and sa – it so that someone else can use it.

More info: Air Pollution

Final Words

Now you know the most common air pollution causes effects and solutions.

As we, the earth’s inhabitants, let’s take action to improve our environment instead of continuing to be a part of the problem.

Air pollution has now become a widespread epidemic – and it has become necessary for us to take air pollution seriously. e should promise ourselves not to do anything that increases pollutants in the air – and take useful actions to solve this problem.

Though it will take time, If we become aware of air pollution today – this problem will be solved surely shortly.

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