Pollution of Air

With the growing threats of pollution, the entire world is in peril. Biodiversity is becoming endangered, natural calamities have increased in numbers, geographical structures are changing, pressure and wind belts are shifting, etc. Pollution of air is an evident and severe concern affecting our lives. Air pollution leads to the degradation of air quality which is very harmful. The leading causes of Air pollution include smoke and emission from automobiles and industries and burning of stubble and other forms of vegetation. The change in colour of the Taj Mahal from white to yellow happened because of acid rain, resulting from air pollution.

Air pollution

Pollution of air is a phenomenon where the air quality demeans and becomes unsuitable for breathing. Air pollution occurs when the air is filled with harmful particles damaging to both living and non-living species. It is mainly caused by the addition of different impurities and contaminants like:

• Dust, smoke, sulphur, nitrogen, and carbon particles from volcanoes and forest fires
• Factories, industries, vehicle emissions, burning, and others

Smog

Smog is a thick haze layer in the environment, particularly during the cold season, composed of smoke and fog. Smog is formed when nitrogen oxides in smoke merge with the other airborne pollutants and fog to form smog. In kids, smog initiates respiration problems such as coughing and struggling to breathe.

Causes of air pollution

• Vehicle emission is one of the leading causes of air pollution since the gases contain soot, suspended particulate matter (SPM), carbon dioxide(CO2), and carbon monoxide(CO)
• The burning of fuels in the absence of oxygen produces carbon oxide-the most harmful air pollutant
• Smog also causes air pollution in winter when smoke from industries and factories mixes with the fog
• The oil refineries release sulphur and nitrogen gases into the air, thereby contaminating it
• Deforestation is also another major cause of air pollution, as the plants cannot absorb carbon dioxide from the air
• The release of CFCs and HCFCs from air conditioners and refrigerators leads to ozone depletion

Case study-The Taj Mahal

• The once white marbles of the Taj Mahal are now yellowish due to acid rain-one of the main consequences of air pollution
• When released into the air, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide combine with water vapour and form sulphuric and nitric acids, respectivel 
• When the clouds cause rain, these acids get dissolved in the rainwater. This rain is known as acid rain
• As soon as the acidic water comes in contact with Taj Mahal’s marble, it causes chemical reactions, changing the colour from white to yellow. 

Greenhouse effect

One of the most concerning consequences of pollution of air is global warming. The increase in carbon dioxide in the air traps the solar heat within the Earth. It does not allow the heat to escape the stratosphere. As a result, the overall global temperature increases. This effect is called the greenhouse effect, since CO2 is a significant greenhouse gas. 

Global warming: a severe threat

• The greenhouse effect is increasing the global temperature. As a result, ice caps in the polar regions are melting gradually, causing an increase in the sea level
• This is called global warming, which is a severe threat and can become a cause of mass extinction
• Asia is the primary area where this is having dire effects
• The Gangotri glaciers in the Himalayan region are melting, further increasing the water volumes in all the rivers

Measures to combat air pollution

• One of the primary ways of controlling air pollution is by switching to CNG and organic or biofuels to cut harmful gas emissions
• Using filters and air purifiers in factories are essential before discharging the emissions into the atmosphere
• Using public transport or fuel-less transport is another way of reducing air pollution.
• To reduce carbon dioxide level, reforestation is essential
• The dry leaves and twigs should be used to compost and prepare manures to prevent forest fires.

Conclusion

Air pollution is the air contamination with pollutants that can harm both living and non-living beings. Contaminants are particles that pollute the air that we breathe. The primary air pollutants include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, methane, and sulphur dioxide. Global warming is caused by rising amounts of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. Once solar radiation enters the Earth, some of it is absorbed, and the rest is returned to the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases in the environment trap such radiations and prevent heat from escaping. This enables our planet to stay warm and, as a result, assists human survival. However, an uncontrolled rise in greenhouse gas levels can result in an excessive upsurge in the Earth’s temperature, resulting in global warming.