Air pollution is an accelerating global crisis affecting millions of lives and ecosystems. Air pollution is contamination of the atmosphere with harmful substances like gases and chemicals. In some places it's thick as fog.
Sources of pollutants include vehicle emissions, industrial discharges, fossil fuel combustion, and natural occurrences like wildfires and volcanic eruptions. Human activities are the primary cause of contamination.
Air pollution happens when harmful substances exist in the atmosphere. These include gases, chemicals, tiny particles, and biological material like ash. Pollutants can be divided into two categories: primary and secondary.
Primary pollutants are emitted directly from a source. An example is nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by vehicles. Pollutants arise form mass manufacturing, older cars and large vehicles.
Secondary pollutants form through chemical reactions in the atmosphere. For example ground-level ozone is caused by interaction of sunlight and pollutants like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides.
Hotspots of Pollution: Regions Most Affected
Although air pollution is a widespread issue, some areas experience more severe air quality challenges. Major urban centers often have the greatest problems due to high traffic and industrial activity.
South Asia: Cities in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh consistently rank among the most polluted in the world, driven by industrial activity, vehicle emissions, agriculture and biomass burning.
Dharka, Bangladesh rates as the world's most polluted city including waste, water and air pollution. Delhi is the top city in India affected by air pollution.
East Asia: China has reduced air pollution in recent years. Many cities still have high levels, especially in winter. Beijing and Shanghai are known for hazardous air quality, largely due to heavy industry and reliance on coal.
Indoor and outdoor air pollution in North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) is responsible for 255.4 deaths per 100,000 people in 2019. According to WHO 2022 it's the highest rate worldwide.
United States: Los Angeles and New York especially have air pollution hazards, largely from traffic congestion and industrialization.
Africa: Rapid urbanization and industrialization, coupled with limited environmental regulations, increase air pollution levels in many African cities. Most polluted are Cairo, Egypt; Accra, Ghana; and Lagos, Nigeria.
Eastern Europe: Reliance on coal for energy generation and aging industrial infrastructure contribute to air pollution problems in Eastern European countries like Kraków, Poland and Vidin, Bulgaria.
Middle East: Rapid urbanization and industrial growth in countries like Iran have contributed to serious air quality problems.
Measuring Air Pollution
Particulate Matter (PM): PM is classified by size, with PM2.5 (smaller than 2.5 micrometers) and PM10 (smaller than 10 micrometers) of greatest concern. These can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream.
Measurement devices like beta attenuation monitors and tapered element oscillating microbalances (TEOMs) are used to determine PM concentrations.
Gaseous Pollutants: Common gaseous pollutants include ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO). These are measured by instruments like gas analyzers using absorption spectroscopy, chemiluminescence and electrochemical sensors.
Air Quality Index (AQI): The AQI is a single number used to communicate overall air quality to the public. It's based on concentrations of multiple pollutants and assigned a color code.
It goes from green or good to maroon or hazardous. Numerically the AQI ranges from 0 to 500, where higher values indicate worse air quality.
Causes of Air Pollution
Burning of Fossil Fuels: Power generation, transportation, and industrial processes reliant on coal, oil, and natural gas are major sources of pollutants like particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides.
The combustion of coal and oil in power plants and heating systems produces not only carbon dioxide but also sulfur dioxide and particulates.
Industrial Emissions: Factories and manufacturing facilities release a wide range of pollutants, including heavy metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulate matter. Factories release a range of pollutants into the atmosphere. For example, a coal-fired power plant can emit millions of tons of sulfur dioxide annually.
Agriculture: Mass livestock farming contributes to methane emissions, while the use of fertilizers releases ammonia into the atmosphere. Ammonia is an ingestible form of nitrogen for plants. Burning agricultural waste is also a major source of air pollution in some regions.
Transportation: Vehicles, especially older models and those using diesel fuel, emit significant amounts of particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide. In urban areas, cars and trucks generate significant amounts of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.
Residential Heating and Cooking: In many parts of the world, burning wood or other solid fuels for heating and cooking is a significant source of indoor and outdoor air pollution.
Natural Sources: Volcanoes, wildfires, and dust storms can contribute to air pollution, releasing vast amounts of smoke and particulates.
Health Effects of Air Pollution
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates air pollution causes 7 million premature deaths globally each year.
Respiratory Diseases: Air pollution can trigger and exacerbate respiratory conditions like asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Cardiovascular Diseases: Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) increases risk of heart disease.Exposure to air pollution increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular problems.
Cancer: Long-term exposure to certain air pollutants, such as particulate matter and benzene, has been linked to an increased risk of lung cancer and other cancers.
Developmental Issues: Air pollution exposure during pregnancy can inhibit fetal development, causing low birth weight and other health problems.
Neurological Effects: Air pollution may contribute to cognitive decline and increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease.
Air pollution causes ecosystem degradation, poisoning and environmental changes. Acid rain, formed from sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, is a known danger in soil and water, affecting aquatic life and plant growth.
Air Pollution & Economy
Healthcare Costs: Treating illnesses caused or exacerbated by air pollution places a heavy burden on healthcare systems.
Lost Productivity: Illnesses and premature deaths due to air pollution result in lost workdays and reduced productivity.
Agricultural Losses: Air pollution can damage crops, reducing yields and impacting food security.
Tourism: Air pollution can deter tourists from visiting polluted areas, impacting the tourism industry.
Damage to Infrastructure: Air pollution can corrode buildings and infrastructure, needing costly repairs.
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