Hi nobleresearcher,
Thank you for an interesting question.
Air Pollution Causes and Effects
http://healthandenergy.com/air_pollution_causes.htm
History
"Humans probably first experienced harm from air pollution when they
built fires in poorly ventilated caves. Since then we have gone on to
pollute more of the earth's surface. Until recently, environmental
pollution problems have been local and minor because of the Earth's
own ability to absorb and purify minor quantities of pollutants. The
industrialization of society, the introduction of motorized vehicles,
and the explosion of the population, are factors contributing toward
the growing air pollution problem. At this time it is urgent that we
find methods to clean up the air.
The primary air pollutants found in most urban areas are carbon
monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, hydrocarbons, and
particulate matter (both solid and liquid). These pollutants are
dispersed throughout the world's atmosphere in concentrations high
enough to gradually cause serious health problems. Serious health
problems can occur quickly when air pollutants are concentrated, such
as when massive injections of sulfur dioxide and suspended particulate
matter are emitted by a large volcanic eruption."
(Article is very long and informative in addition to links at bottom
of page for specifics.)
=========
Dr. Ken Rubin, Assistant Professor Department of Geology and
Geophysics - University of Hawaii, Honolulu HI
http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/GG/ASK/airpol.html
"... air pollution takes many different forms and arises from a
variety of sources. In terms of overall range and extents of impacts,
however, it is my opinion that burning of fossil fuels (coal,
gasoline, etc..) is the single largest source of air pollutants. These
fuels cause smog, acid rain, soot and particulates increases,
greenhouse gas emissions, and dispersal of some heavy metal
contaminants.
Fossil fuels are widely used for heating, transportaion, electricity
generation, manufacturing and other industries. Thus, they are used
pervasively in our society and their use is difficult (but not
impossible) to curtail... "
=========
How Do We Cause Air Pollution?
http://www.cleanerandgreener.org/schools/pollution.htm
We cause air pollution when we use electricity, other home fuels, and
transportation. We also cause air pollution indirectly, when we buy
goods and services that use energy in their production and delivery.
Most of this air pollution we cause results from the burning of fossil
fuels like coal, oil, natural gas, and gasoline.
Sources and Effects of Common Air Pollutants
See chart for:
Pollutant, Anthropogenic Sources, Health Effects, Environmental Effects
*****
Health Effects of the Pollution We Cause
"Exposure to emissions of lead, mercury, sulfur dioxide, particulate
matter, carbon dioxide, and ozone-forming nitrogen dioxides are
hazardous to public health. Toxic compounds, like mercury and lead,
poison organ systems and can lead to brain damage and death. Fish
consumption advisories have been imposed in parts of the country where
lakes and waterways have been contaminated with mercury from electric
power plants. Other pollutants, like ozone and particulate matter,
cause respiratory and other health problems, particularly in children
and the elderly."
"Economic Effects
- The health costs of human exposure to outdoor air pollutants range
from $40 to $50 billion.
- An estimated 50,000 to 120,000 premature deaths are associated with
exposure to air pollutants.
- People with asthma experience more than 100 million days of
restricted activity, costs for asthma exceed $4 billion, and about
4,000 people die of asthma."
=========
How can air pollution hurt my health?
http://www.lbl.gov/Education/ELSI/Frames/pollution-health-effects-f.html
=========
What Causes Indoor Air Problems?
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/ia-intro.html
"Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air
are the primary cause of indoor air quality problems in homes.
Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by not
bringing in enough outdoor air to dilute emissions from indoor sources
and by not carrying indoor air pollutants out of the home. High
temperature and humidity levels can also increase concentrations of
some pollutants."
Health effects from indoor air pollutants may be experienced soon
after exposure or, possibly, years later.
"Immediate effects may show up after a single exposure or repeated
exposures. These include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat,
headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Such immediate effects are usually
short-term and treatable. Sometimes the treatment is simply
eliminating the person's exposure to the source of the pollution, if
it can be identified. Symptoms of some diseases, including asthma,
hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and humidifier fever, may also show up
soon after exposure to some indoor air pollutants."
"Long-term effects
Other health effects may show up either years after exposure has
occurred or only after long or repeated periods of exposure. These
effects, which include some respiratory diseases, heart disease, and
cancer, can be severely debilitating or fatal."
=========
Air Pollution Impacts on Body Organs and Systems
http://www.nutramed.com/environment/airpollutionintro.htm
Read article and see links on left side of page.
=========
What Affects Air Pollution? Weather and air pollution
http://www.airwatch.gov.au/otherStuff/whatAffectsAirPollution.xml
Weather is a very important factor affecting how bad air pollution can get.
Read article about:
Winds
Temperature
Air pressure
Rainfall
Other factors affecting air pollution
The Beaufort Scale
=========
Best regards,
tlspiegel |
