What are the air pollutants

Air pollution is the type of pollution that is caused by particles and gases that are suspended in the air and that can affect the health of people, the flora and fauna of the planet. The sources of pollution are many, both natural and above all caused by human action, so that all this pollution accumulates in the Earth’s atmosphere and can modify it. As a consequence of this we find climate change and negative meteorological phenomena.

The consequences become dire, damaging the global health of the planet, that is, affecting flora and fauna and, of course, our own health. In fact, according to the World Health Organization, out of every 9 deaths on planet 1 is directly related to air pollution .

It is one of the biggest problems, not only environmental, but also public health. And although a lot of work has been done in recent years banning chemicals like CHCs and boosting the electric car market, the reality is that there is still a long way to go.

Here are some of the main causes of air pollution :

Fossil fuels

As you can imagine, the use of fossil fuels is one of the main causes of air pollution . An example of this type of pollution is gas emissions from cars, airplanes or other means of transport that use fuel. However, not only do cars pollute or use fossil fuels, it is also widely used in industry.

Industrial chimneys

Although it used to be the main type of pollution, in recent decades pollution from industrial smokestacks has been significantly reduced. The reason is that the use of fossil fuels, such as coal or oil, has been changed to electricity. However, it is still a problem to be dealt with, especially if we take into account that a large part of this pollution has to do with poor control of the gases that are released.

Chemical industry

In the industry a great variety of chemical processes are carried out , which end up having an impact on the environment in different ways. The fact that many of these plants are old and do not have adequate prevention systems means that many gases and chemical elements are emitted into the atmosphere every day.

Burning trash

Today we generate huge amounts of garbage that we are unable to absorb. The consequence is that in most countries there are large deposits of garbage that are increasing in size and, with it, gases and associated ecological problems are increasing. In many of these landfills, burning garbage is the only way to control its size. The consequence is a great pollution in the air, especially if we take into account that in some garbage dumps the flames work 24 hours a day.

As we have already explained, pollutants are all those substances that, due to their nature or concentration levels in the air, are capable of altering or damaging the health of people, plants or animals. But not all pollutants are the same, depending on their origin, we could the types of air pollutants in:

Suspended particles

When we speak of particles we refer to the matter of microscopic size that is suspended in the air. One way to see them, for example, is on the blackened facades of city buildings, which turn this color as a result of these particles.

Studies ^[2] that have been carried out in Europe have shown that particles are considered the most harmful pollutant for human health . But where do the particles come from? The reality is that they are not all the same or have the same origin. In a generic way, they can be separated between coarse particles and fine particles. PM 10, that is, with a diameter of less than 10 microns, basically comes as a result of mechanical processes that occur in human activities such as construction. On the other hand, PM 2.5, that is, with a diameter less than 2.5 microns, which are the result of the combustion of fuel or wood.

It is precisely these smaller particles that are most harmful to health, since they have the ability to penetrate the respiratory tract or even the blood. Among the health problems that it can lead to are respiratory problems such as allergies, asthma or COPD, even cancer or cardiovascular problems.

Nitrogen dioxide

Although nitrogen dioxide is actually part of the suspended particles that we have just explained, we find it necessary to mention it separately because of the role they play in air pollution. NO2, carbon dioxide, is formed in the combustion of engines , with diesel being the ones that produce the greatest amount of NO2.

As we have explained, it is emitted mainly by engines, this is the reason why it is found in such high quantities in cities, places where vehicles accumulate and where there is no possible ventilation. This is not just any question, since, as WHO ^[3] studies have already suspected and shown , there is a correlation between NO2 concentrations and loss of lung function.

Ozone

Ozone (O3) is a highly aggressive gas that has the ability to corrode materials and even living tissues. In contact with human tissues it causes inflammation in the bronchi and lungs. This is not a gas that we emit directly, but is formed, under sunlight, through chemical reactions with other components that we do emit, for example, nitrogen dioxide or hydrocarbons.

CFC

In the 60s of the last century it was already shown that chlorofluorocarbons had harmful effects on the planet, mainly due to their active and leading role in the destruction of the ozone layer and the greenhouse effect. Thanks to the Montreal Protocol , implemented in 1987, the large-scale production of these products was banned, which were basically used for refrigerators, air conditioners and aerosols.

However, although to a much lesser extent, CFCs are still released into the atmosphere, mainly as a result of the destruction of old refrigerators and appliances. In the following AgroCorrn article we will talk to you about contamination by CFC’s .

Sulfur dioxide

SO2, sulfur dioxide, is a gas that is very reactive in the atmosphere . But that is not the only problem, it is also found in the composition of the vast majority (93%) of the fossil fuels used in industry, electricity generation and transportation.

At the health level, sulfur dioxide is related to damage to the respiratory system, especially asthma and bronchospasm, and at an ecological level, among other negative effects, it should be noted that sulfur dioxide is the most responsible for acid rain .

Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide is a molecule that is made up of the union of two oxygen atoms with one carbon CO2. Carbon dioxide is naturally present in the atmosphere, although its concentration levels have varied throughout the history of our planet. This is one of the greenhouse gases, which makes it essential when it comes to maintaining the Earth’s temperature. In fact, if it did not exist, life would be impossible on our planet. However, just as a low concentration would be problematic, so are high concentrations, which can retain too much heat and raise the temperature as is happening today.

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a gas produced from incomplete combustion, that is, combustion in low oxygen concentration. This can be generated naturally when the methane produced by the decomposition of matter is oxidized. However, the vast majority is produced by emissions from automobiles, industry and the burning of different products.

Although it is very rare for carbon monoxide concentrations to become high enough to endanger our health, the fact that it competes with oxygen in the bloodstream makes it possible for people with heart problems to see their heart capacities affected.

Methane

Methane is one of the main greenhouse gases and, although many people are unaware of it, its harmful effects are more than 20 times greater than those of carbon dioxide. Like many of the pollutants we’ve been discussing in this article, methane occurs naturally. In the quantities that occur naturally, the atmosphere would be in equilibrium, however, the problem comes when these emissions increase due to human activities.

In this sense, agriculture is one of the largest sources of methane emissions , many of them produced by the degradation of organic matter by microbes in flooded crops. However, the activity that generates the most methane is intensive livestock . This is because ruminants, like cows, generate a lot of methane during their digestion. In the following article we clarify the question about Do cows pollute? , since many people ask it, but we already indicated that cows alone do not pollute, nor would they pose an environmental problem if it were not for the immense volume that is raised and the conditions in which they are, but that the problem lies in the intensive meat and dairy industry on a large scale.

Others

In addition to those already mentioned, there are other air pollutants such as:

• The ammonia basically delivered through agriculture.
• The heavy metals such as nickel, lead, arsenic, mercury and cadmium from industry and that accumulate in the body.
• The indoor pollution , the result of snuff or chimneys that accumulates in poorly ventilated houses or bars.

If you want to read more articles similar to What are the air pollutants , we recommend that you enter our Pollution category .