What is an air pollutant

The air of our planet contains a multitude of substances and elements that can be found in it naturally. However, it can also contain a large number of elements, compounds and forms of energy that are harmful, both for the human species and for the rest of life. The presence of these polluting elements is what endangers our health and the balance of the planet, and it is what we commonly refer to when we talk about air or atmospheric pollution .

Learn more about Air Pollution, its causes, consequences and solutions with this other post.

So, as we have just said, an atmospheric pollutant or air pollutant is one of the materials or forms of energy that is present in the air and is negative for the environment and that can be of unnatural origin (for example gases that originate from the combustion of fossil materials), or be so but that it is in a higher concentration than is appropriate for the natural balance (for example, the gases that occur when there is a volcanic explosion).

There are different types of atmospheric pollutants or air pollutants, as we will see below, but mainly we can indicate that there are gaseous pollutants and suspended particles , also called aerosols.

However, talking about air pollutants without further ado can be overly general, as there is a great variety in the forms in which they can be found. The main classification divides them into primary and secondary pollutants .

A primary pollutant is one that is emitted into the atmosphere directly and in its composition without altering. They are products that are harmful to natural life or the human being in itself, by the simple fact of being and coming into contact with us. An example of a primary pollutant is sulfur dioxide, SO2.

In contrast, a secondary pollutant is generated in the atmosphere from chemical processes that affect either primary pollutants or elements that were initially non-polluting. One of these most dangerous pollutants is sulfuric acid, H2SO4.

We can also differentiate pollutants based on whether they are gaseous pollutants or suspended particles.

The gaseous contaminants are vapors and gaseous compounds can be found in varying concentrations in the atmosphere. The best known of them is carbon dioxide or CO2, which has a great role in the greenhouse effect.

The suspended particles or aerosols are mixtures of particles in solid or liquid that are floating in a gas. When they are large enough, we can see them with the naked eye like smoke, but many others are smaller and invisible to the human eye.

To expand this information, we recommend reading this other article on What are air pollutants .

The origin of air pollution that comes from artificial, anthropic or human sources dates back to the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution, in the 18th century. Its main causes are factories and heavy industries and the use of fossil fuels in all kinds of areas, the combustion of which releases large amounts of pollutants into the atmosphere. Currently, most societies and countries are aware to different degrees of the danger involved in releasing so many pollutants into the atmosphere, and more and more measures are being taken to reduce emissions, such as the recent announcement of the intention to eliminate them. cars with gasoline or diesel engines in Europe by 2050.

There are, however, also air pollutants that come from natural sources . This is the case of forest fires, volcanoes, or methane that is created in the decomposition of organic matter or found in underground pockets of natural gas.

Find out more about the pollutants in the atmosphere by reading about the causes in this post in which we expose Why the air is polluted .

The effects of air pollution are very varied, but the main results of the high presence of some air pollutant are the greenhouse effect and the damage received by the ozone layer.

The greenhouse effect occurs when the accumulation of atmospheric pollutants causes the atmosphere to retain a greater amount of heat than it should from the sun’s rays. This occurs because pollutants form a layer that prevents that heat from escaping back into space after bouncing off the Earth, and today many scientists consider this to be the cause of global warming. Global warming can have disastrous effects that could make the planet or many of its areas uninhabitable.

The ozone layer, which is actually a form of oxygen O3, is responsible for repelling a significant part of the ultraviolet rays that come from the sun. Some compounds such as CFCs cause destruction of the ozone layer , and these UVs reach the surface of the planet with greater incidence, endangering both animal and plant life. Learn more about the Destruction of the ozone layer: definition, causes and consequences in this other article.

In addition to these two great effects, the presence of some type of air pollutant in high concentrations is very harmful to human health, as well as to a large number and variety of species.

If you want to read more articles similar to What is an air pollutant , we recommend that you enter our Pollution category .