The speed or registration restrictions between even days and odd days are some of the many measures that until not long ago put into practice to limit the emission of gases in some cities in the face of the high levels of air pollution that were reached and that dyed the sky of a grayish color. Atmospheric pollution is one of the most serious forms of pollution on our planet today. From Ecology Verde we want to inform you about it to raise awareness and try that each of us contribute our grain of sand in the difficult task of its reduction. In this article we talk about the Atmospheric pollution: causes, consequences and solutions.
What is air pollution?
We understand by Atmospheric pollution of our atmospherethat is, the presence in it of elements that are pollutants and that can cause negative effects in the health of people and the natural environment.
Atmospheric pollution can have greater or lesser extension. It can occur at the local level in the vicinity of the focus where it has occurred, or it can occur globally when it affects the balance of the entire planet because of the characteristics of the pollutant, that is, it extends far beyond the focus where it has originated.
Causes of air pollution
The main responsible for air pollution have their origin in human activities. However, this does not mean that there are no sources of pollution from natural processessuch as:
- The volcanic eruptionswhere both gases and particles are emitted (ash) that alter the natural composition of the gases present naturally in the atmosphere.
- Smoke and gases Natural fires Not caused.
- Dust storms.
- Pollen and spores of plants, responsible for many respiratory allergies.
With the industrial revolution, during the second half of the 18th century, the rise of production in factories began, as well as the development and growing use of the means of transport and, therefore, the increase in the Use of fossil fuels.
As a result there was an increase in the concentration of gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide or sulfur oxide, all of them very harmful in high health quantities.
Others activities that contribute to air pollution are:
- The mining extractions: For the extraction of many of these minerals, chemicals and heavy machinery are used very polluting.
- Excessive use of pesticide products In agriculture: these substances affect and alter the soils, also facilitating the accumulation of gases in the air.
- The deforestation: Plant species are able to clean the air by kidnapping contaminants of the atmosphere and neutralizing them. With its elimination, this process is reduced, as well as oxygen production during photosynthesis.
Consequences of air pollution
The consequences of air pollution are varied, being many of them known. Again, the consequences can be produced local or global.
The first of these are the consequences related to the Damage to human health. We can distinguish several groups of diseases caused by this type of pollution:
- Respiratory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis or lung cancer. Atmospheric pollution raises the risk of a person to suffer from these diseases, as well as cardiovascular conditions.
- Dermatological diseasesperhaps less known, air pollution also negatively affects the skin, favoring its premature aging, dehydration or acne formation.
Atmospheric pollution can also cause damage to constructions causing the erosion of its materials.
On the other hand, at an environmental level It also has multiple damages:
- Smog o contamination berets In big cities. This occurs mainly in those cities that are not exposed to frequent winds that can clear their pollution atmosphere.
- Climate change Because of the greenhouse gases that accumulate in the atmosphere.
- Decrease in ozone layerwhich acts as a protective layer against ultraviolet radiation.
- Acid rainresponsible for large -scale destruction of forests and soils. In addition, it is responsible for the acidification of some lakes and the erosion of buildings, by attacking some metals present in the materials they are made.
Measures and solutions to air pollution
Although the atmosphere will try to return to its natural balance through the elimination of polluting substances, it is urgent to take measures so that its recovery is faster, since, in addition, it is only able to recover this balance when pollution is scarce or punctual, as in the case of natural sources of pollution.
First, it is important to know and identify the elements that are producing this type of pollution for your reduction and/or elimination. As for this, the measures taken are more and more, which include regulations, investigations and funds aimed at alleviating this type of pollution. Examples of this type of measures are:
- Promote competitive public transport.
- Increase the number of green areas and gardens in large urban nuclei. The vertical gardens that contribute to the absorption of air pollutants are still booming, acting as filters.
However, we can all contribute to the reduction of air pollution changing small habits of our day to day such as:
- Use alternative means of transport that do not contaminate the environment, such as the use of the bicycle.
- Recycle waste to minimize the environmental impact that tons of garbage that occur today.
- Responsible consumption of fossil fuels and energy sources. Since its use is practically inevitable, we can try that, the impact it produces on the planet is lower.
- Construction of urban gardens that do not alter in the middle or its natural cycles.
If you want to read more articles similar to Atmospheric pollution: causes, consequences and solutionswe recommend that you enter our pollution category.
