What are the air pollutant agents

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 contamination are many, both natural and especially caused by human action, so that all this pollution accumulates in the atmosphere of the earth and can modify it. As a consequence of this we find climate change and negative meteorological phenomena.

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

It is one of the biggest problems, not only environmental, but of public health. And although in recent years a lot of work has been done prohibiting chemicals such as ChCs and enhancing the electric cars market, the reality is that there is still much 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 by cars, airplanes or other means of transport that use fuel. However, not only cars pollute or use fossil fuels, but also used a lot in the industry.

Industrial Chimneys

Although before it was the main type of pollution, in recent decades the contamination from industrial chimneys has been significantly reduced. The reason is that the use of fossil fuels, such as coal or oil, for electricity, has been changed. However, it is still a problem to be treated, especially if we take into account that much of this pollution has to do with a Bad gase control that emanate.

Chemical industry

In the industry a wide variety of Chemical processeswhich end up impacting the environment in different ways. The fact that many of these plants are old and do not have adequate prevention systems, causes many gases and chemical elements to the atmosphere every day.

Garbage burning

At present we generate huge amounts of garbage that we are unable to absorb. The consequence is that in most countries there are Great garbage deposits They are increasing their size and, with it, the associated ecological gases and problems are increasing. In many of these garbage dumps, the garbage burning It 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 dumps the flames work 24 hours a day.

As we have already explained, all those substances that, by their nature or levels of concentration in the air are capable of altering or damaging the health of people, plants or animals are considered pollutant agents. But not all polluting agents are the same, depending on their origin, we could Types air pollutant agents in:

Suspended particles

When we talk about particles we refer to the Microscopic size which is suspended in the air. One way to see them, for example, is on the blackened facades of the cities buildings, which become this color as a result of these particles.

The studies⁽²⁾ that have been made in Europe have shown that particles are considered as the more harmful pollutant for human health. But where do the particles come from? The reality is that not all are the same or have the same origin. In a generic way, they can be separated between thick particles and fine particles. PM 10, that is, in diameter less than 10 microns, basically proceeds as a result of the mechanical processes that occur in human activities such as construction. On the other hand, PM 2,5, that is, in diameter less than 2.5 microns, which are the result of the combustion of fuels or woods.

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

Nitrogen dioxide

Although in reality, nitrogen dioxide is part of the suspended particles that we just explained, we find it necessary to mention it separately because of the paper they play in air pollution. The NO2, carbon dioxide, It is formed in the combustion of enginesbeing diesel the ones that produce the most NO2.

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

Ozone

Ozone (O3), is a highly aggressive gas which has the ability to run materials and even living tissues. In contact with human tissues, it causes inflammations 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 emit, for example, nitrogen dioxide or hydrocarbons.

CFC

In the 60s of the last century it was already shown that Chlorofluorocarbides had harmful effects For the planet, mainly because of its active and protagonist in the destruction of the ozone layer and on the greenhouse effect. Thanks to the Montreal protocol, implemented in 1987, the large -scale production of these products was prohibited that were basically used for refrigerators, air conditioners and aerosols.

However, although to a lot of less, CFC is still released in the atmosphere, especially as a consequence of the destruction of ancient refrigerators and devices. In the following ecology article, we talk about contamination by CFC’s.

Sulfur dioxide

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

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

Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide is a molecule that is composed of the union of two oxygen atoms by one of CO2 carbon. Carbon dioxide is naturally present in the atmosphere, although its concentration levels have been varying throughout the history of our planet. This is one of the greenhouse gases, which makes it indispensable when maintaining the temperature of the earth. In fact, if it did not exist, life on our planet would be impossible. However, as well as a low concentration it would be problematic so are high concentrations, which can retain heat too much 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 car emissions, industry and burning different products.

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

Methane

Methane is one of the main greenhouse gases and, although many people do not know, its harmful effects are more than 20 times larger than those of carbon dioxide. Like many of the polluting agents that we have been explaining in this article, methane occurs naturally. In the amounts that occur naturally, the atmosphere would be in balance, however, the problem comes when these emissions increase due to human activities.

In this sense, agriculture is one of the most Great sources of methane emissionmany of them produced by the degradation of organic matter made by microbes in flooded crops. However, the most methane activity is intensive livestock. This is because ruminants, such as cows, generate a lot of methane during their digestion. In the following article we clarify the doubt about the cows pollute?, Since many people ask them, but we already indicate that the cows alone do not pollute, nor would they mean an environmental problem if it were not because of the immense volume that is raised and the conditions in which they are, but that the problem lies in the meat industry and of large -scale intensive dairy products.

Others

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

• He ammoniabasically issued through agriculture.
• The Heavy metals such as nickel, lead, arsenic, mercury and cadmium from the industry and that accumulate in the body.
• The Interior pollutionfruit of tobacco or chimneys that accumulates in the houses or badly ventilated bars.

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