The effects of air pollution
If you have been vigilant with the news these days you would have found that the air pollution in our island is in trouble. Due to some pollution in the air, the smog engulfing our island is causing air pollution, with harmful pollutants invading our atmosphere and causing many respiratory problems within the island itself. Elders and young children and babies, and also those suffering from respiratory diseases have been asked to take adequate precautions!
Last week, several areas in Sri Lanka experienced deterioration in the air quality. This was confirmed by many professionals. A scientist from the National Building Research Organisation said that the air quality deterioration could have been a result of the pollution in New Delhi. He said that the air quality levels in Colombo, Jaffna, Vavuniya and Puttalam had worsened. The Central Environment Authority also confirmed that there had been a rise in the air pollution in the Colombo city, according to their air quality monitoring unit in Battaramulla. The US Embassy’s Air Quality Monitor also indicated unhealthy levels of air quality. The situation has improved this week, but have you ever wondered what would happen if the air we breathe becomes very polluted?
Imagine falling into the deep depths of the ocean, you quickly sink to the bottom, leaving the surface behind. Struggling to reach the top, you swim ferociously but to no avail, you simply cannot surface. Soon your lungs run-out of air and being in water you cannot take deep breaths. You panic, gasping for a way out, hopelessly the water surrounds you and you stop breathing. Now imagine this feeling, whilst on land. We take for granted that the air that we breathe is clean and pure and will always be there. But what if it is so polluted that we are unable to take simple breaths, to the extent where going outside of our homes becomes impossible and we have to start living in special oxygenated spaces? Mother Earth will die with the lack of oxygenated air, once the Earth is deprived of vital oxygen. For how long will we be able to survive?
WHAT IS AIR POLLUTION?
Air pollution is caused when solid and liquid particles and certain gases are suspended in the air. These particles and gases can come from car and truck exhausts, factories, dust, pollen, mold spores, volcanoes and wildfires. The solid and liquid particles suspended in our air are called “aerosols” and they tend to pollute the clean air that we breathe.
WHAT IS AIR MADE UP OF?
Air is made up of two main gases – oxygen and nitrogen. Even though you breathe oxygen, this is only 21% of the air, nitrogen makes up 78%! The rest of the air, about 1%, is made up of other gases like carbon dioxide, methane, helium and a couple of other gases. That’s not all – there are lots of very tiny particles suspended in the air you breathe – dust, microbes, spores from plants and water! Air pollution occurs when the balances of the components in the air deviate from the expected norms. For example if the tiny particles increase in number and overtake the other components, we will start to find it difficult to breathe, with the imbalance.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION?
Scientists have classified the types of air pollution into visible and invisible air pollution. Visible air pollution is, what is visible to the naked eye, such as smoke, fog or chemical particles big enough to be seen. Invisible pollution cannot be seen by the naked eye and are usually a result of chemical reactions of pollutants.
These are some of the causes of air pollution. 1. The burning of fossil fuels:
When fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum or other factory combustibles are burnt, they emit sulfur dioxide into the air, which is a major pollutant. Pollution emitted from vehicles including trucks, jeeps, cars, trains, airplanes cause an immense amount of pollution. Unfortunately the overuse of such devices and excess burning of these fuels in factories, is slowly polluting our air, and killing us in the process.
2. Import Agricultural practices
Ammonia is a very common byproduct from agriculture-related activities and is one of the most hazardous gases in the atmosphere. Use of insecticides, pesticides, and fertilizers in agricultural activities emit harmful chemicals into the air and can also lead to other types of pollution like water pollution.
3. Improper factory waste
Manufacturing plants emit carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, organic compounds, and chemicals into the air thereby depleting the quality of air. Since these plants are found in every country, the whole world is affected by them.
4. Mining operations
Mining is a process where minerals below the Earth (such as coal, diamonds and natural gases) are extracted using large equipment. During the process dust and chemicals are released in the