Causes and Effects of Air Pollution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Causes and Effects of Air Pollution - Essay Example This paper illustrates that natural pollutants include volcanic eruptions, forest fires, wind erosion, natural radioactivity, and organic compounds evaporation, dispersal of pollen and wind erosion. Although these natural events have proved to cause a measure of air pollution, their frequency is very low. The main sources of air pollution are human activities. Industries are among the leading sources of air pollutants of numerous gases such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Other pollutants from industries are organic compounds, especially from petroleum refineries. The burning of fossil fuels in different locomotives is an additional cause of air pollutants with the increasing reliance on vehicles, trains, and motorcycles. These pollutants include gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and particulates. Household and farming chemicals form the third source of air pollutants. These pollutants emanate from activities such as fumigating ho mes, dusting crops, and pesticide spraying. Air pollution has multiple detrimental effects on the environment and humans. Gases such as sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen usually mix with rainwater forming the acid that destroys vegetation and pollutes water. Moreover, some pollutants find their way into the soil through rain and cause eutrophication. Other pollutants have led to the formation of ground-level ozone that has affected people’s health adversely. Air pollution also involves particulate matter such as lead and presents multiple effects. Such particulate matter may cause respiratory disorders and long-term effects such as cancer, heart disease, and kidney disorders.