air pollution by vehicles essay

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Environmental and Health Impacts of Air Pollution: A Review

Ioannis manisalidis.

1 Delphis S.A., Kifisia, Greece

2 Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece

Elisavet Stavropoulou

3 Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Service de Médicine Interne, Lausanne, Switzerland

Agathangelos Stavropoulos

4 School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom

Eugenia Bezirtzoglou

One of our era's greatest scourges is air pollution, on account not only of its impact on climate change but also its impact on public and individual health due to increasing morbidity and mortality. There are many pollutants that are major factors in disease in humans. Among them, Particulate Matter (PM), particles of variable but very small diameter, penetrate the respiratory system via inhalation, causing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, reproductive and central nervous system dysfunctions, and cancer. Despite the fact that ozone in the stratosphere plays a protective role against ultraviolet irradiation, it is harmful when in high concentration at ground level, also affecting the respiratory and cardiovascular system. Furthermore, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), dioxins, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are all considered air pollutants that are harmful to humans. Carbon monoxide can even provoke direct poisoning when breathed in at high levels. Heavy metals such as lead, when absorbed into the human body, can lead to direct poisoning or chronic intoxication, depending on exposure. Diseases occurring from the aforementioned substances include principally respiratory problems such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), asthma, bronchiolitis, and also lung cancer, cardiovascular events, central nervous system dysfunctions, and cutaneous diseases. Last but not least, climate change resulting from environmental pollution affects the geographical distribution of many infectious diseases, as do natural disasters. The only way to tackle this problem is through public awareness coupled with a multidisciplinary approach by scientific experts; national and international organizations must address the emergence of this threat and propose sustainable solutions.

Approach to the Problem

The interactions between humans and their physical surroundings have been extensively studied, as multiple human activities influence the environment. The environment is a coupling of the biotic (living organisms and microorganisms) and the abiotic (hydrosphere, lithosphere, and atmosphere).

Pollution is defined as the introduction into the environment of substances harmful to humans and other living organisms. Pollutants are harmful solids, liquids, or gases produced in higher than usual concentrations that reduce the quality of our environment.

Human activities have an adverse effect on the environment by polluting the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the soil in which plants grow. Although the industrial revolution was a great success in terms of technology, society, and the provision of multiple services, it also introduced the production of huge quantities of pollutants emitted into the air that are harmful to human health. Without any doubt, the global environmental pollution is considered an international public health issue with multiple facets. Social, economic, and legislative concerns and lifestyle habits are related to this major problem. Clearly, urbanization and industrialization are reaching unprecedented and upsetting proportions worldwide in our era. Anthropogenic air pollution is one of the biggest public health hazards worldwide, given that it accounts for about 9 million deaths per year ( 1 ).

Without a doubt, all of the aforementioned are closely associated with climate change, and in the event of danger, the consequences can be severe for mankind ( 2 ). Climate changes and the effects of global planetary warming seriously affect multiple ecosystems, causing problems such as food safety issues, ice and iceberg melting, animal extinction, and damage to plants ( 3 , 4 ).

Air pollution has various health effects. The health of susceptible and sensitive individuals can be impacted even on low air pollution days. Short-term exposure to air pollutants is closely related to COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, asthma, respiratory disease, and high rates of hospitalization (a measurement of morbidity).

The long-term effects associated with air pollution are chronic asthma, pulmonary insufficiency, cardiovascular diseases, and cardiovascular mortality. According to a Swedish cohort study, diabetes seems to be induced after long-term air pollution exposure ( 5 ). Moreover, air pollution seems to have various malign health effects in early human life, such as respiratory, cardiovascular, mental, and perinatal disorders ( 3 ), leading to infant mortality or chronic disease in adult age ( 6 ).

National reports have mentioned the increased risk of morbidity and mortality ( 1 ). These studies were conducted in many places around the world and show a correlation between daily ranges of particulate matter (PM) concentration and daily mortality. Climate shifts and global planetary warming ( 3 ) could aggravate the situation. Besides, increased hospitalization (an index of morbidity) has been registered among the elderly and susceptible individuals for specific reasons. Fine and ultrafine particulate matter seems to be associated with more serious illnesses ( 6 ), as it can invade the deepest parts of the airways and more easily reach the bloodstream.

Air pollution mainly affects those living in large urban areas, where road emissions contribute the most to the degradation of air quality. There is also a danger of industrial accidents, where the spread of a toxic fog can be fatal to the populations of the surrounding areas. The dispersion of pollutants is determined by many parameters, most notably atmospheric stability and wind ( 6 ).

In developing countries ( 7 ), the problem is more serious due to overpopulation and uncontrolled urbanization along with the development of industrialization. This leads to poor air quality, especially in countries with social disparities and a lack of information on sustainable management of the environment. The use of fuels such as wood fuel or solid fuel for domestic needs due to low incomes exposes people to bad-quality, polluted air at home. It is of note that three billion people around the world are using the above sources of energy for their daily heating and cooking needs ( 8 ). In developing countries, the women of the household seem to carry the highest risk for disease development due to their longer duration exposure to the indoor air pollution ( 8 , 9 ). Due to its fast industrial development and overpopulation, China is one of the Asian countries confronting serious air pollution problems ( 10 , 11 ). The lung cancer mortality observed in China is associated with fine particles ( 12 ). As stated already, long-term exposure is associated with deleterious effects on the cardiovascular system ( 3 , 5 ). However, it is interesting to note that cardiovascular diseases have mostly been observed in developed and high-income countries rather than in the developing low-income countries exposed highly to air pollution ( 13 ). Extreme air pollution is recorded in India, where the air quality reaches hazardous levels. New Delhi is one of the more polluted cities in India. Flights in and out of New Delhi International Airport are often canceled due to the reduced visibility associated with air pollution. Pollution is occurring both in urban and rural areas in India due to the fast industrialization, urbanization, and rise in use of motorcycle transportation. Nevertheless, biomass combustion associated with heating and cooking needs and practices is a major source of household air pollution in India and in Nepal ( 14 , 15 ). There is spatial heterogeneity in India, as areas with diverse climatological conditions and population and education levels generate different indoor air qualities, with higher PM 2.5 observed in North Indian states (557–601 μg/m 3 ) compared to the Southern States (183–214 μg/m 3 ) ( 16 , 17 ). The cold climate of the North Indian areas may be the main reason for this, as longer periods at home and more heating are necessary compared to in the tropical climate of Southern India. Household air pollution in India is associated with major health effects, especially in women and young children, who stay indoors for longer periods. Chronic obstructive respiratory disease (CORD) and lung cancer are mostly observed in women, while acute lower respiratory disease is seen in young children under 5 years of age ( 18 ).

Accumulation of air pollution, especially sulfur dioxide and smoke, reaching 1,500 mg/m3, resulted in an increase in the number of deaths (4,000 deaths) in December 1952 in London and in 1963 in New York City (400 deaths) ( 19 ). An association of pollution with mortality was reported on the basis of monitoring of outdoor pollution in six US metropolitan cities ( 20 ). In every case, it seems that mortality was closely related to the levels of fine, inhalable, and sulfate particles more than with the levels of total particulate pollution, aerosol acidity, sulfur dioxide, or nitrogen dioxide ( 20 ).

Furthermore, extremely high levels of pollution are reported in Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro, followed by Milan, Ankara, Melbourne, Tokyo, and Moscow ( 19 ).

Based on the magnitude of the public health impact, it is certain that different kinds of interventions should be taken into account. Success and effectiveness in controlling air pollution, specifically at the local level, have been reported. Adequate technological means are applied considering the source and the nature of the emission as well as its impact on health and the environment. The importance of point sources and non-point sources of air pollution control is reported by Schwela and Köth-Jahr ( 21 ). Without a doubt, a detailed emission inventory must record all sources in a given area. Beyond considering the above sources and their nature, topography and meteorology should also be considered, as stated previously. Assessment of the control policies and methods is often extrapolated from the local to the regional and then to the global scale. Air pollution may be dispersed and transported from one region to another area located far away. Air pollution management means the reduction to acceptable levels or possible elimination of air pollutants whose presence in the air affects our health or the environmental ecosystem. Private and governmental entities and authorities implement actions to ensure the air quality ( 22 ). Air quality standards and guidelines were adopted for the different pollutants by the WHO and EPA as a tool for the management of air quality ( 1 , 23 ). These standards have to be compared to the emissions inventory standards by causal analysis and dispersion modeling in order to reveal the problematic areas ( 24 ). Inventories are generally based on a combination of direct measurements and emissions modeling ( 24 ).

As an example, we state here the control measures at the source through the use of catalytic converters in cars. These are devices that turn the pollutants and toxic gases produced from combustion engines into less-toxic pollutants by catalysis through redox reactions ( 25 ). In Greece, the use of private cars was restricted by tracking their license plates in order to reduce traffic congestion during rush hour ( 25 ).

Concerning industrial emissions, collectors and closed systems can keep the air pollution to the minimal standards imposed by legislation ( 26 ).

Current strategies to improve air quality require an estimation of the economic value of the benefits gained from proposed programs. These proposed programs by public authorities, and directives are issued with guidelines to be respected.

In Europe, air quality limit values AQLVs (Air Quality Limit Values) are issued for setting off planning claims ( 27 ). In the USA, the NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standards) establish the national air quality limit values ( 27 ). While both standards and directives are based on different mechanisms, significant success has been achieved in the reduction of overall emissions and associated health and environmental effects ( 27 ). The European Directive identifies geographical areas of risk exposure as monitoring/assessment zones to record the emission sources and levels of air pollution ( 27 ), whereas the USA establishes global geographical air quality criteria according to the severity of their air quality problem and records all sources of the pollutants and their precursors ( 27 ).

In this vein, funds have been financing, directly or indirectly, projects related to air quality along with the technical infrastructure to maintain good air quality. These plans focus on an inventory of databases from air quality environmental planning awareness campaigns. Moreover, pollution measures of air emissions may be taken for vehicles, machines, and industries in urban areas.

Technological innovation can only be successful if it is able to meet the needs of society. In this sense, technology must reflect the decision-making practices and procedures of those involved in risk assessment and evaluation and act as a facilitator in providing information and assessments to enable decision makers to make the best decisions possible. Summarizing the aforementioned in order to design an effective air quality control strategy, several aspects must be considered: environmental factors and ambient air quality conditions, engineering factors and air pollutant characteristics, and finally, economic operating costs for technological improvement and administrative and legal costs. Considering the economic factor, competitiveness through neoliberal concepts is offering a solution to environmental problems ( 22 ).

The development of environmental governance, along with technological progress, has initiated the deployment of a dialogue. Environmental politics has created objections and points of opposition between different political parties, scientists, media, and governmental and non-governmental organizations ( 22 ). Radical environmental activism actions and movements have been created ( 22 ). The rise of the new information and communication technologies (ICTs) are many times examined as to whether and in which way they have influenced means of communication and social movements such as activism ( 28 ). Since the 1990s, the term “digital activism” has been used increasingly and in many different disciplines ( 29 ). Nowadays, multiple digital technologies can be used to produce a digital activism outcome on environmental issues. More specifically, devices with online capabilities such as computers or mobile phones are being used as a way to pursue change in political and social affairs ( 30 ).

In the present paper, we focus on the sources of environmental pollution in relation to public health and propose some solutions and interventions that may be of interest to environmental legislators and decision makers.

Sources of Exposure

It is known that the majority of environmental pollutants are emitted through large-scale human activities such as the use of industrial machinery, power-producing stations, combustion engines, and cars. Because these activities are performed at such a large scale, they are by far the major contributors to air pollution, with cars estimated to be responsible for approximately 80% of today's pollution ( 31 ). Some other human activities are also influencing our environment to a lesser extent, such as field cultivation techniques, gas stations, fuel tanks heaters, and cleaning procedures ( 32 ), as well as several natural sources, such as volcanic and soil eruptions and forest fires.

The classification of air pollutants is based mainly on the sources producing pollution. Therefore, it is worth mentioning the four main sources, following the classification system: Major sources, Area sources, Mobile sources, and Natural sources.

Major sources include the emission of pollutants from power stations, refineries, and petrochemicals, the chemical and fertilizer industries, metallurgical and other industrial plants, and, finally, municipal incineration.

Indoor area sources include domestic cleaning activities, dry cleaners, printing shops, and petrol stations.

Mobile sources include automobiles, cars, railways, airways, and other types of vehicles.

Finally, natural sources include, as stated previously, physical disasters ( 33 ) such as forest fire, volcanic erosion, dust storms, and agricultural burning.

However, many classification systems have been proposed. Another type of classification is a grouping according to the recipient of the pollution, as follows:

Air pollution is determined as the presence of pollutants in the air in large quantities for long periods. Air pollutants are dispersed particles, hydrocarbons, CO, CO 2 , NO, NO 2 , SO 3 , etc.

Water pollution is organic and inorganic charge and biological charge ( 10 ) at high levels that affect the water quality ( 34 , 35 ).

Soil pollution occurs through the release of chemicals or the disposal of wastes, such as heavy metals, hydrocarbons, and pesticides.

Air pollution can influence the quality of soil and water bodies by polluting precipitation, falling into water and soil environments ( 34 , 36 ). Notably, the chemistry of the soil can be amended due to acid precipitation by affecting plants, cultures, and water quality ( 37 ). Moreover, movement of heavy metals is favored by soil acidity, and metals are so then moving into the watery environment. It is known that heavy metals such as aluminum are noxious to wildlife and fishes. Soil quality seems to be of importance, as soils with low calcium carbonate levels are at increased jeopardy from acid rain. Over and above rain, snow and particulate matter drip into watery ' bodies ( 36 , 38 ).

Lastly, pollution is classified following type of origin:

Radioactive and nuclear pollution , releasing radioactive and nuclear pollutants into water, air, and soil during nuclear explosions and accidents, from nuclear weapons, and through handling or disposal of radioactive sewage.

Radioactive materials can contaminate surface water bodies and, being noxious to the environment, plants, animals, and humans. It is known that several radioactive substances such as radium and uranium concentrate in the bones and can cause cancers ( 38 , 39 ).

Noise pollution is produced by machines, vehicles, traffic noises, and musical installations that are harmful to our hearing.

The World Health Organization introduced the term DALYs. The DALYs for a disease or health condition is defined as the sum of the Years of Life Lost (YLL) due to premature mortality in the population and the Years Lost due to Disability (YLD) for people living with the health condition or its consequences ( 39 ). In Europe, air pollution is the main cause of disability-adjusted life years lost (DALYs), followed by noise pollution. The potential relationships of noise and air pollution with health have been studied ( 40 ). The study found that DALYs related to noise were more important than those related to air pollution, as the effects of environmental noise on cardiovascular disease were independent of air pollution ( 40 ). Environmental noise should be counted as an independent public health risk ( 40 ).

Environmental pollution occurs when changes in the physical, chemical, or biological constituents of the environment (air masses, temperature, climate, etc.) are produced.

Pollutants harm our environment either by increasing levels above normal or by introducing harmful toxic substances. Primary pollutants are directly produced from the above sources, and secondary pollutants are emitted as by-products of the primary ones. Pollutants can be biodegradable or non-biodegradable and of natural origin or anthropogenic, as stated previously. Moreover, their origin can be a unique source (point-source) or dispersed sources.

Pollutants have differences in physical and chemical properties, explaining the discrepancy in their capacity for producing toxic effects. As an example, we state here that aerosol compounds ( 41 – 43 ) have a greater toxicity than gaseous compounds due to their tiny size (solid or liquid) in the atmosphere; they have a greater penetration capacity. Gaseous compounds are eliminated more easily by our respiratory system ( 41 ). These particles are able to damage lungs and can even enter the bloodstream ( 41 ), leading to the premature deaths of millions of people yearly. Moreover, the aerosol acidity ([H+]) seems to considerably enhance the production of secondary organic aerosols (SOA), but this last aspect is not supported by other scientific teams ( 38 ).

Climate and Pollution

Air pollution and climate change are closely related. Climate is the other side of the same coin that reduces the quality of our Earth ( 44 ). Pollutants such as black carbon, methane, tropospheric ozone, and aerosols affect the amount of incoming sunlight. As a result, the temperature of the Earth is increasing, resulting in the melting of ice, icebergs, and glaciers.

In this vein, climatic changes will affect the incidence and prevalence of both residual and imported infections in Europe. Climate and weather affect the duration, timing, and intensity of outbreaks strongly and change the map of infectious diseases in the globe ( 45 ). Mosquito-transmitted parasitic or viral diseases are extremely climate-sensitive, as warming firstly shortens the pathogen incubation period and secondly shifts the geographic map of the vector. Similarly, water-warming following climate changes leads to a high incidence of waterborne infections. Recently, in Europe, eradicated diseases seem to be emerging due to the migration of population, for example, cholera, poliomyelitis, tick-borne encephalitis, and malaria ( 46 ).

The spread of epidemics is associated with natural climate disasters and storms, which seem to occur more frequently nowadays ( 47 ). Malnutrition and disequilibration of the immune system are also associated with the emerging infections affecting public health ( 48 ).

The Chikungunya virus “took the airplane” from the Indian Ocean to Europe, as outbreaks of the disease were registered in Italy ( 49 ) as well as autochthonous cases in France ( 50 ).

An increase in cryptosporidiosis in the United Kingdom and in the Czech Republic seems to have occurred following flooding ( 36 , 51 ).

As stated previously, aerosols compounds are tiny in size and considerably affect the climate. They are able to dissipate sunlight (the albedo phenomenon) by dispersing a quarter of the sun's rays back to space and have cooled the global temperature over the last 30 years ( 52 ).

Air Pollutants

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports on six major air pollutants, namely particle pollution, ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and lead. Air pollution can have a disastrous effect on all components of the environment, including groundwater, soil, and air. Additionally, it poses a serious threat to living organisms. In this vein, our interest is mainly to focus on these pollutants, as they are related to more extensive and severe problems in human health and environmental impact. Acid rain, global warming, the greenhouse effect, and climate changes have an important ecological impact on air pollution ( 53 ).

Particulate Matter (PM) and Health

Studies have shown a relationship between particulate matter (PM) and adverse health effects, focusing on either short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic) PM exposure.

Particulate matter (PM) is usually formed in the atmosphere as a result of chemical reactions between the different pollutants. The penetration of particles is closely dependent on their size ( 53 ). Particulate Matter (PM) was defined as a term for particles by the United States Environmental Protection Agency ( 54 ). Particulate matter (PM) pollution includes particles with diameters of 10 micrometers (μm) or smaller, called PM 10 , and extremely fine particles with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers (μm) and smaller.

Particulate matter contains tiny liquid or solid droplets that can be inhaled and cause serious health effects ( 55 ). Particles <10 μm in diameter (PM 10 ) after inhalation can invade the lungs and even reach the bloodstream. Fine particles, PM 2.5 , pose a greater risk to health ( 6 , 56 ) ( Table 1 ).

Penetrability according to particle size.

Multiple epidemiological studies have been performed on the health effects of PM. A positive relation was shown between both short-term and long-term exposures of PM 2.5 and acute nasopharyngitis ( 56 ). In addition, long-term exposure to PM for years was found to be related to cardiovascular diseases and infant mortality.

Those studies depend on PM 2.5 monitors and are restricted in terms of study area or city area due to a lack of spatially resolved daily PM 2.5 concentration data and, in this way, are not representative of the entire population. Following a recent epidemiological study by the Department of Environmental Health at Harvard School of Public Health (Boston, MA) ( 57 ), it was reported that, as PM 2.5 concentrations vary spatially, an exposure error (Berkson error) seems to be produced, and the relative magnitudes of the short- and long-term effects are not yet completely elucidated. The team developed a PM 2.5 exposure model based on remote sensing data for assessing short- and long-term human exposures ( 57 ). This model permits spatial resolution in short-term effects plus the assessment of long-term effects in the whole population.

Moreover, respiratory diseases and affection of the immune system are registered as long-term chronic effects ( 58 ). It is worth noting that people with asthma, pneumonia, diabetes, and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases are especially susceptible and vulnerable to the effects of PM. PM 2.5 , followed by PM 10 , are strongly associated with diverse respiratory system diseases ( 59 ), as their size permits them to pierce interior spaces ( 60 ). The particles produce toxic effects according to their chemical and physical properties. The components of PM 10 and PM 2.5 can be organic (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins, benzene, 1-3 butadiene) or inorganic (carbon, chlorides, nitrates, sulfates, metals) in nature ( 55 ).

Particulate Matter (PM) is divided into four main categories according to type and size ( 61 ) ( Table 2 ).

Types and sizes of particulate Matter (PM).

Gas contaminants include PM in aerial masses.

Particulate contaminants include contaminants such as smog, soot, tobacco smoke, oil smoke, fly ash, and cement dust.

Biological Contaminants are microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, mold, and bacterial spores), cat allergens, house dust and allergens, and pollen.

Types of Dust include suspended atmospheric dust, settling dust, and heavy dust.

Finally, another fact is that the half-lives of PM 10 and PM 2.5 particles in the atmosphere is extended due to their tiny dimensions; this permits their long-lasting suspension in the atmosphere and even their transfer and spread to distant destinations where people and the environment may be exposed to the same magnitude of pollution ( 53 ). They are able to change the nutrient balance in watery ecosystems, damage forests and crops, and acidify water bodies.

As stated, PM 2.5 , due to their tiny size, are causing more serious health effects. These aforementioned fine particles are the main cause of the “haze” formation in different metropolitan areas ( 12 , 13 , 61 ).

Ozone Impact in the Atmosphere

Ozone (O 3 ) is a gas formed from oxygen under high voltage electric discharge ( 62 ). It is a strong oxidant, 52% stronger than chlorine. It arises in the stratosphere, but it could also arise following chain reactions of photochemical smog in the troposphere ( 63 ).

Ozone can travel to distant areas from its initial source, moving with air masses ( 64 ). It is surprising that ozone levels over cities are low in contrast to the increased amounts occuring in urban areas, which could become harmful for cultures, forests, and vegetation ( 65 ) as it is reducing carbon assimilation ( 66 ). Ozone reduces growth and yield ( 47 , 48 ) and affects the plant microflora due to its antimicrobial capacity ( 67 , 68 ). In this regard, ozone acts upon other natural ecosystems, with microflora ( 69 , 70 ) and animal species changing their species composition ( 71 ). Ozone increases DNA damage in epidermal keratinocytes and leads to impaired cellular function ( 72 ).

Ground-level ozone (GLO) is generated through a chemical reaction between oxides of nitrogen and VOCs emitted from natural sources and/or following anthropogenic activities.

Ozone uptake usually occurs by inhalation. Ozone affects the upper layers of the skin and the tear ducts ( 73 ). A study of short-term exposure of mice to high levels of ozone showed malondialdehyde formation in the upper skin (epidermis) but also depletion in vitamins C and E. It is likely that ozone levels are not interfering with the skin barrier function and integrity to predispose to skin disease ( 74 ).

Due to the low water-solubility of ozone, inhaled ozone has the capacity to penetrate deeply into the lungs ( 75 ).

Toxic effects induced by ozone are registered in urban areas all over the world, causing biochemical, morphologic, functional, and immunological disorders ( 76 ).

The European project (APHEA2) focuses on the acute effects of ambient ozone concentrations on mortality ( 77 ). Daily ozone concentrations compared to the daily number of deaths were reported from different European cities for a 3-year period. During the warm period of the year, an observed increase in ozone concentration was associated with an increase in the daily number of deaths (0.33%), in the number of respiratory deaths (1.13%), and in the number of cardiovascular deaths (0.45%). No effect was observed during wintertime.

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Carbon monoxide is produced by fossil fuel when combustion is incomplete. The symptoms of poisoning due to inhaling carbon monoxide include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, and, finally, loss of consciousness.

The affinity of carbon monoxide to hemoglobin is much greater than that of oxygen. In this vein, serious poisoning may occur in people exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide for a long period of time. Due to the loss of oxygen as a result of the competitive binding of carbon monoxide, hypoxia, ischemia, and cardiovascular disease are observed.

Carbon monoxide affects the greenhouses gases that are tightly connected to global warming and climate. This should lead to an increase in soil and water temperatures, and extreme weather conditions or storms may occur ( 68 ).

However, in laboratory and field experiments, it has been seen to produce increased plant growth ( 78 ).

Nitrogen Oxide (NO 2 )

Nitrogen oxide is a traffic-related pollutant, as it is emitted from automobile motor engines ( 79 , 80 ). It is an irritant of the respiratory system as it penetrates deep in the lung, inducing respiratory diseases, coughing, wheezing, dyspnea, bronchospasm, and even pulmonary edema when inhaled at high levels. It seems that concentrations over 0.2 ppm produce these adverse effects in humans, while concentrations higher than 2.0 ppm affect T-lymphocytes, particularly the CD8+ cells and NK cells that produce our immune response ( 81 ).It is reported that long-term exposure to high levels of nitrogen dioxide can be responsible for chronic lung disease. Long-term exposure to NO 2 can impair the sense of smell ( 81 ).

However, systems other than respiratory ones can be involved, as symptoms such as eye, throat, and nose irritation have been registered ( 81 ).

High levels of nitrogen dioxide are deleterious to crops and vegetation, as they have been observed to reduce crop yield and plant growth efficiency. Moreover, NO 2 can reduce visibility and discolor fabrics ( 81 ).

Sulfur Dioxide (SO 2 )

Sulfur dioxide is a harmful gas that is emitted mainly from fossil fuel consumption or industrial activities. The annual standard for SO 2 is 0.03 ppm ( 82 ). It affects human, animal, and plant life. Susceptible people as those with lung disease, old people, and children, who present a higher risk of damage. The major health problems associated with sulfur dioxide emissions in industrialized areas are respiratory irritation, bronchitis, mucus production, and bronchospasm, as it is a sensory irritant and penetrates deep into the lung converted into bisulfite and interacting with sensory receptors, causing bronchoconstriction. Moreover, skin redness, damage to the eyes (lacrimation and corneal opacity) and mucous membranes, and worsening of pre-existing cardiovascular disease have been observed ( 81 ).

Environmental adverse effects, such as acidification of soil and acid rain, seem to be associated with sulfur dioxide emissions ( 83 ).

Lead is a heavy metal used in different industrial plants and emitted from some petrol motor engines, batteries, radiators, waste incinerators, and waste waters ( 84 ).

Moreover, major sources of lead pollution in the air are metals, ore, and piston-engine aircraft. Lead poisoning is a threat to public health due to its deleterious effects upon humans, animals, and the environment, especially in the developing countries.

Exposure to lead can occur through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption. Trans- placental transport of lead was also reported, as lead passes through the placenta unencumbered ( 85 ). The younger the fetus is, the more harmful the toxic effects. Lead toxicity affects the fetal nervous system; edema or swelling of the brain is observed ( 86 ). Lead, when inhaled, accumulates in the blood, soft tissue, liver, lung, bones, and cardiovascular, nervous, and reproductive systems. Moreover, loss of concentration and memory, as well as muscle and joint pain, were observed in adults ( 85 , 86 ).

Children and newborns ( 87 ) are extremely susceptible even to minimal doses of lead, as it is a neurotoxicant and causes learning disabilities, impairment of memory, hyperactivity, and even mental retardation.

Elevated amounts of lead in the environment are harmful to plants and crop growth. Neurological effects are observed in vertebrates and animals in association with high lead levels ( 88 ).

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons(PAHs)

The distribution of PAHs is ubiquitous in the environment, as the atmosphere is the most important means of their dispersal. They are found in coal and in tar sediments. Moreover, they are generated through incomplete combustion of organic matter as in the cases of forest fires, incineration, and engines ( 89 ). PAH compounds, such as benzopyrene, acenaphthylene, anthracene, and fluoranthene are recognized as toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic substances. They are an important risk factor for lung cancer ( 89 ).

Volatile Organic Compounds(VOCs)

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as toluene, benzene, ethylbenzene, and xylene ( 90 ), have been found to be associated with cancer in humans ( 91 ). The use of new products and materials has actually resulted in increased concentrations of VOCs. VOCs pollute indoor air ( 90 ) and may have adverse effects on human health ( 91 ). Short-term and long-term adverse effects on human health are observed. VOCs are responsible for indoor air smells. Short-term exposure is found to cause irritation of eyes, nose, throat, and mucosal membranes, while those of long duration exposure include toxic reactions ( 92 ). Predictable assessment of the toxic effects of complex VOC mixtures is difficult to estimate, as these pollutants can have synergic, antagonistic, or indifferent effects ( 91 , 93 ).

Dioxins originate from industrial processes but also come from natural processes, such as forest fires and volcanic eruptions. They accumulate in foods such as meat and dairy products, fish and shellfish, and especially in the fatty tissue of animals ( 94 ).

Short-period exhibition to high dioxin concentrations may result in dark spots and lesions on the skin ( 94 ). Long-term exposure to dioxins can cause developmental problems, impairment of the immune, endocrine and nervous systems, reproductive infertility, and cancer ( 94 ).

Without any doubt, fossil fuel consumption is responsible for a sizeable part of air contamination. This contamination may be anthropogenic, as in agricultural and industrial processes or transportation, while contamination from natural sources is also possible. Interestingly, it is of note that the air quality standards established through the European Air Quality Directive are somewhat looser than the WHO guidelines, which are stricter ( 95 ).

Effect of Air Pollution on Health

The most common air pollutants are ground-level ozone and Particulates Matter (PM). Air pollution is distinguished into two main types:

Outdoor pollution is the ambient air pollution.

Indoor pollution is the pollution generated by household combustion of fuels.

People exposed to high concentrations of air pollutants experience disease symptoms and states of greater and lesser seriousness. These effects are grouped into short- and long-term effects affecting health.

Susceptible populations that need to be aware of health protection measures include old people, children, and people with diabetes and predisposing heart or lung disease, especially asthma.

As extensively stated previously, according to a recent epidemiological study from Harvard School of Public Health, the relative magnitudes of the short- and long-term effects have not been completely clarified ( 57 ) due to the different epidemiological methodologies and to the exposure errors. New models are proposed for assessing short- and long-term human exposure data more successfully ( 57 ). Thus, in the present section, we report the more common short- and long-term health effects but also general concerns for both types of effects, as these effects are often dependent on environmental conditions, dose, and individual susceptibility.

Short-term effects are temporary and range from simple discomfort, such as irritation of the eyes, nose, skin, throat, wheezing, coughing and chest tightness, and breathing difficulties, to more serious states, such as asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, and lung and heart problems. Short-term exposure to air pollution can also cause headaches, nausea, and dizziness.

These problems can be aggravated by extended long-term exposure to the pollutants, which is harmful to the neurological, reproductive, and respiratory systems and causes cancer and even, rarely, deaths.

The long-term effects are chronic, lasting for years or the whole life and can even lead to death. Furthermore, the toxicity of several air pollutants may also induce a variety of cancers in the long term ( 96 ).

As stated already, respiratory disorders are closely associated with the inhalation of air pollutants. These pollutants will invade through the airways and will accumulate at the cells. Damage to target cells should be related to the pollutant component involved and its source and dose. Health effects are also closely dependent on country, area, season, and time. An extended exposure duration to the pollutant should incline to long-term health effects in relation also to the above factors.

Particulate Matter (PMs), dust, benzene, and O 3 cause serious damage to the respiratory system ( 97 ). Moreover, there is a supplementary risk in case of existing respiratory disease such as asthma ( 98 ). Long-term effects are more frequent in people with a predisposing disease state. When the trachea is contaminated by pollutants, voice alterations may be remarked after acute exposure. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be induced following air pollution, increasing morbidity and mortality ( 99 ). Long-term effects from traffic, industrial air pollution, and combustion of fuels are the major factors for COPD risk ( 99 ).

Multiple cardiovascular effects have been observed after exposure to air pollutants ( 100 ). Changes occurred in blood cells after long-term exposure may affect cardiac functionality. Coronary arteriosclerosis was reported following long-term exposure to traffic emissions ( 101 ), while short-term exposure is related to hypertension, stroke, myocardial infracts, and heart insufficiency. Ventricle hypertrophy is reported to occur in humans after long-time exposure to nitrogen oxide (NO 2 ) ( 102 , 103 ).

Neurological effects have been observed in adults and children after extended-term exposure to air pollutants.

Psychological complications, autism, retinopathy, fetal growth, and low birth weight seem to be related to long-term air pollution ( 83 ). The etiologic agent of the neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's and Parkinson's) is not yet known, although it is believed that extended exposure to air pollution seems to be a factor. Specifically, pesticides and metals are cited as etiological factors, together with diet. The mechanisms in the development of neurodegenerative disease include oxidative stress, protein aggregation, inflammation, and mitochondrial impairment in neurons ( 104 ) ( Figure 1 ).

Impact of air pollutants on the brain.

Brain inflammation was observed in dogs living in a highly polluted area in Mexico for a long period ( 105 ). In human adults, markers of systemic inflammation (IL-6 and fibrinogen) were found to be increased as an immediate response to PNC on the IL-6 level, possibly leading to the production of acute-phase proteins ( 106 ). The progression of atherosclerosis and oxidative stress seem to be the mechanisms involved in the neurological disturbances caused by long-term air pollution. Inflammation comes secondary to the oxidative stress and seems to be involved in the impairment of developmental maturation, affecting multiple organs ( 105 , 107 ). Similarly, other factors seem to be involved in the developmental maturation, which define the vulnerability to long-term air pollution. These include birthweight, maternal smoking, genetic background and socioeconomic environment, as well as education level.

However, diet, starting from breast-feeding, is another determinant factor. Diet is the main source of antioxidants, which play a key role in our protection against air pollutants ( 108 ). Antioxidants are free radical scavengers and limit the interaction of free radicals in the brain ( 108 ). Similarly, genetic background may result in a differential susceptibility toward the oxidative stress pathway ( 60 ). For example, antioxidant supplementation with vitamins C and E appears to modulate the effect of ozone in asthmatic children homozygous for the GSTM1 null allele ( 61 ). Inflammatory cytokines released in the periphery (e.g., respiratory epithelia) upregulate the innate immune Toll-like receptor 2. Such activation and the subsequent events leading to neurodegeneration have recently been observed in lung lavage in mice exposed to ambient Los Angeles (CA, USA) particulate matter ( 61 ). In children, neurodevelopmental morbidities were observed after lead exposure. These children developed aggressive and delinquent behavior, reduced intelligence, learning difficulties, and hyperactivity ( 109 ). No level of lead exposure seems to be “safe,” and the scientific community has asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reduce the current screening guideline of 10 μg/dl ( 109 ).

It is important to state that impact on the immune system, causing dysfunction and neuroinflammation ( 104 ), is related to poor air quality. Yet, increases in serum levels of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM) and the complement component C3 are observed ( 106 ). Another issue is that antigen presentation is affected by air pollutants, as there is an upregulation of costimulatory molecules such as CD80 and CD86 on macrophages ( 110 ).

As is known, skin is our shield against ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and other pollutants, as it is the most exterior layer of our body. Traffic-related pollutants, such as PAHs, VOCs, oxides, and PM, may cause pigmented spots on our skin ( 111 ). On the one hand, as already stated, when pollutants penetrate through the skin or are inhaled, damage to the organs is observed, as some of these pollutants are mutagenic and carcinogenic, and, specifically, they affect the liver and lung. On the other hand, air pollutants (and those in the troposphere) reduce the adverse effects of ultraviolet radiation UVR in polluted urban areas ( 111 ). Air pollutants absorbed by the human skin may contribute to skin aging, psoriasis, acne, urticaria, eczema, and atopic dermatitis ( 111 ), usually caused by exposure to oxides and photochemical smoke ( 111 ). Exposure to PM and cigarette smoking act as skin-aging agents, causing spots, dyschromia, and wrinkles. Lastly, pollutants have been associated with skin cancer ( 111 ).

Higher morbidity is reported to fetuses and children when exposed to the above dangers. Impairment in fetal growth, low birth weight, and autism have been reported ( 112 ).

Another exterior organ that may be affected is the eye. Contamination usually comes from suspended pollutants and may result in asymptomatic eye outcomes, irritation ( 112 ), retinopathy, or dry eye syndrome ( 113 , 114 ).

Environmental Impact of Air Pollution

Air pollution is harming not only human health but also the environment ( 115 ) in which we live. The most important environmental effects are as follows.

Acid rain is wet (rain, fog, snow) or dry (particulates and gas) precipitation containing toxic amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids. They are able to acidify the water and soil environments, damage trees and plantations, and even damage buildings and outdoor sculptures, constructions, and statues.

Haze is produced when fine particles are dispersed in the air and reduce the transparency of the atmosphere. It is caused by gas emissions in the air coming from industrial facilities, power plants, automobiles, and trucks.

Ozone , as discussed previously, occurs both at ground level and in the upper level (stratosphere) of the Earth's atmosphere. Stratospheric ozone is protecting us from the Sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. In contrast, ground-level ozone is harmful to human health and is a pollutant. Unfortunately, stratospheric ozone is gradually damaged by ozone-depleting substances (i.e., chemicals, pesticides, and aerosols). If this protecting stratospheric ozone layer is thinned, then UV radiation can reach our Earth, with harmful effects for human life (skin cancer) ( 116 ) and crops ( 117 ). In plants, ozone penetrates through the stomata, inducing them to close, which blocks CO 2 transfer and induces a reduction in photosynthesis ( 118 ).

Global climate change is an important issue that concerns mankind. As is known, the “greenhouse effect” keeps the Earth's temperature stable. Unhappily, anthropogenic activities have destroyed this protecting temperature effect by producing large amounts of greenhouse gases, and global warming is mounting, with harmful effects on human health, animals, forests, wildlife, agriculture, and the water environment. A report states that global warming is adding to the health risks of poor people ( 119 ).

People living in poorly constructed buildings in warm-climate countries are at high risk for heat-related health problems as temperatures mount ( 119 ).

Wildlife is burdened by toxic pollutants coming from the air, soil, or the water ecosystem and, in this way, animals can develop health problems when exposed to high levels of pollutants. Reproductive failure and birth effects have been reported.

Eutrophication is occurring when elevated concentrations of nutrients (especially nitrogen) stimulate the blooming of aquatic algae, which can cause a disequilibration in the diversity of fish and their deaths.

Without a doubt, there is a critical concentration of pollution that an ecosystem can tolerate without being destroyed, which is associated with the ecosystem's capacity to neutralize acidity. The Canada Acid Rain Program established this load at 20 kg/ha/yr ( 120 ).

Hence, air pollution has deleterious effects on both soil and water ( 121 ). Concerning PM as an air pollutant, its impact on crop yield and food productivity has been reported. Its impact on watery bodies is associated with the survival of living organisms and fishes and their productivity potential ( 121 ).

An impairment in photosynthetic rhythm and metabolism is observed in plants exposed to the effects of ozone ( 121 ).

Sulfur and nitrogen oxides are involved in the formation of acid rain and are harmful to plants and marine organisms.

Last but not least, as mentioned above, the toxicity associated with lead and other metals is the main threat to our ecosystems (air, water, and soil) and living creatures ( 121 ).

In 2018, during the first WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, the WHO's General Director, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, called air pollution a “silent public health emergency” and “the new tobacco” ( 122 ).

Undoubtedly, children are particularly vulnerable to air pollution, especially during their development. Air pollution has adverse effects on our lives in many different respects.

Diseases associated with air pollution have not only an important economic impact but also a societal impact due to absences from productive work and school.

Despite the difficulty of eradicating the problem of anthropogenic environmental pollution, a successful solution could be envisaged as a tight collaboration of authorities, bodies, and doctors to regularize the situation. Governments should spread sufficient information and educate people and should involve professionals in these issues so as to control the emergence of the problem successfully.

Technologies to reduce air pollution at the source must be established and should be used in all industries and power plants. The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 set as a major target the reduction of GHG emissions to below 5% by 2012 ( 123 ). This was followed by the Copenhagen summit, 2009 ( 124 ), and then the Durban summit of 2011 ( 125 ), where it was decided to keep to the same line of action. The Kyoto protocol and the subsequent ones were ratified by many countries. Among the pioneers who adopted this important protocol for the world's environmental and climate “health” was China ( 3 ). As is known, China is a fast-developing economy and its GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is expected to be very high by 2050, which is defined as the year of dissolution of the protocol for the decrease in gas emissions.

A more recent international agreement of crucial importance for climate change is the Paris Agreement of 2015, issued by the UNFCCC (United Nations Climate Change Committee). This latest agreement was ratified by a plethora of UN (United Nations) countries as well as the countries of the European Union ( 126 ). In this vein, parties should promote actions and measures to enhance numerous aspects around the subject. Boosting education, training, public awareness, and public participation are some of the relevant actions for maximizing the opportunities to achieve the targets and goals on the crucial matter of climate change and environmental pollution ( 126 ). Without any doubt, technological improvements makes our world easier and it seems difficult to reduce the harmful impact caused by gas emissions, we could limit its use by seeking reliable approaches.

Synopsizing, a global prevention policy should be designed in order to combat anthropogenic air pollution as a complement to the correct handling of the adverse health effects associated with air pollution. Sustainable development practices should be applied, together with information coming from research in order to handle the problem effectively.

At this point, international cooperation in terms of research, development, administration policy, monitoring, and politics is vital for effective pollution control. Legislation concerning air pollution must be aligned and updated, and policy makers should propose the design of a powerful tool of environmental and health protection. As a result, the main proposal of this essay is that we should focus on fostering local structures to promote experience and practice and extrapolate these to the international level through developing effective policies for sustainable management of ecosystems.

Author Contributions

All authors listed have made a substantial, direct and intellectual contribution to the work, and approved it for publication.

Conflict of Interest

IM is employed by the company Delphis S.A. The remaining authors declare that the present review paper was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Car Air Pollution Problem Solution Essay

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Air pollution occurs when substances known as pollutants are in excess in the environment (What Is Air Pollution? n.d.). These substances are divided into two broad categories namely primary and secondary pollutants. Primary pollutants include carbon IV oxide and sulfur IV oxide that are emitted directly into the air.

On the other hand, secondary pollutants result after primary pollutants have undergone through chemical effects/reactions. An example of secondary pollutants is photochemical smog that results when fossil fuels like gasoline react with oxides of nitrogen gas in the presence of sunlight.

This process produces numerous chemicals, which are hazardous and highly toxic. Automobiles greatly contribute to air pollution, as they release fumes into the atmosphere. They also pollutes environment indirectly through the industries that manufacture their body parts, disposal, and refueling. Moreover, there is pollution that comes during refining and distribution of car fuels.

Automobiles, like cars, produce chemical compounds such as carbon IV oxide, which is a powerful greenhouse gas. On the other front, other components of car air pollution include dirty air, smoke, and smog. They cause difficulties in breathing, watery eyes and upon inhalation increases the risk of lung cancer.

Cars also pollute land; for instance, when their tires wear out, the particles remain in the soil. Further, cars cause water pollution when particles from their tires are washed into streams. At car wash points, the dirt from these vehicles gets into rivers and lakes thus causing pollution (Cars and Air Pollution n.d.).

The effluents are directed into streams of water like rivers, lakes, and oceans and, finally, human beings use them for domestic consumption. From the two broad categories of pollutants, from cars, there are four classifications of the pollutants, which include the following: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) or hydrocarbons, Carbon II Oxide (CO), Particulate Matter (PM), and Nitrogen Oxides (NO X ).

These chemicals have different lifespan while in the air (Car Pollution Facts n.d). For instance, some hang around for a few hours as others stay in air for thousands of years. The four classes of pollutants results when fuel, air, and spark interact/come together and water is released in the process.

Particulate Matters are particles from soot and metals. They are the reason behind the murky coloration in smog. In car air pollution, automobiles emit sulfur IV oxide, nitrogen oxides, and other hydrocarbons. Later, these pollutants react with other substances in the environment to form secondary pollutants. Hydrocarbons react with nitrogen oxides to form ozone at the ground level. Notably, this reaction occurs in the presence of sunlight.

Ozone causes reduction in capacity of the lungs, choking, and coughing (Car Pollution Facts n.d). Nitrogen oxides always weaken the defenses of the body against respiratory diseases like influenza and pneumonia. Cars and trucks are the major emitters of carbon II oxide from combustion of gasoline. This gas is colourless, odourless, and very poisonous. Further, NO 2 can prevent the flow of oxygen in the blood to other parts of the body like the brain.

Sulfur IV oxide (SO 2 ) are produced when cars burn diesel, which are sulfur containing fuels. SO 2 forms finer particles upon reacting with the environment hence causing great health risk to human population, animals, and plants. Additionally, car air pollution has toxics or hazardous air pollutants. They include benzene, 1, 3-butadiene, and acetaldehyde compounds (Cars, Trucks, & Air Pollution 2008). Again, CO 2 that is emitted by cars causes global climate change.

Historically, car air pollution is a common phenomenon across valleys and cities worldwide. The coming up of large cities and towns led to rise of industries; for instance, the car manufacturing industries. These industries released waste products into the environment.

This trend continued until nature could not cope up with the level of wastes in the atmosphere. These emissions concentrate in regions where they are emitted and can lead to adverse effects to human beings. For example, in December 1952, London experienced a smog event, which created a toxic atmosphere; the occurrence consequently proclaimed about 4000 human lives (Gow & Pidwirny 1996).

Currently, there are so many automobiles under the transport sector. Therefore, they cause air pollution through emissions during operation. In addition, air pollution comes from the manufacturing industries as they continue to supply vehicles in order to meet the increasing market demand, the distribution, and manufacturing of cars’ fuels.

Markedly, the manufacturing companies aim at maximizing profits by increasing their market sales each year. Government agencies have also failed in controlling this trend, as they view it as a source of tax and revenue for their daily operations. However, these funds are again used in controlling environmental degradation; as a result, the whole process has no benefits but limitations. Any effect on the environment affects all humanity irrespective of the actors.

Therefore, stringent measures should be put in place to avert such scenarios from occurring. In China, most of its carbon dioxide emissions come from cars. At present, the cars are cleaner than they were 30 years ago (Car Pollution Facts n.d.). On the other hand, the pollution level is determined by the miles that a car covers in a day, but not the type of cars that one owns. Today there are still more cars that are driven for long distances.

As a result, they burn many gallons of fuel. This situation needs solutions to control. California and China, for example, use over 80 million gallons of gasoline per day. A 600-acre lake of two feet deep can be filled with 400 million gallons of gasoline. Traffic idling also leads to 8 million gallons usage of fuel.

Car air pollution have numerous effects that it posses to the entire environment. The first instance is the effect on the size of babies that mothers in car-polluted areas deliver. After birth, such children experience stunted growth syndrome. The pollutants reduce the sizes of babies in these regions; this leads to health complications and can result to early infant deaths (Car Pollution Facts n.d.).

It also leads to premature births; the situation that makes it difficult for such babies to survive. Therefore, car air pollution does not only affect already born human persons but also affect the unborn/fetus. This observable fact is very serious therefore should be addressed from all perspectives in order to ensure healthy lives for all. The emissions can also cause severe respiratory and neurological infections in human beings.

For example, the small particles from nitrogen oxides can easily penetrate the humans’ respiratory systems into the lungs. These toxic substances settle in the lungs and disrupt the normal flow of air in and out of the lungs. If this situation persists, human beings develop lung cancer.

Car air pollution has toxics or hazardous air pollutants: therefore, breathing polluted air increases the probability of contracting heart diseases, bronchitis, and asthma (King 2011). On the other aspect, CO gas can block the smooth flow of oxygen into the brain; consequently, leading to brain complications. Car air pollution also damages the neurons that are responsible for learning and memorization of ideas.

Noticeably, these effects are perilous. In the US, close to 80 people die per day due car air pollution, while in Europe, over 300 people die due to the same effect. Notably, these infections are due to car air pollution that the human population can control if they collectively decide to act.

Moreover, car air pollution causes global warming. Global warming involves the change in climatic conditions of a given area, that is, abnormal high temperatures during the day and extremely low temperatures during the night, severe droughts, flooding instances and melting of glaciers. These conditions arise when CO 2 and other substances that trap heat are in the atmosphere.

They form a blanket-like structure that traps heat from the ground (King 2011). This continuous process increases the ground temperatures, as heat is unable to get into the outermost part of the atmosphere. This increase in heat waves, acidic oceans, and rising sea levels, clearly shows that global warming can disrupt the food chain.

This effect, then, leads to food insecurity, which is a basic need for all. Although cars can be comfortable and classy, their effects on the environment range wide to causing food insecurity. In addition, cars emit some particles that can get in contact with the ground and changes completely the acidity and alkalinity of the land. The change in pH of the soil makes it impossible for the continuous growth of crops (King 2011).

Evidently, the yield will greatly go down and even results to no yield. Again, agricultural lands will be rendered unproductive since the high acidity kills all the important organisms that support the growth of crops. Gases like sulfur IV oxide and nitrogen oxides cause acidic rain. This type of rain can kill living organisms in vegetations if it falls on their leaves and stem.

When the leaves are not available, plants cannot make their own food through photosynthesis (King 2011). The acidic nature withdraws water from all parts of the plants hence drying up. If this water falls on the skin of a human being, it forms a cold burn or scald due to withdrawal of water from the body.

In line with global warming, cars also emit bromine and chlorine-heavy substances that can deplete the ozone layer. The depletion enables ultraviolet rays to reach the earth surface. Further, there are fluids that cars use and are very toxic to humans for example, air-conditioning refrigerants and gasoline (King 2011). If disposed off wrongly, they get into the air and water systems. Coolants like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) have damaging effects on the ozone layer.

From the above discussion on the effects of car air pollution, it is essential to discuss vividly some of the solutions or mitigation measures that humans can adopt in order to avert/reduce these scenarios. Car air pollution ought to be controlled.

The whole world should ensure that their automobiles are electrified. Such vehicles do not release effluents into the atmosphere thereby maintaining the cleanliness of air. The National Aeronautics and Space Exploration (NASA) have tried to move towards this direction by making cars that use natural gas. The idea was initially meant to monitor the propelling of hydrogen in the Space Shuttle.

The automobile industry has borrowed the concept to develop the environmentally friendly cars. Besides, the engineers make the radial tires from larger chain materials thereby increasing their lifespan by over 10,000 miles (Lithium Battery Power Delivers Electric Vehicles to Market 2008). The purification of air and water using various methods helped in making them safe for human consumption. The effect reduced health problems that were posing a significant threat to the humankind, animals, and other properties/materials.

On the other front, using electricity will reduce overdependence on oil and even encourage continuous use of cleaner biofuels. Countries like Brazil and China have started using this technology and are saving billions of dollars that could have been spent at the gas pumps. In further reducing emissions, NASA has also developed vehicles powered by lithium batteries.

The fuel cell systems generate energy through electrochemical reaction. In this case, oxygen and hydrogen rich fuel coalesce to form water. Fuel cell systems provide opportunities that has outstanding benefits, including the non- combustion of fuel. Fuel cells eliminate greenhouse gases over the entire cycle. Hydrogen electrolysis is driven by renewable energy and therefore the degree of safety is highly enhanced.

The electric vehicles do not emit any effluent thus making them safer to the environment compared to other models. In the transportation sector, human beings can practice a culture of riding or walking to work, driving for short distances, or forgoing driving at least once a week. These practices help to reduce the amount of gas that is burnt during movements hence less oil will be used (Lithium Battery Power Delivers Electric Vehicles to Market 2008).

World governments should enact policies that ensure that the vehicle manufacturing industries supply the market with fuel-efficient cars. Such cars will use less gas to cover a given distance thereby improving the quality of air, ensuring public health protection, and reducing global warming emissions (Clean Vehicles 2012). The US federal government enacted a policy in 2002 that guides vehicle-manufacturing companies on the standards of vehicles that should be in the market until 2025.

Moreover, carbon dioxide in the air can be removed from the atmosphere through technological applications. Humankinds need to burn less coal, natural gas, and oil. The recycling of CO 2 from the atmosphere is an idea of geo-engineering. Some of the companies that have ventured in this initiative include Kilimanjaro Energy, Global Thermostat, and Carbon Engineering. The latter industry is in Canada while the first two are in Columbia.

These industries remove CO 2 from the air through chemical procedures (Gunther 2012). These startup companies also intend to find CO 2 markets in the oil industries. Oil industries use liquefied CO 2 to push oil remnants out of the barrel. In addition, these industries plans to build their carbon capture plants at a low cost of operation and construction. This innovative idea is similar to carbon credit, as they all intend to minimize emissions into the atmosphere.

There can be development of alternative sources of energy like wind, geothermal and solar. Along with this, there should be manufacturing of cleaner fuels. For example, using a mixture of gasoline and alcohol from fermented sugarcanes helps to minimize air pollution. This type of fuel, gasohol, is very friendly to the environment.

Apart from using food products, advanced biofuels can be obtained from agricultural wastes, grasses, and garbage. Cellulosic biofuels significantly reduce global warming emissions and provide a great opportunity for saving on oil (Transportation and Air Quality 2013). As the industries move towards producing an environmentally friendly fuel, there should be proper policies on disposal of used cars in order to minimize the cost of protecting the fauna and flora (Thumma 2000).

In addition, to ensure a clean environment, all humans should take the responsibility of monitoring their professional and personal lives. These solutions should start at an individual level for example by recycling wastes, reducing energy consumption, and decreasing CO 2 emissions from cars. This initiative is not only for corporate or government bodies but also for individual persons living in the society.

In conclusion, the adverse effects of car air pollution imply that serious and achievable steps should be taken to eradicate this menace. It requires unraveled commitment from all the sectors, since an act by one person will affect everybody.

For example, while vehicle-manufacturing companies target high profits from their sales, they should understand the ethical implications of protecting the atmosphere. Their actions will definitely increase their cost of protecting the environment. Organizations should carry out mass education among the human population so that the people can own the whole conservation process.

Moreover, a clean environment will support the growth of forests and crops that will support the growing population. Human beings will also experience less health complications that could result from car air pollution like obesity and asthmatic conditions. Therefore, for all to benefit, environmental protection remains an inclusive affair.

Car Pollution Facts., EVsRoll . Web.

Cars and Air Pollution., Environment Protection Authority . Web.

Cars, Trucks, & Air Pollution 2008, UCS: Independent Science, Practical Solutions: Union of Concerned Scientists . Web.

Clean Vehicles 2012, UCS: Independent Science, Practical Solutions: Union of Concerned Scientists . Web.

Gow, T. & Pidwirny, M. 1996, Photochemical Smog, Brooks Site . Web.

Gunther, M. 2012, Rethinking Carbon Dioxide: From a Pollutant to an Asset , Yale Environment 360: Opinion, Analysis, Reporting & Debate . Web.

King, J. 2011, How Does Car Pollution Affect the Environment & Ozone Layer, Green Living | National Geographic . Web.

Lithium Battery Power Delivers Electric Vehicles to Market 2008, NASA Spinoff Homepage . Web.

Thumma, W. 2000, What Can You Do to Reduce Pollution and Conserve Energy, Green Living | National Geographic . Web.

Transportation and Air Quality 2013, US Environmental Protection Agency. Web.

What Is Air Pollution? Environment Protection Authority .

• Global Warming: Fact or Fiction
• The Global Feedbacks of Greenhouse
• How Burning Fossil Fuels Affect the Nitrogen Cycle
• Air Pollution and Ecological Perspectives of the Atmosphere
• Acid Rain and Ozone Pollution
• Ways to Reduce Global Warming
• Global Warming: Facts and Arguments
• Global Warming: Consequences and Effects
• “Waste” by Wendell Berry
• Global Warming: Causes, Effects, Solutions
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• Chicago (N-B)

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Essay on Air Pollution

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Essay on Air Pollution in 150-250 words

Essay on air pollution in 300-400 words, essay on air pollution in 500-1000 words.

Air pollution is a pressing environmental issue that affects the health and well-being of both humans and the planet. It is the presence of harmful substances in the air, released by various sources such as industrial activities, vehicle emissions, and burning of fossil fuels.

Air pollution has detrimental effects on human health, contributing to respiratory diseases, allergies, and even premature death. It also damages ecosystems, leading to biodiversity loss and ecological imbalance. Additionally, air pollution contributes to climate change, as certain pollutants, such as greenhouse gases, trap heat in the atmosphere.

To combat air pollution, concerted efforts are needed at individual, community, and governmental levels. Implementing stricter emission standards for industries and vehicles, promoting the use of renewable energy sources, and investing in sustainable transportation are crucial steps. Furthermore, raising awareness about the impact of air pollution and encouraging sustainable practices, such as reducing energy consumption and promoting recycling, can make a significant difference.

Protecting air quality requires collective action and commitment to preserving the environment for future generations. By reducing air pollution, we can create cleaner and healthier environments, promote sustainable development, and safeguard the well-being of both humans and the planet.

Air pollution is a significant environmental issue that poses a threat to human health and the well-being of the planet. It occurs when harmful substances, such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds, are released into the air through various human activities.

The sources of air pollution are diverse and include industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, burning of fossil fuels, agricultural practices, and indoor pollution from cooking and heating. These pollutants not only contaminate the air we breathe but also contribute to climate change, leading to adverse effects on ecosystems and biodiversity.

The impacts of air pollution on human health are severe. Exposure to pollutants can lead to respiratory problems, such as asthma, bronchitis, and other chronic lung diseases. It can also increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, allergies, and even premature death. Vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions, are particularly at risk.

Air pollution also poses a threat to the environment. It can damage vegetation, impair water quality, and disrupt ecosystems. Acid rain, a consequence of air pollution, harms forests, lakes, and aquatic life. Pollutants released into the atmosphere contribute to the formation of smog and haze, reducing visibility and impacting tourism and outdoor activities.

Addressing air pollution requires a multi-faceted approach. Governments play a crucial role in implementing regulations and policies to reduce emissions, promote cleaner technologies, and enforce air quality standards. Industries need to adopt cleaner production practices and invest in sustainable technologies. Individuals can contribute by adopting sustainable transportation options, reducing energy consumption, and practicing responsible waste management.

Furthermore, promoting renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate air pollution. Raising public awareness about the impacts of air pollution and promoting sustainable practices in daily life is also essential.

In conclusion, air pollution is a pressing environmental issue with significant impacts on human health and the environment. It requires collective action at all levels to reduce emissions, promote sustainable practices, and protect air quality. By addressing air pollution, we can create cleaner and healthier environments, safeguard public health, and preserve the planet for future generations.

Title: Air Pollution – A Looming Environmental Crisis

Introduction :

Air pollution has emerged as a major environmental concern globally, posing significant threats to human health and the planet. It is the presence of harmful substances in the air, resulting from human activities and natural processes. This essay delves into the causes, impacts, and solutions to air pollution. By exploring the sources of pollution, health consequences, and mitigation strategies, we can better understand the severity of the issue and work towards a cleaner and healthier environment.

Causes of Air Pollution

Air pollution is primarily caused by human activities such as industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, burning of fossil fuels, and agricultural practices. Industrial processes release large amounts of pollutants into the air, including particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds. Vehicle emissions, particularly from automobiles and trucks, contribute significantly to air pollution, releasing pollutants like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, for electricity generation and heating purposes, also releases pollutants into the atmosphere. Additionally, agricultural practices involving the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and livestock contribute to air pollution through the release of ammonia and methane.

Health Impacts of Air Pollution

Air pollution has severe health consequences, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. Exposure to pollutants can lead to respiratory problems, including asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, causing cardiovascular diseases and increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Long-term exposure to air pollution has been linked to lung cancer, respiratory infections, and reduced lung function. Moreover, air pollution exacerbates allergies, triggers asthma attacks, and impairs lung development in children.

Environmental Impacts

Air pollution not only affects human health but also poses significant risks to the environment. It contributes to climate change by releasing greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat, leading to global warming and the disruption of ecosystems. Acid rain, a consequence of air pollution, harms forests, lakes, and aquatic life. Pollutants released into the atmosphere can also lead to the formation of smog and haze, reducing visibility and impacting tourism, outdoor activities, and overall quality of life. Additionally, air pollution has adverse effects on agriculture, damaging crops and reducing yields.

Mitigation Strategies

Addressing air pollution requires a comprehensive approach that involves governments, industries, communities, and individuals. Governments play a crucial role in setting air quality standards, implementing regulations, and monitoring compliance. They must promote cleaner technologies and renewable energy sources, incentivize industries to reduce emissions and enforce penalties for non-compliance. Additionally, governments should invest in public transportation systems, promote the use of electric vehicles, and adopt sustainable urban planning to reduce vehicle emissions.

Industries can contribute to pollution control by adopting cleaner production processes, investing in sustainable technologies, and implementing emission reduction strategies. Encouraging the use of alternative fuels, such as biofuels, and implementing energy-efficient practices can also mitigate air pollution.

Communities and individuals can play an active role in reducing air pollution by adopting sustainable practices. This includes reducing energy consumption, conserving resources, practicing responsible waste management, and using public transportation or carpooling. Raising awareness about the impacts of air pollution and promoting sustainable lifestyle choices can foster a collective effort in combating pollution.

Conclusion:

Air pollution remains a critical environmental issue that demands urgent action. By understanding the causes, impacts, and solutions to air pollution, we can work towards cleaner air and a healthier planet. Collaboration among governments, industries, communities, and individuals is necessary to implement effective mitigation strategies. Through the adoption of cleaner technologies, the promotion of renewable energy sources, and the practice of sustainable living, we can protect human health, preserve the environment, and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

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Essay on Air Pollution for Students: Check Samples of 100 Words to 250 Words

• Updated on  
• Jun 2, 2024

Essay on Air Pollution : Invisible but insidious, air pollution silently infiltrates our lives, impacting health, the environment, and future generations. Through this blog, let’s explore its roots, repercussions, and remedies, which are essential in our quest for cleaner, healthier skies. Essay writing here becomes more crucial, to raise awareness about air pollution’s dire consequences and drive action for cleaner air.

Table of Contents

• 1 10-Line Essay on Air Pollution
• 2 What are the Causes of Air Pollution?
• 3 What are the effects of Air Pollution?
• 4 Essay on Air Pollution: How to Tackle Air Pollution?
• 5 Essay on Air Pollution Sample (100 Words)
• 6 Essay on Air Pollution Sample (250 Words)

Quick Read: Essay on Child Labour

10-Line Essay on Air Pollution

Below mentioned is a 10-lined essay on air pollution:

• Air pollution is caused by harmful substances known as pollutants.
• The pollutant comes from various sources, like vehicle gasses, forest fires, and other human activities.
• The two biggest sources of air pollution are the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.
• Air pollution is harmful to humans because it can cause skin and respiratory diseases.
• Air pollution is equally harmful to plants and animals.
• Air pollution can also damage non-living things, such as ancient monuments constructed from marble and limestone.
• Air pollution leads to ozone layer depletion, climate change and global warming.
• Air pollution can damage ecosystems in forests.
• We must take effective steps to reduce air pollution.
• We can reduce air pollution by planting more trees and burning less fossil fuels.

What are the Causes of Air Pollution?

Air pollution is caused by various factors, including:

• Industrial Emissions: Factories and manufacturing processes release pollutants like chemicals and particulate matter into the air.
• Vehicle Emissions: Combustion engines in cars, trucks, and aeroplanes emit exhaust gases, including carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides.
• Burning Fossil Fuels: The use of coal, oil, and natural gas for energy generation and heating releases pollutants and greenhouse gases.
• Agricultural Activities: Pesticides and fertilizers release chemicals, while livestock emit methane.
• Deforestation: Cutting down trees reduces the planet’s capacity to absorb pollutants.
• Waste Disposal: Improper disposal of waste leads to the release of harmful substances into the air.
• Natural Sources: Volcanic eruptions, dust storms, and wildfires can also contribute to air pollution.

What are the effects of Air Pollution?

Air pollution poses severe health and environmental risks. Short-term exposure can lead to respiratory issues, eye irritation, and exacerbation of pre-existing conditions. Long-term exposure is linked to chronic diseases such as lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory disorders. 

Additionally, air pollution harms ecosystems, causing acid rain, damaging vegetation, and polluting water bodies. It also contributes to climate change by increasing greenhouse gas concentrations. Addressing air pollution is crucial to safeguard the human health and protecting the planet’s ecosystems and climate.

Essay on Air Pollution: How to Tackle Air Pollution?

Addressing air pollution is paramount for a healthier planet. By curbing emissions, adopting clean technologies, and fostering sustainable practices, we can safeguard our environment and public health. Here are some key points on how to tackle air pollution:

• Reduce Vehicle Emissions
• Improve Industrial Practices
• Plant more trees
• Reduce Indoor Air Pollution
• Promote Renewable Energy
• Encourage Sustainable Practices
• Raise Public Awareness
• Reduce Open Burning
• International Cooperation

Tackling air pollution requires a multi-faceted approach involving government policies, community engagement, and individual responsibility.

Must Read: Essay On Global Warming

Essay on Air Pollution Sample (100 Words)

Air pollution is a pressing environmental issue with far-reaching consequences. It occurs when harmful substances, such as particulate matter and toxic gases, contaminate the atmosphere. These pollutants result from various sources, including industrial emissions, vehicular exhaust, and agricultural activities.

The consequences of air pollution are severe, impacting both human health and the environment. Prolonged exposure to polluted air can lead to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular issues, and even premature death. Additionally, air pollution harms ecosystems, leading to reduced crop yields and biodiversity loss.

Mitigating air pollution requires collective efforts, including stricter emission regulations, cleaner energy sources, and promoting public awareness. By addressing this issue, we can safeguard our health and preserve the environment for future generations.

Essay on Air Pollution Sample (250 Words)

Air pollution is a pressing global issue that affects the health and well-being of people and the environment. It occurs when harmful substances, such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds, are released into the atmosphere. This pollution can have dire consequences for both humans and the planet.

First and foremost, air pollution poses a significant threat to human health. Particulate matter and toxic gases can enter the respiratory system, leading to various respiratory diseases like asthma and bronchitis. Long-term exposure to polluted air has also been linked to cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer, and premature death. Vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions are at higher risk.

Additionally, air pollution has adverse effects on the environment. It contributes to climate change by increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, leading to rising global temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events. Moreover, pollutants can harm ecosystems, contaminate water bodies, and damage crops, impacting food security.

The sources of air pollution are diverse, including industrial processes, transportation, agriculture, and energy production. To combat this problem, governments, industries, and individuals must take collective action. Implementing stricter emission standards for vehicles and industrial facilities, transitioning to cleaner energy sources, and promoting public transportation are essential steps in reducing air pollution.

In conclusion, air pollution is a critical issue that affects human health and the environment. Its detrimental effects on respiratory health and its contributions to climate change necessitate urgent action. By adopting sustainable practices and reducing emissions, we can mitigate the impact of air pollution and create a healthier and more sustainable future for all.

Ans. Air pollution is the contamination of air due to the presence of substances in the atmosphere that are harmful to the health of humans and other living beings, or cause damage to the climate or materials.

Ans. To prevent air pollution, reduce vehicle emissions by using public transport, carpooling, or opting for electric vehicles. Promote clean energy sources like wind and solar power. Implement strict industrial emissions standards. Encourage reforestation and green spaces. Educate the public about responsible waste disposal and advocate for clean energy policies.

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Essay on Vehicle Pollution for Children and Students in English

Table of Contents

Essay on Vehicle Pollution: An irrelevant element involved in the air which is harmful to the environment is called air pollution . In India, its biggest cause is vehicle pollution which creates many problems, including a lack of oxygen in the atmosphere that leads to breathing diseases for all the living beings and the major issue of global warming.

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Long and Short Essay on Vehicle pollution in India in English

On this crucial issue of vehicular pollution in India, we are presenting here various types of essays on vehicular pollution under different word limit to help you with the school/college assignments and exams. You can select any Vehicle pollution essay as per your need and interest:

Essay on Vehicle Pollution: Air Pollution Caused by Vehicles – Essay 1 (200 words)

A Vehicle has always been the prime necessity for the general public in India either it is scooter, motor cycle or car; it is not the time when having an own transport was treated as status symbol but nowadays it has become the need for everyone either in urban or rural areas to commute from one place to another.

Where some changes proves beneficial to a part of generation on the other side it become a curse for all world. For example invention of petrol or diesel fuelled vehicles. At this current time this world is living under the alarming rate of air pollution and the major cause of this crisis is the pollutants emitted from vehicles.

Air Pollution Caused by Vehicles

India is the country of 125 million people and is the biggest consumer of motor vehicles or automobiles. These vehicles either operated by petrol or diesels, extremely affect the environment and our ecosystem. Generally pollutants emitted from car are one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse emissions in the atmosphere. As we know that the whole world is under the fear of global warming and the biggest cause of it is the increasing level of vehicle pollution which needs a quick attention by all of us.

Automobile impact on environment is about 80 to 90%. According to Environmental Defence Fund (EDF) on-road vehicles cause one-third of the air pollution and all transportation causes 27 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.

Essay on Vehicle Pollution: Effects of Vehicular Pollution – Essay 2 (300 words)

Introduction

Pollution in big metropolitan cities is increasing day by day and main cause for this is pollution through vehicle apart from industry. As more people are shifting from small cities to big cities, numbers of vehicles are increasing and it deteriorating the air quality badly. Various diseases in big cities are due to the vehicle pollution.

Effects of Vehicle Pollution on the Environment

With the increase in number of vehicles, pollution from these automobiles is increasing drastically. Combustion of fuel in vehicle emits various gases such as Sulphur oxide (SOx), Carbon mono oxide (CO), Nitrogen Oxide (NOx), suspended particulate matter (SPM) etc. These gases are creating immediate and long-term effect on the environment. Immediate effect are on the human for developing health hazard and long effect are harming the environment by creating global warming, acid rain, imbalance in eco system etc.

These gases trapped the heat in the atmosphere and leading to increase in temperature of earth i.e. global warming. This increase in temperature affects ecology such as increase in sea level; destroy of natural landscapes, drought in many part of world, flood, Cyclone etc. These gases are depleting the Ozone layer; due to this Ultraviolet rays are easily reaching in atmosphere which is a source of various skin diseases. SOx and NOx in the atmosphere converts into acid during rain and destroy the crops, forest and other vegetation. CO2 concentration in the air is increasing and reached up to 400ppm at its alarming level.

Diesel vehicles are more prone to generate air pollution and create various diseases such as cough, headache, nausea, asthma and other respiratory problems etc. Earlier, lead was used in fuel to increase the efficiency of burning, however it was discontinued as it was releasing poisonous gases such as lead, benzene in atmosphere which was more harmful if inhale by any person.

Effects of vehicle pollution are increasing day by day with the increasing number of vehicles on the road. Effects of vehicle pollution are badly affecting the living beings on the earth and causing lots of health related problems. Slowly but surely, it may make the earth an unsuitable place for living; so, we must take it serious and run to stop the vehicle pollution by regarding all the possible solutions.

Essay on Vehicle Pollution: How to Control Vehicular Pollution – Essay 3 (400 words)

Pollution through vehicle is a big problem in world, especially in metropolitan city. Vehicles are increasing day by day due to urbanization and increase in income of people. Everybody wants to go by own car or other vehicles to avoid the crowd in public transport system.

How to Control Vehicular Pollution?

Here are few methods that the government are taking to control the vehicle pollution:

• Promoting of vehicle use with CNG fuel (Compressed Natural Gas) instead of Petrol and Diesel fuel. CNG are called green fuel i.e. pollution from CNG vehicle are very less in comparison to Petrol or Diesel.
• Regularly check up of pollution from vehicle through registered Authority.
• Promotion of Electric operated vehicle to reduce pollution.
• Phasing out of old or high polluted vehicles from the big city.
• Implementation of Euro-VI fuel in all over India progressively i.e. initially it was implemented in Delhi from April, 2018. In other big cities, it will be implementing till Dec, 2018. Euro-VI fuel will reduce the sulphur by 50 to 75 in Diesel engines.
• Government of India are working to introduce LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) as fuel, it will further reduce the pollution from vehicle.
• Government has taken initiative to introduce mass transport system i.e. number of buses increased, Metro in various cities, Infrastructure development, Improvement in Road network.
• Implementation of Automatic tag system in Toll booth so that vehicle can go easily without waiting in queue for toll.
• Creating the bypass across the big cities so that vehicle coming from one end will not need to pass through the city to go to other side. Recently Eastern Peripheral Expressway opened that will bypass the Delhi for trucks or buses, if they are not having any stoppage in Delhi. It will reduce the traffic situation as well as reduce the pollution and save time for the public.
• Delhi Government implemented the odd-even car to run based on their registration number on particular day.

Conclusion:

For the development of any country Urbanization is highly require but unfortunately it has been become possible at the cost of unwanted situation of air pollution all over the place. May be Causes are much enough for this drastic issue but there is always a solution to be execute.

Essay on Vehicle Pollution: Meaning, Causes, Effects and Solution – Essay 4 (500 words)

A major part of polluted air in atmosphere is because of vehicle and other means of transportation via water road or air. Vehicle pollution needs a quick attention to control over it in manner to save people’s health and to avoid global warming. In India some of its metro cities are under so much polluter air that it has become so difficult even to take breath by people over here. Situation is so worst that Bangalore has got the title of ‘asthma capital of India’.

Meaning of Vehicle Pollution

Vehicle pollution is the pollution caused by the types of vehicles running on the road. Vehicles need petrol or diesel as a fuel to get energy to run which emits various types of harmful gases in the environment after combustion. These harmful gases (carbon monoxide, unburned gasoline, lead, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, etc) get spread in the atmosphere and pollute the pure air thus cause air pollution. Air pollution caused by automobiles/cars/vehicles emissions is called as vehicle pollution.

Causes of Vehicle Pollution

It is clearly defines that cause of increased vehicle pollution is the increased population of country and thus rapidly increasing demand of cars, bikes, scooter or other vehicles. Urbanization is also the major cause for vehicle pollution. As people are continuously moving towards the urban cities from rural areas which lead the growing demand of vehicle on road day by day.

Petrol or diesel fuelled passenger vehicles emerges a huge amount of nitrogen oxide, carbon mono oxide, Sulphur oxide (SOx) in the air. Vehicles are responsible for the unwanted elements in atmosphere which directly or indirectly affecting the people and all living being on earth.

Effects of Vehicle Pollution

• Vehicle pollution is affecting our environment in various manners like it is making our atmosphere so harmful that to take breath under metro cities is like just to take slow poison from air.
• Multiple diseases are emerging or we can say growing in urban areas due to vehicle pollution.
• Pollution in air creates major effects on human health including animals and plants also it is badly harming our ecosystem which results in terms of global warming.
• Automobile industry is directly affecting 80 to 90% in atmosphere by emerging greenhouse gases which are a group of compounds that are able to trap heat in the atmosphere, like nitrogen oxide carbon mono oxide, Sulphur oxide (SOx).

Solutions of Vehicle Pollution

Vehicle pollution is a major environmental issue in India which need to be resolve as soon as possible for the sake of our future generation.

• Air Pollution due to vehicle can be control only by getting strict for traffic rules and by enhancing the quality of automobile and manufacturing industries.
• Proper care of tyres and fuel tank of any vehicles helps in less exhaust emission. Car pooling, use of transport buses, improved and proper road management, use of CNG operated vehicles instead of petrol or diesel always helps in reducing air pollution.
• Regular vehicle pollution check up from authorized centres is highly required also its time to remove old vehicles from cities and to introduce electrical operated vehicles in cities for transportation.
• To control over vehicle on road government has tried to do some efforts time to time by introducing some new traffic rules like odd-even policy in Delhi NCR which led to run vehicles based on their registration number on their specified day.

Problems has always its solution only we need is to search and apply the better one. In India the Vehicle pollution is at high risk that needs an attention and support by each and every person individually.

Essay on Pollution Due to Vehicles /Automobiles/Cars – Essay 5 (600 Words)

In this essay we are taking a serious issue of vehicle pollution in India which is require to solve at prime basis. As the number of vehicles increases it lead to increase of harmful emissions which directly affects in air quality. In India this issue has become so huge in some metropolitan cities that oxygen level has been decreasing rapidly in atmosphere.

Vehicles are always counted as responsible for the production of greenhouse gases these are calculated as 70% of CO2, 50% of HC, 30-40% of NOx, 30% of SPM and 10% of SO2 of the overall air pollution over cities.

Causes of Air Pollution Due to Vehicles

Now a day a vehicle has become the need of general public in cities because of the high distance destinations all over and to avoid the over loaded passengers vehicles like autos, buses and local trains. Urbanization is also biggest reason for the increasing air pollution in India.

• A huge amount of air pollution creates because of the petrol fuelled passenger vehicles as it emerges a significant amount of nitrogen oxide carbon mono oxide and others harmful element in air.
• A major part of air pollution about 35% in metro cities of India is because of automobiles, cars or other vehicle. Vehicle pollution causes polluted air in environment and results as a harmful impact on people’s health.
• Engine exhaust (diesel and gas) carries more than 40 dangerous air pollutants. Uncountable numbers of vehicles on road in metro cities of India are inducing a kind of poison in air which results in form of symptoms like cough, headache, nausea and asthma problems.
• Vehicles play an important role in the formation of ground level ozoneand Carbon monoxide (CO). This colourless poisonous gas is formed by the combustion of fossil fuels such as gasoline and is emitted primarily from cars and trucks.

Increased Demand of Automobiles in India

According to the data in year 2011, the urban population has increased up to 377million which was only 62 million in the year of 1951. Also adding to this, there were only 18 cities with a population of over 1 million in 1991 which is expended to 46 cities in 2012. This shows the unmanaged unplanned increased population rate and results in form of high demand of transportation and its consumption patterns.

There were about 8.9 million vehicles sold in between year of (2005-06) and it reaches 15 million in 2010-2011. In period of 2016-2017 for the first time in India Passenger vehicle sales crossed the three million mile stone with a growth of 9.23 per cent.

By the end of March 2017 domestic passenger vehicles (PV) sales were at 30, 46,727 units against 27, 89,208.

Domestic car sales during the year grew 3.85 per cent to 21, 02,996 units from 20, 25,097 units.

Motorcycles sales in 2016-17 were at 1, 10, 94,543 units compared with 1, 07, 00, 406 in the previous fiscal, up 3.68 per cent.

Scooter sales in 2016-17 were at 56, 04,601 units in comparison to 50, 31,678 in the previous fiscal, up 11.39 per cent.

Which shows that the number of vehicles sold in India is increasing fast during the past few years. At the end of discussion this all lead to the crucial problem of air pollution in environment due to vehicles, automobile and cars.

Air pollution due to vehicles in India has majorly affected the metro cities. Bangalore has become the asthma capital of the country and in Pune air pollution has become such a serious problem that the respiratory suspended particulate matter in the air is more than the standard national level.

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ENCYCLOPEDIC ENTRY

Air pollution.

Air pollution consists of chemicals or particles in the air that can harm the health of humans, animals, and plants. It also damages buildings.

Biology, Ecology, Earth Science, Geography

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Air pollution consists of chemicals or particles in the air that can harm the health of humans, animals, and plants. It also damages buildings. Pollutants in the air take many forms. They can be gases , solid particles, or liquid droplets. Sources of Air Pollution Pollution enters the Earth's atmosphere in many different ways. Most air pollution is created by people, taking the form of emissions from factories, cars, planes, or aerosol cans . Second-hand cigarette smoke is also considered air pollution. These man-made sources of pollution are called anthropogenic sources . Some types of air pollution, such as smoke from wildfires or ash from volcanoes , occur naturally. These are called natural sources . Air pollution is most common in large cities where emissions from many different sources are concentrated . Sometimes, mountains or tall buildings prevent air pollution from spreading out. This air pollution often appears as a cloud making the air murky. It is called smog . The word "smog" comes from combining the words "smoke" and " fog ." Large cities in poor and developing nations tend to have more air pollution than cities in developed nations. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) , some of the worlds most polluted cities are Karachi, Pakistan; New Delhi, India; Beijing, China; Lima, Peru; and Cairo, Egypt. However, many developed nations also have air pollution problems. Los Angeles, California, is nicknamed Smog City. Indoor Air Pollution Air pollution is usually thought of as smoke from large factories or exhaust from vehicles. But there are many types of indoor air pollution as well. Heating a house by burning substances such as kerosene , wood, and coal can contaminate the air inside the house. Ash and smoke make breathing difficult, and they can stick to walls, food, and clothing. Naturally-occurring radon gas, a cancer -causing material, can also build up in homes. Radon is released through the surface of the Earth. Inexpensive systems installed by professionals can reduce radon levels. Some construction materials, including insulation , are also dangerous to people's health. In addition, ventilation , or air movement, in homes and rooms can lead to the spread of toxic mold . A single colony of mold may exist in a damp, cool place in a house, such as between walls. The mold's spores enter the air and spread throughout the house. People can become sick from breathing in the spores. Effects On Humans People experience a wide range of health effects from being exposed to air pollution. Effects can be broken down into short-term effects and long-term effects . Short-term effects, which are temporary , include illnesses such as pneumonia or bronchitis . They also include discomfort such as irritation to the nose, throat, eyes, or skin. Air pollution can also cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea . Bad smells made by factories, garbage , or sewer systems are considered air pollution, too. These odors are less serious but still unpleasant . Long-term effects of air pollution can last for years or for an entire lifetime. They can even lead to a person's death. Long-term health effects from air pollution include heart disease , lung cancer, and respiratory diseases such as emphysema . Air pollution can also cause long-term damage to people's nerves , brain, kidneys , liver , and other organs. Some scientists suspect air pollutants cause birth defects . Nearly 2.5 million people die worldwide each year from the effects of outdoor or indoor air pollution. People react differently to different types of air pollution. Young children and older adults, whose immune systems tend to be weaker, are often more sensitive to pollution. Conditions such as asthma , heart disease, and lung disease can be made worse by exposure to air pollution. The length of exposure and amount and type of pollutants are also factors. Effects On The Environment Like people, animals, and plants, entire ecosystems can suffer effects from air pollution. Haze , like smog, is a visible type of air pollution that obscures shapes and colors. Hazy air pollution can even muffle sounds. Air pollution particles eventually fall back to Earth. Air pollution can directly contaminate the surface of bodies of water and soil . This can kill crops or reduce their yield . It can kill young trees and other plants. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide particles in the air, can create acid rain when they mix with water and oxygen in the atmosphere. These air pollutants come mostly from coal-fired power plants and motor vehicles . When acid rain falls to Earth, it damages plants by changing soil composition ; degrades water quality in rivers, lakes and streams; damages crops; and can cause buildings and monuments to decay . Like humans, animals can suffer health effects from exposure to air pollution. Birth defects, diseases, and lower reproductive rates have all been attributed to air pollution. Global Warming Global warming is an environmental phenomenon caused by natural and anthropogenic air pollution. It refers to rising air and ocean temperatures around the world. This temperature rise is at least partially caused by an increase in the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases trap heat energy in the Earths atmosphere. (Usually, more of Earths heat escapes into space.) Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that has had the biggest effect on global warming. Carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels (coal, gasoline , and natural gas ). Humans have come to rely on fossil fuels to power cars and planes, heat homes, and run factories. Doing these things pollutes the air with carbon dioxide. Other greenhouse gases emitted by natural and artificial sources also include methane , nitrous oxide , and fluorinated gases. Methane is a major emission from coal plants and agricultural processes. Nitrous oxide is a common emission from industrial factories, agriculture, and the burning of fossil fuels in cars. Fluorinated gases, such as hydrofluorocarbons , are emitted by industry. Fluorinated gases are often used instead of gases such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). CFCs have been outlawed in many places because they deplete the ozone layer . Worldwide, many countries have taken steps to reduce or limit greenhouse gas emissions to combat global warming. The Kyoto Protocol , first adopted in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997, is an agreement between 183 countries that they will work to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions. The United States has not signed that treaty . Regulation In addition to the international Kyoto Protocol, most developed nations have adopted laws to regulate emissions and reduce air pollution. In the United States, debate is under way about a system called cap and trade to limit emissions. This system would cap, or place a limit, on the amount of pollution a company is allowed. Companies that exceeded their cap would have to pay. Companies that polluted less than their cap could trade or sell their remaining pollution allowance to other companies. Cap and trade would essentially pay companies to limit pollution. In 2006 the World Health Organization issued new Air Quality Guidelines. The WHOs guidelines are tougher than most individual countries existing guidelines. The WHO guidelines aim to reduce air pollution-related deaths by 15 percent a year. Reduction Anybody can take steps to reduce air pollution. Millions of people every day make simple changes in their lives to do this. Taking public transportation instead of driving a car, or riding a bike instead of traveling in carbon dioxide-emitting vehicles are a couple of ways to reduce air pollution. Avoiding aerosol cans, recycling yard trimmings instead of burning them, and not smoking cigarettes are others.

Downwinders The United States conducted tests of nuclear weapons at the Nevada Test Site in southern Nevada in the 1950s. These tests sent invisible radioactive particles into the atmosphere. These air pollution particles traveled with wind currents, eventually falling to Earth, sometimes hundreds of miles away in states including Idaho, Utah, Arizona, and Washington. These areas were considered to be "downwind" from the Nevada Test Site. Decades later, people living in those downwind areascalled "downwinders"began developing cancer at above-normal rates. In 1990, the U.S. government passed the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. This law entitles some downwinders to payments of $50,000.

Greenhouse Gases There are five major greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere.

• water vapor
• carbon dioxide
• nitrous oxide

London Smog What has come to be known as the London Smog of 1952, or the Great Smog of 1952, was a four-day incident that sickened 100,000 people and caused as many as 12,000 deaths. Very cold weather in December 1952 led residents of London, England, to burn more coal to keep warm. Smoke and other pollutants became trapped by a thick fog that settled over the city. The polluted fog became so thick that people could only see a few meters in front of them.

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Air Pollution Essay in English for Students

Air Pollution Essay: Air pollution is a big problem everywhere. It occurs when harmful things are released into the air, usually from factories, cars, and other sources.

November 20, 2023

Table of Contents

Air Pollution Essay: Air pollution is a big problem around the world. It happens when harmful stuff gets released into the air, mostly from factories, cars, and other things. Even natural things like volcanoes and forest fires can make it worse.

Air pollution can make people sick, causing problems with breathing, the heart, and even cancer. It can also make rain acidic and create smog. Plus, it adds to global warming, which is not good for the planet. In this article we are going to cover air pollution essays with different word lengths. It will help students in the school essay writing competition.

Long and Short Essay on Air Pollution in English

Every day, the fresh air around us is getting dirty because of things like tiny particles, biological molecules, and other harmful stuff mixing in. This dirty air is causing health problems, making people sick, and sometimes leading to death. Air pollution is a big problem for our environment, and we all need to do something about it.

For students, it’s important to know about this issue, and that’s why essays about air pollution are becoming popular in writing competitions. If you’re a student looking to take part in such a competition, you’re in the right place. These essays on air pollution are written in simple English, using easy words, to help you understand and write about this important topic.

Air Pollution Essay 100 words

Air pollution is the presence of harmful substances in the air, leading to adverse effects on human health and the environment. It is a global issue that affects everyone, regardless of age, gender, or socioeconomic status. The primary sources of air pollution include industrial activities, vehicle emissions, and the burning of fossil fuels. Short-term exposure to air pollution can cause respiratory problems, while long-term exposure may lead to more severe health issues. To combat air pollution, individuals and governments must work together to reduce emissions and adopt sustainable practices.

Air Pollution Essay 150 words

Air pollution is a serious environmental problem that has far-reaching consequences. It occurs when harmful substances, such as particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide, are released into the atmosphere. These pollutants can have harmful effects on both human health and the ecosystem. Short-term exposure to air pollution can cause respiratory issues, eye irritation, and headaches. Long-term exposure is linked to more severe health problems, including cardiovascular diseases and respiratory disorders.

Human activities, such as industrial processes, transportation, and deforestation, contribute significantly to air pollution. To address this issue, it is essential to implement strict emission controls, promote renewable energy sources, and encourage sustainable practices. Additionally, raising awareness about the importance of air quality and its impact on health is crucial for fostering a sense of responsibility among individuals and communities. To fight air pollution, people and governments need to team up and cut down on emissions while grabbing eco-friendly practices.

Air Pollution Essay 200 words

Air pollution is a pressing environmental concern that poses significant risks to human health and the planet’s well-being. It is characterized by the presence of pollutants in the air, including gases, particulate matter, and toxic chemicals. Air pollution comes from different places, like industries, cars, and burning fossil fuels. It’s not just about breathing problems; it also harms the heart and makes life less enjoyable.

Particulate matter, consisting of tiny particles suspended in the air, is a major contributor to air pollution. These particles can penetrate deep into the lungs, causing respiratory diseases and aggravating existing health conditions. Ground-level ozone, another common air pollutant, can lead to respiratory problems and contribute to the formation of smog.

To combat air pollution, it is imperative to adopt sustainable practices and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Governments play a crucial role in enforcing stringent emission standards for industries and promoting public transportation. Additionally, individuals can contribute by using energy-efficient appliances, carpooling, and planting trees to improve air quality. By collectively addressing the root causes of air pollution, we can create a healthier environment for current and future generations. Planting trees and participating in community clean-up efforts further contribute to improving air quality at the local level.

Air Pollution Essay 250 words

Air pollution is a big problem that needs quick attention and complete solutions. It’s bad for people, nature, and the weather. The main things causing air pollution are factories, cars, farms, and burning fossil fuels. These things let out harmful stuff like carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and other chemicals into the air.

The consequences of air pollution are diverse, affecting respiratory health, cardiovascular function, and overall well-being. Children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of poor air quality. Prolonged exposure to air pollution can lead to chronic diseases, including lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory disorders.

In addition to its impact on human health, air pollution also poses a threat to the environment. Acid rain, a result of pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides reacting with atmospheric moisture, can damage soil, water bodies, and vegetation. Moreover, air pollutants contribute to climate change by influencing the Earth’s radiation balance and exacerbating global warming.

Addressing air pollution requires a multi-faceted approach involving government policies, technological advancements, and individual efforts. Governments must enforce and strengthen air quality standards, invest in renewable energy sources, and promote sustainable practices in industries. Technological innovations, such as electric vehicles and cleaner industrial processes, can significantly reduce emissions.

On an individual level, people can contribute by adopting eco-friendly lifestyles, reducing energy consumption, and supporting initiatives that promote clean air. Planting trees, which act as natural air purifiers, and participating in community efforts to raise awareness about air pollution are simple yet impactful steps individuals can take.

Air Pollution Essay 300 words

Air pollution, a global challenge with far-reaching consequences, continues to be a significant threat to human health and the environment. The sources of air pollution are diverse and include industrial activities, vehicular emissions, agricultural practices, and the burning of fossil fuels. These activities release pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter into the atmosphere, contributing to the degradation of air quality.

The impact of air pollution on human health is profound. Respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, and other health issues are linked to the inhalation of pollutants present in the air. Children, pregnant women, and individuals with compromised immune systems are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of air pollution. Moreover, long-term exposure to pollutants can lead to chronic conditions, reducing life expectancy and overall well-being.

In addition to its impact on human health, air pollution poses a serious threat to the environment. Acid rain, a consequence of pollutants reacting with atmospheric moisture, can damage ecosystems, harm aquatic life, and degrade soil quality. The release of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, contributes to climate change, leading to rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and sea-level rise.

Addressing air pollution requires a comprehensive and collaborative effort. Governments play a pivotal role in formulating and enforcing policies that regulate emissions, promote renewable energy sources, and incentivize sustainable practices. Stricter emission standards for industries, the promotion of public transportation, and the development of green spaces in urban areas are essential components of a holistic approach to combat air pollution.

Technological advancements also play a crucial role in mitigating air pollution. The development and widespread adoption of clean energy technologies, electric vehicles, and efficient industrial processes can significantly reduce emissions and lessen the environmental impact of human activities.

Individuals can contribute to the fight against air pollution through conscious lifestyle choices. Reducing energy consumption, practicing waste reduction, and supporting initiatives that advocate for clean air are ways in which people can make a positive impact. Planting trees and participating in community clean-up efforts further contribute to improving air quality at the local level.

Air Pollution Essay 400 words

Air pollution, a pervasive and urgent environmental challenge, poses significant threats to human health, ecosystems, and the planet’s overall well-being. It is characterized by the presence of harmful pollutants in the air, including gases, particulate matter, and volatile compounds. The sources of air pollution are diverse, encompassing industrial activities, transportation, agriculture, and the combustion of fossil fuels.

The consequences of air pollution on human health are wide-ranging and severe. Short-term exposure can lead to respiratory problems, eye irritation, and headaches, while long-term exposure is associated with more serious conditions such as lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory disorders. Vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions, face heightened risks from the adverse effects of poor air quality.

Beyond its impact on human health, air pollution poses a grave threat to the environment. Acid rain, a result of pollutants reacting with atmospheric moisture, can harm soil, water bodies, and vegetation. The release of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, contributes to climate change, leading to global warming, altered weather patterns, and rising sea levels.

To address air pollution effectively, a multifaceted approach is essential. Governments must play a proactive role in formulating and enforcing stringent environmental regulations. This includes setting and revising air quality standards, implementing emission controls for industries, and promoting the use of renewable energy sources. Investing in public transportation infrastructure, adopting sustainable urban planning practices, and incentivizing the development of clean technologies are crucial steps toward reducing the environmental impact of human activities.

Technological innovations also offer promising solutions in the fight against air pollution. The development and widespread adoption of electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies, and cleaner industrial processes can significantly reduce emissions and minimize the ecological footprint of various sectors. Research and development in air quality monitoring and pollution control technologies further contribute to our ability to tackle this global challenge.

Individuals, too, play an important role in combating air pollution. Adopting eco-friendly lifestyles, reducing personal carbon footprints, and supporting environmentally conscious businesses are ways in which individuals can contribute to cleaner air. Planting trees, participating in community clean-up initiatives, and advocating for sustainable practices in daily life further amplify the impact of individual efforts.

Education and awareness are key components of any successful strategy to combat air pollution. By informing the public about the sources and consequences of air pollution, we can foster a sense of responsibility and collective action. Educational programs in schools, community outreach initiatives, and media campaigns contribute to building a universal understanding of the importance of clean air and the role each individual can play in achieving it.

Air Pollution Essay FAQs

Writing an air pollution essay is a means of addressing the issues and proposing solutions related to the pollution of the air caused by harmful substances.

Air pollution is the presence of harmful substances in the air, such as pollutants and contaminants, which can have adverse effects on human health, the environment, and the overall quality of the air we breathe.

Common sources of air pollution include industrial activities, vehicle emissions, burning of fossil fuels, agricultural practices, and natural sources like wildfires and volcanic explosions.

Air pollution can harm ecosystems, contribute to acid rain, damage soil and water bodies, and adversely affect plant and animal life. The release of greenhouse gases from air pollution also contributes to climate change.

Individuals can contribute by using public transportation, carpooling, reducing energy consumption, and adopting eco-friendly practices. Planting trees and supporting clean energy initiatives are also effective ways to combat air pollution on a personal level.

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Air Pollution: Everything You Need to Know

How smog, soot, greenhouse gases, and other top air pollutants are affecting the planet—and your health.

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What is air pollution?

What causes air pollution, effects of air pollution, air pollution in the united states, air pollution and environmental justice, controlling air pollution, how to help reduce air pollution, how to protect your health.

Air pollution  refers to the release of pollutants into the air—pollutants that are detrimental to human health and the planet as a whole. According to the  World Health Organization (WHO) , each year, indoor and outdoor air pollution is responsible for nearly seven million deaths around the globe. Ninety-nine percent of human beings currently breathe air that exceeds the WHO’s guideline limits for pollutants, with those living in low- and middle-income countries suffering the most. In the United States, the  Clean Air Act , established in 1970, authorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to safeguard public health by regulating the emissions of these harmful air pollutants.

“Most air pollution comes from energy use and production,” says  John Walke , director of the Clean Air team at NRDC. Driving a car on gasoline, heating a home with oil, running a power plant on  fracked gas : In each case, a fossil fuel is burned and harmful chemicals and gases are released into the air.

“We’ve made progress over the last 50 years in improving air quality in the United States, thanks to the Clean Air Act. But climate change will make it harder in the future to meet pollution standards, which are designed to  protect health ,” says Walke.

Air pollution is now the world’s fourth-largest risk factor for early death. According to the 2020  State of Global Air  report —which summarizes the latest scientific understanding of air pollution around the world—4.5 million deaths were linked to outdoor air pollution exposures in 2019, and another 2.2 million deaths were caused by indoor air pollution. The world’s most populous countries, China and India, continue to bear the highest burdens of disease.

“Despite improvements in reducing global average mortality rates from air pollution, this report also serves as a sobering reminder that the climate crisis threatens to worsen air pollution problems significantly,” explains  Vijay Limaye , senior scientist in NRDC’s Science Office. Smog, for instance, is intensified by increased heat, forming when the weather is warmer and there’s more ultraviolet radiation. In addition, climate change increases the production of allergenic air pollutants, including mold (thanks to damp conditions caused by extreme weather and increased flooding) and pollen (due to a longer pollen season). “Climate change–fueled droughts and dry conditions are also setting the stage for dangerous wildfires,” adds Limaye. “ Wildfire smoke can linger for days and pollute the air with particulate matter hundreds of miles downwind.”

The effects of air pollution on the human body vary, depending on the type of pollutant, the length and level of exposure, and other factors, including a person’s individual health risks and the cumulative impacts of multiple pollutants or stressors.

Smog and soot

These are the two most prevalent types of air pollution. Smog (sometimes referred to as ground-level ozone) occurs when emissions from combusting fossil fuels react with sunlight. Soot—a type of  particulate matter —is made up of tiny particles of chemicals, soil, smoke, dust, or allergens that are carried in the air. The sources of smog and soot are similar. “Both come from cars and trucks, factories, power plants, incinerators, engines, generally anything that combusts fossil fuels such as coal, gasoline, or natural gas,” Walke says.

Smog can irritate the eyes and throat and also damage the lungs, especially those of children, senior citizens, and people who work or exercise outdoors. It’s even worse for people who have asthma or allergies; these extra pollutants can intensify their symptoms and trigger asthma attacks. The tiniest airborne particles in soot are especially dangerous because they can penetrate the lungs and bloodstream and worsen bronchitis, lead to heart attacks, and even hasten death. In  2020, a report from Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health showed that COVID-19 mortality rates were higher in areas with more particulate matter pollution than in areas with even slightly less, showing a correlation between the virus’s deadliness and long-term exposure to air pollution. 

These findings also illuminate an important  environmental justice issue . Because highways and polluting facilities have historically been sited in or next to low-income neighborhoods and communities of color, the negative effects of this pollution have been  disproportionately experienced by the people who live in these communities.

Hazardous air pollutants

A number of air pollutants pose severe health risks and can sometimes be fatal, even in small amounts. Almost 200 of them are regulated by law; some of the most common are mercury,  lead , dioxins, and benzene. “These are also most often emitted during gas or coal combustion, incineration, or—in the case of benzene—found in gasoline,” Walke says. Benzene, classified as a carcinogen by the EPA, can cause eye, skin, and lung irritation in the short term and blood disorders in the long term. Dioxins, more typically found in food but also present in small amounts in the air, is another carcinogen that can affect the liver in the short term and harm the immune, nervous, and endocrine systems, as well as reproductive functions.  Mercury  attacks the central nervous system. In large amounts, lead can damage children’s brains and kidneys, and even minimal exposure can affect children’s IQ and ability to learn.

Another category of toxic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), are by-products of traffic exhaust and wildfire smoke. In large amounts, they have been linked to eye and lung irritation, blood and liver issues, and even cancer.  In one study , the children of mothers exposed to PAHs during pregnancy showed slower brain-processing speeds and more pronounced symptoms of ADHD.

Greenhouse gases

While these climate pollutants don’t have the direct or immediate impacts on the human body associated with other air pollutants, like smog or hazardous chemicals, they are still harmful to our health. By trapping the earth’s heat in the atmosphere, greenhouse gases lead to warmer temperatures, which in turn lead to the hallmarks of climate change: rising sea levels, more extreme weather, heat-related deaths, and the increased transmission of infectious diseases. In 2021, carbon dioxide accounted for roughly 79 percent of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions, and methane made up more than 11 percent. “Carbon dioxide comes from combusting fossil fuels, and methane comes from natural and industrial sources, including large amounts that are released during oil and gas drilling,” Walke says. “We emit far larger amounts of carbon dioxide, but methane is significantly more potent, so it’s also very destructive.” 

Another class of greenhouse gases,  hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) , are thousands of times more powerful than carbon dioxide in their ability to trap heat. In October 2016, more than 140 countries signed the Kigali Agreement to reduce the use of these chemicals—which are found in air conditioners and refrigerators—and develop greener alternatives over time. (The United States officially signed onto the  Kigali Agreement in 2022.)

Pollen and mold

Mold and allergens from trees, weeds, and grass are also carried in the air, are exacerbated by climate change, and can be hazardous to health. Though they aren’t regulated, they can be considered a form of air pollution. “When homes, schools, or businesses get water damage, mold can grow and produce allergenic airborne pollutants,” says Kim Knowlton, professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia University and a former NRDC scientist. “ Mold exposure can precipitate asthma attacks  or an allergic response, and some molds can even produce toxins that would be dangerous for anyone to inhale.”

Pollen allergies are worsening  because of climate change . “Lab and field studies are showing that pollen-producing plants—especially ragweed—grow larger and produce more pollen when you increase the amount of carbon dioxide that they grow in,” Knowlton says. “Climate change also extends the pollen production season, and some studies are beginning to suggest that ragweed pollen itself might be becoming a more potent allergen.” If so, more people will suffer runny noses, fevers, itchy eyes, and other symptoms. “And for people with allergies and asthma, pollen peaks can precipitate asthma attacks, which are far more serious and can be life-threatening.”

More than one in three U.S. residents—120 million people—live in counties with unhealthy levels of air pollution, according to the  2023  State of the Air  report by the American Lung Association (ALA). Since the annual report was first published, in 2000, its findings have shown how the Clean Air Act has been able to reduce harmful emissions from transportation, power plants, and manufacturing.

Recent findings, however, reflect how climate change–fueled wildfires and extreme heat are adding to the challenges of protecting public health. The latest report—which focuses on ozone, year-round particle pollution, and short-term particle pollution—also finds that people of color are 61 percent more likely than white people to live in a county with a failing grade in at least one of those categories, and three times more likely to live in a county that fails in all three.

In rankings for each of the three pollution categories covered by the ALA report, California cities occupy the top three slots (i.e., were highest in pollution), despite progress that the Golden State has made in reducing air pollution emissions in the past half century. At the other end of the spectrum, these cities consistently rank among the country’s best for air quality: Burlington, Vermont; Honolulu; and Wilmington, North Carolina. 

No one wants to live next door to an incinerator, oil refinery, port, toxic waste dump, or other polluting site. Yet millions of people around the world do, and this puts them at a much higher risk for respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, neurological damage, cancer, and death. In the United States, people of color are 1.5 times more likely than whites to live in areas with poor air quality, according to the ALA.

Historically, racist zoning policies and discriminatory lending practices known as  redlining  have combined to keep polluting industries and car-choked highways away from white neighborhoods and have turned communities of color—especially low-income and working-class communities of color—into sacrifice zones, where residents are forced to breathe dirty air and suffer the many health problems associated with it. In addition to the increased health risks that come from living in such places, the polluted air can economically harm residents in the form of missed workdays and higher medical costs.

Environmental racism isn't limited to cities and industrial areas. Outdoor laborers, including the estimated three million migrant and seasonal farmworkers in the United States, are among the most vulnerable to air pollution—and they’re also among the least equipped, politically, to pressure employers and lawmakers to affirm their right to breathe clean air.

Recently,  cumulative impact mapping , which uses data on environmental conditions and demographics, has been able to show how some communities are overburdened with layers of issues, like high levels of poverty, unemployment, and pollution. Tools like the  Environmental Justice Screening Method  and the EPA’s  EJScreen  provide evidence of what many environmental justice communities have been explaining for decades: that we need land use and public health reforms to ensure that vulnerable areas are not overburdened and that the people who need resources the most are receiving them.

In the United States, the  Clean Air Act  has been a crucial tool for reducing air pollution since its passage in 1970, although fossil fuel interests aided by industry-friendly lawmakers have frequently attempted to  weaken its many protections. Ensuring that this bedrock environmental law remains intact and properly enforced will always be key to maintaining and improving our air quality.

But the best, most effective way to control air pollution is to speed up our transition to cleaner fuels and industrial processes. By switching over to renewable energy sources (such as wind and solar power), maximizing fuel efficiency in our vehicles, and replacing more and more of our gasoline-powered cars and trucks with electric versions, we'll be limiting air pollution at its source while also curbing the global warming that heightens so many of its worst health impacts.

And what about the economic costs of controlling air pollution? According to a report on the Clean Air Act commissioned by NRDC, the annual  benefits of cleaner air  are up to 32 times greater than the cost of clean air regulations. Those benefits include up to 370,000 avoided premature deaths, 189,000 fewer hospital admissions for cardiac and respiratory illnesses, and net economic benefits of up to $3.8 trillion for the U.S. economy every year.

“The less gasoline we burn, the better we’re doing to reduce air pollution and the harmful effects of climate change,” Walke explains. “Make good choices about transportation. When you can, ride a bike, walk, or take public transportation. For driving, choose a car that gets better miles per gallon of gas or  buy an electric car .” You can also investigate your power provider options—you may be able to request that your electricity be supplied by wind or solar. Buying your food locally cuts down on the fossil fuels burned in trucking or flying food in from across the world. And most important: “Support leaders who push for clean air and water and responsible steps on climate change,” Walke says.

• “When you see in the news or hear on the weather report that pollution levels are high, it may be useful to limit the time when children go outside or you go for a jog,” Walke says. Generally, ozone levels tend to be lower in the morning.
• If you exercise outside, stay as far as you can from heavily trafficked roads. Then shower and wash your clothes to remove fine particles.
• The air may look clear, but that doesn’t mean it’s pollution free. Utilize tools like the EPA’s air pollution monitor,  AirNow , to get the latest conditions. If the air quality is bad, stay inside with the windows closed.
• If you live or work in an area that’s prone to wildfires,  stay away from the harmful smoke  as much as you’re able. Consider keeping a small stock of masks to wear when conditions are poor. The most ideal masks for smoke particles will be labelled “NIOSH” (which stands for National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) and have either “N95” or “P100” printed on it.
• If you’re using an air conditioner while outdoor pollution conditions are bad, use the recirculating setting to limit the amount of polluted air that gets inside. 

This story was originally published on November 1, 2016, and has been updated with new information and links.

This NRDC.org story is available for online republication by news media outlets or nonprofits under these conditions: The writer(s) must be credited with a byline; you must note prominently that the story was originally published by NRDC.org and link to the original; the story cannot be edited (beyond simple things such as grammar); you can’t resell the story in any form or grant republishing rights to other outlets; you can’t republish our material wholesale or automatically—you need to select stories individually; you can’t republish the photos or graphics on our site without specific permission; you should drop us a note to let us know when you’ve used one of our stories.

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air pollution

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air pollution , release into the atmosphere of various gases , finely divided solids, or finely dispersed liquid aerosols at rates that exceed the natural capacity of the environment to dissipate and dilute or absorb them. These substances may reach concentrations in the air that cause undesirable health, economic, or aesthetic effects.

Major air pollutants

Criteria pollutants.

Clean, dry air consists primarily of nitrogen and oxygen —78 percent and 21 percent respectively, by volume. The remaining 1 percent is a mixture of other gases, mostly argon (0.9 percent), along with trace (very small) amounts of carbon dioxide , methane , hydrogen , helium , and more. Water vapour is also a normal, though quite variable, component of the atmosphere, normally ranging from 0.01 to 4 percent by volume; under very humid conditions the moisture content of air may be as high as 5 percent.

There are six major air pollutants that have been designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as “criteria” pollutants — criteria meaning that the concentrations of these pollutants in the atmosphere are useful as indicators of overall air quality. The sources, acceptable concentrations, and effects of the criteria pollutants are summarized in the table.

The gaseous criteria air pollutants of primary concern in urban settings include sulfur dioxide , nitrogen dioxide , and carbon monoxide ; these are emitted directly into the air from fossil fuels such as fuel oil , gasoline , and natural gas that are burned in power plants, automobiles, and other combustion sources. Ozone (a key component of smog ) is also a gaseous pollutant; it forms in the atmosphere via complex chemical reactions occurring between nitrogen dioxide and various volatile organic compounds (e.g., gasoline vapours).

Airborne suspensions of extremely small solid or liquid particles called “particulates” (e.g., soot, dust, smokes, fumes, mists), especially those less than 10 micrometres (μm; millionths of a metre) in size, are significant air pollutants because of their very harmful effects on human health. They are emitted by various industrial processes, coal- or oil-burning power plants, residential heating systems, and automobiles. Lead fumes (airborne particulates less than 0.5 μm in size) are particularly toxic and are an important pollutant of many diesel fuels .

Except for lead, criteria pollutants are emitted in industrialized countries at very high rates, typically measured in millions of tons per year. All except ozone are discharged directly into the atmosphere from a wide variety of sources. They are regulated primarily by establishing ambient air quality standards, which are maximum acceptable concentrations of each criteria pollutant in the atmosphere, regardless of its origin. The six criteria pollutants are described in turn below.

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• Air Pollution Essay

Essay on Air Pollution

Environmental changes are caused by the natural or artificial content of harmful pollutants and can cause instability, disturbance, or adverse effects on the ecosystem. Earth and its environment pose a more serious threat due to the increasing pollution of air, water, and soil. Environmental damage is caused by improper resource management or careless human activities. Therefore, any activity that violates the original nature of the environment and leads to degradation is called pollution. We need to understand the origin of these pollutants and find ways to control pollution. This can also be done by raising awareness of the effects of pollutants.

Air pollution is any physical, chemical, or biological change in the air. A certain percentage of the gas is present in the atmosphere. Increasing or decreasing the composition of these gasses is detrimental to survival. This imbalance in gas composition causes an increase in global temperature which is called global warming.

Introduction to air pollution 

The Earth and its environment are facing a serious threat by the increasing pollution of the air, water, and soil—the vital life support systems of the Earth. The damage to the environment is caused by improper management of resources or by careless human activity. Hence any activity that violates the original character of nature and leads to its degradation is called pollution. We need to understand the sources of these pollutants and find ways to control pollution. This can be also done by making people aware of the effects of pollutants. 

Air with 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, and 1% of all other gasses support life on Earth. Various processes take place to sustain the regular percentage of gasses and their composition in general. 

Atmospheric pollution can have natural sources, for example, volcanic eruptions. The gaseous by-products of man-made processes such as energy production, waste incineration, transport, deforestation and agriculture, are the major air pollutants.

Although air is made up of mostly Oxygen and Nitrogen, mankind, through pollution, has increased the levels of many trace gasses, and in some cases, released completely new gasses to the atmosphere. 

Air pollution can result in poor air quality, both in cities and in the countryside. Some air pollutants make people sick, causing breathing problems and increasing the likelihood of cancer. 

Some air pollutants are harmful to plants, animals, and the ecosystems in which they live. Statues, monuments, and buildings are being corroded by the air pollutants in the form of acid rain. It also damages crops and forests, and makes lakes and streams unsuitable for fish and other plant and animal life. 

Air pollution created by man-made resources is also changing the Earth’s atmosphere. It is causing the depletion of the ozone layer and letting in more harmful radiation from the Sun. The greenhouse gasses released into the atmosphere prevents heat from escaping back into space and leads to a rise in global average temperatures. Global warming affects the average sea-level and increases the spread of tropical diseases.

Air pollution occurs when large amounts of gas and tiny particles are released into the air and the ecological balance is disturbed. Each year millions of tons of gasses and particulate matter are emitted into the air. 

Primary air pollutants are pollutants, which are directly released into the air. They are called SPM, i.e., Suspended Particulate Matter. For example, smoke, dust, ash, sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide, and radioactive compounds, etc.

Secondary Pollutants are pollutants, which are formed due to chemical interactions between the atmospheric components and primary pollutants. For example, Smog (i.e. Smoke and fog), ozone, etc.

Major gaseous air pollutants include Carbon Dioxide, Hydrogen Sulfide, Sulfur Dioxide and Nitrogen Oxide, etc.

Natural sources are volcanic eruptions, forest fires, dust storms, etc. 

Man-made sources include gasses released from the automobiles, industries, burning of garbage and bricks kilns, etc.

Effects of Air Pollution on Human Health

Air pollution has adverse effects on human health. 

Breathing polluted air puts you at higher risk of asthma.

When exposed to ground ozone for 6 to 7 hours, people suffer from respiratory inflammation.

Damages the immune system, endocrine, and reproductive systems.

A high level of air pollution has been associated with higher incidents of heart problems.

The toxic chemicals released into the air are affecting the flora and fauna immensely.

Preventive Measures to Reduce Air Pollution

We can prevent pollution by utilizing raw materials, water energy, and other resources more efficiently. When less harmful substances are substituted for hazardous ones, and when toxic substances are eliminated from the production process, human health can be protected and economic wellbeing can be strengthened. 

There are several measures that can be adopted by people to reduce pollution and to save the environment.

Carpooling.

Promotion of public transport.

No smoking zone.

Restricted use of fossil fuels.

Saving energy.

Encouraging organic farming.

The government has put restrictions on the amount of fossil fuels that can be used as well as restrictions on how much carbon dioxide and other pollutants can be emitted. Although the government is attempting to save our environment from these harmful gasses, it is not sufficient. We as a society need to keep the environment clean by controlling the pollution of air.

FAQs on Air Pollution Essay

1. State the Causes of Air Pollution ?

The following are the causes of air pollution.

Vehicular pollution consisting of Carbon Monoxide causes pollution.

Emission of Nitrogen oxide by a large number of supersonic transport airplanes causes deterioration of the Ozone layer and also causes serious damage to the flora and fauna.

The release of Chlorofluorocarbons into the Stratosphere causes depletion of Ozone, which is a serious concern to animals, microscopic, and aquatic organisms.

Burning garbage causes smoke, which pollutes the atmosphere. This smoke contains harmful gases such as Carbon dioxide and Nitrogen oxides.

In India, brick kilns are used for many purposes and coal is used to burn the bricks. They give out huge quantities of Carbon dioxide and particulate matter such as smoke, dust that are very harmful to people working there and the areas surrounding it. 

Many cleansing agents release poisonous gases such as Ammonia and Chlorine into the atmosphere. 

Radioactive elements emit harmful rays into the air.

Decomposed animals and plants emit Methane and Ammonia gas into the air.

2. What Does Global Warming Mean?

Global warming is the gradual rising average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere due to the concentration of methane in certain toxic gasses such as carbon dioxide. This has a major impact on the world climate. The world is warming. The land and the sea are now warmer than they were at the beginning and temperatures are still rising. This rise in temperature is, in short, global warming. This temperature rise is man-made. The burning of fossil fuels releases greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere which capture solar heat and raise surface and air temperatures.

3. Name the Alternative Modes of Transport. In What Way Does it Help to Reduce Air Pollution?

Public transport could be an alternative mode of transport. Public transport like trains, buses and trams, can relieve traffic congestion and reduce air pollution from road transport. The use of public transport must be encouraged in order to develop a sustainable transport policy.

4. Mention other means of transportation! How can I help reduce air pollution?

Public transportation can be another mode of transportation. Public transport such as trains, buses and trams can reduce traffic congestion and reduce air pollution from road transport. The use of public transport and to develop sustainable transport policies should be encouraged. While one passenger vehicle has the convenience factor, other modes of transportation reduce travel costs, spend less time, reduce stress, improve health, and reduce energy consumption and parking. Other trips for work include walking/cycling, public transport, hybrid travel and transport.

5. What are the effects of pollution?

Excessive air pollution can increase the risk of heart attack, wheezing, coughing and difficulty breathing, as well as irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. Air pollution can also cause heart problems, asthma, and other lung problems. Due to the emission of greenhouse gases, the composition of the air in the air is disturbed. This causes an increase in global temperature. The damaging ozone layer due to air pollution does not prevent harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun, which cause skin and eye problems in individuals. Air pollution has caused a number of respiratory and heart diseases among people. The incidence of lung cancer has increased in recent decades. Children living in contaminated areas are more likely to develop pneumonia and asthma. Many people die every year due to the direct or indirect effects of air pollution. When burning fossil fuels, harmful gases such as nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides are released into the air. Water droplets combine with these pollutants and become acidic and fall as acid rain, which harms human, animal and plant life.

6. What is the solution to air pollution?

Production of renewable fuels and clean energy. The basic solution to air pollution is to get away from fossil fuels and replace them with other energies such as solar, wind and geothermal. The government limits the amount of fossil fuel that can be used and how much carbon dioxide and other pollutants it can emit. While the government is trying to save our environment from this harmful gas, it is not enough. We as a society need to keep the environment clean by controlling air pollution. To more in detail about air pollution and its causes. To learn more about air pollution and its impact on the environment, visit the Vedantu website.

Essay on Air Pollution for Students and Children

500+ words essay on air pollution.

Essay on Air Pollution – Earlier the air we breathe in use to be pure and fresh. But, due to increasing industrialization and concentration of poisonous gases in the environment the air is getting more and more toxic day by day. Also, these gases are the cause of many respiratory and other diseases . Moreover, the rapidly increasing human activities like the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation is the major cause of air pollution.

How Air Gets Polluted?

The fossil fuel , firewood, and other things that we burn produce oxides of carbons which got released into the atmosphere. Earlier there happens to be a large number of trees which can easily filter the air we breathe in. But with the increase in demand for land, the people started cutting down of trees which caused deforestation. That ultimately reduced the filtering capacity of the tree.

Moreover, during the last few decades, the numbers of fossil fuel burning vehicle increased rapidly which increased the number of pollutants in the air .

Causes Of Air Pollution

Its causes include burning of fossil fuel and firewood, smoke released from factories , volcanic eruptions, forest fires, bombardment, asteroids, CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons), carbon oxides and many more.

Besides, there are some other air pollutants like industrial waste, agricultural waste, power plants, thermal nuclear plants, etc.

Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect is also the cause of air pollution because air pollution produces the gases that greenhouse involves. Besides, it increases the temperature of earth surface so much that the polar caps are melting and most of the UV rays are easily penetrating the surface of the earth.

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Effects Of Air Pollution On Health

Moreover, it increases the rate of aging of lungs, decreases lungs function, damage cells in the respiratory system.

Ways To Reduce Air Pollution

Although the level of air pollution has reached a critical point. But, there are still ways by which we can reduce the number of air pollutants from the air.

Reforestation- The quality of air can be improved by planting more and more trees as they clean and filter the air.

Policy for industries- Strict policy for industries related to the filter of gases should be introduced in the countries. So, we can minimize the toxins released from factories.

Use of eco-friendly fuel-  We have to adopt the usage of Eco-friendly fuels such as LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas), CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), bio-gas, and other eco-friendly fuels. So, we can reduce the amount of harmful toxic gases.

To sum it up, we can say that the air we breathe is getting more and more polluted day by day. The biggest contribution to the increase in air pollution is of fossil fuels which produce nitric and sulphuric oxides. But, humans have taken this problem seriously and are devotedly working to eradicate the problem that they have created.

Above all, many initiatives like plant trees, use of eco-friendly fuel are promoted worldwide.

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Air polution is dangerous to humans. What are the main causes of air pollution? What can be done about it?

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Tourist -positive or negetive development..it has become easier and more affordable for people to travel to other countries ,do you think it is a positive or negetive development ? Give your opinion and revent examples from your experience

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Vehicle pollution Essay

An irrelevant element involved in the air which is harmful for environment is called air pollution. In India, its biggest cause is due to vehicle pollution which creates many problems including lack of oxygen in the atmosphere that leads to breathing diseases for all the living beings and the major issue of global warming.

Long and Short Essay on Vehicle pollution in India in English

On this crucial issue of vehicular pollution in India, we are presenting here various types of essays on vehicular pollution under different word limit to help you with the school/college assignments and exams. You can select any Vehicle pollution essay as per your need and interest:

Essay on Air Pollution Caused by Vehicles – Essay 1 (200 words)

A Vehicle has always been the prime necessity for the general public in India either it is scooter, motor cycle or car; it is not the time when having an own transport was treated as status symbol but nowadays it has become the need for everyone either in urban or rural areas to commute from one place to another.

Where some changes proves beneficial to a part of generation on the other side it become a curse for all world. For example invention of petrol or diesel fuelled vehicles. At this current time this world is living under the alarming rate of air pollution and the major cause of this crisis is the pollutants emitted from vehicles.

Air Pollution Caused by Vehicles

India is the country of 125 million people and is the biggest consumer of motor vehicles or automobiles. These vehicles either operated by petrol or diesels, extremely affect the environment and our ecosystem. Generally pollutants emitted from car are one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse emissions in the atmosphere. As we know that the whole world is under the fear of global warming and the biggest cause of it is the increasing level of vehicle pollution which needs a quick attention by all of us.

Automobile impact on environment is about 80 to 90%. According to Environmental Defence Fund (EDF) on-road vehicles cause one-third of the air pollution and all transportation causes 27 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.

Essay on Effects of Vehicular Pollution – Essay 2 (300 words)

Introduction

Pollution in big metropolitan cities is increasing day by day and main cause for this is pollution through vehicle apart from industry. As more people are shifting from small cities to big cities, numbers of vehicles are increasing and it deteriorating the air quality badly. Various diseases in big cities are due to the vehicle pollution.

Effects of Vehicle Pollution on the Environment

With the increase in number of vehicles, pollution from these automobiles is increasing drastically. Combustion of fuel in vehicle emits various gases such as Sulphur oxide (SOx), Carbon mono oxide (CO), Nitrogen Oxide (NOx), suspended particulate matter (SPM) etc. These gases are creating immediate and long-term effect on the environment. Immediate effect are on the human for developing health hazard and long effect are harming the environment by creating global warming, acid rain, imbalance in eco system etc.

These gases trapped the heat in the atmosphere and leading to increase in temperature of earth i.e. global warming. This increase in temperature affects ecology such as increase in sea level; destroy of natural landscapes, drought in many part of world, flood, Cyclone etc. These gases are depleting the Ozone layer; due to this Ultraviolet rays are easily reaching in atmosphere which is a source of various skin diseases. SOx and NOx in the atmosphere converts into acid during rain and destroy the crops, forest and other vegetation. CO2 concentration in the air is increasing and reached up to 400ppm at its alarming level.

Diesel vehicles are more prone to generate air pollution and create various diseases such as cough, headache, nausea, asthma and other respiratory problems etc. Earlier, lead was used in fuel to increase the efficiency of burning, however it was discontinued as it was releasing poisonous gases such as lead, benzene in atmosphere which was more harmful if inhale by any person.

Effects of vehicle pollution are increasing day by day with the increasing number of vehicles on the road. Effects of vehicle pollution are badly affecting the living beings on the earth and causing lots of health related problems. Slowly but surely, it may make the earth an unsuitable place for living; so, we must take it serious and run to stop the vehicle pollution by regarding all the possible solutions.

Essay on How to Control Vehicular Pollution – Essay 3 (400 words)

Pollution through vehicle is a big problem in world, especially in metropolitan city. Vehicles are increasing day by day due to urbanization and increase in income of people. Everybody wants to go by own car or other vehicles to avoid the crowd in public transport system.

How to Control Vehicular Pollution

Here are few methods that the government are taking to control the vehicle pollution:

• Promoting of vehicle use with CNG fuel (Compressed Natural Gas) instead of Petrol and Diesel fuel. CNG are called green fuel i.e. pollution from CNG vehicle are very less in comparison to Petrol or Diesel.
• Regularly check up of pollution from vehicle through registered Authority.
• Promotion of Electric operated vehicle to reduce pollution.
• Phasing out of old or high polluted vehicles from the big city.
• Implementation of Euro-VI fuel in all over India progressively i.e. initially it was implemented in Delhi from April, 2018. In other big cities, it will be implementing till Dec, 2018. Euro-VI fuel will reduce the sulphur by 50 to 75 in Diesel engines.
• Government of India are working to introduce LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) as fuel, it will further reduce the pollution from vehicle.
• Government has taken initiative to introduce mass transport system i.e. number of buses increased, Metro in various cities, Infrastructure development, Improvement in Road network.
• Implementation of Automatic tag system in Toll booth so that vehicle can go easily without waiting in queue for toll.
• Creating the bypass across the big cities so that vehicle coming from one end will not need to pass through the city to go to other side. Recently Eastern Peripheral Expressway opened that will bypass the Delhi for trucks or buses, if they are not having any stoppage in Delhi. It will reduce the traffic situation as well as reduce the pollution and save time for the public.
• Delhi Government implemented the odd-even car to run based on their registration number on particular day.

Conclusion:

For the development of any country Urbanization is highly require but unfortunately it has been become possible at the cost of unwanted situation of air pollution all over the place. May be Causes are much enough for this drastic issue but there is always a solution to be execute.

Essay on Vehicle Pollution: Meaning, Causes, Effects and Solution – Essay 4 (500 words)

A major part of polluted air in atmosphere is because of vehicle and other means of transportation via water road or air. Vehicle pollution needs a quick attention to control over it in manner to save people’s health and to avoid global warming. In India some of its metro cities are under so much polluter air that it has become so difficult even to take breath by people over here. Situation is so worst that Bangalore has got the title of ‘asthma capital of India’.

Meaning of Vehicle Pollution

Vehicle pollution is the pollution caused by the types of vehicles running on the road. Vehicles need petrol or diesel as a fuel to get energy to run which emits various types of harmful gases in the environment after combustion. These harmful gases (carbon monoxide, unburned gasoline, lead, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, etc) get spread in the atmosphere and pollute the pure air thus cause air pollution. Air pollution caused by automobiles/cars/vehicles emissions is called as vehicle pollution.

Causes of Vehicle Pollution

It is clearly defines that cause of increased vehicle pollution is the increased population of country and thus rapidly increasing demand of cars, bikes, scooter or other vehicles. Urbanization is also the major cause for vehicle pollution. As people are continuously moving towards the urban cities from rural areas which lead the growing demand of vehicle on road day by day.

Petrol or diesel fuelled passenger vehicles emerges a huge amount of nitrogen oxide, carbon mono oxide, Sulphur oxide (SOx) in the air. Vehicles are responsible for the unwanted elements in atmosphere which directly or indirectly affecting the people and all living being on earth.

Effects of Vehicle Pollution

• Vehicle pollution is affecting our environment in various manners like it is making our atmosphere so harmful that to take breath under metro cities is like just to take slow poison from air.
• Multiple diseases are emerging or we can say growing in urban areas due to vehicle pollution.
• Pollution in air creates major effects on human health including animals and plants also it is badly harming our ecosystem which results in terms of global warming.
• Automobile industry is directly affecting 80 to 90% in atmosphere by emerging greenhouse gases which are a group of compounds that are able to trap heat in the atmosphere, like nitrogen oxide carbon mono oxide, Sulphur oxide (SOx).

Solutions of Vehicle Pollution

Vehicle pollution is a major environmental issue in India which need to be resolve as soon as possible for the sake of our future generation.

• Air Pollution due to vehicle can be control only by getting strict for traffic rules and by enhancing the quality of automobile and manufacturing industries.
• Proper care of tyres and fuel tank of any vehicles helps in less exhaust emission. Car pooling, use of transport buses, improved and proper road management, use of CNG operated vehicles instead of petrol or diesel always helps in reducing air pollution.
• Regular vehicle pollution check up from authorized centres is highly required also its time to remove old vehicles from cities and to introduce electrical operated vehicles in cities for transportation.
• To control over vehicle on road government has tried to do some efforts time to time by introducing some new traffic rules like odd-even policy in Delhi NCR which led to run vehicles based on their registration number on their specified day.

Problems has always its solution only we need is to search and apply the better one. In India the Vehicle pollution is at high risk that needs an attention and support by each and every person individually.

Essay on Pollution Due to Vehicles /Automobiles/Cars – Essay 5 (600 Words)

In this essay we are taking a serious issue of vehicle pollution in India which is require to solve at prime basis. As the number of vehicles increases it lead to increase of harmful emissions which directly affects in air quality. In India this issue has become so huge in some metropolitan cities that oxygen level has been decreasing rapidly in atmosphere.

Vehicles are always counted as responsible for the production of greenhouse gases these are calculated as 70% of CO2, 50% of HC, 30-40% of NOx, 30% of SPM and 10% of SO2 of the overall air pollution over cities.

Causes of Air Pollution Due to Vehicles

Now a day a vehicle has become the need of general public in cities because of the high distance destinations all over and to avoid the over loaded passengers vehicles like autos, buses and local trains. Urbanization is also biggest reason for the increasing air pollution in India.

• A huge amount of air pollution creates because of the petrol fuelled passenger vehicles as it emerges a significant amount of nitrogen oxide carbon mono oxide and others harmful element in air.
• A major part of air pollution about 35% in metro cities of India is because of automobiles, cars or other vehicle. Vehicle pollution causes polluted air in environment and results as a harmful impact on people’s health.
• Engine exhaust (diesel and gas) carries more than 40 dangerous air pollutants. Uncountable numbers of vehicles on road in metro cities of India are inducing a kind of poison in air which results in form of symptoms like cough, headache, nausea and asthma problems.
• Vehicles play an important role in the formation of ground level ozoneand Carbon monoxide (CO). This colourless poisonous gas is formed by the combustion of fossil fuels such as gasoline and is emitted primarily from cars and trucks.

Increased Demand of Automobiles in India

According to the data in year 2011, the urban population has increased up to 377million which was only 62 million in the year of 1951. Also adding to this, there were only 18 cities with a population of over 1 million in 1991 which is expended to 46 cities in 2012. This shows the unmanaged unplanned increased population rate and results in form of high demand of transportation and its consumption patterns.

There were about 8.9 million vehicles sold in between year of (2005-06) and it reaches 15 million in 2010-2011. In period of 2016-2017 for the first time in India Passenger vehicle sales crossed the three million mile stone with a growth of 9.23 per cent.

By the end of March 2017 domestic passenger vehicles (PV) sales were at 30, 46,727 units against 27, 89,208.

Domestic car sales during the year grew 3.85 per cent to 21, 02,996 units from 20, 25,097 units.

Motorcycles sales in 2016-17 were at 1, 10, 94,543 units compared with 1, 07, 00, 406 in the previous fiscal, up 3.68 per cent.

Scooter sales in 2016-17 were at 56, 04,601 units in comparison to 50, 31,678 in the previous fiscal, up 11.39 per cent.

Which shows that the number of vehicles sold in India is increasing fast during the past few years. At the end of discussion this all lead to the crucial problem of air pollution in environment due to vehicles, automobile and cars.

Air pollution due to vehicles in India has majorly affected the metro cities. Bangalore has become the asthma capital of the country and in Pune air pollution has become such a serious problem that the respiratory suspended particulate matter in the air is more than the standard national level.

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Home — Essay Samples — Science — Electric Car — Environmental Benefits and Challenges of Electric Vehicles

Environmental Benefits and Challenges of Electric Vehicles

• Categories: Electric Car

About this sample

Words: 951 |

Published: Jan 30, 2024

Words: 951 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Table of contents

Background information on electric vehicles (evs), environmental benefits of electric vehicles, environmental challenges of electric vehicles, comparative analysis of evs and icevs, government policies and incentives promoting evs, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy sources for charging evs, decreased dependence on fossil fuels, manufacturing and disposal of batteries, energy sources used for electricity generation, life cycle analysis, emissions and pollution.

• Union of Concerned Scientists. (2021). Clean Vehicles. https://www.ucsusa.org/clean-vehicles
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory. (2013). Solar-Powered Electric Vehicles. https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy13osti/57128.pdf
• International Energy Agency. (2020). Global EV Outlook 2020. https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2020
• International Council on Clean Transportation. (2021). Policies to promote electric vehicles around the world. https://theicct.org/publications/global-ev-policy-landscape-2021

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That treatment was from a nonprofit called n-Lorem, an organization founded by former Ionis CEO Stanley Crooke. Using the technology behind Ionis’ commercial gene therapy Spinraza, a treatment for spinal muscular atrophy, Crooke is hoping to craft bespoke treatments for patients with ultra-rare diseases for free. So far, the organization has treated 10 patients. But how can these treatments possibly scale to all the patients living with devastating ultra-rare diseases? Read more in Jonathan Wosen’s story .

FTC shuts down genital-picture-based AI app

Earlier this year, STAT’s Lizzy Lawrence brought us news of a troubling pair of apps: HeHealth and Calmara, meant to identify sexually transmitted diseases from photos of users’ (in the case of HeHealth) or users’ partners’ genitals (in the case of Calmara). However, there was little proof the tool actually worked, lulling users into a false sense of security, or — as it may be — panic.

The app was permitted because it fell into an FDA gray zone, claiming to be a “lifestyle product” rather than a diagnostic medical device.

However, the FTC got to the apps before the FDA did. In June, the FTC began investigating the company’s exaggerated marketing, and in July it got the company to agree to shut down the apps and delete personal user information, saying that the company didn’t have enough evidence for its health-based claims.

Read about the penis-scanning AI company here , and more from Lizzy on the apps’ shutdown here .

How ecstasy (might) become a therapeutic drug

By Sunday, the FDA is expected to rule on whether MDMA, in conjunction with therapy, can be used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. The road to approving the psychedelic drug has been a long one, fraught by questions and setbacks.

In June, a FDA advisory panel voted against recommending the agency approve the drug, doubting the strength of the studies showing it worked. Onlookers are concerned that the trial data didn’t properly reflect participants’ thoughts of suicide . Former employees of Lykos, the company seeking the FDA approval, said the hype around the drug sometimes interfered with the scientific process in its drug trials.

“If we get an approval, there’s still work to be done. If the FDA delays its decision, there’s work to be done. Regardless of the outcome, we’ll still continue forward,” Blair Clark-Schoeb, Lykos’ chief communications officer, told STAT this week.

Ahead of the decision, STAT’s Olivia Goldhill and Meghana Keshavan answer common questions about how MDMA works , its risks, and the arguments for and against its approval.

What we’re reading

• Doctors can now save very premature babies. Most hospitals don’t try, Wall Street Journal
• No hands, please: We’re Dutch, New York Times
• How experiencing famine in the womb may shape people’s health as adults, STAT
• How an anti-abortion doctor joined Texas’ maternal mortality committee, Texas Tribune
• Africa’s new force in genomics, Science
• Medicine needs fiction, especially now, STAT

About the Author Reprints

Brittany trang.

Health Tech Reporter

Brittany Trang, Ph.D., is a health tech reporter at STAT. Follow her on Threads , Mastodon , and Bluesky .

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Pharmaceuticals

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