Air Is Contaminated With Pollutants
More than 99 percent of the air we breathe is made up of inert gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, and water vapour. Air pollution occurs when substances that are not normally present in the air are introduced. The most common form of pollution in the atmosphere is caused by the combustion of fossil fuels by humans. There are millions of microscopic particles floating in the air that resemble soot.
Air pollution is also a major source of dangerous gases, such as hydrogen sulphide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and chemical vapours. Acid rain and smog may form as a result of these chemicals making their way into the atmosphere. Secondhand smoke, for example, can also be a source of air pollution in a building.
Carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide, two greenhouse gases that warm the Earth due to the greenhouse effect, can also pollute the air. Greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation from the Earth’s atmosphere, preventing heat from being released into the atmosphere, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Our environment is kept warm by this naturally occurring phenomenon. Climate change can occur when too many gases are pumped into the atmosphere, according to Columbia University.
More than two million people die each year as a direct result of air pollution, according to a study published in the journal Environmental Research Letters. This is according to Hugh Richardson, a professor at St. David’s University in St. George’s, Grenada who teaches occupational health in the Department of Health Services and Public Health. The impact of human activities can vary greatly depending on the pollutant. If the pollution is particularly toxic, the effects on health can be widespread and severe. As an example, the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India, released methyl isocyanate gas in 1984, which killed around 2,000 people and left more than 200,000 with respiratory ailments. An irritant may cause respiratory infections, cardiovascular problems, and asthma attacks (for example, particles smaller than 10 micrometres). “Young and old, as well as those with weakened immunity, are the most vulnerable to air pollution. For example, some volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) may be carcinogenic, biologically active (e.g., viruses), or radionuclide contaminated air (e.g. radon). Human health is harmed by other air pollutants, such as carbon dioxide, because of climate change “Sealy informed Live Science of the incident.
Noise Pollution
Despite the fact that we cannot see it or smell it, noise pollution has a negative impact on the environment. Noise pollution occurs when the sound from planes, factories, and other sources reaches dangerous levels. Several health issues, such as stress-related disorders, high blood sugar levels and speech interference, have been found to be linked to loudness. More than one million people die each year from coronary artery disease because of noise pollution, according to a study by the WHO’s Noise Economic Burden on Illness working group. Under the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority to regulate aircraft noise.
It has been shown that ship-generated underwater noise disrupts whale navigation systems and harms other aquatic species. It’s possible that wild animals’ lifespans may be shortened as a result of loud noises.
