Question

Describe air pollution. What are the major causes of air pollution?

Answer 1

Any undesirable change in chemically or physically or biologically in the content of air is harmful for living organisms. There are many types of pollution. Air pollution is basically present in the atmosphere in those amounts that are harmful for human beings where respiration is concerned.

Complete answer:
There are mainly two causes of air pollution first is human activities and the other one is the natural phenomenon occurring.
Human activities: Since industrialisation , various inventions related to automobiles are remarkable contributors to air pollution. Some of the pollutants are-
The carbon dioxide that is added due to the burning of fuels leads to reduced oxygen supply, nausea , and headache.
Carbon monoxide that is formed due to smoking and burning leads to poisoning.
Hydrocarbons produced due to incomplete combustion can cause cancer in humans.
Chloro fluoro carbons that are present due to jet aeroplane emissions, refrigerators etc. leads to ozone depletion.
Sulphur dioxides present due to burning and smelting can cause certain respiratory diseases and cause damage to buildings when precipitated.
Use of automobiles releases nitrogen oxides that cause irritation in eyes, and reduces oxygen supply in our body.
Natural phenomenon: due to volcanic eruptions several gases were added which polluted the air. The forest fires occurring also leads to release of harmful gases. Marsh gas commonly known as methane is an inflammable hydrocarbon gas which arises from decaying matter of vegetables.

Note: Burning of fossil fuels leads to production of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur that adds harmful gases and particulates to the air. Air pollutants can be of different types majorly gaseous materials, particulate matter and the radioactive substances.