Air pollution (dangerous factor) - Causes - Effects

Around the world, air pollution is becoming more and more serious and directly threatens human health.

1. So what is air pollution?

Air pollution means the presence of chemicals or compounds in the air which are usually not present and which lower the quality of the air or cause detrimental changes to the quality of life (such as the damaging of the ozone layer or causing global warming). Air pollutants are substances in the air that can have adverse effects on people and ecosystems. The substance can be a solid particle, a liquid droplet, or a gas. Pollutants can be of natural origin or man-made.

ü CO2: this is a greenhouse gas that causes the most serious air pollution.

ü Sox: Formed during volcanic eruptions and industrial production of gas such as petroleum, sulfur, etc.

ü Nox: The gas emitted during combustion has a reddish brown color, a characteristic odor and is very toxic.

ü CO: Produced during the combustion of fuels such as wood, coal, and vehicles.

ü Organic Compounds VOC

ü Fine particles

ü Toxic metals such as lead, mercury

ü CFCs are harmful to the ozone layer, industrial NH3 and other radioactive substances.

2. Causes of air pollution are classified as follows:

b.   Natural causes

ü Dust from the natural environment

ü Methane is released from the digestion of food by animals.

ü Radon gas decays in the earth's crust.

ü Smoke and carbon monoxide from forest fires.

ü Volatile organic compounds released by humans and organisms.

ü Volcanic activity produces smoke, dust, chlorine and sulfur.

b.   Human causes

ü Smoke and emissions from factories and factories.

ü Smoke burning fuels such as wood, coal, etc.

ü Emissions from vehicles.

ü Vapors from paints and other solvents.

ü Solid waste is deposited to form methane gas.

ü Military resources: nuclear weapons, chemical warfare, toxic gases, missiles.

ü Vehicles emit Co, Co2, SO2, Nox, Pb, CH4 and dust

ü Life activities

3. Consequences of air pollution

Air pollution leaves many serious consequences for people, organisms, ecosystems and the development of the economy and society.

a.   Impact on animals and plants

ü Affects all living organisms.

ü Toxic gases cause direct harm when entering the organism, reducing resistance to dangerous diseases,

ü Plants are sensitive to high concentrations of HF causing leaf spotting and defoliation.

ü The greenhouse effect causes many changes in plants and animals.

ü Acid rain destroys flora, breaks food chains and causes diseases for organisms. Acid rain also changes the properties of water, causing serious damage to aquatic life.

b.   Impact on the people

ü Dust: Causes mechanical irritation, fibrosis of the lungs leading to diseases of the respiratory tract, eyes, skin, blood sugar and other systems in the body. Even dust contains toxic substances that can cause cancer.

ü SO2: Causes an increase in respiratory mucosal secretions, affecting lung function, causing asthma and cardiovascular disease. SO2 also has the ability to cause toxicity through the skin, disrupting body metabolism.

ü NO2: Brown gas strongly affects the respiratory system of the elderly and young children.

ü CO: Causes the blood to reduce its ability to carry oxygen and circulate blood.

ü NH3: Strong toxic gas that irritates the respiratory system and is potentially life-threatening.

ü H2S: at low concentrations can cause eye and respiratory irritation, but high concentrations can cause acute poisoning or even death.

ü Volatile organic compounds VOCs cause acute toxicity when exposed to high doses.

ü Lead: Causes bone marrow disorders, nervous system toxicity, red blood cell breakdown, lead poisoning can be fatal.

ü Randon gas can enter the body through the respiratory tract, skin causing cancer.

c.   Impact on the property vehicles

ü Make metal rust, corrode concrete

ü Discoloration, rapid deterioration of works

ü Reduces the plasticity and color of fabrics, paper, tanning

d.   Impact on the whole world

ü Causing acid rain

ü Greenhouse effect

ü Depleting the ozone layer, changing temperature in a negative direction.