Air Pollution

Air pollution is really bad for the environment. People think air pollution, they usually think about smog, acid rain, CFC's, and other forms of outdoor air pollution. There is air pollution also can exist inside homes and other buildings. Smog hanging over cities is the most familiar and obvious form of air pollution. There are different kinds of pollution some are visible and some are invisible that contribute global warming. The smog is damaging effects on living things and the environment.

Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is the main pollutant that is warming Earth. Though living things emit carbon dioxide when they breathe, carbon dioxide is widely considered to be a pollutant when associated with car, planes, power plants, and other human activities that involve the burning of fossil fuels such as gasoline and natural gas. In the past 150 years, such activities have pumped enough carbon dioxide into the atmosphere to raise its levels higher than they have been for hundreds of thousands of years. Other greenhouse gases include methane which comer from such sources as swamps and gas emitted by livestock and chlorofluorocarbons or also called CFC’s. CFC’s also affect the ozone layer.

Sulfur dioxide and closely related chemicals are known primarily as a cause of acid rain. But they also reflect light when released in the atmosphere, which keeps sunlight out and causes Earth to cool. Volcanic eruptions can spew massive amounts of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, sometimes causing cooling that lasts for years. Volcanoes used to be the main source of atmospheric sulfur dioxide.

Governments are taking measures to limit emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses. To cut down on gasoline they can higher taxes on gas so people will buy less so there would be less pollution in the air. So that people and companies will have greater incentives to conserve energy and pollute less.

Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA develops and enforces rules and regulations for all entities that emit toxic substances into the air. The Agency works with state, local and tribal governments, other federal agencies, businesses and community groups to implement and enforce it regulations.

Every day the average person inhales about 20,000 liters of air. Every time we breathe, we risk inhaling dangerous chemicals that have found their way into the air. Air pollution includes all contaminants found in the atmosphere. These dangerous substances can be either in the form of gases or particles. Air pollution can be found both outdoors and indoors. Pollutants can be trapped inside buildings, causing indoor pollution that lasts for a long time.

The sources of air pollution are both natural and human based. As one might expect, humans have been producing increasing amounts of pollution as time has progressed, and they now account for the majority of pollutants released into the air.

Air pollution has been a problem throughout history. Even in Ancient Rome people complained about smoke put into the atmosphere. The effects of air pollution are diverse and numerous. Air pollution can have serious health of human beings, and also severely affects natural ecosystems.