Air Pollution Effects on Envirnoment

Air pollution negatively effects the environment in several ways.

Air pollution has a multitude of negative effects on the environment. Some of these effects are more severe than others. All of the effects are caused by human activity, and all of these effects have a chance of being resolved by humans keeping the contributing activities to a minimum or taking preventative measures, such as recycling, car pooling, taking public transportation, and conserving energy.

Acid Rain

Acid rain can make bodies of water uninhabitable.

Acid rain is rain, snow, fog, gas, and particulates that contain harmful amounts of sulfuric and nitric acids caused primarily by the burning of fossil fuels. Acid rain creates an unsuitable living environment in bodies of water, which can damage the lives and habitat of fish. Acid rain can also cause damage to trees and crops.

Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide is the main risk in causing global warming.

Carbon dioxide is the main risk in causing global warming. According to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, "Many scientists believe that global warming could have significant impacts on human health, agriculture, water resources, forests, wildlife, and coastal areas." Carbon dioxide is a natural chemical that has been used excessively in automobiles, airplanes, power plants, and the burning of fossil fuels. According to "National Geographic": "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."

Ozone

The ozone layer is located in the stratosphere and protects us from ultaviolet rays.

Chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and halons are chemicals that have been used in the past in coolants, fire extinguishers, pesticides, solvents, and aerosol propellants. According to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, these chemicals are still used occasionally. These chemicals can deplete the ozone layer in the stratosphere, which is what protects us from ultraviolet radiation. Air pollution can also cause the ozone layer to lower to ground level, which can affect the health of both humans and animals. According to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, "Ground-level ozone can lead to reductions in agricultural crop and commercial forest yields, reduced growth and survivability of tree seedlings, and increased plant susceptibility to disease, pests and other environmental stresses."

Air Toxins

Air toxins cause health problems in animals and humans.

Air toxins can result in birth defects, reproductive failure, respiratory problems, disease, and other health issues in both animals and humans. According to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, this can especially affect aquatic animals because, "These pollutants accumulate in sediments and may biomagnify in tissues of animals at the top of the food chain to concentrations many times higher than in the water or air."

Haze

Haze affects the visual elements of the environment.

Haze is the result of construction, power plants, factories, and automobiles. Haze is caused by tiny particles of pollution in the sunlight. Haze affects visual elements of the environment by interfering with the clarity, color, form, and texture of what humans and animals see.

References

• National Geographic: Air Pollution
• Tropical Rainforest Animals: Pollution Effects: On humans, animals, plants and the environment
• Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection: Environmental Effects of Air Pollution