THE 7 MAIN POLLUTANTS AND THEIR EFFECTS - ENVIRONMENT - 2024

Some examples of pollutants are sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, wastewater, volatile organic matter, ammonia, lead, and plastic, among others.

Some of the most serious effects of pollutants include global warming, respiratory and cardiovascular problems, acid rain, depletion of the ozone layer, and loss of biodiversity.

Pollutants that are emitted directly from a combustion process, or the products of combustion, are called primary pollutants. These pollutants have a great impact on the environment and human health.

Pollution is a change in physical, chemical, or biological characteristics that causes adverse effects in humans and other organisms. The ultimate result is a change in the natural environment and in the ecosystem.

Contaminants can be natural or synthetic, which means that they are made by humans. Pollutants can be in the form of gaseous, liquid or solid elements.

List of the main pollutants and their effects

1- Sulfur dioxide (SOx)

SO2 is produced by volcanoes and in various industrial processes. Since coal and oil often contain sulfur compounds, their combustion generates sulfur dioxide.

This corrosive gas cannot be seen or smelled at low levels, but at high levels it can smell like rotten eggs.

When SO2 is oxidized a little more, usually in the presence of catalysts like NO2, it falls to Earth in the form of acid rain or snow and forms aerosol sulfate particles in the atmosphere.

SO2 is toxic in high concentrations, but its main polluting effects are associated with the formation of aerosols and acid rain. Acid rain is one of the biggest causes of concern for its environmental impact.

Exposure to sulfur dioxide can affect people who have asthma or emphysema, as it makes breathing difficult.

It can also irritate people's eyes, nose, and throat. Sulfur dioxide can damage trees and crops, it can damage buildings, and it can make it difficult for people to see long distances.

2- Ozone

Ozone is a gas that can be found in two places. Close to the ground, in the troposphere, it is a large component of smog.

The harmful ozone in the lower atmosphere should not be confused with the protective ozone layer in the upper part of the atmosphere (stratosphere), which prevents ultraviolet rays from reaching Earth.

Ozone is not created directly, but is formed when nitrogen oxidizes and its volatile compounds mix in sunlight. That is why it is more common to find ozone during the summer.

Nitrogen oxides come from burning gasoline, coal, and other fossil fuels. There are many types of volatile organic compounds, and they come from sources from factories to trees.

Ozone near the ground can cause a number of health problems. Ozone can lead to more frequent asthma attacks and can cause a sore throat, cough, and trouble breathing.

It can even lead to premature death. Ozone can also cause damage to plants and crops.

3- Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a gas that comes from burned fuel gases, mainly from cars.

This gas cannot be seen or smelled. Carbon monoxide is released when engines burn fossil fuels. Emissions are highest when engines are not tuned and when gasoline does not burn completely.

Cars emit a lot of the carbon monoxide found in the environment. Home heaters can also emit high concentrations of this element if not maintained properly.

Carbon monoxide makes it harder for parts of the body to get the oxygen they need to function properly.

Exposure to carbon monoxide carbon makes people feel dizzy, tired, and have a headache.

In high concentrations it is fatal. Older people with heart disease are more often hospitalized when exposed to high amounts of carbon monoxide

4- Lead

This gray-blue metal is very toxic and can be found in many shapes and locations. Outside, lead comes from cars in areas where unleaded gasoline is not used. Lead can also come from power plants and other industrial sources.

Indoors, lead paint is a major source of lead contamination, especially in homes where paint is peeling. Lead in old plumbing can also be a source of lead when water is consumed.

High amounts of lead can be dangerous for young children and can lead to low IQs and kidney problems.

For adults, exposure to lead can increase the chance of heart attacks and heart problems.

5- Nitrogen dioxide

It is a reddish-brown gas that comes from burning fossil fuels. At high levels it has a fairly strong odor. Nitrogen dioxide mainly comes from cars and power plants.

Nitrogen dioxide can be formed when nitrogen in fuel is burned or when nitrogen in the air reacts with oxygen at high temperatures.

Nitrogen dioxide can also react in the atmosphere to form ozone, acid rain, and particulate matter.

Exposure to this element can cause coughing and can cause respiratory problems. People who are exposed for a long time are more likely to get respiratory infections. When it forms acid rain, it can be harmful to plants and animals.

6- Toxic air pollutants

They are a variety of chemicals that are known or suspected to cause cancer. Some contaminants in this category include arsenic, asbestos, benzene, and dioxin.

Each pollutant comes from a different source, but many are created in chemical plants or emitted when fossil fuels are burned.

These pollutants can cause cancer. Some air pollutants also cause birth defects. Other effects depend on the contaminant, but can include skin irritation, eye irritation, and respiratory problems.

7- Greenhouse gases

They are gases that remain in the air for a long time and warm the planet. Some of these gases include carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen oxide.

Carbon dioxide is the most important greenhouse gas; It comes from burning gasoline in cars, power plants, homes, and industry.

Methane is released during fuel processing and also comes from cows and rice fields. Nitrous oxide comes from industrial sources and dying plants.

Greenhouse gases can cause changes in the planet's climate such as extreme temperatures, high ocean levels, changes in the composition of the forest, and damage to the land near the coast.

Human health can also be affected by diseases related to changes in temperature or damage to soil and water.

References

1. Major air pollutants. Recovered from infoplease.com
2. Health and environmental effects of primary pollutants. Recovered from e-education.psu.edu
3. Primary air pollutants and their sources. Recovered from selfstudyias.com
4. Air pollutants: types, sources, effects, and control of air pollutants. Recovered from yourarticlelibrary.com
5. Criteria air pollutants. Recovered from epa.gov
6. Water pollution: types, sources, effects and control. Recovered from yourarticlelibrary.com.