Let’s chew over the causes of air pollution:

It’s 2021. Everything is changing. New generation, new technology, even new way to live our lives. Almost everything has been changing expect one thing, which is the current situation of earth.

As you know, the earth is rigorously struggling to get over from the deadly pollutions. It’s getting worse in each day.

“Air pollution”, one of the massive and increasing global pollution. It’s obviously not a new term to people but there is a lot to talk about it, specially about the causes of air pollution.

So, without wasting more time, we should get into the real topic.

Let’s dive into the context of this article to get a clear vision about this post.

Context :

1. A simple introduction.

2. The 11 causes of Air pollution.

3. Effects of air pollution.

4. As you might have guessed in last, the conclusion.

As you must have got the clue, Eduavow discusses a lot about the causes of air pollution.

I know, you already have some information about air pollution, which is the best thing about you. But, we should start our conversation from the very first.

Yes, let’s start from the definition of air pollution. Keep reading.

Definition of air pollution:

Simply, Air pollution means as the contamination of air by releasing harmful pollutants and artificial chemical compounds into the atmosphere.

This behavior is done both directly or indirectly without any type of essential filtration of the pollutants.

You know, Both indoor and outdoor air pollutants are responsible for the degradation of atmospheric air quality.

There are a number of air polluting factors and we are completely surrounded by them.

Anybody just can’t be able to imagine a single day without releasing pollutions into the air. The causes of air pollution are increasing, by leading us to have a toxic future.

This is a image of earth and 11 causes of air pollution is written on it.

Photo: Pixabay, Eduavow

This is how we should define the term air pollution.

But hey, what about the causes of air pollution though ? Well, this is the only reason of why you are reading this article.

I do not want to waste your time. Let’s jump to the middle of the this article which is the causes of air pollution.

2 Major causes of air pollution :

Basically, there are 2 types of air pollution. 1st is natural and the other one is artificial or by human activities.

Natural causes of air pollution :

These are only natural causes of air pollution without any kind of interruption of mankind. Natural causes of air pollution include

1. Wildfires
2. Volcanic emissions
3. pollen grain
4. dust particle

{After discussing the natural causes of air pollution, we will move on to human made causes. Sounds good, right?}

1.Wildfires :

Most of the times, wildfires by natural event occur because of lightning. Other causes of forest fires may attribute by the occurrence of volcanic eruptions and excess heat production due to rubbing of dry woods, leaves in the forest region.

in this image there is a burning fire and wild fire is written on it

Photo: Pixabay, Eduavow

According to EPA, interagency fire center has documented, an average of around 70,000 wildfires occur per year in the world.

This huge amount of wildfire burns an annual average of 7.0 million acres of forest region. In United States, California is the place who faces the most amount of wild fires every year.

Wildfires make a lot impact on earth’s climate, by releasing many of the toxic gas directly into the atmosphere.

Forest fires are responsible for releasing tons of gases including, many of the green house gases such as, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane and nitrous oxide.

They also emit other polluted compounds like, non methane volatile organic carbon, nitrogen oxides and particulate matters.

Other that that, lots of smoke, ash, soot and other harmful chemicals are also released into air by forest fires.

So, this is how forest fires take the 1st position who contribute to air pollution.

2. Volcanic emissions :

Volcanic emissions take the 2nd position in the natural causes of air pollution. These are another but huge source for the global air pollutions.

According to USGS (United States Geological Survey), only volcanic emissions, located on both land and undersea levels, contribute to about 200 million tons of carbon dioxide per year.

Volcanoes or volcanic emissions are responsible for releasing toxic gases such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide into the air along with large amounts of water vapor.

Other types of harmful gases like hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride are also emitted into clean air by volcanic activities.

They are also associated in forming fog and acid rain by contributing the reactions with other toxic gases in the environment.

So, this is how volcanic emissions are linked with the causes of air pollution.

3.Pollen grains :

Do even pollen grains can cause air pollution ? It’s a new thing, do you think so ?

Well, it isn’t. Pollen grains are also to be blamed for air pollution.

Well, air pollution by pollen gains depends on the condition of weather. When the weather is too dry, hot, windy or stormy- a huge amount of pollen grains are blown away form one place to another by the wind.

These environmental factors can make the pollen grains to divide into very small pieces and may cause particulate air pollution. This is how pollen grains cause air pollution.

4.Dust Particles :

Who does not know that dust particles also called or often referred to particulate matter (PM), cause air pollution!

Particle pollutants such as dirt, soot, smoke and dust particles affect the quality of air by containing it.

Even though it seems quite minor thing to us but, it also causes air pollution.

So, this is how nature cause air pollution. Let me inform you, no matter how much air pollution caused naturally, Nature always has the capability to adjust itself.

Air pollution caused by human activities :

Air pollution caused by us- the mankind is much more dangerous than you may think. Roughly there are about 8 causes of air pollution caused by human activities. They are as follows.

1. The burning of fossil fuels and natural gases.
2. Industrial exhaust.
3. Transportation.
4. Pollutants emitted by indoors.
5. Construction.
6. Agricultural activities.
7. Deforestation.
8. Wildfires caused by humans.

These are the ways of how we, the humans, cause “air pollution” which is an environmental crisis. let’s Learn about them thoroughly.

#1. The burning of fossil fuels and natural gases :

The burning of fossil fuels in a delicate amount is leading the earth to face a mince. The burning of fossil fuels causes huge impact on earth’s climate as it is one of the sources of greenhouse gases.

When fossil fuels are burnt, they release toxins like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, methane, nitrogen and other gases into air.

The vast uses of fossil fuels result in the formation of 35 billion carbon dioxide per year.

But, the question is, why do we burn fossil fuels ? Do you know the answer.

Well, the most common essence of burning fossil fuels to generate energy. These uses include the formation of electricity and for mechanical energy for transportation.

These two things are the most common ways of what are fossil fuel used for.

Apart from other sources of producing electricity, in United States, 60 percent of electricity is only generated in power plants by burning natural gases, petroleum coal.

The gases released by the burning fossil fuels cause global warming by the excess production of carbon dioxide.

Nitrogen oxides released into the air by burning fossil fuels, further contribute for the formation of smog and acid rain.

This is how the burning of fossil fuels causes air pollution. Let’s move on to the next point.

#2. Industrial Exhaust :

How can a post related to air pollution not include the point industrial exhaust ! It’s literally impossible to ignore this greatest factor of air pollution. There are some interesting fact about it still not revealed.

You wanna learn about them then ? scroll down below :

an industrial area having industrial exhaust

Photo: Weird, Eduavow

There are bunch of industries, factories and companies who are responsible for the degradation of the air quality.

Industries like energy production, lead smelting, chemical manufacturing, DIY industries and other produce a lot of toxic chemicals per day.

Guess what again, they release them into air without any type essential filtration.

The highly toxic gases produced by industries mostly include Sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.

Among with these gases industries also releases solid and poor quality pollutants such as fine soot, ash particles directly into air.

You are not going to believe, but there are a lot of effects of industrial air pollution.

These types of unwanted inhuman activities cause serious impacts by causing damage to climate, degradation of environment and animal life, climate change , global warming, extinction of both animal and plant species.

For example, industrial air pollution in India, cost a significant impacts on Taj Mahal and the people living near it.

In accordance to arecent published study, airborne particulate matter made out of black carbon, dust particles and brown carbon have discolored the fine white color marbles of the Taj Mahal.

Okay, It’s time to move on to the #3 cause of air pollution, which is transportation.

#3. Transportation :

Here comes the point, with which you are directly linked to, and it is named as ‘the transportation’

It’s hard to understand that how can a single vehicle such as a car or bike can make an impact on earth’s atmosphere.

Most of the people really don’t have any clue about it.

I know you are not one of them, but hey, there are some cruel facts that you should come across about transportation.

Let’s ride through it.

You should know that, only transportation responsible for for about 5 tones green house gases per year.

These green house gases include carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, nitrous oxide, black carbon and more poisonous gases.

To draw up more relatable to you, the car you may use, emits a number of toxins such as particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, NOx, co and other gases into air.

A single passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tones of carbon dioxide per year.

And Yes, 75% of carbon dioxide emissions come from automobiles including cars, bikes, trucks etc.

Now, you can imagine the least level of air pollution produced in cities. So, this is how transportation includes itself in the list of the causes of the air pollution.

The 4th point you are going to read is Indoor air pollution.

#4. Indoor Air pollution :

After transportation, indoor air emissions is the another factor with which, you will relate to.

There are many dangerous pollutants or gases including particulates, asbestos, lead, pesticides, formaldehyde and other countless household gases who contribute to air pollution in a large quantity.

Wait a second. Where do these gases come from ? How do you knowingly pollute your own environment ?

Well, these toxins usually come from air fresheners, perfumes, building material, paint used in buildings, tobacco smoke and most importantly, from wood-burning stoves that you generally use in daily life.

You know the worst part about indoor air pollution, it can be 10 time worse than the outdoor air pollution.

May be this is the reason of why 9 out of 10 people in world breathe polluted air.

Indoor air pollution with poor ventilation and maintenance, can increase the levels of carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide.

This can lead to both temporary and permanent health effects to the people who are around.

Big announcement : If you are exhausted by household air pollution, then you should try out some bonsais. Or you can plant most oxygen giving plants to protect yourself and your family.

causes of indoor pollution are mentioned in this image in black font and images are in sky color

photo: Crush photo

So, this is how contaminated air in indoors or homes is incredibly linked to the causes of air pollution. Keep reading to discover the #5 cause of air pollution which is construction.

#5 constructional activities :

Construction site, a place which makes you to scream too loudly. They aren’t just annoying for the noise pollution, but also a significant source towards air pollution.

Do you know why ? Read to discover.

Most of the constructional activities like, land clearing, demolition, working with toxic materials and operation of diesel engines contribute to air pollution.

According to various studies, these types of activity, affect the air quality by releasing PAHs bound to particle matters, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), asbestos, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and others into the atmosphere.

Apart from that, air pollution due to road construction, contribute a large quantity of dust particles, diesel emissions into the air.

Heating chemical compound and materials at construction sites, can emit hazardous toxic gases which are dangerous to both workers and the environment.

This is how construction based activities contribute to the causes of air pollution.

The next cause of air pollution is quite shocking, but yet it’s menacing. Pay attention to the #6 cause of air pollution.

#6. Agricultural Activities :

Agriculture is also considered as in the 6th of this list with intense source towards air pollution.

You know, according to FAO, only livestock accounts for 40 percent of total global emissions.

In adding to that, EPA proved that, only agricultural sectors contribute about 9% of US global warming emissions. It’s really shocking, no ?

But, how does production of food or simply agriculture risks for air pollution ?

Well, the straight forward answer is the over use of fertilizers. To get more out put in harvested fields, farmers are using more fertilizers, which contain hazardous chemicals such as lead, cadmium, chromic and even arsenic.

These types of chemical fertilizers pollute the air by releasing toxic pollutants like, carbon dioxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide and ozone into the air.

so, in this way, agricultural air pollution occurs due to the unwanted and heavy use of fertilizers by livestock farming.

The worst part about agricultural air pollution is, most of the developing and developed countries are involved in this major cause of air pollution.

Well, well, it’s time to move on to the #7 cause of air pollution. You have to scroll down to learn about it.