Earth's Atmosphere: Pollutants that Affect Air Quality

Earth’s Atmosphere: Pollutants that Affect Air Quality

• Earth’s atmosphere contains a mixture of gases, including nitrogen, oxygen, and smaller amounts of others like argon and water vapour. Additions or alterations to this natural balance are known as pollutants.
• Air quality refers to the state of the air surrounding us, particularly as it relates to health and safety. Poor air quality can pose a threat to the environment and life on Earth.
• Primary pollutants are those emitted directly into the atmosphere, including particulate matter like dust and soot, and gases like carbon monoxide from fossil fuel combustion.
• Secondary pollutants form when primary pollutants react chemically within the atmosphere. A significant example is ozone, which forms from reactions between several types of primary pollutants in the presence of sunlight.
• Gases emitted by industry and transport such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides can create acid rain, damaging buildings, crops and forests, and reducing biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems.
• Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, directly contributes to global warming and the potential for climate change. Rising levels in the atmosphere suggest profound alterations to the planet’s climate system.
• Photochemical smog is caused by the reaction of sunlight with primary pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons. This phenomenon is common in urban areas and can lead to harmful health effects in both humans and other life forms.
• Indoor air pollution should not be overlooked. Activities such as cooking, heating, smoking, painting, and the use of certain cleaning products can release harmful chemicals into the air.
• Governmental regulations and other measures, such as clean air acts and vehicle emissions standards, have been implemented to control and decrease the amount of pollutants released into the atmosphere.
• As a society, adopting a more sustainable lifestyle and advocating for significant changes in policies, especially those relating to energy production and consumption, can greatly improve air quality.

Note: To fully understand this topic, you should also look into other key areas like the natural atmosphere, climate changes in the past, and the impact of air pollution on the environment and human health.