Air Pollution Control: Types, Causes, Effect, Control

Pollution is the contamination of the natural environment and surroundings by introducing harmful materials that cause adverse and drastic effects. They may be in the form of chemical substances, energy, noise, heat, light, etc. When introduced these pollutants damage the quality of air, water, and land.

Keyterms: Air, Water, Soil, Noise, Energy, Heat, Light, Pollution, Prevention, Land, Earth, Environment, Globalization, Industrialization

Also Read: Environmental issues important questions

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What is Air Pollution?

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When physical, chemical, or biological changes occur in the air due to the introduction of contaminants it is known as Air Pollution.

Due to the increased globalization and industrialization, there are lots of contaminants released into the air. Hence, the environment is getting denser and more toxic day by day. This ultimately leads to respiratory diseases in people.

The majority of air pollution is caused by humans. From burning fuels to deforestation, the rapid increase in human activities is increasing the percentage of air pollution.

Some of the factors that generally lead to air pollution are harmful gases, smoke, fog, smog, dust, etc. Starting from the increase in usage of vehicles to industrial emissions, each subsidizes air pollution in some or the other way.

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Types of Air Pollutants

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The contaminants which cause negative impacts, deleterious effects, and affect the surrounding environment causing physical, chemical, and biological changes in the air are called Air Pollutants. The two types of pollutants are:

Primary Pollutants

The pollutants responsible for causing air pollution directly are called the primary pollutants. This may include carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, Sulphur dioxide, and other harmful gases emitted from factories, industries, and other plants.

Secondary Pollutants

The pollutants formed due to the interaction and reaction between the primary pollutants are called secondary pollutants. Smoke, smog, fog are some of the examples of secondary pollutants.

Some of the highly toxic contaminants emitted into the atmosphere are:

• Carbon monoxide
• Sulphur Oxides
• Nitrogen Oxides
• Ammonia
• Particulate Matter
• Radioactive pollutants
• Carbon dioxide

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Causes of Air Pollution

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Vehicles and Automobiles

When the vehicles such as trucks, cars, motorbikes, etc., are used for transport gases are emitted from the fuel. And with the increase in vehicle usage, there is an increase in vehicular emissions. These are the major sources of Greenhouse gases.

Burning of Fossil fuels

In the rural areas or factories or industries, fossil fuels are burned for fire and energy to manufacture many products. At this time lots of harmful and poisonous gases are released into the air. Large amounts of Sulphur, Carbon, and Nitrogen Oxides are emitted.

Agricultural Activities

To increase the harvest of crops, the farmers use pesticides, fertilizers, and insecticides to eliminate pests. Using these results in the release of ammonia into the atmosphere. This is one of the most hazardous gases that pollute the environment.

Factories and Industries

To manufacture and produce products various combustion processes take place in the factories and Industries. Large amounts of gases are emitted through the chimneys that directly reach the upper surface of air causing pores in the ozone layer and global warming.

Mining Activities

This is one of the processes seen quite often in all areas. To extract the minerals from underground various equipment are used. Lots of chemicals and gases are emitted during the extraction. Pollutants not only pollute the air but also result in serious diseases among the people.

Domestic Sources

The products used for house cleaning and painting release a lot of chemicals and toxic substances. They pollute the air and affect the breath of people.

Arsenal and Nuclear Weapons

The military forces use Nuclear arsenal and chemical weapons for wars. These release large amounts of chemical substances that are very harmful and poisonous.

Also Read: Effects of Water Pollution

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Effects of Air Pollution

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Due to the release of toxic, harmful, and poisonous chemicals and substances into the air, there are adverse effects caused. Also, many negative impacts along with drastic effects will occur knowingly and unknowingly. Some of the effects caused due to air pollution are:

Ozone Depletion

The ozone layer is the layer present in the stratosphere composed of natural gases. It envelops the Earth from harmful radiations from the Sun. The gases like chlorofluorocarbons and hydrocarbons deplete the ozone layer and cause holes in it. Due to the depletion, harmful ultraviolet rays emitted from the sun enter the surface and may fall on our skin. This causes cancer and other adverse effects on the health of humans.

Over the last decades, it was observed that there is an increase in the depletion of the ozone layer. The majority of the holes were observed in the layer above Antarctica.

Smog

The combination of smoke and fog is called smog. The carbon particles condense and mix with the fog. The concentration of harmful gases is more in this smog. It is very harmful to the environment and humans as well. Diseases like flu, cold, asthma, irritation of eyes, and lung cancer are caused due to smog in humans.

Acid Rain

When the chemicals and toxic substances react with water in the atmosphere, acid rain is caused. The pollutants like Sulphur dioxide and carbon oxides dissolve in water, react with it, and deposit as acid rain. This damages plants, animals, soil, and buildings as well.

Global Warming

The emission of harmful gases into the atmosphere increases the temperature in the surroundings. Due to this heat is increased and leads to global warming. Glaciers at sea level also melt due to the increase in temperature.

Effects on Animals

The contaminants may get mixed with water and pollute aquatic life. Besides, the pollution also affects the environment and the animals living in it. Due to this, animals may have to change their habitat and roam around for a new place. This in turn further leads to the extinction of many animals.

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Control of Air Pollution

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Air pollution must be controlled before it causes severe effects. The adverse situations may cause difficulty of living for animals, plants, and human beings. So, some of the methods to follow to control air pollution are as follows:

Modern Techniques

With the advancement of technology, various new products and substances have been invented to keep air pollution in control. Some of the products like catalytic converters, precipitators, scrubbers, etc. can be used to capture and control air pollutants. Air filters are one such product that is commonly used everywhere.

Shifting Industries

Most of the industries and factories are built in the areas where more people reside. The Government must fix strict guidelines so that these large industries and factories must only be built in the outskirts or some other areas with a low human population. In this way, Air Pollution doesn’t affect anyone.

Use of Energy Efficient Appliances

The appliances used for domestic and industrial purposes are energy efficient and may use the combustion of particles for various uses. In such cases, appliances that are highly energy efficient must be used to avoid more air pollution.

Using natural gases

Instead of using harmful gases and fossil fuels, natural gases like Compressed Natural Gas(CNG) can be used for various purposes. This reduces air pollution and also saves up fossil fuels. So mining activities and other processes to extract minerals and fuels will be stopped. This in turn reduces effects on the environment and humans as well.

Avoid using vehicles

An increase in the usage of vehicles causes an increase in vehicular emissions leading to an increase in the composition of harmful gases. So, people must avoid using personal vehicles and use public vehicles for transport.

Use of Clean Energy Sources

Using natural resources like wind, solar and geothermal energies reduces air pollution and improves a cleaner and better environment. Some of the steps that can be taken are:

• Reducing the use of fuel and fire products.
• Treating the materials emitted from industries and factories.
• Using Compressed Natural Gas CNG for vehicles and engines.
• Modifying and using advanced equipment that is safe and does not cause pollution.
• Diluting the air pollutants
• Increasing tree plantation

Biological Methods

Air Pollution can be controlled by following some of the biological Methods. Using biofilters, bio scrubbers and bio trickle filters help to capture the pollutants and reduce air pollution.

Also Read:

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Things to Remember

• When physical, chemical, or biological changes occur in the air due to the introduction of contaminants it is known as Air Pollution. Some of the factors that generally lead to air pollution are harmful gases, smoke, fog, smog, dust, etc.
• Two types of Air Pollutants are:

1. Primary pollutants are emitted directly from the industries and factories.
2. Secondary pollutants are emitted due to the interaction and reaction between the primary pollutants.

• Vehicles, automobiles, burning of fossil fuels, agricultural activities, factories and Industries, mining activities, domestic sources, and arsenal, and chemical weapons are some of the sources of Air Pollution.
• The effects caused due to air pollution are ozone Depletion, smog, acid rain and global warming.
• Air Pollution can be controlled by using advanced techniques, shifting Industries, using energy-efficient appliances, using natural gases, avoiding vehicles, and using clean energy resources.

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Previous year Questions

1. The book ‘SIlent Spring’ is related to? [NEET 2015]
2. What is the level of sound that is considered hazardous? [NEET 1994]
3. Dobson’s Unit is used to measure the thickness of? [NEET 2021]
4. Which is a secondary pollutant?
5. Process of nutrient enrichment of water and subsequent loss of species diversity is? [AMUEEE 2014]
6. Natural Sources of air pollutiom are?
7. Which of the statement is correct?
8. The principal gas evolved from sludge digestion tank is?
9. Which is wrong with respect to our responsibility as a human being to protect our environment? [JEE Mains 2019]
10. BOD stands for? [JEE Mains 2016]
11. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) value can be a measure of water pollution caused by the…? [JEE Mains 2016]
12. Ozone is destroyed by CFCs in the upper stratosphere Ozone holes increase the amount of UV…? [JEE Mains 2019]
13. Addition of phosphate fertilisers to water bodies causes? [JEE Mains 2015]
14. A water sample has ppm level concentration of the following metals…? [JEE Mains 2019]