Essay on air Pollution for children and students
ESSAY ON AIR POLLUTION-
INTRODUCTION
Air pollution is defined as the occurrence of foreign particles or gases in the atmosphere which is harmful to all. All represent living and non-living organisms like man, vegetation, animals and buildings etc.
Before knowing air pollution in detail, I just want your little focus on the topic of pollution in this essay on air pollution.
POLLUTION-
The question arises, What is pollution?
Pollution means the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause an adverse change in physical, chemical, Biological Characteristics of air, water and land affecting the living life.
POLLUTANTS –
Air is one of the most important constituents of man’s environment. Clean and pure air is very essential for health and the environment.
Air pollutants can be gases, hydrocarbons pesticides, fertilizer etc.
SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION
1) INDUSTRIAL POLLUTANTS –
Some air pollutants like CO, CO2, SO2, H2S, which are discharged into the atmosphere from industrial chimneys, factories and powerhouse by burning coal, petroleum and the combustion of lignite at the thermal power station.
2) MOBILE COMBUSTION SOURCE-
Automobiles and aircraft are common examples. This petrol run two or four-wheeler adds millions of tons of lead in the environment every year, it leads to lead poisoning to the people.
Every gallon of petrol consumed by automobiles produces 3 lbs of CO and 15 lbs of Nitrogen Oxide which is sufficient to pollute approx. 800, 000 to 2000, 000 c.c. of air.
3) BURNING OF FUELS –
Coal on combustion produces CO2. Incomplete combustion produces CO and a variety of hydrocarbons. The burning of coal produces SO2 and ash also.
4) AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES –
About 40%of methane is produced from paddy fields, guts of livestock and also from burning of biomass.
Crop spraying and dusting for pest and weed control are responsible for emitting organic phosphates, chlorinated hydrocarbons, arsenic and lead into the air.
5) IONIZING RADIATIONS –
Alpha, beta particles and gamma rays are produced in atomic piles of nuclear power during a nuclear explosion, during scientific experiments and testing of weapons.
6) SUSPENDED PARTICULATE MATTER(SPM) –
SPM is a major air pollutant, dust is generated from sources such as coal dust, silica dust, cement dust. A huge amount of dust is also blown by transport vehicles.
EFFECT OF AIR POLLUTION ON
ANIMALS AND HUMAN BEINGS.
Lead is known to damage kidney, liver, reproductive system, blood formation, basic cellular and brain functioning leading to behavioural disturbances, neurological disorders, anaemia, muscles paralysis, hypertension etc.
Hydrocarbons lead to eye irritation, coughing, sneezing, drowsiness. Benzene derivatives and formaldehyde are known, carcinogenic agents
Carbon mono oxide. It easily binds the haemoglobin so decreasing with oxygen-carrying capacity leading to hypoxia in the body It causes headache, muscular weakness, nausea, exhaustion.
When 50% of haemoglobin has been transformed into carboxyhaemoglobin then death occurs due to co-poisoning leading to anoxia.
Nitrous oxide leads to malfunctioning of lungs, eye irritation, blood congestion and SPM leads to lung-related and heart-related disease.
Two-wheeler riders, traffic policemen and roadside stall owners in areas with dense traffic have been found to suffer from a new ailment called dry eyes.
It is characterized by irritation of the eyes, redness, redness in the cornea and corneal damage, when left untreated.
Chlorofluorocarbons undergo biomagnifications and lead to the damage of the liver, CNS, vision in both animal and human beings.
Smog causes respiratory disease like asthma, allergies.
Indoor pollution stimulates the production of mucus and sputum. a recent study has reported that over five lakh Indians die every year due to indoor pollution.
EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION ON PLANTS
The soot and smoke particulate material settles on the leaves and reduces the rate of photosynthesis
Fluorides and SO2 lead to necrosis and chlorosis of leaves.
Oxides of nitrogen cause lesions, necrosis, defoliation and death of many plants.
Photochemical smog is responsible for the bleaching of the foliage of certain plants. Also causes silvering, glazing and necrosis of leaves.
Hydrocarbon leads to premature leaf fall and fruit drop.
Lichens are sensitive to air pollution and grown as a pollution indicator. Garden pea is another SO2 pollution.
Ethylene causes premature senescence.
AESTHETIC ASPECTS OF AIR POLLUTION
There are numbers of aesthetic aspects, few I am going to mention here in this essay on air pollution.
Coal, dust is the source of nuisance for household and gives a dirty look.
Gases like oxides of sulphur and nitrogen along with smoke make breathing difficult.
A clear and transparent atmosphere is aesthetically pleasing to human beings. The presence of smoke and dust in the air irritates the human mind.
The stone of the Parthenon in Athens has deteriorated in the past 50 years from air pollution.
Similarly, a statue of liberty is corroded from SO2 and NO2. And the Taj Mahal from SO2 emitted by Mathura refineries. The pollutant gases may transform marble(CaCO3) of Taj into calcium sulphate and calcium nitrate.
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
Earth’s temperature is maintained by reradiated infrared radiations by CO2, CH4, O3, NO and NO2 and slightly by water vapours in the atmosphere.
These gases prevent heat from escaping to outer space, so acts as a glass panel of a greenhouse and are called greenhouse gases(GHGs) and called a greenhouse effect.
The CO2 is added to the atmosphere mainly by the burning of fossil fuels, volcanic activities and respiration.
Fossils fuels are one of the major sources of CO2 production. A single trans –Atlantic flight by a jet plane releases about 70 tonnes of CO2.
NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF GLOBAL WARMING
1) The polar ice caps will melt. It is estimated that if all the ice on the earth melts, the level of oceans will be increased leads to the low lying coastal cities like Shanghai, Kolkata, Bangkok, Dhaka, San Francisco etc. will be submerged.
2) North America will be warmer and drier while North and East Africa, the Middle East, India will be warmer and wetter.
3) Grain production will be reduced.
4) India’s annual monsoon rains may even cease altogether.
5) Deserts are likely to increase.
6) one-third of the global forest might be swept away.
7) Chances of Hurricanes, Cyclones, floods will be more.
CONTROL
- Afforestation should be done on large scale.
- We should use devices that can control the particulate matter of the polluted air.
- Non-combustible sources of energy should be developed.
- The use of generators should be avoided and factories and chimneys should be tall to reduce the rate of Pollution.
- CNG vehicles should be promoted to use.
CONCLUSION
Much is being done to control, monitor and rectify the damage done by pollutants.
The problems are diverse and some are only being recognized but it is important to keep close control over pollutants so that we can maintain the environment in an acceptable condition for future generations.
Thank you for reading – Essay on air pollution
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