Speed restrictions or registration restrictions between even days and odd days are some of the many measures that until not long ago were put into practice to limit the emission of gases in some cities due to the high levels of atmospheric pollution that were reached and stained the sky of a grayish color. Air pollution is one of the most serious forms of pollution on our planet today. From Ecologist Verde we want to inform you about it to raise awareness and try that each of us contribute our grain of sand in the difficult task that its reduction entails. In this article we talk about the air pollution: causes, consequences and solutions.
What is air pollution?
We understand by air pollution the pollution of our atmosphere, that is, the presence in it of elements that are polluting and that can cause Negative effects in the health of people and the natural environment.
Air pollution can be more or less extensive. It can occur locally in the vicinity of the focus where it has occurred, or it can occur globally when it affects the balance of the entire planet due to the characteristics of the pollutant, that is, it extends far beyond the focus where it occurs. has originated.
Causes of air pollution
Those mainly responsible for air pollution originate from human activities. However, this does not mean that there are no sources of pollution from natural processes, such as:
- The Volcanic eruptions, where both gases and particles (ash) are emitted that alter the natural composition of gases naturally present in the atmosphere.
- Smoke and gases natural fires unprovoked.
- Dust storms.
- Pollen and spores of plants, responsible for many respiratory allergies.
With the Industrial Revolution, during the second half of the 18th century, the rise of factory production began, as well as the development and increasing use of means of transport and, therefore, the increase in the use of fossil fuels.
As a result, there was an increase in the concentration of gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide or sulfur oxide, all of them very harmful in high amounts to health.
Other activities that contribute to air pollution are:
- The mining extractions: For the extraction of many of these minerals, highly polluting chemicals and heavy machinery are used.
- Excessive use of pesticide products in agriculture: these substances affect and alter soils, also facilitating the accumulation of gases in the air.
- The deforestation: plant species are capable of cleaning the air by sequestering pollutants from the atmosphere and neutralizing them. With its elimination, this process is reduced, as well as the production of oxygen during photosynthesis.
Consequences of air pollution
The consequences of air pollution are varied, many of them being known. Again, the consequences can occur locally or globally.
The first of these are the consequences related to damage to human health. We can distinguish several groups of diseases caused by this type of contamination:
- Respiratory diseases like asthma, bronchitis or lung cancer. Air pollution increases a person's risk for these diseases, as well as cardiovascular conditions.
- Dermatological diseasesPerhaps less well known, air pollution also negatively affects the skin, promoting premature aging, dehydration or acne formation.
Air pollution can also cause damage to buildings, causing the erosion of their materials.
On the other hand, at an environmental level It also has multiple damages:
- Smog or pollution berets in big cities. This occurs especially in those cities that are not exposed to frequent winds that can clear their atmosphere of pollution.
- Climate change because of greenhouse gases that accumulate in the atmosphere.
- Depletion of the ozone layer, which acts as a protective layer against ultraviolet radiation.
- Acid rain, responsible for the large-scale destruction of forests and soils. In addition, it is responsible for the acidification of some lakes and the erosion of buildings, by attacking some metals present in the materials from which they are made.
Measures and solutions to air pollution
Although the atmosphere will try to return to its natural balance through the elimination of polluting substances, it is urgent to take measures so that its recovery is faster, since, in addition, it is only capable of recovering said balance when pollution is scarce or punctual. , as in the case of natural sources of pollution.
First, it is important to know and identify the elements that are producing this type of contamination for its reduction and / or elimination. Regarding this, more and more measures are being taken, which include regulations, investigations and funds destined to alleviate this type of contamination. Examples of these types of measures are:
- Promote competitive public transport.
- Increase the number of green areas and gardens in large urban centers. Currently, vertical gardens are on the rise that contribute to the absorption of atmospheric pollutants, acting as filters.
However, we can all contribute to reducing air pollution changing small habits of our day to day such as:
- Use alternative means of transport that do not pollute the environment, such as cycling.
- Recycle waste to minimize the environmental impact of the daily tons of garbage produced today.
- Responsible consumption of fossil fuels and energy sources. Since its use is practically inevitable, we can try to reduce the impact it produces on the planet.
- Construction of urban gardens that do not alter the environment or its natural cycles.
If you want to read more articles similar to Air pollution: causes, consequences and solutions, we recommend that you enter our Pollution category.
