What is air
pollution?
- Air pollution occurs when
the air contains gases, dust, fumes or odor in harmful amounts. That is,
amounts which could be harmful to the health or comfort of humans and
animals or which could cause damage to plants and material.
What contributes to
air pollution?
- Driving cars and
trucks (exhaust)
- Burning coal,
oil and other fossil fuels
- Manufacturing
chemicals
- Cigarette smoke
- Fuel Combustion
in Industrial Processes
- Natural Sources
(i.e. wildfires)
Why is
air pollution a problem?
- The average
adult breathes over 3,000 gallons of air everyday, so clean air is of the
utmost importance; children breathe even more per pound of body weight and
are more susceptible to the health risks of air pollution
- Pollutants in
the air create
- Smog and acid
rain
- Cancer or other
serious health effects
- Diminish the
ozone layer
- Contribute to
climate change
What is
the difference between air pollutants and toxic air pollutants?
- Air pollutants
are suspected to cause cancer, damage respiratory systems, or cause other
health related issues, while toxic air pollutants exist as particulate
matter, which is related to climate change.
- Toxic Air
Pollutants include
- Metals
- Particles
- Certain vapors
from fuels
What is
the Air Quality Index?
- The Air Quality
Index (AQI) is a report that monitors daily air quality. Informs the
public of health concerns related to how clean or polluted the air is.
What
pollutants affect air quality?
- Carbon Monoxide
- Lead
- Nitrogen Dioxide
- Ozone
- Particulate
Matter (listed above)
- Sulfur Dioxide
