WHAT IS AIR POLLUTION

Air pollution refers to the release of pollutants into the air—

pollutants which are detrimental to human health and the
planet as a whole. According to the World Health Organization
(WHO), each year air pollution is responsible for nearly seven
million deaths around the globe. Nine out of ten human beings
currently breathe air that exceeds the WHO’s guideline limits
for pollutants, with those living in low- and middle-income
countries suffering the most. In the United States, the
Clean Air Act, established in 1970, authorizes the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to safeguard public
health by regulating the emissions of these harmful air
pollutants.
 What causes air
pollution
“Most air pollution comes from energy use and production,” says John Walke, director
of the Clean Air Project, part of the Climate and Clean Energy program at NRDC.
“Burning fossil fuels releases gases and chemicals into the air.” And in an especially
destructive feedback loop, air pollution not only contributes to climate change but is
also exacerbated by it. “Air pollution in the form of carbon dioxide and methane
raises the earth’s temperature,” Walke says. “Another type of air pollution, smog, is
then worsened by that increased heat, forming when the weather is warmer and
there’s more ultraviolet radiation.” Climate change also increases the production of
allergenic air pollutants, including mold (thanks to damp conditions caused by
extreme weather and increased flooding) and pollen (due to a longer pollen season).
EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION
 The effects of air pollution on the
human body vary depending on the
type of pollutant and the length and
level of exposure—as well as other
factors, including a person’s individual
health risks and the cumulative impacts
of multiple pollutants or stressors.
1) SMOG AND SOOT

 These are the two most prevalent types of air pollution. Smog
(sometimes referred to as ground-level ozone) occurs when
emissions from combusting fossil fuels react with sunlight. Soot (also
known as particulate matter) is made up of tiny particles of
chemicals, soil, smoke, dust, or allergens—in the form of either gas
or solids—that are carried in the air. The sources of smog and soot
are similar. “Both come from cars and trucks, factories, power
plants, incinerators, engines, generally anything that combusts fossil
fuels such as coal, gas, or natural gas,” Walk says.

 Smog can irritate the eyes and throat and also damage the lungs,
especially those of children, senior citizens, and people who work or
exercise outdoors.
HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANT
 A number of air pollutants pose severe health risks and can sometimes be fatal even in
small amounts. Almost 200 of them are regulated by law; some of the most common
are mercury, lead, dioxins, and benzene. “These are also most often emitted during gas
or coal combustion, incinerating, or—in the case of benzene—found in gasoline,” Walke
says. Benzene, classified as a carcinogen by the EPA, can cause eye, skin, and lung
irritation in the short term and blood disorders in the long term. Dioxins, more typically
found in food but also present in small amounts in the air, can affect the liver in the
short term and harm the immune, nervous, and endocrine systems as well as
reproductive functions. Mercury attacks the central nervous system. In large amounts,
lead can damage children’s brains and kidneys, and even minimal exposure can affect
children’s IQ and ability to learn.

 Another category of toxic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), are by-
products of traffic exhaust and wildfire smoke. In large amounts they have been linked
to eye and lung irritation, blood and liver issues, and even cancer. In one study, the
children of mothers exposed to PAHs during pregnancy showed slower brain-processing
speeds and more pronounced symptoms of ADHD.
 GREENHOUSE GASES

 By trapping the earth’s heat in the atmosphere, greenhouse gases lead to warmer
temperatures, which in turn lead to the hallmarks of climate change: rising sea levels,
more extreme weather, heat-related deaths, and the increased transmission of
infectious diseases. In 2018 carbon dioxide accounted for 81 percent of the country’s
total greenhouse gas emissions, and methane made up 10 percent. “Carbon dioxide
comes from combusting fossil fuels, and methane comes from natural and industrial
sources, including large amounts that are released during oil and gas drilling,” Walke
says. “We emit far larger amounts of carbon dioxide, but methane is significantly more
potent, so it’s also very destructive.” Another class of greenhouse gases,
hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), are thousands of times more powerful than carbon dioxide in
their ability to trap heat. In October 2016 more than 140 countries reached an
agreement to reduce the use of these chemicals—which are found in air conditioners
and refrigerators—and develop greener alternatives over time. Though President Trump
was unwilling to sign on to this agreement, a bipartisan group of senators overrode his
objections in 2020 and set the United States on track to slash HFCs by 85 percent by
2035. According to David Doniger, senior strategic director of NRDC’s Climate and Clean
Energy program, “the agreed-to HFC phasedown will avoid the equivalent of more than
80 billion tons of carbon dioxide over the next 35 years.”
 POLLEN AND MOLD
 Mold and allergens from trees, weeds, and grass are also carried in the air, are
exacerbated by climate change, and can be hazardous to health. Though they
aren’t regulated and are less directly connected to human actions, they can
be considered a form of air pollution. “When homes, schools, or businesses
get water damage, mold can grow and can produce allergenic airborne
pollutants,” Knowlton says. “Mold exposure can precipitate asthma attacks or
an allergic response, and some molds can even produce toxins that would be
dangerous for anyone to inhale.”
 Pollen allergies are worsening because of climate change. “Lab and field
studies are showing that pollen-producing plants—especially ragweed—grow
larger and produce more pollen when you increase the amount of carbon
dioxide that they grow in,” Knowlton says. “Climate change also extends the
pollen production season, and some studies are beginning to suggest that
ragweed pollen itself might be becoming a more potent allergen.” If so, more
people will suffer runny noses, fevers, itchy eyes, and other symptoms.
ONTROLLING AIR POLLUTION
 Reducing pollutants in the air is important for human health and the
environment.
 Poor air quality has harmful effects on human health, particularly the
respiratory and cardiovascular systems.
 Pollutants can also damage plants and buildings, and smoke or haze
can reduce visibility.
 Current situation
of air pollution in india
 Over the past few years, worsening air quality in India—and in north India
specifically—has awakened policy makers and civil society to take urgent action.
 There have been some efforts to address air quality, specifically the National
Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which was launched in January 2019 with the aim
of improving air quality standards by 20-30 percent over the next five years.
While this has been a positive step, we not only need a more ambitious agenda,
but also a strong compliance framework that ensures accountability to the targets
we have set.
 With growing congestion in cities—a trend which is only likely to increase—we
need to also look at the transport sector, especially at a time when infrastructure
investments such as the Mumbai Coastal Road Project do little to factor in
environmental impacts. It is no surprise that fewer cars on the road mean less
traffic, less time on the road, and therefore less air pollution exposure.
SOLUTION TO AIR POLLUTION
 1. Using public transports
 Using public transport is a sure short way of contributing to less air pollution
as it provides with less gas and energy, even carpools contribute to it. In
addition to less release of fuels and gas, using a public transport can also help
in saving money.
 2. Turn off the lights when not in use
 The energy that the lights take also contribute to air pollution, thus less
consumption of electricity can save energy. Use energy saving fluorescent
lights to help the environment.
 3. Recycle and Reuse
 The concept of recycle and reuse is not just conserve resources and use them
judicially but also is helpful for air pollution as it helps in reducing pollution
emissions. The recycled products also take less power to make other products.
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