Nature can no longer manage the harmful substances in the earth’s atmosphere. These substances are harming plants, animals and ecosystems. Examples of these pollutants are carbon monoxide from car exhausts (the biggest pollutant) and sulphur dioxide from the combustion of coal. There are also natural air pollution such as wind-blown dust and the smoke from fires.

Nature’s own air-conditioning (wind) has kept the air fairly clean. It mixes gases then spreads them out, rain then washes the dust and other easily dissolved substances to the ground. The plants also absorb the carbon dioxide and replace it with oxygen sources, but now that these levels have risen the plants can’t keep up. When these concentrated gases exceed safe limits, we have a pollution problem. Long term exposure to these pollutants can cause Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Lung Disease, Asthma attacks, and other health problems.

                                   

       
                                          
Picture from flickr creative commons titled air pollution by enjoynizam