Air is not always as clean as it should be. Air is polluted by harmful substances called air pollutants which are released into the air by natural sources, such as volcanoes and rotting vegetation as well as human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and industrialisation..
ROTTING VEGETATION POLLUTES AIR VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS POLLUTE THE AIR
BY GIVING OUT METHANE , SULPHUR WITH ASH , DUST , CARBON DIOXIDE AND
DIOXIDE AND OXIDES OF NITROGEN. SULPHUR DIOXIDE .
THE BELOW DIAGRAM SHOWS YOU THE MAIN POLLUTANTS PRODUCED BY THE ACTIVITIES OF MAN
Sulphur dioxide is a harmful, colourless gas with an irritating odour. It dissolves in rain water to form acid rain. Sulphur dioxide gas is given off by burning of coal and oil in power stations.
Breathing in sulphur dioxide irritates our eyes and nasal passageways. It also causes breathing difficulties, bronchitis, pneumonia and lung cancer.
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless and poisonous gas. Major sources of carbon monoxide are exhaust fumes from motor vehicles and industries.
Exposure to carbon monoxide causes headaches, brain damage and death.
Oxides of nitrogen are poisonous gaseous compounds containing nitrogen and oxygen. Oxides of nitrogen are released into the air from burning of coal and oil from industries, power station and exhaust fumes from motor vehicles.
Exposure to oxides of nitrogen caused coughs, headaches and lung diseases.
Lead compounds are poisonous solid particles. Lead compounds are released in the air from exhaust fumes from the combustion of leaded petrol or oil in motor vehicles.
Exposure to lead compounds result in lead poisioning, brain damage and forest decline.
Chlorofluorocarbons are colourless gases containg chlorine. They are chemicals used in aerosol sprays, foams, air-conditioning systems and refrigerants.
They caused the thinning of the ozone layer in our atmosphere.
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