What are the effects of air pollution on human health and environment?

 

Various gaseous substances like SO₂, CO, H₂S, NO2, ozone, chlorine, hydrocarbon and particulates matter etc. enter the air due to various natural and man-made causes and pollute the air.

This polluted air has a devastating effect on human and the environment.
The harmful effects of air pollution on humans and the environment are discussed below.

 

Sulfur dioxide (SO2)

This is the most harmful gaseous primary pollutant. Sulfur dioxide is a highly harmful substance in both the environment and the living world. So the effects of air pollution for SO2 are very significant.

 

This gas combines with water vapor of atmosphere and forms sulfuric acid. This acid mixed with rain water and falls on the earth in the form of acid rain that damages the environment and the plant world.

The presence of sulfur dioxide causes inflammation and irritation of the lining of the eyes and various parts of the respiratory tract.

Its effects include bronchitis, respiratory distress asthma etc. Sulfur dioxide plays a major role in creating fog. This results in smog damage in the presence of sulfur dioxide in the air.

 

The effect of sulfur dioxide is that the normal growth of the plant is reduced and the leaves become dry. This disrupts photosynthesis.

 

Carbon monoxide (CO)

Carbon monoxide is a very poisonous gas and also known as primary pollutant. So effects of air pollution both on health and environment due to CO are harmful.

As a result, CO forms permanent complex compound carboxy hemoglobin combines with hemoglobin in the blood which is more stable than the compounds formed by CO2 or O2.

 

This causes the blood to clot and the oxygen supply to the cells is disrupted or stopped. Normally, animals die due to lack of oxygen in the blood.

 

Symptoms of nausea, dizziness, etc. are seen in the presence of a small amount of carbon monoxide. Due to the presence of CO in cigarette smoke, smokers suffer from headaches.

 

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

 

Generally, carbon dioxide is not considered as an air pollutant. Because of this, CO2 has no harmful effect of air pollution on human health directly.

But as the amount of CO2 in the air increases, the weather changes, the earth warms up. It has a direct effect on people.

 

Oxides of nitrogen (NOx)

Among the oxidesof nitrogen NO and NO2 are act mainly as air pollutant. Nitric oxide does not directly harm human health. But its impact on the environment is greater.

This creates secondary pollutant PAN and photochemical smog in the presence of a few other elements and sunlight in the environment.

 

The effects of photochemical fumes irritate the eyes, nose and cause shortness of breath. If this fog persists, there is a possibility of death.

NO2 is highly toxic air pollutant. Hence effects of air pollution for NO2 gas are fatal. A concentration of even 100 ppm for a few minutes can be lethal to humans and animals.

 

An exposure to 5 ppm concentration of NO2 for a few minutes leads to adverse effects on the respiratory system.

Long term exposure to even as low concentration as 0.06 ppm aggravates respiratory diseases in humans.

 

Exposure of monkeys to 15-50 ppm for two hours has been reported to damage their lungs, heart, liver and kidneys. Besides, NO2 gas combines with water vapor of atmosphere and forms sulfuric acid. 

 

This acid mixed with rain water and falls on the earth in the form of acid rain that damages the environment and the plant world.

 

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S)

 H₂S is also a gaseous pollutant. It easily forms a stable metallic sulfide in contact with low electrolytic metals.

For this reason, fancy items made of metallic silver and nickel turn black by forming sulfide salts on contact with H₂S.

H₂S being a gas of acidic nature causes architectural erosion in the presence of humid air.H2S is a toxic gas. Its effects on humansare deadly. As a result, it causes headaches, nausea, and sore eyes.

H₂S can also cause anorexia, diarrhea, and bronchial pneumonia. Toxicity is caused by the reaction of H₂S with essential proteins present in the human body.

 

Chlorine

 

In the absence of rigid precautions, chlorine is liable to escape into the atmosphere from the sites of industrial units manufacturing paper, plastics, dyes, chlorinated hydrocarbons and other chloro chemicals.

There is also a possibility of accidental leakage in storage tanks and pipe lines. Chlorine has a sharp irritating odor and is poisonous when inhaled in larger quantity, the maximum allowable exposure being 1 ppm for 8 hours. 

 

Gaseous hydrocarbon

The oxides of nitrogen and oxygen those present in the atmosphere react with hydrocarbon in presence of sunlight and form photo-chemical smog.

This photochemical haze causes eye and nose irritation and shortness of breath. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are carcinogenic substances that can cause cancer. Methane gas also has a green house effect.

 

Suspended particulates matter

 

The aerosol formed by the diffusion medium in the air as a fine phase of solid or liquid particles with a diameter of 0.002µ to 500µ microns is generally called floating contaminant particles.

These particles matter stay in the atmosphere for a few seconds to a few months. These particles matter can be of two types, organic and inorganic. These particles are, smoke, dust, smog, fog, spray, mist, fume, fly ash etc.

Particles smaller than 5 micron enter the alveoli of the lungs through the nostrils and damage the lungs.

As a result, asbestos workers in asbestos factory, beriliosis in the lungs of beryllium extraction workers, silicosis in cement factory are seen. The lungs are also affected by black particles in coal mines and white fibers in textiles.

Aerosols, which are soluble in the blood or react with blood components, infect the blood and disrupt its normal functioning.

When floating matter particles accumulate on the leaves of plants over time, the mouth of the stomata closes and photosynthesis is disrupted. The fog created for the aerosol causes a lack of sunlight.

 

Lead (Pb)

Lead is a heavier metal element with chemical formula, Pb. It is also known as air pollutant.

Lead enters the human body through inhalation as a result of air pollution. It spreads throughout the body through the blood.

This has adverse effects on the nervous system, immune system, kidney function, reproductive system and cardiovascular systems.

In other word, the effects of air pollution due to lead cause high blood pressure and heart disease.

The effects of lead are seen in children with neurological problems. Excessive lead in the air is also harmful to the ecosystem.

 

Ozone gas (O3)

Ozone is an allotrope of oxygen gas with molecular formula, O3. It is a gaseous primary pollutant. It is a faintly bluish gas.

High levels of ozone gas can cause inflammation of the airways, reduced lung capacity, and asthma. Ozone gas can also cause illnesses such as pneumonia and bronchitis.

 

 

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Key words: effects of air pollution, effects of air pollution on human health and environment, effects of air pollution on plants and animals,

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