A I R   P O L L U T I O N

What is air pollution?

Air pollution is dirty air that damages the health of humans, plants and animals.


How do we make the air dirty?

  • Burning fossil fuels for energy, electricity and transport. Fossil fuels are the main cause of air pollution.

  • Agriculture. Farm equipment, farm animals and fertilizers used in farms pollute the air.

  • Forest fires. Fires release gases into the atmosphere that change the quality of our air.

  • Volcanoes. Volcanoes release a lot of pollutants into the air.

  • Vapour from some liquids. This also releases pollutants into the air.


How does air pollution harm humans, plants and animals?

Through:

1. Acid Rain

How is it formed?

  • When a mixture of gases combine with sunlight, ozone and cloud water in the air, harmful acidic gases are made.

  • These harmful acids can be carried long distances by wind and are released in snow, mist and rain.

Because of this:

  • Basic food for plants found in soil get washed away.

  • Trees become weak and can be killed by cold weather or other harmful things. These trees are never able to grow again.

  • Harmful materials such as aluminium are created when acid rain reacts with soil. These are washed into rivers and lakes, killing the fish and other animals living in the water.

  • Birds that eat the fish are harmed.

  • People who have asthma or bronchitis become ill.


2. Ozone

How is it formed?

  • Ozone is formed by sunlight combining with chemicals or liquids that evaporate. These then combine with oxygen to form ozone during hot, sunny days.

  • Ozone is also created by printers and photocopiers.

Because of this:

  • It can become hard for us to breathe properly.

  • It can become hard for us to think clearly.

  • Plants die, including plants that give us food.


3. Carbon Monoxide

How is it formed?

Vehicles such as cars, buses and trains give off this gas.

Because of this:

  • We can experience headaches, sleepiness and vomiting.

  • We can struggle to concentrate.


What can you do to help?


  • Use public transport, walk or use a bicycle to get around.

  • Car pool and avoid using cars for transport whenever you can.

  • Plant trees.

  • Ask your parents to avoid buying household products that contain hydrocarbons and avoid using spray cans of any sort.

  • Ask your parents to buy water-based or low-solvent paints, glues, varnishes and wood preservatives.


Remember….

It is up to us to help keep the air that we breathe clean!