"Air pollution is the contamination of air due to the presence of substances in the atmosphere that are harmful to the health of humans and other living beings, or cause damage to the climate or to materials."
A study of the sources, transport, and fate of pollutants in the atmosphere, as well as the impact of air pollution on human health, climate change, and the natural environment.
Sources of Air Pollution: This topic covers the causes of air pollution such as natural and human activities, vehicular emissions, industrial and agricultural activities, forest fires, etc.
Air Quality Standards: This topic focuses on the standards set by regulatory authorities for airborne pollutants to determine safe levels for human exposure.
Health Effects of Air Pollution: This topic covers the detrimental effects of air pollution on human health, such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and neurological diseases.
Air Pollution Monitoring: This topic discusses the methods and techniques used for monitoring air quality, including sampling, analysis, and assessment of data.
Indoor Air Pollution: This topic covers the sources and effects of indoor air pollutants like mold, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, pesticides, and household products.
Acid Rain: This topic covers the causes and effects of acid rain on the environment, including soil, water, and plant life.
Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change: This topic discusses the relationship between air pollution and climate change, focusing on the effects of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Air Pollution Control Technologies: This topic covers the various technologies used for controlling air pollution, including scrubbers, filters, and electrostatic precipitators.
Environmental Regulations and Policies: This topic covers the local, national, and international policies aimed at controlling air pollution, including emissions standards and cap-and-trade programs.
Environmental Impacts of Air Pollution: This topic discusses the effects of air pollution on the environment beyond human health, including impacts on wildlife, ecosystems, and agriculture.
Particulate Matter: Tiny solid or liquid particles suspended in the air, such as dust, smoke, and soot.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Organic chemicals that can evaporate and pollute the air, including benzene, toluene, and formaldehyde.
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx): Gases produced by combustion processes, such as vehicle engines and power plants.
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2): A gas emitted by industrial processes and burning fossil fuels, which can react with other pollutants in the air to form harmful particles.
Carbon Monoxide (CO): A poisonous gas produced by incomplete combustion of fuels, such as gasoline and natural gas.
Ozone (O3): A gas molecule formed when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds react in the presence of sunlight, which can cause respiratory issues and other health problems.
Lead (Pb): A toxic metal that can accumulate in the environment as a result of human activities, such as leaded gasoline and industrial processes.
Mercury (Hg): A heavy metal that is released into the air and can cause neurological, respiratory, and other health problems.
Radon (Rn): A radioactive gas that is naturally present in soil and rock and can seep into buildings, causing lung cancer and other health problems.
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs): Chemical compounds that are resistant to breakdown and can accumulate in the environment and food chain, including dioxins, furans, and PCBs.
"There are many different types of air pollutants, such as gases (including ammonia, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, methane and chlorofluorocarbons), particulates (both organic and inorganic), and biological molecules."
"Air pollution can cause diseases, allergies, and even death to humans; it can also cause harm to other living organisms such as animals and crops, and may damage the natural environment or built environment."
"Air pollution can be caused by both human activities and natural phenomena."
"The human health effects of poor air quality are far-reaching, but principally affect the body's respiratory system and the cardiovascular system."
"Many of the contributors of air pollution are also sources of greenhouse emission, i.e., burning of fossil fuel."
"Air pollution is a significant risk factor for a number of pollution-related diseases, including respiratory infections, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), stroke, and lung cancer."
"Growing evidence suggests that air pollution exposure may be associated with reduced IQ scores, impaired cognition, increased risk for psychiatric disorders such as depression, and detrimental perinatal health."
"Outdoor air pollution attributable to fossil fuel use alone causes ~3.61 million deaths annually, making it one of the top contributors to human death, with anthropogenic ozone and PM2.5 causing ~2.1 million."
"Overall, air pollution causes the deaths of around 7 million people worldwide each year, or a global mean loss of life expectancy (LLE) of 2.9 years."
"Air pollution is the world's largest single environmental health risk, which has not shown significant progress since at least 2015."
"Various pollution control technologies and strategies are available to reduce air pollution."
"Local rules, when properly executed, have resulted in significant advances in public health. Some of these efforts have been successful at the international level, such as the Montreal Protocol, which reduced the release of harmful ozone-depleting chemicals, and the 1985 Helsinki Protocol, which reduced sulfur emissions."
"Productivity losses and degraded quality of life caused by air pollution are estimated to cost the world economy $5 trillion per year."
"90% of the world's population breathes dirty air to some degree."
"Although the health consequences are extensive, the way the problem is handled is considered largely haphazard or neglected, albeit sometimes being moderately regulated and monitored."
"Indoor air pollution and poor urban air quality are listed as two of the world's worst toxic pollution problems."
"Air quality is closely related to the earth's climate and ecosystems globally."
"Some of these efforts have been successful at the international level, such as the Montreal Protocol, which reduced the release of harmful ozone-depleting chemicals, and the 1985 Helsinki Protocol, which reduced sulfur emissions."
"The scope of the air pollution crisis is large, and the problem has not shown significant progress since at least 2015."