Random Facts about Air Pollution

In 1952, in London, 4000 people died because of fine particle pollution. Some air pollution is natural, like pollution from volcanes. The country with the worst air quality is India. The country with the best air quality is Slovakia. 70 percent of air pollution in major Chinese cities is caused from tailpipe emissions. Over 80 percent of lung damaging particles come from vehicles in the road. Air pollution around cities is visible from space. Strong perfume can be as pollutant as cigarette smoke. Air pollution kills over 3 million people per year.
                                                                                                        -Jace

Effects of Air Pollution

There are many effects of air pollution. Acidification is an effect of air pollution that happens when sulfuric acid from air pollution mixes with the water vapor in clouds creating acid rain. Acid rain destroyed the leaves of plants and infiltrated into soil, changing the chemical composition of the soil, making it unfit for living things. Ground level ozone pollution is a big pollutant. One in three people in the US are suscptible to ozone pollution. Smog, which is a combination of smoke and fog, is an air pollutant that is a mixture of  ground level ozone, and other pollutants. Smog can cause problems like reduced visibility, damage to vegetation, colds, and eye irritation. Air pollution also effects the economy. Air pollution causes health problems, thus causing health care costs to rise. Areas of the world which have a lot of air pollution also have a drop in things like air pollution. In 1952,in just a few days, 4000 people died from fine particle pollution.
                                                                                                            -Jace

Some Causes of Air Pollution

The Earth is a marvelous structure that is capable of cleaning up to a certain amount of air pollution, but mankind has made such a big mess with pollution that Earth by itself will not be able to clean. One big source of air pollution is manufacturing. This source of pollution releases particulate matter, and harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. Factory exhaust includes sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and dioxide, as well as volatile organic compounds and particulates( in other words: BAD STUFF). A whopping 0% of the Earth's ecosystem has remained unaffected by human pollution. Combustion engine exhaust is also a huge source of air pollution. Combustion exhaust can be created by cars, trucks, and jet airplanes. Factories, office buildings, homes, and power generating stations which burn fossil fuels to cause pollution. Combustion exhaust releases gases like carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, and gaseous oxide. Petroleum refineries pollute the air by releasing various harmful particles and hydrocarbons. High voltage power lines that are not insulated also cause air pollution. Pesticides and insecticides also cause air pollution. Fertilizer dust that is used to fertilize plants is a air pollutant. Mining operations cause air pollution by releasing particles into the air.
                                                                                                              -Jace

Air Pollution Effects On The World

Air pollution is a huge problem in the world. In places like Beijing it is recommended that you don't breathe because the air pollution is so bad, but in places like the mid-western United States, air pollution is not that big of a problem. In Beijing it is recommended that infants and  elderly people stay indoors.
The Chinese authorities have been desperately attempting to improve the air quality there, but it has been recently concluded that such work as that will take decades.
                                                                                                         -Jace