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Write the definition, factors and prevention of air pollution ?

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When the pollutants pollute the air and cause deter mental effects on the human beings, plants and animals is called as air pollution. It includes mainly the toxic gases. 

Sources of Air Pollution: They are as follows :

1. Motor Vehicles : Motor Vehicles are one of the major source of air pollution and their increasing number imposing a serious problem. Diesel is comparatively more harmful than the petrol. The diesel vehicles produce black smoke exhaust that contains CO, CO2, hydrocarbons, compounds of nitrogen and sulphur. These components impact toxic effects.

2. Combustion of fuel (Wood and Coal) : The burning of fuel in houses and industries produce many types of harmful gases such as CO, CO2, SO2 on complete combustion. The oil refineries and thermal power houses release smoke that contains SO2, CO2, H2S gases etc. which are toxic. Many chemical industries release lethal elements such as HCl, Cl, NO, Hg, Cu, Pb, As, Zn etc. which are toxic to human beings and other animals.

3. Nuclear Test : Many countries performed nuclear test such as America, Germany, France, Russia etc. Recently, India and Pakistan also had nuclear tests. The nuclear tests result in increase in amount of radio-active particles which impose detrimental effects on huntan beings, plants and animals. They cause serious diseases. For example chamobyle disaster occurred in USSR. In this awful event, a blast in the atomic reactor released large amount of radiations in the atmosphere.

4. Power Generators : Increase in electricity consumption is increasing because of urbanization, industrialization etc. The generation of the electricity is less than its consumption. Therefore, domestic generators are in use to produce electricity. They are causing both sound and air pollution. The smoke generated by these generators cause irritability and respiratory diseases.

Main Air Pollutants :

1. Gases : Burning of fuel in houses and industries release gases such as CO, CO2, Hydrocarbons, NO, NO2, H2S etc. They are harmful to the life in many ways.

2. Chemicals : Many non-gaseous harmful chemicals such as arsenic, benzene, cadmium, chlorine, floride, farmaldehyde, hydrogen floride, manganese, nickle, lead etc. are released in many industries. Such as coal and oil furnaces, glass industry, refineries, steel plants, motor vehicles, fertilizer plants, power houses etc. These chemical impose serious threat to the health.

3. Particular Matter : Particulate matter are the main factor of air pollution. They may be in solid or liquid or colloidal state in air.

Harmful effects of Air Pollution :
Air pollution is a contribution of modem industrialization that disturbs the ecosystem and causes serious health problems for living beings which are as follows :
A. Effect of air pollution on Human health :

  • It causes respiratory diseases such as bronchitis, pain in the throat, lung cancer, silicosis etc.
  • SO2 and NO2 cause emphysema, cancer and blood vascular diseases; eye irritation etc.
  • Smog (a combination of Ozone, PAN and NO) is too very harmful. It is also called as brown air. It causes lung diseases.
  • Lead present in vehicle exhaust cause multiorgan toxicity such as it damages liver, bones, lungs a nervous system etc.
  • Silicosis disease develops in the workers working in stone industries and mining.

B. Effect of air pollution on Vegetation :
Air pollution badly effect the vegetation. It reduces photosynthesis, falling of leaves, colourless or black leaves due to SO2, falling of flowering buds, less fruit formations etc.

C. Effect of air pollution on Animals :
Air pollution is detrimental for animals particularly insects such as honey bees, grasshoppers etc.

D. Effect of air pollution on Ozone :
Ozone layer protects the earth life from U-V rays. The chlorine and fluorine radicles harm the ozone which are produced by CFC (chloro-floro-carbon). The CFC is mainly used in refrigeration industries.

E. Green House Effect :
Air pollution, particularly excess of green house gases such as CO2, causes green house effect which in turn results in global
warming.

F. Acid Rain :
Air pollution of SO2 and NO2 result in acid rain. The SO2 reacts with water to form sulfuric acid and NO, forms nitric acid. The acid rain destroys forests and historical monuments like Taj Mahal etc.

Control of Air Pollution :

  1. Old motor vehicles cause more pollution. Therefore, their use should be prohibited.
  2. Use of catalic convector in the motor vehicles that minimizes the air pollution by removing more harmful gases.
  3. Use of alternate fuel in the motor vehicles such as in Delhi, CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) is used in the buses and autos. In big cities electrical public transports like electric buses, railways should be used.
  4. In motor vehicles, 2-stroke engine causes more pollution. Therefore, they should be replaced by 4-stroke engine vehicles.
  5. Use of electricity generator should not be permitted in cities.
  6. Nuclear tests must be banned totally.
  7. Modem techniques should be used in the industries to reduce smoke. In houses, gas burners or smokeless burners should be used.
  8. Particulate matter can be removed from the air using electrostatic precipitate.

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