essay on air pollution: causes, effects and control of air pollution! the world health organization defines air pollution as the presence of materials in the air in such concentration which are harmful to man and his environment. In fact air pollution is the occurrence or addition of foreign particles, gases and other pollutants into the air which have an adverse effect on human beings, animals, vegetation, buildings, etc. The various causes of air pollution are: i combustion of natural gas, petroleum, coal and wood in industries, automobiles, aircrafts, railways, thermal plants, agricultural burning, kitchens, etc. Ii metallurgical processing mineral dust, fumes containing fluorides, sulphides and metallic pollutants like lead, chromium, nickel, beryllium, arsenic, vanadium, cadmium, zinc, mercury.

I chemical industries including pesticides, fertilizers, weedicides, fungicides. Natural air pollutants include a pollen, spores, b marsh gas, c volcanic gases and a synthesis of harmful chemicals by electric storms and solar flares. The major cause of pollution in the urban areas is automobiles which inefficiently burn petroleum, releases 75% of noise and 80% of air pollutants. The gaseous include substances that are in the gaseous state at normal temperature and pressure. The air pollutants have adverse effect on human beings, animals, vegetation, buildings. The different air pollutants and their effects are as follows: it is of two types settleable and suspended.

I dust and smoke particles cause irritation of the respiratory tract and produces bronchitis, asthma and lung diseases. Ii smog is a dark or opaque fog which is formed by the dust and smoke particles causing condensation of water vapours around them as well as attracting chemicals like so₂. Smog harms plant life through glazing and necrosis besides reduced availability of light. In industrial and urban areas, sunlight is reduced to 1/3 in summer and 2/3 in winter. Cotton dust in ginning process produces pneumoconiosis or lung fibrosis called byssinosis. Lung fibrosis produced in other industries includes asbestosis in asbestos industry , silicosis stone grinders , siderosis iron mill , coal miners pneumoconiosis, flour mill pneumoconiosis, etc.

It is formed by incomplete combustion of carbon fuels in various industries, motor vehicles, hearths, kitchens, etc. Carbon monoxide combines with haemoglobin of blood and impairs its oxygen carrying capacity. It is produced in large quantity during smelting of metallic ores and burning of petroleum and coal in industries, thermal plants, home and motor vehicles. In the air, so₂ combines with water to form sulphurous acid h₂ so₃ which is the cause of acid rain. It results in discolouration and deterioration of buildings, sculptures, painted surfaces, fabrics, paper, leather, etc. They are produced naturally through biological and non biological activities from nitrates, nitrites, electric storms, high energy radiations and solar flares. Human activity forms nitrogen oxides in combustion process of industries, automobiles, incinerators and nitrogen fertilizers.

Nitrogen oxides act on unsaturated hydrocarbons to form peroxy acyl nitrates or pan. They cause eye irritation, respiratory troubles, blood congestion and dilation of arteries. Due to excessive combustion activity, the content of c0₂ has been steadily rising. As carbon dioxide accumulates in the atmosphere it absorbs more and more of the reflected infrared radiation. This could cause an increase in temperature referred to as the green house effect. Melting polar ice caps and glaciers could cause sea levels to rise, flooding most of the major population centres and fertile lands. Phosgene and methyl isocyanate: phosgene cocl₂ is a poisonous and suffocating volatile liquid which is employed in dye industry and synthesis of organic compounds.

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Chlorofluorocarbons are also used in refrigeration and formation of certain types of solid plastic foams. Chlorofluorocarbons and carbon tetrachloride react with ozone layers of stratosphere and hence deplete the same. Some of these are also harmful to plants because they cause senescence and abscission. In the presence of sunlight, hydrocarbons react with nitrogen oxides to produce ozone, peroxy acyl nitrates, aldehydes and other compounds. The important pollutants are carbon monoxide, benzpyrene, lead, nitrogen oxides, sulphur compounds and ammonia.

Excess of microbes in the atmosphere directly damage the vegetation, food articles and causes diseases in plants, animals and human beings. The important allergic pollen belong to amaranthus spinosus, chenopodium album, cynodon dactylon, ricinus communis, sorghum vulgare, prosopis chilensis etc. Use of tall chimneys shall reduce the air pollution in the surroundings and compulsory use of filters and electrostatic precipitators in the chimneys. Removal of poisonous gases by passing the fumes through water tower scrubber or spray collector. Use of high temperature incinerators for reduction in particulate ash production.