Effects

#Polluted Globe

Effects of Air Pollution

1. Respiratory infections

Air pollution is the leading cause of respiratory diseases. Exposure to air pollutants can cause lung cancer and even asthma. Asthma can lead to death if not well treated, as it might cause difficulty in breathing. Prolonged exposure to pollutants can cause lung cancer.

2. Global warming

The rise in sea level, rising temperature in the world, and the melting of ice glaciers are evidence for global warming. Global warming is a direct effect of air pollution in the world. The only way to curb this increasingly destructive menace is to reduce air pollution.

3. Depletion of the ozone layer

The greenhouse effect which is the major contributor to the release of chlorofluorocarbon into the atmosphere has led to the depletion of the ozone layer. This layer is important in shielding the earth from the destructive ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

4. Formation of acid rain

Emission of harmful gasses such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen into the atmosphere leads to the formation of acid rain. It is quite common for rainwater to have sulfuric acid due to rampant cases of air pollution in modern society. Acid rain is a major threat to aquatic life as well as human beings.

There are carcinogenic substances in the acid rain, and it has devastating effects on even metal which can be observed by the extent of corrosion that often results.

5. Eutrophication

Air pollutants such as nitrogen oxide speed up the growth of algae on the water surface. This growth competes with aquatic life for oxygen, therefore, posing a major threat to fishing. The only way to reduce the devastating effects of air pollution will be to come up with effective ways of reducing air pollution.Earth’s atmosphere has a self-regulating mechanism that ensures the sequestration of carbon among other pollutants