Air Pollution Facts for Kids

We all are quite well aware about the importance of air and atmosphere around us. However, before we move to the facts, let's take a detailed look at the different components and importance of air. Air is one of the major elements of our life and survival. There are many gases which comprise the air, which are 20.95% oxygen, 78.09% nitrogen, 0.039% carbon dioxide and other gases. We need oxygen to breathe, and plants need carbon dioxide to make their food by a process called photosynthesis. There are various ways to explain the complex process of photosynthesis in simpler terms. Now that we have learned about the major components of air and their importance in brief, let's see what the air pollution facts for kids are.

You must be familiar with the term air pollution. But what exactly is it? The altered level of atmospheric gases and introduction of baleful elements in the air like dust, harmful particles and other gases, industrial emissions, smoke cause air pollution thus, disturbing the balance of natural elements of the air. The unwanted particles or pollutants are very hazardous to human health and life on earth. Air pollution can be natural or man-made. There are a lot of factors which contribute to air pollution. Listed below are some causes of it.

Causes of Air Pollution

• Combustion of fossil fuels pollutes the air. The three types of fossil fuels are coal, petroleum and natural gas. Fossil fuels are very essential in daily life and are used for the production of electricity, for cooking, transportation, in industries and other purposes. The combustion of these fuels mainly generate a lot of carbon dioxide and water vapor. The excess level of carbon dioxide is very harmful for the environment and even the excess amount of water vapor leads to the change in atmospheric humidity.
• Vehicles like cars, trucks, bus, air crafts also cause air pollution. The emission of harmful gases like carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, lead and other oxides coming out of these vehicles lead to the pollution of air.
• The emanation of gases like sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide from industries also adds to a major cause for air pollution. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides further react with other gases in the atmosphere. This often results into acid rains.
• Mining has a lot of adverse effects on the environment. The harmful gases and particles emitted during the mining operations also cause pollution.
• The calamitous emissions of radioactive elements also contribute to it.
• The release of harmful gases like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from volcanoes and other biological decays lead to air pollution. Even the discharge of other particulate matters from industries and mills causes air pollution.
• Deforestation also contributes to air pollution.

We should also be aware that air pollution is not only present on roads and in industries, but also indoors; inside our homes. We need a healthy and conducive environment in our homes. But often due to the incomplete combustion of fuels (used for cooking and other purposes) and smoking of cigarettes, carbon monoxide is produced. Due to poor ventilation and air circulation, dust mites lead to indoor pollution.

Effects

You can already well estimate that there are no positive effects of air pollution. When we talk about the effects of air pollution, we mean to term only its detrimental effects. Now, let's see what they are and their effect on the environment and life on earth.

• Isn't 'Global warming' a familiar term for you all? There are lot of interesting facts related to global warming. But for now it is more important to know how air pollution leads to global warming than mere facts. We have already discussed that an excessive amount of carbon dioxide is released into the air for the combustion of fuels by cars and other appliances causing air pollution. Carbon dioxide and methane are known as the green house gases. They form a cocoon in the atmosphere, trapping and depleting back the heat. Thus, when a lot of green house gases are present in the air, heat is trapped leading to global warming.
• Pollution of air also leads to acid rains. Harmful oxides of nitrogen and sulfur dioxide emitted from burning fossil fuels, combines and reacts with water vapor, oxygen and other gases of the atmosphere to form acid rain. Acid rain is very fatal to plant and human life, soil, water and even buildings and monuments.
• Air pollution can even lead to deadly diseases like emphysema, asthma, bronchitis, cancer, skin diseases and heart complications. Smoking also contributes in polluting the air, which, in turn, leads to lung cancer.
• Ozone layer depletion is another major effect of air pollution. The ozone layer surrounds our atmosphere and protects us from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. A gas called Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) which is used in refrigerators, coolers, air-conditioners, leads to the depletion of ozone layer.

Thus, air pollution can indeed be termed as a silent killer. The excessive amount of air pollution is destroying our environment and making the human and plant life vulnerable to extinction. There are a lot of basic measures which we all can adapt and take to cut down the air pollution.

Preventive Measures

• As we all know that "Charity begins at home". The first thing we can do is, make sure to minimize the usage of fuels and electricity. That way, we can contribute not only to saving energy but always minimizing air pollution.
• Make sure that your parents put the cars for servicing on time. This helps in minimizing the use of fuel consumption.
• Let's "Go Green". You can plant trees wherever it's feasible to. More trees will absorb greater amount of carbon dioxide in the air.
• You should also try and avail more of public transports. This will help reducing the air pollution.
• For a conducive and healthy environment, you should try and lessen the use of objects which can lead to air pollution.
• If you see people indulging in such activities, make sure you let them know about it, politely!

"There's so much pollution in the air now, that if it weren't for our lungs there would be no place to put it all." ~ Robert Orben.

So let's Go Green and exalt our actions against it right away. There are simple ways to save the environment and even minutest contributions can prove beneficial. So, let's into the spirit and take our first step towards saving the environment, shall we?