CARBON MONOXIDE :

Source :Vehicle exhausts, Cigarette smoke

Effects on humans :

Carbon monoxide is poisonous. It combines with haemoglobin to form carboxyhaemoglobin, which is
a stable and an irreversible compound. It reduces oxygen transported by the red blood cells. Less
oxygen is available for cell respiration and less energy is released, resulting into death by
asphyxiation / suffocation.

Fetuses born are underweight. Carbon monoxide is passed across the placenta into fetal blood. So,
uptake of oxygen is reduced. This causes brain damage. It can cause premature birth.

CARBON DIOXIDE

Source :Combustion of fossil fuels

Effects on humans :
Global warming
Flooding due to rise in sea levels as polar ice caps melt due to the greenhouse effect
Acid rain and its effects, such as -

Why did it remain constant in volume in air for millions of years?
Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis.
It is replaced by respiration and combustion of fossil fuels.
These processes roughly balance out.
Oxygen is removed from the atmosphere by respiration and combustion.

Why is it on the rise?
Increased combustion of fossil fuels to meet increased energy demands in homes and in industries.
Increased use of vehicles
Deforestation, so less photosynthesis and less absorption of carbon dioxide
Increased population over recent years, cause more release of carbon dioxide by respiration
Original carbon dioxide removal over millions of years is replaced over a very short time

CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS (CFCs)

Source :Spraying aerosol

Effects of CFCs :
Ozone absorbs ultra violet light.
CFCs thin ozone layer and form holes in it, causing more UV light to reach humans.
UV light damages skin by causing sunburns and skin tans.
UV light damages skin tissues and skin cells.
More DNA and chromosome mutations occur, resulting in skin cancer (melanoma).
CFCs damage the retina of the eye.

NITROGEN OXIDES

Source :Vehicle exhausts

Effects on humans :
Nitrogen oxides irritate the lining of the lungs and aggravate bronchitis and cause asthmatic attacks.
They dissolve in rain water to form acid rain that dissolves limestone buildings.
They acidify lakes and kills fish along with other aquatic invertebrates.
They damage forests by eroding the waxy cuticle of leaves of plants.

LEAD OXIDES

Source :Exhaust fumes of cars

Effects on humans :
They are toxic.
They cause brain damage and damage to the nervous system.
They inhibit enzymes in the body.
They accumulate in young children.

Note :Cars give out oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and lead oxides in their
poisonous exhaust fumes. Less cars means less exhaust as less fuels are burnt.

Effect of air pollution on photosynthesis :

Soot / smoke particles / smog coats leaves and blocks stomata. This reduces light entry and gaseous
exchange. Photosynthesis is reduced.
Sulphur dioxide causes acid rain. This causes damage to leaves and leads to leaf fall.
Carbon dioxide may increase photosynthesis.

GLOBAL WARMING

Melting of ice caps
Rise in sea level causing floods
Increased sweating causing dehydration
Increased transpiration from plants cause wilting
Changing weather patterns, such as, more flooding
Greenhouse gases trap heat
When we extract and burn fossil fuels such as coal or petroleum, we cause the release of carbon dioxide (CO2)
andother heat-trapping "greenhouse gases" into the atmosphere.
Though natural amounts of CO2 have varied from 180 to 300 parts per million (ppm), today's CO2 levels are
around 400 ppm. That's 40% more than the highest natural levels over the past 800,000 years.
We also can tell that the additional CO2 in the atmosphere comes mainly from coal and oil because the chemical
composition of the CO2 contains a unique fingerprint.
Losing forests makes it worse
Clearing forests also releases large amounts of CO2. On top of that, plants and trees use CO2 to grow. Worldwide
deforestation means we don't have as many trees to absorb the extra CO2.
This means more CO2 stays in the atmosphere, trapping more heat.
Greenhouse gases
Carbon Dioxide: 0.01-0.1% of our atmosphere.
Methane: .01% of our atmosphere
Water Vapor: 0-7% of our atmosphere