AIR POLLUTION

AIR POLLUTION!!!
• Air pollution is the human introduction into the
atmosphere of chemicals, particulate matter, or
biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to
humans or other living organisms, or damages the
environment
• Air pollution causes deaths and respiratory disease
• Gases such as carbon dioxide, which contribute to
global warming, have recently gained recognition as
pollutants by climate scientists, while they also recognize
that carbon dioxide is essential for plant life through
photosynthesis.
The example of pollutant
 EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION
ON HUMAN BEINGS AND THE
ENVIRONMENT.
Health problems

• Soot and dust make the air, buildings, vehicles and even our
clothes dirty. They irritate the lungs and affect the respiratory
system.
• Asbestos particles cause lung cancer.
• If carbon monoxide is absorbed into the blood, it prevents the
blood from absorbing oxygen, thus causing headaches and brain
damage. If large quantities are inhaled, death may occur.
• Sulphur dioxide irritates the eyes and can cause respiratory
problems such as bronchitis and pneumonia.
• Oxides of nitrogen can damage the lungs and combine with other
pollutants to form ozone which irritate the eyes.
• Lead particles can cause brain damage in children and high
blood pressure.
Acid Rain
• Sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen dissolve
in rainwater to form acid rain.
• Acid rain causes serious damage to animals and
vegetation.
• Fish will die as they cannot survive in acidic
water. Acid rain also destroys trees in forests.
• Acid rain quickens the rusting of objects made of
iron and steel such as fences, bridges and
vehicles.
• Buildings made of limestone and marbles
corrode very fast in acid rain.
 Greenhouse effect
• Carbon dioxide trapped in the atmosphere prevents
heat from the Earth from escaping into space.
• This cause the temperatures on the Earth to rise.
This effect is called the greenhouse effect.
• The rise in temperature also causes ice in the north
and south poles to melt. This results in a rise in sea
levels and may cause floods in low-lying areas.
• Global warming will result in climatic changes. For
example, certain places may experience droughts.
• Oxides of nitrogen and CFCs are also known as
greenhouse gases.
 THINNING OF THE OZONE
LAYER
• In the upper section of the Earth’s atmosphere, there is a layer
of ozone gas.
• Ozone is a molecule consisting of three oxygen atoms.
• The ozone layer absorbs most of the ultraviolet rays from the
Sun and prevents the harmful ultraviolet rays from reaching the
Earth’s surface.
• Exposure to too much ultraviolet rays can cause diseases like
skin cancer and eye cataracts. Ultraviolet rays also kill
organisms that are useful to humans and damage crops and
plants. This disturbs the life cycles of land and aquatic plants.
• The thinning of the ozone layer is a result of the action of free
chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) compounds in the air. CFCs are
released through use of aerosol sprays or the leaks in old air-
conditioning systems, vehicle cooling systems and refrigerators.
• The thinning of the ozone layer allows more ultraviolet rays to
reach the Earth.
 GREENHOUSE EFFECT
• Greenhouse gases effectively absorb thermal infrared
radiation, emitted by the Earth’s surface, by the
atmosphere itself due to the same gases, and by
clouds. Atmospheric radiation is emitted to all sides,
including downward to the Earth’s surface. Thus
greenhouse gases trap heat within the surface-
troposphere system. This is called the greenhouse
effect.
• The greenhouse effect is only one of many factors
which affect the temperature of the Earth.
A modern Greenhouse in RHS Wisley
 ACID RAIN
• Acid rain is rain or any other form of precipitation
that is unusually acidic. It has harmful effects on
plants, aquatic animals, and infrastructure.
• Acid rain is mostly caused by human emissions of
sulfur and nitrogen compounds which react in the
atmosphere to produce acids.
• The extra acidity in rain comes from the reaction of
primary air pollutants, primarily sulfur oxides and
nitrogen oxides, with water in the air to form strong
acids (like sulfuric and nitric acid). The main sources
of these pollutants are industrial power-generating
plants and vehicles.
Processes involved in acid deposition
Effect of acid rain on a forest
Effect of acid rain on statues
 THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING
THE AIR CLEAN
1. A good quality environment is one that provides all the basic
needs of life such as fresh air, clean water, sufficient sources
of energy and abundant food.
2. Such an environment is safe and clean. Nature is balanced. It
has only a low level of pollution.
3. A clean environment guarantees the general good health of
the community. This is because all living things breathe in air.
4. Air pollution affects this process and causes respiratory
diseases such as bronchitis and emphysema, skin diseases,
eye and lung irritations, and even cancer.
5. Economic growth and development must be balanced with
efficient environmental management. We have to be
responsible so that future generations can also benefit from a
clean environment.
 Thank You

Prepared by:
Ili Aqilah bt Zakaria
Lisa Yeoh Su Fen
Nursyuhani bt Che Hussain
Yasmin bt Abu Talib