ATMOSPHERE:

The atmosphere is a mixture of gases that

surrounds the Earth. It helps make life possible by
providing us with air to breathe, shielding us from
harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation coming from the
Sun, trapping heat to warm the planet, and
preventing extreme temperature differences
between day and night.
➢Earth’s atmosphere stretches from the surface
of the planet up to as far as 10,000 kilometers
(6,214 miles) above. After that, the atmosphere
blends into space. Not all scientists agree where
the actual upper boundary of the atmosphere
is, but they can agree that the bulk of the
atmosphere is located close to Earth’s surface—
up to a distance of around eight to 15
kilometers (five to nine miles).
While oxygen is necessary for most life on Earth,
the majority of Earth’s atmosphere is not oxygen.
Earth’s atmosphere is composed of about 78
percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen, 0.9 percent
argon, and 0.1 percent other gases. Trace amounts
of carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and neon
are some of the other gases that make up the
remaining 0.1 percent.
During the last few decades, we have contaminated
our air, on which most of ours life depends;
AIR POLLUTION:
Is the introduction of particulates, biological
materials, or other harmful materials into the
Earth's atmosphere, possibly causing disease, death
to humans, damage to other living organisms such
as food crops, or the natural or built environment.
Air pollution occurs due to the presence of
undesirables solid or gaseous particles in the air in
quantities that are harmful to human health and
the environment.
• Air pollution occurs inside homes, schools, and
offices; in cities; across continents; and even
globally.
 • Air pollution makes people sick it causes
breathing problems and promotes cancer--and
it harms plants, animals, and the ecosystems in
which they live.
• Some air pollutants return to Earth in the form
of acid rain and snow, which corrode statues
and buildings, damage crops and forests, and
make lakes and streams unsuitable for fish and
green plant and animal life.
CAUSES OF AIR POLLUTION:
Most air pollution comes from one human activity:
1. Burning fossil fuels--natural gas, coal, and oil-to
power industrial processes and motor vehicles.
Harmful chemical compounds this burning puts into
the atmosphere are carbon dioxide, carbon
monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and tiny
solid particles-including lead from gasoline
additives-called particulates.
2.Motor vehicle use rapidly expanded, and
emissions of nitrogen.When fuels are incompletely
burned, various chemicals called Volatile Organic
Chemicals (VOCs) also enter the air.
3. Decomposing garbage in landfills and solid waste
disposal sites emits methane gas, and many
household products give off VOCs i.e. benzene,
ethylene glycol, methylene chloride,
tetrachloroethylene, toluene and xylene.
4.Pollutants also come from natural resources Such
That;forest fires emit particulates and VOCs into the
atmosphere Volcanoes spew out sulfur dioxide and
large amounts of pulverized lava rock known as
volcanic ash.
For,e.g;The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo the
Philippines, for example, dumped enough volcanic
ash into the upper atmosphere to lower global
temperatures for the next two years. Unlike
pollutants from human activity however, naturally
occurring pollutants tend to remain suspended in
atmosphere for a short time and do not lead to
permanent atmospheric change.
Once in the atmosphere, pollutants often undergo
chemical reactions that produce additional harmful
compounds.
Major primary pollutants produced by human
activity include: •Sulfur oxides (SO,) - particularly
sulfur dioxide, a chemical compound with the
formula SO, SO, is produced by volcanoes and in
various industrial processes. Sulfur oxides are
produced when sulfur containing fossil fuels are
burnt.
Coal and petroleum often contain sulfur
compounds, and their combustion generates sulfur
dioxide. Further oxidation of SO,. usually in the
presence of a catalyst such as NO, When sulphur
dioxide and nitrogen oxides are transported by
prevailing winds they form secondary pollutants
such as nitric acid vapors droplets of sulfuric acid.
These chemicals descend on the earth’s surface in
two forms: wet (as acidic rain, snow, fog and cloud
vapour).
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) - Nitrogen oxides,
particularly nitrogen dioxide, are expelled from high
temperature combustion, and are also produced
during thunderstorms by electric discharge. They
can be seen as a brown haze dome above or a
plume downwind of cities. Nitrogen dioxide is a
chemical compound with the formula NO2. It is one
of several nitrogen oxides. One oft most prominent
air pollutants, this reddish-brown toxic gas has a
characteristic sharp, biting odor.
Volatile organic compounds - VOCs are a well-
known outdoor air pollutant -categorized as either
methane (CH) or non-methane. Methane is an
extremely efficient greenhouse gas which
contributes to enhanced global warming. Other
hydrocarbon VOCs are also significant greenhouse
gases because of their role in creating ozone and
prolonging the life of methane in the atmosphere.
This effect varies depending on local air quality. The
aromatic benzene, toluene and xylene are
suspected carcinogens and may lead to leukemia
with prolonged exposure. butadiene is another
dangerous compound often associated with
industrial use. Particulates, alternatively referred to
as particulate matter (PM),a particulate matter, or
fine particles, are tiny particles of solid or liquid
suspended in a gas.
Radioactive pollutants - produced by nuclear
explosions, nuclear events, war explosives, and
natural processes such as the radioactive decay of
radon.
Aerosol refers to combined particles and gas or
sprays from pressurized cans. Some particulates
occur naturally, originating from volcanoes, dust
storms, forest and grassland fires, living vegetation,
and sea spray. While human made aerosols also
affect the atmosphere, such that; anthropogenic
aerosols currently account for approximately 10
percent of our atmosphere. Increased levels of fine
particles in the air are linked to health hazards such
as heart disease, altered lung function and lung
cancer.
Effects of Air Pollution:
The hazardous effects of air pollution on the
environment include Diseases Air pollution has
resulted in several respiratory disorders and heart
diseases among humans. The cases of lung cancer
have increased in the last few decades. Children
living near polluted areas are more prone to
pneumonia and asthma. Many people die every
year due to the direct or indirect effects of air
pollution
2: Global Warming: Due to the emission of
greenhouse gases, there is an imbalance in the
gaseous composition of the air. This has led to an
increase in the temperature of the earth. This
increase in earth’s temperature is known as global
warming. This has resulted in the melting of glaciers
and an increase in sea levels. Many areas are
submerged underwater.
3: Ozone Layer Depletion :
The release of chlorofluorocarbons, halons, and
hydrochlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere is the
major cause of depletion of the ozone layer. The
depleting ozone layer does not prevent the harmful
ultraviolet rays coming from the sun and causes skin
diseases and eye problems among individuals
4; effect on animals:
The air pollutants suspend in the water bodies and
affect aquatic life. Pollution also compels the
animals to leave their habitat and shift to a new
place. This renders them stray and has also led to
the extinction of a large number of animal species.
5: Acid Rain: The burning of fossil fuels releases
harmful gases such as nitrogen oxides and sulphur
oxides in the air. The water droplets combine with
these pollutants, become acidic and fall as acid rain
which damages human, animal and plant life.