Environmental Problems Caused By Air Pollution

Sources

• The major sources of air pollution are internal combustion engines, power plants, factories and waste incinerators. They introduce many different types of dangerous chemicals and gases into our air supply.

Types

• Types of air pollution include greenhouse gases, chlorofluorocarbons, lead, ash, soot, nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides. Some of these cause immediately visible consequences, such as smog and haze. Others have less obvious long term effects.

Effects

• Air pollution can destroy the ozone layer, contaminate water supplies, damage buildings and harm plants, trees and crops. Smog and haze caused by soot, ash and other atmospheric contaminants can reduce visibility. Greenhouse gas and carbon emissions contribute climate change, which is the biggest challenge facing our environment. It causes seasons to shift, temperatures to climb and sea levels to rise. This endanger our planet's wildlife and agriculture.