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Transportation and Pollution
Humans contribute to atmospheric pollution both directly and indirectly through transportation. Individuals directly contribute by driving their cars and flying on airplanes since both of those release carbon dioxide by burning fuel. However, consumers also contribute to pollution indirectly by purchasing goods that must be transported to them, including food, machinery and mailed packages. Freight transportation contributes to air pollution regardless of whether it's by land, sea or air. Transportation is the second biggest source of carbon dioxide with 31 percent of total emissions. Approximately 1.7 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide were released in 2011 from transporting people and goods in the United States alone. It is a relatively minor producer of nitrous oxide -- approximately 5 percent of the nation's total.
Industrial Pollution
Emissions from various types of industrial production, such as smelters and wood processing plants, are a major source of atmospheric pollution. Factory construction contributes to industrial pollution because fuel is used to transport building materials and run construction equipment. Once the factories are running, the processes that make goods or process raw materials inside the factories may release gases, such as carbon monoxide, into the air. Fossil fuels that power industrial processes also contribute both in the factories and in power plants. Industrial activity produced 770 million metric tons, or 12 percent of the total of carbon dioxide emitted in 2011 by industrial activity in the United States. It produced 9 percent of the nitrous oxide emissions.
Agricultural Pollution
Agricultural activity also pollutes the atmosphere, primarily by clearing forests and degrading peatlands. Clearing forests contributes to pollution in two ways: the slash-and-burn techniques generate a lot of smoke and there are fewer trees available to hold on to carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Peatlands contain a lot of decayed vegetation that is burned for fuel and they are often altered to make room for growing crops. Removing peatlands also releases carbon dioxide as the peat is degraded. Carbon dioxide emissions from United States agricultural activity has grown over time and rose to 540 million metric tons per year by 2011 -- 15 percent of which was from management of livestock manure. Agricultural operations, mainly though the use of soil improvement chemicals and manure management, also produced 74 percent of the nitrous oxide emitted that year.
Waste Incineration
Waste incinerators are also a source of pollution as they break down solid waste. Incinerators release several types of pollutants, including particulates, heavy metals, and nitrogen oxide. Particulates are tiny toxic particles that escape into the air and increase the risk of lung disease for exposed people by 31 percent. Heavy metals, such as mercury, are more dangerous than particulates and harm children's brain development. The costs from that developmental harm totals $1.6 billion annually.