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Transportation
Cars, buses, trains, planes and ships emit exhaust into the atmosphere. This exhaust contains a toxic brew of carbon monoxide, gaseous oxide and nitrous oxide that erodes air quality. The result is smog that suffocates many urban environments.
Housing
Many homes and office buildings create air pollution because fossil fuels must be burned to generate energy to heat or cool the space. Burning things like coal and oil for homes and offices contributes to smog almost as much as transportation.
Agriculture
Farming as well is a major source of air pollution. The release of nitrous oxide into the atmosphere is primarily the result of farming because bacteria in the soil break down nitrogen through a process called denitrification. In addition, the use of artificial fertilizers and pesticides adds more pollution and contaminants to the air, including methane, nitrogen oxides and ammonia.
Electricity Generation
Electrical plants that burn coal emit a large amount of mercury into the atmosphere. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found that coal-producing power plants emit almost a third of all mercury air emissions found in the atmosphere.
Industry
Industry is another major contributor to air pollution. Factories not only emit air pollution, but they also emit substances that don't directly contribute to poor air quality, but instead combine with other elements to create air pollutants. A major source of air pollution from industry comes from volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which are released into the atmosphere on a large scale.
Consumption
Consumers also contribute to air pollution. The use of many end products is obvious, such as driving a car; however, their constant consumption demands more industrial activities, which compounds the release of air pollutants into the atmosphere. Think of the person who must have a new car every year. If the average car lasts 10 years, this person will have created a demand for nine more cars unnecessarily. Now imagine 1 billion people with the same lifestyle, applied to every product imaginable. Consumption is the major driver of air pollution.
Livestock
The raising of livestock contributes to air pollution as well. Animals raised for food release large amounts of methane gas into the atmosphere.
Contribution of Developing Countries
In developing countries, while factories and other industry may not contribute as much to air pollution, the burning of wood and animal feces for fuel and cooking contributes to air pollution.
Natural Air Pollution
Nature also creates air pollution. Volcanic eruptions are one source, while others include pollen, insects, bacteria, yeast, fungi and algae. Volcanoes release tons of gases, dust and ash into the atmosphere. These substances make their way around the planet and lower air quality.
Forest Fires
Forest fires, both natural and those caused by human activities, create air pollution. The burning of forests releases gases, ash and dust into the atmosphere.