AIR POLLUTION ANGELA AQUINO CAMILLA GALANG ROSSANNE ABAS RIANA ANONAS KATHY CASTRO SOFIA SAZON

WHAT IS AIR POLLUTION? Air pollution refers to the presence of any chemical or particulate that alters the normal make-up of our atmosphere, causing direct threats to human health or longer - term damage through its effects on our planet's ecosystem. It is produced and exists both inside and outside our homes.

SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION Cars and other machinated means of transportation Factories Office buildings Power plants Homes Insecticides, Herbicides and Pesticides Dust from fertilizers Mining operations Livestock feedlots Paint

HEALTH EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION Respiratory system is mainly affected. It worsens allergies, asthma, and other Respiratory tract sicknesses. It increases the risk of bronchitis and pneumonia. The elderly, infants, children, pregnant women, and sufferers from chronic heart and lung disease are more susceptible. Exposure to air pollution can cause: Acute effects: eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, nausea Chronic effects: decreased lung capacity, and lung cancer (from long-term exposure to toxic air pollutants)

SHORT AND LONG TERM EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION Long term effects: chronic respiratory diseases, lung cancer, heart disease, even brain, liver, nerve, or kidney damage. Being continual exposed to air pollution may aggravate or complicate medical conditions as well. Short term effects: eye, nose and throat irritation, as well as upper respiratory infections like bronchitis and pneumonia.

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION Acid Rain - a mixture of deposited materials that contain nitric and sulfuric acid. This occurs when fossil fuels are burned therefore releasing nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide in the atmosphere. These become acids when they enter the atmosphere and react with water vapor. Acid rain has many forms such as snow, rain, fog and gas particles. It can damage the environment by damaging trees and it may also acidify water bodies and soil. Eutrophication - when there is a high amount of nitrogen in a water body. Because of this, there is a higher amount of algae and it therefore kills more sea creatures. This is mostly caused by emissions of nitrogen oxides from factories, trucks, cars etc.

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION Haze - when sunlight encounters tiny pollution particles in the air. These tiny particles absorb some of the light. The more pollution particles there are, there is more absorption of that light which reduces the clarity, texture, form and color of what we see. Wildlife Damage - studies show that air pollutants cause birth defects, reproductive failure, and disease in animals. Crop and Forest Damage - results from acid rain and from increased UV radiation caused by ozone depletion, which can all be attributed to air pollution.

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION Ozone Depletion - Ozone, found in the Earth's upper atmosphere, forms a layer that protects life on earth from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, but because of air pollution, the ozone layer is gradually being destroyed by man-made chemicals referred to as ozone-depleting substances (chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and halons). The thinning of the protective ozone layer can cause increased amounts of UV radiation to reach the Earth, which can lead to more cases of skin cancer, cataracts, and impaired immune systems. UV can also damage sensitive crops, such as soybeans, and reduce crop yields.

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION Global Warming - The Earth's atmosphere contains a balance of naturally occurring gases, "greenhouse gases", that trap some of the sun's heat. This "greenhouse effect" keeps the Earth's temperature stable. Unfortunately, due to air pollution, there has been a significant increase in greenhouse gases like water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons. These gases absorb heat, and thus increase atmospheric temperatures. As a result, the Earth's atmosphere appears to be trapping more of the sun's heat, causing the Earth's average temperature to rise - a phenomenon known as global warming.

MOST POLLUTED CITIES IN THE WORLD 1.Ahwaz, Iran 2. Ulan Bator, Mongolia 3. Sanadaj, Iran 4. Ludhiana, India 5. Quetta, Pakistan 6. Kermanshah, Iran 7. Peshawar, Pakistan 8. Gaberone, Botswana 9. Yasouj, Iran 10. Kanpor, India

WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON? They are all poor countries, and they burn heavy fuels for heat and energy, which produces heavy, thick smoke. This, added to the fact that they rely on manufacturing and factory work for a large part of their economy, increases their demand for energy. Thus, they end up using more fuel, and at the end of the day emit more pollutants.

PREVENTING AND CONTROLLING AIR POLLUTION On a global scale, there’s the KYOTO PROTOCOL, a plan created by the United Nations for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change that tries to reduce the effects of climate change, such as global warming. The plan says that countries that adopt (follow) the Kyoto Protocol have to try to reduce how much carbon dioxide (and other "greenhouse gases" that pollute the atmosphere) they release into the air. In the Philippines, we have the ANTI SMOKE-BELCHING ACT, implemented by the MMDA.

PREVENTING AND CONTROLLING AIR POLLUTION Adequate ventilation (for indoor air pollution) Restricting smoking (cigarette smoke is one of the most dangerous air pollutants) Conserving energy (turning off appliances and lights) Recycling paper, plastic, glass, cardboard and aluminum cans (this conserves energy and reduces production emissions) Use nontoxic paint Use fuel efficient, low emission rate cars Keeping vehicles well-maintained (to prevent smoke belching) When waiting in the car for a long time, don’t leave the engine running. Use public transportation, walk, or ride a bike. Report smoke belching vehicles

SOURCES overview/ greenhouse-effect world/#ixzz1leQvfwDI

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