Tag: air pollution and its effects

Forests act as natural filters for air pollution, as trees and leaves capture particulate matter and absorb various gaseous pollutants from the atmosphere.

Air is a mixture of gases that is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, making it imperceptible to human senses under normal conditions.

There are several contaminants found in air. It is very important to purify this polluted air .A fine spray of water in a device known as scrubber can effectively separate many gases such as ammonia and sulphur dioxide.

The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act was enacted by the Parliament in 1981 for the control of air pollution and preservation of quality of air. This law has been enforced for sustaining the quality of environment.

Carbon dioxide is the greenhouse gas. It means that it traps the insolation from the sun and does not allow them to be reflected back. The trapped insolation work in warming the overall temperature of the earth. The level of atmospheric CO$ _{2}$ was around 200 ppm during the ice age. It rose to 280 ppm during the warmer interglacial periods. Presently, in the Anthropocene era, due to the excessive CO$ _{2}$ releasing activities like fossil fuel burning, the level of CO$ _{2}$ has risen to 360 ppm.

The increased and excessive use of automobiles and rapid growth of Industrial establishments post-industrial revolution era has contributed to the tremendous rise of pollution. The oxides of carbon, sulphur and nitrogen emission from vehicle exhaust and in the industrial process due to incomplete combustion of carbon compounds cause serious air pollution with other lethal gases release. The effluents from the industry that are toxic are released in the environment causing air pollution, noise pollution has become everyday routine with non-stop working of machinery and equipment, horns of car and engines harmful to people working around, establishments have caused deforestation leading to soil pollution.

The propellants used for jet engine release the halogenated paraffin compounds called fluorocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons. Both of these compounds are the potent ozone-depleting substances. Refineries, automobiles and industries release the oxides of carbon, sulphur and nitrogen.

The aircraft or jet planes engine emit certain particles and gases like carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, lead, black carbon, aerosols etc. These are basically greenhouse gases and anthropogenic compounds which have the tendency to react among themselves and with gases present in the atmosphere. Greenhouse effect, ozone depletion activities can be related to the emission of these gases. 

Knocking refers to the sensitivity shown by the fuel such as petrol. Due to this, petrol has low pressure and temperature of ignition and tends to ignite before the actual ignition spark in the air. This has deleterious effects on the engine and poses a great risk. To prevent this, the antiknocking agents like methyl tertiary butyl ether, toluene etc. are added to the fuel. These agents increase the temperature and pressure required for ignition.

Acid rain is precipitation that has been made acidic by atmospheric pollution, specifically the presence of sulfur and nitrogen oxides, which harms ecosystems.