Imagine stepping outside your home to encounter the air thick and contaminated, making it difficult for you to breathe properly. This is the reality for millions of people around the world who have fallen victim to the effects of air pollution. Air pollution is constantly affecting the health of the environment and those who live in it—including humans. The World Health Organization defines air pollution as the contamination of the environment due to chemical, physical, or biological changes in the atmosphere (WHO). Whether it is caused by the cars we drive, the food we cook, the planes some of us travel in, or natural phenomena like wildfires, air pollution impacts all of us. The concerns of air pollution go beyond our immediate reality; it’s about caring about the world we leave behind for future generations. This article reviews the sources of air pollution and their impact on our health.
Sources of Air Pollution
Air pollution can come from what we call mobile sources, stationary sources, area sources, or natural sources (NPS 2018). Mobile sources consist of cars, buses, planes, or any other vehicle that allows us to move around from place to place (NPS 2018). These vehicles usually release harmful pollutants into the air and ultimately contaminate the air we breathe. This is why sometimes big cities with a lot of traffic have higher levels of pollutants. On the other hand, stationary sources are things that stay in one place like factories, power plants, or oil refineries (NPS 2018). For instance, when you look up pictures of factories on the internet you will see images of buildings with smoke coming out of them; this smoke greatly contributes to air pollution in industrial areas. Area sources are specific sites, like cities or farms, where pollution spreads throughout a specific location (NPS 2018). For example, farms can contribute to air pollution through agricultural practices, which often involve the use of pesticides and other harmful substances. Lastly, natural sources consist of natural phenomena like wildfires or volcanic eruptions, which can release harmful particles into the air (NPS 2018). For instance, wildfires can produce smoke that can travel into the cities. Similarly, volcanic eruptions often produce smoke or other toxic gasses that threaten the environment. All of these are common sources of air pollution, which are important to understand to be able to take steps towards battling this phenomenon.
Health Impact
Air pollution can affect our health in various ways, whether it is due to short-term or long-term exposure. Moreover, inhaling contaminated air can affect our health either immediately or chronically. When we are exposed to contaminated air we can often start coughing or encounter some trouble breathing. However, over time, the effects of being exposed to polluted air can become more serious and detrimental to our overall well-being. More specifically, air pollution can cause chronic diseases and cancer (NIEHS). Studies have shown that being exposed to contaminated air can affect how well our lungs work, cause heart problems, and result in health issues related to our brains, stomachs, and immune system, affecting how well we can battle infections (NIEHS). This all contributes to more trips to the doctor, potentially for urgent care. Not to mention that some pollutants can increase the risk of death (NIEHS). For instance, a study discovered that women who lived within five hundred meters of major roads were at a higher risk of developing breast cancer (Cheng et al. 2019). This can be explained by mobile sources of pollution. Roads usually support the flow of cars, buses, and other vehicles that greatly contribute to air contamination. Living close to these sources of pollution increases the risk of getting sick. It is very important to discuss the consequences of air pollution to understand the importance of keeping the air we breathe clean.
How to Help
We can all play a big role in reducing air pollution. Some simple ways to help keep the air we breathe clean are walking, riding a bicycle, or using public transportation whenever it is appropriate, which will reduce the contamination due to mobile sources. Since power plants can be sources of pollution, we can also help by reducing the amount of energy we use, by turning off lights, appliances, or other electronic devices we are not using at the moment. Moreover, planting trees is not only a fun activity to do with friends and family but can also contribute to improving the quality of the air we breathe. Remember, every small action can contribute to a healthier environment!
Read more articles relevant to environmental issues on our Zealousness blog Climate change – iN Education Inc. (ineducationonline.org) and Water Stewardship – iN Education Inc. (ineducationonline.org).
References
- “Air Pollution and Your Health.” National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Accessed August 4, 2024. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/air-pollution.
- “Air Pollution.” World Health Organization. Accessed August 4, 2024. https://www.who.int/health-topics/air-pollution#tab=tab_1.
- Cheng, Iona, Chiuchen Tseng, Jun Wu, Juan Yang, Shannon M. Conroy, Salma Shariff‐Marco, Lianfa Li, et al. “Association between Ambient Air Pollution and Breast Cancer Risk: The Multiethnic Cohort Study.” International Journal of Cancer 146, no. 3 (April 25, 2019): 699–711. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.32308.
- “Where Does Air Pollution Come From?” National Parks Service. Accessed August 4, 2024. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/air/sources.htm#:~:text=stationary%20sources%20%E2%80%93%20such%20as%20power,blown%20dust%2C%20wildfires%2C%20and%20volcanoes.
