Category:Air pollution: Difference between revisions

Air pollution is a chemical, particulate matter, or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere.

Worldwide air pollution is responsible for large numbers of deaths and cases of respiratory disease.^{[verification needed]} While major stationary sources such as power plants are often identified with air pollution, the greatest source of emissions is actually mobile sources, mainly automobiles.^{[verification needed]} Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, which contribute to global warming, have recently gained recognition as pollutants and internationally laws are being developed to reduce these emissions.

Particulates

Particulates are a major cause of respiratory problems - these can be reduced by:

• cleaner burning,
• Post-treatment (e.g. catalytic converters in vehicles - which require low sulfur fuel)
• more efficient design such that less fuel is needed:
  • Less heating of buildings through passive solar design, or
  • Less power, through lighter vehicles with less wind resistance, energy capturing brakes, and urban planning to reduce traffic congestion.
• Choice of fuel. Diesel is worse than standard petrol (aka gasoline) Biofuel is generally better than fossil fuel,

Indoor air pollution

Indoor air pollution is a less visible threat, originating mainly in:

• "off-gassing" from household products and construction materials containing synthetic compounds (especially in wealthy communities) and
• indoor fires for heating and cooking, including from kerosene and dung (the worst), wood (also bad) and charcoal (less harmful smoke).^{[verification needed]}

External links

The big smoke, newstatesman.com 09 December 2002 - the smogs of London that killed thousands in the 1950s.