What is air pollution? Describe the major air pollutants caused by human activities.

Question

Ghissu Editorial · Accepted Answer

Air pollution is the presence of harmful physical, chemical or biological substances in the atmosphere at levels that damage health, ecosystems and property, caused mainly by human activity. Major human-made pollutants are particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), carbon monoxide, nitrogen and sulphur oxides, hydrocarbons that form ozone, ammonia, methane and CFCs.

**Introduction**

Air pollution⟦1⟧ poses severe health and environmental challenges in India, contributing to millions of premature deaths. Rapid urbanisation, industrialisation and vehicle growth have worsened air quality, including in ==Hyderabad==, where industrial and transport emissions are prominent.

**What is Air Pollution**

1. **Definition**: Air pollution is the presence of harmful physical, chemical or biological substances in the atmosphere at levels that harm human health, ecosystems and property.

2. **Sources and Types**: Natural sources like volcanoes and forest fires contribute, but human activity dominates. Outdoor pollution comes from vehicles, factories and construction dust; indoor pollution from cooking fuels and tobacco smoke.

**Major Pollutants from Human Activities**

3. **Particulate Matter**: PM2.5 and PM10 from vehicle exhaust, industry, construction dust and biomass burning penetrate deep into the lungs; Hyderabad's urban dust and industrial zones add to them.

4. **Carbon Monoxide and Nitrogen Oxides**: CO from incomplete combustion cuts oxygen delivery in the blood, with transport producing nearly half of India's CO; NOx from vehicles and thermal plants forms smog and acid rain.

5. **Sulphur Oxides and Hydrocarbons**: SO2 from coal burning, as at ==Telangana's Ramagundam power complex==, causes acid rain, while hydrocarbons react with NOx in sunlight to form ground-level ozone.

6. **Other Pollutants**: Ammonia from agriculture, methane from waste and CFCs from refrigerants also degrade air and climate.

**Way Forward**

7. **Clean Air Action**: City action plans under the National Clean Air Programme, electric vehicles under FAME-II, cleaner fuels and public awareness can cut emissions.

**Conclusion**

Since most air pollutants come from human activity, cleaner energy, cleaner transport and strict monitoring can restore healthy air for India's cities and villages.

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