Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere. Pollution is a substance that is harmful to the environment or makes it less attractive. Pollution can occur naturally but it is usually those substances that humans are in control of that are of most concern.
AIR POLLUTANTS
1. Ozone(O3) - is a gas composed of three oxygen atoms. It is not usually emitted directly into the air, but at ground-level is created by a chemical reaction between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the presence of sunlight. Ozone has the same chemical structure whether it occurs miles above the earth or at ground-level and can be "good" or "bad," depending on its location in the atmospher.
2. Carbon monoxide - is a gas and is found in air. High levels of carbon monoxide are poisonous to humans and, unfortunately, it cannot be detected by humans as it has no taste or smell and cannot be seen.The natural concentration of carbon monoxide in air is around 0.2 parts per million (ppm), and that amount is not harmful to humans. Natural sources of carbon monoxide include volcanoes and bushfires.The main sources of additional carbon monoxide are motor vehicle exhaust and some industrial activities, such as making steel.Tobacco smoke is one of the main indoor sources of carbon monoxide.
3. Lead - is a soft metal that is found in air in the form of very small particles. Lead can get into the air through soil erosion, volcanic eruptions, sea spray and bushfires. The natural concentration of lead in the air is less than 0.1 microgram per cubic metre.Lead smelters, mining operations, waste incinerators, battery recycling and the production of lead fishing sinkers are other sources of lead in the air. Because many older houses were painted with lead-based paint, lead from unsafe house renovations can be an important source of lead indoors and builders and renovators need to be aware of the dangers.
4. Nitrogen dioxide - is a nasty-smelling gas. Some nitrogen dioxide is formed naturally in the atmosphere by lightning and some is produced by plants, soil and water. However, only about 1% of the total amount of nitrogen dioxide found in our cities' air is formed this way.Nitrogen dioxide is an important air pollutant because it contributes to the formation of photochemical smog, which can have significant impacts on human health.
5. Sulfur dioxide - is a gas. It is invisible and has a nasty, sharp smell. It reacts easily with other substances to form harmful compounds, such as sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid and sulfate particles.
About 99% of the sulfur dioxide in air comes from human sources. The main source of sulfur dioxide in the air is industrial activity that processes materials that contain sulfur, eg the generation of electricity from coal, oil or gas that contains sulfur. Some mineral ores also contain sulfur, and sulfur dioxide is released when they are processed. In addition, industrial activities that burn fossil fuels containing sulfur can be important sources of sulfur dioxide.Sulfur dioxide is also present in motor vehicle emissions, as the result of fuel combustion. In the past, motor vehicle exhaust was an important, but not the main, source of sulfur dioxide in air. However, this is no longer the case.
6. Airborne particles - are sometimes referred to as 'particulate matter' or 'PM'. They include dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets. Some particles are large enough or dark enough to be seen as soot or smoke, while others are so small they can only be detected individually with a microscope.
Some particles are emitted directly into the air from a variety of sources that are either natural or related to human activity. Natural sources include bushfires, dust storms, pollens and sea spray. Those related to human activity include motor vehicle emissions, industrial processes (eg electricity generation, incinerators and stone crushing), unpaved roads and woodheaters.
HOW TO CONVERT HARMFUL AIR POLLUTION INTO A USEFUL FERTILIZER
1. Nitrogen Cycle - Nitrogen is a critical element for most life. When we alter the amount and types of nitrogen found in air and water, it can lead to significant problems. For example, supplementing the soil's nitrogen supply with synthetic or organic nitrogen fertilizers increases air pollution, including greenhouse gases, and can pollute our waterways. trogen constantly cycles between the atmosphere and the soil. Almost 80 percent of the earth's atmosphere is comprised of elemental nitrogen, or N2, but living organisms cannot use this form directly from the air. It must be "fixed" or converted by microorganisms into ammonium and nitrates that plants can utilize. Some nitrogen-fixing bacteria, including Rhizobium, live in the root nodules of legumes such as peas and beans, alfalfa, and clover. The plants supply the bacteria with energy and nutrients in return for nitrogen fixation. Growing these plants as cover crops helps ensure a good level of nitrogen in the soil.
2.Phosphorus Cycle- Phosphorous enters the environment from rocks or deposits laid down on the earth many years ago. The phosphate rock is commercially available form is called apatite. Other deposits may be from fossilized bone or bird droppings called guano. Weathering and erosion of rocks gradually releases phosphorus as phosphate ions which are soluble in water. Land plants need phosphate as a fertilizer or nutrient Phosphate is incorporated into many molecules essential for life such as ATP, adenosine triphosphate, which is important in the storage and use of energy. It is also in the backbone of DNA and RNA which is involved with coding for genetics.When plant materials and waste products decay through bacterial action, the phosphate is released and returned to the environment for reuse.
3. Sulfur Cycle are the collection of processes by which sulfur moves to and from minerals (including the waterways) and living systems. Such biogeochemical cycles are important in geology because they affect many minerals. Biogeochemical cycles are also important for life because sulfur is an essential element, being a constituent of many proteins and cofactors
4. Carbon Cycle is a complex series of processes through which all of the carbon atoms in existence rotate. The same carbon atoms in your body today have been used in countless other molecules since time began. The wood burned just a few decades ago could have produced carbon dioxide which through photosynthesis became part of a plant. When you eat that plant, the same carbon from the wood which was burnt can become part of you. The carbon cycle is the great natural recycler of carbon atoms. Unfortunately, the extent of its importance is rarely stressed enough. Without the proper functioning of the carbon cycle, every aspect of life could be changed dramatically.
5. Oxygen Cycle - Oxygen, like carbon and hydrogen, is a basic element of life. In addition, in the form of O3, ozone, it provides protection of life by filtering out the sun's UV rays as they enter the stratosphere. In addition to constituting about 20% of the atmosphere, oxygen is ubiquitous. It also occurs in combination as oxides in the Earth's crust and mantle, and as water in the oceans.
Early in the evolution of the Earth, oxygen is believed to have been released from water vapor by UV radiation and accumulated in the atmosphere as the hydrogen escaped into the earth's gravity. Later, photosynthesis became a source of oxygen. Oxygen is also released as organic carbon in CHO, and gets buried in sediments. The role of oxygen in life is describe in the unit on Biological Systems.
Nature can perform healing process using biogeochemical cycles. Even without human inputs the beauty of nature can restore with its own method.
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