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Air pollution

Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience

A view of a brick factory with smoke rising from its chimney, showing air pollution during sunrise.

Air pollution is when harmful substances get into the air. These can be gases like ozone and nitrogen oxides, or tiny bits of material such as soot and dust. Both the air outside and the air inside buildings can become polluted.

Outdoor air pollution mainly comes from burning fossil fuels for power and transport, as well as from wildfires, some factory work, waste handling, demolition, and farming. Inside homes, pollution often comes from burning firewood or agricultural waste for cooking and heat. Other sources include dust storms and volcanic eruptions. Many of the same activities that pollute the air also release greenhouse gases that lead to global warming, although pollution can sometimes reduce warming in nearby areas.

Air pollution is very harmful. It is linked to many health problems, such as stroke, heart disease, asthma, and lung cancer. Tiny bits of pollution called particulate matter are especially dangerous. Pollution can also damage plants and forests, leading to acid rain. Efforts to reduce air pollution include using clean cookers, better waste management, electric vehicles, and renewable energy. Countries have also made laws to improve air quality, such as the US Clean Air Act.

Images

A massive dust storm rolling toward the town of Stratford, Texas during the Dust Bowl era in 1935.
A close-up of Aegopodium podagraria leaves, commonly known as ground elder.
A flag design for Earth Day symbolizing our planet and the importance of caring for our environment.
Animation showing the controlled demolition of cooling towers at the Athlone Power Station in South Africa.
A power plant in New Mexico, showing chimneys before pollution control equipment was added.
A controlled field burn in Georgia, prepared for spring planting. Farmers use this method to clear old plant material safely before new crops are planted.
Fish being smoked over an open fire as part of traditional cooking in Ghana.
A plant affected by air pollution, showing how smog can harm vegetation.
Map showing which parts of the world had air pollution levels higher than what health experts recommend in 2017.
A historical photo showing factory smoke over a bridge in Cleveland, highlighting environmental concerns from the 1970s.
This photo shows how acid rain can damage stone monuments over time.
A depiction of air pollution showing smoke in the environment.

Related articles

Atmosphere of Earth
Fossil fuel
Wildfire
Greenhouse gas
Climate change
Stroke

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Air pollution, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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