Air pollution is caused by many things

• the increasing number of cars on our roads
• growing cities
• the fast development of our economy
• industrialisation

Air pollution, as we know it today, started with the Industrial Revolution in Europe in the 19th century. In the last few decades, it has become the major problem for our environment.

Clean air is normally made up of nitrogen (76 %) , oxygen (22%) , carbon dioxideand a few other gases.

When harmful elements get into the air they may cause health problems and can also damage the environment, buildings and soil. They make the ozone layer thinner and thinner and lead to the warming of the earth’s atmosphere and climate changes.

Our modern life style has led to dirtier air over the years. Factories, vehicles of all kinds, the growing number of people are some things that are responsible for air pollution today. But not all pollution in the air is caused by people. Forest fires, dust storms and volcanoeruptions can lead to the pollution of the atmosphere.

 

Major pollutants and where they come from

Carbon monoxide is a colourless gas that is set free when wood, petrol or coal are not completely burned. It is also in products like cigarettes. Because of it , less oxygen enters our blood and it makes us confused and sleepy.

Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that gets into the atmosphere when we burn coal , oil or wood.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are gases that come from air-conditioning systems or refrigerators. When they get into the air they rise high into the atmosphere ( about 20—50 km above the earth’s surface). There, they get into contact with other gases and destroy the ozone layer. We need the ozone layer because it protects us from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

Lead is in petrol, paint, batteries and other products. It is very dangerous if it gets into our bodies . In some cases it can even cause