When it comes to air pollution, we often think about the exhaust fumes and smog, not wondering about its exact composition. What exactly are the most common types of air pollution, and what causes them?
The city and industrial regions' inhabitants rarely notice any influence of air pollution on their everyday life, except for the unpleasant smell and visible sediment that leaves its trace on buildings. Unless living in a very polluted zone, the health consequences of breathing with the bad-quality air are difficult to notice. Most of them would only manifest themselves after many years and never tied to pollution.
However, looking closer at the composition of the air that you're breathing with every day can give you goosebumps - you may find some particles you would never expect. In a gas or dust form, we breathe them in, and most of the time, do not even notice. What is out there, except nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and vapor water? Well, maybe not all the Mendeleev's table - however, definitely too much for our poor lungs.
Among the most common types of air pollution, in the air you can find:
- sulfur dioxide (SO2),
- nitrogen dioxides (NxOy),
- volatile organic compounds - benzopyrenes,
- carbon oxide (CO),
- carbon dioxide (CO2),
- tropospheric ozone (O3),
- lead (Pb),
- suspended dust
- coal dust
Other particles can also be detected in the air around the world, such as arsenic and cadmium.
Anthropogenic pollution vs. natural pollution
It is worth noting that these particles - especially SO2 - can also be released into the atmosphere naturally, as the result of geological processes. For example, during the eruption of the volcano, over 400 types of particles are emitted. Also, swamps can be a source of various types of air pollution to a certain extent. However, it is the anthropogenic pollution that puts us in danger on a much higher level due to the intensity and frequency of the emissions. The eruption is a relatively rare occurrence, and the industry works without a break.
Sources of air pollution
Among the anthropogenic types of air pollution, there are ones caused mostly by the fuel-energy industries, but that is not the only source of them. Some of the sources are spread while others gather around the communication trails or are centralized around big industrial factories. What are the most common sources of air pollution in Europe? On the Old continent, the fuel-energy industry is the villain of the piece; however, the metallurgic industry is keeping just after. Another significant source, especially in the middle-eastern part of the continent, is household heating such as boiler rooms and coal furnaces. They are spread but in favorable conditions can become the main reason behind the smog (Polish city Kraków is a good example of such an occurrence).
If you are searching for an exact air pollution map that demonstrates the types and levels of pollution all over Europe and not only, check Airly.org. There, you will find the indexes of all types of air pollution updated at least few times a day thanks to densely distributed air sensors.
