air pollution assignment class 12

Air Pollution Definition, Project, Information, Meaning, Assignment, Causes

Air Pollution Definition, Project, Information, Meaning, Causes is discussed here. Air pollution is now considered to be the world’s largest environmental health threat.

Table of Contents

Air Pollution Definition

A combination of gases and solid particles in the air cause air pollution. Particles that may be suspended include factory chemicals, dust, pollen, and mould spores. A significant source of ozone pollution in cities is a gas. Smog is the name for the air pollutions that results from ozone.

Air Pollution Meaning

Any physical, chemical, or biological alteration in the air is referred to as air pollutions. The major impact of air pollution on plants, animals, and people is caused by noxious gases, dust, and smoke.

The atmosphere contains a specific proportion of gases. It is detrimental to survival if the content of these gases increases or decreases. Global warming is the term used to describe the increase in the earth’s temperature caused by this imbalance in the gaseous composition.

Air Pollution Pictures for School Project Assignment

Air pollution pictures and Images for the school project are given below.

Air Pollution Information

Air pollution information refers to the presence of harmful or undesirable substances in the Earth’s atmosphere, which can have adverse effects on the environment, human health, and the well-being of other living organisms. These pollutants can be in the form of gases, particulate matter (tiny solid or liquid particles suspended in the air), or other compounds that, when present in high concentrations, can degrade air quality.

Air Pollution Information regarding Common air pollutants:

Particulate Matter (PM): Tiny particles or droplets in the air that can be inhaled into the lungs. PM can be of various sizes, with PM2.5 (particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller) and PM10 (particles with a diameter of 10 micrometers or smaller) being particularly concerning for human health.

Ground-Level Ozone (O3): Formed when pollutants from vehicles, industrial facilities, and other sources react in the presence of sunlight. Ground-level ozone can irritate the respiratory system and cause other health problems.

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx): Gases produced by combustion processes, mainly from vehicles and industrial sources. They contribute to the formation of smog and can have adverse effects on respiratory health.

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2): A gas produced by burning fossil fuels containing sulfur, primarily in industrial processes and power plants. It can irritate the respiratory system and contribute to acid rain.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Organic chemicals that can easily evaporate into the air, coming from sources like gasoline, industrial processes, and some household products. VOCs can contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone and smog.

Carbon Monoxide (CO): A colorless, odorless gas produced by incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels. It can be harmful when inhaled in high concentrations, interfering with oxygen delivery to the body’s cells.

Heavy Metals: Elements such as lead, mercury, and cadmium can become airborne through industrial processes and have toxic effects on both the environment and human health.

Air pollution can result from various human activities, including transportation, industrial processes, energy production, agriculture, and even natural sources like wildfires and volcanic eruptions. It poses significant health risks, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and can also harm ecosystems, damage buildings and infrastructure, and contribute to climate change when it involves greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). Efforts to reduce and control air pollution are crucial for protecting both human health and the environment.

Also read: Environmental Pollution Essay in English 1000 words

Air Pollution Causes

Following are the causes of Air Pollution

Causes 1: Burning of Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuel combustion releases a lot of sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere. Air pollution is also caused by carbon monoxide, which is generated when fossil fuels are burned inefficiently.

Causes 2: Automobiles

Vehicle emissions, including those from trucks, cars, buses, and jeeps, harm the environment. These are the main producers of greenhouse gases, and they also make people sick.

Causes 3: Agricultural Activities

One of the most dangerous gases released during agricultural operations is ammonia. Insecticides, pesticides, and fertilizers contaminate the atmosphere by emitting dangerous chemicals.

Causes 4: Factories and Industries

The primary source of carbon monoxide, organic compounds, hydrocarbons, and chemicals is industry and manufacturing. These are dispersed into the atmosphere, lowering the quality of it.

Causes 5: Mining Activities

The dust and chemicals released during the process of mining not only pollute the air but also affect the health of workers and people living in nearby places.

Causes 6: Domestic Sources

Some household products and cleaning chemicals contain toxic chemicals that are released in the air during their usage those. The smell and chemicals of that toxic product present in the air not only pollutes the air but increase breathing problem also.

Air Pollution Effects

Some common effects of air pollution are discussed below

Humans have developed a number of respiratory conditions and heart ailments as a result of air pollution. Over the past few decades, there has been an upsurge in lung cancer cases. Children who live close to polluted environments are more likely to get asthma and pneumonia. Each year, many individuals pass away as a result of air pollution, either directly or indirectly.

Global Warming

There is an imbalance in the gaseous composition of the air as a result of the release of greenhouse gases. The earth’s temperature has risen as a result of this. Global warming is the term used to describe this rise in earth’s temperature. As a result, glaciers are melting and the sea level is rising. There are many places that are underwater.

Must read : Global Warming- Definition, Causes and Effects

When fossil fuels are burned, dangerous chemicals like sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides are released into the atmosphere. When water droplets interact with these contaminants, they turn acidic and release rain that harms both people and animals as well as plants.

Ozone Layer Depletion

The main factor contributing to the ozone layer’s depletion is the emission of hydrochlorofluorocarbons, halons, and chlorofluorocarbons into the atmosphere. People develop skin ailments and eye issues as a result of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, which the ozone layer’s loss cannot stop.

Effects on Animals

Aquatic life is impacted by the air contaminants that suspend in water bodies. Additionally, pollution forces animals to relocate from their natural environment. This makes them stray and has caused a great deal of animal species to go extinct.

Air Pollution Project

Creating a project on air pollution is a great way to raise awareness about this important environmental issue and explore potential solutions. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you plan and execute your air pollution project:

Step 1: Define the Purpose and Scope

• Start by clearly defining the purpose of your project. What do you hope to achieve with it? Are you aiming to raise awareness, propose solutions, or both?
• Determine the scope of your project. Will you focus on a specific aspect of air pollution, such as its sources, health effects, or solutions?

Step 2: Research and Gather Information

• Research the causes and effects of air pollution. Use credible sources such as government agencies, scientific journals, and environmental organizations.
• Collect data on air quality in your area, if possible. You can use air quality monitoring stations or portable air quality sensors.

Step 3: Create a Project Plan

• Develop a project plan that outlines your goals, timeline, and resources needed.
• Decide on the format of your project. Will it be a presentation, a report, a website, a video, or a combination of these?

Step 4: Raise Awareness

• Design eye-catching visuals and materials to raise awareness about air pollution. This could include posters, infographics, or social media posts.
• Organize events or activities to engage your community, such as workshops, webinars, or clean-up campaigns.

Step 5: Propose Solutions

• Research and present solutions to mitigate air pollution. This may include government policies, technological innovations, lifestyle changes, and community initiatives.
• Highlight the importance of individual actions in reducing air pollution, such as using public transportation, reducing energy consumption, and supporting clean energy sources.

Step 6: Communicate Findings

• Create a compelling presentation or report summarizing your research, findings, and proposed solutions.
• If relevant, share your project with local government officials, community leaders, or environmental organizations to garner support for your ideas.

Step 7: Take Action

• Encourage your audience to take action. Provide practical tips and resources for individuals and communities to reduce air pollution.
• Consider collaborating with local organizations or activists working on air quality improvement projects.

Step 8: Evaluate and Reflect

• Assess the impact of your project. Did it raise awareness? Did it inspire people to take action?
• Reflect on the challenges you encountered and what you learned during the project.

Step 9: Share Your Project

• Share your project with a wider audience through social media, local news outlets, and online platforms to reach as many people as possible.

Step 10: Stay Involved

• Continue to stay involved in environmental advocacy and stay informed about air quality issues.
• Consider participating in ongoing initiatives or starting new projects to address air pollution.

Remember to document your project thoroughly, both for your own learning and to share your experience with others. Engaging with your community and raising awareness about air pollution can have a positive impact on the environment and public health.

Air Pollution: Ways to Stop

Here, we are discussing some ways to control air pollution

• Avoid using vehicles for nearby places.
• Since industrial emissions are one of the main contributors to air pollution, the pollutants can be reduced at the source by controlling or treating them. For instance, if a certain raw material reacts in a way that produces a pollutant, the raw material can be replaced with one that produces less pollution.
• Use CNG in the place of diesel or petrol.
• Maintain and modify pollution control equipment from time to time so that these can work properly.
• The last but important way to reduce air pollution is to plant more and more trees in your surroundings.

There are two types of air pollutants

Primary Pollutants

Secondary pollutants.

The pollutants that directly cause air pollution are known as Primary Pollutants. Sulfur dioxide emitted from factories directly is an example of a Primary Pollutant.

Secondary pollutants are those that are created when primary pollutants mix and react with one another. Smog is a secondary pollutant that is created when smoke and fog mix.

Air Pollution Assignment

the whole process of working on an air pollution project assignment. Here’s a step-by-step outline of what you can do:

• Decide on a specific aspect of air pollution that you want to focus on. For example, you could explore the causes, effects, solutions, or a specific pollutant like PM2.5 or CO2 emissions.
• Collect data and information related to your chosen topic. Use reliable sources such as scientific journals, government reports, and environmental organizations’ websites.
• Based on your research, create a set of research questions that you aim to answer in your project. These questions should be clear and specific.
• Question 1: What is a common health effect of long-term exposure to air pollution? a) Headaches b) Respiratory problems c) Skin rashes d) Obesity Correct Answer: b) Respiratory problems
• Use the data you’ve gathered to support the answers to your research questions. Include charts, graphs, and statistics to illustrate your findings.
• For each multiple-choice question you’ve created, provide detailed explanations or solutions. Explain why the correct answer is correct and why the other options are incorrect. This helps in enhancing understanding.
• Organize your project assignment in a clear and logical manner. Include an introduction, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion sections. Make sure to cite your sources properly.
• Carefully proofread your assignment to eliminate errors in grammar, spelling, and formatting.
• Follow the submission guidelines provided by your instructor or institution.
• If your assignment includes a presentation, create slides that summarize your project’s key points and findings.

Sharing is caring!

What is air pollution?

Any physical, chemical or biological alteration in the air is referred to as air pollution.

What are the 5 main effects of air pollution?

Long-term health effects from air pollution include heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory diseases such as emphysema. 

How do we control air pollution?

Some steps to control air pollution are lant more trees, reduce the usage of vehicles, use pollution control equipments.

Why is pollution a problem?

Pollution stunts economic growth, exacerbates poverty and inequality in both urban and rural areas and significantly contributes to climate change.

What is acid rain? Name the gases responsible for acid rain.

Acid rain is an acidic precipitation falls as rain. By burning fossil fuels, dangerous chemicals like nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides are discharged into the environment. Acid rain results from the reaction of these pollutants with rainwater.

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Environmental Pollution| Class 12 Geography Notes

Environmental Pollution is a subpart of the Class 12 Geography Chapter 9 which is Perspective on Selected Issues and Problems. It talks about the different types of pollution and gives us a view of the contamination of the environment. Environmental pollution is a serious matter in the modern context.

Today in this article, we are going to discuss Class 12 Geography Notes Chapter 9 subpart Environmental Pollution in detail.

What Is Environmental Pollution?

Environmental Pollution is a state of contamination of our atmosphere and its surroundings like air, water, and soil. This pollution affects the environment actively and makes them unsuitable for further use. These are the short-term or the long-term processes that can affect our ecological health and its resources.

Types Of Environmental Pollution

Environmental Pollution is a state when which pollutants contaminate the environment and affect its substances and useful resources. Here are some major Types Of Environmental Pollution as mentioned below.

• Air Pollution

The air consists of 87 percent of nitrogen and 21 percent oxygen with some other important gases. Some other gases may include hydrogen and carbon dioxide. When so many harmful gases start to mix in the fresh air, it starts to be polluted. Polluted air may cause so many different health issues and majorly it affects our respiratory system.

Water Pollution

The water pollution happens due to the mixing of the harmful elements into the different water bodies present on Earth. The living organisms majorly depend on the water to sustain their life cycle. Water pollution also impacts the different levels of the ecosystem specifically the aquatic ecosystem.

Soil Pollution

Soil Pollution is defined as when harmful substances contaminate the soil with different types of toxic elements mainly plastics. Different types of petroleum aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides, lead elements, and other chemicals actively create soil pollution.

Noise Pollution

Noise Pollution happens when unusual and unpleasant sounds contaminate the environment through the mode of transportation, and infrastructure works on by the heavy machines. The noise pollution may affect us both in a mental and physical way. It creates high levels of stress, hypertension and sometimes hearing loss.

Effects Of The Environmental Pollution

Here are the major effects of the Environmental Pollution as mentioned below.

• Environmental Pollution creates so many heath problems like respiratory diseases, heart problems or sometimes it may create the possibility of cancer.
• Children and pregnant women have a higher risk of having different health problems due the the different types of pollution.
• Air pollution increases cardiovascular and respiratory problems. It may affect our skin and also cause different types of skin diseases.
• Air pollution is the major factor of global warming that leads the ozone layer depletion. It also hampers and creates hazards for the wildlife.
• Acid rain is another problem that happens due to air pollution. It is a dangerous type of rain that consists of nitrous oxide or sulfur dioxide. These both react with the rainwater and contaminate the rain with nitric acid and sulfuric acid. The acid rain affects the soil and water.

Conclusion – Class 12 Geography Notes Chapter 9 Environmental Pollution

Class 12 Geography Chapter 9 talks about the Environmental Pollution. Environmental Pollution is a state of contamination of our atmosphere and its surroundings like air, water, and soil. In this article, we have learned about the different types of envitionmental pollution and its effects in detail.

• Types of Pollution
• Strategies to Control Environmental Pollution
• Environmental Issues and Solutions – An Overview
• Industrial Pollution and Environmental Degradation
• Effects, Types of Environmental Pollution and their Causes

Environmental Pollution- FAQs

What is environmental pollution class 12 geography.

Environmental Pollution refers to the introduction of contaminated particles into the physical and biological components of the atmosphere and earth’s surface.

What is water pollution class 12 geography?

Water pollution can be defined as the contamination of water bodies by various pollutants. It is caused by organic and inorganic industrial waste or household waste which is discharged into rivers.

What is air pollution class 12 geography?

Air pollution refers to any physical, chemical or biological change in the air. It is the contamination of air by harmful gases, dust and smoke which affects plants, animals and humans drastically. There is a certain percentage of gases present in the atmosphere.

What are 4 types of environmental pollution?

The major kinds of pollution, usually classified by environment, are air pollution, water pollution, and land pollution. Modern society is also concerned about specific types of pollutants, such as noise pollution, light pollution, and plastic pollution.

What are the causes of environmental pollution?

From transportation to agriculture, human activities are polluting the environment. Smoke emitted from vehicles pollutes the air, while pesticides and fertilisers used for agriculture pollute our land. Excessive noise from loudspeakers, traffic, factories, etc., causes noise pollution.

What are 3 natural causes of pollution?

Nature releases hazardous substances into the air, such as smoke from wildfires, which are often caused by people; ash and gases from volcanic eruptions; and gases, like methane, which are emitted from decomposing organic matter in soils.

What are the examples of water pollutants?

Water pollutants include contamination due to domestic wastes, insecticides and herbicides, food processing waste, pollutants from livestock operations, volatile organic compounds, heavy metals, chemical waste, and others.

What are the examples of land pollution?

This could include anything from mining to agriculture to building, and consequences may be intentional or unintentional. Land pollution includes legacy pollution, illegal dumping and litter. Legacy pollution is when land is contaminated from prior use of chemicals that have remained over time.

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Kinds of Pollution

(a) On the basis of origin : It is of two types

(i) Natural Pollution : Pollution caused by natural phenomena like emission of large quantity of toxic gases and particulate matter by volcanoes, landslides, forest fires, marsh gas, U.V. rays etc.

(ii) Anthropogenic Pollution : It is man made pollution caused by human activities like noise, automobiles, pesticides, industries etc. Its magnitude is quite less as compared to Natural Pollution. Anthropogenic pollution can be personal (smoking), community level (thermal power plant) or occupational (flour mill dust). For example; 0.05% of atmospheric pollution is man made while 99.95% is natural pollution.

(b) On the basis of physical nature: It may be gaseous, dust, thermal, noise or radioactive pollution depending on physical nature of pollutants.

(c) On the basis of part of environment: Pollution may be broadly classified as air, water and soil pollution.

(d) On the basis of emission: Pollution is classified as :

(i) Point source: Pollution is being emitted from a single point or definite source. e.g. municipal sewer passing into water body.

(ii) Non point source: Pollution is being emitted from a large area. e.g., agricultural run off

(iii) Area source: Whole area like mining area is producing pollution. e.g., mining area, industrial complex.

Classification of Pollutants

1. Based upon their natural disposal, pollutants are of two types:

(i) Biodegradable pollutants: These are easily decomposable wastes by natural processes and also by some artificial methods which include microbial action and radiations. Domestic sewage is the main pollutant of this category.

(ii) Non-degradable pollutants: These are generally not degraded or degraded at a very slow pace by the natural biological processes. e.g., aluminium cans, mercurial salts, long chain phenolic chemicals, DDT, arsenic salts of heavy metals, glass, tin containers, radioactive materials and plastics. These not only accumulate but often get biologically magnified.

2. According to their existence in nature, the pollutants may be quantitative or qualitative.

(i) Qualitative pollutants: They are pollutants which do not normally occur in the environment but are passed into it through human activity e.g., DDT and other pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, etc.

(ii) Quantitative pollutants: They become pollutants only when their concentration reaches beyond a critical value in the environment e.g., CO, CO 2 , nitrogen oxides.

3. On the basis of form of pollutants in which these persist after their release into the environment, these are again of two types:

(i) Primary pollutants: These are emitted directly in the environment from some definite sources such as particles of metals, carbon, DDT, tar, resin, pollen, fungi, bacteria, silicates, plastics, sulphur compounds in the form of SO 2 , SO 3 , H 2 S; carbon compounds in the form of CO, CO 2 ; nitrogen compounds (NO x ).

(ii) Secondary pollutants: These are formed by the reactions of primary pollutants in the environment e.g., a photochemical reaction occurs in the presence of bright sunlight between nitrogen oxide and waste hydrocarbons to form peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN), Ozone (O 3 ) etc.

AIR OR ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION

It is defined as occurrence or presence of any material or gas in the air in such a concentration which is harmful to man, vegetation, animals and their environment.

With the gradual increase in the number of industries and automobiles, air pollution has now reached menacing proportions in big cities and industrial centres.

I. Causes / sources of air pollution

Various sources of atmospheric pollution are as follows :

1. Fossil fuels and fibres: Incomplete and complete combustion of the carbon contents of fossil fuel wood and charcoal produce carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide alongwith sulphur dioxide.

2. Emission from vehicles : Emission from automobiles, locomotives, aircrafts and exhausts in cities constitutes the major part of the total air pollution.

3. Industries: Industries add various harmful gases like CO, CO 2 , SO 2 , H 2 S, NO, hydrocarbons and small particles of dust, carbon, metals, radioactive materials etc. to the atmosphere.

4. Natural sources: Volcanic eruptions, forest fires, natural organic and inorganic decays, marsh gases, pollen grains of flowers, fungal spores, etc.

5. Metallurgical processing

II. Common air pollutants and their effects

These are basically of two types i.e. gaseous materials, particulate matter.

1. Gaseous Materials :

(a) Carbon monooxide : It is a product of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels (charcoal, coal mines). 50% emissions are contributed from automobiles. It produces COHb (carboxyhemoglobin) and reduces O 2 carrying capacity of blood, resulting in giddiness, decreased vision, headache, cardiovascular malfunction and asphyxia.

(b) Hydrocarbons (HCs) or Volatile organic carbons (VOCs) : They are produced naturally (e.g., CH 4 ) or due to incomplete combustion as unburnt discharges. These may lead to produce secondary pollutants, when combines with NO x Benzene and HCHO are carcinogenic and causes irritation of eyes and mucous membrane and causes bronchial constriction. HCHO released from newly formed carpets lead to indoor pollution.

(c) SO 2 : It is produced during combustion of sulphur containing fossil fuels, smelting of ore and from oil refineries. It causes eye irritation, severe respiratory problems, inhibits ET8 in plants. Also responsible for classical smog (London smog or sulphurous smog) acid rains and stone cancer. SO 2 causes phaeophytization in lichens. So their absence is indicator of SO 2 pollution. This may cause discolouration and deterioration of buildings, sculptures (yellowning of Taj Mahal is reported to be caused by SO 2 pollution released by Mathura oil refinery).

(d) Nitrogen oxides (NO x ) : Mainly produced during combustion of fossil fuels at high temperature in automobile engines (mainly NO and NO 2 ). Nitrogen oxides cause the brown air that leads to heart and lung problems.

Secondary Air Pollutants:

Formed through a reaction between primary pollutants and often are more toxic.

Oxides of nitrogen reacts with hydrocarbons in presence of sunlight to produce PAN and O 3 .

In trophosphere the O 3 is a chemical weed and can cause eye irritations and sometimes prove fatal, while PAN can have damaging effect on eyes and may induce respiratory distress. It can inhibit ETS in chloroplast and may results in silvering or glazing of leaves.

Smog : Opaque or dark fog having smoke, dust, water vapours and gases.

The term was given by Robert Augus .

It is rainfall with a pH of less than 5.65. It is due to oxides of sulphur and nitrogen.

There are two types of acid deposition -wet and dry deposition.

About half of the acidity in the atmosphere is transferred to earth through dry deposition.

65% acid rain is due to SO 2 emission, 30% due to nitrogen oxides and 5% due to release of hydrogen chloride from chemical industries.

Acid rain damages foliage and growing points of plants and causes leaching of essential minerals of soil.

It corrodes metals, marble, painted surface, slate, stone etc.

This phenomenon is called stone leprosy.

2. Particulate Matter:

These are added into the air by industries automobiles and by many operations like blasting, drilling, crushing, grinding, mixing etc.

These pollutants may be either solid or liquid particles. It is differentiated into Settleable ( 10 µm, settles out in less than one day) and Suspended ( 10 µm) remaining in air for weeks.

Some particulate matters are given below:

(a) Aerosols. These are the vapour chemicals in the form of fluorocarbons, chlorofluorocarbons, oxides of sulphur and nitrogen released into the air with force by the emission of jet and supersonic aeroplane emissions. Fog is an aerosol of water droplets in air. Aerosols are also used as disinfectants, in refrigeration and in the formation of certain solid plastic foams.

(b) Smoke. Similar to dust but consists of visible suspension of carbon and other particles given off by burning and smouldering organic matter. Smog is a combination of smoke, chemical fumes and fog. It remains suspended for many days and envelops the entire industrial area like a thick blanket due to stagnant air. It produces respiratory problems in humans such as asthma and bronchitis. Smoke does not allow a clear view of nature's beauty. The power stations throw out large amount of fly ashes (fine particulate matter passed out alongwith gases during burning of coal).

(c) Dust and mist. Dust (more than 1µm), Mist (more than 1 µm but liquid). These releases from industries and may cause a variety of diseases like, cotton dust produces lung fibrosis called byssinosis. Lung fibrosis produced in other industries includes asbestosis (in asbestos industry), silicosis (stone grinders), siderosis (iron mill), coal miners pneumoconiosis, flour mill pneumoconiosis etc. Manganese poisoning has been reported in welders.

(d) Pollen, spores, cysts and bacteria. Air borne organic constituent like pollens, spores, cysts, fungi, bacteria, fur, etc. may cause allergic reactions, bronchial asthma, emphysema, T.B. and lung cancer. The number increases in certain seasons. Skin allergy and asthma like diseases are very common from Parthenium plant in India. The hay fever from pollen allergy is very common.

III. Control of air pollution

1. Separation of pollutants from harmless gases

(i) Control equipments in industries such as gravity settling tanks, cyclone collectors, remove and precipitate large and small pollutant particles and thus, minimise the air pollution. Electrostatic precipitators are used in thermal power plants. These can remove over 99% particulate matter present in the exhaust from a thermal power plant.

It has electrode wires that are maintained at several thousand volts, which produce a corona that releases electrons.

These electrons attach to dust particles giving them a net negative charge.

The collecting plates are grounded and attract the charged dust particles.

The velocity of air between the plates must be low enough to allow the dust to fall.

A scrubber can remove gases like sulphur dioxide.

In a scrubber, the exhaust is passed through a spray of water or lime.

Recently we have realised the dangers of particulate matter that are very very small and are not removed by these precipitators.

According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), particulate size 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter are responsible for causing the greatest harm to human health.

These fine particulates can be inhaled deep into the lungs and can cause breathing and respiratory symptoms, irritation, inflammations and damage to the lungs and premature deaths.

Catalytic converter have expensive metals, namely platinum, palladium, rhodium and can convert NO x to nitrogen and CO to CO 2 .

(ii) Controlling Vehicular Air Pollution -A Case Study of Delhi :

(a) Delhi leads the country in its levels of air-pollution -it has more cars than the states of Gujarat and West Bengal put together. In the 1990s, Delhi ranked fourth among the 41 most polluted cities of the world. Air pollution problems in Delhi became so serious that a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the Supreme Court of India. After being censured, the government was asked to take, within a specified time period, appropriate measures, including switching over the entire fleet of public transport, i.e., buses, from diesel to compressed natural gas (CNG). All the buses of Delhi were converted to run on CNG by the end of 2002.

Advantages of CNG

1. CNG burns most efficiently.

2. CNG is cheaper than petrol or diesel.

3. Cannot be siphoned off by thieves and adulterated like petrol or diesel.

4. The main problem that government has faced is the difficulty of laying down pipelines to deliver CNG through distribution points/pumps and ensuring uninterrupted supply.

Use of unleaded petrol, use of low-sulphur petrol and diesel, use of catalytic converters in vehicles, application of stringent pollution-level norms for vehicles, etc. are other steps taken to reduce pollution in Delhi.

(b) Stringent norms for fuels were given in new auto fuel policy for steadily reducing the sulphur and aromatic contents in petrol and diesel fuels. Euro-II norms, for example, stipulates that sulphur be controlled at 350 parts-per-million (ppm) in diesel and 150 ppm in petrol. Aromatic hydrocarbons are to be contained at 42 per cent of the concerned fuel. The goal, according to the road map prepared by Indian Government, is to reduce sulphur to 50 ppm in petrol and diesel and bring down the level to 35 per cent. Vehicle engines will also need to be upgraded.

(c) The Bharat Stage II (equivalent to Euro-II norms), which is currently in place in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Surat, Kanpur and Agra, will be applicable to all automobiles throughout the country from April 1, 2005. All automobiles and fuelpetrol and diesel -were to have met the Euro-III emission specifications in these 11 cities from April 1, 2005 and have to meet the Euro-IV norms by April 1, 2010. The rest of the country will have Euro-III emission norm compliant automobiles and fuels by 2010.

(d) A substantial fall in CO 2 and S02 level has been found in Delhi between 1997 and 2005.

(iii) Height of chimneys in industries should be increased to the highest possible level to reduce smoke pollution at ground level.

(iv) Trees purify the air by consuming CO 2 and releasing oxygen. Trees should be grown in all available places. Certain plants like Phaseolus vulgaris, Coleus blumei, Daucus carota and Ficus variegata fix carbon monoxide of the air. Similarly Vilis, Pinus, Juniperus, Pyrus, and Robinia pseudoacacia etc. are capable of metabolising oxides of nitrogen and other gaseous pollutants. These plants certainly help in reducing air pollution to a great extent.

2. Avoidance of Air Pollutants

(a) Industries should be set up at a far off distance from residential areas.

(b) Air pollution boards should enforce emission standards, frame rules and regulation for the control of air pollution.

(c) Firewood, coal and oil should be completely replaced by nuclear power, solar power, tidal power, wind power, natural gas or electricity which do not emit oxides of carbon, sulphur or nitrogen in the air.

(d) Automobile use should be minimised which emits high amount of air pollutants.

(e) Human population growth should be checked which is the major cause of air pollution.

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Environmental Issues - Notes | Class 12 | Part 1: Air Pollution and its Control

16. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

AIR POLLUTION AND ITS CONTROL

• Particulate & gaseous air pollutants from smokestacks of thermal power plants, smelters etc.

According to C entral Pollution Control Board (CPCB), particulate size of less than 2.5mm in diameter (PM 2.5) causes greatest harm to human health.

• Pollutants from automobiles.
• Particulates cause respiratory problems, irritation, inflammations & damage to lungs and premature deaths.
• Reduction in growth and yield of crops and premature death of plants.
• Separate/filter out particulate matters before releasing the harmless gases into the atmosphere.
• Use of lead-free petrol or diesel.
• Use of catalytic converters.
• Phasing out of old vehicles.
• Use of low-sulphur petrol and diesel.
• Application of pollution-level norms for vehicles, etc.
• Use of compressed natural gas (CNG). It is used in Delhi, in public transport (buses).
• It is better and cheaper than petrol & diesel. It burns almost completely.
• It cannot be siphoned off by thieves and adulterated.

Unburnt hydrocarbons → CO2 + water Carbon monoxide → CO2 Nitric oxide → Nitrogen

NOISE POLLUTION

• Noise causes psychological and physiological disorders.
• The sound level above 150 dB (generated by takeoff of a jet plane or rocket) may damage ear drums.
• Chronic exposure to relatively lower noise may damage hearing abilities of humans.
• Sleeplessness, increased heartbeat & breathing, stress etc.
• Use of sound absorbent materials in industries.
• Delimitation of horn-free zones around hospitals & schools.
• Permissible sound-levels of crackers and loudspeakers.
• Delimit the timings of using loudspeakers.
• Auto fuel policy: To cut down vehicular pollution in Indian cities.
• Euro III norms:

Control sulphur content at 350 ppm (parts per million) in diesel and 150 ppm in petrol. Level of aromatic hydrocarbons is to be at 42% of the fuel. In future: Reduce sulphur to 50 ppm in petrol & diesel and bring down the level to 35%. Upgrade vehicle engines.

• Topic 1: Air Pollution and its Control
• Topic 2: Water pollution and its Control
• Topic 3: Wastes and their Effects
• Topic 4: Greenhouse Effects, Global Warming, Ozone Depletion
• Topic 5: Degradation by Improper Resource Utilization

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Pollution of Air and Water

Introduction: what is air pollution and water pollution.

Air pollution has been the highlight of all major international level meetings, air is something we all share and cherish. The presence of breathable air is very important for leading a healthy life, the recent levels of air pollution witnessed around the world has been of serious concern for all the people, different environmentalists like Greta Thunberg, etc have raised their voices forcing the governments to change their policies regarding pollution. Public demand for this has also been very high and as a result, stricter policies have been coming up and all are made aware of the causes and concerns of air pollution.

Air pollution directly affects the health of humans and animals alike. The air humans and animals breathe is directed to the lungs and as such the pollutants present in the air directly get into the lungs and can lead to lung cancers. In the case of animals, several cases of deaths related to air pollution have been witnessed in different parts of the world. Also, birds have been severely affected by the air pollution because they have to be at the core of the polluted air. In recent times, air pollution has been of such several levels that breathing in that air was equivalent to smoking two packs of cigarettes in a day. Air pollution is also very harmful to crops and other agricultural products because when air is highly polluted and rain starts pouring, the rain pours in the form of Acid rain. The acid rain pours on people who are out, the crop produces and finally gets added into the ground. The acid rain can cause skin allergies if exposure to such rain is prolonged and can also damage the crop if caution is not exercised. The addition of acid rain into the groundwater disrupts the PH of the groundwater and as a result the groundwater also gets polluted.

Water pollution has also been of extreme concern for leaders and people around the globe. Several efforts are being implemented to reduce the water pollution levels to the minimum. It is found that the most polluted water bodies are those which are nearer to the residential or the commercial areas. While the water bodies near to the residential areas have got polluted due to the discharge of all the drainage waste into these waters, the one close to the commercial areas has witnessed the release of industrial waste into them as the main cause of water pollution in these areas. Several other water bodies have been witnessed as becoming municipal dumping sites.  

Water pollution is a critical concern because the pollution in water bodies has an extremely severe effect on the lives of aquatic animals and it totally leads to the disruption of aquatic ecosystems there. The huge presence of plastics, water bottles, and polythenes can cause fatal conditions for aquatic animals. Also, the increased water pollution has disturbed the PH level of the water bodies and as a result, water at some points in these water bodies has become so poisonous or acidic that fishes, dolphins, and penguins have often been seen dead at the sea, river shores.  

Air and Water pollution both are very harmful to human existence on this planet. Air and water are the most precious natural resources which are present in abundance but we misuse and abuse them. The pollution in any of these has a serious effect on the lives of humans and animals alike. Air and water pollution if abused to the maximum level can’t be turned back on immediately, several diseases and disorders previously unknown to humans have been identified as a consequence of air and water getting polluted with poisonous substances which are released from chemical and other such environment degrading industries. Like humans, the health of the planet is also getting affected when we choke the air it breezes and pollute the water that flows on it. 

Air Pollution

Air pollution is the exhaustive presence of undesired gasses/particles in the atmosphere. The gasses may be released off due to natural causes like volcanic eruptions etc or maybe released off due to man-made causes like industries or vehicles. Both affect the air quality immensely and make it very harmful for breathing and sometimes extremely toxic. 

Air pollution is caused by releasing various gasses into the atmosphere, finely divided solids, or finely dispersed liquid aerosols at rates that exceed the environment's natural capacity to dissipate and dilute or consume them. These compounds can achieve concentrations in the air that cause unwanted effects on health and the economy.

Air pollution is one of the prime concerns of all countries in the 21 st century, there have been several agreements between countries all over the globe to control their respective emissions and relatively lower the amount of air pollution. India has been severely affected by air pollution, the capital of the country has been reeling under severe air pollution levels where the AQI has been at times the maximum and in the range of hazardous.

Water Pollution

Water pollution is another type of pollution where the water has a heavy presence of undesired entities in it. From oil spills to commercial drainages all add up to destroy the precious water bodies. Water pollution has also been caused by the dumping of waste materials at the depths of rivers and lakes. The presence of plastic bags, bottles have also added up to the pollution of water.

Water pollution is caused by leaking different substances into subterranean groundwater or into lakes, streams, rivers, estuaries, and oceans to the point where the substances interfere with the beneficial use of water or with the natural functioning of ecosystems. Apart from releasing substances such as chemicals or microorganisms , water pollution may also include releasing energy into water bodies in the form of radioactivity or heat.

Causes of Air pollution

Combustion from Industry

Manufacturing processes can produce virtually all the common air pollutants. Some of these are created by the combustion of fossil fuels driving the manufacturing process, resulting in oxides of particulate matter, ozone, and nitrogen.

Transportation Emissions

Popular forms of transport such as cars, planes, and ships typically use combustion to extract fossil-fuel electricity. The combustion process releases pollutants, such as particles and carbon monoxide, into the air and also releases rapidly forming substances into nitrogen oxides and ozone, which are important air pollutants.

Agriculture Side-Effects

Farmers use fossil-fuel-driven machines to plow fields and harvest crops, and animals raised in bulk for food often create their own kind of air pollution. Methane is a gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect causing global warming; it originates from intestinal gas released by livestock.

Volcano Eruptions

Natural processes emit plenty of polluting substances into the air. Sulfur dioxide is a major modern air pollutant and volcanoes can release enough sulfur dioxide into the air to affect global cooling, according to National Geographic.

Forest Fires

Forest fires release pollutants into the air in the same way as pollution produced by fireplaces that burn wood. They produce fine particles of smoke that are small enough to get into the lungs and damage the lungs and heart, according to the EPA.

Tobacco Smoke

Homes in the developing world may have visible smoke coming from the fire used to heat and cook the house. Tobacco smoke is commonly the only noticeable type of air pollution within the home in the developed world. Both sources of indoor smoking are linked with respiratory diseases.

Metal Smelting

Different industries produce specific profiles of air pollutants, and the major source of metal pollution such as lead is metal smelting, while niche applications of lead, such as in the manufacturing of certain aviation fuels, often contribute.

Aerosols and CFCs

Refrigerants are the most common emitter of CFCs, especially those used after the 1930s. When not properly disposed of the coolant used in old refrigerators, cars, air conditioners, and other machines, it leaks CFCs into the atmosphere as liquids evaporate or work their way into the soil.

Causes of Water Pollution

Industrial Waste

Industries produce enormous quantities of waste containing toxic chemicals and pollutants, which causes air pollution and harm to our atmosphere.

Many industries, lacking a proper waste management system, drain the waste into the freshwater that enters canals, rivers, and later into the sea.

Toxic chemicals can change watercolor, increase the number of minerals, called eutrophication, change water temperature, and pose a serious hazard to water organisms.

Sewage and Wastewater

The sewage and wastewater produced in each household is chemically treated and released into the sea along with fresh water. The sewage water contains toxins, a typical water pollutant, other harmful 

Marine Dumping

The garbage produced by households in the form of paper, plastic, food, aluminum, rubber, glass, is collected and dumped into the sea in some countries. These items take 2 weeks to 200 years to decompose.

When such things enter the sea, they not only cause water pollution but also harm animals in the sea.

Accidental Oil Leakage

Oil spill poses an enormous threat to marine life as large quantities of oil spill into the sea and does not dissolve in water. It causes local marine wildlife issues involving fish, birds, and sea otters.

If an accident occurs a ship carrying a large amount of oil can spill oil. Such an oil spill can cause differing harm to ocean species, depending on the amount of oil spilled, pollutant toxicity, and the depth of the ocean.

The Burning of Fossil Fuels

When burnt, fossil fuels such as coal and oil produce considerable amounts of ash in the atmosphere. Particulate matter which contains toxic chemicals when combined with water vapor causes acid rain. Carbon dioxide is also released from fossil fuel burning which results in global warming.

Chemical Fertilizers and Pesticides

The farmers use artificial fertilizers and pesticides to protect crops from insects and bacteria. They are important for the growth of a plant. But they create harmful pollutants for plants and animals when these contaminants are mixed with water.

Also, the chemicals mix up with rainwater when it rains and flow down into rivers and canals, and cause serious damage to aquatic animals.

Leakage from Sewer Lines

A small leak from the sewer lines will contaminate the groundwater and make drinking unsafe for the people. The leaking water can also spill onto the soil when not cleaned on time and can become a breeding ground for insects and mosquitoes.

Global Warming

As a result of the greenhouse effect, an increase in world temperature results in global warming. It increases the water temperature which leads to the death of aquatic animals and marine species resulting in water contamination later on.

Radioactive Waste

The production of nuclear energy is through nuclear fission or fusion. Uranium, which is a highly toxic chemical, is the element used in the production of nuclear energy.

Acid rain is in fact water pollution from air pollution. As air pollution combines the acidic pollutants released into the atmosphere with water vapor, it results in acid rain.

Eutrophication

The increased nutrient levels in bodies of water are known as eutrophication. It results in algae blooming in the atmosphere. It also depletes the amount of oxygen in the water that impacts fish and other aquatic animal populations adversely.

Effects of Air Pollution

Global warming is potentially one of the most troubling consequences for scientists and environmentalists alike. Global warming is a direct result of the greenhouse effect, produced by high CO 2 and methane emissions into the atmosphere. Most of these emissions are produced by manufacturing so that companies and factories can address this with social responsibility and action.

Climate Change

Climate change is yet another result of global warming. When the planet's temperature rises, the usual climatic cycles are disturbed, accelerating the changes of these cycles in an evident way.

Gasses emitted from industry, power stations, boilers, cooking, and transportation are highly toxic. Such gasses contain sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) released by burning fossil fuels into the atmosphere. When these compounds collect in the atmosphere and react with water, they form dilute nitric and sulphuric acid solutions, and when those amounts are air, both the environment and the surfaces suffer.

Smog Effect

The smog effect or beret effect happens when a sort of dark fog is spread over the towns and fields. The fog is a pollutant load and can be of two types: sulfurous smog and photochemical smog, both toxic and harmful to health. Both sources of smog are the product of industrial and urban practice.

Deterioration of Fields 

Acid rain, climate change and smog cause damage to the surface of the Earth. Contaminated water and gasses flow into the earth, altering soil composition. That affects agriculture directly, the evolving crop cycles and the composition of the food we all consume.

Extinction of Animal Species

As the poles ' ice masses melt and sea levels increase, other animal species which rely on oceans and rivers to survive are endangered. Currents change, ocean temperatures rise and migratory patterns change, and in areas unfamiliar to them, many species are forced to look for food. Deforestation and low soil quality also mean the forests and biodiversity are vanishing. And, probably, a difference in many wild species' behavior.

Respiratory Health Problems

It is perhaps one of the most visible and troubling human effects. Pollutants can cause respiratory diseases and allergies ranging from asthma, cancer, or emphysema to coughs.

Inhalation of toxic agents affects the respiratory system specifically in the lungs and other tissues.

Deterioration in Building Materials

Air pollutants often deteriorate and change the constitution of building materials, thereby degrading, eroding, or damaging many buildings and infrastructure at an increased rate over time.

Effects of Water Pollution

Effects on Human Beings

One of the major effects of this is sickness. The World Health Organization states that around 120,000 deaths related to cholera occur annually. In fact, for example, the Fukushima disaster increased the prevalence of thyroid cancer in untreated children by 70 percent.

Death of Aquatic Life

Polluted water most affects animals and plants which depend on water for life. Statistics on the consequences of the Deep Horizon spill from the Center for Biological Diversity provide valuable insight into the impact of pollution on aquatic life. The 2010 Gulf of Mexico spill injured more than 82,000 birds, 25,900 marine animals, 6165 sea turtles, and an unknown number of fish and Invertebrates in the study.

Food Chain Disruption

Pollution interferes with the food chain by transferring the toxins from one level in the chain to another. Pollution can in some cases wash out a whole part of the food chain. These affect the other species either by causing excessive growth if the predator dies or dies (if the prey is wiped out)

Destruction of Ecosystems

The addition of certain microorganisms or their disappearance distorts the environment. For example, nutrient pollution leads to an increase in algae which depletes oxygen water and leads to the death of fish and other aquatic life.

Economic Effects

The management and restoration of polluted bodies of water are costly. For example, in 2019 Japan announced that storing the contaminated water after the Fukushima accident is running out of space. This currently contains more than one million tons of contaminated water stored in tanks. Research shows that cleanup of the disaster's effects would cost at least $660 billion. 

FAQs on Pollution of Air and Water

1. What is the Main Cause of Air and Water Pollution?

The major causes of air pollution are coal and carbon combustion, manufacturing and chemical production, mining operations, indoor pollution, high-rate renewable gas emissions, etc. A lot of other causes lead to air and water pollution.

2. Explain how Air Pollution and Water Pollution affect the Environment?

Also, air pollution can have a direct impact on water pollution. If pollutants such as sulfur dioxide fall up into the air, they can combine to produce acid rain. Acid rain can turn waterways poisonous and can kill fish and other animals. Water pollution can have major environmental impacts.

3. Is Air Pollution or Water Pollution worse?

Air pollution will become a greater global killer than dirty water ' Urban air pollution is set to become the largest environmental cause of premature death in the coming decades.

Biology • Class 12

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Lesson Plans, Teacher Guides and Online Environmental Resources for Educators

Find an array of environmental and science based lesson plans, activities and ideas below from EPA, other federal agencies and external organizations.  ​ Encontrar recursos para estudiantes y maestros.

Topics: Air | Climate Change | Ecosystems | Energy | Health | Waste | Water

Acid Rain: A Teacher's Guide   (PDF 56 pp, 4.6 MB) Lesson plan and activities from EPA for teachers on acid rain. Grades: 6-8 Type of Resource: Lesson plan

Acid Rain Student Pages Find the acid rain student pages, as well as general information for older students or adults. Grades: K-12 Type of Resource: Lesson plans and experiments

AIRNOW Get up-to-the-minute information about air pollution in your community, through a joint project from EPA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Park Service and other partners. The AIRNOW website includes maps, forecasts, and information about the health effects of air pollution. Grades: 9-12 Type of Resource: Website

AIRNOW Air Quality Resources  Find air quality curriculum materials and activities from AIRNOW, including a toolkit and workshop opportunities for teachers. Grades: K-8 Type of Resource: Curriculum guide

Measuring Air Quality Improvements from Vegetative Barriers This unit has been designed by EPA as a teaching aid on the topic of air quality; particularly, investigating the role vegetative barriers play in improving air quality for surrounding areas. Grades: K-5 Type of Resource: Lesson Plan

Carl Gets Some Rest (PDF 12 pp, 765 KB) This EPA coloring and story book, for children in pre-school through 2nd grade, teaches a simple lesson: there are many transportation alternatives to using a car. Grades: K-2 Type of Resource: Coloring Book

Creating Healthy Indoor Air Quality in Schools This EPA page provides information on indoor air quality in school buildings and how to order the Tools for Schools Action Kit. The kit shows how to carry out a practical plan of action to improve indoor air quality at little or no cost using common-sense activities and in-house staff. Grades: K-12 Type of Resource: Toolkit

EnviroAtlas Educational Materials These ready-made lesson plans can be used in formal and informal education settings and are aligned with Next Generation and State Science Standards. Grades: K-12 Type of Resource: Lesson Plans

Noise Pollution for Kids   (PDF 15 pp, 6.54 MB) This EPA booklet for your students will teach you how to identify which sounds are loud and ways to protect your hearing and health. Grades: K-5 Type of Resource: Activity book

Particulate Matter (PM) Air Sensor Kits Particle pollution known as particulate matter (PM) is one of the major air pollutants regulated by EPA to protect public health and the environment. A PM air sensor kit has been developed by EPA researchers as an educational tool to teach children about air quality and air science. Grades: 5-12 Type of Resource: Hands-on activity guide

Basic Ozone Layer Science Find a straightforward explanation of the ozone layer and ozone depletion. Grades: 9-12 Type of Resource: Website

AIRNOW's Ozone: Good Up High, Bad Nearby (PDF 4 pp) Ozone acts as a protective layer high above the Earth, but it can be harmful to breathe. This publication provides basic information about ground-level and high-altitude ozone. Grades:6-12 Type of Resource: Booklet/Brochure

Plain English Guide to the Clean Air Act A brief introduction to the 1990 version of the Clean Air Act, to help you understand what is in the law and how it may affect you. Grades: 9-12 Type of Resource: Booklet

RadTown USA EPA's RadTown USA is a virtual community that aims to educate students about the sources of radiation in our daily lives. Grades: 9-12 Type of Resource: Virtual activity

Teaching Kids to Conserve Energy at Home: Resources for K-12 teachers and parents This 11-minute presentation focuses on an introduction to energy and the environment, energy saving tips, how to use the Energy Star home energy yardstick, and homework ideas. Grades: K-12 Type of Resource: Video

Village Green Project These lessons provide a unique opportunity for students to learn about air quality as it relates to various topics of science appropriate to their grade level. The purpose of these lessons is to engage students of varying ability levels through hands-on and minds-on thinking. Each lesson is designed to focus around the topic of air quality; from issues of human health to career and 21st century skills. Grades: K-8 Type of Resource: Lesson Plan (PDF)  (52 pp)

Lea en español:  ¿Por qué Coco es de color naranja?

Why is Coco Orange? Coco has a problem. He is a chameleon, but he cannot change colors, and his asthma is acting up. Read how Coco and his friends at Lizard Lick Elementary solve this mystery as they learn about air quality and how to stay healthy when the air quality is bad. Grades: Pre K-2 Type of Resource: Book

Other resources

NOAA's Education Resources Website Explore this site to find the information you need to teach students about weather, climate change, and oceans. You'll find activities, background information, and much more! Grades: 6-12

National Park Service Education Resources Classroom materials, field trip opportunities and professional development programs for educators from the National Park Service. Grades: All

Climate and Health Lesson Plan and Toolkit by The American Public Health Association This lesson adopts materials developed by the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIH) to make it easy for public health professionals to guest teach at local high schools. For more resources aimed directly at teachers, see Climate Change and Human Health Lesson Plans by NIH. Grades: 9-12

EPA Publications

EPA has many publications on every environmental subject that you can download or order. See our predefined searches below on specific search terms to help you view our publication offerings from the National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP).

Predefined Search Terms:

• Activity Book
• Coloring Books
• Environmental Education
• Science Fair
• Students Home
• Community Service Project Ideas
• Science Fair Projects
• Homework Help and Activities for K-12 Students

FREE K-12 standards-aligned STEM

curriculum for educators everywhere!

Find more at TeachEngineering.org .

• TeachEngineering
• What's Air Got to Do with It? Properties & Quality

Lesson What's Air Got to Do with It? Properties & Quality

Grade Level: 5 (4-6)

Time Required: 45 minutes

Lesson Dependency: None

Subject Areas: Chemistry

NGSS Performance Expectations:

• Print lesson and its associated curriculum

Curriculum in this Unit Units serve as guides to a particular content or subject area. Nested under units are lessons (in purple) and hands-on activities (in blue). Note that not all lessons and activities will exist under a unit, and instead may exist as "standalone" curriculum.

• Air Composition Pie Charts: A Recipe for Air
• Air - Is It Really There?
• Environmental History Timeline
• Air Pressure Experiments: I Can't Take the Pressure!
• Barometric Pressure: Good News – We're on the Rise!
• Dripping Wet or Dry as a Bone?
• Turning the Air Upside Down
• Word Origins & Metaphors: Take Their Word for It!
• Weather Forecasting: How Predictable!

TE Newsletter

Engineering connection, learning objectives, worksheets and attachments, more curriculum like this, introduction/motivation, associated activities, lesson closure, vocabulary/definitions, user comments & tips.

Air pollution is becoming an increasing concern as we learn more about the adverse health effects of poor air quality. Engineers investigate the source and effect of air pollution on people and their environment, and do their best to prevent it and clean it up. Environmental engineers must know the composition of air and chemicals to determine how to mitigate poor air quality.

After this lesson, students should be able to:

• Identify some of the main causes, effects and sources of air pollution.
• Define Air Quality Index (AQI).
• Explain the properties of air (takes up space, has mass, can move, exerts pressure, can do work.)
• Describe the roles of engineers in addressing air pollution.
• Explain how air pollutants affect the temperature of the atmosphere.

Educational Standards Each TeachEngineering lesson or activity is correlated to one or more K-12 science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) educational standards. All 100,000+ K-12 STEM standards covered in TeachEngineering are collected, maintained and packaged by the Achievement Standards Network (ASN) , a project of D2L (www.achievementstandards.org). In the ASN, standards are hierarchically structured: first by source; e.g. , by state; within source by type; e.g. , science or mathematics; within type by subtype, then by grade, etc .

Ngss: next generation science standards - science, international technology and engineering educators association - technology.

View aligned curriculum

Do you agree with this alignment? Thanks for your feedback!

State Standards

Colorado - science.

Before Class Begins

Print the Air Sayings attachment , page 1. Cut apart each of the boxes containing the sayings and meanings. You may have more of your own sayings/meanings to add.

Alternatively, you could give students a handout ( Scrambled Air Sayings , use page 2 of the Air Sayings attachment) and have them match the sayings to the meanings, or write the air sayings on the board or on a transparency (use page 3 of the Air Sayings attachment ) and ask students to describe what the sayings mean.

With the Students

Hand out one strip (either a saying or a meaning) to each student as they enter the classroom. Tell the students that some of them have received a strip with a saying that we commonly use that makes a reference to air. Explain that other students in the classroom have received a description of what one of the air sayings means. You may want to use one of them as an example.

Ask the students to walk around and find their partner. Each pair should consist of a matching saying and meaning.

After all the students have found their partners, ask them to read their sayings and meanings aloud to the rest of the class. Have the students return to their seats.

Discuss the following questions with the students.

• Why do you think we have all these sayings that relate to air? (Possible answer: Air is important to us because it contains oxygen, which is essential to life.)
• Why air is so important to us? (See above answer.)
• Does the quality of our air matter? Is clean air important? (Answer: Yes, polluted air can cause serious problems for us and our environment. See the Background section for more details.)
• How does air get dirty? What is air pollution? What are air pollution sources? (Answer: Air pollution is caused by several things that people do, especially burning fossil fuels. See Figure 1. See the Background section for more details.)
• What could happen if you breathe polluted air? (Answer: Polluted air can cause itchy eyes, coughing and diseases for humans and other life on Earth, as well as change or destroy our buildings, etc. Very fine dust in the air can actually enter our bloodstream directly and cause both respiratory and cardiovascular problems. See the Background section for more details.)

• Distribute the attached Air Pollution Sources chart . Briefly discuss the contents. 

Share the following information with the students.

• Long ago, people were not worried about clean air because we seemed to have an endless supply. Today, many more people live in our world, and we are rapidly polluting this essential resource which is contributing to climate change. We need to find better ways to protect and improve our air. Refer to the literacy based associated activity Environmental History Timeline for students to gain an understanding of how time has played a factor in the planet's pollution. 
• In this unit, students consider what air pollution is, the sources, the effect it has on us and our environment, and ways to prevent it and clean it up. Engineers play integral roles in the problems of and the solutions to air pollution.
• Students begin with this lesson to develop their understanding of the composition and properties of air as well as some general definitions and awareness of air quality. Follow-up with the associated activity Air Composition Pie Charts: A Recipe for Air to help students illustrate these concepts. 
• Engineers begin with these same basic understandings of air and air pollution in order to develop air pollution prevention and clean-up techniques and technologies.

Lesson Background and Concepts for Teachers

Most of the time, we hardly notice the air around us. We cannot usually see it or taste it. Air does not usually smell (but it does carry substances that we do smell). However, you can feel air when it moves and you can see the effects of air on your surroundings. When air moves, it has great power (to push sailboats, drive windmills, and move clouds), and when it is compressed (squashed into a small space), it has great strength (air in a tire supports a vehicle and helps a helicopter to rise into the air). Refer to the associated activity Air - Is It Really There? for students to learn more about the properties of air by watching and conducting several simple experiments.

We must have air to survive. Because of this, engineers work to solve our air pollution problems. There are many things that complicate these solutions, so engineers who work on air pollution problems must have a firm understanding of the composition, properties and behavior of air.

Air Pollution History

About 800 years ago, King Edward I of England (1272 – 1307) imposed a death penalty on anyone found burning coal (the high sulfur type), because it created noxious fumes and an "intolerable smell." During Queen Elizabeth I's (1558 – 1603) reign, she created laws to stop people from burning coal in London, but coal was so cheap that no one paid much attention. In the 17th century, John Evelyn wrote two books about pollution (about smoke pollution in London and about plans to save woodlands).

Serious problems started in the 1800s with the coal-burning factories of the Industrial Revolution era. During this time, much home-based hand manufacturing shifted to large-scale factory production. One consequence was a great increase in pollution emitted into our skies (see Figure 3). The introduction of motor vehicles in the 1900s increased atmospheric pollution greatly.

In the 1970s, the U.S. passed legislation to curb sources of air pollution and set standards for air quality. In 1987, more than 20 nations signed an agreement to limit CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) production and work towards eliminating them altogether. In 1989, major car manufacturers and oil companies funded a $40 million research study to help find ways to reduce emissions. In 1990, Congress passed the Clean Air Act, which requires industry and individuals to take additional steps to clean the air in our cities. In 2019, California passed a bill that will effectively lower emissions by the equivalent of taking 145,000 and 375,000 trucks off the roads in California alone through a maintenance and emissions inspection program for heavy-duty trucks.

What Are Air Pollutants?

Clean air contains only the gases and water vapor needed to keep the Earth's environment healthy. Pollutants are substances, or even energy, that contaminate our air and harm living things (and some non-living ones, too). A high concentration of pollutants in the air is called air pollution.

There are literally hundreds of pollutants that float around in the air that we breathe. Some come from natural sources, but most come from human activity. Air pollutants consist of numerous particulates, fibers, mists, molds, bacteria, and gases. They are found outdoors and indoors. Climatic conditions and emission sources dictate the magnitude and variety of air pollutants found outdoors. Most major air pollutants are invisible, but large amounts of them can be seen as smog when they are concentrated in areas such as cities. (See the lessons  Visible Air Pollution and Invisible Air Pollution , for details about visible and invisible air pollutants.)

Indoor air pollution is becoming a large concern for environmental engineers because the majority of the public's time is spent indoors. Indoor air pollutants include: pesticides, dust, fibers, furnishings, radon, fungi, chemicals, cleaning supplies, and animal dander. (Refer to the  I've Gotta Get Some Air  for more information.)

Some people also consider sound pollution a type of air pollution because sound waves travel through the air. Outdoor sources include loud jet engines, construction equipment, huge trucks and other forms of transportation, etc. Indoor sources include music, TVs, mixers, dishwashers, washing machines, etc. Bright outdoor lights are also considered a source of air pollution, especially to astronomers.

Air Pollution Sources

Outdoor Sources — The burning of fossil fuels is one of the main causes of air pollution. Smoke and fumes containing carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide from power stations and factories are the worst offenders. Car exhaust is another primary source of air pollution. It contains both invisible gases (carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides) and particles. Many consumer products (hair spray, paint, cleaners) release high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere. Other substantial sources of outdoor air pollution include gas stations, industry, agriculture, and forestry.

Volcanic eruptions, a natural outdoor source of air pollution, often spew gases and ash into the atmosphere. Forest fires also release dust and smoke into the air.

Indoor Sources — Indoor air pollutants can be created within a building or drawn inside from outdoor sources. Indoor sources include: foundations, equipment (malfunctioning HVAC systems, emissions from office equipment/labs), furnishings (new carpet that releases formaldehyde and burnt Teflon pans), dust-producing or water-damaged materials, unsanitary trash emissions, insects and pests, food preparation areas, cleaning materials, pets and people (smoking). Some of the most common outdoor air pollutants that are brought inside are: smog, bacteria and mold spores, vehicle exhaust, exhaust fumes, pollen and dust, algae (from standing water) and smoke.

How Do Air Pollutants Affect Us?

The cumulative effect of air pollution destroys our environment and poses health threats to humans and other living organisms. Air pollution can make people sick, make things dirty, damage buildings and our ecosystem, change the weather, trap heat and make the air warmer than it should be, chew holes in the atmosphere and mix with clouds to form poisonous acid rain. These changes over time have a negative impact on our environment and contribute to climate change, which is the shift in long term weather patterns that can cause warmer/colder temperatures and alter the average amount of rainfall or snowfall in a particular area. These changes can result in rising sea levels, shrinking glaciers, and an increase in natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods. Earth’s climate has constantly changed throughout history, but scientists have noticed that these changes are happening faster and faster due to humankind’s accelerated emission of greenhouse gases.

Air pollutants may cause a variety of adverse human health effects ranging from minor (rashes, eye/nose irritation, headaches, fatigue, shortness of breath, coughing, sneezing and dizziness) to major effects (cancer, breathing complications/asthma, kidney failure, liver damage and birth defects). The degree of the health effects depends on the magnitude and frequency of exposure to the pollutants.

Environmental effects are also numerous. For example, sulfur dioxide emissions combine with water particles and fall to the Earth in the form of acid rain or snow. This destroys the food and nutrients for fish and other aquatic life in oceans, lakes and streams. It damages trees, other plants and even some buildings. CFCs transform and destroy the ozone layer, which increases the Earth's exposure to ultraviolet radiation and can cause crop failures, skin cancer and other environmental/health disasters.

The water cycle usually cleans the air of pollutants naturally. Currently, however, there are two problems with this: the water cycle is unable to clean contaminants as quickly as they are added, and high concentrations of pollutants contribute to acid rain (see Figure 4).

What Are Air Pollutant Solutions?

How do we get people to keep the air clean? The government passes strict legislation to control the amount of by-products released by industrial companies and modes of transportation. These air quality standards are designed to protect the health and welfare of people, plants and animals, and protect structures, monuments, water resources, etc. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set national standards for six specific air pollutants that tend to reach unsafe levels. These six pollutants are: carbon monoxide (from vehicles), nitrogen oxides (from power plants), lead (from metal refineries), sulfur dioxide (from coal-burning power plants), particulate matter and tropospheric (low-level) ozone (not to be confused with upper-level ozone — also called stratospheric ozone — which helps filter out harmful rays from the sun). Students can learn more about their local air qualities with the associated activity What Color is Your Air Today?

On a more personal level, adjustments can be made to help improve the air. For example, one can reduce fuel use by joining a car pool, taking the bus/train, riding a bike or walking. In general, reducing energy use (especially in our homes) can be an important contribution to improving air quality. Also, some people choose to buy and use more environmentally-friendly products such as non-aerosol hair spray and non-toxic cleansers.

Who Cares? Why Do We Need Pollution Solutions?

Oxygen is a colorless, tasteless and odorless gas that forms about 21% of the Earth's atmosphere (by volume). All living things need the oxygen in the air to survive. Without the oxygen gas available in non-polluted air, the Earth would not have any living organisms.

Humans cannot live without oxygen for more than a few minutes. Because air is essential to our survival, our bodies are constantly interacting with it. Air enters our bodies through our mouths and noses. Inhalation is the process of breathing air through the mouth and nose into our lungs. Once air enters the lungs, cells take the oxygen from the air and distribute it throughout the body. Once the cells have finished with the oxygen, our body exhales and pushes out the remaining air (and the carbon dioxide by-product) from our lungs.

Air supports other biological activities as well. Air allows us to hear (objects move the air around them and these air waves cause our eardrum to vibrate). Air allows us to see (light travels through air very quickly). Air allows us to smell (carries tiny particles that make up odors).

Air is also necessary in many non-biological activities. Air helps distribute heat and water around the world. We can tell that air is at work when objects (leaves, branches, flags, clouds) are moving, and when thunder is crashing. There are many other objects that rely on air to move, too. An airplane uses air to help it take off from the runway, a bird needs it to fly, a sailboat needs it to move in the water, and a hot air balloon uses it to rise off the ground. Other uses for air include heating and cooling, recreation, energy and pollination.

What will the world be like if we do not develop some solutions to our air pollution problems? Even today, if people travel to places where there is not as much oxygen/air (tops of mountains, underwater) or no air at all (space) they must take air with them. This could become an everyday experience if we continue to neglect and mistreat this essential natural resource.

Read more about air pollution in the attached Air Pollution Reading and Health Effects Reading .

Air Pollution Facts

• In 1992, the United Nations declared Mexico City to be the world's most polluted city. When pollution was really bad, birds were known to drop dead out of the sky. As of 2019, the world's most polluted city was Ghaziabad, India.
• Every day, each of the world's 987.5 million cattle (as of 2020) gives off 250-500 liters of methane (produced in their gut as they digest food). Methane is also produced in large quantities by rotting vegetation in landfills and by the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil. Methane is a very potent greenhouse gas; it contributes readily to the increasing temperature of our earth's atmosphere.
• The average person takes about 20,000 breaths a day.
• Even though plants make oxygen, which is essential to live, humans have destroyed almost half of the original forests on Earth. As of 2020, only one-fifth of the Earth's original forests remain pristine and undisturbed.

Watch this activity on YouTube

• Environmental History Timeline - In this literacy activity, students develop critical thinking skills, learn about the concept of a timeline and develop a sense of the context of events.

As a class exercise with student participation, read the attached The Day the Air Pollution Gremlins Came to Town short play .

air: The mixture of invisible, odorless, tasteless gases (mainly nitrogen and oxygen) that surrounds the Earth.

air pollution : The gases and particles that negatively affect the quality of the air around us, are harmful to the environment and/or enter the atmosphere at highly concentrated levels (for example, oxygen and pollen are often present in the air, but are not considered pollution). Generally consists of: visible gases, invisible gases and particulate matter (such as soot).

allergy: A physical reaction (sneezing, coughing, etc.) to something in the air (such as pollen, dust, dander, pollution, etc.).

asthma: A condition, often caused by allergies, that causes a tightness in the chest (breathing tubes become swollen), difficulty breathing (cannot get enough air) and wheezing.

atmosphere: The layer of air that surrounds the Earth like a blanket. It keeps the Earth warm and protects it from harmful radiation.

carbon dioxide: A colorless, highly poisonous odorless gas made of one carbon and two oxygen atoms formed during breathing, combustion and biomass decaying, which adds to the greenhouse effect by retaining infrared radiation within the atmosphere. Abbreviated as CO2.

carbon monoxide: A colorless, odorless gas made of one carbon atom and one oxygen atom. Very harmful at elevated levels. Abbreviated as CO.

chlorofluorocarbon: Any of various compounds consisting of carbon, hydrogen, chlorine and fluorine, once used widely as aerosol propellants and refrigerants. Chlorofluorocarbons are believed to cause depletion of the atmospheric ozone layer. Abbreviated as CFC.

dioxin: A highly toxic family of chemicals used to make poisonous substances such as weed killers and bleaching products (for example, to make paper white). Also released from burning plastics. Poisonous at 1 part per billion (ppb).

emission: Gases or particles that are given off from man-made sources (for example, when fossil fuels are burned) and natural sources (for example, from plant photosynthesis).

fossil fuel: A material that forms naturally, underground from the remains of ancient organisms (plants and animals) from millions of years ago. For example, petroleum, coal, natural gas.

greenhouse effect: The phenomenon whereby the Earth's atmosphere traps solar radiation, caused by the presence in the atmosphere of gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapor and methane that allow incoming sunlight to pass through but absorb heat radiated back from the Earth's surface.

hydrocarbon: An organic compound containing atoms of hydrogen and carbon.

nitrogen oxide: A gas that form when nitrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere are burned with fossil fuels at high temperatures. Abbreviated as NOx.

oxygen: A colorless, tasteless, odorless gaseous element that constitutes 21% of the atmosphere. Abbreviated as O.

ozone: Ground-level ozone is the principal component of smog, created from chemical reactions of pollutants; VOCs, and NOX. A strong oxidant. Abbreviated as O3.

particulate matter: Very small material suspended in the air in the form of minute solid particles or liquid droplets, especially when considered as an atmospheric pollutant. Includes anything that floats in the air, such as materials that have been burned (ash, smoke, soot), dust, pollen, soil, chemicals, etc. Abbreviated as PM.

pollen: The powdery grains of flowering plants (they fertilize seeds). Usually appears as a fine yellow dust.

pollutant: A harmful chemical or waste material discharged into the water or atmosphere. Some are visible and some are invisible.

reformulated gasoline: A cleaner-burning form of gasoline that reduces the amount of pollutants emitted into the air through tailpipes and via evaporation from the gas tank. Oxygenates are a principal component. Abbreviated as RFG.

stratosphere: The layer of air that extends from about 10 to 30 miles above the Earth's surface.

volatile organic compound: An organic chemical containing carbon that escapes into the air easily. Abbreviated as VOC. Many VOCs are also hazardous air pollutants that can cause serious illnesses. Carbon is the basic chemical element found in living beings; carbon-containing chemicals are called organic. Example VOCs include some hairspray, cleaners, air fresheners and paints.

Pre-Lesson Assessment

Air Sayings Game : Have students become familiar with everyday sayings related to air, as directed in the Introduction / Motivation section.

Post-Introduction Assessment

Discussion Questions : Have students respond to discussion questions provided in the Introduction / Motivation section.

Lesson Summary Assessment

Flashcards : Have students create flashcards of air pollution terms and definitions. Materials list:

• Air Pollution Flashcards , one per student (print two-sided)
• magazines/newspapers for students to cut up
• colored pencils or crayons or markers

Note: Blank flash cards are also provided in the attachment so you can have students add to their flashcards throughout the unit by adding the new vocabulary terms in each lesson.

Ask/answer: Have students ask and answer questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures. 

Internet Search : Divide the flashcards up among team members. Have them search for the terms on the Internet, and record (on the term side of the flashcard) the website at which they found the term or concept. Have them pick the two sites that interested them the most and share them with the class during the next class period.

Lesson Extension Activities

An additional activity that demonstrates the presence of air and how it is useful is playing with parachutes. Students can make their own or purchase inexpensive toy parachutes at drug stores.

Invite someone from the EPA (or other local person responsible for monitoring air quality) to your classroom. Encourage students to ask questions about the types, causes and levels of air pollution in your community, and what measures are in place to improve the air quality.

Find out about factories in your area. What do they make? What types of waste do they produce? How do they dispose of the waste? Investigate them on the EPA website (www.epa.gov).

The EPA offers a free Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Kit. (https://www.epa.gov/iaq-schools/indoor-air-quality-tools-schools-action-kit; last accessed August 12, 2020.)

Try the activities at the Environmental Education for Kids: The Air around Us page at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website. (www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/earth/air/index.htm; last accessed August 12, 2020.)

Download the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's Air Quality Coloring and Activity Book (especially the air pollution section), 2004. Originally found at: www.tceq.state.tx.us/comm_exec/forms_pubs/pubs/gi/gi-314.html. (Now at: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth640509/; last accessed on August 12, 2020.) Here is a slightly different and updated pdf version: http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/library/pubs/kids/dcatbk.pdf, last accessed on August 12, 2020.

Have students research and explore how lichens can indicate air pollution levels. For an introduction to the topic, see Brenda Walpole's 175 Science Experiments to Amuse and Amaze Your Friends , pg. 85.

Give students parts from the The Day the Air Pollution Gremlins Came to Town , a short plan, and have them come up with their own play.

Students are introduced to the concepts of air pollution and technologies that engineers have developed to reduce air pollution. They develop an understanding of visible air pollutants with an incomplete combustion demonstration, a "smog in a jar" demonstration, construction of simple particulate ma...

Students learn the basics about the structure of the Earth’s atmosphere, the types of pollutants that are present in the atmosphere (primary, secondary, gas-phase compounds, particulate matter), and the importance of air quality research. They are also introduced to some engineering concepts such as...

Through an overview of some of the environmental challenges facing the growing and evolving country of China today, students learn about the effects of indoor and outdoor air pollution that China is struggling to curb with the help of engineers and scientists.

Students are presented with examples of the types of problems that environmental engineers solve, specifically focusing on air and land quality issues.

EPA NE: Air Quality Curriculum. Project A.I.R.E (Air Information Resources for Educators). October 5, 2002. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Accessed November 2, 2020. https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPURL.cgi?Dockey=P1002XAM.txt

EPA-OAQPS Plain English Guide to the Clean Air Act. May 1, 2002. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Accessed November 2, 2020. www.epa.gov/clean-air-act-overview/plain-english-guide-clean-air-act.

Jones, Maclyn. Air Pollution: Visible and Invisible. Updated August 2, 2004. Lesson Plans for Teachers, TCEQ, Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. Accessed September 18, 2006. Originally found at: www.tceq.state.tx.us

Kalman, Bobbie and Schaub, Janine. The Air I Breathe . New York, NY: Crabtree Publishing Company, 1993. (Source of air sayings quotations.)

Land, Lea. Air Terms: The Flash Card Game . Last updated August 2, 2004. Lesson Plans for Teachers, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Accessed September 18, 2006. Originally found at: www.tceq.state.tx.us

Walpole, Brenda. 175 Science Experiments to Amuse and Amaze Your Friends . Random House Children's Books, 1988.

Other Related Information

Browse the TeachEngineering NGSS Engineering-aligned Physics Curriculum  hub for additional Physics and Physical Science curriculum featuring Engineering.

Contributors

Supporting program, acknowledgements.

The contents of this digital library curriculum were developed under grants from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Education and National Science Foundation (GK-12 grant no. 0338326). However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policies of the Department of Education or National Science Foundation, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government.

Last modified: December 11, 2020

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Class 12th maharashtra board (hsc) evs project: air pollution.

  CLASS 12th MAHARASHTRA BOARD (HSC) EVS PROJECT: AIR POLLUTION

SELECTION OF PROJECT TOPIC (INTRODUCTION):

Air pollution is the presence of substances in the atmosphere that are harmful to the health of humans and other living beings, or cause damage to the climate or to materials. There are different types of air pollutants, such as gases (such as ammonia, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, methane and chlorofluorocarbons), particulates (both organic and inorganic), and biological molecules. Air pollution may cause diseases, allergies and even death to humans; it may also cause harm to other living organisms such as animals and food crops, and may damage the natural environment (for example, climate change, ozone depletion or habitat degradation) or built environment (for example, acid rain). Both human activity and natural processes can generate air pollution. Air pollution is a significant risk factor for a number of pollution-related diseases, including respiratory infections, heart disease, COPD, stroke and lung cancer.  The human health effects of poor air quality are far reaching, but principally affect the body's respiratory system and the cardiovascular system. Individual reactions to air pollutants depend on the type of pollutant a person is exposed to, the degree of exposure, and the individual's health status and genetics. Indoor air pollution and poor urban air quality are listed as two of the world's worst toxic pollution problems in the 2008 Blacksmith Institute World's Worst Polluted Places report. Outdoor air pollution alone causes 2.1 to 4.21 million deaths annually. Overall, air pollution causes the deaths of around 7 million people worldwide each year, and is the world's largest single environmental health risk. Productivity losses and degraded quality of life caused by air pollution are estimated to cost the world economy $5 trillion per year. Various pollution control technologies and strategies are available to reduce air pollution.  

IMPORTANCE OF THE TOPIC:

Air pollution inflicts a massive toll on the Indian economy. Its scale, complexity and urgency necessitate a strong, coherent and coordinated fiscal response by the government. However, recent relief and stimulus spending in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has crippled the Indian economy and led to a massive spike[10] in public debt. With limited room available for fiscal manoeuver, the government faces the massive challenge of financing measures to improve air quality. The imperative is to create a financial architecture that can mobilize private finance for clean-air solutions in India. Green sectors such as clean energy and e-mobility are likely to be the driving force for developing and implementing tangible solutions to improve air quality. An investment fund with a dedicated green focus could play an instrumental role in catalysing growth of such green industries and simultaneously addressing the twin problems of air pollution and climate change. A Green Super-Fund would combine a returns-driven strategy with the sustainability imperative and accelerate investment in green industries. The Triple Bottom-line framework, with an emphasis on profit, people and the planet, will be at the heart of the Super-Fund’s performance management strategy. It would raise capital from institutional investors such as multilateral organizations, sovereign wealth funds, and development financial institutes. Since 2014, more than 40 environmental startups have been set up in India with the singular goal of combatting the air pollution crisis. The Super-Fund would play a pivotal role in harnessing the economic and environmental potential of these startups and financing other high-impact ventures. There are several other channels through which the private sector can contribute to cleaner air and demonstrate that economic development and air pollution abatement are not mutually exclusive. 

OBJECTIVE OF PROJECT WORK:

To reduce the impacts of air pollution, both international and national legislation and regulation have been implemented to regulate air pollution. Local laws where well enforced in cities have lead to strong public health improvements. At the international level some of these efforts have been successful, for example the Montreal Protocol which successful at reducing release of harmful ozone depleting chemicals or 1985 Helsinki Protocol which reduced sulfur emissions, while other attempts have been less rapid in implementation, such as international action on climate change. To Setting up of a state-of-the-art advanced and integrated air pollution model system from hemispheric scale, European scale, and national scale, for calculation and assessment of high resolution (down to 1 km x 1 km resolution) air pollution levels and human exposure, including assessing the contribution related to different emission sectors and regions. This work is carried out in WP2. To Investigate the potential causal impact of individual chemical air pollutants as well as mixtures of air pollutants on health outcomes. In pursuing this aim, we utilize the unique Nordic population-based registers allowing linkage between historical residential address, air pollutants over decades and later health outcomes. By linking the exposure to health outcomes, new exposure-response relationships are determined of health effects for different population Groups To quantify the overall negative health outcomes of air pollution in terms of premature deaths, hospital admissions, days of reduced activity, respiratory diseases, mental disorders, etc. on high resolution down to 1 km x 1 km in the Nordic countries for the different population groups, using the integrated model system EVA, based on the impact pathway chain.

PROJECT WORK METHODOLOGY:

According to the WHO, air pollution is the fifth largest killer in India. There are a variety of ways in which the air pollution of an area can be measured. One of the ways is the measurement of particulate matter in air. Particulate matter is a mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets like acids, chemicals, gas, water, metals, soil dust particles, etc. These particles cause major health hazard in India. The changing temperature and slowing winds trap soot, dust and fine particulate matter. The particulate matter is present in a variety of sizes ranging from coarse, fine, to ultrafine.

According to the Ambient Air Pollution (AAP) report for the year 2018, Delhi had one of the highest pollution levels in the world. This result was based on the monitoring of PM measurement of outdoor air pollution from almost 1,600 cities in 91 countries. Last year, a public health emergency was declared in Delhi as pollution levels crossed 70 times the safe limit.

The methodology required for quantifying the health effects of air pollution is derived from the Health and Air Pollution in study, a joint initiative from the Health Research Council, the Ministry for the Environment and the Ministry of Transport (Fisher et al, 2007). This study represents the most comprehensive analysis of air pollution, its health implications, and the resulting societal costs conducted in New Zealand. The research evaluated the effects of specific source categories of emissions from vehicles (including private petrol cars, diesel cars, and diesel trucks), industry, domestic and total sources in New Zealand. 

The research encompassed five interconnected components: 

  air quality, meteorology and emissions data analysis 

  air pollution exposure assessment

  health impact assessment

  economic impact assessment 

  preventative policy assessment.   

Air quality is a measure of how clean or polluted the air is. Monitoring air quality is important because polluted air can be bad for our health— and the health of the environment. Air quality is measured with the Air Quality Index, or AQI. The AQI works sort of like a thermometer that runs from 0 to 500 degrees.

Basically, there are two general approaches to air pollution exposure assessment: 

(1) air monitoring, which depends on either direct measurements (personal monitors) or indirect measurements (fixed-site monitors combined with data on time-activity patterns), and

 (2) biological measurements that use biological markers.

WHO defines HIA as “a combination of procedures, methods and tools by which a policy, programe or project may be judged as to its potential effects on the health of a population, and the distribution of those effects within the population”.  

The purpose of an economic impact assessment is to estimate the changes in employment, income, and levels of business activity (typically measured by gross receipts or value added) that may result from a proposed project or program.

The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, aims to enable the “preservation of the quality of air and control of air pollution.” It was enacted to fulfil India's commitments at the 1972 United Nations environment conference

OBSERVATION:

Air pollution problems of a scale larger than the point monitoring problem lend themselves to space observational techniques. Examples of these large scale problems are those associated with changes in the global background of gases and aerosols; potential stratospheric pollution resulting from SST operations; regional sources, pollution episodes, and large scale diffusion; and effects of pollutants on climate. These problems are discussed and observational requirements are specified. Possible remote sensing techniques for satellite monitoring are described. These include monitoring of pollutant gases and particulates by means of their absorption and scattering of radiation in both the solar spectrum range and terrestrial emission spectrum range. A discussion of potential difficulties includes the atmospheric and surface background problems, the temperature sensitivity problem in the terrestrial spectrum range, the band overlap problem, and the cloud interference problem. Recent observations from satellites and balloons are reviewed. It appears that except for H2O, and, perhaps, O3 , measurements of the vertical profiles of atmospheric pollutant gases and aerosols from satellites will be extremely difficult. On the other hand, measurements of the total amounts (in a vertical column) of pollutant gases and aerosols do appear feasible.

ANALYSIS OF DATA:

Many studies suggest the quality of air has been significantly improving in the last years in the majority of the world regions. However, air quality still creates a significant problem in Europe, especially in some densely populated urban areas and during certain weather conditions. Several reports observe the serious impact of the air pollution on the people’s health and many analysis and models have been tested to understand and finally reduce the problem. The air pollution primarily results from: 

 Natural processes (soil erosion, volcano eruptions)

  Human activity,

 which includes three major sources:

 o Industry pollution 

o Traffic pollution (air exhaust, brake and tire wear, dust resuspension from roads, air and sea traffic) 

o House heating

 In addition to the increasing level of certain chemical compounds  (CO, SO2, NOx, BC, etc.) in the air, a dangerous type of pollution are small particles suspended in the atmosphere generated by a variety of human activities – Particulate Matter (PM) or Particulates. PM is a type of air pollution that can travel long distances in the atmosphere and causes a wide range of diseases and a significant reduction of life expectancy in most of the population of Europe There is a predictability to the narrative around North India’s air pollution. Air that is unhealthy all year-round becomes unbreathable during winter, largely due to particulate matter in emissions from farm fires in Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh. This contributes to the portrayal of farmers as the primary architects of Delhi’s air pollution crisis, and short-term solutions sustain only till the skies clear up. There is no denying that the effects of seasonal paddy stubble burning are severe—it causes an estimated loss of 150,000 years of healthy life annually.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS:

Indoor environment is a complex issue in terms of toxicology and health risk assessment. There are many different types of pollutants which may give 11 rise to combined effects. The exposed population is the general public including vulnerable groups. 

 Many different factors influence air quality, e.g. ventilation, cleaning conditions, properties of buildings, products used in house-holds, cultural habits, climate, outdoor air etc. Thus, large variations in indoor environments can be expected across the EU. 

 The SCHER considers that the health risk assessment of the pollutants in indoor environments should be done according to the principles used in the EU for risk assessment of chemicals as this is an evidence based approach. Those principles should be applied on the data available and the specific features related to indoor environment taken into account. The risk assessment paradigm should be used flexibly, taking into account that complaints and diseases related to indoor exposures may have a complex cause-effect relationship. 

 The SCHER considers that the data base for indoor air risk assessment is in general limited. Frequently, there are more data available for risk assessment of “classical” indoor air pollutants such, as organic pollutants as compared to particles and microbes. Especially, more data on exposure, in quantitative terms, are required. Available dose-response data seldom cover vulnerable groups. 

 The SCHER has identified several gaps of knowledge, presented in answer to Question 2, which should be addressed by European-wide multidisciplinary research. As to single known compounds, SCHER considers carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, benzene, nitrogen oxides and naphthalene to be compounds of concern because they have caused adverse health effects as indoor pollutants or have a high potential to cause them.

 Environmental tobacco smoke, radon, lead and organophosphates are also of concern. For most other pollutants the data available are yet limited for risk assessment as indoor air pollutants.

 Consumer products, one source of chemicals in indoor environment, emit mostly volatile organic compounds. Lack of data on true exposure for emissions in consumer products has hampered evaluation of the associations with possible health effects most of which are also caused by other factors. The recent data suggest that some of the emitted products may react further in air and on surfaces producing secondary products, including fine and ultrafine particles. The health effects of those reaction products are poorly known. 

 Indoor air may contain over 900 chemicals, particles, and biological materials with potential health effects. Since their concentrations are usually higher than outdoors and people spend more time indoors than outdoors, the SCHER recommends that any studies to correlate outdoor air concentration with health effects need to consider the impact of indoor exposure. 

 The composition and concentrations of the different components in indoor air vary widely and are influenced by human activities. Since it is not feasible to regulate all possible scenarios, prevention from possible health effects and protection of sensitive populations is best achieved by reducing exposure. As a consequence the SCHER recommends that all relevant sources that are known to contribute should be evaluated. Such sources include tobacco smoke, any open fires including candles, building materials, furniture, pets and pests, use of household products, as well as conditions that lead to the growth of moulds. Constructers, maintenance personnel and inhabitants should also be aware that appropriate humidity avoids annoyances and sufficient air exchange reduces accumulation of pollutants.

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MOTIVATIONAL THOUGHTS

Air Pollution

What is pollution.

The change in the environment caused by natural or artificial input of harmful contaminants into the environment, and may cause instability, disruption or harmful effects to the ecosystem.

Thus, Pollution is essentially the introduction of toxins into the natural setting that causes negative changes. Pollution can take the form of biochemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light. Contaminants, the constituents of pollution, can be one or the other, foreign substances/energies or naturally found pollutants.

Table of contents

• What Is Air Pollution?
• Types Of Air Pollution
• Man-Made (Artificial) Sources
• Natural Sources
• Effects Of Air Pollution
• Prevention Of Air Pollution

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What is Air Pollution?

Air pollution is defined as the introduction of pollutants, organic molecules, or other unsafe materials into Earth’s atmosphere. This can be in the form of excessive gases like carbon dioxide and other vapours that cannot be effectively removed through natural cycles, such as the carbon cycle or the nitrogen cycle.

Types of Air Pollution

1. Man-made (Artificial) sources

These are mostly linked to the combustion of several kinds of fuel.

Immobile sources entail clouds of smoke from power plants, industrial facilities (manufacturing works) and waste furnaces, as well as incinerators and other sorts of fuel-burning heating devices. In poor and developing countries, archaic biomass burning is the chief cause of air pollution; traditional biomass embraces wood, crop leftovers and excrement.

Movable sources comprise automobiles, aquatic vessels, and planes.

Controlled burning is a procedure sometimes used in forest management, agriculture, prairie re-establishment. Fire is an accepted facet of both forest and grassland ecosystem and an organized fire can be an instrument for foresters. Precise burning kindles the sprouting of some desirable trees, thus renewing the forest.

Fumes from hair spray, paint, aerosol sprays, varnish and other solvents

Waste deposits in landfills create methane. Methane is extremely combustible and may form an explosive and volatile concoction with air. Methane is furthermore an asphyxiant and may displace oxygen in a sealed-off space. Suffocation may result if the oxygen concentration goes below 19.5% by displacement.

Military resources, such as nuclear weapons, toxic gasses, germ warfare and rocketry 2. Natural sources

• Dirt from natural sources, typically big areas of land with little or no plant life.
• Methane, discharged by the breakdown of food (digestion) by animals, for example, cattle
• Smoke and CO from jungle fires.
• Volcanic activity, which emits sulphur, chlorine, and ash particulates
• Causes of Major Effects of Air Pollution
• Air pollution has a very negative effect on humans and the ecosystem. The constituents can be dense particles, fluid, or gasses. A contaminant can be of natural or artificial. Contaminants are categorized as primary or secondary.

Primary contaminants are typically created by the emission of carbon dioxide from vehicles and factories. Secondary pollutants are the contaminants which are not emitted directly into the atmosphere. They are formed in the atmosphere when prime pollutants react or intermingle. Ground-level ozone is an important example of a secondary pollutant.

Some contaminants may be both primary and secondary: they are both emitted directly and formed from other primary pollutants.

Effects of Air pollution

• Respirational and cardio complications: The adverse impacts of Air pollution are distressing. They are the root of numerous respirational and cardiac conditions accompanied by Cancer, midst other threats to our body. More than a few million are known to have expired due to direct or unforeseen effects of Air contamination. Kids in areas open to air contaminants are said to suffer frequently from pneumonia and asthma.
• Global warming: One more direct consequence is the speedy changes that the world is observing due to Global warming. With the increase in temperatures worldwide, an increase in sea levels and melting of ice from cold areas and icebergs, displacement and loss of habitat have already beckoned an imminent disaster if actions for protection and regulation aren’t undertaken soon.
• Acid Rain: Dangerous gasses like NO 2 and SO 2 are released into the atmosphere during the incineration of fuels. When it rains, the droplets combine with these pollutants, become acidic and then fall on the ground in the form of acid rain. Acid rain is a source of great harm to human beings, wildlife and crops.
• Eutrophication : It is a process where a high amount of nitrogen present in some contaminants gets morphs on the sea’s surface and develops itself into algae and harmfully affect fish, plant life and animal species. The green-coloured algae that are present in lakes and ponds are due to the presence of this substance only.
• Diminution of Ozone layer: Ozone is present in the Earth’s atmosphere (Stratosphere) and is responsible for shielding humans from injurious ultraviolet (UV) rays. Earth’s ozone layer is diminishing because of the presence of chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere.

Prevention of Air Pollution

Some important measures that can be adopted by individuals to contribute towards the prevention of air pollution have been listed below.

• Usage of public transport and carpooling
• Switching off the lights when they’re not in use
• Reusing and recycling products
• Avoiding the burning of garbage and smoking
• Avoiding the use of firecrackers

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

What are the main causes of air pollution.

Air pollution is caused by particles of solid and liquid and some gases that are suspended in the air. These particles and gases may come from exhaust from cars and trucks, factories, dust, pollen, mould spores, volcanoes and wildfires.

What are effects of pollution?

High air pollution levels can lead to an increased risk of heart attack, wheezing, coughing and breathing problems, and eye, nose and throat irritation. Air pollution can also cause heart problems, asthma and other lung complications to worsen.

Why should we prevent air pollution?

Reducing airborne pollutants is important to human health and the environment. Poor air quality has harmful effects on human health, especially the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Also, pollutants can damage plants and buildings, and visibility may be reduced by smoking or haze.

Who is affected by air pollution?

The elderly residents, children with uncontrolled asthma and people living in poverty are the groups most affected by air pollution. More health effects may occur in vulnerable populations because these populations already have higher rates of heart and lung conditions.

What is the solution of air pollution?

Renewable fuel and production of clean energy. The most basic air pollution solution is to move away from fossil fuels and replace them with alternative energies such as solar, wind and geothermal.

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Air Pollution STEM

This engaging Air Pollution STEM lesson plan will teach your students all about this critical issue. They’ll learn about the different types of air pollution and their causes, as well as the serious health effects that can result from exposure to polluted air. They’ll also discover ways to reduce air pollution and protect themselves from its harmful effects.

With this lesson plan, your students will gain a better understanding of this complex issue and be equipped with the knowledge they need to help make a difference.

Description

Additional information, what our air pollution stem lesson plan includes.

Lesson Objectives and Overview: Air Pollution STEM teaches students about the things that can make the air quality worse. Students will learn about the term pollution and discuss the causes and effects of pollutants in the air. This lesson is for students in 3rd grade, 4th grade, and 5th grade.

Classroom Procedure

Every lesson plan provides you with a classroom procedure page that outlines a step-by-step guide to follow. You do not have to follow the guide exactly. The guide helps you organize the lesson and details when to hand out worksheets. It also lists information in the yellow box that you might find useful. You will find the lesson objectives, state standards, and number of class sessions the lesson should take to complete in this area. In addition, it describes the supplies you will need as well as what and how you need to prepare beforehand. The supplies you need for this lesson are vinegar, distilled water, eggshell pieces, green leaves, paperclips, masking tape, markers, pH strips, and two clean jars per student.

Options for Lesson

You may choose to incorporate some of the suggestions in the “Options for Lesson” section of the classroom procedure page. One suggestion is to assign students different cities for which they can check the air quality index. The class can then discuss each city and its air quality. Another option is for students to present their air quality calendars to the class. You could also display them on the walls for students to observe.

Teacher Notes

The teacher notes page provides an extra paragraph of information to help guide the lesson and remind you what to focus on. It explains that the focus of this lesson is on the causes of air pollution. The blank lines on this page are available for you to write out thoughts and ideas you have as you prepare the lesson.

AIR POLLUTION STEM LESSON PLAN CONTENT PAGES

The Air Pollution STEM lesson plan contains a total of three content pages. To start off, the lesson explains that pollution in the air occurs when pollutants get stuck in the atmosphere. These pollutants can be solid, liquid, or gas particles that hang around in the air. They can come from either natural or manmade sources.

The lesson lists three types of natural sources from which pollutants can originate, which are volcanoes, wildfires, and mold spores. There are also three human-made pollutants on the chart: factories, car or vehicle exhaust, and the burning of coal or oil. There are many more examples, and you could ask the class if they can think of other sources, either natural or manmade.

Many different things can cause air pollution. They fall into the same categories as the types of pollutants: natural or human. Natural causes include dust storms, volcanoes, and forest fires. Human causes include airplanes, spray cans, and landfills. Burning fossil fuels releases gases into the air that cause pollution. The most familiar type of pollution from this source is smog.

Unsurprisingly, there are many detrimental effects of pollution on the environment. As the levels of carbon dioxide increase in the atmosphere, we experience global warming. The carbon cycle becomes imbalanced, and Earth’s global temperature increases. This causes the ice to melt at the polar icecaps. That water flows into the ocean, which causes the water levels to rise.

Another problem with air pollution involves the ozone layer that protects us from the sun’s harmful rays. When something called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) enter the air from spray cans and methane gas, they deplete the ozone layer. Acid rain is another harmful effect. This occurs when gas pollutants like sulfur dioxide mix with the rain. The resulting chemical reaction creates acid rain. When rain washes the contaminants out of the air, it can cause significant damage to both plant and animal life, sometimes even killing fish.

Students will discover that smog results from pollutants combining with the ozone layer. It looks like smoky fog and is often a brownish color. The Earth itself is affected by air pollution because the dark-colored pollutants absorb the sun’s heat. Extra heat also causes the Earth’s average temperature to increase.

AIR POLLUTION STEM LESSON PLAN WORKSHEETS

The Air Pollution STEM lesson plan includes three worksheets: an activity worksheet, a practice worksheet, and a homework assignment. Each one will reinforce students’ comprehension of lesson material in different ways and help them demonstrate when they learned. Use the guidelines on the classroom procedure page to determine when to distribute each worksheet to the class.

OBSERVATION CHART ACTIVITY WORKSHEET

For the activity, students will predict the effects of acid on various materials. First, they will record their predictions about how objects will change in water and how they will change in vinegar. They will then predict what they think will happen over the course of a week. The second worksheet page is an observation chart on which to record their observations every day. After a week, students will answer the four questions on the first worksheet page.

AIR POLLUTION STEM PRACTICE WORKSHEET

The practice worksheet includes a table and eight photos. The table has two columns, one for items that cause air pollution and one for items that do not. Students will cut out the eight photo squares and paste them in the correct column of the table.

AIR QUALITY HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

If you like, you can complete this assignment as a class. Students will record the air quality of their city every day for two weeks. They will use different colors to represent the air quality index, from green for good to brown for hazardous.

Worksheet Answer Keys

There are answer keys for the practice and homework worksheets. The correct answers are in red to make it easy to compare them with students’ responses. Given the nature of the homework assignment, however, answers will vary based on a number of variables. You will have to ensure you record the air quality index for the two required weeks to which you can compare students’ work. If you choose to administer the lesson pages to your students via PDF, you will need to save a new file that omits these pages. Otherwise, you can simply print out the applicable pages and keep these as reference for yourself when grading assignments.

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Evs Project On Air Pollution For Class 11th And 12th

Table of Contents

Acknowledgement:

I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to the individuals and organizations who have played a significant role in the completion of this Evs Project on Air Pollution. Their unwavering support, guidance, and contributions have been instrumental in the success of this endeavor.

First and foremost, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to my teacher [mention teacher’s name] for providing me with valuable insights and guidance throughout the project. Their expertise and encouragement have been invaluable in shaping my understanding of the subject matter and guiding me in the right direction.

I am also grateful to [mention names of experts, environmentalists, or researchers] for their assistance and willingness to share their knowledge and experiences. Their valuable inputs during interviews, discussions, or consultations have enriched the project and provided a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding air pollution.

I would like to acknowledge the support and cooperation received from [mention names of organizations or institutions]. Their provision of necessary resources, such as research materials, data, and access to facilities, has significantly contributed to the project’s comprehensiveness and credibility.

Furthermore, I extend my thanks to my friends and classmates who have been a constant source of encouragement and support throughout the project. Their feedback and constructive criticism have helped me refine my ideas and strengthen the project’s overall quality.

Lastly, I would like to express my gratitude to my family for their unwavering support and understanding during the project’s duration. Their encouragement, patience, and belief in my abilities have been vital in keeping me motivated and focused.

I acknowledge that this project would not have been possible without the collective effort and support of these individuals and organizations. Their contributions have truly made a difference in shaping this project on air pollution, and I am immensely grateful for their involvement.

Once again, I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has played a role in this project. Your support and guidance have been invaluable, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work on such an important topic under your guidance.

Introduction:

Air pollution is a pressing environmental issue that has garnered significant attention worldwide due to its detrimental effects on human health, ecosystems, and the overall well-being of our planet. The continuous release of pollutants into the atmosphere from various sources has resulted in a degraded air quality that poses severe risks to both the environment and public health.  

The primary objective of this Evs Project on Air Pollution is to shed light on the seriousness of this issue and raise awareness among individuals, communities, and policymakers. By understanding the causes, consequences, and potential solutions related to air pollution, we can take proactive measures to address and mitigate its harmful effects.

Air pollution originates from multiple sources, both natural and human-induced. Natural sources include volcanic eruptions, wildfires, and dust storms, while human activities contribute significantly to the problem. Emissions from industries, power plants, vehicles, and improper waste disposal are among the primary culprits responsible for air pollution.

The consequences of air pollution are far-reaching and impact various aspects of our lives. It adversely affects human health, leading to respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases, allergies, and even premature death. Additionally, air pollution has severe implications for ecosystems, harming plant and animal life and disrupting delicate ecological balances. Furthermore, it contributes to climate change by influencing the Earth’s radiation balance and exacerbating global warming.

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, it is essential to explore and implement effective measures to combat air pollution. Through this project, we aim to provide insights into the possible solutions and strategies that can be adopted at individual, community, and governmental levels. By promoting sustainable practices, advocating for stricter emission controls, and encouraging the use of clean energy sources, we can make significant progress in reducing air pollution levels and preserving the health of our planet.

By increasing awareness and understanding of air pollution, we can empower individuals to make informed choices and take actions that contribute to a cleaner and healthier future. This project serves as a platform to educate and inspire students, policymakers, and the general public to prioritize and actively engage in efforts to combat air pollution.

In conclusion, this Evs Project on Air Pollution aims to highlight the severity of the problem and emphasize the importance of addressing it promptly. By comprehending the causes and consequences of air pollution and exploring potential solutions, we can pave the way for a sustainable and healthier future for ourselves and future generations.

Evs Project on Air Pollution:

The Evs Project on Air Pollution is a comprehensive study that delves into the multifaceted aspects of air pollution. It encompasses an in-depth analysis of its causes, effects, and potential solutions. By conducting thorough research and gathering relevant data, this project seeks to enhance awareness among individuals, communities, and policymakers regarding the pressing need to tackle air pollution promptly and effectively.

One of the primary objectives of this project is to identify and examine the various causes of air pollution. It explores both natural and anthropogenic factors that contribute to the degradation of air quality. Natural causes include volcanic eruptions, dust storms, and pollen, while anthropogenic causes encompass emissions from industries, transportation, energy generation, and household activities. By understanding the root causes, this project highlights the need for comprehensive strategies to address and mitigate these sources of pollution.

Furthermore, the project investigates the wide-ranging effects of air pollution on the environment, public health, and climate change. It explores the detrimental impacts on ecosystems, including the depletion of biodiversity, disruption of ecological balance, and damage to vegetation. The project also emphasizes the severe health consequences for humans, such as respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, and impaired lung function. Additionally, it underscores the role of air pollution in exacerbating climate change by contributing to the greenhouse effect and altering weather patterns.

The Evs Project on Air Pollution goes beyond merely identifying the problems associated with air pollution. It aims to present potential solutions and strategies to mitigate this issue effectively. It explores both individual and collective actions that can be taken to reduce air pollution. These may include adopting sustainable transportation alternatives, promoting the use of clean energy sources, implementing stricter emission standards and regulations, advocating for effective waste management practices, and fostering public awareness and education on the importance of clean air.

By increasing awareness through this project, individuals, communities, and policymakers can be motivated to prioritize and take action against air pollution. It emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts involving government initiatives, industry practices, and individual responsibility to achieve substantial progress in addressing this environmental concern.

In conclusion, the Evs Project on Air Pollution aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the causes, effects, and potential solutions to air pollution. By raising awareness and advocating for effective measures, this project seeks to empower individuals and communities to take proactive steps towards mitigating air pollution and safeguarding the well-being of the environment and future generations.

Examples of Air Pollution:

The section on examples of air pollution provides a detailed exploration of various sources that contribute to the deterioration of air quality. It focuses on highlighting specific instances or case studies related to air pollution, shedding light on their environmental and health impacts.

Industrial emissions are one of the prominent sources of air pollution. Factories and manufacturing facilities release a range of pollutants into the atmosphere, including particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds. These emissions can lead to smog formation, acid rain, and respiratory issues for nearby communities. For example, the industrial region of Norilsk in Russia has experienced severe air pollution due to metal smelting operations, resulting in significant environmental damage and adverse health effects on the local population.

Vehicular pollution is another major contributor to air pollution, particularly in urban areas. Exhaust emissions from automobiles release harmful pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter. Cities with high traffic congestion often experience elevated pollution levels and associated health problems. For instance, Delhi, the capital city of India, has witnessed severe air pollution due to the large number of vehicles on its roads, leading to respiratory ailments and reduced air quality indexes.

Indoor air pollution is a lesser-known but significant concern. Activities such as cooking with solid fuels like wood, coal, or biomass release harmful pollutants into indoor environments. This can have adverse effects on the health of individuals, especially women and children who are exposed to these pollutants for extended periods. In rural areas of developing countries, where clean cooking technologies are not readily available, indoor air pollution poses a serious health risk.

Agricultural activities, particularly the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, contribute to air pollution as well. The release of ammonia, pesticides, and other chemicals into the air can lead to smog formation and adversely affect air quality. This pollution can have detrimental effects on both human health and ecosystems.

The burning of fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas, is a significant source of air pollution globally. Power plants, residential heating systems, and industrial processes that rely on fossil fuel combustion emit greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. These pollutants contribute to climate change, smog formation, and respiratory diseases. For instance, the severe air pollution episodes witnessed in Beijing, China, were largely attributed to the burning of coal for heating and industrial purposes.

By examining these specific examples and case studies, the project aims to illustrate the diverse sources and impacts of air pollution. It emphasizes the urgency of addressing these sources through effective policies, technological advancements, and individual actions to safeguard the environment and public health.

Importance of Evs Project on Air Pollution:

The Evs Project on Air Pollution plays a vital role in today’s world by addressing one of the most pressing environmental challenges we face. It holds immense importance as it helps individuals, communities, and policymakers understand the gravity of the air pollution problem and its far-reaching consequences on ecosystems, human health, and climate change. By raising awareness through this project, it serves as a catalyst for inspiring action and driving changes in policies and personal behavior to effectively reduce air pollution.

Firstly, the project educates individuals about the detrimental effects of air pollution on ecosystems. It highlights how air pollutants can harm plant and animal life, disrupt ecological balances, and lead to the loss of biodiversity. By understanding these impacts, individuals gain a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of ecosystems and recognize the need to protect and preserve them.

Secondly, the project emphasizes the severe health implications of air pollution on human well-being. It sheds light on how air pollutants, such as particulate matter, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide, can contribute to respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases, allergies, and even premature death. By creating awareness about these health risks, the project empowers individuals to prioritize their own well-being and take proactive measures to minimize exposure to air pollutants.

Furthermore, the Evs Project on Air Pollution addresses the critical link between air pollution and climate change. It highlights how certain pollutants, such as carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, contribute to global warming and the disruption of weather patterns. By understanding this connection, individuals recognize the urgency of reducing air pollution as part of the broader efforts to mitigate climate change and its associated impacts, such as rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and habitat loss.

Additionally, the project plays a crucial role in advocating for changes in policies and regulations. By raising awareness about the adverse effects of air pollution, it prompts individuals to engage with policymakers and demand stricter emission standards, increased investment in renewable energy sources, and sustainable urban planning. This project can contribute to the development and implementation of more effective environmental policies that prioritize air quality and protect public health.

Moreover, the Evs Project on Air Pollution encourages changes in personal behavior and lifestyle choices. By educating individuals about the sources of air pollution and their own contribution to it, the project promotes the adoption of sustainable practices. It inspires individuals to make conscious decisions such as reducing reliance on private vehicles, supporting clean energy alternatives, practicing proper waste management, and promoting indoor air quality.

In conclusion, the Evs Project on Air Pollution is of paramount importance in our world today. By raising awareness about the gravity of the problem, its detrimental effects on ecosystems, human health, and climate change, it inspires action and drives changes in policies and personal behavior to reduce air pollution. This project empowers individuals to make informed choices and actively contribute to creating a cleaner and healthier environment for ourselves and future generations.

How Can We Make It Happen?

This section explores practical steps and measures that can be taken to address air pollution. It discusses the importance of adopting sustainable transportation, promoting renewable energy sources, implementing stricter emission standards, encouraging waste management practices, and raising awareness among the general public. The focus is on individual and collective actions that can contribute to reducing air pollution.

The Three Pillars:

The three pillars of this project are:

Education and Awareness: This pillar emphasizes the need to educate individuals about the causes and impacts of air pollution. It promotes awareness campaigns, workshops, and educational programs to empower people with knowledge and encourage them to take action.

Policy and Regulation: This pillar emphasizes the importance of enacting and enforcing stringent policies and regulations to control air pollution. It discusses the role of government bodies, international agreements, and collaborations in formulating effective policies and implementing pollution control measures.

Technology and Innovation: This pillar focuses on the role of technology and innovation in combating air pollution. It explores advancements in clean energy technologies, air quality monitoring systems, and sustainable practices that can significantly reduce pollution levels.

Conclusion:

The Evs Project on Air Pollution serves as a catalyst for change, promoting awareness, sustainable practices, and policy advocacy to address the urgent issue of air pollution. By delving into the causes, effects, and potential solutions, this project empowers individuals, communities, and governments to take concerted action towards creating a cleaner and healthier future for ourselves and future generations.

Through this project, individuals gain a comprehensive understanding of the causes and effects of air pollution. Armed with knowledge, they can recognize the detrimental impact it has on ecosystems, human health, and climate change. This awareness fuels a sense of responsibility and urgency to take action against air pollution.

The project emphasizes the importance of collective efforts, urging individuals, communities, and governments to work together. By collaborating, sharing knowledge, and implementing sustainable practices, we can effectively combat air pollution. The project highlights the significance of initiatives such as adopting clean transportation alternatives, promoting renewable energy sources, implementing stricter emission regulations, and raising public awareness.

Furthermore, the Evs Project on Air Pollution underlines the importance of policy advocacy. It emphasizes the need for governments to enact and enforce stringent regulations and standards to control air pollution effectively. This includes collaboration on an international level to address transboundary pollution and foster sustainable practices across borders.

Ultimately, the project recognizes the shared responsibility of individuals, communities, and governments to protect our planet. By actively participating in efforts to reduce air pollution, we can contribute to the creation of a healthier environment for ourselves and future generations. It is crucial for us to recognize the interconnectedness of our actions and their impact on the planet.

In conclusion, the Evs Project on Air Pollution serves as a call to action, inspiring individuals, communities, and governments to work collectively towards combatting air pollution. By raising awareness, promoting sustainable practices, advocating for effective policies, and fostering collaboration, we can create a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for all. It is our responsibility to protect and preserve our planet for current and future generations.

Certificate of Completion

This is to certify that I, [Student’s Name], a [Class/Grade Level] student, have successfully completed the project on “Evs Project On Air Pollution For Class 11th And 12th.” The project explores the fundamental principles and key aspects of the chosen topic, providing a comprehensive understanding of its significance and implications.

In this project, I delved into in-depth research and analysis, investigating various facets and relevant theories related to the chosen topic. I demonstrated dedication, diligence, and a high level of sincerity throughout the project’s completion.

Key Achievements:

Thoroughly researched and analyzed Evs Project On Air Pollution For Class 11th And 12th. Examined the historical background and evolution of the subject matter. Explored the contributions of notable figures in the field. Investigated the key theories and principles associated with the topic. Discussed practical applications and real-world implications. Considered critical viewpoints and alternative theories, fostering a well-rounded understanding. This project has significantly enhanced my knowledge and critical thinking skills in the chosen field of study. It reflects my commitment to academic excellence and the pursuit of knowledge.

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