Air Pollution Learning Path

Definition and scope of air pollution

Air pollution is the presence of substances in the air that are harmful to humans, other living beings, or the environment. These pollutants can be gases (such as ozone or nitrogen oxides) or small airborne particles (such as soot and dust). Air pollution can occur both outdoors and indoors, meaning it affects people in cities as well as inside homes and workplaces. The scope of air pollution includes a wide range of sources. Outdoor air pollution commonly comes from burning fossil fuels for electricity and transport, wildfires, certain industrial processes, waste management, demolition, and agriculture. Indoor air pollution is often driven by burning firewood or agricultural waste for cooking and heating, as well as emissions from fuels used for lighting and cooking. Additional natural and episodic sources include dust storms and volcanic eruptions. Air pollution also has broad impacts beyond immediate air quality. It contributes to major health risks (including cardiovascular and lung diseases, and lung cancer), and it can damage ecosystems and infrastructure. For example, pollutants can form secondary contaminants like ground-level ozone and can contribute to acid rain, while deposition of airborne chemicals can lead to water and soil pollution such as eutrophication. Because many sources also emit greenhouse gases, air pollution is closely linked to climate change, though its warming effects can vary by location.

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Indoor versus outdoor air pollution

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