Introducing our project about light pollution: Air pollution

Air pollution is the presence of substances or forms of energy in the air that alter its natural quality and cause damage to the environment. The most important air pollutants are:

• Gases. Carbon dioxide, sulphur oxide and nitrogen oxide are produced by burning fossil fuels; chlorofluorocarbon compound (CFCs) are used as coolants and aerosol components.    
• Solid particles. They are produced by combustion and by some industries.         
• Energy sources, like light and noise.

The main effects of air pollution are:

• Acid rain. This is rain containing acid that is produced when sulphur oxide and nitrogen oxide react with water. It harms plant leaves and roots and pollutes soil and water.
• Destruction of the ozone layer. The emission of CFCs damages the ozone layer; it causes an increase in the radiation that reaches the Earth´s surface.     
• Increased greenhouse effect. Due to the increase in carbon dioxide, the greenhouse effect becomes more intense and causes temperatures on Earth to rise.

Perhaps the most important effect of air pollution is the climate change, related to the massive emission of greenhouse gases that causes global warming. Some consequences of this phenomenon are an increase in average global temperatures, melting glaciers, rising sea levels, more extreme weather phenomena and longer heatwaves. It also affects living beings. Many will not be able to adapt to the new conditions and may become extinct.

 

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