Air Pollution

The presence of substances in the air  are  harmful to humans, other living things, or the environment. Pollutants can be gases like Ozone or Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) or small particles like soot dust. Both outdoor and indoor  air can be polluted. 

Air pollution kills 7 to 8 million people each year. It is a significant risk factor for a number of diseases, including stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and lung cancer. 

Construction and demolition produces dust, but also other pollutants. The direct particles from construction and demolition are relatively coarse. Construction also has a main impact on air quality as cement production is one of the main sources of particle pollution.

      Open dumps are a common source of air pollution in low-income  countries. They can promote the growth of microbes which pollute water and air and be sources of toxins.    

      Various pollution control technologies and strategies are available to reduce air pollution. For instance, industrial plants can install scrubbers, such as flue gas desulfurization  or catalysts to remove NOx. Also switching from coal-fired power plants to fossil gases reduces air pollution but does not eliminate it.

As students, continue to use sustainable transportation like walking, biking, or public transportation. Make sure to reduce energy consumption at home, turn off the lights when you are not in the room, unplug unused devices, and of course: reduce, reuse, recycle!