We have discussed so much about how air pollution impacts our health. Now let’s take a look at the environmental effects of air pollution. 

Firstly, the global climate change that we are already facing. Naturally, the Earth has a blanket of air that keeps the Earth’s temperature stable. However, anthropogenic activities such as the burning of fossil fuel have produced a substantial amount of greenhouse gases that add to the warming. This is also known as the enhanced greenhouse effect. Not only is the Earth’s atmospheric temperature rising, ice caps are melting and thus contributing to the increase in sea level. 

Next, the formation of acid rain. When sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen are emitted and mix with oxygen and water, it forms acid rain. The pH of acid rain ranges from pH 3-6. Acid rain can corrode buildings and acidify the environment, which leads to more problems. An example would be when acid rain reaches the earth’s surface and gets into the soil. The soil pH will decrease (become more acidic) and it will increase the bioavailability of heavy metals which is dangerous when absorbed by plants and gets into our food chain. 

Thirdly, the formation of haze/smog when sunlight reacts with volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides. 

Lastly will be the depletion of the ozone layer. There are two kinds of ozone – ground-level ozone and stratospheric ozone. Ground layer ozone is produced when sunlight reacts with volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides and is a main component of smog. Unlike the ground-level ozone, stratospheric ozone is good as it shields us from harmful ultraviolet radiation which can cause skin cancer, aging, etc. However, the emissions of refrigerant chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons destroy the ozone molecules and thus depleting the ozone layer. 

From the few impacts shown, it can be concluded that air pollution does not only affect our health but the environment as well. We must be constantly reminded that if our ecosystems are not healthy, we too cannot survive. We are highly dependent on the ecosystems and if it’s damaged by us, we can only blame ourselves for it. 

All the impacts reviewed are serious and real problems that are still persisting. Let’s not take what is given free to us by nature for granted but let us all do our best to protect and sustain it!

Your environmental buddy,
Jeanice

References:

Ashfaq Ahmad & Sharma Pratiksha. (2012). Environmental effects of air pollution and application of engineered methods to combat the problem. Retrieved from https://www.icontrolpollution.com/articles/environmental-effects-of-air-pollution-and-application-of-engineered-methods-to-combat-the-problem-.php?aid=45739

Manisalidis, I., Stavropoulou, E., Stavropoulos, A., & Bezirtzoglou, E. (2020). Environmental and Health Impacts of Air Pollution: A Review. Frontiers in public health, 8, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.00014