Air Pollution Essay 2

Air Pollution is a contamination of the atmosphere by gaseous, liquid, or solid wastes or by-products that can endanger human health and the health and welfare of plants and animals, or can attack materials, reduce visibility, or produce undesirable odors. Air pollution is responsible for major health effects. Every year, the health of countless people is ruined or endangered by air pollution. Studies have shown that over 50,000 people were killed annually in the United States alone from air pollution. Air pollution has now been one of the major problems worldwide due to the increase in use of fossil fuels. The burning of fossil fuels such as Coal causes the release of 10,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, the main cause of acid rain, which damages forests, lakes, and buildings. One of the main sources of air pollution comes from something most use each and every day, cars. Each time you start up your car, the burning of petroleum in your engine releases carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide gasses. Carbon Monoxide a deadly poisonous gas, that results in death if exposed to high levels. The petroleum in your engine can also increase the number of asthma cases in the world, raises a person’s chance of having cancer, and increases the chance that your child will be born with congenital defects. The pollution from the ozone layer comes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Because sunlight has a critical role in its formation, ozone pollution is principally a daytime problem in the summer months. Ground level ozone is produced when sunlight combines with hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide, two compounds produced by cars, trucks, and found wherever gasoline, kerosene, oil or natural gas are combusted. When temperatures are high ground-level ozone reach levels that are dangerous to health. Lead is found in the air in very small particles. Lead can get into the air through soil erosion, volcanic eruptions, sea spray and bushfires. Lead smelters, mining