Air Pollution

Air pollution is by far the most harmful form of pollution in our environment. Air pollution is cause by the injurious smoke emitted by cars, buses, trucks, trains, and factories, namely sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. Even smoke from burning leaves and cigarettes are harmful to the environment causing a lot of damage to man and the atmosphere. Evidence of increasing air pollution is seen in lung cancer, asthma, allergies, and various breathing problems along with severe and irreparable damage to flora and fauna. Even the most natural phenomenon of migratory birds has been hampered, with severe air pollution preventing them from reaching their seasonal metropolitan destinations of centuries.

Sources of Air Pollution

1. Gases coming out from various factories such as metal or oil refineries, factories where chemical fertilizers and pesticides are manufactured, power plants, etc.

2. From the factories through burning of coal, oil, etc., smoke, dust and various chemicals pollute the air,

3. Smokes coming out of motor vehicles containing lead and many other harmful chemicals. This is the main source of air pollution in the cities.

Reduce and Control Air Pollution

1. The forest cover should be protected. Adequate forest cover is essential for maintaining the quality of air. Trees absorbs carbon-dioxide (CO2) and releases oxygen (O2).

2. Green belts should be created. Such areas should be developed around densely populated cities. There should be strict restriction for establishment of large buildings and industries along the Green belt areas.

3. Automobile engines should be redesigned in such a way that their emissions cause minimum pollution. Old automobile engines should be replaced by new ones. People should be encouraged to share the vehicle, and to avoid vehicles for short distances.

4. Use of railway steam engine should be stopped. The burning of combustible materials such as coal produces poisonous gases that are released into the air. Electric engines should be used instead of steam or diesel engines.

5. Industrial areas should be located at a safe distance from the residential areas.

6. Newly designed smoke free furnaces should be used.

7. Forest fires should be checked. Adequate preventive measures should be adopted to protect the forests.

8. In industries there should be the arrangement for pollution control.

9. Cheap devices for controlling air pollution should be developed.

10. Air pollution can be checked only through the joint efforts of the government, non government organizations and the general public.