Ground-level ozone and particulate matter are particularly harmful to respiratory health. Breathing ozone-polluted air can cause coughing and shortness of breath, damage and inflame airways, and aggravate asthma. Airborne particles, meanwhile, are easily inhalable and can become embedded in the lungs or transferred into the bloodstream, causing serious health problems. Ozone exposure can leave plants more susceptible to disease and drought and reduce agricultural yields.
Atmospheric particulate matter scatters sunlight back to space, which has a cooling effect on Earth. Particles also provide the seeds around which nearly all clouds form. However, heavy pollution can suppress cloud formation. In addition to recommending individual actions , such as choosing fuel-efficient vehicles, driving less, using electric lawn equipment, and selecting low-VOC paints and cleaners, state and federal regulatory agencies set air quality standards for ozone and other harmful air pollutants.
Agencies also regulate vehicle and factory emissions and fuel production. For more than 70 years , Caltech scientists and engineers have informed air-pollution policy with insights on smog formation; innovations in pollution measurement and monitoring ; and discoveries about the origin, chemistry, and evolution of pollutants in the atmosphere.
Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment. These harmful materials are called pollutants. Air pollution consists of chemicals or particles in the air that can harm the health of humans, animals, and plants.
It also damages buildings. Non-renewable energy comes from sources that will eventually run out, such as oil and coal. Join our community of educators and receive the latest information on National Geographic's resources for you and your students. Skip to content. Twitter Facebook Pinterest Google Classroom.
Encyclopedic Entry Vocabulary. Everyone can do their part to reduce smog by changing a few behaviors, such as: Drive less. Walk, bike, carpool , and use public transportation whenever possible. Take care of cars. Getting regular tune-up s, changing oil on schedule, and inflating tires to the proper level can improve gas mileage and reduce emissions.
Fuel up during the cooler hours of the day—night or early morning. This prevents gas fumes from heating up and producing ozone. Avoid products that release high levels of VOCs. For example, use low-VOC paint s. Avoid gas-powered yard equipment, like lawn mower s. Use electric appliances instead. Smog is often worst in the mornings, when there is less air movement. Photograph by Jodi Cobb.
Carlos Fuentes. It can be stated that smog is just such an artificial fog that was created in an unnatural way as a result of human activities and certain unfavourable circumstances of nature. There are two main types of smog, distinguished according to the place and conditions of formation. The first one is Los Angeles smog, which is formed primarily in the summer months and can be found mainly in subtropical zones, and the second one is so-called London smog, more characteristic of the temperate climatic zone and forming mainly from November to January sometimes March.
These 2 types of smog also differ in composition. London smog is primarily a mixture of various particulate matters, enriched with sulphur, nitrogen or carbon oxides, but also with soot. Los Angeles smog consists mainly of gases, including carbon oxides, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons. Smog is formed by mixing air with pollutants and exhaust gases resulting from human activities. The factors which are responsible for this include factories, an increasing number of cars, burning coal, wood and other solid fuels in stoves.
Its formation is also determined by the weather, climate and general conditions of the area. It will be much more difficult to get rid of pollutants when a city is in a valley and the windless weather prevents them from being spread and thinned out, making them hang over the city. Smog is harmful when inhaled, with the severity of it depending on the amount inhaled, the types of pollutants contained in it, as well as the individual's age, weight, activity level, and well-being.
Types of effects smog has include: [2]. This effects can be seen in Figure 3 below, with more serious and rare effects at the top, and the more common yet milder effects towards the bottom. Visit the Government of Canada for information of smog in Canada, and how to reduce your risk of its adverse effects.
Smog affects much more than just human lives; it also has a large impact on the surrounding physical environment. Ozone and PM in particular cause damaging effects: [2].
Ozone can damage plant cells and inhibit their growth, reducing the amount of carbon dioxide that they take in during photosynthesis. This results in reduced agricultural yields in all sorts of crops. It can also affect synthetic materials like rubber, cotton and other materials, causing deterioration and even disintegration.
Particulate matter smothers plants limiting their exposure to the sun and inhibiting their ability to take in carbon dioxide, therefore, decreasing its photosynthesis capabilities. The chemical composition of the PM may also have an effect on the plants and their surrounding soil.
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