Air pollution threatens the health of human beings and other living things on our planet. While often invisible, pollutants in the air create smog and acid rain, cause cancer or other serious health effects, diminish the protective ozone layer in the upper atmosphere, and contribute to the potential for world climate change. Listed below are issues affecting air quality, our health, and the environment. To find out more about the issues, visit the links provided. It is caused by sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides released by power plants, vehicles, and other sources.
Acid rain harms plants, animals, and fish, and erodes bulding surfaces and national monuments.
In addition, acidic particles can hurt people's lungs and reduce how far we can see through the air. A protective ozone layer is located in the stratosphere about 22 miles above the Earth's surface. This layer protects us from the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation. This protective shield is being damaged by chemicals such as CFCs, halons, and methyl chloroform, and can lead to harmful health effects such as skin cancer and cataracts. Haze is caused when sunlight encounters tiny pollution particles in the air.