Air Pollution and Global Warming Issue

Toxic, climate-altering, or materially destructive chemicals can be said to pollute the air when they are present there. Air pollution comes in the form of gases (including ammonia, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrous oxides, methane, and chlorofluorocarbons), particles (organic and inorganic), and living molecules. Humans aren't the only ones who may become sick from breathing polluted air; animals, crops, and the ecosystem itself could all be negatively impacted, and air pollution could even be fatal. Air pollution may be created by either human actions or natural occurrences. Pulmonary infections, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke, and lung cancer are only some of the pollution-related illnesses that are exacerbated by polluted air. [1] Extremely disturbing is the planet's persistent warming. A major contributor to this is the warming of the planet. The arrival of solar radiation to Earth is the first step in the onset of global warming. About 30% of sunlight is reflected back into space by atmospheric particles, clouds, and reflecting ground and ocean surfaces, while the remaining 70% is absorbed by the water, air, and land. The result is an increase in temperature that can support life on Earth's surface and in its atmosphere. When the planet becomes too hot, it cools off because some of the solar energy is lost to space in the form of infrared and thermal radiation. However, atmospheric gases like carbon dioxide, water vapour, ozone, and methane re-absorb portion of the outgoing radiation, sending it back to Earth's surface. Because of their ability to trap heat, these gases are frequently referred to as greenhouse gases. This re-absorption process is beneficial, as the absence of greenhouse gases would cause the Earth's average surface temperature to plummet. [2]

• Environmental toxins in the air are a very intricate chemical and physical system. One way to conceptualise it is as a collection of dissolved or suspended components that interact with one another and work in concert to create the observed results.

• Changes in the season, industrial output, traffic patterns, and wind direction are only few of the variables that affect the makeup of air pollution. Air pollution tends to cycle in its composition rather than being the same from day to day or even week to week on average. While seasonal fluctuations explain most of the annual ups and downs, year-to-year fluctuations account for the vast majority of the variation.

 Transmission of diseases through the air is one of the most concerning issues in public health. This means that overpopulation and poor air circulation are

Human activity that releases chemical compounds into the atmosphere, or the chemicals produced when chemical emissions interact, has been linked to negative health impacts. The type of the molecule, the air concentration, and the length of exposure time are crucial factors in producing these effects, as explained in this study. It is possible to divide the negative health consequences of air pollution into two categories: those induced by long-term exposure and those caused by short-term exposure. [4]

Instances of high levels of pollutants have been linked to increases in various respiratory and cardiac ailments and mortality, and reports of toxic consequences owing to acute exposure to air pollutants have been made nearly since the beginning of the industrial revolution. These occurrences are not uncommon, especially in highly industrialised and/or populated regions, and have been documented from all around the world.

Pollution incidents in a variety of places throughout the world have shown what happens when people breathe in toxic levels of air pollution. However, these occurrences are few, and in the present, prolonged exposure to low amounts of contaminants is an everyday occurrence. Most current research has centred on determining the long-term consequences of exposure to a substance. [5]

People spend a disproportionate amount of time indoors, where air pollution tends to be more concentrated due to poor ventilation. In some areas, radon gas, a known carcinogen, is released from the ground and accumulates within homes. Formaldehyde (H2CO) gas is released from carpets and plywood, two common construction materials. Drying paint and solvents release VOCs into the air. Deteriorated lead paint can be breathed in as a dust. The usage of incense, candles, and other fragrant products contributes to air pollution on purpose. Even when properly ventilated, the smoke from indoor wood stoves and fireplaces can contribute significantly to outdoor pollution levels. Without adequate ventilation, the use of pesticides and other ventilation, such as in a tent, or the usage of charcoal inside. The poisoning from carbon monoxide can be chronic even if the pilot light is not adjusted properly. Sewer gas and hydrogen sulphide can be dangerous, hence traps are installed in all residential plumbing systems. Fabrics continue to off-gas tetrachloroethylene and other dry cleaning solvents for days after being cleaned.[6]

Pollutants released by the combustion of fossil fuels One of the main causes of air pollution is sulphur dioxide, which is released when fossil fuels like coal, petroleum, and other combustibles in factories are burned. However, the over usage of these products is harming our ecosystem since they release harmful chemicals into the air. [7]

Large quantities of sulphur dioxide are released when fossil fuels are burned. When fossil fuels are burned improperly, carbon monoxide is discharged into the atmosphere.

Polluting the atmosphere with exhaust emissions from automobiles, trucks, buses, and other motorised vehicles. In addition to contributing significantly to global warming, these activities are also key drivers of human illness. [8]

One of the most dangerous chemicals released as a result of farming is ammonia. Environmental contamination is caused by the insecticides, pesticides, and fertilisers that are released into the air.

The majority of CO2, organic molecules, hydrocarbons, and chemicals in the environment come from manufacturing and industrial facilities. Disturbing the air quality, these are discharged into the atmosphere. [9]

It is recommended that people take the following actions to reduce air pollution: [10]

People should avoid using vehicles for shorter distances. Rather they should prefer public modes of transport to travel from one place to another.

In order to produce electricity, a substantial quantity of fossil fuels must be burned. As a result, when not in use, please turn off all electronics. This means that even on a personal basis, you can help rescue the planet. CFLs and other energy-efficient light bulbs can also be used to reduce pollution levels.

Incomplete combustion of fuel is a major contributor to air pollution, thus it is imperative that we promote the use of energy-efficient appliances at all levels of society, from the home to the factory.

Manufacturing facilities, factories, and industries might be relocated to less-populated rural areas as another method of mitigating air pollution's negative health consequences.[11]

Earth's surface maintains relatively mild, consistent temperatures, but those of other planets in our solar system range from scorching hot to icy cold. Earth's atmosphere, the thin layer of gases that covers and protects the planet, is responsible for its comfortable temperatures. Yet nearly all climate scientists and researchers (97% or more) believe that human activity over the last two centuries has significantly altered the Earth's atmosphere, leading to an increase in average world temperatures. Learning about the greenhouse effect is the first step in comprehending global warming. Normally, as seen in Fig.1, the natural greenhouse effect retains enough heat to keep our planet from freezing, while the human-enhanced greenhouse effect causes global warming. It's because human activities like fossil fuel burning boost atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. [12]

change. Compounds with chlorine and bromine are also among them. Increases in these gases alter the atmosphere's radiativebalance. Greenhouse gases absorb part of Earth's emitted energy and re-radiate it back towards the surface, warming both the surface and the lower atmosphere. From 1850 through the end of the 20th century, the net warming was comparable to about 2.5 W/m2, with carbon dioxide contributing roughly 60%, methane 25%, and nitrous oxides and halocarbons giving the balance. Joe Farman, of the British Antarctic Survey, documented the decline in ozone levels over Antarctica in the early 1980s in an essay he published in 1985. The reaction was dramatic: massive international scientific initiatives were launched to establish that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs; found in aerosol propellants in industrial cleaning fluids and in refrigeration gadgets) were to blame for the situation. Just as crucial was the swift worldwide effort taken to reduce CFC emissions. The ozone layer's depletion is the second most important contributor to global warming. [13]

One of the greatest challenges climate scientists confront is attempting to foresee the repercussions of global warming. This is because the occurrence of such phenomena as precipitation, snowfall, hail, and sea level rise depends on a complex interplay of many different elements. In addition, the magnitude of future greenhouse gas emissions is largely driven by technical developments and political actions, making accurate projections difficult. Some of the numerous harmful repercussions of global warming are discussed here. For starters, when excess water vapour in the sky condenses back into precipitation, it can cause flooding in different parts of the world. When the temperature outside increases, the amount of water lost to the atmosphere through land and marine evaporation increases. Drought results in areas when the enhanced evaporation process is not balanced by an equal increase in precipitation. Some parts of the world, especially those with already high temperatures, may see crop failure and hunger as a result of this. The additional water vapour in the sky will eventually condense into rain, leading to flooding. Water shortages and droughts might affect communities that rely on runoff from snow-capped mountains. [14]

Many greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere, and this is primarily due to human activities. Carbon dioxide is at the top of the list and with good reason. The primary driver of this development purposes, is another major contributor to the greenhouse gas problem. When calcium carbonate is heated, lime and carbon dioxide are produced; these gases are then released into the atmosphere as a byproduct of the cement manufacturing process. Methane, or natural gas, is the second polluting gas. It is a byproduct of agricultural processes such cattle digestion, paddy rice growing, and manure application. Another source of methane is the inefficient disposal of garbage. Fertilizers are the major source of nitrous oxides emissions. Moreover, many commercial and industrial refrigeration systems produce fluorinated gases like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Greenhouse gases' geographic spread is depicted pictorially in Fig. 2. There is no doubt that these gases are contributing to the devastation caused by global warming. They are steadily raising the planet's average temperature. [15]

The information presented here has just touched the surface of a vast and intricate field of inquiry. Combating global warming is a crucial priority. Not only are humans suffering, but so are animals and plants. When the polar ice caps melt, it will cause widespread flooding that will have devastating effects. Rising seas will have a devastating effect on the agricultural and fishing economies. In the atmosphere, solid particles and gases work together to create air pollution. Airborne particles can include anything from vehicle exhaust to industrial chemicals to dust, pollen, and mould spores. Ozone pollution is a major problem in cities because of the gas ozone. Smog refers to ozone contamination in the air. Some pollutants in the air might be harmful. Inhaling them might potentially increase the risk of illness. Those

1. Hoegh-Guldberg, O., et al. (2009). "A comprehensive study involving over 20 experts and based on 300 peer-reviewed scientific articles." 2. Shukla, P. R. (1999). "Justice, equity and efficiency in climate change: a developing country perspective." Fair weather: 145-159. 3. Smit, B. and O. Pilifosova (2003). "Adaptation to climate change in the context of sustainable development and equity." Sustainable Development 8(9): 9. 4. Prudham, S. (2009). "Pimping climate change: Richard Branson, global warming, and the performance of green capitalism." Environment and planning. A 41(7): 1594. 5. Overvad, K. and Raaschou-Nielsen, O. (2012): Long-term exposure to air pollution and asthma hospitalisations in older adults: A cohort study. Thorax; 67: 6-11. 6. Balmes, J.R., Fine, J.M. and Sheppard, D. (1987): Symptomatic bronchoconstriction after short-term inhalation of sulfur dioxide. American Review of Respiratory Disease; 136(5): 1117-1121. 7. Bell, M.L., Davis, D.L. and Fletcher, T. (2004): A retrospective assessment of mortality from the London smog episode of 1952: The role of influenza and pollution. Environmental Health Perspective; 112(1): 6-8. 8. Bos, I., De Boever, P., IntPanis, L. and Meeusen, R. (2014): Physical activity, air pollution and the brain. Sports Medicine; 44(11): 1505-1518. 9. Perez-Padilla, R. and Albalak, R. (2000): Indoor air pollution in developing countries: A major environmental and public health challenge. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 78(9): 1078-1092. 10. Turley, R. and Rehfuess, E. (2019): Interventions to reduce ambient particulate matter air pollution and their effect on health. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews; 276p. 11. Harrison, R.M. and Smith, D.J.T. (1999): Carbonaceous aerosol in urban and rural European atmospheres: Estimation of secondary organic carbon concentrations. Atmospheric Environment; 33: 2771-2781. 12. Goldberg, M.S. and Villeneuve, P.J. (2008): A systematic review of the relation between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and chronic diseases.

water: Tales of environmental deception and the battle against pollution. Basic Books; 352p. 14. Di, Q., Wang, Y., Zanobetti, A., Wang, Y., Koutrakis, P., Choirat, C., Dominici, F., and Schwartz, J.D. (2017): Air pollution and mortality in the Medicare population. The New England Journal of Medicine; 376(26): 2513-2522. 15. European Agency Environment (EEA) (2019): EMEP/EEA air pollutant emission inventory guidebook 2019: Technical guidance to prepare national emission inventories. EEA Report No. 3; 21p.

Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Rajkiya Mahila Snatkottar Mahavidhyalaya, Kandhla (Shamli) Uttar Pradesh