Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere.There are several main types of pollution and well-known effects of pollution which are commonly discussed. These include smog, acid rain, the greenhouse effect, and “holes” in the ozone layer.
Air pollution may be defined as any atmospheric condition in which certain substances are present in which concentrations that they can produce undesirable effects on man and his environment. According to WHO, air pollution may be defined as follows : “Substance put into air by the activity of mankind in a concentration sufficient to cause harmful effect to his health, vegetables, property or to interfere with the enjoyment of his property.”
The air pollutant substances include gases (oxides of nitrogen, oxides of sulphur, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, etc), particulate matter (smoke, dust, fumes, aerosols), addictive material and many other. Most of these substances are naturally present in low concentrations and are usually considered to be harmless
Air is one of the most important constituents of man’s environment. It has been calculated that a man breaths about 22,000, times a day inhaling about 16 kg of air by mass. Air is present everywhere. Air is essentially a mixture of gases. Due to the activity of living organisms, different gases in the atmosphere are found in a definite ratio and proportion. There is cycling of gases between the living organisms and atmosphere. It is due to organisms that oxygen and carbon dioxide are found in a balanced state in the atmosphere. Atmosphere maintains a narrow difference of day and nigh temperatures. It acts as a shield around the earth against lethal UV radiation and meteors. Without atmosphere, there will be no lightening, no wind, no clouds, no rains, no snow and no fire.
Air is the foremost susceptible component of our environment prone to pollution. Man has disturbed the favourable and natural air atmosphere in different ways, by removal of plants, by development of various industrial establishment, by burning of fossil fuels, etc. Pollution of air many have profound health effects and other consequences.
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