Cause And Effect On Air Pollution

Pollution comes in many forms, and is one of the biggest global killers. It affects 100 million people which is more than diseases like malaria and HIV (Dosomething.org). Every year pollution claims more than 100 million land and sea animals (CEF). Not only does pollution affect humans, it is also very harmful to animals.

People that live in areas with higher levels of air pollutants have around a 20% higher chance of death from lung cancer than people that live in areas with less pollution (Dosomething.org). Air pollution seems to affect living beings more directly because of our exposure through breathing. Consequently it is not surprising that, respiratory problems like pneumonia, asthma,bronchitis, etc, are so common. The growing amounts

Fossil fuels mainly consist of compounds called “hydrocarbons”. Hydrogen and carbon are the basic molecules that hydrocarbon are made of. There are hundreds of different hydrocarbon molecules that exist because of the difference in the numbers and arrangement of the atoms. When hydrocarbons are burned, they produce large amounts of energy. An unavoidable outcome of these transport activities, is the unintentional spillage of oil. A well known example of an oil spill, happened on the San Francisco Bay in 1988. Over 400,000 gallons of oil flowed into the Bay. The most common oil spill effects on wildlife are deaths due to the oil coating animals fur or feathers and the subjection to high concentrations of toxic components. When oil coats animal 's fur or feathers, it damages their insulating property. The insulation property works by trapping a

A small amount of the matter is left suspended in the higher portion of the atmosphere and they travel large distances from their source. Since the matter travels long distances, the toxic metals have been found in large concentrations in glaciers, and residue in lakes in some of the most reserved areas in the Northern Hemisphere. Some of the most common toxic metals are; aluminum, nickel, arsenic, selenium, cadmium, silver, chromium, tin, cobalt, zinc, copper, iron, lead, and molybdenum. Factories and cars dispose of large quantities of toxic metals that flow into the air and fall to the surface of surrounding urban areas. Water can also wash the pollutants into the urban areas as it flows across the ground surface during storms. The stormwater then flows into local bodies of water. The excess water from urban areas is one of the biggest contributors of water pollution, The waters contain pesticides from lawns and gardens. Since 1923, the amount of lead unleashed into the atmosphere by tremendously higher amounts. The dependence of petroleum for the common combustion engine emits harmful gases that severely damage the surrounding life each environment has to offer. Wild animals and plants whose habitats are close to highways are proven to have high amounts of lead in their bodies. Lead is very harmful to all wildlife and humans. Lead affects neurological development in humans and is the main cause for leaded

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