Question

Looking at the deteriorating air quality because of air pollution in many cities of the country, the citizens are very much worried and concerned about their health. The doctors have declared a health emergency in the cities where the air quality is very severely poor.
A. Mention any two major causes of air pollution.
B. Write any two harmful effects of air pollution to plants and humans.
C. As a captain of your school Eco-club, suggest any two programmes you would plant to organize in the school so as to bring awareness among the students on how to check air pollution in and around the school.

Answer 1

Hint: Air pollution or generally contamination of air defines as when the physical, biological, and chemical change takes place in the air or the presence of air pollutants (substances responsible for air pollution) this could be solid particles or gases which contaminates the air. Air contamination occurs due to various factors such as harmful or poisonous gases, dust, fog, smog, etc.

Complete answer:
A. Major pollutants of air involve gases like Carbon dioxide (${\text{C}}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}$), Nitrogen oxide (${{\text{N}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{O}}$), Sulphur dioxide (${\text{S}}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}$), Carbon monoxide (${\text{CO}}$), Methane (${\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{4}}}$) which are responsible for the air pollution these gases are suspended in the air which is exhausted by truck, car, etc. Solid particles from factories, dust, pollen grains, and some natural cause like a forest fire, etc are also responsible. These suspended solid or gaseous particles in the air are referred to as aerosols.
B. Harmful effects of air pollution on plants: Air pollution can have a direct hazardous impact on the plants or vegetation, soil contamination by changing the pH of the soil which is followed by solubilization of the toxic salts of metals such as aluminum. It may affect plant growth and development, causing damage to the leaf structure, yellowing of the leaf because of the destruction of chlorophyll, various stresses such as water pressure, etc.
Harmful effects of air pollution on animals: Breathing in contaminated or polluted air can be very harmful to our health like long-term exposure to contaminated air leads to the disease of the heart, lungs, and cancer as well as other problems. Both long-term and short-term exposure to polluted air is associated with various health issues.
C. Programmes to be arranged for bringing awareness about air pollution: By planting trees can help to check the air pollution in and around the school.
By organizing a week monthly and avoiding the use of vehicles that run on fossil fuel and motivate them to use bicycles or can do carpool if possible.

Note: Particulate matter or PM which is also known as particle pollution refers to the mixture of solid particles and liquid drops in the air such as dust, dirt, or smoke, etc. Particulate size ${\text{P}}{{\text{M}}_{{\text{2}}{\text{.5}}}}$ considers the greatest health risk.