Air pollution

4. AIR POLLUTION - The gaseous waste emitted due to the economic activity is dispersed into the atmosphere.

- The emissions and the concentration of pollutants in certain places have negative environmental effects, which have an impact on our entire planet.

4. AIR POLLUTION THE HOLE IN THE OZNONE LAYER -

The ozone layer is a level of the stratosphere whose basic function is to filter out the harmul ultraviolet rays.

-

The thickness of the ozone layer has decreased as a result of an accumulation of CFCs gases over the poles.

-

This is called the hole in the ozone layer.

-

Certain chemical substances, CFCs, used in some industrial processes, aerosols and refrigeration systems, interact with ozone molecules destroying them.

-

This substances, which tale decades to break down, have reduced the amount of ozone in the atmosphere.

-

Movements of air masses have concentrated the CFCs in the atmosphere over the polar regions.

4. AIR POLLUTION -

URBAN AIR POLLUTION Air pollution is caused by the use of fossil fuels in industry, transport and domestic heating.

In major cities, one effect is an accumulation of pollution in the lower layers of the atmosphere.

This occur when the increase in pollutant emissions coincides with stable meteorological conditions.

When hig pressure dominates, there is little wind to disperse the pollution.

This produces smog (fog+smoke) causing health problems for residents.

4. AIR POLLUTION ACID RAIN - Some pollutants (nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide) acidify when they are diluted in atmospheric water.

- Precipiation in the form of rain containing polluted water is a global problem.

- It can occur in places very far from where the pollution originated.

- Acid rain has harmful consequences: - Damage to natural vegetation and crops.

- Acidification of terrestrial and marine water, which affects fauna.

- Corrosion of limestone and marbel buildings and monuments due to the actions of the acids.