Global environmental problems (air pollution). Start in science Industry that kills

Human activities have a significant impact on the environment. So air pollution became the first environmental problem that people noticed. The destructive influence leads to changes in the background and chemical composition of the atmosphere. Clean air is necessary for the functioning of many natural processes. It is required for life by representatives of flora and fauna, participates in the chemical processes of water areas, retains heat on the ground, etc.

What substances pollute the air?

Anthropogenic activities have increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the air, which can lead to huge global problems. So emissions of sulfur dioxide cause illnesses respiratory system and skin irritation in humans and animals. Plants die from contact with sulfur dioxide.

Another harmful air pollutant is hydrogen sulfide. Poisoning with this colorless gas can lead to respiratory paralysis and then death. Other air pollutants include chlorine and nitrogen oxides, benzopyrene and methane, fluorine and hydrocarbons, sulfur and carbon dioxides. These substances destroy the ozone layer and contribute to the greenhouse effect, which contributes to global warming and climate change. All this leads to melting glaciers and an increase in the number of storms, landslides and hurricanes, as well as other natural disasters. Over the past decades, climate change has occurred so rapidly that it is very difficult to imagine a picture of our future. Rising water levels in the World Ocean will lead not only to the flooding of small islands, but also to the fact that part of the continents may go under water.

Which areas are the most polluted?

The atmosphere of the entire planet is polluted, but there are specific points above which there is a high concentration of air pollutants. Primarily these are Europe and North America, as well as East Asia. More than 50% of harmful substances are concentrated over these parts of the world. There are also large cities whose atmospheric conditions reach critical levels. A ranking of cities with the dirtiest air was developed by organizations such as UNESCO and WHO:

• Chernobyl (Ukraine);
• Linfen (China);
• Tianying (China);
• Karabash (Russia);
• Mexico City (Mexico);
• Sukinda (India);
• Haina (Dominican Republic);
• Cairo (Egypt);
• La Oroya (Peru);
• Norilsk (Russia);
• Brazzaville (Congo);
• Kabwe (Zambia);
• Dzerzhinsk (Russia);
• Beijing, China);
• Agbogbloshie (Ghana);
• Moscow, Russia);
• Sumgait (Azerbaijan).

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If we consider environmental problems, one of the most pressing is air pollution. Environmentalists are sounding the alarm and calling on humanity to reconsider its attitude to life and consumption of natural resources, because only protection from air pollution will improve the situation and prevent serious consequences. Find out how to solve such a pressing issue, influence the environmental situation and preserve the atmosphere.

Natural sources of clogging

What is air pollution? This concept includes the introduction and entry into the atmosphere and all its layers of uncharacteristic elements of a physical, biological or chemical nature, as well as changes in their concentrations.

What pollutes our air? Air pollution is caused by many reasons, and all sources can be divided into natural or natural, as well as artificial, that is, anthropogenic.

It’s worth starting with the first group, which includes pollutants generated by nature itself:

1. The first source is volcanoes. When they erupt, they emit huge quantities of tiny particles of various rocks, ash, poisonous gases, sulfur oxides and other equally harmful substances. And although eruptions occur quite rarely, according to statistics, as a result of volcanic activity, the level of air pollution increases significantly, because up to 40 million tons of hazardous compounds are released into the atmosphere every year.
2. If we consider natural causes of air pollution, then it is worth noting such as peat or forest fires. Most often, fires occur due to unintentional arson by a person who is negligent about the rules of safety and behavior in the forest. Even a small spark from a fire that is not completely extinguished can cause the fire to spread. Less often, fires are caused by very high solar activity, which is why the peak of danger occurs in the hot summer.
3. Considering the main types of natural pollutants, one cannot fail to mention dust storms, which arise due to strong gusts of wind and mixing of air currents. During a hurricane or other natural event, tons of dust rises, causing air pollution.

Artificial sources

Air pollution in Russia and other developed countries is often caused by the influence of anthropogenic factors caused by the activities carried out by people.

Let us list the main artificial sources causing air pollution:

• Rapid development of industry. It’s worth starting with chemical air pollution caused by the activities of chemical plants. Toxic substances released into the air poison it. Metallurgical plants also cause atmospheric air pollution with harmful substances: metal processing is a complex process that involves huge emissions as a result of heating and combustion. In addition, small solid particles formed during the manufacture of building or finishing materials also pollute the air.
• The problem of air pollution from motor vehicles is especially pressing. Although other types also provoke emissions into the atmosphere, it is cars that have the most significant negative impact on it, since there are many more of them than any other Vehicle. The exhaust emitted by motor vehicles and generated during engine operation contains a lot of substances, including hazardous ones. It's sad that emissions are increasing every year. An increasing number of people are acquiring an “iron horse”, which, of course, has a detrimental effect on the environment.
• Operation of thermal and nuclear power plants, boiler plants. The life of humanity at this stage is impossible without the use of such installations. They supply us with vital resources: heat, electricity, hot water. But when any type of fuel is burned, the atmosphere changes.
• Household waste. Every year the purchasing power of people increases, and as a result, the volumes of waste generated also increase. Their disposal is not given due attention, but some types of waste are extremely dangerous, have a long decomposition period and emit fumes that have an extremely adverse effect on the atmosphere. Every person pollutes the air every day, but waste from industrial enterprises, which is taken to landfills and is not disposed of in any way, is much more dangerous.

What substances most often pollute the air?

There are an incredibly large number of air pollutants, and environmentalists are constantly discovering new ones, which is associated with the rapid pace of industrial development and the introduction of new production and processing technologies. But the most common compounds found in the atmosphere are:

• Carbon monoxide, also called carbon monoxide. It is colorless and odorless and is formed during incomplete combustion of fuel with low volumes of oxygen and low temperatures. This compound is dangerous and causes death due to lack of oxygen.
• Carbon dioxide is found in the atmosphere and has a slightly sour odor.
• Sulfur dioxide is released during the combustion of some sulfur-containing fuels. This compound provokes acid rain and depresses human breathing.
• Nitrogen dioxides and oxides characterize air pollution from industrial enterprises, since they are most often formed during their activities, especially during the production of certain fertilizers, dyes and acids. These substances can also be released as a result of fuel combustion or during operation of the machine, especially when it is malfunctioning.
• Hydrocarbons are one of the most common substances and can be contained in solvents, detergents, and petroleum products.
• Lead is also harmful and is used to make batteries, cartridges and ammunition.
• Ozone is extremely toxic and is formed during photochemical processes or during the operation of transport and factories.

Now you know which substances pollute the air most often. But this is only a small part of them; the atmosphere contains a lot of different compounds, and some of them are even unknown to scientists.

Sad consequences

The scale of the impact of air pollution on human health and the entire ecosystem as a whole is simply enormous, and many people underestimate it. Let's start with the environment.

1. Firstly, due to polluted air, a greenhouse effect has developed, which is gradually but globally changing the climate, leading to warming and melting of glaciers, and provoking natural disasters. It can be said that it leads to irreversible consequences in the state environment.
2. Secondly, acid rain is becoming more and more frequent, which has a negative impact on all life on Earth. Through their fault, entire populations of fish die, unable to live in such an acidic environment. A negative impact is observed when examining historical monuments and architectural monuments.
3. Thirdly, fauna and flora suffer, since dangerous fumes are inhaled by animals, they also enter plants and gradually destroy them.

A polluted atmosphere has an extremely negative impact on human health. The emissions enter the lungs and cause disruptions in the functioning of the respiratory system, severe allergic reactions. Together with the blood, dangerous compounds are carried throughout the body and greatly wear it out. And some elements can provoke mutation and degeneration of cells.

How to solve the problem and save the environment

The problem of air pollution is very relevant, especially considering that the environment has deteriorated greatly over the past few decades. And it needs to be solved comprehensively and in several ways.

Let's consider several effective measures to prevent air pollution:

1. To combat air pollution, it is mandatory to install treatment and filtering facilities and systems at individual enterprises. And at particularly large industrial plants it is necessary to begin introducing stationary monitoring posts for monitoring air pollution.
2. To avoid air pollution from cars, you should switch to alternative and less harmful energy sources, such as solar panels or electricity.
3. Replacing combustible fuels with more accessible and less dangerous ones, such as water, wind, sunlight and others that do not require combustion, will help protect atmospheric air from pollution.
4. The protection of atmospheric air from pollution must be supported at the state level, and there are already laws aimed at protecting it. But it is also necessary to act and exercise control in individual constituent entities of the Russian Federation.
5. One of the effective ways that air protection from pollution should include is to establish a system for disposing of all waste or recycling it.
6. To solve the problem of air pollution, plants should be used. Widespread landscaping will improve the atmosphere and increase the amount of oxygen in it.

How to protect atmospheric air from pollution? If all of humanity fights it, then there is a chance of improving the environment. Knowing the essence of the problem of air pollution, its relevance and the main solutions, we need to jointly and comprehensively combat pollution.

Environmental pollution is a global problem of our time, which is regularly discussed in the news and in scientific circles. Many created international organizations aimed at combating the deterioration of natural conditions. Scientists have long been sounding the alarm about the inevitability of an environmental disaster in the very near future.

At the moment, a lot is known about environmental pollution - a large number of scientific papers and books have been written, numerous studies have been conducted. But humanity has made very little progress in solving the problem. Pollution of nature still remains an important and pressing issue, the postponement of which can turn tragic.

History of biosphere pollution

Due to the intensive industrialization of society, environmental pollution has become particularly acute in recent decades. However, despite this fact, natural pollution is one of the oldest problems in human history. Even in the primitive era, people began to barbarously destroy forests, exterminate animals and change the landscape of the earth to expand their territory of residence and obtain valuable resources.

Even then, this led to climate change and other environmental problems. The growth of the planet's population and the progress of civilizations was accompanied by increased mining, drainage of water bodies, as well as chemical pollution of the biosphere. The Industrial Revolution marked not only a new era in social order, but also a new wave of pollution.

With the development of science and technology, scientists received tools with which it became possible to accurately and detailed analysis ecological state of the planet. Weather reports, monitoring of the chemical composition of air, water and soil, satellite data, as well as ubiquitous smoking pipes and oil spills on the water indicate that the problem is rapidly worsening with the expansion of the technosphere. It is not for nothing that the emergence of man is called the main environmental disaster.

Classification of nature pollution

There are several classifications of natural pollution based on their source, direction, and other factors.

So, the following types of environmental pollution are distinguished:

• Biological – the source of pollution is living organisms; it can occur due to natural causes or as a result of anthropogenic activities.
• Physical – leads to changes in the corresponding characteristics of the environment. Physical pollution includes thermal, radiation, noise and others.
• Chemical – an increase in the content of substances or their penetration into the environment. Leads to a change in the normal chemical composition of resources.
• Mechanical – pollution of the biosphere with garbage.

In reality, one type of pollution may be accompanied by another or several at once.

The gaseous shell of the planet is an integral participant in natural processes, determines the thermal background and climate of the Earth, protects against harmful cosmic radiation, and influences relief formation.

The composition of the atmosphere has changed throughout the historical development of the planet. The current situation is such that part of the volume of the gas shell is determined by human economic activity. The composition of the air is heterogeneous and differs depending on the geographical location - in industrial areas and large cities high level harmful impurities.

The main sources of chemical pollution of the atmosphere:

• chemical plants;
• enterprises of the fuel and energy complex;
• transport.

These pollutants cause the presence of heavy metals in the atmosphere, such as lead, mercury, chromium, and copper. They are permanent components of air in industrial areas.

Modern power plants emit hundreds of tons of carbon dioxide, as well as soot, dust and ash, into the atmosphere every day.

Increase in the number of cars in populated areas led to an increase in the concentration of a number of harmful gases in the air, which are part of machine exhaust. Anti-knock additives added to transportation fuels release large amounts of lead. Cars produce dust and ash, which pollute not only the air, but also the soil, settling on the ground.

The atmosphere is also polluted by very toxic gases emitted by the chemical industry. Waste from chemical plants, for example, nitrogen and sulfur oxides, causes acid rain and can react with components of the biosphere to form other dangerous derivatives.

As a result of human activity, forest fires regularly occur, during which colossal amounts of carbon dioxide are released.

Soil is a thin layer of the lithosphere, formed as a result of natural factors, in which most of the exchange processes between living and nonliving systems take place.

Due to the extraction of natural resources, mining operations, the construction of buildings, roads and airfields, large areas of soil are destroyed.

Irrational human economic activity has caused the degradation of the fertile layer of the earth. His natural is changing chemical composition, mechanical contamination occurs. Intensive agricultural development leads to significant land loss. Frequent plowing makes them vulnerable to flooding, salinity and wind, which causes soil erosion.

The abundant use of fertilizers, insecticides and chemical poisons to destroy pests and clear weeds leads to the release of toxic compounds that are unnatural for it into the soil. As a result of anthropogenic activities, chemical pollution of lands with heavy metals and their derivatives occurs. The main harmful element is lead, as well as its compounds. When processing lead ores, about 30 kilograms of metal are released from every ton. Car exhaust containing large amounts of this metal settles in the soil, poisoning the organisms living in it. Liquid waste discharges from mines contaminate the ground with zinc, copper and other metals.

Power plants, radioactive fallout from nuclear explosions, and research centers for the study of atomic energy cause radioactive isotopes to enter the soil, which then enter the human body with food.

Metal reserves concentrated in the bowels of the earth are dissipated as a consequence of human production activity. Then they concentrate in the top layer of soil. In ancient times, man used 18 elements found in the earth's crust, and today - all of them are known.

Today, the water shell of the earth is much more polluted than one can imagine. Oil slicks and bottles floating on the surface are just what can be seen. A significant part of pollutants is in a dissolved state.

Water spoilage can occur naturally. As a result of mudflows and floods, magnesium is washed out of the continental soil, which enters water bodies and harms fish. As a result of chemical transformations, aluminum penetrates into fresh waters. But natural pollution makes up a negligibly small proportion compared to anthropogenic pollution. Due to human fault, the following gets into the water:

• surfactants;
• pesticides;
• phosphates, nitrates and other salts;
• medicines;
• petroleum products;
• radioactive isotopes.

The sources of these pollutants are farms, fishing, oil platforms, power plants, chemical plants, sewage.

Acid rain, which is also the result of human activity, dissolves the soil and washes away heavy metals.

In addition to chemical pollution of water, there is physical, namely thermal. The largest use of water is in the production of electricity. Thermal stations use it to cool turbines, and the heated waste liquid is discharged into reservoirs.

Mechanical deterioration of water quality due to household waste in populated areas leads to a reduction in the habitats of living beings. Some species are dying.

Polluted water is the main cause of most diseases. As a result of liquid poisoning, many living beings die, the ocean ecosystem suffers, and the normal course of natural processes is disrupted. The pollutants ultimately enter the human body.

Anti-pollution

To avoid environmental disaster, combating physical pollution must be a top priority. The problem must be solved at the international level, because nature has no state borders. To prevent pollution, it is necessary to impose sanctions on enterprises that discharge waste into the environment, and impose large fines for placing waste in the wrong place. Incentives to comply with environmental safety standards can also be achieved through financial methods. This approach has proven effective in some countries.

A promising direction to combat pollution is the use of alternative energy sources. The use of solar panels, hydrogen fuel and other energy-saving technologies will reduce the emission of toxic compounds into the atmosphere.

Other methods of combating pollution include:

• construction of treatment facilities;
• creation of national parks and reserves;
• increasing the amount of green space;
• population control in third world countries;
• attracting public attention to the problem.

Environmental pollution is a large-scale global problem, which can only be solved with the active participation of everyone who calls planet Earth home, otherwise an environmental disaster will be inevitable.

The problem of air pollution is one of the most serious global problems facing humanity. The danger of air pollution is not only that it gets into clean air. harmful substances, destructive for living organisms, but also in the climate change of the Earth caused by pollution. There are three points of view on this matter. 1. The global warming observed in the current century is caused by an increase in the concentration of CO 2 in the atmosphere, and by the middle of the next century there will be catastrophic warming of the climate, accompanied by a strong increase in the height of the World Ocean. 2. Atmospheric pollution reduces the level of solar radiation, increases the number of condensation nuclei in clouds, as a result the Earth's surface cools, which in turn can cause new glaciation in northern and southern latitudes (there are few supporters of this point of view). 3. According to supporters of the third point of view, both of these processes will be balanced and the Earth's climate will not change significantly.

The main sources of air pollution are enterprises of the fuel and energy complex, manufacturing industry and transport. More than 80% of all emissions into the atmosphere are emissions of carbon oxides, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen, hydrocarbons, and solids. Of the gaseous pollutants, the largest quantities emitted are carbon oxides, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide, which are formed mainly during fuel combustion. Sulfur oxides are also released into the atmosphere in large quantities: sulfur dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon disulfide, hydrogen sulfide, etc. The most numerous class of substances that pollute the air of large cities are hydrocarbons. Constant ingredients of gas pollution of the atmosphere also include free chlorine, its compounds, etc.

In addition to gaseous pollutants, tens of millions of tons of particulate matter enter the atmosphere. This is dust, soot, soot, which in the form of small particles freely penetrate into Airways and settle in the bronchi and lungs. However, that’s not all - “along the way” they are enriched with sulfates, lead, arsenic, selenium, cadmium, zinc and other elements and substances, many of which are carcinogenic. From this point of view, asbestos dust is especially dangerous to human health. Cadmium, arsenic, mercury and vanadium also belong to the first hazard class. (The results are interesting comparative analysis, performed by American scientists. The lead content in the skeletal bones of a Peruvian native who lived 1,600 years ago is 1,000 times less than in the bones of modern US citizens.)

A specific phenomenon such as acid rain is also associated with air pollution.

The earth's atmosphere transmits short-wave solar radiation relatively well, which is almost completely absorbed by the earth's surface. Heating due to the absorption of solar radiation, the earth's surface becomes a source of terrestrial, mainly long-wave, radiation, part of which goes into outer space.
Scientists continue to debate the composition of so-called greenhouse gases (58). The greatest interest in this regard is the effect of increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO 2) on the greenhouse effect of the atmosphere. It is suggested that the well-known scheme: “increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide enhances the greenhouse effect, which leads to warming of the global climate” is extremely simplified and very far from reality, since the most important “greenhouse gas” is not carbon dioxide (and not nitrous oxide). , not methane or chlorofluorocarbons), but water vapor. At the same time, reservations that the concentration of water vapor in the atmosphere is determined only by the parameters of the climate system itself no longer stand up to criticism today, since the anthropogenic impact on the global water cycle has been convincingly proven.

As scientific hypotheses, we point out the following consequences of the upcoming greenhouse effect. Firstly, according to the most common estimates, by the end of the 21st century. the atmospheric CO 2 content will double, which will inevitably lead to an increase in the average global surface temperature by 3-5 °C. At the same time, warming is expected to be stronger in high latitudes and, accordingly, summers will become drier in the temperate latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere.

Secondly, it is assumed that such an increase in the average global surface temperature will lead to an increase in the level of the World Ocean by 20-165 cm due to the thermal expansion of water. (As for the Antarctic ice sheet, its destruction is not inevitable, since melting requires higher temperatures. In any case, the process of melting Antarctic ice will take a very long time.)

Third, the concentration of atmospheric CO 2 can have a very beneficial effect on agricultural yields. The results of the experiments allow us to assume that under conditions of a progressive increase in the content of CO 2 in the air, natural and cultivated vegetation will reach an optimal state: the leaf surface of plants will increase, the specific gravity of dry matter of leaves will increase, the average size of fruits and the number of seeds will increase, the ripening of grains will accelerate, and their productivity will increase.

Fourth, at high latitudes, natural forests, especially boreal forests, can be very sensitive to changes in temperature. Warming could lead to a sharp reduction in the area of ​​boreal forests, as well as to a movement of their borders to the north. Tropical and subtropical forests are likely to be more sensitive to changes in precipitation rather than temperature. However, forecasts of upcoming changes in precipitation are very uncertain.

Overall, the atmospheric greenhouse effect is an equation with many unknowns. Most scientists believe that warming will actually manifest itself. Moreover, many argue that global warming (by about 1°C in the 20th century) has already occurred (at least its first phase), but it was, as it were, masked by natural climate changes. However, there are scientists who believe that, paradoxically, the accelerating accumulation of CO 2 can lead not to warming, but to cooling. This opinion is based on the fact that the forecast of “overheating” of the Earth when the concentration of CO 2 in the air doubles was made based on an erroneous assessment of the greenhouse effect of this gas. It is believed that supporters of “overheating” do not take into account the colossal role of ocean waters in the absorption of anthropogenic CO 2 and underestimate the importance of terrestrial biota, and, consequently, soils as powerful assimilators of “excess” atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Literature:

1. Akimova T.A., Khaskin V.V. Ecology. M.: UNITY, 1998.

2. Danilov-Danilyan V. I., Losev K. S. Environmental challenge and sustainable development. M.: Progress-Tradition, 2000.

3. Konstantinov V. M. Nature conservation. M.: Publishing center "Academy", 2000.

4. Moiseev N. N. Man and the noosphere. M.: Mol. Guard, 1990.

5. Orlov D.S. Ecology and protection of the biosphere during chemical pollution: Textbook. manual/Orlov D.S., Sadovnikova L.K., Lozanovskaya I.N. M.: Higher School, 2002.

6. the federal law“On the protection of atmospheric air” dated August 22, 2004 No. 122-FZ, dated May 9, 2005 No. 45-FZ.

7. Kolesnikov S.I. Ecological foundations of environmental management. M. Publishing and trading corporation "Dashkov and K", 2010.

8. Budyko M.I. Climate in the past and future. – L.: Gidrometeoizdat, 1980.

"Air pollution - ecological problem" This phrase does not reflect in the slightest degree the consequences that come from a violation of the natural composition and balance in the mixture of gases called air.

It is not difficult to illustrate such a statement. The World Health Organization provided data on this topic for 2014. Around 3.7 million people worldwide have died due to air pollution. Almost 7 million people died from exposure to air pollution. And this is in one year.

Air contains 98–99% nitrogen and oxygen, the rest: argon, carbon dioxide, water and hydrogen. It makes up the Earth's atmosphere. The main component, as we see, is oxygen. It is necessary for the existence of all living things. Cells “breathe” it, that is, when it enters a cell of the body, a chemical oxidation reaction occurs, as a result of which the energy necessary for growth, development, reproduction, exchange with other organisms and the like is released, that is, for life.

Atmospheric pollution is interpreted as the introduction of chemical, biological and physical substances that are not inherent in it into the atmospheric air, that is, a change in their natural concentration. But what is more important is not the change in concentration, which undoubtedly occurs, but the decrease in the composition of the air of the most useful component for life - oxygen. After all, the volume of the mixture does not increase. Harmful and polluting substances are not added by simply adding volumes, but are destroyed and take their place. In fact, a lack of food for cells arises and continues to accumulate, that is, the basic nutrition of a living creature.

About 24,000 people die from hunger per day, that is, about 8 million per year, which is comparable to the death rate from air pollution.

Types and sources of pollution

The air has been subject to pollution at all times. Volcanic eruptions, forest and peat fires, dust and pollen and other releases into the atmosphere of substances that are usually not inherent in its natural composition, but occurred as a result of natural causes - this is the first type of origin of air pollution - natural. The second is as a result of human activity, that is, artificial or anthropogenic.

Anthropogenic pollution, in turn, can be divided into subtypes: transport or resulting from work different types transport, industrial, that is, associated with emissions into the atmosphere of substances generated in the production process and household or resulting from direct human activity.

Air pollution itself can be physical, chemical and biological.

• Physical includes dust and particulate matter, radioactive radiation and isotopes, electromagnetic waves and radio waves, noise, including loud sounds and low-frequency vibrations, and heat, in any form.
• Chemical pollution is the release of gaseous substances into the air: carbon and nitrogen monoxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrocarbons, aldehydes, heavy metals, ammonia and aerosols.
• Microbial contamination is called biological. These are various bacterial spores, viruses, fungi, toxins and the like.

The first is mechanical dust. Appears in technological processes of grinding substances and materials.

The second is sublimates. They are formed by condensation of cooled gas vapors and passed through process equipment.

The third is fly ash. It is contained in the flue gas in a suspended state and represents unburned mineral impurities of the fuel.

The fourth is industrial soot or solid highly dispersed carbon. It is formed during incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons or their thermal decomposition.

Today, the main sources of such pollution are thermal power plants operating on solid fuel and coal.

Consequences of pollution

The main consequences of air pollution are: the greenhouse effect, ozone holes, acid rain and smog.

The greenhouse effect is based on the ability of the Earth's atmosphere to transmit short waves and retain long ones. Short waves are solar radiation, and long waves are thermal radiation coming from the Earth. That is, a layer is formed in which heat accumulation or a greenhouse occurs. Gases capable of such an effect are called greenhouse gases. These gases heat themselves and heat the entire atmosphere. This process is natural and natural. It happened and is happening now. Without it, life on the planet would not be possible. Its beginning is not related to human activity. But if earlier nature itself regulated this process, now man has intensively intervened in it.

Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas. Its share in the greenhouse effect is more than 60%. The share of the rest - chlorofluorocarbons, methane, nitrogen oxides, ozone and so on, accounts for no more than 40%. It is thanks to such large share carbon dioxide, natural self-regulation was possible. As much carbon dioxide was released during respiration by living organisms, so much was consumed by plants, producing oxygen. Its volumes and concentration remained in the atmosphere. Industrial and other human activities, and above all deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels, have led to an increase in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by reducing the volume and concentration of oxygen. The result was greater heating of the atmosphere - an increase in air temperature. Predictions are that rising temperatures will lead to excessive melting of ice and glaciers and rising sea levels. This is on the one hand, and on the other it will increase due to more high temperature, evaporation of water from the surface of the earth. This means an increase in desert lands.

Ozone holes or destruction of the ozone layer. Ozone is one of the forms of oxygen and is formed naturally in the atmosphere. This occurs when ultraviolet radiation from the sun hits an oxygen molecule. Therefore, the highest concentration of ozone is in the upper layers of the atmosphere at an altitude of about 22 km. from the surface of the Earth. It extends over approximately 5 km in height. this layer is considered protective, as it blocks this very radiation. Without such protection, all life on Earth perished. Now there is a decrease in ozone concentration in the protective layer. Why this happens has not yet been reliably established. This depletion was first discovered in 1985 over Antarctica. Since then, the phenomenon has been called the “ozone hole.” At the same time, the Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was signed in Vienna.

Industrial emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide into the atmosphere combine with atmospheric moisture to form sulfuric and nitric acid and cause “acid” rain. These are any precipitation whose acidity is higher than natural, that is, pH<5,6. Это явление присуще всем промышленным регионам в мире. Главное их отрицательное воздействие приходится на листья растений. Кислотность нарушает их восковой защитный слой, и они становятся уязвимы для вредителей, болезней, засух и загрязнений.

When they fall onto the soil, the acids contained in their water react with toxic metals in the ground. Such as: lead, cadmium, aluminum and others. They dissolve and thereby facilitate their penetration into living organisms and groundwater.

In addition, acid rain promotes corrosion and thus affects the strength of buildings, structures and other metal building structures.

Smog is a familiar sight in large industrial cities. It occurs where a large amount of pollutants of anthropogenic origin and substances resulting from their interaction with solar energy accumulate in the lower layers of the troposphere. Smog forms and lasts a long time in cities due to windless weather. There is: humid, icy and photochemical smog.

With the first explosions of nuclear bombs in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, humanity discovered another, perhaps the most dangerous, type of air pollution - radioactive.

Nature has the ability to self-purify, but human activity clearly interferes with this.

Video - Unsolved Mysteries: How Air Pollution Affects Health