Understanding Pollution

Pollution

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia

Pollutionis the introduction of pollutants (whether chemicalsubstances, or energysuch as noise, heat, or light) into the environment to such a point that its effects become harmful to human health, other living organisms, or the environment.

So how do we relate that information to our everyday lives?

The most obvious consideration we need to make is the use of the car or other vehicle we use on a regular basis. To what extent are we introducing pollution into the environment?

The process of burning petrol or diesel in our engines produces:

Ø     · Carbon monoxide

Ø     · Nitrogen oxides

Ø     ·Unburned hydrocarbons

Carbon Monoxide – how toxic is it?

Petrol and diesel, mostly carbon by weight, is equal to 5-6 pounds (2.5 kg) of carbon per gallon. The U.S.alone releases approximately 2 billion pounds of carbon into the environment each day, and as it burns, it turns into massive amounts of invisible carbon monoxide gas..

What effect does this have on our bodies?

When we breathe carbon monoxide, the carbon molecules attach to the haemoglobin in the blood, taking up all the oxygen binding locations that are used to release oxygen to our lungs and other tissues in our body. With excessive exposure, our blood loses its ability to transport oxygen, without which the body cannot survive

Nitrogen oxides and unburned hydrocarbons  - how poisonous are they?

Nitrogen oxides and unburned hydrocarbons are the main causes of smog and ozone. Ozone is caused by the reaction between engine exhaust and light.

What effect does this have on our bodies?

Both smog and ozone can cause inflammation and abnormal accumulation of fluid in our lungs, which in turn aggravates the effects of respiratory problems. As repeated ozone exposure further invades our lungs, it becomes more difficult to breathe, and our bodies have to work harder to access the oxygen.