Air lets our living planet breatheit's the mixture of gases that fills the atmosphere, giving life to

the plants and animals that make Earth such a vibrant place. Broadly speaking, air is almost
entirely made up of two gases (78 percent nitrogen and 21 percent oxygen), with a few other
gases (such as carbon dioxide and argon)
AIR POLLUTION -is the addition of gases, chemicals, and particle matter into the atmosphere.
Air Pollutants -substance in the air that can cause harm to humans and the environment. It can
be in the form of particles, liquid droplets, or gases. (Nitrogen Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide, Carbon
Monoxide, Lead)
Two Types of Air Pollutants
> Primary air pollutants are those which are directly released into the air by sources.
> Secondary air pollutants are formed when primary air pollutants undergo a reaction that gives
rise to a new component.
CAUSES/CONTRIBUTORS/POLLUTANTS
Air pollution primarily comes from burning fossil fuels such as natural gas, petroleum, and coal.
Natural Causes:
Forest Fires- emit carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone and particulate matter
Particulate Matter is a complex mixture that may contain soot, smoke, metals, nitrates, sulfates,
dust, water and tire rubber. It can be directly emitted, as in smoke from a fire, or it can form in
the atmosphere from reactions of gases such as nitrogen oxides.
Carbon monoxide, which is a poisonous gas, can be emitted in large amounts during forest fires.
Particulates, which are mixtures of soot, tars, and volatile organic substances, either solid or
liquid, are emitted in large quantities from forest fires. The particulates, which can be smaller
than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, if deeply inhaled into the lungs, can damage lung tissues and
cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems.
Nitrogen oxides are released at temperatures greater than 1,500 degree centigrade. Therefore
nitrogen oxides are released in significant quantities only during the most severe fires.
Sulfur dioxide emissions are significantly less serious with forest fires, as concentration of the
dioxide in most forest fuels is usually less than 0.2 percent. However, forest fire sites with "peat"
and "muck soil" may be exceptions.Volcanic Eruptions (released sulfur oxide, CO2, and hydrogen
fluoride) Sulfur Oxide can cause acid rain in nearby places. Also volcanic ash which is gritty
rough and corrosive. Volcanic eruptions generate so much polluting gases and ash into air that
the suns rays could be blocked, and land temperature in affected area lowered.
Wind Erosion - ind erosion damages land and natural vegetation by removing soil from one place
and depositing it in another. It causes soil loss, dryness and deterioration of soil
structure,nutrient and productivity losses and air pollution. Suspended dust and dirt is inevitably
Change starts with you

deposited over everything. It blows on and inside homes, covers roads and highways, and
smothers crops.
Man-made causes:
Green House Gas Emission (CO2, CFC, Methane) from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and
transportation that trap heat and make the planet warmer. The largest source of greenhouse gas
emissions from human activities this includes burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and
transportation
Vehicular Emissions (SMOG-Smoke and Fog Smog- a combination of the words "smoke" and
"fog") forms when sunlight acts on a cocktail of pollutant gases) - Over 90 percent of the fuel
used for transportation is petroleum based, which includes gasoline and diesel
Industrial Power plants and factories- primarily come from burning fossil fuels for energy, as well
as greenhouse gas emissions from certain chemical reactions necessary to produce goods from
raw materials
Garbage- is incinerated instead of being recycled or landfilled and that can also produce
significant air pollution unless the incinerators are properly designed to operate at a high enough
temperature
Use of Hazardous Chemicals
HEALTH ILL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENT:
>Acid rain is precipitation containing harmful amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids. These acids
are formed primarily by nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides released into the atmosphere when
fossil fuels are burned. These acids fall to the Earth either as wet precipitation (rain, snow, or fog)
or dry precipitation (gas and particulates). Some are carried by the wind, sometimes hundreds of
miles. In the environment, acid rain damages trees and causes soils and water bodies to acidify,
making the water unsuitable for some fish and other wildlife. It also speeds the decay of
buildings, statues, and sculptures that are part of our national heritage. Acid rain has damaged
Massachusetts lakes, ponds, rivers, and soils, leading to damaged wildlife and forests.
>Ozone depletion- Ozone is a gas that occurs both at ground-level and in the Earth's upper
atmosphere, known as the stratosphere. At ground level, ozone is a pollutant that can harm
human health. In the stratosphere, however, ozone forms a layer that protects life on earth from
the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. But this "good" ozone is gradually being destroyed by
man-made chemicals referred to as ozone-depleting substances, including chlorofluorocarbons,
hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and halons. These substances were formerly used and sometimes still
are used in coolants, foaming agents, fire extinguishers, solvents, pesticides, and aerosol
propellants. Thinning of the protective ozone layer can cause increased amounts of UV radiation
to reach the Earth, which can lead to more cases of skin cancer, cataracts, and impaired immune
systems. UV can also damage sensitive crops, such as soybeans, and reduce crop yields.

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> Global climate change- The Earth's atmosphere contains a delicate balance of naturally
occurring gases that trap some of the sun's heat near the Earth's surface. This "greenhouse
effect" keeps the Earth's temperature stable. Unfortunately, evidence is mounting that humans
have disturbed this natural balance by producing large amounts of some of these greenhouse
gases, including carbon dioxide and methane. As a result, the Earth's atmosphere appears to be
trapping more of the sun's heat, causing the Earth's average temperature to rise - a
phenomenon known as global warming. Many scientists believe that global warming could have
significant impacts on human health, agriculture, water resources, forests, wildlife, and coastal
areas.
> Eutrophication - is a condition in a water body where high concentrations of nutrients (such as
nitrogen) stimulate blooms of algae, which in turn can cause fish kills and loss of plant and
animal diversity. Although eutrophication is a natural process in the aging of lakes and some
estuaries, human activities can greatly accelerate eutrophication by increasing the rate at which
nutrients enter aquatic ecosystems. Air emissions of nitrogen oxides from power plants, cars,
trucks, and other sources contribute to the amount of nitrogen entering aquatic ecosystems.
MAN:
> Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease- progressive disease that makes it hard to breathe
The two main types are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. The main cause of COPD is long-term
exposure to substances that irritate and damage the lungs. This is usually cigarette smoke. Air
pollution, chemical fumes, or dust can also cause it.
At first, COPD may cause no symptoms or only mild symptoms. As the disease gets worse,
symptoms usually become more severe. They include
A cough that produces a lot of mucus
Shortness of breath, especially with physical activity
Wheezing
Chest tightness
Chronic Bronchitis- The inflamed bronchial tubes produce a lot of mucus. This leads to coughing
and difficulty breathing
Emphysema is a type of COPD involving damage to the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs. As a result,
your body does not get the oxygen it needs. Emphysema makes it hard to catch your breath.
>Liver, Skin, Lung Cancer- caused by a series of carcinogen chemicals that through inhalation
Skin Cancer because of the UV rays
Liver and Lung Cancer- caused by a series of carcinogen chemicals acquired through inhalation
>Irritation of eyes, nose and throat that can lead to coughing and tightening of chest.
WAYS TO PREVENT
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> Reduce, Reuse, Recycle- Always Use Recyclable Products, Use Both Sides of Paper, Avoid
Plastic Bags
Recycle as much as you can so that it can be reused later on in other products. That way, you
arent adding to the problem by adding additional products to the mix of what is going on.
Use both sides of a piece of paper. Otherwise, youre just being wasteful with the things that you
are using.
> Dont Use Hazardous Chemicals- Some contains hazardous chemicals like CFCs which is
an organic compound that contains only carbon, chlorine, and fluorine, produced
as volatile derivative of methane, ethane, and propane. It destroy ozone in the upper
atmosphere (stratosphere). Decreased concentration of stratospheric ozone allows increased
levels of UV-B rays to reach the earth's surface. Stratospheric ozone depletion is caused when
chlorine reacts with ozone.
> Turn Off Lights when not in Use- Dont keep the lights or other electric devices on. The more
traditional power that you are using, the more energy youre wasting and the more that
youre polluting the air.
> Walk or Use Bicycle instead of Riding Vehicle- in this way you reduce air pollution and nakapag
exercise ka pa
> Educate Your Companions-Let the people around you know about how they can contribute to
clean air initiatives and educate them about all of the different ways that they can take care of
the environment themselves
TRIVIA/ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
> Pollutants that are released into the air, as opposed to land and water pollutants, are the most
harmful.
(Bakit sa tingin mo? Opinion ko ditto mas mabilis kasi kapag air diba saka kalat siya so siguro
mas harmful siya since ganun nga yung situation) HAhahahahahahah
> The WHO said 7M people worldwide die annually from air pollution- 6M from Asia
Most of these cases are in China and India the two highly polluted countries but experts
warned the Philippines may not be far behind
> R.A. #8749 (Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999) provides the policy framework for the countrys
air quality management program.
It seeks to uphold the right of every Filipino to breathe clean air by addressing air pollution from
mobile and stationary sources.
RA 8749 focuses primarily on pollution prevention rather than control by encouraging
cooperation and self-regulation among citizens and industries. It also enforces a system of
accountability for adverse environmental impacts to heighten compliance to government
environmental regulations.
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Some of the programs or activities implemented to achieve this objective are: Linis/Ligtas Hangin
Program with the Bantay Tambutso, Bantay Tsimnea and Bantay Sunog; industrial enforcement
program for stationary sources; designation of attainment and non-attainment area sources;
promotion of clean fuel; and strong collaboration between government and stakeholders on
measures to address pollution.
> 80% of lung diseases are caused due to pollution from vehicles
> During heavy traffic jam, pollutants outside can seep into your car, making the air inside your
car 10 times more polluted than typical city air.
> Baguio City has topped a list of Philippine cities with the most polluted air. With 49 micrograms
of particulate per cubic meter of air. According to WHO last 2014
Manila and Cebu came in second and third with 22 micrograms per cubic meter each.

Change starts with you