air pollutant apes Anthropogenic Sources

Sulfur dioxide(SO₂₎

Combustion of fuels that contain sulfur including coal, oil, gasoline.  Burning of coal emits the most.  Burning of natural gas emits almost none.

Nitrogen oxides(NO_x)

All combustion emts this pollutant, including fossil fuel combustion, wood and other biomass burning.

Carbon monoxide(CO)

Produced by incomplete combustion.  Poorly ventilated cooking fires and malfunctioning exhaust systems with less oxygen availability.  

Particulate matter(PM)

Combustion of coal, oil, diesel fuel and biomass (ex: wood and dung). Road construction + agriculture (lead to wind blown soil, dust, soot)

lead(Pb)

Used to be added to gasoline before Clean Air Act..  Old paint. Ore and metals processing.   Some emitted by burning coal, oil, gasoline.  

ozone(O3)

Secondary pollutant that is major component of photochemical smog.  Formation involves UV light, NOx, VOCs and oxygen.   

Volatile organic compounds(VOCs)

Evaporate easily at atmospheric temperatures.  Evaporation of fuels, solvents, paints, dry cleaning fluid, Natural sources include conifers.   

mercury(Hg)

Burning of coal and oil.  Used in small scale artisanal gold mining. Smelting.  

Carbon dioxide(CO2)

Combustion of fossil fuels and deforestation.