Air Pollutants

Air pollution includes two types of pollutants: primary and secondary. Primary pollutants come directly from sources like cars and factories, while secondary pollutants happen when primary ones react with each other in the air. Some major air pollutants are:

• Particulate Matter (PM): Tiny particles in the air, like dust and soot.

• Sulfur Dioxide (SO2): A gas released when fossil fuels are burned.

• Nitrogen Oxides (NOx): Emitted mainly from cars and other burning processes.

• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Chemicals that can form harmful ozone.

• Ozone (O3): A pollutant that can cause breathing problems.

• Carbon Monoxide (CO): A gas from car exhaust.

Photochemical smog occurs when sunlight reacts with NOx and VOCs. Air pollution can come from natural sources, like volcanoes, or human activities. It can harm health and the environment. Laws like the Clean Air Act help reduce harmful pollutants, such as lead. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is used to measure how clean or polluted the air is.