Summarizing...
Table 2 summarizes some of the major air pollutants and their sources and effects.
Table 2 - Principal air pollutants, sources, and effects.
| Pollutant | Sources | Significance |
|
Allergens |
House dust, pollen Animal dander |
Asthma, rhinitis |
Arsenic |
Copper smelters |
Lung cancer |
Asbestos |
Asbestos mines Building materials Insulation |
Asbestosis Lung cancer, mesothelioma |
Carbon dioxide |
Product of complete combustion |
May cause "greenhouse effect" |
|
Carbon monoxide |
Motor vehicle emissions Burning fossil fuels Incomplete combustion |
Combines with hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin, poisonous Asphyxia and death |
|
Hydrocarbons CxHy |
Gasoline fumes, smoke Industry, cigarette smoke Natural sources |
Contributes to photochemical smog1 Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; lung cancer |
|
Nitrogen oxides |
Automobile emissions Fossil fuel power plants |
Pulmonary edema, impairs lung defenses Important component of photochemical smog1 and acid deposition |
|
Ozone (O3) |
Automobile emissions Photochemical smog1 |
Damage to vegetation Lung irritant |
|
Radon |
Natural sources |
Lung cancer |
|
Sulphur oxides, particulates |
Coal and oil power plants Oil refineries, smelters Kerosene heaters |
Main component of acid deposition Damage to vegetation, materials Irritating to lungs, chronic bronchitis |
1 Mixture of gases (e.g. hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides) and photochemical reactions in the presence of sunlight.
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