DL Information Fluency Project

Air Pollution

• The release of gases or particles into the atmosphere faster than the environment can naturally dissipate and dilute or absorb them is called air pollution. Such substances may cause undesirable health, economic, or aesthetic effects.
• The types of air pollution
• 1 Land pollution. Land can become polluted by household garbage and by industrial waste.
• 2 Water pollution.
• 3 Air pollution.
• 4 Noise pollution.
• 5 Light pollution.
• Aside from wildfires, common natural causes of air pollution include volcanoes, dust storms, methane gas from cattle and other ruminants, and radon gas from underground radium deposits. These tend to be limited to certain locations and time periods, although some can be widespread or chronic.
• The study showed that 78 percent of the extractable organic matter, or hydrocarbon, was generated from wood stoves and fireplaces. However, the smoke accounted for only 58 percent of the air’s mutagenicity. Pollution from motor vehicle exhaust was three times as mutagenic as wood smoke, the researchers report in the August ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.

Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau found that patients who had been exposed to carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter were more likely to visit emergency rooms for substance use disorders.

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “The results indicate that urban air pollution may have an impact on the abuse of psychoactive substances.”

Citation

Beil, L. (1988, August 13). Pollution study finds smoking guns. Science News, 134(7), 102. https://link-gale-com.bc.idm.oclc.org/apps/doc/A6600754/GPS?u=43dcbs&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=289464d6